Famous literary black birds

 We are on the verge of another Halloween, when black birds of all types tend to get a bit more of the spotlight. Anything furtively spooky which hangs over people's lives has been likened to these Gothic beauties, whether it be an addiction, a prognosis, a genuine ghostly visitation, bad news or a bleak future. So I thought they could make an interesting list. (And since my gorgeous model let me come so close to him, from my outdoor bakery table, I didn't want to waste his trust or this photo.)  

These anecdotes are a mixture of truth and fiction. Please do keep in mind, as always, that they may contain spoilers. 

Sing a Song of Sixpence

This cryptic nursery rhyme has collected a variety of interpretations over the years. Perhaps the four and twenty blackbirds represent the frittering hours of the day, while the king and queen are the sun and moon. Or they might stand for 24 choirs of monasteries during Henry VIII's Dissolution, who wanted to curry his favour by baking pies. What if the whole thing was a coded recruiting message by Blackbeard; the blackbirds being his crew of pirates and the pie being his ship? One of the most straightforward theories is that the rhyme may refer to an actual Italian cookbook's recipe in which live birds were placed beneath pastry, to create a sensation. Whatever your choice, we probably all agree that pecking off the maid's nose while she's hanging up clothes seems to be a vicious gesture on the part of the rogue blackbird.

Grip

He was the cherished pet raven of Charles Dickens, who wrote him as a character in the story of Barnaby Rudge. Barnaby was a simple fellow and Grip was his wiser and more savvy sidekick. The original Grip sadly passed away in his prime, not to the regret of the Dickens kids who were tired of having their ankles pecked. But their grieving father hired a taxidermist to stuff Grip, then perched him above his desk as a sort of dark muse. It doesn't sound like a comforting idea to me, but hey, writing beneath the shadow of Grip's lifeless gaze must have worked, when you consider Dickens' astounding literary career.

Edgar Allan Poe's Raven

 This tragic American author's most famous poem tells the tale of a persistent raven's visitation to a man who subsequently descends into madness. The bird knocks his beak on the window to be admitted, then sits gloating as the frantic narrator tries to shoo it away, but it keeps croaking the same word, 'Nevermore!' The freaked-out narrator eventually decides the bird is an omen of evil. And it's easy to understand why generations of grief sufferers and substance addicts of all sorts have appropriated Poe's raven as their very own. Incidentally, Poe had visited Charles Dickens and met Grip, who was an inspiration for his own work of genius. 

Little Town on the Prairie

In the chapter entitled 'Blackbirds' these pests become yet another real life obstacle threatening the hopes and dreams of the Ingalls family. They are rapidly gobbling up the oats and corn crops which Pa depends on to raise money to send Mary to college. Ma gets back at a few of them by pulling off a real life 'Sing a Song of Sixpence.' Yep, she bakes them in a pie and declares there is no great loss without some small gain.

Harry Potter series

The creepy black bird of the wizarding world is the augurey, whose hoarse cry is said to foretell death. Understandably, this repels magical folk from seeking it. The formidable Delphi Diggory adopts it as her symbol to take over the world in honour of her birth father, Lord Voldemort. In an alternative universe she succeeds, referring to herself as 'The Augurey.' She flaunts a tattoo of the bird on the back of her neck which alerts schoolboy duo Scorpius Malfoy and Albus Potter to regard her as a serious threat in The Cursed Child. 

Paul Gaugin's 'Nevermore' painting

This celebrated work of art depicts a raven overlooking a grieving mother, and is claimed to be 'a bird of the devil who watches.' Incidentally, Gaugin clearly got his idea from Poe's poem, and we already know Poe was inspired by Dickens' pet. So the original real life Grip set off a chain reaction of creativity. What a guy!

The Tower of London ravens

Generations of these sooty croakers have witnessed their fair share of death and bloodshed at this gruesome venue. Superstition has it that the walls of the Tower will tumble down, followed soon after by the collapse of the nation itself, if ever there are no ravens on the grounds. To this day it's never been put to the test. Why tempt fate, when it's easy enough to clip the wings of a core group of seven ravens; half a dozen plus one for luck. The Tower seems to make a suitably grim and atmospheric backdrop for these birds who never realise the onus that's on them. Or do they? 

And last but absolutely not least... 

