Good evening friends and netizens…

Today is Wednesday, which in these parts means “Wordy Wednesday.” I’d like to share with you all my thoughts about a book I read on the flight to Phoenix last week, as I will admit it made tears leak out of my usually dry eyes on one point. (I will add, though, that the majority of the book does not have a sad undertone).

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The novel, Vaclav and Lena, by Haley Tanner, revolves around the two title characters through a span of about 10 years. Vaclav and Lena are two unique Russian children living in New York City. They feel alienated by their peers and the community but are drawn together by a love of one thing: magic.

After Lena mysteriously disappears from Vaclav’s life, the two of them live separately for several years before reuniting at age 17. The story unravels through multiple perspectives (most interestingly and heartbreakingly through the eyes of Vaclav’s hardworking and empathetic mother Rasia) to tell us what really happened to Lena and why she left.

I won’t give spoilers about what made me cry or explain why this book stood out to me. I will say that it was a very quick and enjoyable read, and I’ll share my likes and dislikes with you instead.

Me Likey:

• The characterizations of most of the characters; from lost Lena to passionate Vaclav to motherly Rasia and her slovenly husband Oleg. I love character novels like this that seem to exist almost exclusively to teach us about people different than us.
• The use of magic (which, I think, was used to show the unique way that children view the world). It contrasted well with the more realistic view of the adults in the novel
• Lena’s story (which is frighteningly all too familiar in our country and in others) really broke my heart. Although it made me sad to read, it is a story I hear frequently in the social service field in which I work, and her semi-triumph is the strongest plot point I could find in the story.

Me No Likey:

• The book lacked a real “point,” to me. Not that a novel needs to have a clear message, but I finished the book and felt like I just observed a case study and then didn’t know why I read through it.
• Although the characters are given more personality as youths, when they are teenagers they come across a bit vague and impersonal. I didn’t feel like I knew teenaged Lena and Vaclav nearly as well as their 10 year old counterparts.

So there you have it. Check it out from your local library! If you do, let me know what you think of it.

Now, I’ll dry my eyes and get back to the reason we’re all here… it’s Sugarbowl Time!

In the battle of Butterfinger and Junior Mints… is a tie! At time of typing, its deadlocked. Thus, the SECOND rematch of the Sugarbowl.

So tonight, two matches

1. Butterfinger vs. Junior Mints- if you voted already, go ahead and vote again tonight for this match and I’ll tally based on today’s post.

2. Lollipops vs. Smarties

So vote for both matches! Have you read Vaclav and Lena? What are you reading right now?

Meri