Remarkably Bright Creatures

By: Shelby Van Pelt

Libby audiobook 11 hours

Read by:  Marin Ireland and Michael Urie

Published: 2022

Genre: mostly realistic fiction

 

What an engaging story! I loved Tova, the strong-though-tiny widow who cleans at the aquarium. I really liked the octopus Marcellus (and the vocal work of Urie) even though he came across as supercilious at times. Cameron was a bit too much of a deadbeat for me . . . though he got better as the story went on.

 

I was surprised to see that it's being made into a movie . . . and also that this is Van Pelt's debut novel. It was interesting to think about Tova's life - her Swedish father building the house she lived in, her husband's illness and death, the loss of their son Eric at age 18 . . . the author did a nice job making connections throughout the book.

 

For some reason, I really liked the Grateful Dead t-shirt part of the book. I really disliked Tova's "KnitWit" girlfriends, especially Barb. I wish the author had described some aspects of the characters lives in more depth. Aunt Jean was quirky, to say the least. And Ethan's back story seemed slim. But overall, a very delightful book. Marcellus' chapters really enhanced the story. 

The Brunswick

By: Callie Murray

Dakota County library paperback 340 pages plus author's note and acknowledgements

Published: 2026

Genre: Christian historical fiction, WWII

 

I didn't make it to the book club discussion last night but I really enjoyed this book. Set in Norcross, Georgia in 1939 and Austria (same time), this first-time novelist really crafted an engaging story. Cora is the protagonist who grew up at the Brunswick, a fancy hotel built by her father after he returned from WWI with his French bride. Alas, Cora's mother left and her father fell into a deep depression. Cora struggles to keep the hotel afloat in the aftermath of the Great Depression.

 

Page 72: What would life look like if her mother hadn't left them? If the financial crash hadn't happened? If her father hadn't served in the war?

She could write a thousand different stories, but the truth was they were living just this one.

 

I flagged this passage because I think most people have had times where they've asked the "what if" questions. It can be interesting to think of how life might have turned out differently, but it isn't productive. Looking ahead at options and choices will be more fruitful than looking back.

 

Page 87: Adults hid their expressions like a secret, while children shared theirs so freely, like little gifts.

 

This made me chuckle, because I tend to show my thoughts and feelings quite freely (like a little child) even though I'm sixty! I've always called it NOT having a good poker face.

 

Page 107: "New York strips for all of us. Medium."

 

This was an odd thing for me to flag, but I strongly dislike the idea of anyone ordering other people's food at a restaurant without consulting them! It really makes me crabby! Granted, Billie as a character was dramatic and  forthright, but she just made me mad with this comment at a restaurant while out with best friend Cora and their beaus.

 

Page 124: "Opening the hotel to the children is the right thing to do, so I'm going to do it," she said with fresh resolve. "And I'm going to trust that it's like you say, Evelyn. Surely my father will understand."

 

Cora and her father did not communicate. For her to make major decisions (like opening the Brunswick to dozens of German Jewish children) without even trying to talk with him about it seemed risky. I kept waiting for him to go completely off the deep end. Her blithe attitude belied an undercurrent of tremendous concern.

 

Page 172:  Billie's jaw dropped and Cora clarified, "Not that exciting."

 

I'm not going to explain the entire conversational context here, but this was a lovely scene between best friends as Billie has just experienced her honeymoon night and Cora and Thomas are starting a romance.

 

Page 206: Cora and Thomas had both learned that if life was just a pursuit of happiness, they were destined to profound disappointment. 

But if life were about love, they could find victory, even in the worst of times.

Even grief was a testament to love.

 

This is really key for me. I want to be a faithful Christ follower and not just pursue my own desires. So many people seem to make decisions based purely on their own personal happiness / wants. That isn't fulfilling. I want to live for eternity while still enjoying the blessings of the here and now. (I can hear Louie saying, "You want it all, Jeanne.") God's still working on me!

 

Page 214: It was one thing to wrestle with fear yourself. It was much harder to wrestle the fears of another.

 

It's interesting that such an observation would come from Charlotte, a child. But some children are quite perceptive. She wants to alleviate her parents' worries and the other children's worries . . . but cannot.

 

Page 232: Nobody understands what one is experiencing, she agreed. Sometimes least of all the one experiencing it.

 

This reminds me of the importance of empathy. I may not really know or understand what you're going through, but I care about you and I see your struggle. In this scene, they're waiting for the children to get off the train. Cora wonders what the children are feeling as they come to a safe place but without their parents, and in a strange world with a different language.

 

Page 234: "Worry is a waste of the time we have left."

 

John (the father of Dean, Thomas, and Anders) says this to Cora. He has seen his wife sicken and die from ALS. He has been ostracized because of his German heritage. He has seen troubles befall his sons. But he shares this wisdom with Cora. Scripture says a lot about not worrying!

 

Page 251: It seemed that joy and sorrow weren't on opposite ends of a pole as she once thought. Instead, they felt like circles that often intersected.

 

Cora was a wonderful protagonist with strengths and flaws. I really like this observation. I, too, can laugh and cry in a short span of time.

 

Page 279: He pulled up a watermelon deep from the dirt and . . . 

 

What?! Watermelons don't grow "deep" in the dirt! This stopped me short. A watermelon isn't a carrot.

 

Page 286: . . . John had experienced so much heartache, yet, unlike her own father, he hadn't succumbed to it. Even in the midst of the current hardships, he seemed to be coming back to life again, sprouting after a long winter.

 

Cora's observations about John and her own father don't leave her bitter. She is wondering about the difference and marveling at John's recovery from deep grief.

 

Page 289: "Look, people will always fear what they don't know. The only remedy I've found is just to get to know the unknown."

 

I love Meredith! True salt of the earth, that woman. She certainly takes life in stride.

 

Page 296: Peace emanated from her, filled the room.

How did she manage?

Hope. He heard the word as if it were whispered.

 

When Thomas is being interrogated by the Nazis, he thinks back to his mother as she was suffering and dying. Her example gave him strength.

 

Page 299: She had never understood his patterns - awake all evening, asleep all day. But now for the first time, she could understand how one's mind could work at a different pace as one's body, how they could depend on each other so fully yet let each other down all the same.

 

I like this both for Cora gaining a better understanding of her father and for the concept that our minds and bodies don't always cooperate with one another! It can be maddening to be exhausted and need sleep, but to have your mind running around keeping you awake.

 

Page 307: What could victory even look like in this broken paradigm? Thomas and these children were now free of the Nazis' threat, but the emotional war was just beginning. Fear had given way to guilt and grief, tempered only by the occasional rush of thankfulness, of joy.

Cora watched Ben's face as he felt the blow of each of these, a crushing wave one after another.

Grief and gratitude, like the tides.

 

Freedom is a powerful thing. To be free in your mind and soul isn't the same as being physically free in your body.

 

Page 325: Time had been Cora's enemy, a relentless force that was always far too fast or too slow. 

 

Cora is learning to live in the moment. But this idea that time in an enemy is interesting . . . time is just time. But when "time flies when you're having fun" and it seems to crawl when you want to move on. . . . time can seem to be an entity unto itself. 

 

Page 329: "Dignity's like a lightning rod, it seems."

 

Thomas has "woken" Cora's dad from his stupor. I'm not sure this is a very realistic scenario for someone who's been sunk in a depressive stupor for years, but this comment has some truth to it. As a woman, I need to be more cognizant of how men view "help" from women. It's too easy to have an emasculating effect on men when you are a strong, determined woman.

In her author's note, Murray wrote several things that caught my attention. This novel was partially based upon the real-life story of Eleanor and Gilbert Kraus as told in their granddaughter Liz Perle's book and film 50 Children: The Rescue Mission of Mr. and Mrs. Kraus. I really want to see this! I've requested the book from the library. It appears that the documentary can be watched on YouTube.

 

The author also wrote about how elements of Cora's life paralleled her own. She also struggled with weakness in her hands and tremors, feared ALS, and found that a stomach infection had caused a malabsorption of nutrients. "So much of what we felt we had lost was returned to us, but that experience was intensely formative. 'Open hands' became our mantra." The image of open hands, ready to receive, was a beautiful part of this book.

 

This woman is so amazing! I love how she wove so many different elements into this story without it becoming cluttered or overdone. I really wish I'd been at book club last night. And I hope Murray writes more books! 

 

 

Why Men Hate Going to Church

By: David Murrow

personal paperback 223 pages plus notes

Published: 2011 ("completely revised & updated" from 2005)

Genre: non-fiction, theology, Christianity, church

 

I'm not sure when, why, or how I got this book, but I was interested enough to keep reading it before donating it. Theology isn't my thing, yet I love to learn and be challenged in my thinking. (Okay, I don't *love* being challenged in my thinking, yet I also don't want to retreat to being in an echo chamber of only consuming those ideas that confirm my existing ideas.)

 

I am definitely not the target audience for this book (pastors are), but it was written in a very accessible manner. Raised by a feminist mother, some of his writing was extremely off-putting for me but I do understand the points he's making.

 

Page 71: During the late 1960s, young hippies began turning to Jesus. They went to church but found the music to be a real bummer. Old-fashioned hymns didn't connect with kids who had grown up listening to the Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater, the Beatles, and Janis Joplin.

 

Although I was just a little kid when this was going on, it immediately made me think of my sister Ann going to the Jesus People Church in the 1970s. His history lesson is fascinating. I didn't realize that Amy Grant was a big breakthrough artist for Christian music. I just remember liking her music.