The Biblical ravens that fed Elijah

We can read all about it in 1Kings 17: 2-6. The depressed and destitute prophet is lying in the desert of Kirith, totally dependent on divine provision. These life-saving ravens are sent twice daily to nourish Elijah with bread and meat. I believe this is one of several instances when God has used something known to be dodgy for a great and unexpected purpose, just to prove that he's Lord of all creation. For let's face it, these other anecdotes indicate that ravens certainly aren't known for their comfort and compassion. They'd just as soon join the vultures waiting for Elijah to expire before swooping down to make a meal off him, rather than bringing meals to him. If you're a person of faith, the sight of one of these beautiful birds could be a great reminder that intervention on your behalf may come from strange places. 

I think they are wonderful birds, intelligent and oh so healthy looking. I invite you to take a moment to look up the collective noun for ravens, and tell me if you agree that the appellation does them a great unkindness? I count myself among those who choose to emphasise perseverance, intelligence and hope whenever I see them, rather than doom and gloom. Please tell me if any of these stand out to you, and suggest other blackbirds, ravens, crows or black birds of any kind I've missed.

And enjoy Halloween, if that is your thing.    

 

'What Katy Did Next' by Susan Coolidge

Katy Carr can hardly believe it when she is invited to spend a whole year in Europe with Mrs Ashe and Amy. Although a year seems like a long time away from her beloved family, living in the small American town of Burnet, Katy embarks enthusiastically on her greatest adventure. This charming story, first published in 1886, is the third of Susan Coolidge's hugely popular Katy books.

MY THOUGHTS: 

Even some people who aren't really familiar with this one recognise it as the one where she gets a marriage proposal on a gondola in Venice. And cover designers understandably make the most of that.  

 Katy Carr is now 21 years old, and gets a chance to visit Europe. Mrs Ashe is a slightly older widow friend with a little girl named Amy, and she asks Katy to be their travel companion. Of course Katy jumps at the opportunity. Mrs Ashe has a younger brother named Ned Worthington; a dishy naval lieutenant she hopes to touch base with over there. (Are your romance antennae twitching?)

At first I took no great shine to Mrs Ashe. She struck me as a fairly bland character, and a bit of a wilting daisy, who tells Dr Carr at the outset, 'If you can't spare Katy to come with me, I just won't go.' That was intended to come across as the generous gesture of a timid personality, but also carries emotional manipulation. I guess she grew on me as the story progressed, especially by the time she becomes, 'Dear Polly.'  

A personal digression here. I went on two English/European holidays with my parents when I was slightly younger than Katy, and it was almost exactly a century after she went, so reading Katy's impressions of the landmarks and sights brought back great memories. 

I had a similar approach to sightseeing as hers. Katy drew from her rich background of reading to help form their itinerary. We're told her memory was 'stuffed with all manner of little scraps of information and literary illusions, which now came into use.' That's identical to the way I went about with my parents, who took on the role of Mrs Ashe, and were impressed with all the details about stories and authors I was able to tell them. 

A highlight for both Katy and me were our encounters with George Eliot. Hers was an accidental glimpse of the great author paying a taxi driver. Katy made the most of her fleeting gaze at the 'unbeautiful, interesting, remarkable face.' For me, George Eliot's was among the graves I sought at the famous Highgate cemetery. We paid a visit especially to track it down. Time keeps ticking away.  

Anyway, back on track. I hoped the story wasn't going to digress into a mere travelogue, but it is saved by the arrival of Cousin Olivia and Lilly Page, who happen to be staying at the same place in Nice. These two selfish, snobby, social-climbing shopoholics have their eye on Ned Worthington for Lilly, and they're determined their hick relative isn't going to cramp their style. How can Cousin Philip Carr even afford to send one of his daughters to Europe? What a waste! The fact that Ned is Polly Ashe's brother helps it dawn on the mother/daughter duo that perhaps they shouldn't shun Katy's company altogether. 

A famous romantic trope unashamedly comes into play. Shallow, pretty girl versus generous plain cousin. I wonder if you can predict what will happen. Seriously though, Lilly lives to gain attention and Katy lives to give hers to others. Susan Coolidge has a fresh and endearing way of playing the pair of them off against each other. 

The behaviour of young Amy Ashe shows why European holiday treats are sometimes thrown away on small kids. She grumbles her way through the story with a, 'That don't impress me much,' attitude. Amy is a girl of quick and dismissive summaries. 'Nope, I hated that place. It was raining too much... This street had some scary men, so I never want to go back there again... Yeah, we had a good dinner in a restaurant there, so that place is okay.' She's judgmental and condescending toward those she doesn't understand. Even the narrator explains that Amy grew bored with, 'scenery she had no association with and grown-up raptures she did not comprehend.' Perhaps nobody is quite as big a racial snob as a person under the age of ten who's homesick.  

