Literature Lessons: Revenge

Revenge is sweet so they say, but I think that's because they've forgotten what bitter tastes like. The main conflict in Island Whispers is about revenge; a retribution, a reckoning, whatever you want to call it, it's about a belief that the scale needs to be balanced for a wrong that has been done.

In the first few pages, the reader is introduced to The Elder. He is bent on a warpath from the ground to the sky. The first angel, merperson, demon and vampire took something from him and he wants his justice.

When it comes to revenge, we need to focus on loss. Because the person seeking revenge has lost something or perceives something as lost. They have nurtured some hurt and decided to turn it outside themselves to someone or something else. This is critical because there is some justification for their actions. They believe that they have just cause and this righteousness often makes them formidable villains.

Now, The Elder hasn't just lost some trinket; this isn't a petty squabble over honor or reputation. He has a huge hole in his heart because he is the last of his kind. There are no other syrans in the world. He has lost friends. He has lost family. He is all alone.

Do you begin to see the pull of revenge?

When those one loves are lost, is it any wonder that many turn down a dark path?
They have no one to steer them right.

He is in pain, thus he wants others to feel pain. Simply put, it's an eye for an eye philosophy. But, that doesn't make it right. The difficult thing is to forgive. It is far more difficult to accept what has happened and continue living. Dark emotions breed darkness in our hearts. Quite literally in The Elder's case as the dark spirits are manifestations of darkness that leave pain and suffering in their wake.

Throughout the novel, The Elder has two goals: (1) resurrect the syrans, (2) wreck havoc on the communities of demons, angels, vampires and merpeople. He doesn't just want to cause pain. He wants to reestablish the order that was lost thousands of years ago. But what happens when you bring a race of super beings back from the dead? Would they be able to adjust to life as it is or would they try to change everything around them? That's a discussion topic for another time, but keep it in your thoughts, I'd love to hear your ideas.

Past Perspective on Phrases

Have you ever wondered about those casual phrases we utter that we don't really understand or sound just down right strange? (Like "it's raining cats and dogs")

I have and through the years, I've randomly learned about the origins of some of them. Here are a few of my favorites although I'm sure you can think of more.

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"Sleep tight" is in reference to the beds that were made of rope. The rope stretched across the frame and made a criss-crossing network that held the mattress up. Sleeping tight meant having the rope tight enough that your bum didn't hit the floor.

"A Diamond in the Rough" comes from the fact that uncut diamonds are still diamonds. They just need a little polish to make them shine, but they're still beautiful with that potential of being like the diamonds set in baubles.

"A Penny for Your Thoughts" is said to have been first written down by Sir Thomas More in Four Last Things. Pennies were worth more in that time and thus someone might ask you for your thoughts because they were encouraging you to share them and this way they were saying that your thoughts are worth something to them.

"Barking Up the Wrong Tree" comes from hunting with dogs. A wily prey animal could confuse the dogs into thinking they were up the tree when, in fact, they had escaped. In conversation, this means that someone has made a mistake.

https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/phrases-and-sayings-list.html

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Fun writing activity for world building: create your own idioms! Do you know your world well? What is important? How do people think? What do people like to convey in sly context and how can you compare it to something in your world? This activity is a test of understanding and imagination. If you have trouble with it, try adapting one of our common idioms and then creating your own.

Book Review: June

The same teacher who gave me "The Miser of Mayfair" recommended this book. You might recognize it. You might have seen the movie. It's worth it. One hundred percent.

I got my copy from the Book Rack which means
it was only $6 and half that because we had credit there.
A good deal all around because this is definitely
staying on my shelf for years to come.

One of the things you'll notice right away is the format. This is all told in letters. It is quite a stunning piece of work because you get to know the characters in a different way.

The correspondence isn't too difficult to keep track of. There are helpful hints with each letter, since the address, the receiver and sender's names are all on it. There are even italic sentences that say From Juliet to Sidney in case you are really confused. 

Juliet Ashton is our protagonist, a writer and Londoner, emerging from the shadows of World War II. During the war, she wrote pieces that were comedic and meant to help people forget the doom hanging over them. However, she writes to her friend and editor, Sidney, she wants to get away from that and write something more serious. 

What I find amazing about the letters are the depths of the details. After the war, many things were scarce. Ration card were handed out and you had to use those to get anything. It really puts you into the perspective of post-war time when she mentions that, "Do you suppose that a lavish bonus could spur her on to butter?" Most everything is considered a luxury and making-do is the motto. Items that we consider everyday and have no trouble finding in a grocery store were prizes.

Each character makes their unique voice heard in their letters. The conversation always adds more information and is never dull. Somehow Shaffer and Barrows manage to draw in various memories and events into these letters so that the characters are expanded upon until we can recount that a young Juliet threw a book at the elocution mistress.

