The Forest of Lost Souls, Dean Koontz
This is one of those books I wish I could go back and read again for the first time. I might actually reread it, which is a rare thing for me, but I am a little sad I will never have that initial experience again. It came to me at a particularly difficult time and I was just expecting a fun read, but it turned out to be a very compelling reminder of our capability for inner strength, courage, and wisdom.
For those who appreciate the themes of “Women Who Run with Wolves,” this has a similar vibe except as a full-length novel. From a literary perspective, it was a very pleasurable read; it falls into a genre of magical realism that I’m always drawn to. But in addition to being an interesting story, it demonstrated the themes of intuition and courage in a satisfying way. I think it can be challenging to find stories with a strong theme that aren’t heavy-handed about it, but I thought this book struck an excellent balance. It reinforced the power of stories to connect with our psyche in a way that abstract concepts can’t do. I think fiction is able to slip through a lot of our mental guards, to reach places within that haven’t seen light in a long time. The need for inspiration, for the vision of something greater than ourselves, is such a deeply entrenched part of human nature. No matter where you go, no matter what time in history, we are compelled to tell stories. And it is particularly rewarding when a very good story is told in such a way that inspires us to be a little braver and a little wiser in our own stories.
A Thousand Mornings - Mary Oliver
You can never go wrong with a poetry collection from Mary Oliver, and this one did not disappoint. I always appreciate how her poetry inspires me to slow down and observe life, even the humblest of sights is a miracle of existence. I think of her often as I’m out on a hike marveling at a tiny mushroom or a vibrant patch of moss.
I’ve ruminated over how to write about this book. I tried to write some reflections on the poems that spoke to me, but in doing so felt like I was trying to extract the life force from them. Apparently poetry books are not ideal for blog posts. There is something so intensely personal about reading a poem, I can’t translate that experience to you in this small space, and I would be robbing you of the raw experience for yourself. All I can say is that this is a worthwhile tome to peruse. I am coming to the belief that our lives would be much better if we included a steady diet of poetry. Even reading just a few lines shifts my mind from the miasma of my own worries to remember what it truly means to be alive. For those who may not be accustomed to poetry, Mary Oliver is an excellent introduction. And if you do happen to spend some time with A Thousand Mornings, these were the poems that resonated with my soul.
- I Go Down to the Shore
- I Happened to be Standing
- Hurricane
- Lines Written in the Days of Growing Darkness
- The Mockingbird
- I Have Decided
The Wager, David Grann
I’ve debated about buying this book so many times that when I saw it at the library I knew it was a sign I needed to read it. I’ve developed an interest in this genre of books after reading Madhouse at the End of the Earth. First off, I was shocked to discover that kidnapping was a commonly accepted practice for procuring sailors in the early to mid 1700's. If you were in a port town and displayed any sign of being a sailor, you were in great danger of being abducted for forced labor on a multi-year voyage. It is hard to imagine a world where this is just a normal occupational hazard. It reminded me of the observation from Murray Rothbard, “the State is a gang of thieves writ large.” And long ago St. Augustine saw this reality too, “…what are kingdoms but great robberies? For what are robberies themselves, but little kingdoms?” The vignette of legalized kidnapping in The Wager was a reminder about the fundamental reality of the state. It makes me wonder what historians will think of us in a few centuries. What travesties of justice do we accept as commonplace?
From an historical accuracy perspective, I appreciated that the author drew on original texts and journals to provide details about the story. One of the most interesting bits was that a sailor on the voyage, John Byron, was the grandfather of Alfred Lord Byron. It was neat to see the author draw connections between John Byron’s experiences and details that show up in Lord Byron’s work. It makes me think about how complex the world is—I tend to think of people like Lord Byron in isolation, but they have families and backstories just like everyone else. The addition of artwork and pictures helped to make the story more real in my mind. I did my own geography research to make sense of the locations he mentioned so I could visualize it better as I was reading.
Overall, the narrative was a bit underwhelming. From the marketing, I expected something much more sensational than how the story developed. I think the pacing of the book felt off. Obviously, being based on historical events the author was limited to following the arc of how events transpired but it still felt emotionally unsatisfying. I think I got to the end and felt, “now what?” What do I do with this story? Does it change how I see the world? How does it add to my perspective of humanity? I’ve tried to think this through for myself but it was not a strong element of the book itself and it would have been nice to see the author explore the implications in more depth.
One theme that always stands out to me in books like this is the strength of human resilience. Generally there’s an emphasis on the casualties and losses but I am more surprised that anyone does actually survive. Between the woefully unequipped ships, the massive ocean storms, the scourge of scurvy and other illnesses, cold exposure, starvation, and more—it seems a miracle that anyone returned from these journeys. I suspect most of us have no comprehension about what it means to suffer, at least on such an intense physical level. I have a difficult time when I go on a hike and forget to bring a snack, so my mind can’t even understand how it would feel to watch your body consume itself over the course of months. Our modern life has given us a very different experience of overcoming obstacles. I am very thankful for the abundance and security of life today, but I think it is important to be aware of these radically different trials that people have survived over the centuries. In some way or another, we all experience great suffering throughout our lives, and these stories can be a deep source of inspiration in those dark moments. Resilience comes in many forms, whether it is surviving a shipwreck or enduring a great loss or healing from trauma. Regardless of the struggles we face, the truth of our potential and capability is still there.
Another interesting facet of the book was the study of human nature under pressure and deprivation. Specifically, how leaders emerge in these situations and what sets them apart from everyone else. There are always leaders in name who fail to earn loyalty or respect. Then there are leaders to whom people gravitate naturally. It seems that leaders always have a choice to appeal to either the higher values or the base desires of our nature to inspire their followers. And each person’s decision in these moments makes such a difference. What are we drawn to? Do we want to follow someone who is kind and courageous? Or do we seek safety in a leader who is harsh and narrow-minded? Difficult times reveal the true nature of a person—will they continue to be a strong and good leader? Or will they collapse under the pressure? Will their followers be committed to virtue or let their survival instinct take over? I’m also working through Victor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning” which explores similar ideas in the context of the German concentration camps of WWII, so this has been on my mind quite a bit.
Overall, for The Wager, I wouldn't necessarily recommend purchasing it. But if this is a niche topic that interests you, it might be worth reading. I think Madhouse at the End of the Earth is still my favorite historical naval exploration/survival book.
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