J. Shep's Blog

When I was in college, a university professor individually assigned us twentieth-century fictional novels for a specific project. While my peers were assigned Graham Greene, Evelyn Waugh, Muriel Spark, and, among others, Kingsly Amis, she assigned me An Episode of Sparrows by Rumer Godden. It was tame, it was complex, it was moving, and, for someone who had forever had a strong relationship with all of his grandparents and their generation, it was pertinent, appropriate, and appealing. I ended up enjoying the book immensely (for which my peers merciless made fun of me) and found myself exploring more of this author.

I turned to Black Narcissus, ignorant that the movie I had seen not too long beforehand had originally been a book. I then read the novella The River. A few years later, I read Coromandel Sea Change. While their stories and characters were different from An Episode of Sparrows, they all drew me in. I read the last page of each feeling pleased with the read.


Themes on religion--its role in our lives, the weight it carries, the doubts and faith it evokes--to themes on innocence--its wisdom, its dangers, its need for at times protection and at times outgrowing--sat well with me. Rich atmospheres established through attention to terrain, climate, flora, and fauna brought to life the settings of war-blitzed London, the Himilayas, and India. Through subtle characterization of complex characters and relationships, Godden incorporates her themes and atmosphere-rich settings expertly. These qualities, to me, are the real stars of her work.

It seems her books are mostly out of print, and finding them is not easy. Last month, I came across The Battle of Villa Fiorita, one of her later novels, and managed to track it down. It had been a few years since I had read a work of Godden. While I had been hoping for a few plot points to express themselves that didn't as well as more depth to Caddie, I did truly enjoy the read. Somehow, some authors don't let down, especially when they are true to their strengths.

My return to Rumer Godden after a short reprieve proved to be a good decision, taking me back to that class in university as I gave my presentation, eliciting the excitement I remember when I realized Black Narcissus had first been a book and eagerly searching for it. This was a good feeling, and I hope to come back to it again one day with another Godden book. If I had a glass, I would toast to the tried-and-true authors who make return visits worth the read and the effort to track them down.
Rumer Godden

This past summer, I committed to reading books I had started but never finished, some from years and years ago and some more recent. Other things taking precedence was the main cause of tabling these books, but I'm happy I conscientiously set aside time to read them all these years later. The pile of books I have left is a tall one, so next summer will see more started books completed!

Here are a few of my thoughts on the books I finally completed.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman: I liked the pace of this book and the emphasis on character and relationships. Ove's past is what reeled me in, much more so than his present issues. His father's influence and his youth as a hard worker were presented so well and reinforced such sustaining traits in Ove that it was hard not to commit to him as a character. His relationship with his wife was conveyed with warmth and heart, too. Although I appreciated the humor in the present, I didn't take as much to the story. The change Ove observes in society, especially in terms of work ethic, carried the present-day plot for me; his multiple attempts at ending his life weren't something I took to fondly. The background on him in relation to the man his past shaped was nice to read, though.

Quicksand by Nella Larsen: That this was a novella was a great choice even though its story spans so much of Helga's life. A novel would have dragged out too much when I found the protagonist too negative to enjoy. Her inability to find happiness in every situation she places herself reflects a reality about life and society, but her negativity was grating at times. To me, her grievances were rooted in an arrogance. Her conclusions about religion I found off-putting, as well. What I really liked about the story was the progression of episodes of one person's life, and the episodic structure of the book carried the character's struggles and development, little as it was in some ways. Best of all, though, I liked the worlds we were brought to, conveyed not necessarily with vivid description but with thoughtfulness and usually through introspection.

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff: This epistolary novella introduced me to some fun characters, and as this work is nonfiction, it's also fun to know they are real people. The drama wasn't the star in this book, but the slice-of-life, literary-oriented unfolding of story still provided a pleasant experience for me as reader. It certainly took me back to London and made me want to revisit!

Banjo by Claude McCay: This was the most interesting read of the summer. Although it is subtitled "a novel without a plot," it kept my interest. There are lots of discussions on topics timely and historic, and I enjoyed sitting in on these conversations to hear perspectives and mindsets on race, war, and work, among other topics, even when I didn't agree with some of the views presented. The cast of characters is diverse and multifarious, and I had to guess at how their interactions would develop, which was nice. My favorite part of the book was the vivid atmospheres of Marseilles that were evoked. It proved to be more than a backdrop; it was a character interacting with Banjo, Ray, and the rest.

The Professor's House by Willa Cather: This was my favorite book of the summer! It was a novella presented in three parts. The characterization, relationships, and plot were subtle but real--verisimilitude at its best. The settings were interwoven with care, attention, and emphasis on their relationship with characters and plot. The settings also took us all over America, from the Southwest to the Midwest to the East. I enjoyed following the professor's story and internal conflicts as well as the interlude involving Tom Outland. This was a Chicago story, a university story, a Realist story, a character-driven story, a rite-of-passage story, a life's-turning-points story, and so much more. I enjoyed it.

A fond recollection of the author reading at Cheney Mansion feels inevitable on this beautiful morning initiating July. Early last month, I participated in a reading of After Me in the historic home, along with two other amazing authors. The day couldn't have been more beautiful as guests arrived, sipped coffee, and enjoyed three distinct readings. A local network's awesome morning show filmed us on location, which was a neat treat!

While I was excited, albeit nervous, to share from my novel, a highlight of the morning for me was listening to two authors read as well as seeing the audience's reaction. It was beautiful. The audience, furthermore, was made up of individuals older and younger, males and females, artists and engineers--such a diversity of those who came to spend a morning appreciating literature by local authors.

I'm looking forward to more events like these, and I'll post them on my social media and here.

For more on the Cheney Mansion author reading, including a glimpse at the other authors who shared, please check out the post here!

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