My Other Passion

I have another confession to make...

One of the reasons I stopped reading as much is due to my other hobby. These days I often spend my precious spare time playing board games. That's right, folks. Board games.

"You mean, like Monopoly?"

Well, not exactly. While I've been known to sit down for the occasional game of Monopoly, there is a whole niche out there that most of the world is unaware of: a thriving designer board game industry.

I always enjoyed board games when I was a kid, but I also felt that there could be more to them. There didn't seem to be many games that gave players real choices or control over the outcome of the game, while immersing them in an interesting and thematic world.

As a writer and a reader, I like to be submerged in other worlds, I like doors that open my imagination. And like a good book, a good board or card game can do that. Not Monopoly, not Risk, and no, but the beautiful, well designed, works of art that we call modern tabletop games. 

Image source: https://boardgamegeek.com/image/1325252/takenoko

These are games that will entertain you again and again, challenge the intellect, stimulate the mind, and, on occasion, grind the gears of your brain to powder. They come in all shapes and sizes, tailored to many different tastes, personalities, and age ranges. In fact, if you know someone who doesn't like games -or you yourself aren't crazy about them- just tell me a little bit about the person in question, and I will find a game they will most likely enjoy.

Another thing I like about this hobby is that you don't feel you're wasting time by indulging in it, because -like writing- you learn a lot while doing it, whether it's a historical fact about the era a game is set in, or simply how to implement strategies. As a gamer I'm always growing and learning, and I can honestly say it's made me look at life differently. Plus, it's a great way to spend time with others!

Now, I'm not saying playing games is this amazing breakthrough that will cure all of the world's problems-- then again, if people just unplugged, sat down, looked each other in the eye over a beautiful array of cards, boards, bits and dice more often, maybe the world would be a better place.

When I see what other board gamers say about how they got into the hobby, again and again it goes something like this, "My family hardly watches TV anymore and we actually spend time together now that we play board games!" And it's so true. Before games, my husband and I struggled to find a hobby we could participate in and enjoy together, so we'd just end up watching a movie in the evenings instead. We rarely do that now. And, while my husband is still more of a video gamer than a board gamer, we've come to cherish the time we can spend together while playing games, especially if it's a cooperative game we can work through together.

I'm not saying this hobby is for everyone, but I do think if most people were aware of the wide array of tabletop games available to them, beyond just what you see on the store shelves, they would look at gaming as a whole in a much different light.

What about you-- do you like playing games? If not, what would it take for you to enjoy it more? Feel free to comment below. Perhaps in the future I'll showcase some fun games that are BOOK themed!

Love's Sacred Song by Mesu Andrews

The Biblical Fiction of Mesu Andrews continues to draw me. This is one of her earlier books and I received it from my lovely mother, along with her newest book, for my birthday. I was thrilled because those were the only two I didn't have! While I knew I would enjoy the books, it took me a while to crack one open and start reading. Recently though, my husband and I read through the books of Samuel in the Bible, then moved on into Kings, so when one day I was hit with a sudden need to read something good again, I reached for this one.

While the writing was perhaps not as refined as some of Andrews' later books, this one held me captive and I blazed through the first half in handful of days. But when the book didn't go the direction I thought it would, I slowed down, though didn't lose interest altogether. Even as I write this I am a little torn... Did I like it?

I think my issue is that when I read the story it was not what I pictured behind the book of Songs of Solomon. The portrayal of Solomon particularly, was frustrating to me. The King who was blessed with all wisdom from God was too blind to see conspiracies right under his nose. I really would have liked more examples of Solomon's wisdom in the book, because for most of the story all we get is his foolishness. Yes, he was a man. Yes he made mistakes... But I feel like this portrayal was a little too flawed. Mostly, though, I did enjoy the characters, they were well rounded and well written, with some unique twists, even if the villains were a little cliche.

The story made no secret of its allegorical intent, which is fine, but there were times when I thought perhaps it felt a little forced.

Songs of Solomon itself is a much debated book, so I respect and admire Andrews for taking on the feat of writing this. I was even more impressed when I read her end notes (she always has the best author's notes-- the only ones I bother to read!) and the amount of research, study and time she poured into this book.

So, despite my nitpicks, I did mostly enjoy reading Love's Sacred Song. It nearly brought me to tears many times and frustrated me a lot-- which I do not like in books, but as a writer I know how authors glory in tormenting their readers, so bravo Mesu.

Anyway, I'm sorry this isn't more succinct, but I prefer to write my reviews when the story is fresh on my mind to capture the feelings the book gave me more than anything. Thus I leave you with a mixed jumble of thoughts on a book about which I have mixed feelings.

Good, but not as ageless as Solomon's Wisdom itself.