a novella
by Fredrick Backman
Scott County Library audiobook 1 CD
read by David Morse
For some reason, this little work was less accessible for me than the other Backman titles I've read recently. Morse's vocal work was good. The story was touching - I cried. Here's the blurb from the back cover:
"Grandpa and Noah are sitting on a bench in a square that keeps getting smaller every day. The square is strange but also familiar, full of teh sweet scent of the hyacinths that Grandma loved to grow in her garden. As they wait together, they tell jokes and discuss their shared love of mathematics."
There is a lot happening in this very short work. The relationship between the elderly man and his grandson is just the start. There area also the man and his son as a boy, his son as an adult, and the man and his wife when they were young. Memories, experiences, and aging . . . learning to say goodbye.
I should just bite the bullet and buy all of Backman's books. They're that amazing.
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Crooked House
by Agatha Christie
Scott County Library audiobook 5 CDs
read by Hugh Fraser
genre: detective murder mystery fiction
I haven't read an Agatha Christie book in a while and I enjoyed this one. I won't give any spoilers, but I love the way the author makes it possible for *any* of the characters to be the murderer while also making it seem that each one would not have done so. There were lots of clues along with red herrings. Delightful! I was not surprised at the ending, but I enjoyed the circuitous route of getting there.
Charles Hayward - our hero
his dad - a commissioner at Scotland Yard
Sophia Leonides - Charles' fiancee'
Aristide Leonides - Sophia's grandfather and the charismatic patriarch of the clan, newly murdered
Brenda Leonides - Aristide's much younger wife
Roger Leonides - Aristide's nervous son who isn't very good at business
Clemency - Roger's austere wife who wants to get him away from the family
Philip - Aristide's other son - an intellectual, a bit of a recluse
Magda - Philip's wife, actress, dramatic
Eustace - Philip and Magda's son (Sophia is oldest), teenage, sullen
Josephine - Philip and Magda's youngest daughter - 12 years old, snoops, bratty
Edith de Havilland - Aristide's sister-in-law from his first marriage; came to help care for the children
Nanny - hired help? an actual grandma? elderly lady who cooks and looks after the kids
Inspector - I forgot his name
Lawrence Brown - the tutor engaged for Eustace and Josephine, a conscientious objector during WWII, nervous, in love with Brenda (and she with him)
The Crooked House - the house is itself a character of sorts. It sets the scene and adds to the intrigue.
Scott County Library audiobook 5 CDs
read by Hugh Fraser
genre: detective murder mystery fiction
I haven't read an Agatha Christie book in a while and I enjoyed this one. I won't give any spoilers, but I love the way the author makes it possible for *any* of the characters to be the murderer while also making it seem that each one would not have done so. There were lots of clues along with red herrings. Delightful! I was not surprised at the ending, but I enjoyed the circuitous route of getting there.
Charles Hayward - our hero
his dad - a commissioner at Scotland Yard
Sophia Leonides - Charles' fiancee'
Aristide Leonides - Sophia's grandfather and the charismatic patriarch of the clan, newly murdered
Brenda Leonides - Aristide's much younger wife
Roger Leonides - Aristide's nervous son who isn't very good at business
Clemency - Roger's austere wife who wants to get him away from the family
Philip - Aristide's other son - an intellectual, a bit of a recluse
Magda - Philip's wife, actress, dramatic
Eustace - Philip and Magda's son (Sophia is oldest), teenage, sullen
Josephine - Philip and Magda's youngest daughter - 12 years old, snoops, bratty
Edith de Havilland - Aristide's sister-in-law from his first marriage; came to help care for the children
Nanny - hired help? an actual grandma? elderly lady who cooks and looks after the kids
Inspector - I forgot his name
Lawrence Brown - the tutor engaged for Eustace and Josephine, a conscientious objector during WWII, nervous, in love with Brenda (and she with him)
The Crooked House - the house is itself a character of sorts. It sets the scene and adds to the intrigue.
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Falling into Place: A Memoir of Overcoming
by Hattie Kauffman
my copy, paperback 236 pages
genre: Christian memoir
I didn't have access to post-it notes as I read this (or was simply too lazy to go get them) . . . but I own it and can re-read it to make note of the things that really impacted me. I met Ms. Kauffman at the Scotts' church a few years ago. She was so interesting to listen to and I purchased her book, which she signed for me.
Much of the book is about the breakup of her second marriage, interspersed with stories of her childhood. One thing that really struck me was the impact her aunt Teddy had on her - teaching her Scripture, bringing her to church, etc. Teddy could not have known how sowing seeds into Hattie's life would bear fruit so many years later.
This book was hard to read at times (her husband wanting a divorce and her struggle with her blossoming faith / in a news anchor career that generally eschews Christianity . . . ) but her writing style is very inviting. She did a great job of making connections between what she is going through as an adult and what she experienced as a child. One of seven children of an American Indian woman and a white man (both parents were alcoholics), Hattie knew poverty, hunger, and insecurity. Yet her story of overcoming is just that.
<I wrote the above on 3.17.2018. Below on 1.4.2023.>
I've decided to donate this book to the Recovery Church as well. Again, I have so many books and want to decrease my possessions this year. I hope someone who needs to read her story picks this up.
Sunday, March 11, 2018
A Man Called Ove
by Henrik Backman
Scott County Library audiobook 8 CDs
read by George Newbern
genre: realistic fiction
Oh. My. Word.
Backman is amazing! I had heard of this book when it became popular a few years ago, but only got this audiobook after reading his title My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry (also amazing!).
As I started listening to it, I thought "what a jerk!" I had to stop the CD a bunch of times because I am a very character-driven reader and I did *not* like the character of Ove. (It's pronounced "Ooh-vah," not "Ove" like "stove" . . . ) The back of the case says, "He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him 'the bitter neighbor from hell.'"
Here are some of my first quick jottings:
- people like Ove really exist . . . pointless! Fussy.
- How do you want to spend your life?
- Oo-vah
- Backing with a trailer - ugh! I can't back up with a trailer. That doesn't make me an idiot! (My note actually says "Backing w/a trailer" . . . I try to focus on driving when I'm driving!)
- 1/4 ton guy . . . "testing bacon for a living" . . . both funny AND mean
Then as I listened more and stopped the CD less, I made note of Parvana - "the pregnant one" and Patrick - "the lanky one."
I loved getting to know Ove and Sonja. I started to worry that the book would ultimately be too dark and depressing and sad . . . but there were so many places where I laughed out loud! As I got to "know" and appreciate this cranky old man and his story, I grew to really care about him.
"The blond weed" and her dog Prince . . . and Ove's idea for revenge on the dog's attack on the cat . . . I was loving this story.
Ove is only 59?!?!? I thought he was much older! (I had quickly guessed about Sonja before it was revealed in the story.)
The author's use of repetition is brilliant.
So funny!
I don't think this is a spoiler, but my last note (which connects to the opening scene in the book) is "I'm relieved that Jimmy is at the Apple store with Ove and Ove is buying an iPad for his 7-year-old neighbor girl."
I was in tears by the end, but they were good. I would (and probably will) buy my own copy of this book!
The reader's vocal work was spot-on.
<Above posted March 11, 2018. Below added August 18, 2026.>
Since I posted, I read the book in print, watched the movie with Tom Hanks (which I initially rejected - A Man Called Otto, indeed!), and have now re-listened to the audiobook (on Libby, not CDs). The narrator / reader is the same. George Newbern does an admirable job capturing the nuances of all the characters! I love this story so very much. I recommended it to Nick (who doesn't read as much in summer due to all the projects requiring time and attention) and am going to see if I own a physical copy on my shelf.
My one dislike of this book is when characters use Jesus' name as a swear word. That hurts my ears and my heart.
Ashes
by Ilsa J. Bick
Scott County Library paperback 465 pages
book one of the Ashes trilogy
genre: YA dystopian fiction
Ugh! I started reading this while subbing. It looked somewhat interesting and the kids had silent reading time (ten minutes for each of four sections of language arts), so I got to page 100 and was hooked. Two weeks later, I grabbed it for silent reading in a sixth grade classroom. Again, multiple sections later, I was on page 160. I decided to just get it from the county library and finish it. And now that I have . . . I will get book two, because the story has NOT resolved.
Alex (a girl) has lost both her parents and is struggling with a brain tumor that is killing her. Deciding to forego further treatment, she heads out on a camping trip intending to kill herself. Instead, she meets up with a grandpa and his sullen young granddaughter, Ellie. A cataclysmic event ***SPOILER ALERT***
instantly kills grandpa (and most other humans between young adults and mature adults). Of the young people left alive, some change . . . into cannibals. Like zombies, but they haven't died yet. The elderly have also survived, but survival is getting harder. Alex and Ellie have many encounters with danger and near-death. Tom is a super important character . . .
I was disappointed with the author's choice to have Rule be such a cult-like place and to introduce a love-triangle dilemma for Alex, but hey! I need to read book two to see where it goes.
Scott County Library paperback 465 pages
book one of the Ashes trilogy
genre: YA dystopian fiction
Ugh! I started reading this while subbing. It looked somewhat interesting and the kids had silent reading time (ten minutes for each of four sections of language arts), so I got to page 100 and was hooked. Two weeks later, I grabbed it for silent reading in a sixth grade classroom. Again, multiple sections later, I was on page 160. I decided to just get it from the county library and finish it. And now that I have . . . I will get book two, because the story has NOT resolved.
Alex (a girl) has lost both her parents and is struggling with a brain tumor that is killing her. Deciding to forego further treatment, she heads out on a camping trip intending to kill herself. Instead, she meets up with a grandpa and his sullen young granddaughter, Ellie. A cataclysmic event ***SPOILER ALERT***
instantly kills grandpa (and most other humans between young adults and mature adults). Of the young people left alive, some change . . . into cannibals. Like zombies, but they haven't died yet. The elderly have also survived, but survival is getting harder. Alex and Ellie have many encounters with danger and near-death. Tom is a super important character . . .
I was disappointed with the author's choice to have Rule be such a cult-like place and to introduce a love-triangle dilemma for Alex, but hey! I need to read book two to see where it goes.
The Wake of the Lorelei Lee
by L.A. Meyer
Scott County Library hardcover 554 pages
genre: YA historical adventure fiction
I'm developing a love/hate relationship with these books.
Love:
strong female protagonist who is resourceful, clever, kind, and basically "good"
fun adventures
a mix of humor and seriousness in with the rollicking adventures
typically doesn't take itself too seriously
Hate:
disdain of Christianity, except where convenient to honor someone's death (if they're valued in life)
the stories are starting to feel a bit repetitive and predictable, while the lengths of the books are getting longer
I'm hooked and will continue to spend time reading these . . .
In this story, Jacky is convicted of her crimes (based on the lies of Bliffel and Flashby) and sent to the Hulks (I was so excited at this part on page 82! Just like the opening scene of Dickens' Great Expectations!) and then on to Australia with other women who've been convicted of crimes ranging from theft to prostitution. Jaimy has also been arrested and is being sent to Australia, but on a different ship. Oh, and Jacky is taken by Chinese pirates and becomes the female lead pirate's "pet." This was the part of the book that just got to be a bit much for me. Also, this one ends as a bit of a cliff-hanger. Grrr.
Scott County Library hardcover 554 pages
genre: YA historical adventure fiction
I'm developing a love/hate relationship with these books.
Love:
strong female protagonist who is resourceful, clever, kind, and basically "good"
fun adventures
a mix of humor and seriousness in with the rollicking adventures
typically doesn't take itself too seriously
Hate:
disdain of Christianity, except where convenient to honor someone's death (if they're valued in life)
the stories are starting to feel a bit repetitive and predictable, while the lengths of the books are getting longer
I'm hooked and will continue to spend time reading these . . .
In this story, Jacky is convicted of her crimes (based on the lies of Bliffel and Flashby) and sent to the Hulks (I was so excited at this part on page 82! Just like the opening scene of Dickens' Great Expectations!) and then on to Australia with other women who've been convicted of crimes ranging from theft to prostitution. Jaimy has also been arrested and is being sent to Australia, but on a different ship. Oh, and Jacky is taken by Chinese pirates and becomes the female lead pirate's "pet." This was the part of the book that just got to be a bit much for me. Also, this one ends as a bit of a cliff-hanger. Grrr.
