Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren (novel #230)

“Three cheers for Pippi Longstocking!” shouted the fire chief.

“Hooray, hooray, hooray!” yelled all the people. But someone yelled it four times. And that someone was Pippi.

 

The eponymous heroine is a precocious nine-year old, red haired, pig-tailed, Swedish girl who lives in her house, Villa Villekulla, with her monkey, Mr. Nilsson, and her horse. She lives without parents. Pippi assets…

 

My mum is an angel and my dad is a South Sea Island king.

 

Her father, a ship’s captain, by all other accounts, perished at sea.

 

This first book in the series recounts Pippi’s adventures with two neighbor children. Annika and Tommy know that whatever they may do…

 

…it’s always more fun with Pippi.

 

Pippi is always confident and ever pleased with herself and her own company. One day alone at Villa Villekulla she paints a large picture on the wallpaper.

 

It was a picture of a rather large lady in a red dress and black hat. In one hand she was holding a flower and in the other a dead rat. It was a very beautiful painting, thought Pippi. It brightened up the whole room.

 

Pippi’s full name is: Pippilotta Victoriaria Tea-cozy Apple-minta Ephraim’s-daughter Longstocking.

 

This may seem like an odd thing for me to read. I needed a book with an item of footwear in the title, and since I stick mostly to classics, this satisfies both. It is definitely a young person’s story, but lengthy enough and grammatically complex enough to be considered a children’s novella.

 

I read it, or another edition in the series, as a child. It didn’t make much of an impact. I don’t think it has aged well. Pippi is confident to the point of arrogant, daring to the point of reckless, and independent to the point of disrespectful. I know it’s a whimsical story and allowed to be fantastic, but many of Pippi’s actions are quite dangerous. Pippi swallows a red death cap mushroom, for instance, with no concern and no ill effect. It was written in a more innocent age, but I’m still a bit incredulous. Not sure what the message is supposed to be.

 

I think children might still enjoy it, and mostly for that I give it…

 

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

 

 

This novel satisfies the “footwear” category: (title must mention a type of footwear) in the What’s in a Name 2024 challenge.

 

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The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton (novel #229)

Here was the truth, here was the life that belonged to him; and he, who fancied himself so scornful of arbitrary restraints, had been afraid to break away from his desk because of what people might think of his stealing a holiday! ~ narrative regarding Newland Archer

 

Set in late 19th Century, upper-class New York, The Age of Innocence follows the last days of bachelorhood and early married life of gentleman lawyer Newland Archer. And then, the conflict he suffers between duty and self-indulgence.

 

He’s not a bad guy, and his fiancée/wife is by all accounts a peach. But sweet May is not quite equal to Newland’s ideal of an independent minded woman. He has some progressive ideas about equality of the sexes, but…

 

There was no use in trying to emancipate a wife who had not the dimmest notion that she was not free…

 

So, they are wed.

 

He had married (as most young men did) because he had met a perfectly charming girl at the moment when a series of rather aimless sentimental adventures were ending in premature disgust; and she had represented peace, stability, comradeship, and the steadying sense of an unescapable duty.

 

But only weeks before the wedding, enter May’s cousin Countess Ellen Olenska. Ellen’s presence and behavior is scandalous to the upper-class New York society for leaving her husband and though the family harbors her from the horrible count, she is still something of an embarrassment and social liability. Newland is disdainful with all the rest, but he slowly perceives a fascinating soul, unbound by tradition and duty.

 

And as Deano sang…that’s amore!

 

Poor Newland. He must do what is right, or what he desperately wants. He concludes that in all the world, in all of time, only he and Ellen suffered such an unbearable duty.

 

Ellen Olenska was like no other woman, he was like no other man: their situation, therefore, resembled no one else’s, and they were answerable to no tribunal but that of their own judgment.

 

I was never quite sure what Wharton intended the reader to wish for:  Newland and Ellen to run away together, or for Newland to honor duty and societal codes (probably the latter). I was sympathetic to his unhappiness, but I’ll spare the spoiler as to which road he chose.

 

His wife May? Well, she is just a little bit more clever and more independent minded than is apparent to Newland or the reader.

 

The three main characters, Newland, May, and the Countess Olenska were all vivid and believable. Secondary characters were probably caricatures that Wharton fully intended to lampoon society elites of the gilded age. I thought it was masterfully done. It was a bit esoteric for me though, and I don’t feel it has aged particularly well. For that, I give it…

 

3 ½ out of 5 stars

 

 

Which I’ll remind, is a good rating.

 

This novel satisfies the “Virtue” category: (title must name a virtue: “innocence”) in the What’s in a Name 2024 challenge.

 

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Warrior Preachers by David A. Harrell

We must know…the power of sin and the greater power of the gospel to conquer it. ~ narrative

 

This is not your typical Christian life-help book. It is principally for preachers, pastors, and Bible teachers. However, it is still useful to laymen, like myself, since every Christian is in full-time Christian service. I have another, more personal, reason for reading this book, that I will address at the end of my review.

 

The author, Pastor Harrell, believes that 21st Century Christianity is facing “militant unbelief” and that…

 

Christians, especially pastors, must begin with the presupposition that we are vulnerable, prone to being naïve, apathetic, self-righteous, and overconfident.

 

He further asserts that…

 

Satan’s objective is: “to blind men to the truth of the gospel and prevent them from seeing the glory of Christ.

 

…the world is a battleground between two opposing kingdoms: Satan and his demonic horde; and God and His holy angels.

 

Harrell quotes and obviously agrees with the late A. W. Tozer, that…

 

A scared world needs a fearless church.

 

To that end, Harrell instructs preachers on the wiles of the enemy and God-given resources for waging spiritual warfare.

 

He describes the warrior’s: enemy, armor, weaponry, mindset, character, and rewards.

 

It is a powerful message, but as I’ve implied, not for the novice. It isn’t woke; it isn’t politically correct.

 

Harrell repeatedly cites private correspondence with a former Green Beret. This elite U.S. Army Warrior, identified as Joel C., draws parallels between modern physical warfare and spiritual warfare. Joel C. is a former fellow-laborer with the author, and also a dear friend of mine.

 

I’m grateful to the author and brother Joel for their valuable insight. I’m infinitely more thankful and blessed by the sufficiency of the atoning work of Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

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