The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales characters, by Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, written, oh, gee, a long time ago, (between 1387 and 1400) by Geoffrey Chaucer, is an example of a story within a story narration. A group of travelers, the narrator plus twenty-nine others, meet at an inn before they set out for Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket. The group of them decide to travel together.  The innkeeper decides to go with them, and suggests to the group that to make their journey more enjoyable on the way, that each of them will tell two stories on the way there and two on the way back, and he, the innkeeper, will decide which is the best story. Then, the winner will be given a meal paid by the others at the journey's end. The tales were never finished because Chaucer died before completing them. But the stories the characters gave, and the descriptions of the many characters give us a glimpse into what life was like back in the day. I particularly enjoyed the story about Chanticleer and Pertelote, a mock-heroic story which was
a romance between a rooster and a hen, and the Pardoner's story. The nun's priest's tale, the one about Chanticleer, the rooster, and Pertelote, the hen, was funny, and the Pardoner's story was a good reminder that greed can do great damage.
I recommend The Canterbury Tales to people who enjoy stories from history, and learning about life from long ago.

Clinton City Storytelling Festival

Yesterday, I had the wonderful priviledge of participating in the Clinton City Storytelling Festival, hosted by Clinton City Recreation.
About a month ago, my former brother and sister-in-law contacted me, and said her dad was helping to put together some authors and storytellers who would participate in the Festival, and asked if I would be willing to come and read some of my work. I was very happy to do so, and came out to participate.
I'm so glad I went! I really enjoyed it! I didn't read as much of my work as I had hoped, because I didn't want to go over the six minutes I'd been given, but I hoped what I read was enjoyable to the adults and kids who were there. I sure enjoyed myself.
There were storytellers of various ages, including one young lady who was ten! And their stories and songs were very fun!
If I am not mistaken, this was the first year that Clinton City, Utah has done a Storytelling Festival. And I hope they continue to do so for many more
years!

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (c) 1876 by Mark Twain

I recently finished, again, an enjoyable classic, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, which was the pen name for Samuel Clemens who wrote many books during the late 1800s, including A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, first published in 1876,
was a fun, entertaining book that explored a few months in the life of Thomas Sawyer, a boy who lives with his aunt since his mother died. He is an adventurous boy who doesn't like school or manual labor, but he does find that he likes Becky Thatcher, a new girl in town. With his pal Huckleberry, who after this book has an adventure of his own, he gets into all sorts of scrapes, including being witnesses to a murder! While some might say that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, it ended up being a good thing they were there, since Injun Joe, the real murderer, tried to frame innocent Muff Potter for the deed, and the boys, while mischievous, are at heart compassionate boys and do the right thing in witnessing in Muff Potter's defense, saving him from being hanged for a crime he didn't commit. But then when Injun Joe escapes, Tom starts worrying that Injun Joe is going to come after him next! To maker matters worse, when he and Becky, on an outing with some other kids, find themselves hopeless lost in a cave, the only person they come in contact with as they're trying to find their way out, is Injun Joe!

I really enjoyed the story, and while it dragged in a few places, it was a fun adventure story over all. I recommend it to people who enjoy classical literature, and fun adventure!

Far World: Air Keep by J. Scott Savage

Far World Air Keep (c) 2013 by J. Scott Savage

I recently finished, again, a very entertaining book, the third of a series by J. Scott Savage, entitled Far World: Air Keep. It is preceded by Far World: Water Keep, and Far World: Land Keep, and it is followed by Far World: Fire Keep, the last book in the series.

In the book Marcus and Kyja, the hero and heroine of the story are tasked with finding and getting the help of the Air Elementals, about whom there is very little known. As they go on their journey, they are joined by Mr. Z (short for Zithspithesbazith) whom they met in the previous book and who guides them along. As they go, they discover the capriciousness of the Air Elementals, and begin to despair if they will ever get their help. What do they do to finally gain the Air Elementals' trust? Well, read the book and find out!

The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis

The Horse and His Boy (c) 1954 by C. S. Lewis

The Horse and His Boy, another of the many great books in the Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, follows the story of Shasta and Bree, a young human and a talking Narnian horse who work together to escape slavery in Calormen. Along the way, they meet up with Aravis and Hwin, a young Calormene noble woman, and a talking mare who are also escaping together. Aravis is running away from an unwanted betrothal, and Hwin, like Bree, was kidnapped as a young foal.

The four of them have various troubles and setbacks on their journey north, particularly in the city of Tashbaan, but doing so they learn important information about a planned invasion by Prince Rabadash on Archenland and Narnia that they take with them as they escape Tashban and cross the desert toward Archenland.

The story was an enjoyable one, and like the other books in the Narnian Chronicles, is a story that I believe both adults and young people will enjoy. Mr. Lewis, as he does in all his books, shows the natural consequences that come when people choose wisely and unselfishly, as with Shasta and Aravis' choices, and the natural consequences when people choose unwisely and selfishly as with Rabadash's choices.

I enjoyed the book very much, and heartily recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy/adventure story!

The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis

The Magician's Nephew (c)1955 by C. S. Lewis

The Magician's Nephew, by C.S. Lewis was first published in 1955. While it wasn't the first book in the Chronicles of Narnia to be written, it was the first that happened chronologically.

It follows the adventure of Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer who stumble by accident, into Digory's uncle's study where he tricks them into traveling between worlds as his human guinea pigs. On their adventures they meet Jadis, who eventually becomes the evil witch who causes trouble for Narnia later, and they come into Narnia just as it is being formed by Aslan. Digory eventually grows up to be Professor Kirke in whose house Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy eventually stay and whose wardrobe they take to get into their adventure in Narnia.

I enjoyed The Magician's Nephew tremendously when I was ten and heard it read to me by a teacher at school. And I was pleased to enjoy it again, just recently.  I loved the adventure when I was young, and I love it now. I especially appreciate the lessons Mr. Lewis put into the book, without being overly didactic, of how the goodness and morality of the children and Frank, the kind cabby, win in the end over the selfishness and cowardice of Uncle Andrew and the evil witch.

This is the kind of book that both children and adults would enjoy reading, and I heartily recommend it!

Thomas S. Monson

Thomas S. Monson

I was saddened just now, when I learned, checking my emails, that Thomas S. Monson, the 16th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, died last night. He was 90  years old.

I remember when I was in my youth, singing in a choir for our Regional Conference in the Tabernacle at Temple Square, and sitting not to far away from him since he had come to speak. I remember his stories about World War II and how he had stood alone, or thought he stood alone, when his superior was dismissing men to go to church. The man had called out several religions to dismiss them, but not his, and since he hadn't been officially dismissed, he stood there, by himself. Only when the man asked what he and the other men behind them called themselves, and the other men answered, "Mormons, sir!" did he realized there were still others there. And he was able to go with them as they all went to church together.

I remember watching the funeral of Gordon B. Hinkley on the news, and knowing that Elder Monson would soon be called as the next prophet. I remember sustaining him in General Conference. I was, and am, grateful for his example of goodness, service, unselfishness, and faith.

If I'm not mistaken, Russell M. Nelson will be called to be the next president of the church. And I am confident that he will do as wonderful a job as President Monson has done.