Thursday, March 08, 2018
It's Okay to Laugh (Crying Is Cool Too): A Memoir
by Nora McInerny Purmort
Hennepin County Library hardcover 274 pages
genre: memoir, loss
This will be a quick entry. Purmort is a very talented writer who has dealt with a lot of loss in her young life. Although I enjoyed some of her cleverness, humor, and insights, I didn't enjoy this book. One passage particularly illustrates this to me:
"I will sometimes hate-read blogs written by people I despise, just to make my blood boil. You probably don't hate-read anything because you have a sparkling mind that has not been pecked to death by the incessant information assault that is the Internet." (page 7)
I love her use of language - "the incessant information assault that is the Internet" - but I cannot see her attitude of reading something to make her more angry than she already is. Philosophically, I am so different from her.
Yet I tagged page 14 because it made me laugh out loud when she described the hospital and its amenities . . . She is very clever! And I tagged page 21 because of her sadness at wanting to preserve everything about her husband before he dies . . . "like I want to just stick a little USB drive into his arm and download everything about him. I want every memory, every feeling, every thought from baby Aaron and child Aaron and punky teenage Aaron, who pierced his ears multiple times. Grown-up Aaron hugs me close to his skinny chest until the fire alarm lets us know we've burned our dinner to the pan."
Page 47 - She talks about trying to meditate by using an app - "It's worth it, though, to have a little bit of time dedicated to quieting the dozen or so monkeys in my brain, wearing their fezzes and vests, clanging away with tiny cymbals." Sometimes one's own thoughts can be so distracting!
Page 52 - "His happiness was innate, but mine is not. Mine is a choice that I make, a garden that I tend to every single day." I think it's interesting to observe that some people seem naturally joyful and positive and others of us have to make a conscious choice to work at it. I struggle with her profanity and anger, but recognize parts of me in some of her attitudes.
Page 52 - "shout out to Google for giving me a PhD in Everything" another thing that made me smile. She has a way with words!
Page 149 - I don't know what struck me more here - the fact that she didn't feel as though they could call any of their friends because of the depth of their pain or simple compassion for all that she was dealing with . . . "I'm filled with secret sorrows. Across the city, my father is dying in the intensive care unit of another hospital." Her husband is dying from cancer. She has just miscarried another baby. I cannot even fathom how the convergence of all these major life events. Whether I like or agree with her tone and attitude, I can recognize her strength in getting through this time in her life.
Page 161-163 - Oh my! All the well-meaning advice (often conflicting) that people give about parenting! What a rush to read this and remember how it felt to be on the receiving end of it. (Though I think this part might qualify as funny and sad simultaneously!)
Page 208 - I don't want to dwell on this, but how can she recognize the futility of trying to get people (including internet trolls) to like you . . . while also being concerned about people liking her? She is still growing up. I hope she figures herself out. It makes me sad that she grew up in Catholic church and school, but has no personal faith in God. Getting through her life's traumas and raising her son on her own strength . . . I'd rather lean on Jesus.
(Added almost two days later:)
I didn't mean that to sound trite. I was going to write a quick entry so I could return the book to the library and ended up going on and on. It made me sad to have this funny, talented writer who endured such pain and sorrow . . . have no connection to faithfulness in God. How do people deal with the big life and death issues without confidence in God's love and provision for eternity? Her cavalier attitude toward morals, parenting, etc. (and gratuitous swearing) were off-putting. There were many, many positive aspects to this book, but I was glad to finish it and was left feeling sad for her.
Hennepin County Library hardcover 274 pages
genre: memoir, loss
This will be a quick entry. Purmort is a very talented writer who has dealt with a lot of loss in her young life. Although I enjoyed some of her cleverness, humor, and insights, I didn't enjoy this book. One passage particularly illustrates this to me:
"I will sometimes hate-read blogs written by people I despise, just to make my blood boil. You probably don't hate-read anything because you have a sparkling mind that has not been pecked to death by the incessant information assault that is the Internet." (page 7)
I love her use of language - "the incessant information assault that is the Internet" - but I cannot see her attitude of reading something to make her more angry than she already is. Philosophically, I am so different from her.
Yet I tagged page 14 because it made me laugh out loud when she described the hospital and its amenities . . . She is very clever! And I tagged page 21 because of her sadness at wanting to preserve everything about her husband before he dies . . . "like I want to just stick a little USB drive into his arm and download everything about him. I want every memory, every feeling, every thought from baby Aaron and child Aaron and punky teenage Aaron, who pierced his ears multiple times. Grown-up Aaron hugs me close to his skinny chest until the fire alarm lets us know we've burned our dinner to the pan."
Page 47 - She talks about trying to meditate by using an app - "It's worth it, though, to have a little bit of time dedicated to quieting the dozen or so monkeys in my brain, wearing their fezzes and vests, clanging away with tiny cymbals." Sometimes one's own thoughts can be so distracting!
Page 52 - "His happiness was innate, but mine is not. Mine is a choice that I make, a garden that I tend to every single day." I think it's interesting to observe that some people seem naturally joyful and positive and others of us have to make a conscious choice to work at it. I struggle with her profanity and anger, but recognize parts of me in some of her attitudes.
Page 52 - "shout out to Google for giving me a PhD in Everything" another thing that made me smile. She has a way with words!
Page 149 - I don't know what struck me more here - the fact that she didn't feel as though they could call any of their friends because of the depth of their pain or simple compassion for all that she was dealing with . . . "I'm filled with secret sorrows. Across the city, my father is dying in the intensive care unit of another hospital." Her husband is dying from cancer. She has just miscarried another baby. I cannot even fathom how the convergence of all these major life events. Whether I like or agree with her tone and attitude, I can recognize her strength in getting through this time in her life.
Page 161-163 - Oh my! All the well-meaning advice (often conflicting) that people give about parenting! What a rush to read this and remember how it felt to be on the receiving end of it. (Though I think this part might qualify as funny and sad simultaneously!)
Page 208 - I don't want to dwell on this, but how can she recognize the futility of trying to get people (including internet trolls) to like you . . . while also being concerned about people liking her? She is still growing up. I hope she figures herself out. It makes me sad that she grew up in Catholic church and school, but has no personal faith in God. Getting through her life's traumas and raising her son on her own strength . . . I'd rather lean on Jesus.
(Added almost two days later:)
I didn't mean that to sound trite. I was going to write a quick entry so I could return the book to the library and ended up going on and on. It made me sad to have this funny, talented writer who endured such pain and sorrow . . . have no connection to faithfulness in God. How do people deal with the big life and death issues without confidence in God's love and provision for eternity? Her cavalier attitude toward morals, parenting, etc. (and gratuitous swearing) were off-putting. There were many, many positive aspects to this book, but I was glad to finish it and was left feeling sad for her.
Monday, February 26, 2018
The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain
by Bill Bryson
Hennepin County Library audiobook 11 discs
read by Nathan Osgood
genre: humor, travelogue, history
I may need to read Notes From a Small Island. I'm not familiar with Bryson or his other works.
Aging stuff - funny! Hair growing from nose and ears / humor in stroke warnings . . . .
"If you are too stupid to spell disappointed, even approximately correctly, you are not allowed to take part in public discourse at any level." His sharp response to someone's TripAdvisor review that included a word "d-i-s-s-a-p-o-i-n-t-t-e-d" in describing a restaurant that Bryson himself appreciates a good deal.
Some of his wit is very funny, but at times he sounds like a cranky old guy who is a bit too picky. ("dissapointted" is clearly misspelled, but it is approximately correct . . . )
Marks and Spencer's / food hall / "You're an idiot." / H&M / clothes / I can't read all my notes, but "funny guy, but also kind of a jerk" is clear.
John Lennon stories / famous people sitings / I like this part.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and spiritualism . . . interesting stuff. I'd forgotten how prevalent this was at that time.
The internet has "no brains and no feelings - just like an I.T. person." Wow. Harsh.
The Greenway - pros and cons / compare to Denver sprawl. Interesting. I'm curious to learn more.
Gilbert White - never heard of him! The Natural History inspired Darwin.
LOTS of literary references! I feel pretty ignorant.
Silbury Hill - I had to Google it . . . again, interesting things I've never heard of before!
Barrows! Made me think of barrow wights and LOTR.
Lots of history! Tresko / marathon / exclusive / cystic fibrosis / his humanity finally shows! / no longer a thing
Penzance / Admiral Benbow - How funny! I recognized the Admiral Benbow from the Bloody Jack stories. And Ann and I just went to see the Pirates of Penzance last week!
Too negative at times / F-bombs . . . really?!
Parts of this are downright boring.
Who is Jeremy Clarkson and why does Bill Bryson hate him so much? (I Googled him, so now I know he's one of the Top Gear guys . . . but I guess I don't really care why BB hates him. It was interesting to find that most people think this book isn't as good as Notes from a Small Island . . . and that he's too "crotchety" in this one.)
Names of people, places, movies, stores, etc. I've never heard of . . . and stories that go nowhere. Did anyone edit this? Or did he just chuck in everything he thought of?
Dodo story - makes me want to learn more . . . did a museum director really put the last known specimen of one in a bonfire? And there are no physical remains of dodos anywhere?
F-bombs . . . a bit disappointing from someone who takes such pride in his excellent use of the English language
taxes . . . this part was funny! Like him putting a tax on people who text while walking
Hennepin County Library audiobook 11 discs
read by Nathan Osgood
genre: humor, travelogue, history
I may need to read Notes From a Small Island. I'm not familiar with Bryson or his other works.
Aging stuff - funny! Hair growing from nose and ears / humor in stroke warnings . . . .
"If you are too stupid to spell disappointed, even approximately correctly, you are not allowed to take part in public discourse at any level." His sharp response to someone's TripAdvisor review that included a word "d-i-s-s-a-p-o-i-n-t-t-e-d" in describing a restaurant that Bryson himself appreciates a good deal.
Some of his wit is very funny, but at times he sounds like a cranky old guy who is a bit too picky. ("dissapointted" is clearly misspelled, but it is approximately correct . . . )
Marks and Spencer's / food hall / "You're an idiot." / H&M / clothes / I can't read all my notes, but "funny guy, but also kind of a jerk" is clear.
John Lennon stories / famous people sitings / I like this part.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and spiritualism . . . interesting stuff. I'd forgotten how prevalent this was at that time.
The internet has "no brains and no feelings - just like an I.T. person." Wow. Harsh.
The Greenway - pros and cons / compare to Denver sprawl. Interesting. I'm curious to learn more.
Gilbert White - never heard of him! The Natural History inspired Darwin.
LOTS of literary references! I feel pretty ignorant.
Silbury Hill - I had to Google it . . . again, interesting things I've never heard of before!
Barrows! Made me think of barrow wights and LOTR.
Lots of history! Tresko / marathon / exclusive / cystic fibrosis / his humanity finally shows! / no longer a thing
Penzance / Admiral Benbow - How funny! I recognized the Admiral Benbow from the Bloody Jack stories. And Ann and I just went to see the Pirates of Penzance last week!
Too negative at times / F-bombs . . . really?!
Parts of this are downright boring.
Who is Jeremy Clarkson and why does Bill Bryson hate him so much? (I Googled him, so now I know he's one of the Top Gear guys . . . but I guess I don't really care why BB hates him. It was interesting to find that most people think this book isn't as good as Notes from a Small Island . . . and that he's too "crotchety" in this one.)
Names of people, places, movies, stores, etc. I've never heard of . . . and stories that go nowhere. Did anyone edit this? Or did he just chuck in everything he thought of?
Dodo story - makes me want to learn more . . . did a museum director really put the last known specimen of one in a bonfire? And there are no physical remains of dodos anywhere?
