Summertime offers us the chance to relax outside with a good book. So, this month Iím reviewing three very different stories that offer pleasurable reading along with strong messages. A long-time Falcon resident, Jerry Marriott, recommended ìRivers of Wind;î it can be purchased online. The other two books are available in most bookstores. Keep reading and have a great summer!ìRivers of WindîBy Gary PenleyIt really wasnít all that long ago. Yet, Gary Penleyís 1950s boyhood recollections of life on the plains south of Lamar had more in common with those who lived in the 1850s than it did with his contemporaries. He grew up miles away from any neighbors in a home without electricity or indoor plumbing. But hardship is not the main theme of ìRivers of Wind.î Penleyíswriting proves, without a shadow of a doubt, that modern conveniences matter little in the scheme of life. His memoir concentrates on the relationship between himself and his grandfather, whom Penley affectionately called dad. Itís clear the values his grandfather instilled in him are worth more than any of the material advantages we now have.Penleyís story illustrates how susceptible ranchers are to the whims of the weather. While we all know about the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, Penley points out that drought conditions caused a similar phenomenon during the 1950s. As the title infers, the wind is almost a constant presence on the plains, which is both good and bad. Without it, windmills could not turn and no water could be pumped for man or beast. But when the wind reaches excessive speeds, windmill blades may shatter to pieces.Huge dust storms can rip across the open landscape, pounding dirt through every crack in a building and creating sand dunes along fence lines, allowing cattle to step over the fences and wander freely across the plains. Stinging blizzards also make ranching a dangerous occupation. One of the most interesting recollections in this book is the lengths ìdadî went to ensure his cattle were safe during a blizzard.Then, there were the ever-present rattlesnakes. However, Penley also recalls the good times: the joy of riding his favorite horse to a one-room schoolhouse, neighbors who were there to help in times of trouble or on branding day ñ leading to lasting friendships between people who were all eking a living out of a harsh, dry environment.ìRivers of Windî takes you to a world that no longer exists: one where children and adults alike learned to be responsible for themselves, their neighbors and the animals entrusted to their care. His grandfather taught him how to become a reliable, trustworthy adult. Read it yourself, then give it to any bellyaching teenager you know. It just may offer them a whole new perspective on life.ìWise MenîBy Stuart NadlerHilton ìHillyî Wise wasnít born with a silver spoon in his mouth. But that quickly changed after his father, Arthur, began defending those involved in airplane accidents.Unfortunately, Arthurís newfound wealth turned him into an arrogant buffoon. He wielded his checkbook as a weapon that neither his wife nor son had the backbone to confront. Most of Stuart Nadlerís novel, ìWise Men,î takes place in a beautiful setting ñ Cape Cod. Nadlerís excellent descriptive writing allows you to feel the sea breeze; too bad thereís also a fishy smell in the air. Itís the bigotry and class consciousness that was all too prevalent during the 1950s.The plot follows the Wise family from the 50s until the present day. When the family purchased their beach-front home, it came complete with a black caretaker, Lem, whom Arthur mercilessly works to death and refers to as ìboy.î Given Nadlerís age, under 35, I found it shocking he was able to capture the nuances of the time period so completely, whether writing about race, religion or an impossible romance. His use of Hilly as the narrator personalizes the story and gives readers someone to root for. Then, staying true to the time period, Hilly lets us down. However, donít blame Nadler. This may be fiction, but the book wouldnít be believable if he wrote it any differently.By the time the story advances to the present, Hilly attempts to make amends for his past transgressions through monetary gifts. Rightfully so, his efforts are scorned. Arthurís dirty little secret, not revealed until the last few pages, may be shocking to some but not to those of us who remember the 50s. The decade was all about appearances after all, which triumphed over everything ñ even love.Take ìWise Menî to the beach or out on the back patio. Itís a great summertime story that reminds us that the ìgood old daysî could be downright mean.ìFlight BehaviorîBy Barbara KingsolverWhat do a young woman from Appalachia and Monarch butterflies have in common? Both must adapt to a changing climate, learning a new ìFlight Behaviorî in order to survive.This book is a blockbuster because Barbara Kingsolver writes about a setting and a subject she knows well. Kingsolver became a biologist, before she was an award-winning author, who now lives on a farm in the southern Appalachians. She explores the educational and career limitations faced by many in the region. Blended with her research on the life cycles of the Monarch, she created a magically beautiful story.Dellarobia Turnbow appears to be a stereotypical Appalachian woman. Pregnant at 17, her life seems to have ended before it even began. Thereís church on Sunday, overdue bills, babies to feed and little chance of improving her lot in life. Add to the mix a husband who canít comprehend why Dellarobia is searching for anything more than she already has. All of that changes one winter afternoon when she hikes up a mountain road behind their farm, where she witnesses the trees blazing with yellow and gold. At first, she thinks it must be a forest fire; but, as she draws near, Turnbow realizes the trees are actually covered with millions of Monarch butterflies.Enter Dr. Ovid Byron, an entomologist, with a team of students who set up a laboratory on the Turnbow farm to study this strange migration. Spotting Dellarobiaís potential, he offers her a job and paves the way for her to attend college.What is most amazing about Kingsolverís fictional story is how closely it matches what is currently occurring in nature. Only months after ìFlight Behaviorî went into print, scientific journals started publishing articles about how climate change is impacting the butterflies. Normally, the Monarchs winter in Mexico; now, with their numbers diminishing, their winter range is steadily moving northward into the United States.Placing the butterfliesí winter turf in the Appalachian Mountains is a scientific stretch ñ and letís hope it stays that way. Even so, by the time I finished reading ìFlight Behavior,î I realized it was a wonderful romance, with the suitor being the betterment of ourselves and the world around us.Enjoy!