 

Page 90: But the average man lacks the churchgoing skills that come naturally to many women.

I'm not talking about spirituality. I'm referring to the mundane, practical abilities that allow a person to function at a high level in a gathering of Christians. Women are just better at "doing church" than men are, because the rules of church favor women.

 

He talks about listening, sociability, verbal fluency, etc. It's interesting. He's careful to make clear that not all women have these strengths nor do all men lack them. In general, modern churches are more geared to women than men. 

 

Page 116:  And boys must have a chance to win - or they become discouraged and quit.

"Win" in Sunday school? You didn't realize it was a competition, did you?

With guys, everything is a competition. And here's the kicker: generally, men will only compete at things they're somewhat good at. If they have no chance of winning, they simply don't play.

 

Human nature . . . we need to think about these things. What's the goal? 

 

Page 120: And thanks to the way we portray Jesus in Sunday school, Christ has become a childish thing. 

 

He talks about the difference between boys and girls and how Jesus is "marketed" in Sunday school curriculum. When boys become teens, they reject the "softness" of Jesus. Again, interesting. A lot of this made me miss the Royal Rangers program at our church. It was wonderful to have godly men teaching boys to be strong followers of Jesus doing "manly" things.

 

Page 127: Together these efforts came to be known as the Muscular Christianity movement.

 

Another history lesson here. He is referring to the 1800s when George Williams started the YMCA. He writes that "Muscular Christianity was a direct assault on Puritan notions of piety." I like that he adds context for his observations and comments.

 

Page 129: And today, with only six hundred thousand members, the Salvation Army sponsors missions in one hundred nations and helps more needy people than every other denomination combined.

 

Wow. That's an amazing statistic (if it's true . . . for over a decade ago). It makes me think of some people's dislike of the Salvation Army because of their not supporting LGBTQ people. I cannot throw stones because I don't do nearly enough myself to help people . . . I ring a bell at a kettle each year because I know it helps raise more money to help more people.

 

Page 135: On its face, this strategy sounds radical (or sexist). But Christ did the same thing. He did not recruit a diverse group of men, women, and children. Instead, he focused like a laser on a homogenous group of twelve guys. Men like Simon Peter became the "rock" upon which he built his church. Diversity and increase came later.

 

Looking to Jesus' example makes a lot of sense. I'm too quick to look at situations through my own lens - sixty year old Minnesota woman in 2026 - and sometimes I need to work to look at other perspectives. And I most definitely need to look at what Jesus said and did. God's wisdom doesn't just dwarf my understanding; it eclipses it! (Actually, those two things are so completely different that they can't really be compared at all.)

 

Page  160: Men give up their weekends to come to church. You'd better tell them why they came. Don't be afraid to ask something great of them. Give the men a specific assignment for the week.

 

The author offers three suggestions for involving men in lessons. Teach by personal experience, stir the pot in discussions, and issue a clear call to action. He shares a conversation between Abraham Lincoln and a companion after a sermon. After Lincoln praises it as "brilliantly conceived, relevant, and well presented," his companion declares it as a great sermon. Lincoln replied that it was not great because Dr. Gurley had not asked anything of them. Whether true or not, this story is a good illustration of sermons needing to challenge us not just entertain or inform us.

 

Page 165: When Christ called disciples, he did not say, "Come, have a personal relationship with me." No, he simply said, "Follow me." Hear the difference? Follow me suggests a mission. A goal. But a personal relationship with Jesus suggest we're heading to Starbucks for some couple time.

 

He makes this point quite a few times. I've sometimes wondered about the romantic-sounding language of some worship songs. How does it feel for guys to sing them about another guy? He goes with a favorite movie analogy - his wife's is a romance; his is action adventure.

 

Page 166: The gospel is the story of a courageous man who is out to save the world against impossible odds. And he is recruiting agents to join him. He is calling you to risk everything to come under his command. And when the mission is over, a precious reward awaits. That's the message men crave.

 

Again, the author is careful with painting such a broad brush over gender differences and individuals. But a lot of what he's writing makes sense. This would be an interesting discussion book for a church group. 

 

Page 197: Nothing in Scripture suggests that long prayers are better than short ones. The Bible recommends consistency and frequency, not length.

 

Prayer! Such a vital part of life. And again, following Jesus' example is better than coming up with our own ideas of how to do things.

 

Page  202: Herb Reese of New Commandment Men's Ministries takes a group of four men and places a widow or single mother under their care. Once a month the men do handyman projects around her house, work on her car, help her balance her checkbook, whatever she needs.

 

I love stuff like this! Herb says, "For a lot of men, this is the first time they really understand the love of Christ. It's practical love. It's something guys can talk about on Monday morning with their coworkers." Such a cool ministry! To the women who need some help and to the men who get the chance to serve. Love it! (Though there's no way I want some other person balancing my checkbook. Come on, girl! Do the math.) This is in a section about how to minister to men. The topics are: give men opportunities to use their skills and gifts, give men a path to walk or a ladder to climb, give men external focus, give men big projects that capture their imaginations, give men adventure, deploy men in servant evangelism, don't keep what your church is doing a secret, charge men money, offer personal invitations to church, recognize the importance of entry and exit points, and make sure that they're also being discipled.

 

Page 213: Women bond face-to-face, whereas men bond side by side. Masculine friendships form while guys are doing something else. Like trying to beat each other to the hoop. Or fishing. Or working on cars. 

 

This made me think of one of the teacher training scenarios I had about dealing with difficult students. Work side by side with them rather than facing them. It's easier for students who are struggling (or have a hard time with authority figures) to communicate side by side. Good to remember!

 

Page 220: There seem to be fewer "Jesus is my boyfriend" songs being sung in church these days.

 

This made me giggle, but I understand what he's saying. Again, this book was written in 2005 and revised in 2011, so it's kind of old. But some of his points make perfect sense. 

 

Page 221: The changes at Grace Methodist were immediate. First, Jenn adjusted her language. "As I write liturgy and prayers and sermons, I'm thinking, How would a guy like a bricklayer, a farmer, a mechanic, or a line worker hear this?" She began using more masculine metaphors and illustrations that males could relate to.

 

This example at the end of the book heartened me. Earlier in the book, he basically said that there shouldn't be women pastors. But then he writes about Rev. Dr. Jennifer Wilson and her experience at her church in LaSalle, Illinois. Very cool way to end the book. 

 

I'm ready to donate this, but I'd love to find someone for whom this is the right book at the right time . . . 

 

A Beautiful Blue Death

By: Charles Finch

Libby ebook 

Published: 2007

Genre: historical detective mystery

Charles Lenox Mysteries book 1 

 

This author writes the kind of detective mystery I enjoy! Set in London in the 1860s, Charles Lenox is a well-to-do gentleman who solves mysteries that come his way. Even though the book auto-returned an hour ago, Libby just let me re-open it. I started to just share impressions (below) and will now add in my highlighted portions.

 

I loved Lenox's love of comfort! Sitting in front of a fire with warm, dry feet sounds lovely. The bit about the boots and Skraggs' recommendation was a nice touch.

 

Chapter 1: What bliss was there to compare to a warm fire, fresh socks, and buttered toast on a cold day!

 

There were more passages like this. It just made me feel warm and cozy to think of coming in from the cold and sitting by the fire. Bliss.

 

Lenox has good people in his life - his neighbor and childhood friend Lady Jane, his brother Edmund, his friend Dr. McConnell, his valet / butler / friend Graham . . . I loved the characters in this story.

 

Chapter 1: Lenox hadn't changed, in his own estimation; and yet of course he had, as all men do.

 

Yes, we all change over time. Hopefully for the better! I liked the character of Charles Lenox. 

 

Classic mystery elements - clues, suspects, danger - all here.

 

Introduction: Italo Calvino once said that the boredom of childhood is different, richer, and more special than the boredom of adulthood, "full of dreams, a sort of projection into another place, another reality."

 

In the introduction, I got to know a little about the author and what led to the creation of this character and book series. I love that he wrote, "I got there through reading, as surely as the Pevensies got to Narnia through the wardrobe;" His love of reading and his imagination have really taken him places!

 

Chapter 31: This was also a time when the symbolism of flowers was in great vogue, and all the young girls carried bouquets with private meanings.

 

This was fun! It made me think of Enola Holmes and The Language of Flowers and other books that have this flower language "thing."  

 

Chapter 49: . . . the boys were outside to play a complex ongoing game, which nobody but them could understand.

 

This made me think of Calvinball (Calvin and Hobbes) and also the games my sons would play. Fun to have bits like this in a murder mystery. 

 

I'm kind of surprised that I only heard of this author recently. I wonder if British readers enjoy his books. Finch had never been to England when he wrote this! I've already reserved book 2 in the series. 

A Wrinkle in Time

By: Madeline L'Engle

Libby audiobook 6 hours

Read by: Hope Davis

Published: 1962 (this version 2012)

Genre: children's / young adult fantasy

 

I'm a little surprised that I didn't already have an entry for this title . . . I first read it in the 1970s as a child. I've read it since then at least twice and perhaps have listened to an audiobook version. I honestly can't remember if I've seen a movie version . . . but I can't imagine any movie could really do it justice.