F-bombs . . . a bit disappointing from someone who takes such pride in his excellent use of the English language
taxes . . . this part was funny! Like him putting a tax on people who text while walking
The Sound of Rain
by Sarah Loudin Thomas
Hennepin County Library paperback 326 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction
Judd Markley, coal miner, and Larkin Heyward, daughter of a lumber baron, are clearly destined to be together. They are lovely characters in a pleasant book. I liked it, yet wasn't deeply moved by it and found it quite predictable.
Page 61 - I liked the character of Lill and thought her perspective added a lot to Larkin. Dying of cancer, she commented, "Seems like I was always rushing after something and now I can't think what it was." Ugh! I've spent too much of my life rushing around after nothing important.
Page 114 - "He remembered a time when he was nine or ten years old. Dad had taken the whole family to a tent revival and even now he could remember that young preacher. Tall and thin as a rail, he'd towered over the makeshift pulpit. He'd leaned into the crowd, talking about eternal life and . . . how had he put it, 'the quickening of the Holy Spirit'? Judd had heard plenty of hellfire and brimstone, but that was the first - and maybe the only - time he'd heard that God loved him and wanted to lead him through life. Judd remembered wanting that, too." Then his dad's insistence that he sit down and wait until he was older . . . quashed his conviction. So sad. I hope I haven't discouraged anyone in their faith!
Page 176 - Ben's comment - "Improving people's lives. Giving them a raft to hold on to when they're adrift in a sea of pain." The language here just really struck me. (This was in answer to Judd's question, "What do you see as success?")
Page 205 - I love when Larkin realizes how wonderful indoor plumbing is! I feel that way when we leave the Boundary Waters! Flushing toilets, hot water to wash your hands, showers! What incredible blessings!
Page 206 - "Larkin hadn't paid much attention in the past, but Granny had told her how she always put a candle in her window on Christmas Eve to welcome Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. Larkin laughed, because of course they weren't really coming, but Granny had stilled her with a touch and said, 'Oh, but they are coming.' She tapped her chest. 'And there's always room in my heart.'" I love the grannies in this story!
Page 229 - I like Ben's observation that Larkin's sunny attitude was very helpful to the poor of Kentucky who were independent and didn't "need" her there. "There are a dozen sad stories I know of and probably twice that many I don't. Just having you around for a distraction helps more than you realize."
Page 247 - Title reference! "Larkin's laughter was like the sound of rain on a tin roof at the end of a long, hot day. Judd felt soothed, comforted . . . alive."
Page 322 - It was almost corny how this all worked out. Predictable, yet . . . I enjoyed the story.
Page 325 - For a minute, I thought the author was throwing a major curveball! Nope.
Still, it was an enjoyable book set in 1954. From West Virginia and the coal mines to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, it was a nice story.
Hennepin County Library paperback 326 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction
Judd Markley, coal miner, and Larkin Heyward, daughter of a lumber baron, are clearly destined to be together. They are lovely characters in a pleasant book. I liked it, yet wasn't deeply moved by it and found it quite predictable.
Page 61 - I liked the character of Lill and thought her perspective added a lot to Larkin. Dying of cancer, she commented, "Seems like I was always rushing after something and now I can't think what it was." Ugh! I've spent too much of my life rushing around after nothing important.
Page 114 - "He remembered a time when he was nine or ten years old. Dad had taken the whole family to a tent revival and even now he could remember that young preacher. Tall and thin as a rail, he'd towered over the makeshift pulpit. He'd leaned into the crowd, talking about eternal life and . . . how had he put it, 'the quickening of the Holy Spirit'? Judd had heard plenty of hellfire and brimstone, but that was the first - and maybe the only - time he'd heard that God loved him and wanted to lead him through life. Judd remembered wanting that, too." Then his dad's insistence that he sit down and wait until he was older . . . quashed his conviction. So sad. I hope I haven't discouraged anyone in their faith!
Page 176 - Ben's comment - "Improving people's lives. Giving them a raft to hold on to when they're adrift in a sea of pain." The language here just really struck me. (This was in answer to Judd's question, "What do you see as success?")
Page 205 - I love when Larkin realizes how wonderful indoor plumbing is! I feel that way when we leave the Boundary Waters! Flushing toilets, hot water to wash your hands, showers! What incredible blessings!
Page 206 - "Larkin hadn't paid much attention in the past, but Granny had told her how she always put a candle in her window on Christmas Eve to welcome Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. Larkin laughed, because of course they weren't really coming, but Granny had stilled her with a touch and said, 'Oh, but they are coming.' She tapped her chest. 'And there's always room in my heart.'" I love the grannies in this story!
Page 229 - I like Ben's observation that Larkin's sunny attitude was very helpful to the poor of Kentucky who were independent and didn't "need" her there. "There are a dozen sad stories I know of and probably twice that many I don't. Just having you around for a distraction helps more than you realize."
Page 247 - Title reference! "Larkin's laughter was like the sound of rain on a tin roof at the end of a long, hot day. Judd felt soothed, comforted . . . alive."
Page 322 - It was almost corny how this all worked out. Predictable, yet . . . I enjoyed the story.
Page 325 - For a minute, I thought the author was throwing a major curveball! Nope.
Still, it was an enjoyable book set in 1954. From West Virginia and the coal mines to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, it was a nice story.
Thursday, February 08, 2018
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
by Fredrik Backman
loaned to me by Mary V, paperback, 370 pages
genre: unbelievably beautiful fiction
I haven't yet read Backman's first book - A Man Called Ove - but I recently got it on audiobook from the library. This book was loaned to me quite a while ago by my dear friend Mary. I loved it! It is so unusual . . . and intriguing. I already want to read it again. Almost-eight-year-old Elsa has an incredibly strong relationship with her granny (mom's mom). Grandma dies and leaves Elsa with a "quest" and a heritage of fairy tales to help her deal with the world.
The characters and events are captivating. It was originally written in Swedish and translated into English by Henning Koch. I haven't read enough Swedish literature to know if this is typical or truly unique. Even the blurb at the end for his book Britt-Marie Was Here made me want to read that one, too, even though I could hardly tolerate her character in this book.
I only marked one page, which is not enough to point out all the thoughts, phrases, scenes, etc. that caught my attention. On page 325, I marked "And if she hadn't changed her mind it's possible that the day wouldn't have ended up as loathsome and terrible as it will soon become. Because when terrible things happen one always thinks, 'If I only hadn't . . . ' " Ugh! Immediately my mind flew back to May 25, 2013 and the cabin. It is horrific to think "What if?" when there's no way to go back, change events, or get a different outcome. Looking ahead and moving on is what's needed.
I decided it was selfish of me to keep Mary's book, especially when I'm trying to de-clutter my home! So I re-read the book when we were up at my sister-in-law's cabin last weekend. I loved it all over again!
Page 15 - "That's what Granny calls lies: 'other versions of the truth.'" This is one of those funny / not funny things . . . when we have a president who has "alternative facts," it hits a little too close to home. For Elsa and her Granny, though, it's a great in-joke.
Page 25 - "'Elvir, though? Are they planning to send him to Mordor to destroy the ring, or what?' (This was soon after Granny had watched all of the Lord of the Rings films with Elsa, because Elsa's mum had expressly told Elsa she wasn't allowed to watch them.)?" This reminded me of my mom . . . doing things specifically because she wasn't supposed to! (Though she was usually respectful of my parenting rules.)
Page 45 - "Having a grandmother is like having an army. This is a grandchild's ultimate privilege: knowing that someone is on your side, always, whatever the details. Even when you are wrong. Especially then, in fact." I look forward to being a grandma someday! I hope to love my grandchildren extravagantly!
Page 48-9 made me laugh! "Elsa learned all about LPs and CDs that afternoon. That was when she worked out why old people seem to have so much free time, because in the olden days until Spotify came along they must have used up almost all their time just changing the track."
Page 53 also made me laugh. When Granny laid in the snow for hours as a snowman so she could scare Britt-Marie . . .
Page 196 - I love when Granny goes on her crusade against the free newspaper folks. Oh my! "Never mess with someone who has more spare time than you do." I love Granny!
Page 198 - "It's easier to get people talking about things they dislike than things they like, Elsa has noticed." She's a very wise little girl!
Page 208 - "There are no 'only' nightmares -- they're living creatures, dark little clouds of insecurity and anguish that come sneaking between the houses when everyone is asleep, trying all the doors and windows to find some place to slip inside and start causing a commotion." I'm so very glad I don't have nightmares, but I remember as a child waking so afraid. I love the language Backman uses to communicate the terror.
Page 228 - Land-of-Almost-Awake Miamas (I love), Miploris (I mourn), Mirevas (I dream), Miaudacas (I dare), Mimovas (I dance), Mibatalos (I fight).
I cried at the end of chapter 29 when the boy cuddles with the woman in the black skirt . . .
Oh my! This is such a lovely book! But now I can return it to Mary and she can share it with another reader!
loaned to me by Mary V, paperback, 370 pages
genre: unbelievably beautiful fiction
I haven't yet read Backman's first book - A Man Called Ove - but I recently got it on audiobook from the library. This book was loaned to me quite a while ago by my dear friend Mary. I loved it! It is so unusual . . . and intriguing. I already want to read it again. Almost-eight-year-old Elsa has an incredibly strong relationship with her granny (mom's mom). Grandma dies and leaves Elsa with a "quest" and a heritage of fairy tales to help her deal with the world.
The characters and events are captivating. It was originally written in Swedish and translated into English by Henning Koch. I haven't read enough Swedish literature to know if this is typical or truly unique. Even the blurb at the end for his book Britt-Marie Was Here made me want to read that one, too, even though I could hardly tolerate her character in this book.
I only marked one page, which is not enough to point out all the thoughts, phrases, scenes, etc. that caught my attention. On page 325, I marked "And if she hadn't changed her mind it's possible that the day wouldn't have ended up as loathsome and terrible as it will soon become. Because when terrible things happen one always thinks, 'If I only hadn't . . . ' " Ugh! Immediately my mind flew back to May 25, 2013 and the cabin. It is horrific to think "What if?" when there's no way to go back, change events, or get a different outcome. Looking ahead and moving on is what's needed.
I decided it was selfish of me to keep Mary's book, especially when I'm trying to de-clutter my home! So I re-read the book when we were up at my sister-in-law's cabin last weekend. I loved it all over again!
Page 15 - "That's what Granny calls lies: 'other versions of the truth.'" This is one of those funny / not funny things . . . when we have a president who has "alternative facts," it hits a little too close to home. For Elsa and her Granny, though, it's a great in-joke.
Page 25 - "'Elvir, though? Are they planning to send him to Mordor to destroy the ring, or what?' (This was soon after Granny had watched all of the Lord of the Rings films with Elsa, because Elsa's mum had expressly told Elsa she wasn't allowed to watch them.)?" This reminded me of my mom . . . doing things specifically because she wasn't supposed to! (Though she was usually respectful of my parenting rules.)
Page 45 - "Having a grandmother is like having an army. This is a grandchild's ultimate privilege: knowing that someone is on your side, always, whatever the details. Even when you are wrong. Especially then, in fact." I look forward to being a grandma someday! I hope to love my grandchildren extravagantly!
Page 48-9 made me laugh! "Elsa learned all about LPs and CDs that afternoon. That was when she worked out why old people seem to have so much free time, because in the olden days until Spotify came along they must have used up almost all their time just changing the track."
Page 53 also made me laugh. When Granny laid in the snow for hours as a snowman so she could scare Britt-Marie . . .
Page 196 - I love when Granny goes on her crusade against the free newspaper folks. Oh my! "Never mess with someone who has more spare time than you do." I love Granny!
Page 198 - "It's easier to get people talking about things they dislike than things they like, Elsa has noticed." She's a very wise little girl!
Page 208 - "There are no 'only' nightmares -- they're living creatures, dark little clouds of insecurity and anguish that come sneaking between the houses when everyone is asleep, trying all the doors and windows to find some place to slip inside and start causing a commotion." I'm so very glad I don't have nightmares, but I remember as a child waking so afraid. I love the language Backman uses to communicate the terror.
Page 228 - Land-of-Almost-Awake Miamas (I love), Miploris (I mourn), Mirevas (I dream), Miaudacas (I dare), Mimovas (I dance), Mibatalos (I fight).
