The second half was boring because of the court case. I was somewhat disappointed since it is a true crime book but the eccentric characters who actually exist made up for it.

Um, this baffles me.

It seems that adults can't agree on the message. I think I have to lean towards the minority here. Existing solely to be used by others, and giving your love and care until you are diminished into almost nothing seems an odd, disturbing, and unhealthy idea for a children's book. It's like the tree is a mother, who just stands there and lets the boy suck up her energy. The narcissistic boy only comes to the tree when he needs something, and finally the tree almost ceases to exist after submitting itself to endless abuse, because it has forgotten that sometimes it's okay to do things for yourself. Classic martyrdom, an attitude that never fails to amaze me. In a bad way.

Or maybe this is a cautionary tale? You should not become like this boy etc. The boy is after all an idiot, who uses the tree as a commodity and a bottomless well. Unfortunately the tree allows itself to be used as a doormat, so the giving continues. However, I found no hint whatsoever anywhere (even after repeated readings) that this was meant to be a cautionary tale.

Oh well. I doubt children are going to be traumatized by this, and you can always discuss with your child while reading, but ultimately a book with a clear (not too dumbed down!) positive message that can't be misinterpreted might be a better choice. Let's celebrate relationships where both parties give something to the table. In my personal life I have seen relationships like the one of the tree and the boy, and they always end up in tears, once in a police car driving away from an abusive husband. Realizing that some actually consider this book as the ideal model of a relationship is sad and depressing. Just because you have your own hobbies and your sense of self intact, doesn't mean you don't care about others or your children. I just don't get why someone would want to become a mere shadow of themselves, and hide in corners apologizing for their existence.

When I was a kid, there was a meeting place where we could play and hang out under supervision after school (in Finnish it's called "iltapäiväkerho"). I think I was something between 7 and 10, when we hung a sheet over a table and told ghost stories inside the "tent". There were a few of us so it was hot in there, and I remember faintly that someone told the story The Green Hand but with a red high-heeled shoe, and the story about the dripping blood. I was creeped out but also fascinated. There were also books that supposedly contained urban legends, and they were wildly popular later on when I was about 11 or 12.

All this came back to me when I started reading these stories, so in part it was a very amusing nostalgia trip. Overall though most of the stories were disappointing. It may just be me, because I only enjoyed those that had actual supernatural stuff and quite macabre endings. I mean, I did not expect to find a cannibalistic story in a children's book! The stories where the point was to tell them in a low voice, and then shout the last word to make everyone jump, are probably exciting in a social setting. The rest were just meh. I don't want to spoil anything, but one of them was ridiculous and the last two were technically jokes, not ghost stories.

Stories of ghosts and spirits for children based on old Finnish folk beliefs. Traditionally people used to gather together on dark evenings for a moment of storytelling, and this book uses that approach. There's a frame story about a shoemaker, who tells these stories to his listeners. All of these were wonderful and weird, but the one about the protective black bird was particularly beautiful, whereas the story about the Devil's child was cute. The picture I got into my mind about its ending was kind of funny, it made me chuckle. The illustrations were quite nice as well.

2.5 stars. I knew beforehand that apart from Brideshead Revisited, Waugh's novels are quite light and humorous, which was why I have been avoiding reading more of his stuff. This didn't make any exception in my aversion for reading humorous literature. I can still appreciate the sharpness that black humour gives to the story, but I still didn't care for the caricaturish characters. Then again, the personalities of the Los Angeles British community were quite good.

At first glance this may seem such a simple and tedious story but the more I think about it the more I love it. It touches so many themes : repressed or non-repressed homosexuality, the effect of religion, the lives of the rich and the privileged, alcoholism, family ties etc. It begins with innocence and ends with losing it. Several different personalities are to become connected and to be parted. The first time ever I was confused of what I should think about the doings of the characters and just ended up having this strange melancholic feeling. Beautiful prose.

The same approach as with Havukkavuoren musta lintu, except no frame story, just a collection of old Finnish ghost stories. They were mostly about hauntings and dead people (one was actually pretty hilarious), like a couple of versions of a hobo asking for a place for stay, and then he's put in a haunted room and encounters all kinds of freaky stuff, usually ending up chasing the ghost away. The title story was probably the best and also the most interesting. The foreword dubs it a so called Lenore-story, which has variations across the globe. I'm actually pretty sure I've heard it before, just in a slightly different form.

I love magical children's books, but this was too sci-fi for my taste. In addition to the clumsy writing and awkward dialogue the general view of the characters and the story felt a bit superficial. Just because it's for children, doesn't mean you can be sloppy. Direct religious references in children's books also make me uncomfortable.

BBC Radio 7