 

Meg Murry is an odd duck who is good with numbers and loves her little brother Charles Wallace. She loves "the twins" as well, but they don't play much of a role in the story. They are "normal" active boys while she and her baby brother don't fit in well. 

 

After writing that paragraph, I realized that if you need a summary of the book, you should just look elsewhere. Here are some of the things that jumped out at me on this listening:

 

1. I loved the foreward by Madeline L'Engle herself. It was lovely to hear her voice. It's interesting that she had so much trouble getting this published! Publishers told her it was too complex for children, but she was reading it to her own children (7, 10, and 12) and they loved it! Fascinating.

 

2. I didn't remember it having so many Biblical references! Wow. Very interesting that in her granddaughter's afterword, she said some accused her grandmother of writing a book of witchcraft and others accused her of writing Christian propaganda! I loved the references and they endeared the book to me that much more.

 

3. The reader did a delightful job with the vocal work and emotional tone of the story. 

 

I was familiar with Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Which, and Mrs. Who (though I'm not sure why the "Mrs." part is in their names). I remember Camazotz, the Thing, and tesseracts. I had forgotten about the Happy Medium, Ixchel, and Aunt Beast. This was an enjoyable listen.

 

Introduction - by film director Ava DuVernay

Foreword - by the author, read by her

Text - by the author, read by Hope Davis

Afterword - by Charlotte Jones Voiklis (L'Engle's granddaughter) 

Sunrise on the Reaping (a Hunger Games novel)

By: Suzanne Collins

Libby ebook  27 chapters plus epilogue

Published: 2025

Genre: YA dystopian

 

When I told Louie what I was reading ("It's about when Haymitch Abernathy was in the Hunger Games for the fiftieth anniversary."), he said, "Well, you know he makes it out." True! As I read this, I pictured a young Woody Harrelson. It seems that a movie is in production and will be out in November of this year. It's weird to picture Ralph Fiennes as a young Donald Sutherland . . . 

 

Chapter 3: "Stress the positive, ignore the negative," says Plutarch.

 

Even though Haymitch doesn't know if Plutarch Heavensbee is for him or against him at this point, the advice is for his benefit. Plutarch's trying to portray the four contestants from District 12 in as positive a light as possible. Again, I kept picturing a young version of Philip Seymour Hoffman . . . apparently, the movies have left images in my brain. I like when Maysilee says, "Like when our shop calls stale marshmallows 'chewy.' And then charges an extra penny for them." That's putting a positive (but dishonest) spin on things.

 

Chapter 6: "We never, none of us, had any choices."

 

Maysilee is pointing out that the children of District 12 were destined to become what their family status made them. She claimed she would have spent the rest of her life behind the candy counter and Haymitch would die wearing miner's coveralls. Choice is interesting . . . we all have choices, but sometimes just accepting the status quo makes the most sense. The boy whose name was called first chose to run, but he only escaped being part of the Hunger Games.

 

I loved the connections between this book and the original trilogy! Wiress and Mags are their mentors, since 12 doesn't have surviving victors. Beetee shows up in the training room. I like how Collins has created a world that we can visit and people we "know."

 

Chapter 8: "I still don't think the fear they inspire justifies this arrangement we've all entered into. Do you?"

 

It really isn't fair for Plutarch to ask these kids such a question. He has money, position, and power. Their fear is well-founded. A rebellion may be something to aspire to in unjust circumstances, but when you've seen people tortured and killed for standing their ground, there's reason to fear.

 

Chapter 9:  Then she remembered she'd read that sometimes the only thing you can control is your attitude to a situation.

 

Haymitch is thinking of something Lenore Dove told him when she was arrested by Peacekeepers. She was afraid, but remembering the above convinced her to NOT be afraid.

 

Chapter 13 has Caesar Flickerman giving a "brief retrospective of the other forty-nine Games." It's an interesting history, but doesn't give enough info on how this all got started. I'm pretty sure that's in Mockingjay, but I'm not up for a re-read right now. The phrase "...the Games evolved from pure punishment to unapologetic entertainment" caught my attention. How does violence become entertainment? (This is from someone who cannot watch boxing or WWE-type stuff . . . )

 

Chapter 14: Sometimes she cries because things are so beautiful and we keep messing them up. Because the world doesn't have to be so terrifying. That's on people, not the world.

 

Lenore Dove is truly Haymitch's sweetheart. She's like a touchstone for him.  

 

Chapter 14: He sighs when he mentions the tools that were abolished and incapacitated in the past, ones deemed fated to destroy humanity because of their ability to replicate any scenario using any person.

 

This refers to Plutarch Heavensbee doing some video editing, but the allusion to our current-day AI slop . . . is chilling. It's getting tougher to know what photos, videos, etc. are "real" and which are manipulated.

 

Chapter 20: Mamaw used to say you never really knew who'd swim in a flood.

 

I love that Haymitch thinks of this homey aphorism when he sees how resilient Maysilee has been. There are others like this throughout the book. And LOTS of song verses / poems.

 

Chapter 23: I feel like I constantly demonstrate poor judgment. I don't feel qualified to choose between fried or scrambled eggs.

 

I can relate to this! And I smiled at the egg comparison.

 

Chapter 25: I have no idea how my efforts have been edited, blacked out, and card-stacked.

 

Haymitch sees first hand during the Victor's Ceremony that the Capitol has curated their own version of the truth.

 

Epilogue: Burdock was so proud of her, he toted her around everywhere. After he died in that mine explosion, she started coming alone, trading the odd squirrel or rabbit. Tough and smart, her hair in two braids then, reminding me for all the world of Louella McCoy. . . 

 

I love that the story of Haymitch ends with his best friend's child being Katniss Everdeen! The way Collins wrote this is impressive.  

 

 

The Deal of a Lifetime

By: Fredrik Backman

Libby audiobook 47 minutes

Read by: Santino Fontana

Published: 2017

Genre: . . . that's a great question

 

I needed something to listen to so I could stay awake on a late night drive that was less than an hour. When I searched for available audiobooks of less than sixty minutes, most of them were children's stories that were shorter than ten minutes! But when I saw this author's name, I jumped.

 

A Man Called Ove is one of my all-time favorite books. I thought it was pronounced "Ove" like in "stove," but then listened to the audiobook and heard "Oovah." After listening to it, I had to read it in print. When I saw that the movie version had Tom Hanks as "Otto," I refused to watch it. But then I gave in and I'm glad I did. The movie is quite faithful to the story. I have since re-read the print version. I've also read My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry.  He's a fascinating author (and only 45 years old!)

 

This one caught me by surprise. I had to go back and start listening to it again to see where my misunderstanding of the protagonist's choices started. He's a tricky writer, that Backman. The story starts with an author's note and jumps right in to murder. But it's not what you think . . . Libby's blurb on the novella ends with, "The Deal of a Lifetime reminds us that life is a fleeting gift, and our legacy rests in how we share that gift with others."

 

Libby also says this is an illustrated book . . . so perhaps I want to check out and read a copy of it. 

 

<I've already had "4 readers" - humans or AI bots? since I published this seven hours ago. I was sorting through some of my papers and found a slip that had notes I had jotted in my car. I'm adding these below.>

 

Helsingbore - the name of the place in Sweden where the protagonist lives (I had written "Helsing Boring" . . . because that's what it sounded like!)

 

wind from below - two different times, this was mentioned. I am not going to search for it. It's possible that it's simply the feeling when your coat isn't long enough and the wind "catches" you from underneath.

 

letter to son from dad

 

woman (death?) in grey jumper

 

death / legacy / life - these have definitely been on my mind lately. I think I'll enjoy reading the book

 

misleading! 5 y.o. girl with cancer, 40-something famous man also with cancer

 

"The only thing of value on Earth is time." - great quotation! 

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women

By: Kate Moore

Scott County Library hardcover 399 pages plus many extras (author's note, bibliography, etc.)

Published: 2017

Genre: Non-fiction (363.17 Dewey)

 

I may need to reduce my post-its. This has taken me too long to read and I really need to get it back to the library! It was fascinating, but I didn't "like" it. These young women's lives were stolen by corporate greed. The author really captured the essence of these women who were so excited to have a well-paying job. The sheen of radium that clung to their clothing, hair, and skin seemed to be an added bonus. But that radium tortured, then killed them. And the company denied culpability. 

 

Page 6: The element was dubbed "liquid sunshine," and it lit up not just the hospitals and drawing rooms of America, but its theaters, music halls, grocery stores, and bookshelves.

 

As someone who loves shiny things and sunshine, I would have been enamored of this element in the late teens and early 1920s. That it was considered "healthy" horrifies my 2026 brain.

 

Page 9: Some earned more than three times the average factory-floor worker; some even earned more than their fathers. They were ranked in the top 5 percent of female wage-earners and on average took home $20 ($370) a week, though the fastest painters could easily earn more . . . " 

 

I'm guessing the $370 is reflecting 2017 dollars . . . and oh, how the world has changed in the past decade. The girls were hired to paint the radium-filled luminescence onto watch faces, dials, etc. The method for getting it precise included putting the tip of the paintbrush into their mouths to "point" it. These young women (and some of them teenagers!) were poisoning themselves for their lucrative jobs.

 

Page 31: The residue from radium extraction looked like seaside sand, and the company had offloaded this industrial waste by selling it to schools and playgrounds to use in their children's sandboxes; kids' shoes were reported to have turned white because of it, while one little boy complained to his mother of a burning sensation in his hands.