I cried at the end of chapter 29 when the boy cuddles with the woman in the black skirt . . .
Oh my! This is such a lovely book! But now I can return it to Mary and she can share it with another reader!
Wednesday, February 07, 2018
The Secret Garden
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Hennepin County Library audiobook 7 CDs
read by Finola Hughes
genre: children's fiction
I haven't read this book in a really, really long time. I had forgotten *why* Mary Lennox was so horrible before the garden transformed her. She was a child in India with parents who didn't want to deal with her. The servants gave her whatever she wanted so that she didn't fuss and cause trouble for them with "Mem-sahib." Consequently, she was a lonely, imperious brat. I love her initial interactions with plain-spoken Martha when she gets to Mistlethwaite Manor!
Hughes did a wonderful job with the voices, but Colin is too realistically whiny and bossy. Yuk! Thank heavens for Dickon and the garden to help with the transformation of these two horrible children! In fact, Susan Sowerby's entire family are the brightest part of the characters who populate this book.
The kids are fully invested in "the magic" of the garden. Susan Sowerby refers to "The Good Big Thing," "Joy Maker," and the fact that the kids were singing the Doxology when she came into the garden. Interesting way to look at creation and healing.
One of the problems with an audiobook as opposed to a print book is trying to capture quotations. "Where you tend a rose, my love, a thistle may not grow." This is what I wrote down. I was pretty close - it's lad, not love, and cannot instead of may not. That's according to SparkNotes . . . ugh. Now I have to find a print copy and look at it more carefully. Also according to SparkNotes, this is part of the Christian Scientology aspect of the book. What?!? Sometimes I just want to enjoy a story as a story.
One other aspect that I had forgotten or gotten wrong after not having read or seen this in ages is the ending. I knew that Archibald Craven found the children in the garden and that there was a happy-ever-after, but I thought that his initial reaction was extreme anger. Perhaps there's a movie version that he yells at the kids? Anyhow, I am glad I revisited this story after so many years. (Though I shouldn't have checked SparkNotes for the spelling of character names . . . sometimes ignorance is bliss.)
<I wrote the above on 2.7.2018 and am adding below on 8.1.2022.>
I really, really liked how Mary didn't put up with Colin's crap. When he was pitching a fit and she screamed at him . . . that was just right. It bugged me again that the "magic" and the beauty of nature were the predominant reasons the children gave for the changes in their health.
This audiobook was on Libby and read by Alison Larkin. Her vocal work was excellent. I got this to listen to at work, since I knew I didn't have to give it my full attention. I enjoyed listening again.
Friday, February 02, 2018
Face to Face with God: The Ultimate Quest to Experience His Presence
by Bill Johnson
Loaned by Kelly from NewDay paperback 220 pages
genre: non-fiction Christian faith
Again, I struggled with reading this . . . am I too weak in my faith? Is it simply not the "right book at the right time" for me? There are lots of pages that I put post-its on, but I don't feel as though I really know how to better draw near to God and experience His presence. (What a contrast with the Experiencing God book!) Johnson's faith and depth of knowledge of God's Word is strong, though, and I want to be stronger in my own faith.
Page 37 - "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD" (Proverbs 18:22) "The implications of this promise go far beyond simply getting married. Many have done that without any increase of God's favor. This promise is given to those who correctly steward the blessing of marriage." I think this caught my eye because I love marriage and I am concerned for loved ones who need this Scriptural wisdom . . .
Page 55 - After relating the story of the woman who poured expensive perfume on Jesus' feet . . . "What others thought to be excessive and extreme, God considered reasonable. The only true worship is extreme worship, and only extreme worship brings extreme results - transformation." I love this idea of extreme worship! I don't spend nearly enough of my time (even my devotions / prayer time) simply worshiping God. Perhaps that's part of the reason my faith is weaker than I'd like.
Page 61 - "Relationships are built on trust, communication, common interests, honesty, and time together. It is no different with knowing God. And it is from that place of knowing God that we find our greatest purpose in life." This is so true, and so vital for me to practice!
Page 98 - I think I tagged this because I wanted to find a way to better understand / search Scripture. He basically says that Elizabeth stayed home for five months when she got pregnant with John . . . so that she could protect herself from people's negative comments. How could he know this? Or is he surmising it? Do I care enough to dig deeper?
Page 145 - I loved the entire section on saints! Reading about other believers' lives and work really impacts me. The section on Charles Finney is one that I specifically tagged . . . I love reading about people's personal experiences with the Lord and how transformative those experiences are!
Page 156 - In the story about Smith Wigglesworth (what a name!), I loved this sentence: "Remember that this remarkable experience happened to a most unlikely vessel, and let it encourage you to qualify to receive more of God's Spirit because of your unrestrained hunger for Him." I should make it a sign / reminder for my desk!
Page 157 - "Wigglesworth's ministry was based on four principles: First, read the Word of God. Second, consume the Word of God until it consumes you. Third, believe the Word of God. Fourth, act on the Word of God."
Page 165 - A section on Heidi Baker! Since I had just read her book about Love, I found this very interesting. One fact in particular caught my eye. "Whereas it took them seventeen years to plant four churches before Heidi's encounter with God's face, they have planted over six thousand churches in the eight years since." Powerful!
Page 171-2 - "Much of the present Christian culture has unintentionally fostered ways of life and thought patterns that allow for people to be heavily burdened and discouraged as the norm. That habit often takes us into the stronghold of unbelief. In this mode we are much better at applauding tears over laughter, poverty over wealth, and the endurance of affliction over receiving quick answers and getting breakthroughs." This section is one that I should re-read . . . and discuss with other believers.
Page 188 - "I have heard teaching on the subject of giving to the poor and needy that emphasizes our stewardship instead of compassion. It basically means that you don't want to give to someone who will not use what was given properly." Ooh! I am sometimes guilty of this . . . and I do *not* want to be judgmental or self-righteous! This is where seeking God and spending time with Him helps me to make right decisions with a right attitude! I need You, Jesus!
Loaned by Kelly from NewDay paperback 220 pages
genre: non-fiction Christian faith
Again, I struggled with reading this . . . am I too weak in my faith? Is it simply not the "right book at the right time" for me? There are lots of pages that I put post-its on, but I don't feel as though I really know how to better draw near to God and experience His presence. (What a contrast with the Experiencing God book!) Johnson's faith and depth of knowledge of God's Word is strong, though, and I want to be stronger in my own faith.
Page 37 - "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD" (Proverbs 18:22) "The implications of this promise go far beyond simply getting married. Many have done that without any increase of God's favor. This promise is given to those who correctly steward the blessing of marriage." I think this caught my eye because I love marriage and I am concerned for loved ones who need this Scriptural wisdom . . .
Page 55 - After relating the story of the woman who poured expensive perfume on Jesus' feet . . . "What others thought to be excessive and extreme, God considered reasonable. The only true worship is extreme worship, and only extreme worship brings extreme results - transformation." I love this idea of extreme worship! I don't spend nearly enough of my time (even my devotions / prayer time) simply worshiping God. Perhaps that's part of the reason my faith is weaker than I'd like.
Page 61 - "Relationships are built on trust, communication, common interests, honesty, and time together. It is no different with knowing God. And it is from that place of knowing God that we find our greatest purpose in life." This is so true, and so vital for me to practice!
Page 98 - I think I tagged this because I wanted to find a way to better understand / search Scripture. He basically says that Elizabeth stayed home for five months when she got pregnant with John . . . so that she could protect herself from people's negative comments. How could he know this? Or is he surmising it? Do I care enough to dig deeper?
Page 145 - I loved the entire section on saints! Reading about other believers' lives and work really impacts me. The section on Charles Finney is one that I specifically tagged . . . I love reading about people's personal experiences with the Lord and how transformative those experiences are!
Page 156 - In the story about Smith Wigglesworth (what a name!), I loved this sentence: "Remember that this remarkable experience happened to a most unlikely vessel, and let it encourage you to qualify to receive more of God's Spirit because of your unrestrained hunger for Him." I should make it a sign / reminder for my desk!
Page 157 - "Wigglesworth's ministry was based on four principles: First, read the Word of God. Second, consume the Word of God until it consumes you. Third, believe the Word of God. Fourth, act on the Word of God."
Page 165 - A section on Heidi Baker! Since I had just read her book about Love, I found this very interesting. One fact in particular caught my eye. "Whereas it took them seventeen years to plant four churches before Heidi's encounter with God's face, they have planted over six thousand churches in the eight years since." Powerful!
Page 171-2 - "Much of the present Christian culture has unintentionally fostered ways of life and thought patterns that allow for people to be heavily burdened and discouraged as the norm. That habit often takes us into the stronghold of unbelief. In this mode we are much better at applauding tears over laughter, poverty over wealth, and the endurance of affliction over receiving quick answers and getting breakthroughs." This section is one that I should re-read . . . and discuss with other believers.
Page 188 - "I have heard teaching on the subject of giving to the poor and needy that emphasizes our stewardship instead of compassion. It basically means that you don't want to give to someone who will not use what was given properly." Ooh! I am sometimes guilty of this . . . and I do *not* want to be judgmental or self-righteous! This is where seeking God and spending time with Him helps me to make right decisions with a right attitude! I need You, Jesus!
Monday, January 29, 2018
God's Hotel: A Doctor, a Hospital, and a Pilgrimage to the Heart of Medicine
by Victoria Sweet
Hennepin County Library audiobook 11 discs
read by the author
genre: non-fiction
This was interesting and definitely kept my attention. Dr. S worked at Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco for twenty-ish years. (http://lagunahonda.org/) She also was fascinated by Hildegard, a twelfth century nun, and wrote a book called Slow Medicine after writing her master's thesis and her PhD paper about this topic. I'm just going to jot a few notes / reactions to the book below.
Why did pre-modern medicine and Hildegard of Bingen appeal to her so much?!?! I just don't get it.
My lack of compassion concerns me . . . when it comes to people making horrible life choices and killing themselves with drugs, alcohol, etc. . . . I wonder why so many medical professionals, tests, procedures, etc. are spent on them. Ethically, I realize it's not productive to say someone like me should get to determine who gets health care and who doesn't. Our entire health care system (and societal ills) are so complex. I guess it's good that people like Dr. Sweet do all that they can for all patients.
The parts on money, "efficiencies," and bureaucracy . . . ugh. I realize that this is how the world works, but spending more on administration and PR seems counterproductive to saving money!
I couldn't believe she kept referring to a patient's "retarded" daughter . . . not so much the non-PC term as the fact that a medical doctor would use a "no-no" word at all!
The specific patient examples were the most interesting part of the book to me.
Interesting to consider dementia as a polynomial equation with several variables.
Anima / soul / animation - interesting way to look at it.
Too much focus and repetition on the four humours, four symbolically (seasons, elements, etc.). Enough!
Her pilgrimage . . . sounds interesting. But without a spiritual goal, I wonder about her purpose. She shares what she learns in the walk across France and Spain. I like that she and her friend did the trip in three or four different stretches.
She references Scripture and faith, but isn't a believer . . . she has an interesting perspective.
Interesting look at medicine, philosophy, economics, etc. My attitudes and beliefs don't align with the author's, but I learned a lot and thought about my perspective. This was a very worthwhile book to "read."
The title is taken from the French term for charity hospitals - L'Hotel Dieu - God's Hotel.
Hennepin County Library audiobook 11 discs
read by the author
genre: non-fiction
This was interesting and definitely kept my attention. Dr. S worked at Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco for twenty-ish years. (http://lagunahonda.org/) She also was fascinated by Hildegard, a twelfth century nun, and wrote a book called Slow Medicine after writing her master's thesis and her PhD paper about this topic. I'm just going to jot a few notes / reactions to the book below.
Why did pre-modern medicine and Hildegard of Bingen appeal to her so much?!?! I just don't get it.
