Short, Succinct, Sweet, Surprising

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 A bunch of quick reads came my way and here they are. 


A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot #1) Becky Chambers

147 pages • first pub 2021

When a book has a dedication that simply states ‘for anybody who could us a break’ the hopes of being transported to a much nicer place are therefore rather high. The good thing is you will not be disappointed.
Sibling Dex is tired and lost, their life has no real meaning, so they undertake a career change becoming a tea monk. Dex listens to people tell their stories, mixes a brew that will allow them to find some solace. For a while everything is on track but again those nagging doubts and feelings of wanting something more from life creep in. So, on a whim they decide to literally go off the beaten track and they meet Mosscap, a robot. Now robots had decided some time ago to self-isolate from the human race. Having been absent from the lives of humans, the robots have decided they should check in and ask ‘What do people need?’ This simple question brings about an exchange between Dex and Mosscap as they ruminate on a variety of topics.
Dex is all of us, trying to find to meaning, trying to determine if we will ever leave something to remember us by, trying to matter when there is a so many clamouring for the same thing, being relevant. Chambers has the extraordinary skill to not make this a story of constant ‘woe is me’ but brings out the humanity in ever so touching way. It is a beautifully written book with no lectures. Just a gentle reminder that we are allowed to just live, nothing more, nothing less but to live.

Fefu and Her Friends - María Irene Fornés

62 pages • first pub 1977 

I have not seen the theatrical production so I am going by the words on the page.
Eight women come together in the spring of 1935 to prepare for a fundraising function. As the play progresses each of the women reveal something about who they are and the limitation placed upon them because they are women.
The staging notes are very interesting and it would have been quite a production to have the audience move during the acts of the play.


The Bald Prima Donna: A Pseudo-Play in One Act - Eugène Ionesco, Donald Watson

42 pages • first pub 1950 

This absurd drama, it is absurd, it rollicks along, with characters that ping off each other, needs to be staged to be truly appreciated. 

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