 

Ugh. This raises questions about how much the company knew or suspected in 1920. Willful ignorance or actual ignorance?

 

Page  50: In fact, the bibliography contained articles as far back as 1906 on the damage radium could cause.

 

This bibliography is from radium studies that the company had published! Titled "Radium Dangers - Injurious Effects." So . . . all their later claims of innocence are hard to believe. And most of what USRC (United States Radium Corporation) published were glowingly positive reviews of the benefits of radium. Those skunks!

 

Page 51:  But if you looked a little closer at all those positive publications, there was a common denominator: the researchers, on the whole, worked for radium firms. 

 

Well, yes. If you hire the "researchers," there may be some bias . . . (heavy sarcasm).

 

Page 77: His reasoning may have been political, for the Department of Labor was pro-business.

 

When the government cares more about businesses and money than about citizens, what are we to do?

 

Page 80: Grace - as had so many of her former colleagues - now became trapped in a vicious circle, with each operation incurring yet another bill. Before too long, she had to swallow her pride and ask her parents for money; but the rising medical costs desecrated both her savings and her family's bank account.

 

Grace Fryer was one of many, many young women who had teeth falling out, disintegrating jawbones, tumors ("sarcomas"), and various medical problems. Many of these dial painters were dead before they turned thirty. I probably marked many more spots like this, but I need to get this entry done and the book returned. People should not become destitute because they need medical care, especially if their job caused it!

 

Page  99: In Orange, the medical-exam results had been secretly shared with the company behind the women's backs; in Ottawa, they went straight to the corporation and cut out the middle woman entirely.

 

I hated this part! Not believing the women or their medical reports, the company made the women have medical exams AT work BY the company's doctors, and they were NOT given the results! HIPAA laws didn't exist until 1996.

 

Page 108: Radium was what one might call a boneseeker, just like calcium; and the human body is programmed to deliver calcium straight to the bones to make them stronger . . . Essentially, radium had masked itself as calcium . . . 

 

The fact that many of the women had toothaches, a lack of healing after a tooth was pulled, and pieces of jawbone coming into their mouths just leaves me sick.

 

Page 125: On June 7, 1925, the first male employee of the United States Radium Corporation died.

 

Of course, it takes the death of a young man to get the company's attention! Dr. Leman had scoffed at concerns expressed over the black lesions on his hands. He was thirty-six and didn't wear gloves at work. He had been the chief chemist.

 

Page  134: Sarah's own life may have been cut short, but the radium inside her had a half-life of 1,600 years. It would be shooting out its rays from Sarah's bones for centuries, long after she was gone.

 

That's incredible.  Later in the book, we learn that many family members of dead dial painters gave permission for their bodies to be exhumed. The glowing remains were most definitely radioactive!

 

Page 221: Predictably, USRC wheeled out Dr. Flinn, who pronounced that his tests showed "there is no radium" in the women; he was convinced, he said, that their health problems were caused by nerves. This was a common response to women's occupational illnesses, which were often first attributed to female hysteria.

 

There are times I'm really glad to have been born when I was . . . Dr. Flinn was not a medical doctor, by the way. The company hired a guy with a PhD in philosophy (or some similar field) to conduct examinations of the women who were suing the company!

 

Page 239: It was part of their settlement that they would agree to medical procedures. And so they were forced to strip as directed and went through the tests with the company men watching all they did closely.

 

Big nope. Angry nope. This was wrong on so many levels!

 

Page 272: It seemed wealthy consumers were much more worthy of protection than working-class girls; after all, dial painting was still going on, even in 1933.

 

This was after the AMA finally removed radium from a list of "New and Nonofficial Remedies." Something I dislike about humanity is how we revere financial wealth.

 

Page 296: After all, Radium Dial had long been a valued employer. With the country in the middle of its worst-ever economic depression - what some were now calling the Great Depression - communities were even more protective of the firms that could give them work and wages. The women found they were disbelieved, ignored and even shunned when they spoke out about their ailments and the cause.

 

I can't imagine the heartbreak of extreme physical ailments, miscarriages, etc. AND being treated like the bad guy as a young woman. One thing this author does well is making these women real to the reader. I went back to the photographs in the middle several times to see the faces of these women. 

 

Page  329: The hard tumor on her hipbone, which had so been concerning Catherine over the past few months, was now "about the size of a grapefruit."

 

This thirty-five year old was down to 71 pounds, couldn't hold her children, and had a white blood cell count of a few hundred (8,000 is closer to normal). I read a few paragraphs of this page to Louie and he was horrified, too. "Catherine kept having to pick out pieces of her jawbone from her mouth." What part of female hysteria does this fit? 

 

Page  336: The girls had been shunned, told they were liars and cheats and frauds; they had seen the company literally get away with murder. The truth was what they were fighting for.

 

Since the company was closed (and then reopened as a different company), there was not much in the way of money for the women's medical expenses. Over and over again, the company claimed it wasn't their fault that these workers were ill.

 

Page 368 has a letter that Catherine wrote which was widely publicized and resulted in thousands of people across the country praying for her. She lived far longer than was expected. 

 

In the epilogue, we learn that WWII dramatically increased the radium dial-painting industry.

 

Page 377: . . . the United States used more than 190 grams of radium for luminous dials during the Second World War; in contrast, fewer than 30 grams were used worldwide in the earlier conflict.

 

I was shocked when I read that. Not the increase from WWI to WWII . . . the fact that it was such a tiny amount that cause so much destruction! The amount used - 190 grams - is less than half a pound!

 

Page 381: . . . the death of a dial-painter's sister: she had "reportedly died from radiation exposure, but had never worked at the [USRC] plant. The source of contamination appears to have been her sister, the dial painter, with whom she shared a bed."

 

Dude. That's insane. The radium killed the sister of a dial painter from being in close proximity!

 

Page 382: In 1963, perhaps at least partly in response to the research on the dial-painters, President Kennedy signed the international Limited Test Ban Treaty, which prohibited atomic tests above ground, underwater, and in outer space. Strontium-90, it had been determined, was too dangerous for humanity after all.

 

Page 385 tells about a radioactive waste landfill that had homes built on top of it! "More than 200 acres of land were affected in Orange, some to a depth of more than fifteen feet." The author also shares that the former site of Radium Dial in Ottawa, Illinois, became a meat-locker company. Employees died of cancer and "a family who purchased meat there found that 'every brother got colon cancer within six months of each other.'" On and on it goes! This is why we need government regulation of industry! Companies care about profits, not the environment or destruction of  ordinary people's lives.

 

Page 391: The dial-painters' case ultimately led to the establishment of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which now works nationally in the United States to ensure safe working conditions.

 

OSHA is one good thing that resulted from all this, but I'm still horrified at the losses in these young women's lives.

 

Page 392: That was the tragedy. Radium had been known to be harmful since 1901. Every death since was unnecessary.

 

Page 398: But there were no warning signs in the workrooms. The women had been told that, as long as they didn't lip-point, they would be perfectly safe. 

These women worked in a little town called Ottawa, Illinois. These women worked for Joseph Kelly's firm, Luminous Processes.

The year was 1978.

 

What?! Forty years after the big lawsuit, appeals, and verdict . . . the company (in a new guise) just kept up their game? So very, very sad.

 

 

The Lost Story of Via Belle

By: Melanie Dobson

Libby ebook 41 chapters plus epilogue, note from the author, discussion questions, etc.

Published: 2026

Genre: Christian historical fiction

 

I really like this author's writing. We had a wonderful discussion about the book last night at book club. 

 

At first, I was skeptical - an author writing a book about an author - yawn. But I was drawn in by the characters and the growing mysteries. We follow Olivia (Via Belle) in the early 1940s and Harper in 2006. Olivia is a 46 year old novelist and widow. Harper is a twenty-something aspiring screenwriter.

 

Apparently, Libby removed all my highlighted sections. I've never had this happen before. Even if a book has been early returned and I've gotten it again weeks later. My bookmarks are there. Now I have zero. Perhaps reading it on both my phone and my tablet caused an issue? When it synchronized between devices it must have just noted where I was in the book and not what I had saved. A new learning experience . . . 

 

I loved how the author dropped little clues and foreshadowing. I love how a fairly simple story turned into a mystery that kept me "turning pages" until I found out the ending. The moonflowers were a neat theme throughout the book.

 

Olivia / Harper / Simon / Izzy / Angel / Eli / Kelsey / Sissy / Louie . . . the symbolism of good and bad, lovely and deadly . . . a wonderful book. 

The River We Remember

By: William Kent Krueger

Libby audiobook 13.5 hours

Read by: CJ Wilson

Published: 2023

Genre: Realistic (historical) fiction

 

Wow. Krueger's writing is simply phenomenal. I don't want to give any spoilers, but there were times I had to pause the audiobook because I dreaded what would happen in characters' lives . . . 

 

Since I listened to this instead of reading the text, I do have to note that at times the reader (Wilson) spoke in such a low voice that it was hard to hear what he was saying. Hitting reverse (15 seconds) several times and cranking the volume up helped, but I think I definitely would have gotten more out of just reading the book myself. 

 

At the start of the book, I was trying to figure out where the actual location was for the fictional Jewel, MN in Black Earth County. Blue Earth County? Mapleton? And one cannot forget the prominence of the Alabaster River! Is it the Minnesota? The Blue Earth River? This was constantly on my mind . . . and it was set in 1958, which was supported by many, many details in the story.

