144. Journey Into Elder Space by Mary Logan Sweet

Sweet, Mary Logan. Journey Into Elder Space. Cedar Falls, IA: Audere Books, 1999. Print.

68 pages

Reviewed by Jessica d'Artagnan Love

Mary Logan Sweet is a poet in Iowa. She is one of my favorite poets. Unfortunately, her work is nearly impossible to find. Her books were published by a small press and are no longer in print. The only reason I know she exists is because I stumbled across her books in my library’s section on Iowa writers. Mary Logan Sweet died in 2014.

Journey Into Elder Space explores themes of aging in Iowa. The language rich in pastoral metaphors and, if you’re an Iowa native, something about Sweet’s work captures the essence of an Iowa summer—they heavy humid air and singing cicadas. Her poems in this collection evoke images of the aged farmer, hands wrangled with arthritis gripping a coffee mug at the local diner at 6am.

My favorite poems from this collection include: “To Report a Lost Word,” “Morning Challenge,” “March Light,” “Homesick,” “Harvester,” “Time Out for Leaders,” and “Old Gardener.” Below is the poem, “Old Gardener.”

 

Old Gardener

Up, about, and masked at dawn,

the trappings of old age put on,

my neighbor slowly moves between

his brittle bones and paper skin.

 

A fallow army he reviews:

the drab lapsed shrubbery spring renews,

the branches downed in an ice storm,

the wandering vine in search of warm.

 

He estimates the strength of day,

commands the laggard cold away,

then, stirring leaf mold with his cane,

gently calls the bulbs again.

Would I read it again? 

Yes.

Recommended for

Those who enjoy pastoral poetry. Unfortunately, I doubt you will be able to find a copy.

Not Recommended for

Those who don’t enjoy free verse poetry.

3 stars out of 5

Mary Logan Sweet’s obituary: https://wcfcourier.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/mary-jean-sweet/article_bf7dcce5-c6b1-52f6-9fca-93448a1cbbae.html

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143. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

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L’Engle, Madeleine. AWrinkle in Time. New York, NY: Square Fish, 1962, Print.

232 pages

Reviewed by Jess d'Artagnan Love

A Wrinkle in Time is a classic in young adult/children’s science fiction. It tells the story of Meg, her younger brother, and a friend as they travel through space and time to try and locate their missing father. The book is heavy handed on Christian themes, and quite obscure and abstract in certain parts. I’m glad I read this as an adult and not a child. Had I read it as a child, it would have all been muddy and confusing to me.

I am generally not a big sci-fi fan but something about how l’Engle crafted this story made it feel cozy rather than technical. The characters were lovable and I especially loved Charles Wallace, Meg’s younger brother. The world building was difficult to process. I am not well-versed in quantum physics and this book is thick in it. In order to really enjoy the book I had to just let go of my wish to actually understand how things were happening and just experience the story as a story.

All in all, I enjoyed reading the book and found the ending touching but I don’t foresee reading this again in the future.   

Would I read it again? 

No

Recommended for

I’m not entirely sure, honestly. It doesn’t read like “true” sci-fi but it also isn’t really a fairy tale.

Not Recommended for

Readers who need clarity or are uncomfortable swimming in abstractions.

3.5 stars out of 5

Madeleine l’Engle’s website: https://www.madeleinelengle.com/

Madeleine l’Engle on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/106.Madeleine_L_Engle

 

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142. Gardening in Iowa by Melinda Myers

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Myers, Melinda. Gardening in Iowa. Franklin, TN: Cool Springs Press, 2007. Print.

291 pages

Reviewed by Jess d'Artagnan Love

 This book is a helpful month-by-month guide to gardening in Iowa. The book is divided into sections: annuals, bulbs, corms, rhizomes, and tubers, herbs and vegetables, lawns, perennials and ornamental grasses, roses, shrubs, trees, vines and groundcovers. Each section walks the reader through the year by month. Each month is broken into sections: planning, planting, care, watering, fertilizing, problems, and grooming.

 There is so much practical, applicable information in this book, it will stay on my bookshelf long term. While Myers does not do a deep dive into any particular type of garden plant or species, she covers a wonderful amount of information—enough for a beginning gardening to dive right in to gardening. The information is specific to Iowa but I imagine if you live in a similar zone and have similar soil, the information would work well for you too.

The language is simple and Myers does a great job of breaking down scientific information into language that is accessible for a broad audience. She also provides an extensive appendix including names and addresses of Iowa organizations and extension offices that Iowa gardeners can reach out to for further help if needed.

If you are a novice gardener, I recommend picking up a copy of this book.

Would I read it again? 

Yes, this is staying on bookshelf and I will refer to it throughout the year as I continue to grown my own gardening skills.

Recommended for

Beginning gardeners in Iowa or in locations of a similar zone and soil type as Iowa.

Not Recommended for

Experienced gardeners looking for a deep dive of information on specific plant species or garden types.

4 stars out of 5

 

Melinda Myers website: https://www.melindamyers.com/\

Melinda Myers on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/311605.Melinda_Myers

 

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