A review by joyfulme
The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

4.0

Even moreso than the first volume, this book reads like separate anecdotes rather than an overarching story. Still it’s such a thoughtful living book for discussing scientific study, inquisitiveness, and observation, and for life in Texas at the turn of the 20th century, including an account of the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900. I love how this family with Confederate sympathies is painted with warmth, dignity, and humanity in an age that seeks to vilify anything that is not submitted to today’s “woke” sensibilities. I love how Calpurnia’s hero is her own grandfather, and how she finds more reasons to adore him with every story of his past. While never directly addressed, the growing false dichotomy of faith vs science are hinted at. Even someone who does not believe in evolution or even in an earth that is millions of years old can appreciate that others, (like Cal,) take those theories in faith and are still considered scientists, and visa versa; even someone who does not believe in creationism or a young earth proponents can appreciate that Christians, (like Cal,) can be research-oriented scientists and still hold their beliefs as well. Calpurnia herself embodies the contrast. Darwin and his work is almost idolized (and still is by institutions today despite the fact that most of his theories have been debunked.) On the downside, there is little sympathy for traditional women’s roles even though such norms were born out of necessity prior to the era of washing machines, restaurant chains, and cheap clothes. The text does feature one “damn!” and the Lord’s name is taken in vain. It could be read independent of the first volume.