college is for research

This was an unstressful dream about college. I was doing research on moderation programs for quitting drinking (presumably because of the book I'm reading, Face to Face - I've never had a problem with alcohol myself.). There was lots of sunlight in the library/campus building, and lots of blond wood. Certain phrases echoed through my mind - Moderation Management, secrets kill us, one drink one drunk.

Soundtrack to this dream: "Please Come to Boston"

House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones

This book is advertised as "the sequel to Howl's Moving Castle". I find that misleading, because HMC already had a sequel, Castle in the Air (thanks to supercheesegirl for her correction). But, I can imagine that after HMC was made into a popular animated film by my beloved Miyazaki, Jones was encouraged/allowed by her publisher to write more similar books. I can only approve of that, as HMC has always been one of my favorites of her titles. Admittedly my most favorites is a nearly unknown and rather bleak book called Homeward Bounders - look that up in your local library for a different view of Jones - and the sci fi title Tale of Time City.

Charmain Baker's life is turned upside when her bossy aunt Sempreponia sends her to look after Great-Uncle William's house. Everyone just assumes that she has been taught enough magic to manage. Why is that important? Well, Great-Uncle William is the Wizard of Norland. Her first mistake is not reading the detailed instructions the wizard leaves for her. Her second mistake is throwing the soap in the magical fireplace. Could her third mistake be her last?

For those who already know and love Jones, you are probably already planning to read this book. It is definitely worthwhile, although not quite as good as last year's Pinhoe Egg. For those who have not read Jones before, I would suggest starting with The Lives of Christopher Chant or Howl's Moving Castle. I strongly recommend her work for anyone who likes Harry Potter. Three and a half stars.

Face to Face by Audrey Kishline and Sheryl Maloy

Today I finished reading Face to Face by Audrey Kishline and Sheryl Maloy. Wow. What an intense book, and it really has me thinking. I love it when a book makes me want to read other books, and it's rare when that happens for me with nonfiction. The last time it did, it started my "women and buddhism" reading kick, and I think this one is starting me on a topical arc of "models of addiction recovery." I want to know more, and soon I will.

( A little personal background. )

Audry Kishline and Sheryl Maloy's lives were joined forever in the fateful moment that Kishline's pickup truck hit the car of Maloy's ex-husband, killing both the ex and Maloy's twelve-year-old daughter. The two women co-wrote this book, each from their own perspective, talking about the events that led up to the accident and how their lives changed after it. Kishline pled guilty to murder and went to prison. Maloy tried to cope with her grief, learning to be closer to God, and trying to be both mother and father to her remaining children. And then everything changed again, when Maloy decided that God's will was that she forgive Kishline.

( Two quotes, one from each author. )

Not everything in this book fits with my own beliefs about life, and especially about spirituality. (I don't agree that we're all sinners in the eyes of God, or that driving drunk is ethically the same as shooting someone, for instance.) But I think it is an amazing story about two women doing the unthinkable (killing a child, forgiving a murderer), living through the unlivable (life in prison, life as a bereaved mother) and finding hope and forgiveness at the end of their journey. I can't imagine enduring what either of these women have endured. It also raised a lot of interesting questions about addiction and the recovery movement for me, although the book stays focused on the narrative and only brings up those topics as they pertain.
I think this book is really fascinating, and for the most part, it's well-written too. It made me hungry for more information, which I believe is one of the greatest gifts a book can bestow. Five stars.

For my next exploration into this topic, I plan to read Many Paths, One Journey by Charlotte Kasl and Sober for Good by Anne M. Fletcher. It seems to be tricky to find a balanced third-party view of AA - I was never aware of the controversies! - but perhaps something will come to light.