 

Brody Dern, the sheriff, was the main protagonist. Jimmy Quinn, the nasty, greedy man who has been found in the river with catfish nibbling his body. There are so many characters! Read a synopsis online if you want to know more. I'm just typing up some of my scrawls. Evangeline ("Angie") Madison runs the cafe with her mother-in-law Ida(?). She is Scott's mom and has a past. Felix is the town drunk, but a really great guy.

 

Garnett, married to Brody's brother Tom, was my least favorite character. She just gave me the "ick" every time. For so many reasons. My second least favorite was the Landis guy. (Honestly, Jimmy Quinn was the worst, but he was already dead, so . . . )

 

One of the lines in the book was, "We're all broken." It made me think of all the times I've said to my husband, "Person X has issues." His response? "We all have issues, Jeanne. They're just different." I'm married to a pretty amazing guy. "Broken AND blessed" also came up in the book.

 

Ruth Coffey (?) was an English teacher who inspired people and died old. The contrast between her death and Jimmy Quinn's was notable.

 

War changing the men who went and fought . . . WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. It was interesting to see how so many of these men were tortured (literally and figuratively) but tried to just put on a brave face and not deal with the trauma.

 

Innocent until proven guilty . . . Noah Bluestone and Charlie. The newspaper guy. I loved these aspects of the story!

 

Del leading Scott to places he didn't want to go and knew he shouldn't . . . the evil of people like Tyler Creasy (and Jimmy Quinn) . . . this would be an amazing book club title! But then, I think all of Krueger's books are great fodder for conversation. 

 

It's interesting that of the many tense moments as I was listening, the fate of Angie's journals gripped me the most. There were several surprises along the way and I both love and hate the ending. This book was simply amazing. 

 

 

Hercule Poirot's Christmas

By: Agatha Christie

Libby audiobook 6 hours

Read by:  Hugh Fraser

Published: 1938 (this version 2012)

Genre: murder mystery

 

How delightful to find an Agatha Christie that was not a Tommy and Tuppence and one I've not read before! It was delightful and I did not figure out the murderer before Poirot's "reveal" at the end. 

 

Thanks to Wikipedia (and many other sites that have detailed Christie lore), here's the character list:

Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective

Colonel Johnson, Chief Constable

Superintendent Sugden, the investigating police officer

Simeon Lee, an old millionaire

Alfred Lee, Simeon's son, who lives with his father

Lydia Lee, Alfred's wife

George Lee, Simeon's son and an MP

Magdalene Lee, George's wife

David Lee, Simeon's son, the artist

Hilda Lee, David's wife

Harry Lee, Simeon's son, called the prodigal son

"Pilar Estravados", Simeon's only granddaughter, really Conchita Lopez

"Stephen Farr", son of Simeon's former business partner, really Stephen Grant

Horbury, Simeon's valet

Tressilian, the butler

Walter, the footman

 

 My notes to add: 

• When I first heard the name of the murdered man, I heard "Simian" and pictured an ape. It was later that I realized it must be "Simeon." But it made me giggle.
• "Pilar" was the daughter of Simeon's only daughter Jennifer, who died earlier.
• I suspected Lydia of the murder . . . sorry if that spoils it for any other readers. I found it fascinating to have all the clues come together at the end. The diamonds, Tressilian's confusion, suspicious behaviors, . . . a wonderful murder mystery story with great vocal work by Fraser.

 

Jim and Casper Go to Church

By: Jim Henderson and Matt Casper

Libby ebook  400-plus pages

Published: 2007

Genre: non-fiction, Christianity, churches

 

This book was recommended at a session I went to at the Equip conference on reaching non-churched people. It kind of blew my mind . . . a Christian pastor found an atheist who was willing to go to different Christian churches with him and write a book together. They both sound like great guys. I have way too many bookmarks (again) and so may need to skip some and go with my overall impressions.

 

Introduction (I pay people to go to church):

We started our first church in a small town just north of Seattle that already had twenty-seven churches, but a multitude of churches has never stopped a dedicated Pentecostal from launching another one. We viewed most church people as needing our upgraded version of Christianity as badly as the unsaved.

 

This is an interesting statement. Not having grown up in a Pentacostal church, some of this still feels new to me. The sense that "we have the answers" is troubling to me. There's an arrogance that I find very unChristlike.At least Jim acknowledges that he held that view when he was planting a church.

 

Introduction (I pay people to go to church): In fact, what Jesus talked about looked more like Habitat for Humanity or Alcoholics Anonymous - a grassroots movement with no official hierarchy but lots of leaders; no offerings, but enough money to get the job done. Jesus called it the Kingdom of God.

 

What Jesus intended the church to be . . . is at the heart of this book. I appreciate that Jamie has often pushed back against people's notions of "doing church" and has asked some important questions of us as the church body.  

 

Introduction (I pay people to go to church): Barb kept reminding me that God is much bigger than I imagine, and that he is also kind to people who aren't interested in him. I ignored her for a long time, but eventually I was worn down by her love and her authentic relationship with Jesus.

 

Jim is talking about his wife and I love that they were in different places theologically (she was in a Catholic convent!) but that her "authentic relationship" with Jesus made a huge difference for him. Thank you, Jesus, that you can change us in powerful ways.

 

Included in this introduction is his The Map Church Survey and a link. I haven't checked out that website yet (and I'm not sure I want to . . . ) but I thought I'd make note of it here. I also want to note that the author included a nod to Joe Myers, who wrote Organic Community. I don't plan on reading it now, but perhaps someday. He also mentioned his blog: www.off-the-map.org/atheist/ . . . 

 

Introduction (I pay people to go to church): It was an honor to be given the opportunity to help people reimagine what it might mean for Christians to connect with non-Christians respectfully and authentically.

 

This is huge! There is very little civil discourse these days. Polarization and outrage are the norm. I just avoid "difficult" conversations rather than deal with the frothing at the mouth syndrome. To be able to communicate and disagree in respectful and authentic manners . . . wonderful.

 

I made note of yet another book that the author mentioned: The Evolution of Useful Things. I'm very interested in reading that one! The takeaway for Henderson is "Hidden in every new idea are the seeds of its demise." For various reasons, I'm just making this note here and hope to get this book and read it later.

 

Periodically throughout the book, Henderson has a section called "Defending the Space." 

 

Introduction (I pay people to go to church): Defending the space means we protect our relationships with non-Christians - they're real people to us, not targets. I think of it like this: They're just like me, except they're not currently interested in Jesus to the same degree I am.

 

He goes on to explain this in more detail, but I want to finish this blog entry and I'm only on the intro!

 

Rick Warren's Church: Saddleback: ". . . when it comes to music, I like it pure. Too much polish and you lose the heartfelt power, you lose the soul of the music, and you're not gonna move anyone."

 

Casper (I'll refer to him by his last name since that's how he's referenced throughout the book) is a musician and gives his POV on the music at each church service. At Saddleback, the professional set was off-putting for him. He compared it to American Idol.

 

 Rick Warren's Church: Saddleback:"What really moved me was talking over coffee with you."

 

Casper's honesty surprised Jim, but it makes sense. In having coffee and discussing the church service, they were two guys trusting one another and talking about life. This is relationship. And it matters.

 

Church, L.A. Style: Dream Center: "Well, it's right here, in the heart of the city. Amidst the poor and suffering. To me, that makes more sense than building a campus out in the middle of nowhere. Put your church where people need it most. I also like the fact that there appears to be a very solid mix of people heading inside."

 

Casper is making his honest "outsider" observations. Later in the book, he comments on how segregated most Christian churches are . . . but here he is recognizing a multicultural inner city church dynamic.

 

Church, L.A. Style: Dream Center:" . . . as far as I understand it anyway, Jesus never intended for the institution we call Christianity to form into a religion."

 

Jim kind of knocks Casper for a loop when he says this. He goes on to explain what and how Jesus taught. (And I'm thinking of how often Jesus had the harshest criticism for the most religious people of His day.) This book stirs up lots of questions.

 

Church, L.A. Style: Dream Center: ". . . a lot of what happens at church is really just cultural stuff."

 

There were times as I was reading this that I wondered about Jim's church experiences and his faith in Jesus. It seemed subsumed to learning Casper's opinions. But I agree that lots of what goes on in churches is cultural traditional stuff that may have no connection to the Gospel.

 

Church, L.A. Style: Dream Center: Frankly, most non-Christians have learned to see Christians as arrogant and unconcerned about their opinions. Offering an apology may in fact be the most effective way to get a conversation rolling.

 

Ouch, but true. So many people I know who are anti-church see Christians as arrogant, overbearing bullies. There are plenty of examples to look at in this current culture and climate . . . 

 

The Mayan and McManus: Mosaic: One thing I like about Casper and atheists in general is that due to their lack of reverence for our religion, they often see through things much more quickly than most Christians, and they feel free to tell me so.

 

I'm not sure why I marked this, except that I appreciated the relationship that the two men developed as they visited the different churches. They had open, honest conversations about belief, nonbelief, church, etc.

 

The Mayan and McManus: Mosaic: I could tell Erwin had not been through atheist training in quite some time and could use a refresher course in listening.

 

Listening is not my strength area . . . and something I'm really trying to improve upon. I'm so quick with my thoughts and my answers, but I truly need to work on listening to others. Erwin is the pastor who dismissed Casper's atheistic "beliefs" even after Casper insisted he has nonbelief.