The novel really begins once we hear from Dawsey Adams. He is a pig farmer on the island of Guernsey and asks Juliet for a small thing, the name and address of a bookstore so that he may purchase the works of Charles Lamb. Such a small correspondence, yet it blossoms. Bibliophiles know that there are few things as satisfying as discussing a favorite book with a friend.

Soon Juliet is becoming invested in the island and the more she hears about it, the more she wants to go there. Can you see the issue? When a book is composed of letters and depends on them, you must have someone for the main character to communicate with. If Juliet goes to the island, then she must write letters to someone off the island, or just someone so that the story continues. Never fear - Shaffer and Barrows have orchestrated a masterpiece of engineering. Once Juliet becomes engrossed in the island, she writes to Sidney and Sophie among others. Other characters also say their piece, writing their letters that we have collected in this book. It is marvelously coherent. 

On a side tangent, I have made a potato pie, not a potato peel pie, but still, a similar concoction, although I think mine is a more savoury dish than the pie that the islanders made. 

Back on track, Juliet is a wonderful character as well. She asks questions, she takes action, and she doesn't let anyone bully her. She is quite a likable character and I feel a kinship with her since she is a writer. It is also her love of books that makes me so happy, because her sentiments are passionate. There are so many well written comments on the nature of books, and just the love of books that it makes a reader feel heard. 

Barring all that, I think you should just read this to learn what the title means and understand how the islands were affected during the war. This is quite a fascinating and page-turning book.

Literature Lessons: Natural vs Work

You've probably heard of this debate before, it certainly makes its way into several discussions, usually about the "why" of something. I've definitely brought it up before in another post. When it comes to people and their abilities, especially when they're children, we ask is it because of nature or nurture?

When children enter school, their mathematical abilities or leanings toward certain subjects can be credited to natural talent. On the other hand, improvement could be related to the environment (supportive teachers). Carol Dweck has a theory on mindsets that is similar to this. Dweck states that there are two types of mindsets: growth and fixed. As can be inferred, growth means someone believes in their own ability to improve and change, while fixed means that someone believes they are limited and unable to surpass a certain level.

A fixed mindset can hinder someone from making progress or getting farther in life. They believe that they are born with certain talents and that there are limits to what they can do. While a growth mindset can help someone overcome challenges, they work hard because they think that it is possible to get better. Adam comes across this debate in Island Whispers. He speaks to Gigi, a healer, about what he can do and she tells him about gifts.

"Gigi patted his hand again thoughtfully. “You know, after all these years, there is something I have learned about my gift.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “It is not special. All merpeople have the potential to be great healers. All it takes is work and practice. There is a misconception that we must be born with the ability, and that what we are born with determines who we are and what we can do.

“But that’s not true. I could teach any merperson to heal as long as they have the desire to learn and the persistence to never give up. Our gifts do not determine what we do; that is for our own minds to decide. You have the power to decide when and where you want to use your gift. These younger generations are so set in the belief that it must come easily to them, that it must be natural or else it is not their calling. But it is the interest that really determines what we do. If we are interested, then we can do anything. Think on that, Adam.” She let go of his hand, giving him another warm smile, her eyes tracing his face again. “You have a good heart, boy. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.”
(Page 45)

Now that is quite a mouthful of a paragraph so I'm going to highlight on some key points.

First of all, the word "gift" often means something granted, given. It can be taken away, but it isn't something someone can get for themselves, not in this context. Gigi dismisses the idea of a gift as special. She is declared a gifted healer and the merfolk are awed by her abilities. They believe that you must be born with something to have it.

However, Gigi says that anyone can be a great healer. She has the growth mindset that anyone who works hard and practices will be able to do as well as her. If the desire for learning is there, then anything is possible.

She also states that what we are able to do doesn't determine what we do. People often choose the path of least resistance and if you are good at something, it can bolster your resolve to continue with it. Yet, you don't have to do that. You can choose to do what you're good at or learn something new.

Lastly, she remarks upon "these younger generations". I know, I know. I'm not that old, but I have an ear among my peers (currently the young folk of the world). Perhaps you've heard this too, but so many people believe that they're not meant to do something that is difficult. If something challenges you, then it's time to give it up. I'm guilty of that. I ran track and field for two years, but quit my last year because I didn't believe I was actually contributing to the team. There are a few other things that come to mind, but hopefully you see my point. When the going gets tough, we get going and don't look back. Obviously there are exceptions. People do stick it out in certain areas. We're not all lazy and likely to give up, but there is enough of a mindset that it doesn't come as a surprise.

My point? Know what you love. Know what makes you excited and energized. Follow it through. Keep trying and doing. If you falter, don't let yourself fall behind. You can do more than you know if you choose to keep with it.