Our editor has just resolved a huge mystery, namely, “Is Jen Mann real?” She had never met Ms. Mann, though every week a wonderful book review arrived from her. The two ladies have finally connected, but mysteries continue to brew in Lyme crafted by “Sinister Minister”, Steve Burt, … and Jen is right there to review them for us.
Steve Burt is a piece of work. A minister at the First Congregational Church of Lyme by day, creepy short story writer by night.* Most of ancient Sanskrit glorifies the necessity for balance.
Man is not one thing. He is many. Good and Evil are both part of the natural order. You must embrace and work with both sides of your nature. If you need someone to emulate, someone who seems to do this instinctively, Steve Burt is your man.
God is everywhere. He is a part of all people and all things and all religions. He is certainly a part of the two Steve Burts. As wonderful as I hear he is on Sunday Mornings, he is wonderful as the self proclaimed,” Sinister Minister”.
I have had so much fun lying on a dock on Mount Desert Island (creepy and sparsely habitated at the best of times) reading these stories to my children. We all shriek and scream and I thought the time had come to quietly read them to myself again.Knowing that an introspective religious mind lies beneath the top layer makes them all the more interesting. They do not preach; they do not gloat about obedience; they simply give you the shivers.
I have many favorites; The Strand, The Swimmer, Lighthouse Moths among them. The strand especially gives me the willies. A grand dame of her own island in Maine and her caretaker stealthily cultivate giant pearls. How? Why? Not telling – but I will say we all left the dock immediately after finding out. Fast. Like The Tattoist, the main characters are not evil (maybe) but they ensure that the ones who are get their come-uppance.
My children, ages 5-10, love Steve Burt’s stories. I, older than dirt, love these stories. As summer beckons, so do lazy days reading to the children in the hammock. These books will have you all glancing into the woods and under the rocks as you do.
* I heard from the horse’s mouth that a series of books is coming about children with special powers. I will be first in line. You should be second.