If I just picked up this book first, without the background of the first two in the series, I'm sure I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I did. But we who start from the beginning have the benefit of knowing Katy. Mrs Ashe says, 'She's nice all through. So true and sweet and satisfactory.' And since we agree with her, it's a good addition to the series. 

Now, some people assume this is the third and final book about the Carr family, but nope, there are two more. I look forward to getting stuck into Clover, which focuses on another member of the family, Katy's sister. 

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'My Brother Michael' by Mary Stewart

Camilla Haven is on holiday alone, and wishes for some excitement. She had been sitting quietly in a crowded Athens cafe writing to her friend Elizabeth in England, "Nothing ever happens to me..."

Then, without warning, a stranger approached, thrust a set of car keys at her and pointed to a huge black touring car parked at the curb. "The car for Delphi, mademoiselle... A matter of life and death," he whispered and disappeared.

From that moment Camilla's life suddenly begins to take off when she sets out on a mysterious car journey to Delphi in the company of a charming but quietly determined Englishman named Simon Lester. Simon told Camilla he had come to the ancient Greek ruins to "appease the shade” of his brother Michael, killed some fourteen years earlier on Parnassus. From a curious letter Michael had written, Simon believed his brother had stumbled upon something of great importance hidden in the craggy reaches of the mountainside. And then Simon and Camilla learned that they were not alone in their search...

The ride was Camilla's first mistake... or perhaps she had unintentionally invoked the gods. She finds herself in the midst of an exciting, intriguing, yet dangerous adventure. An extraordinary train of events turned on a nightmare of intrigue and terror beyond her wildest daydreams.

MY THOUGHTS:

I won this book from an Instagram competition. I'd never heard of Mary Stewart at the time, and it came as a great surprise to learn what a beloved and prolific twentieth century author she was, famous for using a wide range of exciting travel destinations for her settings. I've seen many of her covers on Instagram since then. Bookworms, don't ever assume you've seen it all.

This one is set in Greece. Camilla Haven is a tourist in a cafe in Athens where she's mistaken for another young woman. The delivery driver of a hire car assumes she's the person who booked it on behalf of a guy named Simon, and Camilla lacks the language skill to explain the mistake. On the spur of the moment, she decides to drive the car from Athens to its destination in Delphi to find Simon.

 Camilla locates a stranger named Simon Lester, but he isn't expecting a car (as far as he knows). However, he divulges that he's in Greece on a personal pilgrimage. His brother Michael was killed during the War and Simon wishes to visit his final resting place for a bit of closure. But being right on the spot suggests that foul play was involved in Michael's death, and possible hidden treasure. The pair of them hit it off and decide to investigate the matter further together.

I wanted to love this book but didn't. Now I'll venture into what I'm sure will be unpopular territory, since this book seems to be widely loved.   

I learned that Mary Stewart is widely regarded as a master of fast-paced, romantic suspense. But I never really held my breath once. To bust the romance, Camilla and Simon had only just met each other, so never moved beyond a sort of courteous mutual attraction. As for fast-paced, I'm guessing people call it that because Stewart's plots often play out within a brief space of time. (It seems that's one of her hallmarks.) But although this story takes place within three days, it took me waaaaay longer than that to read in real time. Stewart is an extremely descriptive author. Sure, a character's passing observation may take a matter of seconds, but anyone reading about each contour of rock, shimmer of colour, waft of fragrance or puff of breeze can expect to multiply that at least fivefold. And it all adds up.   

Near the end were some nasty shocks that upset me. I won't skirt into the minefield of plot spoilers, but they were the sort of discoveries that made me think, 'Whoa, I really didn't think she'd let that happen.' Or cause it to happen more accurately, since she's the author.   

Another thing that stands out is all the smoking! Together these characters must smoke a tonne of cigarettes within the span of the few days this story covers. They smoke to conceal uneasiness, express friendship, fill in time, and fiddle with; in other words, any reason will do. Ironically, some of the biggest chain smokers are described as having white teeth. Go figure that one out. The book was published in 1959 and I guess it's a leap back in time when cigarettes were clearly part of the staple budget, and everyone seemed oblivious of any health hazards. 

