We’ve all heard “don’t judge a book by its cover.” This month, I learned not to judge a book by its title. Or a perceived typo.

It’s been a month of reading confusion.

Book 1: A Circle in the Fire and Other Stories by Flannery O’Connor

Flannery O’Connor is one heck of an Irish name, so naturally I looked forward to his tales from my ancestors’ land.

Ah, but there the confusion lies: Flannery was a woman. She was a woman of the American South. Savannah, Georgia, to be exact.

So when I read the first part of each short story aloud (it helps me focus), I didn’t get to use “me Irish brogue,” but instead tried to capture Blanche’s drawl from The Golden Girls.

O’Connor didn’t like to see her stories referenced as Southern Gothic, but they sure are creepy and dark. I told Gary one evening that each story included an often unexpected death – including children. I’m pretty sure all of the characters survived in only one of the stories.

Book 2: Experience of an Irish RM by Somerville & Ross

This month’s reading confusion continued, as at first glance I thought “RM” was “RN” and that the book would be an Irish version of Call the Midwife.

It turns out RM is short for Resident Magistracy. Our lead character, Sinclair Yates, is fresh out of the British Army and about to be married. He takes up his Irish residency and is a fish out of water from the start.

Published in 1899, this is the first of three volumes by Somerville & Ross about our Irish RM. Did you assume the authors were male? Ah, then you’re an eejit like me. Edith and Violet were behind these clever tales.

Book 3: The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Six years ago, youngest son James entered college to study engineering and math. That first semester, he chose an elective that we still talk about – a literary class involving reading and discussing banned books.

His favorite from the list was The Kite Runner, which Gary and I read soon after. The Bluest Eye affected James deeply, too.

This was Nobel laureate Toni Morrison’s first novel. She wanted there to be a book that spoke out for those who didn’t feel beautiful despite cries of “Black is beautiful” during the 1960’s Civil Rights movement. More than 50 years later, The Bluest Eye is still on the Top 10 Banned Books list. All the more reason to read it and talk about it.

Book 4: Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee

This month’s “theme” of reading confusion was brought to the forefront with the discovery that Cider with Rosie has a different title in the U.S. (which I blogged about a few weeks ago).

Laurie Lee wrote charmingly about his childhood. The character Rosie appears just once and is a pseudonym. Apparently at Lee’s 1997 funeral, it was announced the real Rosie was in attendance and should please stand. Four women stood up; that cheeky author kept his secret and got the last chuckle from the grave,

Book 5: Persuasion by Jane Austen

Satire, you say?

When I finished reading Persuasion, Jane Austen’s final novel, I read a few articles about it.

It was a relief to see Persuasion was to be considered sartirical in nature, as surely no one – no matter how long ago – could be that ridiculous regarding their manners, sense of class distinction, and matters of the heart.

Or could they?

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