 

The Mayan and McManus: Mosaic: ". . . I want to hear one answer to one simple question: What do you want me to do? I mean, we're talking about eternal salvation here, and if heaven is real, it can't be easy getting in."

 

When Casper has these genuine questions about faith, I am both surprised and relieved that Jim volleys back a question to him. Rather than "having all the answers," he digs to find out what and why Casper thinks.

 

The Mayan and McManus: Mosaic: Rather than talking down to people we're trying to influence, we'd be wise to remember that just because they don't have God, it doesn't mean they have no soul.

 

I just liked the way he wrote this.

 

Mega in the Midwest: Willow Creek: "The first thing that comes to mind is how much did this place cost to build? How much to keep it running? What are their electricity bills? And, maybe because of our 'mission,' the next thing I wonder is, is this what they think their God wants?"

 

As usual, Casper's first impressions raise some really good questions. I've never been to Willow Creek, but I've bought scripts from their drama department and have heard about what a big church it is.

 

Mega in the Midwest: Willow Creek:  "I mean, come on. People are being killed needlessly in every corner of the world, kids are starving, and people are praying for their pastor to meet a rock star? That's ludicrous."

 

I agree with Casper! And yet, I truly believe we can take *any* thought captive to the Lord and pray about anything in our lives, no matter how "insignificant." I don't think that the role of the church, though, is to lift up trivial concerns like this. Does it matter if Bill Hybels meets Bono? Perhaps to him, and he can pray about it. But to encourage a whole church congregation of several thousand to pray? Hmmm. Lots to discuss here about prayer.

 

Mega in the Midwest: Willow Creek: "No, Casper, all I have is faith - that's it - no proof. The fact is I can't prove one thing about what I believe to you. All I have is a hope, and the reality is neither of us will know who is right until we actually die."

 

I like how Jim lays it out. His honesty and forthrightness along with Casper's honesty about his observations and thoughts make this book very readable.

 

Mega in the Midwest: Willow Creek: For some reason, Christians continue to believe that we can talk people into following Jesus . . . Defending the space means we practice listening.

 

Again, listening is a skill for me to develop! And I already knew that it's pointless to try to "talk people into" following Jesus. But we are called to witness!

 

Helen, the Almost-an-Atheist, Takes Us to Church: First Presbyterian: "It's sometimes difficult to separate what's Christian from what's simply American."

 

Helen is talking about rituals like communion, confirmation, etc. More telling in this church visit was her observation that people didn't come up to the three of them and greet them. I like visiting other churches and seeing what they do . . . but I've not experienced church in another country (or culture). I have experienced traditional Roman Catholic Church, radical liberation theology Catholicism, United Methodist (two different churches, three different pastors), and Assembly of God. I've also attended Lutheran (ELCA) and Evangelical Free services . . .  Another site the author noted is Conversation at the Edge a blog for conversation for people with and without belief systems.  

 

Big Church or Church Big: Lawndale: Why are there such glaring discrepancies among churches regarding what it means to be a follower of Christ?

 

Sometimes Casper's questions to Jim lead Jim to raising pertinent questions. I've long been frustrated by the divisiveness between different denominations . . . it's simply not Scriptural to fight over some of the finer points of theology when we're told that Unity in the Spirit is key.

 

Big Church or Church Big: Lawndale: . . . what they call the Three Rs: relocation, reconciliation, and redistribution

 

This church is described as "missional" and rejects the stereotypical "Three Bs" (butts in the chair, bucks in the offering, building). I'm doing lots of paraphrasing and extrapolating here. I like it when churches really think about God's purpose for them instead of just "doing church."

 

Big Church or Church Big: Lawndale: In his book Real Hope in Chicago, Gordon put it this way: "I realized that 'get saved' evangelism was designed for suburban folk. It had little meaning in an urban context . . . People in the city are not encumbered primarily with feelings of guilt. Their deepest feelings are of hopelessness."

 

Hope is so important! I'm not sure I agree with this statement, but I'm guessing if I read Gordon's book, it would make a lot of sense. Evangelism is not just for suburbia . . . 

 

Big Church or Church Big: Lawndale: And I again thought how good it would be if pastors encouraged people to go visit other churches once a month.

 

Henderson (Jim) is making the point that seeing how others worship God is good, but it's also helpful for church goers to see how it feels to be an outsider. This makes a lot of sense to me. I love worshiping at different churches!

 

The Drummer's Church: Jason's House: That's what I want people to know about God - that God likes them and wants to hang out with them.

 

In this section, Casper goes to a musician friend's house for church. He'd been there before for barbecue and beer, but had a different experience when he went as a researcher for this book. A home church will naturally be more intimate, but the overwhelming takeaway for me was that his friend Jason lives his faith authentically - in how he treats people, in how he spends his free time. He "walks the talk." Cool!

 

Emerging Church Weekend: Imago and Mars: "Emerging church is a term used to describe a wide variety of churches that, for the most part, don't want to be like the traditional or mainstream megachurches."

 

I'm impressed that these two men were committed to visiting so many churches! I feel as though the megachurches are disproportionately represented.

 

Emerging Church Weekend: Imago and Mars: . . . another important distinguisher (sic) is that emerging churches are - again, for the most part - uncomfortable with the overemphasis on politics that has become a central identifier of the conservative evangelical movement.

 

I'm uncomfortable with it, too! Loving Jesus and striving to serve the Lord should *not* include political affiliation with the Republican party and especially not the big orange man in office!!!

 

Emerging Church Weekend: Imago and Mars:"As I see it, at places like Saddleback and Willow, you only have to say you're a Christian; following the teachings of Jesus seems optional. It's the same with this current administration. It's Christian talk, but then the bombs get dropped."

 

Amen! I'm with Casper on this one. How Christ-like is it to say and do the things our administration are saying and doing? What a joke.

 

Emerging Church Weekend: Imago and Mars: "Inbreaking is joining an existing community action, while outreaching is inviting them to join yours."

 

I love this distinction! As we've talked and prayed about being our local Jerusalem, we've talked about initiating things and inviting others to join versus seeing what's happening and joining in.

 

Emerging Church Weekend: Imago and Mars: "I understand how Christians disagree on a whole host of issues, like any group. I would say it is more the tone with which he approaches the topic. It's the I'm-right-and-anyone-who-disagrees-with-me-is-wrong vibe he gives off."

 

Yes! Again, I agree with Casper. When people have that particular "vibe," it's very off-putting. What's the point of trying to dialogue? 

 

Come as You Really Are: The Bridge: And yet I'm often tempted to act as if I know, when in fact I trust, and that is all that I really know for sure.

 

I love that Jim has those moments of recognizing his own failings through these dialogues with Casper. Confidence in Christ should not be a talisman warding unbelievers away.

 

Come as You Really Are: The Bridge: ". . . Jesus chose to have twelve disciples, not twenty thousand."

 

It's interesting that Casper is the one making the point that smaller groups have more impact on people's lives than the huge megachurches. Before this line, he says, "But it seems that those groups, which I know can be very effective, are taking second stage - literally and figuratively - to a massive light show for a sea of people in a sports arena or opera house." Jim pointed out that even large churches have small groups. The effectiveness of different ministries . . . how can one really tell? Being a Jesus follower is life-changing, but it looks different for different people.

 

Osteen Live!: Lakewood: . . . opinions that had been like wet cement suddenly hardened into deeply held convictions. Hunches formed over thirty years in ministry shifted like tectonic plates on the ocean floor of my soul.

 

First of all, I love his use of language here - the way the words flow is beautiful. Secondly, I'm not at all sure what his point is. I personally have a very strong dislike for Joel Osteen, but that's probably not fair of me. But does Jim Henderson admire him? Disagree with his methods? I don't want to re-read this section of the book, but I was genuinely puzzled by what opinions were hardened and what hunches shifted . . . 

 

Osteen Live!: Lakewood: "What I mean is that Joel Osteen and other TV preachers are not making appeals to the worst people, but to the worst in people.

 They make appeals to people's greed, selfishness, envy, pride: 'You're gonna get rich, you deserve abundance, you're better than nonbelievers.'"

 

Yet again, I agree with Casper here. It's such a turnoff to hear his spiel. I still remember his reluctance to let people shelter in his church after Hurricane Harvey. What a tool! Is he listening to Jesus or reading God's Word at all?! Yuk.

 

Keeping It Real: The Potter's House:  I agreed with Casper that the celebrity pastor thing is garish and pretty much a reflection of the church's adoption of consumerism and technology.

 

Yep. Sad. And part of why some people have no desire to go to church.

 

Keeping It Real: The Potter's House: "It's simple: If the Bible is really the Word of God, it's very, very important to not take it out of context. I mean, that's a rule that applies to most every phrase ever said, so you'd think it'd apply tenfold to the Bible! You can't look at Leviticus and say God hates gay people, then ignore Jesus' endless commands to love each other. You can't take a snippet of the Bible out of context and misuse it, or spin it, to support your particular pitch. That's twisted."

 

A lot of us tend to pick our "favorite" verses and focus on those . . . and I'm guilty of it, too. Casper goes on to talk about the Constitution and amendments to it, but I want to finish this blog entry and move on.

 

Keeping It Real: The Potter's House: "I guess I'd just like Christians and church leaders to be more honest. Not just with me, but with everyone in their churches. Stop treating faith as a fact. Call it a hope. Call it confidence, not certainty."