Although negatives stand out for me, I'd hate to give the impression there was nothing good about the book. Mary Stewart's descriptions of her setting are her strong point and she clearly adored Greece. She writes in a way that puts us straight in the picture, if we're prepared to enter her flow and imagine it all playing out as a painting instead of jumping ahead. She knew a lot about the Grecian Classics and ancient history, and reveals some of it naturally in dialogue.

For example, I appreciate it when Camilla tries to explain why the environment makes such a deep impression on her, and Simon replies that in a way, it really does belong to every English speaking or European traveller, since its ancient roots in western thought are part of our deep heritage. He puts it like this. 

'We've learned to think in its terms, and to live in its laws. It's given us almost everything that our world has that is worth while. Truth, straight thinking, freedom, beauty. It's our second language, our second line of thought, our second country. We all have our own country - and Greece.' That's the quote of the book for me. 

Okay, because of her reputation, enthusiasm and hard work, I'm willing to give Mary Stewart more of a chance. Just not for a while maybe.

🌟🌟½    

My Definitive Ranking of the Narnia Chronicles

First off, I never expected to be writing this list at all, because I'm not a big fan of choosing favourites. A series is like one lovely chocolate bar you can eat in seven or so bite sized pieces. Therefore if it's an A+ series altogether, why bother splitting it up to rank each bite? 

My decision came as a result of doing something else I rarely do, that is checking my phone while out having dinner. On my husband's last birthday while we were waiting for our meals, I thought I'd spy on the kids and see if they were online. Instead, I stumbled on an article in which someone else had ranked the Narnia Chronicles. I felt myself growing hot under the collar because I disagreed with the author's placements nearly every step of the way. 

It made for an interesting dinner conversation, because I said, 'I just don't know what this person is thinking!' and kept adding, 'Nope... no way... they just don't get the point.' My husband enjoys playing devil's advocate when I'm that mad, and the upshot is that I'm writing my own ranking list just to offset the balance. I'll start backwards with the bottom, leaving the best until last.  

There may be spoilers in these reflections, but I'm sure most readers will be familiar with Narnia anyway. You can also read my individual thoughts on the entire series.

The Bottom Trio

7th place - The Last Battle

It's not the Problem of Susan alone that makes me set the grand finale down so low, although she's always been a lovable and relatable character. Susan's story surely isn't finished yet, but it is as far as the series is concerned, which disappoints me. The startling death revelations always get me down too, and the dysfunctional friendship of Shift and Puzzle just makes me see red. 

6th place - The Magician's Nephew

I had to ask myself why I'm placing this second last, since I couldn't really fault it. Negative characters such as Uncle Andrew and Queen Jadis get more than their fair share of airplay, but that's not my reason. I think it's simply that it's been elevated to first place in reading order just because it belongs there chronologically. Back in the 1950s it was published sixth out of seven, so if C.S. Lewis hadn't insisted that this newcomer take first place, I possibly wouldn't rank it so low. I do appreciate that he intended it as a prequel and extra treat, but tend to agree with friends who claim that this tale shouldn't be first in the series. Reading the Narnian genesis story of the lamp post, wardrobe and landscape surely makes a huger impact in retrospect than to start off with. Yet I also understand that if we do read it in retrospect, it may be somewhat anticlimactic. That tension turns this book into a bit of an odd-bod.

Of course if I'm really being honest, I just like most of the others better. 

5th place - Prince Caspian

Hmm, there's just such a lot of exposition and backstory that the Pevensie kids must sit through before they're really in a position to help. And that does hinder the action considerably, as much as I love Lucy's faithful consternation when it seems she's the only person who can see Aslan, and her attempts to sway the others, including stubborn Susan. As for Prince Caspian himself, how long does that poor boy have to wait for help after he blows his horn? He could've died at any moment while his rescuers were listening to his life story and munching apples. 

The Middle Pivot

4th place - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

I know, I know, it's the most iconic book of the series, yet I'm placing it in such a modest spot! Well, let me argue that it's in the perfect place because middle ranking is the heart of the series. It's the core around which all the others revolve. It tells Narnia's gospel tale of Edmund's treachery, Aslan's great sacrifice on his behalf, and the defeat of the Witch. The fact that I prefer three others even more than this one is the cool coincidence that allows me to say, 'Yep, this beautiful book is central to the whole series.' Now without further ado, let's get on to them.

The Top Trio

3rd place - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

This slides into my upper tier because of Eustace's transformation from dragon back to boy. It brilliantly reveals our vulnerable position in the world and the limitations of the self-help movement. Plus, it has incredible descriptive narrative when the ship's crew finally reach their destination as far east as they can sail. Lewis is master when it comes to heavenly speculation, making us wonder if he'd actually paid a visit somehow during the writing of this book. Placing this in my top three is a, 'Well written, Jack,' vote from me. 

