I have just read a novel called “Long Patrol” in a fantasy series called “Redwall” about hares, mice, moles, badgers, owls, and squirrels, who end up fighting evil rats who try to conquer them for bad reasons. It was actually fairly entertaining. A little bit British military/imperialist/classist, wot? Hip hip and all that, suh! But in general, entertaining enough that I could over look any mild offense (the moles speak like Yorkshiremen (classist) and the military jargon of the hares is all British upperclass.)…. But, after all… squirrels and bunnys! AH HOW CUTE. All this and action adventure too.
Before that I read “Afghanistan: Where God Only Goes to Weep” which was the story of an average woman called Shurin Gul who survived the war with Russia, the taleban, being a refugee, further wars, etc. It was very dramatic, not terribly well written but still a gripping story. Shurin Gol is an average woman who loves her children and her drug addicted husband, helps her neighbors, survives horrible events, and is very questioning of the world she lives in…. I got it in a book ring from BookCrossing.
Before that I finally finished “The Spirituality of Imperfection” which 1) delves in a non-scientific way into the stories and spiritual traditions that informed the creation of the 12 steps and then 2) lays out the spirituality of the 12 step programs based on those stories. The best two ideas in it are that imperfection is a great basis for spirituality because it binds us together and keeps us learning and that stories are the best way to share spiritual principles and healing.
I am still reading about 3 nonfiction books (one sort of about being a woman, feminism, and writing; two about gender/queer issues) and have Zora Neal Hustons’ “There Eyes Were Watching God” out from the library.
I kinda want to read the other Redwall novel I have on my shelf next though. J
Luckily the 13-16th I will be traveling to North Carolina to see my siblings and my neice(s) and will have a lot of reading time then.