My lack of compassion concerns me . . . when it comes to people making horrible life choices and killing themselves with drugs, alcohol, etc. . . . I wonder why so many medical professionals, tests, procedures, etc. are spent on them. Ethically, I realize it's not productive to say someone like me should get to determine who gets health care and who doesn't. Our entire health care system (and societal ills) are so complex. I guess it's good that people like Dr. Sweet do all that they can for all patients.
The parts on money, "efficiencies," and bureaucracy . . . ugh. I realize that this is how the world works, but spending more on administration and PR seems counterproductive to saving money!
I couldn't believe she kept referring to a patient's "retarded" daughter . . . not so much the non-PC term as the fact that a medical doctor would use a "no-no" word at all!
The specific patient examples were the most interesting part of the book to me.
Interesting to consider dementia as a polynomial equation with several variables.
Anima / soul / animation - interesting way to look at it.
Too much focus and repetition on the four humours, four symbolically (seasons, elements, etc.). Enough!
Her pilgrimage . . . sounds interesting. But without a spiritual goal, I wonder about her purpose. She shares what she learns in the walk across France and Spain. I like that she and her friend did the trip in three or four different stretches.
She references Scripture and faith, but isn't a believer . . . she has an interesting perspective.
Interesting look at medicine, philosophy, economics, etc. My attitudes and beliefs don't align with the author's, but I learned a lot and thought about my perspective. This was a very worthwhile book to "read."
The title is taken from the French term for charity hospitals - L'Hotel Dieu - God's Hotel.
Perennials
by Julie Cantrell
Scott County Library paperback 338 pages
genre: Christian fiction, relationships
My perspective on this book may change after our discussion tonight. Right now, I'm ambivalent. I almost want to go back to see what I wrote about the author's book The Feathered Bone . . . in my memory, I liked it pretty well. This one, not so much. Lovey / Eva is 45 and living in Arizona. She's pretty New Age, in my opinion. When her parents all but beg her to come home to Mississippi for a few weeks, she makes it happen regardless of the negative implications for her at work.
Dedication - "For my children, and for all children, and for the child in all of us - May you always know the truth: you are loved." I thought this was a wonderful dedication page!
Page 81 - "I needed my family to stand up for me, help me heal. Instead, Bitsy attacked, Chief stayed silent, and Mother told me never to speak of it again." I can't understand a loving family reacting this way to a family member's emotional agony. It just doesn't make sense.
Page 90 - "Half of me wants to hug my father and assure him I wouldn't change a thing. But the wounded half wants to tell him how badly I needed him to stand up for me. How much his silence has hurt me." Tell him!!! One of my biggest frustrations with these books is that people don't talk honestly with one another!
Page 99 - "It's hard to think of my parents aging. Someday holding Mother's hand as she takes her last breath, or waking to the call that my father is no longer with us. My eyes water at the thought, and I push it away. Far away. I can't imagine how hard it is for them to watch their friends fade, one by one." Ugh! This has been too much on my mind lately! I want to live life fully, ready to head to Heaven whenever God calls me! I'm glad I don't have close friends dying yet . . .
Page 155 - I love this conversation that Lovey and Fisher have! "You want me to be honest?" Yes! Thank you, Fisher, for having an honest conversation! Thank you for providing another perspective on Bitsy and Lovey growing up!
Page 183 - Mary Evelyn's birthday tea . . . a group of 16 year olds having an etiquette lesson . . . it's partly very appealing and partly horrifying!
Page 208 - I'm curious about the author's personal beliefs. Christianity is included in the book, but it certainly isn't a main theme. When Lovey does yoga with her mom and dad and ends with "Namaste. The light in me sees the light in you," it just seems counter-intuitive to call this Christian fiction.
Page 213 - Finally! I don't want to add a spoiler here, so I'll just say that one of the things hinted at is stated outright. It wasn't a shocker because I was waiting for it.
Page 231 - "I keep quiet, capturing every subtle gesture and sound Mother makes, determined not to forget a thing." Take photos and videos! Write stories down! I treasure the artifacts of my life with my mother . . . and I cannot get new photos, videos, or memories any more.
Page 278 - I like her timeline. I kept thinking, "What has she done with her life between ages 18 and 45?!" I wish the timeline had been included earlier, but most of the story focuses on her current life and flashbacks to childhood.
Page 286 - I love the conversation that she and Chief have the night of the party. They should have had the conversation a few decades earlier, but . . .
Not sure what page . . . . there was a twist I *didn't* anticipate! Again, don't want to put spoilers here.
Page 310 - "Our body's death is not the tragedy, girls. It's when we waste our time in life feeling dead on the inside. That's the real reason to grieve." Their mom shares this gem of wisdom with Bitsy and Lovey, but it feels like too little, too late. And I still don't get why Bitsy turned into such a nasty human being.
Page 323 - "It's a heavy role, shuttling a soul into the next world, and I feel there's no right way to manage this." Too true . . . sitting with someone on their death bed is a heavy role. I hope to make it easier for my kids by assuring them of my salvation through Jesus Christ. Death is not scary to me (at least, my own death) because of God's Word.
Scott County Library paperback 338 pages
genre: Christian fiction, relationships
My perspective on this book may change after our discussion tonight. Right now, I'm ambivalent. I almost want to go back to see what I wrote about the author's book The Feathered Bone . . . in my memory, I liked it pretty well. This one, not so much. Lovey / Eva is 45 and living in Arizona. She's pretty New Age, in my opinion. When her parents all but beg her to come home to Mississippi for a few weeks, she makes it happen regardless of the negative implications for her at work.
Dedication - "For my children, and for all children, and for the child in all of us - May you always know the truth: you are loved." I thought this was a wonderful dedication page!
Page 81 - "I needed my family to stand up for me, help me heal. Instead, Bitsy attacked, Chief stayed silent, and Mother told me never to speak of it again." I can't understand a loving family reacting this way to a family member's emotional agony. It just doesn't make sense.
Page 90 - "Half of me wants to hug my father and assure him I wouldn't change a thing. But the wounded half wants to tell him how badly I needed him to stand up for me. How much his silence has hurt me." Tell him!!! One of my biggest frustrations with these books is that people don't talk honestly with one another!
Page 99 - "It's hard to think of my parents aging. Someday holding Mother's hand as she takes her last breath, or waking to the call that my father is no longer with us. My eyes water at the thought, and I push it away. Far away. I can't imagine how hard it is for them to watch their friends fade, one by one." Ugh! This has been too much on my mind lately! I want to live life fully, ready to head to Heaven whenever God calls me! I'm glad I don't have close friends dying yet . . .
Page 155 - I love this conversation that Lovey and Fisher have! "You want me to be honest?" Yes! Thank you, Fisher, for having an honest conversation! Thank you for providing another perspective on Bitsy and Lovey growing up!
Page 183 - Mary Evelyn's birthday tea . . . a group of 16 year olds having an etiquette lesson . . . it's partly very appealing and partly horrifying!
Page 208 - I'm curious about the author's personal beliefs. Christianity is included in the book, but it certainly isn't a main theme. When Lovey does yoga with her mom and dad and ends with "Namaste. The light in me sees the light in you," it just seems counter-intuitive to call this Christian fiction.
Page 213 - Finally! I don't want to add a spoiler here, so I'll just say that one of the things hinted at is stated outright. It wasn't a shocker because I was waiting for it.
Page 231 - "I keep quiet, capturing every subtle gesture and sound Mother makes, determined not to forget a thing." Take photos and videos! Write stories down! I treasure the artifacts of my life with my mother . . . and I cannot get new photos, videos, or memories any more.
Page 278 - I like her timeline. I kept thinking, "What has she done with her life between ages 18 and 45?!" I wish the timeline had been included earlier, but most of the story focuses on her current life and flashbacks to childhood.
Page 286 - I love the conversation that she and Chief have the night of the party. They should have had the conversation a few decades earlier, but . . .
Not sure what page . . . . there was a twist I *didn't* anticipate! Again, don't want to put spoilers here.
Page 310 - "Our body's death is not the tragedy, girls. It's when we waste our time in life feeling dead on the inside. That's the real reason to grieve." Their mom shares this gem of wisdom with Bitsy and Lovey, but it feels like too little, too late. And I still don't get why Bitsy turned into such a nasty human being.
Page 323 - "It's a heavy role, shuttling a soul into the next world, and I feel there's no right way to manage this." Too true . . . sitting with someone on their death bed is a heavy role. I hope to make it easier for my kids by assuring them of my salvation through Jesus Christ. Death is not scary to me (at least, my own death) because of God's Word.
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Sting-Ray Afternoons
by Steve Rushin
Hennepin County Library hardcover 319 pages
genre: non-fiction memoir
I really enjoyed reading this book! I'm not sure how much I would have enjoyed it had I not also grown up in Bloomington, MN at the same time as Steve Rushin. Recognizing the landmarks and remembering my own experiences enriched the reading. Steve is a fantastic writer, though, and I'm sure much of the humor and coming-of-age would translate to any city and state in the 1970s.
I don't remember much about Steve (we both graduated from Bloomington Kennedy after having been at Lincoln), but I distinctly remember his brother Tom! Older than us by a year, Tom was cruel and nasty (in my teenage eyes) when I encountered him at Lincoln. Reading this book makes me wish I'd known Steve! I saw him as just a "jock" and didn't realize he loved to read, play with words, and write.
page 28 - I had never heard 3M referred to as "Mickey Mouse Mining" before! The nicknames for Normandale - "Harvard on the Hill" and others - I was familiar with, but the 3M nickname was new to me. (His dad worked for 3M.)
page 33 - In 1970, "Dr. James T. Grace, Jr., has confidently asserted that cancer will be a memory by 1979. 'I predict that we can enter the decade of the '80s without the specter of cancer hanging over our people,' Grace says, a statement that everyone can suddenly affirm with the brand-new sentence starter: 'If they can put a man on the moon, surely they can [fill in the blank with your wildest dream].'" This is so true! The optimism about the future was so powerful at that time! (I was a little kid, too, so what did I know?) But the thought that cancer would still be such a major killer more than forty years later? Unthinkable!
page 44 - Oh! This made me laugh out loud! "Tom's Brillo-pad hair likewise won't lend itself to any form of basement taming. By the time Tom is seven, Bernie the Barber, scissors snipping in one hand, will survey his head from every angle and finally grab a handful of hair in exasperation: 'Your hair,' he will announce, 'belongs on a dog's butt.' The statement is no less cruel - and possibly a great deal more cruel - for being true." (At this point, it was just the humorous way he set up the scene about haircuts that made me laugh, not the unkindness toward his brother. Steve really is a talented writer!)
page 47 - "And so, in three of its 1956 models, Chrysler offered the Highway Hi-Fi, an in-car record player that could play specially manufactured 7-inch discs at 16 2/3 rpm . . . " What?! Playing records in a car?! There were so many places where I was amazing at how Steve incorporated his love of reading and information into his personal memoir.
page 60 - The Romper Room part instantly reminded me of how much I believed that she could see the kids watching her on tv! I wanted so much for her to say my name! Again, Rushin includes some very interesting history about the show that I didn't know about before reading this.
page 191 - Oh! The scene when he goes to the hotel with his friend to get Vikings autographs and after two weeks of wishing to connect with Alan Page . . . he is told that Mr. Page does *not* give autographs so *don't* even ask! I love love love how this turned out! His mom letting him wear his ratty "hillbilly" homemade Page jersey . . . and Alan Page noticing! "So - my chicken chest heaving, and on the brink of hyperventilation - I continue to watch as he pauses at the stairs, turns and looks back at the lobby, evidently having forgotten something at the front desk. But he hasn't forgotten anything. No, Alan Page walks directly toward me, takes the BIC from my trembling hand, and signs his name in one grand flourish in my Mead notebook. He smiles and puts his hand on top of my head, as if palming a grapefruit." I love this! But then, Alan Page is one of my personal heroes, too. But not because of football!
page 216 - The scene where the "Creek Freak" confronts his dad on the Fourth of July! Oh my! This, too, is beautifully written! I'm too lazy to include it (or re-type it) here, but what a great way to honor his dad and paint a vivid, powerful picture!
page 249 - ". . . but my year of reading about California will not go to waste. I am powerless to stop my factual exhibitionism." This made me smile! I love that he read voraciously in preparation for the family trip to California and then regaled his family with what he knew about the places they traveled.
page 257 - When they encountered a bidet in a hotel room . . . "Tom is telling on him now. 'John was trying to drink out of the . . . ' The new French word eludes him, and Tom finally says, 'John was trying to drink out of the butt washer!'" Too funny!
page 286 - Mortality and fear . . . When he worries that his own dad might die young, after a friend's dad of the same age dies of a heart attack. This scene makes me so sad for the young Steve (and so impressed that the adult can write about his young fears and struggles in such a personal and deep way).
page 305 - This was weird. I don't even remember anything about the first day of school at Bloomington Kennedy in the fall of 1982 . . . "A large dead fish will be rotting on the front walk into JFK when we disembark the school bus for our very first day there. Written in fish blood on the concrete: NEWCOMERS DIE." How could I not remember seeing / smelling something like that? Later on that page, "But of course no teacher has seen it yet, and when the first one does - within the hour - the message in fish blood is hosed away, and I'm left to wonder if it was ever there in the first place. Nothing remains but the faint smell of fish." Now I wonder if it really happened.
page 305 - So sad that his mom died so young! Again, he uses words so effectively to memorialize her. "In dying, she allayed my greatest fear - of death. Dying joined shoe tying and coat zipping and bed making on the long list of acts Mom demonstrated for her children, so that we could someday do it for ourselves." This, along with the scene where she substitute teaches at his Catholic school in junior high, are wonderful passages about his mother's impact on his and his siblings' lives.
page 307 - Their last time together (all five siblings) at the house they grew up in . . . I can't believe they emptied the house on their sister's wedding day! Ugh! I'm so glad I didn't grow up with four brothers!