2nd place - The Horse and his Boy

What a tough choice, as I really wanted to place this one first. In fact, maybe if I'd been in a different reflective mood another time, I'd have done a swap and made it Number One. It was a great move by Lewis to set this story-within-a-story during the era when the Pevensies rule as monarchs. The four main characters have so many relatable and problematic attitude adjustments to make before moving on. They are earthy and genuine. They aim to be furtive and discreet, yet their quest becomes urgent and vital. And the relationship between Shasta and Aravis is highly charged with tense undercurrents. Mostly I adore the divine appointments which resemble disasters on the surface, but turn out not to be as devastatingly random as they appear. Indeed, most are totally orchestrated by Aslan for everyone's greater good. It's such cool stuff. 

I'd better move on before I really do change my mind and re-shuffle. 

1st place - The Silver Chair 

Woohoo!! I think it has a few faults which I wasn't backward about discussing, but all the events that take place underground nudge it to top spot for me. We have fierce psychological manipulation and ample opportunities for Jill, Eustace and Puddleglum to reason their way out of the quest without anyone thinking any the worst of them. The impact of discouragement on the heels of honest mistakes mirrors life so accurately. And the undercurrents between Jill and Eustace aren't too different from Shasta and Aravis. (Though they don't live long enough to get married, thanks to that shocking twist in The Last Battle.) Overall, the sombre physical pressure of the inescapable setting coupled with the intense mental pressure of the mind games they're subjected to makes it the ultimate winner. 

Whew, so that's my list, and I know yours will very likely be different. There are countless variations of seven, after all. I'd be very interested to hear your rankings, with or without the reasons.   

'What Katy Did at School' by Susan Coolidge

Dr. Carr's mind is firmly made up. Katy and her little sister Clover are to spend a year away at boarding school. A strange place, far from home, but on arrival the girls have an inkling that it might turn out to be rather different from their expectations. One thing is for sure, it certainly isn't going to be dull with Rose Red as an ally.

MY THOUGHTS

 Here's another enjoyable read, with more of the charming life observations we get in the first book.

It begins with a visit from the fashionable and disapproving Cousin Olivia Page. She convinces Papa Carr that it would do Katy and Clover a world of good to go to boarding school for a year, before they're set in their ways with provincial adult responsibilities, making them staid before their time with limited outlooks. Dr Carr thinks she has a point, so before they know it, the two girls are heading off to a distant town called Hillsover, where there's a girls' boarding school known as 'The Nunnery' which Aunt Olivia's, Lilly, daughter attends. 

It's a strict institution run by the majestic Mrs Florence, along with her deputy Mrs Nipson, and the prim and crabby Miss Jane. There are other staff members too, of course. It appears a prerequisite for working there must be no sense of humour, for it would never do to crack a smile or allow yourself to be the butt of girlish pranks or teasing. 

Luckily for us, the girls themselves have spades of bright humour, especially Clover and Katy's good friend Rosamond Redding, aka Rose Red. This girl is a legend who's often regarded by the adults as an 'evil influence' just because she's figured out a great secret to life is not taking herself, or others, too seriously.  

The crux of the story occurs when Katy, and by extension Clover, are severely punished for something they didn't do. The teachers discover some circumstantial evidence and instantly go off their sanctimonious nuts! Katy handles the situation beautifully, expressing her indignation but drawing on her inner Cousin Helen to help her move forward. And the culmination of this incident is perfect. 

I also like this book for the interesting finer details. The brutally cold winter term when Katy's toothbrush turns to ice and every drop of water in pitchers and washbowls is frozen solid each morning. The autograph albums, which were the girls' form of social media (as in Little Town on the Prairie). Their very clever club meetings, when the girls play some great literary games. The school soiree which Clover gets to attend for good conduct, but turns out to be a bit of a letdown with cream of tartar water being fobbed off as lemonade (Yuck!) 

There are plenty of updates in the form of newsy family letters to keep us in touch with what's happening at home with Elsie, Dorry, Johnnie and Phil. And now we have extended family to add to the mix, with Cousin Olivia and her kids; Lilly, who looks out solely for her own interests, and Clarence, a sulky rebel who's so over being scolded and corrected for every little thing he does. 

I'll continue soon with What Katy Did Next. 

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