 

Henderson wanted someone to be honest with him, sharing an "outsider" perspective on church. He  got it!

 

Is This What Jesus Told You Guys to Do?: The same format repeated itself regardless of the setting. The greet-sing-preach-collect-present form played out in front of us with unrelenting predictability. And when it was all done, he would turn to me and ask, "Jim, is this what Jesus told you guys to do?"

 

What a great question! Getting together for a worship service once a week is not the most important thing Christ followers were told to do.  

 

Is This What Jesus Told You Guys to Do?:  That leads to my basic question for pastors and Christians of all kinds: Are we in the preaching business or the people-changing business?

 

Honestly, I think this is a little unfair. Most pastors I know do so much more than preach! They counsel, encourage, connect, serve, . . . and inspire their congregation to do so also.

 

Is This What Jesus Told You Guys to Do?:  We need to honestly admit that in fact, Jesus didn't care a whit about church services. He cared about loving and serving others and introducing people to a personal God who not only loves them but more important, likes them.

 

Loving and serving others. I like that. Succinct.

 

Casper's Closing Words: There are two rules we must all abide by to live healthy, happy lives with each other and with everyone on the planet:

1. Be open-minded. Learning is the best thing that can happen to anyone.

2. DO unto others as you would have them do unto you.

And though I've never met the man, I think Jesus would agree.

 

I think it's interesting that all these experiences and conversations left Casper content with atheism and okay with not knowing Jesus. I can't disagree with his two points, though.

 

Q & A with Jim & Casper: This is probably more of a reflection of Casper's personality, but I also think he expresses the postmodern mind-set. Many young people are tired of being sold and told, preferring instead to be invited and included.

 

Someone asked about Casper's dislike of brochures and bulletins. I think Jim's response is eye-opening. Having done the bulletin at church for several years, I was taken aback when the pastor decided to stop using them. It has taken me a while to understand that decision. The idea of not wanting to be "sold and told" also caught my attention. Young people are very different now from thirty years ago . . . 

 

Q & A with Jim & Casper: There is a difference between certainty, and confidence or hope. As followers of Jesus, we put our faith in a set of beliefs that we choose to think of as real. We cannot prove any of them - that is why it is called faith.

 

This theme came up over and over. I'm not sure why I highlighted it again. This blog entry (and reading the book in two separate chunks of checkout time) has taken me much too long!

 

 

 

 

A Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore

By: Matthew Justin Davis

Hennepin County Library hardcover 269 pages plus acknowledgments, notes, and index

Published: 2025

Genre: non-fiction, history

 

It's a bit of a misnomer to call this a biography, but I really like this author's work. My friend Kathy told me about this book and how it's a South Dakota One Book title. I absolutely love the idea of community read books! I won't probably engage in any discussions on this book, other than with her, but I just got excited about the program. 

 

I marked lots and lots of pages. There was a lot in this book!

 

Page xv-xvii:  Through debates over American history and how to memorialize it, deep fissures in national identity were exposed, revealing a country unable - and in some quarters unwilling - to confront the darkness of our national past.

 

Davis is referring to President Trump's speech at Mount Rushmore in 2020 and the protests against him. There are many ways to look at history and this author does a great job of examining events from different perspectives.  

 

Page xvi-xvii: Every American generation faces unique challenges, but the American children of this pandemic era have been born into a fast-moving narrative whose current stakes are the future of our democracy. . . . To think about our past, how we represent that past in memorials, and to consider the United States we are developing for our children.

 

There's a lot to unpack here. What will the adults of the 2040s take away from their childhood about what it means to be American?  As an educator and a grandma, how am I helping to shape children's understanding about our country?

 

Page 5: The memorial appeared smaller in the space of my imagination, too. Seeing it, I felt as one does when encountering an object or place from childhood, when one realizes physical scales struggle to contain the outsized emotional influence of memory.

 

If you've never experienced this, it's wild how something was huge in your memory is far less impressive when revisited in your adulthood. The picture on the cover of this book made me think, "It looks so small from that perspective."

 

Page 8: She moved on to Rushmore and said four different groups offer interpretations of the symbolic sculpture we were staring at from the terrace.

 

Davis is referring to a tour guide. The four groups are veterans (freedom and patriotism), National Park Service (same plus a celebration of ideals), Mount Rushmore Society (preservation, education, outreach), and the Indigenous community (disrespect).  The more I learn about the Black Hills being sacred to First People, the more disgusted I get by the greedy, sneaky tactics used to steal that land once minerals or other valuable things were found. Historically, white people have been incredibly awful to Native Americans. (My opinion.)

 

Page  19 - So many names! I couldn't track all of this. Tunkasila Sakpe Paha (the Six Grandfathers), Hinhan Kaga (Owl Maker), Harney Peak (Woman Killer), Igmu Tanka Paha, . . . I love that the author did so much thorough research, but I just kept reading. I still struggle with saying Minneapolis' Lake Bde Maka Ska.

 

Page 20: If you put a piece of paper by its mouth, you understand its eponymous origins: a breeze wafts in or out depending on atmospheric conditions. It feels like the earth is breathing.

 

Wind Cave is awesome! We took the boys there in 1999 (I think) and it was so incredible to experience. We also went to Jewel Cave. It's fun when reading a book to make a personal connection.

 

Page  22: . . . wrote the great Lakota historian, scholar, and writer Vine Deloria, Jr., in his book God Is Red.

 

I have too many library (and other) books to read right now, but I would love to check this one out!

 

Page 27: I have ample time to observe, stuck as I am behind a slow-moving red Dodge Durango SUV with a bumper sticker that reads: "You Choose: Gun Owner or Victim." I choose not to honk to move him along.

 

This made me laugh and reflect. Too many gun rights people are fanatical, in my opinion. Why the passion for firearms? I can't relate. Avoiding road rage is a great idea, though. I like the author's voice in this book.

 

Page 33: By bestowing mediocre gifts and misunderstanding leadership and tribal dynamics, Lewis and Clark had stepped into a complicated situation they tried to contain through threat of force. This combination of misunderstanding and excessive violence was to be a trend in Lakota-American relations for the next century as Americans began their rapid settling of the West.

 

Oh, our history in dealing with Native Americans is so, so awful. Greed, arrogance, and a false sense of superiority haven't faded in the intervening years . . . 

 

Page 36: The summer after Harney's campaign, Lakota leaders met near Bear Butte to discuss how to handle this increasing influx of Americans, wasicu, or "fat white men" as they called them.

 

It was nice to laugh at something instead of just being sad or appalled. I love that the Lakota had a term for this!

 

Page 41: The confusion is funny because it's believable - Americans, like many people, are often selective in the history they choose to understand.

 

Davis is referring to the town of Custer, SD. Because it's an homage to Custer's Last Stand, people think the battle happened there. His reference to history people "choose to understand" made me think about my lack of deeper understanding on many historical events. This is an area for growth for me!

 

Page 42: The military argued that the treaty gave license for government-sponsored personnel to move through Lakota land on official business, so the expedition was launched. But while the primary public rationale was militaristic, the unspoken reasons were largely economic.

 

The author has done extensive research. His notes and references cover more than twenty-five pages. There were letters that show exactly what the intentions were. Our government was underhanded, lying to and stealing from the American Indian tribes that we "negotiated" treaties with. 

 

Page 46: The impression, with the benefit of history, is of a young man who will say anything to get what he wants.

 

General George Custer seems to have been a bit of a "golden boy," but the kind of person who is a snake in the grass. 

 

Page 52: "Custer was depicted as a fallen Christian knight, a shining star of civilization cut down by demonic savages." 

 

This quotation is from a book by Joe Jackson, Black Elk: The Life of an American Visionary. So . . . talk about revisionist history. People at the time were lamenting his death and revering Custer as a "fallen Christian knight" while he had attacked and killed women and children. Ugh.

 

Part 1 was titled "Origins." Part 2 (page 67) was "Growth, Loss, and Hope (1877 - 1925)." Part 3 (page 125 was "The Making of Mount Rushmore." Part 4 (page 185) is "The Meaning of Mount Rushmore: An Exploration in Four Questions and One Event." Then there are over thirty pages of acknowledgments, notes, and index.

 

<I wrote the above on May 2. I have to return the book today June 9 because there's a waiting list and I've renewed it the maximum number of times. I'm on page 185 - the start of part 4. Ugh!>

 

Page 76: The choice upset southern Dakotans, who perceived their northern neighbors as living in a backwater, and it spurred them to push for two separate states divided at the Seventh Standard Parallel."

 

I didn't realize that there originally was only going to be one state called Dakota. History is not my strength area!

 

Page  82: It is a historical trauma many in this community believe is celebrated, or at least ignored, at Mount Rushmore.

 

The history of what white people have done to indigenous people in this country is truly horrific. Boarding schools and the destruction of children is only one huge example.

 

Page 90: In a crude way, these were twin policies: land policy and ownership for the adults; education for the children. Of course, underlying both these approaches were deep beliefs in the supremacy of the white race and stereotypes of the Native American as wild, lazy, unlearned, and dangerous.

 

Some people will argue that the people pushing these policies "meant well," but good intentions and evil practices don't balance. On the next page, I learned more about the Dawes Act. Oh my! There may be a reason I'm not a student of history. It saddens me that time and again, greed and selfishness win out over doing the right thing for the greater good.