This book is wonderful. I'm glad I read it. I wish I'd known Steve better in high school. He seems like a great guy!
Hennepin County Library hardcover 319 pages
genre: non-fiction memoir
I really enjoyed reading this book! I'm not sure how much I would have enjoyed it had I not also grown up in Bloomington, MN at the same time as Steve Rushin. Recognizing the landmarks and remembering my own experiences enriched the reading. Steve is a fantastic writer, though, and I'm sure much of the humor and coming-of-age would translate to any city and state in the 1970s.
I don't remember much about Steve (we both graduated from Bloomington Kennedy after having been at Lincoln), but I distinctly remember his brother Tom! Older than us by a year, Tom was cruel and nasty (in my teenage eyes) when I encountered him at Lincoln. Reading this book makes me wish I'd known Steve! I saw him as just a "jock" and didn't realize he loved to read, play with words, and write.
page 28 - I had never heard 3M referred to as "Mickey Mouse Mining" before! The nicknames for Normandale - "Harvard on the Hill" and others - I was familiar with, but the 3M nickname was new to me. (His dad worked for 3M.)
page 33 - In 1970, "Dr. James T. Grace, Jr., has confidently asserted that cancer will be a memory by 1979. 'I predict that we can enter the decade of the '80s without the specter of cancer hanging over our people,' Grace says, a statement that everyone can suddenly affirm with the brand-new sentence starter: 'If they can put a man on the moon, surely they can [fill in the blank with your wildest dream].'" This is so true! The optimism about the future was so powerful at that time! (I was a little kid, too, so what did I know?) But the thought that cancer would still be such a major killer more than forty years later? Unthinkable!
page 44 - Oh! This made me laugh out loud! "Tom's Brillo-pad hair likewise won't lend itself to any form of basement taming. By the time Tom is seven, Bernie the Barber, scissors snipping in one hand, will survey his head from every angle and finally grab a handful of hair in exasperation: 'Your hair,' he will announce, 'belongs on a dog's butt.' The statement is no less cruel - and possibly a great deal more cruel - for being true." (At this point, it was just the humorous way he set up the scene about haircuts that made me laugh, not the unkindness toward his brother. Steve really is a talented writer!)
page 47 - "And so, in three of its 1956 models, Chrysler offered the Highway Hi-Fi, an in-car record player that could play specially manufactured 7-inch discs at 16 2/3 rpm . . . " What?! Playing records in a car?! There were so many places where I was amazing at how Steve incorporated his love of reading and information into his personal memoir.
page 60 - The Romper Room part instantly reminded me of how much I believed that she could see the kids watching her on tv! I wanted so much for her to say my name! Again, Rushin includes some very interesting history about the show that I didn't know about before reading this.
page 191 - Oh! The scene when he goes to the hotel with his friend to get Vikings autographs and after two weeks of wishing to connect with Alan Page . . . he is told that Mr. Page does *not* give autographs so *don't* even ask! I love love love how this turned out! His mom letting him wear his ratty "hillbilly" homemade Page jersey . . . and Alan Page noticing! "So - my chicken chest heaving, and on the brink of hyperventilation - I continue to watch as he pauses at the stairs, turns and looks back at the lobby, evidently having forgotten something at the front desk. But he hasn't forgotten anything. No, Alan Page walks directly toward me, takes the BIC from my trembling hand, and signs his name in one grand flourish in my Mead notebook. He smiles and puts his hand on top of my head, as if palming a grapefruit." I love this! But then, Alan Page is one of my personal heroes, too. But not because of football!
page 216 - The scene where the "Creek Freak" confronts his dad on the Fourth of July! Oh my! This, too, is beautifully written! I'm too lazy to include it (or re-type it) here, but what a great way to honor his dad and paint a vivid, powerful picture!
page 249 - ". . . but my year of reading about California will not go to waste. I am powerless to stop my factual exhibitionism." This made me smile! I love that he read voraciously in preparation for the family trip to California and then regaled his family with what he knew about the places they traveled.
page 257 - When they encountered a bidet in a hotel room . . . "Tom is telling on him now. 'John was trying to drink out of the . . . ' The new French word eludes him, and Tom finally says, 'John was trying to drink out of the butt washer!'" Too funny!
page 286 - Mortality and fear . . . When he worries that his own dad might die young, after a friend's dad of the same age dies of a heart attack. This scene makes me so sad for the young Steve (and so impressed that the adult can write about his young fears and struggles in such a personal and deep way).
page 305 - This was weird. I don't even remember anything about the first day of school at Bloomington Kennedy in the fall of 1982 . . . "A large dead fish will be rotting on the front walk into JFK when we disembark the school bus for our very first day there. Written in fish blood on the concrete: NEWCOMERS DIE." How could I not remember seeing / smelling something like that? Later on that page, "But of course no teacher has seen it yet, and when the first one does - within the hour - the message in fish blood is hosed away, and I'm left to wonder if it was ever there in the first place. Nothing remains but the faint smell of fish." Now I wonder if it really happened.
page 305 - So sad that his mom died so young! Again, he uses words so effectively to memorialize her. "In dying, she allayed my greatest fear - of death. Dying joined shoe tying and coat zipping and bed making on the long list of acts Mom demonstrated for her children, so that we could someday do it for ourselves." This, along with the scene where she substitute teaches at his Catholic school in junior high, are wonderful passages about his mother's impact on his and his siblings' lives.
page 307 - Their last time together (all five siblings) at the house they grew up in . . . I can't believe they emptied the house on their sister's wedding day! Ugh! I'm so glad I didn't grow up with four brothers!
This book is wonderful. I'm glad I read it. I wish I'd known Steve better in high school. He seems like a great guy!
Monday, January 22, 2018
Rapture of the Deep
A Bloody Jack adventure
by L.A. Meyer
Scott County Library hardcover 454 pages
genre: YA historical adventure fiction
I liked the skin diving, Jacky's cleverness with retrieving the treasure, Jemimah and her B'rer Rabbit stories, and the taking of the Spanish ship. I'm kind of addicted to these books, the way Jacky can't stop from getting into things!
by L.A. Meyer
Scott County Library hardcover 454 pages
genre: YA historical adventure fiction
I liked the skin diving, Jacky's cleverness with retrieving the treasure, Jemimah and her B'rer Rabbit stories, and the taking of the Spanish ship. I'm kind of addicted to these books, the way Jacky can't stop from getting into things!
Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures
by Kate DiCamillo
Hennepin County Library audiobook, 4 CDs
read by Tara Sands
genre: children's adventure fiction
Although I love DiCamillo, this title just didn't work for me. The reader, Sands, did a fine job with the vocal work. I think it was just too "young" to appeal . . . I try to think of the reader who would love a book. For this one, a smart, imaginative 8-10 year old seems about right.
My reaction as a "reader" was that Flora is an incredible brat. She ignores her mom, is bossy toward her adult neighbor . . . Though her character is developed more fully as the story goes along. This is clearly for younger readers with short chapters and simple sentences (though DiCamillo adds in some challenging vocabulary for those young readers!).
Ah. Her mom is neglectful and unkind; that's why Flora is such a brat toward her.
William Spiver is just plain irritating.
The "Terrible Things Can Happen to You" and the comic books in general were my favorite part.
Hennepin County Library audiobook, 4 CDs
read by Tara Sands
genre: children's adventure fiction
Although I love DiCamillo, this title just didn't work for me. The reader, Sands, did a fine job with the vocal work. I think it was just too "young" to appeal . . . I try to think of the reader who would love a book. For this one, a smart, imaginative 8-10 year old seems about right.
My reaction as a "reader" was that Flora is an incredible brat. She ignores her mom, is bossy toward her adult neighbor . . . Though her character is developed more fully as the story goes along. This is clearly for younger readers with short chapters and simple sentences (though DiCamillo adds in some challenging vocabulary for those young readers!).
Ah. Her mom is neglectful and unkind; that's why Flora is such a brat toward her.
William Spiver is just plain irritating.
The "Terrible Things Can Happen to You" and the comic books in general were my favorite part.
Thursday, January 18, 2018
Ageproof: Living Longer without Running out of Money or Breaking a Hip
by Jean Chatzky, Michael F. Roizen, MD, and Ted Spiker
Scott County Library hardcover 306 pages
genre: non-fiction, self-help, finances, health
I read about this book in the Costco Connection (June 2017) and requested it from the library. The interrelatedness of health and wealth is actually pretty logical - the two intertwine and connect in so many ways. I renewed this book the maximum number of times and thought briefly about buying my own copy. I have many take-aways, but will try to cull out the main ones here.
Their guidelines for a physical fitness AND a financial fitness self-test took me a while to complete . . . until I finally moved on with the intention of going back and completing them. The physical fitness test included fitness (push-ups, curl-ups, mile walk, and "get-up"), perceived stress test, tape test (waist size less than half your height?), grip test (the one that tripped me up - where to find a hand grip meter?), blood pressure, real age test, and professional tests (the battery of tests you get at your annual physical). They also list a bunch of things to talk with your doctor about at that annual appointment.
Fiscal fitness included income level, household expenses, net worth, emergency savings, retirement accounts, credit score, and mirror test. I have lots of notes on paper . . . I'll need to complete the info and put it in my system so I review it at least once per year. I may put it with our budgeting stuff so that Louie and I have conversations about it.
I made a list of "to-do" items. One of the biggies was to automate as much as possible. We already do this with our finances, but not so much with physical good choices. Making substitutions (e.g. veggies instead of chips, a walk instead of time on FB, . . . ) was another big one. Here are some of the other notes I made:
- move more
- use cash
- be aware of stressors, find a healthy response, and practice it
use deep breathing to help calm and focus
I also made a note about some questions to ask and a book to get from the library.
In the last part of the book, the section on your home really resonated for me! I've been working on de-cluttering for most of the last year. I grew up in a packrat household and it can be hard to let go of the excess stuff I've accumulated. These pages are helpful!
Amen! The section below on paper . . . I've made a lot of progress in this area, but can definitely improve.
This passage actually came before the others I've posted. But I like having it as a final thought. Home as sanctuary. Yes!
There are five other pages I took pictures of, but I'm not inspired to include them here now. This book was a pretty good use of my time. A lot of it (especially about a healthy diet and the importance of exercise) was familiar info to me. I liked the book a lot.
