Love letter to Melina Marchetta

Dear Melina Marchetta

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Your girls and women: Francesca, Justine, Taylor, Hannah, Evanjalin, Phaedra, Lirah, Quintana. Your boys and men: Will, Thomas, Jimmy, Lucian, Gargarin, Froi.

They are flawed, but they persevere. They hope and dream despite horrendous challenges, and they grow. They develop backbones, morality, depth, and compassion . . . authentically. I remember reading The Piper's Son and feeling so proud of Frankie that she never gave up on Tom. Where did that feeling of pride come from? I had no hand in Frankie's creation. It's a novel, for goodness sake! And yet, there it was: because she feels so real, my heart was filled to bursting with affection and gratification that Frankie grew into such a loyal, loving and wise young woman.

Your novels stand testament to the ability of people to grow, heal and improve themselves, and make a difference in their worlds. Frankie finds her peeps and figures out that you save yourself. Those peeps? A necessary part of it; she couldn't have done it without Justine, Tara, Will, Thomas and Jimmy, but neither her mom nor her friends could do it for her. Your characters move beyond their tragic pasts to meet the future head-on.

Isaboe and Quintana do what must be done to save their people, despite pain, heartache and love. They do not give up; they do not accommodate; they act. Despite his curmudgeonly demeanor, Gargarin is never able to let go of hope. He designs irrigation canals for a king he despises and a people who have turned their backs on him. He despairs, but makes himself "lean to the side of wonder," day in day out.

I love your worlds: from contemporary Australia, both urban and rural, to fantasy island. I see the outback, the mountains, the gravina. I love that we can't lump the bad guys together. Yes, there are truly heinous individuals, but no nationality or ethnic group is all good or bad. In Finnikin of the Rock, we are shown the horrors of war, and we accept that Charynites are the enemy. But then in Froi of the Exiles, we meet some of the good people of Charyn and suddenly good and evil are not so simple. We are set up to hate the Townies and the Cadets in Jellicoe Road and slowly realize, with Taylor, that the whole war is a game, and that Chaz and Jonah are really great guys.

I love that you write realistic fiction based on what you know, whether your characters live with cellphones and Facebook or in some fantasy world. In the Lumetare Chronicles, I was reminded of the Khmer Rouge, Darfur, and Syria in 2013. I love that you remind us that "we have met the enemy and he is us": flawed, complex, amazing human beings worthy of love and compassion, in spite of everything.

A Cautionary Tale

Stop the presses! I'm actually reading a non-fiction book!

Yes, you read that right. Me, Lindi, who is a confirmed fiction lover and non-fiction hater, is reading Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation, by Joseph Ellis, and what's more? I'm enjoying it.

It all started innocently enough with watching Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney in John Adams, the HBO mini-series. They claim it's based on the biography by David McCullough, but it's not a documentary, so that's safe, right? They are big Hollywood names; it's HBO. (Of course, I know to beware PBS and the History Channel!) I thought it would be more like that old Kevin Kline/Tracey Ullman comedy, I Love You to Death, based on a real-life Pennsylvania couple's story; i.e., the skeleton of truth is there, but it's fleshed out so that it's actually fun to watch.

Which is how I found myself addicted to John Adams. Little did I know it was a gateway drug, leading me to late-night forays into Wikipedia to check facts and before I knew it, there I was skulking in 973.3 for something to take home for the summer. I'm so ashamed.

Young people, be forewarned: you too may find yourselves reading something you never imagined you'd read for pleasure!

All you need is love

Do you know the Casson family? Bill and Eve, the artists? Four kids? Kind of a chaotic household in the English countryside?

You don't? Well, we have to remedy that right away! Let me introduce you to Bill Casson, living and creating in London. He's loving and generous (when he remembers to be) and very protective of his art. Here's his wife Eve, raising their four children and working, when she can, in her own painting studio at the end of the garden.

Eve is brilliant at color, even Bill acknowledges that, and she has named her children for paint colors from the big chart on the kitchen wall: Cadmium Gold, Indigo, and Permanent Rose. Astute readers will notice that there are only three names, when didn't I say they have four kids? Ah yes. Saffron. Eve didn't get to name Saffron, but her name was added to the chart later. . . and there begins the tale.

If you like stories about affectionate and messy families where the children have all kinds of adventures while the parents stay out of the way until needed, you will love Hilary McKay's Casson family series:

• Saffy's Angel
• Indigo's Star
• Permanent Rose
• Caddy Ever After
• Forever Rose

and newest of the bunch, but set before Saffy's Angel -- Caddy's World, in which we first meet Rose, and Caddy learns that friendship and family require great bravery.

Making Stuff!

Somehow the school year is over and we never composed our summer reading list! Oh dear! Instead, we are going to use our blog to occasionally post suggestions, so check in now and again to see what we are reading and recommending this summer.

In honor of the Seattle Mini Maker Faire this weekend, here are my favorite crafting books:

Quilting with Style: Principles for Great Pattern Design, published in 1993. Every time I pick it up, authors Gwen Marston and Joe Cunningham remind me that quilting (and indeed any craft) is about process. It is not a race and it's not about shopping for the newest gadget.

Improv Sewing by Nicole Blum (2012), also encourages the process of creativity. Yes, there are some patterns and directions, but the underlying theme is empowerment -- figure out what you want to do and I'll bet that if sewing is involved Blum's book will have at least one project that you can adapt to make it happen.

Two great magazines supporting the maker community are Make: Magazine and Cloth Paper Scissors. Look here for inspiration as well as techniques. There are scores more periodicals, not to mention all the blogs and YouTube videos out there teaching everything from making a wallet out of keyboard circuit sheets to cross-stitch samplers.

Cooking is making too. Do you know Edna Lewis? She was the grande dame of Southern cuisine, writing several cookbooks. Tonight I made a rustic rhubarb pie from The Art of Southern Cooking, co-authored by Scott Peacock, and all I can say is delicious. There's also a charming picture book about Miss Lewis called Bring Me Some Apples and I'll Make You a Pie. It's by Robbin Gourley, and is available from your public library. While you're there, sign up for their summer reading program.

Lindi