 

I marked a bunch of pages in chapter 7 of part 2 . . . basically, Gutzon Borglum was very buddy buddy with the KKK. He worked on a stone carving in Georgia and was supported by (and supportive of) the KKK. A burning cross . . . the cross of Jesus Christ . . . used as a symbol of white supremacy and hatred. This stuff makes my stomach turn.

 

Page 107: Memorials and monuments are claims to a specific version of that past.

 

Ooh. There's a lot of room for discussion on this one! 

 

Page 117: In large measure because of their contribution to the war effort, the U.S. Congress finally gave citizenship to Native Americans - the last group in the United States to receive the designation, even though they were the first ones on the continent.

 

This is so sad. It makes me think of Joseph Bruchac's Code Talkers. How awful that the people who were here well before the first settlers were the last to be accepted as citizens!

 

Page 135: Borglum responded days later with a long, scathing letter about the people of South Dakota and painted himself as a martyr.

 

He sounds like a real gem.

 

Page 143-4: His preferred method of working was to be solely in charge - he wanted control of artistic direction, employment decisions, and financial spending. When he felt stymied in one or more of these categories, he lashed out, sometimes in person, but more frequently in letters.

 

Some people are just control freaks. Borglum was a bit of an egomaniac.

 

Page 149: If the effects of the Great Depression were widespread, they were particularly ominous for Native Americans. At Pine Ridge, the annual income in 1931 for a family of five was just over $150, about the equivalent of living off $3,000 today . . . " 

 

This author has done such an extensive amount of research, interviews, and analysis. I'm impressed. 

 

Page 161: When people first see Mount Rushmore, most are shocked by its size, though not in the way they expect. Most find it smaller than their minds had conceived . . . 

 

I love that there was a photo section in the book! So many wonderful historical photos. And yes, for a huge carving, it kind of looks small.

 

Page 166: The bosun chairs he designed never gave way or caused a man to fall, and in the sixteen years of Rushmore's construction, not a single man died on the job. (In contrast, ninety-six men officially died building Hoover Dam.)

 

This makes me curious to learn more about the building of the Hoover Dam. Kudos to Borglum that there weren't fatalities on his build site.

 

Page  169: In other words, nothing like Mount Rushmore will ever be built again. This is both a little sad and oddly comforting.

 

Page 171: ... though many made suggestions, he never seriously considered other faces on the memorial.

 

Borglum's work at Mount Rushmore is finished. I remember in the 1980s hearing people talk about adding Reagan's face to the monument. And now our current POTUS seems to think he deserves to be there. Just no. 

 

Page 180 had a pretty balanced look at Borglum - the good and the bad. Again, I appreciate this author's work and the fact that he can see things from more than just his own point of view.

 

<All of the above was written May 2 and June 9. Below is what I'm adding on 7.15.2026.>

 

Page 185: In 2013, Kibbe McGaa Conti, whose hungry relative was incinerated in the boiler room of the Rapid City Indian Boarding School (RCIS) while trying to heat up a stolen potato, was asked to spearhead the seventy-fifth anniversary of the opening of the Sioux Sanatorium . . . 

 

Conti is a key person in the ongoing saga of telling the truth about the past and recognizing that different people tell these stories from very different perspectives. Another amazing person is Amy Sazue, the first executive director of the Remembering the Children Memorial.

 

Page 188: ". . . I want my decisions to be sound and to be building something good and not contributing to the chaos that already exists here."  Sazue told me that Lakota people are supposed to think seven generations behind and seven generations ahead.

 

I love that concept! Seven generations ahead and behind - how different our decision-making might look! I don't even know who were my ancestors seven generations ago . . . I could trace it with my maternal grandfather, but . . . now I'm curious! I love family tree stuff. And I really have trouble imagining seven generations from me. Joshua and Benjamin are two generations away from me . . . will they marry and have children? Will they become grandparents, great-grandparents? That's hard for me to picture! (Just because the future is so open and so many things can happen. They are little kids right now.)

 

Page 190: She realized that, like her grandfather, she negotiates her role as executive director and community leader . . . by being a diplomat. Her audiences are multiple and conflicting: elders who want to protect the graves; activists who want land back from treaties; politicians, police, and local business leaders whose support she wants and needs; the non-Native community that can feel threatened by the perceived righting of historical wrongs.

 

Sazue has a lot on her shoulders! Reading about this made me really want to go in person and see the memorial to the children who died in the boarding school.

 

Page 192: The Remembering the Children sculpture he manifested with the Lakota elders will be cast collaboratively with Indigenous artists. Tiwahe, "family" in Lakota, is set to be installed on the memorial site next year. 

 

I can understand why Indigenous people would be upset that a non-Native (artist Lamphere) was chosen to sculpt the memorial, but I think Sazue navigated that issue tactfully and wisely. I put a link to the website, but haven't spent much time digging around there. I'd really rather go see in person!

Page 192: . . . it's very likely that Crazy Horse - who refused to have his picture taken during his lifetime - would be aghast at having his face carved into the Black Hills.

 

Twenty-some years ago when we visited the Black Hills, I was a champion of the Crazy Horse carving (to counteract the Mount Rushmore theme) . . . but the more I learn about the complicated history of the relationships between whites and Indigenous people, the more my head swims. I'm fascinated by the "land back" movement . . . and should learn more about Red Earth, where our lake place is.

 

Page 194: At its conclusion, Abraham Lincoln ordered the hanging of thirty-eight Dakota men on December 26, 1962, still the largest mass execution in American history.

 

Oh. I knew about the horrors of the thirty-eight. But I didn't realize it was Abraham Lincoln who ordered it. That makes me unspeakably sad. He's one of my favorite U.S. presidents. What was he thinking? (And why am I just learning this historical connection in my sixties?!)

 

 Page 213: His groundbreaking career culminated in 2004, when he became the first Native American superintendent of Mount Rushmore.

 

The author's time and interviews with Gerard Baker are one of my favorite parts of the book. What a fascinating man! It sounds like he was just what that community needed at the time, though he certainly ruffled lots of feathers. (On page 218, there's a story of him being told there's no room available at a hotel. When his white wife, Mary Kay, goes in, the room is rented to her. "This type of casual racism was maddening, though unsurprising.")

 

Page 215: The opening of the 212-foot Garrison Dam flooded that community and the surrounding area. All told, 94 percent of the reservation's agricultural land was flooded, and 80 percent of families living on the reservation, including the Bakers, were displaced. It wasn't simply that the dam drowned crops and homes; it flooded graves, historical sites, and generational memory.

 

Again and again, white people in power positions make decisions to benefit themselves and harm the people who were here before all us immigrants! And I feel as though with our current POTUS, we're going further back into this mentality - money for me and my kind is more important than other people's lives, especially if they have darker skin . . . it makes me want to scream.

 

Page 229: Land Back - both the phrase and the mission - has become a clarion call for many Native communities across the country, especially in the lands of the Lakota Nation, . . . 

 

Again, this is a concept and movement I want to learn more about.

 

Page  233 had an error (?) that drove me crazy! He goes from "Mark" to "Nick" without explanation. I read and re-read the paragraphs before and after, looking to see what I'd missed. Ken Tilsen is the dad. Nick is the son who is referenced a LOT after this. But look at what I'm talking about:

 

 

 

 

Who the heck is Mark Tilsen?! And why did I waste so much time pointing this out? I really need to just finish this over-long blog entry!

 

Okay, I had never before heard of the Monument Lab doing the "National Monument Audit" for the Mellon Foundation (page 238). I would definitely love to check this out! Fascinating stuff.

 

Page  245: "What can burn?" Trump asked. "It's stone!"

 

Ugh. Kristi Noem and Donald Trump. Fireworks at Mount Rushmore. Arrogant attitudes and disregard for the environment, Native peoples, etc. I'm not surprised. Just disappointed that he keeps getting what he wants. And how does he not realize that there are other considerations? (Trees and grasses can burn, fireworks debris littering the ground, etc.) There was so much more about Governor Noem and the reservations . . . but I need to move on.

 

Page  255: "Keystone that day was a full-out Trump rally. People were running up to our cars, telling us to go home. Screaming at us! And we were yelling back like, 'WE ARE HOME!'"

 

Sazue is pointing out that the Native people (who had lived there for millenia) were being told by MAGA-type people to get out of their homeland. How ironic! She compared the "Trump rally" atmosphere to the feeling of being at a "Ku Klux Klan rally." Ugh.

 

Page  261: About a month after President Trump's visit to Mount Rushmore, the New York Times reported that in the previous year, 2019, before the coronavirus and the protests over American history that would coalesce at Mount Rushmore, a "White House aide" had reached out to Governor Noem asking about the process of including more presidents on the memorial. 

 

His arrogance has no bounds.

 

Page 263: For as artistically adept and technically innovative as Mount Rushmore is, for as moving and powerful it can be for veterans and lovers of liberty and democracy, for as fun as it can be to bring the family to see the faces and enjoy an ice cream, I just don't think that Mount Rushmore belongs on the mountain of Rushmore.

 

The author is pretty clear in his opinion and in sharing both the positives and negatives of this place. I appreciate that. There is more that I bookmarked (and removed). Why do I feel a need to comment on everything?! This book was a more challenging read - lots of history and information. Like I said, I don't think I'll be part of a discussion group. But it does make me want to learn more. I will probably be coming back to this entry to revisit some of the things that most piqued my interest.