Scott County Library hardcover 306 pages
genre: non-fiction, self-help, finances, health
I read about this book in the Costco Connection (June 2017) and requested it from the library. The interrelatedness of health and wealth is actually pretty logical - the two intertwine and connect in so many ways. I renewed this book the maximum number of times and thought briefly about buying my own copy. I have many take-aways, but will try to cull out the main ones here.
Their guidelines for a physical fitness AND a financial fitness self-test took me a while to complete . . . until I finally moved on with the intention of going back and completing them. The physical fitness test included fitness (push-ups, curl-ups, mile walk, and "get-up"), perceived stress test, tape test (waist size less than half your height?), grip test (the one that tripped me up - where to find a hand grip meter?), blood pressure, real age test, and professional tests (the battery of tests you get at your annual physical). They also list a bunch of things to talk with your doctor about at that annual appointment.
Fiscal fitness included income level, household expenses, net worth, emergency savings, retirement accounts, credit score, and mirror test. I have lots of notes on paper . . . I'll need to complete the info and put it in my system so I review it at least once per year. I may put it with our budgeting stuff so that Louie and I have conversations about it.
I made a list of "to-do" items. One of the biggies was to automate as much as possible. We already do this with our finances, but not so much with physical good choices. Making substitutions (e.g. veggies instead of chips, a walk instead of time on FB, . . . ) was another big one. Here are some of the other notes I made:
- move more
- use cash
- be aware of stressors, find a healthy response, and practice it
use deep breathing to help calm and focus
I also made a note about some questions to ask and a book to get from the library.
In the last part of the book, the section on your home really resonated for me! I've been working on de-cluttering for most of the last year. I grew up in a packrat household and it can be hard to let go of the excess stuff I've accumulated. These pages are helpful!
This is a crummy photo, but it perfectly captures the tone of what resonated for me.
There are five other pages I took pictures of, but I'm not inspired to include them here now. This book was a pretty good use of my time. A lot of it (especially about a healthy diet and the importance of exercise) was familiar info to me. I liked the book a lot.
Monday, January 08, 2018
Candy Bomber: The Story of the Berlin Airlift's "Chocolate Pilot"
by Michael O. Tunnell
Hennepin County Library hardcover 104 pages
genre: non-fiction, history
I had never heard of Gail Halvorsen, a pilot who helped with the Berlin supply drops after WWII until Jodi mentioned him to me. This book was wonderful, filled with lots of photographs and sharing the story of this amazing young man! From a casual visit and two sticks of gum, he started a wave of candy donations that blessed the children of Berlin and involved many other pilots, donors, candy companies, etc. The drawings and letters from children are so heartfelt and moving!
Page 67 - "It took me a week to eat that candy bar. I hid it day and night. The chocolate was wonderful, but it wasn't the chocolate that was most important. What it meant was that someone in America cared. That parachute was something more important than candy. It represented hope. Hope that someday we would be free. Without hope the soul dies."
Page 93 - Years later, he helped with similar drops to children in Kosovo. "They had hope because of people in America who . . . knew they were in trouble and promised to stand by them. Hope is still the name of the game."
I love the references to hope. Such a powerful thing it is! This was an amazing true story and I'm glad I read it! Kudos to Halvorsen for sharing his photographs and letters so freely.
Hennepin County Library hardcover 104 pages
genre: non-fiction, history
I had never heard of Gail Halvorsen, a pilot who helped with the Berlin supply drops after WWII until Jodi mentioned him to me. This book was wonderful, filled with lots of photographs and sharing the story of this amazing young man! From a casual visit and two sticks of gum, he started a wave of candy donations that blessed the children of Berlin and involved many other pilots, donors, candy companies, etc. The drawings and letters from children are so heartfelt and moving!
Page 67 - "It took me a week to eat that candy bar. I hid it day and night. The chocolate was wonderful, but it wasn't the chocolate that was most important. What it meant was that someone in America cared. That parachute was something more important than candy. It represented hope. Hope that someday we would be free. Without hope the soul dies."
Page 93 - Years later, he helped with similar drops to children in Kosovo. "They had hope because of people in America who . . . knew they were in trouble and promised to stand by them. Hope is still the name of the game."
I love the references to hope. Such a powerful thing it is! This was an amazing true story and I'm glad I read it! Kudos to Halvorsen for sharing his photographs and letters so freely.
My Bonny Light Horseman
by L.A. Meyer
Hennepin County Library paperback 436 pages
genre: YA historical adventure
I love these Bloody Jack books! In this one, she goes from happily running marble and molasses on the East Coast / Caribbean to being prisoner, spy, and messenger. I loved how she shaped up the French farm boys to be a fighting unit.
I added a post-it note on one page. I'm not sure why this resonated so strongly, but it was interesting to see how her hatred for Bonaparte as Britain's enemy turned to respect when she was in the midst of the French army.
"As I look down my ranks, I see that my own is not the only wet eye here. I know that they love him, no question, and I know why. He has raised up worthy soldiers from the ranks and made them generals. He has set up schools for all children, rich or poor, all across his land - I have found that all of my men, well, at least the young ones born after the Revolution, can read and write. He has built roads and visited factories and shaken hands with common workers."
If this is true about Bonaparte, it raises interesting questions about him as a leader. What did he do that was so bad? What did he do that was good? I think most leaders leave a mixed legacy . . .
I cried at the scene in the army medical tent, but don't want to leave spoilers here. This was a delightful book, and I'm ready to get the next one!
Hennepin County Library paperback 436 pages
genre: YA historical adventure
I love these Bloody Jack books! In this one, she goes from happily running marble and molasses on the East Coast / Caribbean to being prisoner, spy, and messenger. I loved how she shaped up the French farm boys to be a fighting unit.
I added a post-it note on one page. I'm not sure why this resonated so strongly, but it was interesting to see how her hatred for Bonaparte as Britain's enemy turned to respect when she was in the midst of the French army.
"As I look down my ranks, I see that my own is not the only wet eye here. I know that they love him, no question, and I know why. He has raised up worthy soldiers from the ranks and made them generals. He has set up schools for all children, rich or poor, all across his land - I have found that all of my men, well, at least the young ones born after the Revolution, can read and write. He has built roads and visited factories and shaken hands with common workers."
If this is true about Bonaparte, it raises interesting questions about him as a leader. What did he do that was so bad? What did he do that was good? I think most leaders leave a mixed legacy . . .
I cried at the scene in the army medical tent, but don't want to leave spoilers here. This was a delightful book, and I'm ready to get the next one!
Gulliver's Travels: or Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships
by Jonathan Swift
Hennepin County Library audiobook 10 CDs
read by Pamela Garelick
genre: adventure, satire, . . .
I confess . . . I only listened to the first section (out of four). The Lilliputians story made me wonder if I've ever read the full book before, or only abridged and comic strip versions. There was so much more detail than I remember! One thing I thought was "How on earth could the Lilliputians get enough food and water for him? And *why* would they bother?!" That question was addressed (at least the "how" part) later in the story. The logistics of his time in Lilliput were too bizarre for me to contemplate.
I jotted a note "what is it that Swift is satirizing?" Some of it was obvious - the machinations of court and the illogical decrees on things like breaking eggs on the small end vs. the big end. But some of it I'd have to do research to figure out what was going on at that time in history to learn how Swift was mocking it. He was such a clever writer!
I'm not sure why I'm okay with returning it to the library without "reading" the rest of it. It's just not what I want to read right now.
Hennepin County Library audiobook 10 CDs
read by Pamela Garelick
genre: adventure, satire, . . .
I confess . . . I only listened to the first section (out of four). The Lilliputians story made me wonder if I've ever read the full book before, or only abridged and comic strip versions. There was so much more detail than I remember! One thing I thought was "How on earth could the Lilliputians get enough food and water for him? And *why* would they bother?!" That question was addressed (at least the "how" part) later in the story. The logistics of his time in Lilliput were too bizarre for me to contemplate.
I jotted a note "what is it that Swift is satirizing?" Some of it was obvious - the machinations of court and the illogical decrees on things like breaking eggs on the small end vs. the big end. But some of it I'd have to do research to figure out what was going on at that time in history to learn how Swift was mocking it. He was such a clever writer!
I'm not sure why I'm okay with returning it to the library without "reading" the rest of it. It's just not what I want to read right now.
Saturday, December 23, 2017
Being with Henry
by Martha Brooks
PRMS discard, hardcover 216 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction
Laker Wyatt (cool name) is kicked out by his stepfather and mother. He lives homeless for a while, then is taken in by octogenarian Henry, who has recently become a widower. There were parts of this story I liked a lot, but overall it wasn't a strong story. It's heading to a Better World Books donation bin.
PRMS discard, hardcover 216 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction
Laker Wyatt (cool name) is kicked out by his stepfather and mother. He lives homeless for a while, then is taken in by octogenarian Henry, who has recently become a widower. There were parts of this story I liked a lot, but overall it wasn't a strong story. It's heading to a Better World Books donation bin.
Christmas Stories - Children's books with Christ-centered message (various titles)
My pastor asked me to read a children's book for church this Sunday. (Last year, I read Patricia Polacco's Christmas Tapestry, though I summarized some parts so it didn't last over a half hour!) I got the first four books below at the Hennepin County Library but wasn't super excited by any of them. Then I visited the Savage branch of the Scott County Library yesterday and found the last two. Here are my thoughts.
Birthday Party for Jesus by Susan Jones, illustrated by Lee Holland
A bunch of woodland animals are planning a birthday party for Jesus and Little Bunny wonders what he should bring. Toys? Candy? Games? Then he sees that the other animals have wrapped gifts with tags like peace, faith, mercy, kindness, etc. Aha! Now he knows what to bring for Jesus' birthday. Cute art, simple story, great for a younger (preschool) audience.
The Friendly Beasts: An Old English Christmas Carol illustrated by Anna Vojtech
I didn't listen to the CD included (narration and songs by Rebecca St. James), but this is a lovely little story from the animals' points of view. It is simple, with rhyming text and lovely illustrations.
Who Built the Stable? by Ashley Bryan
Gorgeous, vibrant illustrations make this my favorite visually. The simple text rhymes and is very kid-friendly. My favorite two-page spread: "Was Jesus born in Italy, Russia, Spain, Japan? / No! He was born in Bethlehem, a rich and verdant land." (Not that kiddos will know what "verdant" means . . . but I like it!)
Grace at Christmas by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu
This one didn't have a super-strong message, but I liked it all the same. Grace likes Christmas with just her, her mother, and her Nana. But this year, some stranded travelers will join them. Grace doesn't want to share her home and traditions with them, but she learns to open her heart and show compassion. It's a beautiful story, but the acting-out of the nativity scene (and the sharing message) weren't explicit enough for what I wanted to share.
Mortimer's Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
I liked this one, but even the thought of cute little storybook mice make me think of the actual rodents . . . which I do NOT like (or their poops, which they leave everywhere). Mortimer wants a cozier place to stay than his hole in the wall. He finds it, but has to lug and tug some "statues" out of the way first. Every evening, he removes them and curls up in the hay (in the manger) and each day someone puts them back. Then he hears the dad share the Bible story of Jesus' birth. Mortimer is sad, but realizes that the manger is for Jesus, not him. But joy! Someone has put out a gingerbread house - perfect for Mortimer!
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski, illustrated by P.J. Lynch
This is the one I'm reading this year! Toomey has been nicknamed "Gloomy" by the town's children. He's always grumpy, taciturn, stooped . . . even though he's an amazing wood carver. His past unfolds as he works on a project . . . it's so beautiful! I can read it with good pacing in under 18 minutes, but I have to work on reading it without crying. Perfect!
Birthday Party for Jesus by Susan Jones, illustrated by Lee Holland
A bunch of woodland animals are planning a birthday party for Jesus and Little Bunny wonders what he should bring. Toys? Candy? Games? Then he sees that the other animals have wrapped gifts with tags like peace, faith, mercy, kindness, etc. Aha! Now he knows what to bring for Jesus' birthday. Cute art, simple story, great for a younger (preschool) audience.
