Meh!

Theme Song: Calibre - Second Sun

When I was in the 7th grade, I bought Owl in Love, by Patrice Kindl. I treasured it. I read it over and over again - in the bathtub, under my desk in science, sick in bed... I still have the copy I purchased from the book fair on that fall day - the places where my hands held it are so worn that the cover is ragged and creased there. Owl was so much wiser and more mature than I, and so fascinating and unexpected. I yearned to be Owl, I wanted to embrace her trials and tribulations and shuck my own. At the beginning of the book, she says something that stuck in my mind, despite its simplicity. Life is sometimes a strange and terrible thing.

At age 12, it sounded so sagacious. By age 16, it fell flat and its simplicity was uncompelling. At 18, it seemed like Kindl, through Owl, had no idea what concept she was trying to express and instead, attempted to seduce undiscerning readers by inviting them to read more into it then there was. Now, at 26, I realize that it is simple, and it's just the truth and nothing more.