My first and last reads in August were each a deep dive into an important female pioneer. Both books are well worth the effort.

Book 1: Rememberings by Sinéad O’Connor

When Sinéad O’Connor passed away suddenly in late July, I wondered if she’d written a memoir. All I knew of her was she often appeared with a shaved head and that she tore up a photo of the Pope on Saturday Night Live in 1992.

Now that I’ve read Rememberings, it’s quite clear what she did, how she did it, and why she did it. The childhood abuse she somehow endured is sickening. She ripped the photograph to draw attention to what the world would “discover” a decade later. May Sinéad, a pioneer in telling painful truths about the Church, rest in peace.

Book 2: 4.50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie

Well, she got me again! Another murder mystery involving a train.

This time it’s an aging Miss Marple who helps facilitate the discovery of not only who the murderer was, but the identity of the victim.

Book 3: Kicking the Bucket at the Drop of a Hat by Caroline Taggart

Without a doubt, it’s good I waited until my retirement years to read this collection of stories about the origin of popular expressions. This spared those I worked with from learning along with me how many common phrases originated from Mr. Shakespeare’s works.

Book 4: The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

This was a gift from John’s dear wife, Aubrie. Although the genre is fantasy and the subject is an orphanage for magical children, there are many underlying themes that apply to today’s world. Children, no matter what their gifts and talents, shortcomings and dreams, deserve love, attention, and guidance.

And so do adults.

Book 5: Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser

Last month, I re-read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House in the Big Woods after listening to a few episodes of the Wilder podcast.

When I mentioned to Farmer Gary that a few years ago a biography of Laura with the story of how the Little House books came about was released – and won a Pulitzer – he nodded. “Prairie Fires? I got you a copy a few years ago.” Sure enough, there it was in the hallway bookcase. Thanks, Gar.

Prairie Fires goes to the foundation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books and gives them a good shake. This deeply researched volume shines a light on who really wrote and edited the books and why they’re classified as fiction.

I didn’t come out of the 500 pages thinking less of Laura, but then I don’t tend to be a hero worshipper. The hosts of the podcast are all but “devasted” now that they have taken off their rose-colored glasses. It’s the Rose-colored glasses (Laura and Almanzo’s only surviving child was named Rose), in my opinion, that added a constant disconcerting twist to the tale.

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