The Friendly Beasts: An Old English Christmas Carol illustrated by Anna Vojtech
I didn't listen to the CD included (narration and songs by Rebecca St. James), but this is a lovely little story from the animals' points of view. It is simple, with rhyming text and lovely illustrations.
Who Built the Stable? by Ashley Bryan
Gorgeous, vibrant illustrations make this my favorite visually. The simple text rhymes and is very kid-friendly. My favorite two-page spread: "Was Jesus born in Italy, Russia, Spain, Japan? / No! He was born in Bethlehem, a rich and verdant land." (Not that kiddos will know what "verdant" means . . . but I like it!)
Grace at Christmas by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu
This one didn't have a super-strong message, but I liked it all the same. Grace likes Christmas with just her, her mother, and her Nana. But this year, some stranded travelers will join them. Grace doesn't want to share her home and traditions with them, but she learns to open her heart and show compassion. It's a beautiful story, but the acting-out of the nativity scene (and the sharing message) weren't explicit enough for what I wanted to share.
Mortimer's Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
I liked this one, but even the thought of cute little storybook mice make me think of the actual rodents . . . which I do NOT like (or their poops, which they leave everywhere). Mortimer wants a cozier place to stay than his hole in the wall. He finds it, but has to lug and tug some "statues" out of the way first. Every evening, he removes them and curls up in the hay (in the manger) and each day someone puts them back. Then he hears the dad share the Bible story of Jesus' birth. Mortimer is sad, but realizes that the manger is for Jesus, not him. But joy! Someone has put out a gingerbread house - perfect for Mortimer!
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski, illustrated by P.J. Lynch
This is the one I'm reading this year! Toomey has been nicknamed "Gloomy" by the town's children. He's always grumpy, taciturn, stooped . . . even though he's an amazing wood carver. His past unfolds as he works on a project . . . it's so beautiful! I can read it with good pacing in under 18 minutes, but I have to work on reading it without crying. Perfect!
Friday, December 22, 2017
It's Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired, and Get Going!
by Chelsea Clinton
Hennepin County Library audiobook 8 CDs
read by the author
genre: non-fiction, activism
I only listened to two of the CDs. I think I would enjoy the print version better, though Clinton's voice is pleasant. The non-Clinton voice that said the section headings seemed disconcerting and robotic . . . and at times, Clinton's voice took on an almost hypnotic quality.
That said, the content is good. I found the story about her grandma Dorothy (Hilary's mom) fascinating! What a heritage. Clinton is at her best when she talks about her own childhood and experiences.
Her target audience is children and youth. At times, she addresses kids directly or explains complex topics (like GDP) very well. At other times, she doesn't seem to be aware of children's limited grasp of serious topics. She addresses poverty and its causes, homelessness, etc. Perhaps I'm just not in a receptive mood for this info right now. In one section alone, I jotted notes on Read to Feed, Heifer International, Barefoot College, KIVA, three water charities, and Care . . . so perhaps my decision to not finish the book was simply that I felt overwhelmed by the options for helping.
I hope that kids listen and are inspired to help others and make a positive difference in the world. As an adult, I find that having a few causes (or only one!) that you're passionate about makes it easier to focus time, attention, and money in a way that can make a difference. Kudos to Clinton for working to inspire kids to make a difference. I also like that she introduces a topic, explains the different perspectives, and encourages her readers / listeners to make up their own minds about it. What an incredible young woman!
Hennepin County Library audiobook 8 CDs
read by the author
genre: non-fiction, activism
I only listened to two of the CDs. I think I would enjoy the print version better, though Clinton's voice is pleasant. The non-Clinton voice that said the section headings seemed disconcerting and robotic . . . and at times, Clinton's voice took on an almost hypnotic quality.
That said, the content is good. I found the story about her grandma Dorothy (Hilary's mom) fascinating! What a heritage. Clinton is at her best when she talks about her own childhood and experiences.
Her target audience is children and youth. At times, she addresses kids directly or explains complex topics (like GDP) very well. At other times, she doesn't seem to be aware of children's limited grasp of serious topics. She addresses poverty and its causes, homelessness, etc. Perhaps I'm just not in a receptive mood for this info right now. In one section alone, I jotted notes on Read to Feed, Heifer International, Barefoot College, KIVA, three water charities, and Care . . . so perhaps my decision to not finish the book was simply that I felt overwhelmed by the options for helping.
I hope that kids listen and are inspired to help others and make a positive difference in the world. As an adult, I find that having a few causes (or only one!) that you're passionate about makes it easier to focus time, attention, and money in a way that can make a difference. Kudos to Clinton for working to inspire kids to make a difference. I also like that she introduces a topic, explains the different perspectives, and encourages her readers / listeners to make up their own minds about it. What an incredible young woman!
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
The Twelve Dogs of Christmas
by David Rosenfelt
Hennepin County Library audiobook 5 CDs
read by Grover Gardner
genre: realistic murder mystery
Andy Carpenter, Tillman, Caffey, Big Tiny, "Pups" and others made this an interesting story about a dying woman, a murder trial, and big money. I was a bit confused about the senator from South Dakota and the blackmailing, but it all came together.
I'm not a huge fan of courtroom dramas, but there was enough other stuff to make it work. Carpenter is a defense attorney who is working for Martha Boyer, aka "Pups" in a triple murder trial. It's fun to see him follow hunches and unravel what's really going on. I liked the Jewish elderly people who helped him with some computer hacking. I also liked gang leader Big Tiny . . . though he's a thug in his own right.
I enjoyed it, but won't seek out other books by this author. There are so many other things I like so much more.
Hennepin County Library audiobook 5 CDs
read by Grover Gardner
genre: realistic murder mystery
Andy Carpenter, Tillman, Caffey, Big Tiny, "Pups" and others made this an interesting story about a dying woman, a murder trial, and big money. I was a bit confused about the senator from South Dakota and the blackmailing, but it all came together.
I'm not a huge fan of courtroom dramas, but there was enough other stuff to make it work. Carpenter is a defense attorney who is working for Martha Boyer, aka "Pups" in a triple murder trial. It's fun to see him follow hunches and unravel what's really going on. I liked the Jewish elderly people who helped him with some computer hacking. I also liked gang leader Big Tiny . . . though he's a thug in his own right.
I enjoyed it, but won't seek out other books by this author. There are so many other things I like so much more.
Compelled by Love: How to Change the World Through the Simple Power of Love in Action
by Heidi Baker with Shara Pradhan
loaned by Kelly Harvey (via New Day Church), paperback, 151 pages
genre: non-fiction Christian missions
This book blew me away! I have put it in my Amazon cart, because I'd love to own it and read it again. Baker came from a life of privilege, but fell in love with Jesus and has worked as a missionary in several countries. Mozambique is her "home" and favorite place in the world. She is inspired by Mother Teresa and writes about the Beatitudes in this book. Chapters are "Blessed are the Poor in Spirit," "Blessed are Those who Mourn," etc.
page 34: "I did not yet realize that the Sermon on the Mount is God's formula for revival. The Beatitudes are His recipe for His kingdom to come and His will to be done on the earth as it is in heaven." God is so good! He gives us what we need in His Word.
page 35: "Some of you may think ministry is a grand adventure. Ministry, however, is simply about loving the person in front of you." Sometimes we make things more complex than they need to be.
page 88: "These children are my delight as they hunger for more of Jesus. They are my mentors, and they have helped to teach me not to be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion. Sometimes we make things too complicated when we really need to remember that the kingdom belongs to the children!" I love the stories she includes about children who are transformed by God's love. Those individual children have incredible personal testimonies.
page 114 - I had to include the entire page here because so much of it resonated with me. "In trials and tribulations, our enemy will use every possible device to try to get us to focus on the problem." Yep, that's been an issue for me lately. Listening to Satan is *not* a good idea.
page 147: "Ministers should be the most joyful, in-love people on the planet. It is not a competition in misery." This would make for an interesting discussion at a pastors' meeting, yes?
loaned by Kelly Harvey (via New Day Church), paperback, 151 pages
genre: non-fiction Christian missions
This book blew me away! I have put it in my Amazon cart, because I'd love to own it and read it again. Baker came from a life of privilege, but fell in love with Jesus and has worked as a missionary in several countries. Mozambique is her "home" and favorite place in the world. She is inspired by Mother Teresa and writes about the Beatitudes in this book. Chapters are "Blessed are the Poor in Spirit," "Blessed are Those who Mourn," etc.
page 34: "I did not yet realize that the Sermon on the Mount is God's formula for revival. The Beatitudes are His recipe for His kingdom to come and His will to be done on the earth as it is in heaven." God is so good! He gives us what we need in His Word.
page 35: "Some of you may think ministry is a grand adventure. Ministry, however, is simply about loving the person in front of you." Sometimes we make things more complex than they need to be.
page 88: "These children are my delight as they hunger for more of Jesus. They are my mentors, and they have helped to teach me not to be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion. Sometimes we make things too complicated when we really need to remember that the kingdom belongs to the children!" I love the stories she includes about children who are transformed by God's love. Those individual children have incredible personal testimonies.
page 114 - I had to include the entire page here because so much of it resonated with me. "In trials and tribulations, our enemy will use every possible device to try to get us to focus on the problem." Yep, that's been an issue for me lately. Listening to Satan is *not* a good idea.
page 147: "Ministers should be the most joyful, in-love people on the planet. It is not a competition in misery." This would make for an interesting discussion at a pastors' meeting, yes?
Saturday, December 16, 2017
MIssissippi Jack
a Bloody Jack adventure
by L.A. Meyer
Hennepin County Library hardcover 611 pages
genre: YA historical adventure fiction
I'm enjoying these books a bit too much . . . though this one had a couple of places where I had to put it down and walk away. (The ambush on the river when Jacky was bathing . . . )
I marked page 202. Jaimy is frustrated with the American wilderness (in the early 1800s) and writes to Jacky "I have been massaging my swollen jaw and amusing myself by thinking up variations on USA. How about Ubiquitous Swine devoted to Anarchy? No? Then how's this: Unwashed Savages of Abysmal ignorance? I find myself longing for a civilized drawing room in London." It just made me laugh.
Jacky's raucous behavior doesn't overshadow her kind heart. She's a fun protagonist and this adventure is filled with many colorful characters as she travels west, then south on the rivers, in pursuit of Jaimy and safety. (More and more people want to kill her as her adventures go along.)
Riverboat, show boat, Mike Fink, Indians (even Tecumseh!), slavers, . . . this book was crammed full of characters and action.
by L.A. Meyer
Hennepin County Library hardcover 611 pages
genre: YA historical adventure fiction
I'm enjoying these books a bit too much . . . though this one had a couple of places where I had to put it down and walk away. (The ambush on the river when Jacky was bathing . . . )
I marked page 202. Jaimy is frustrated with the American wilderness (in the early 1800s) and writes to Jacky "I have been massaging my swollen jaw and amusing myself by thinking up variations on USA. How about Ubiquitous Swine devoted to Anarchy? No? Then how's this: Unwashed Savages of Abysmal ignorance? I find myself longing for a civilized drawing room in London." It just made me laugh.
Jacky's raucous behavior doesn't overshadow her kind heart. She's a fun protagonist and this adventure is filled with many colorful characters as she travels west, then south on the rivers, in pursuit of Jaimy and safety. (More and more people want to kill her as her adventures go along.)
Riverboat, show boat, Mike Fink, Indians (even Tecumseh!), slavers, . . . this book was crammed full of characters and action.
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Death, Dickinson, and the Demented Life of Frenchie Garcia
by Jenny Torres Sanchez
Hennepin County Library paperback 270 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction
This was a little too dark for me. Frenchie had a spontaneous night of fun with a guy she had liked from afar for four years. The next morning, she learns that he is dead. He overdosed and left a suicide note (of sorts). But she doesn't tell anyone about their conversations or experiences . . . not her parents, her best friends, a counselor. She just tortures herself and becomes more and more miserable and purposeless.
I only marked one point in the book. On page 104, she texts Colin to say "I'm not okay." This admission (and his amazing ability to be sensitive, patient, and watchful of her) help her to work toward understanding and healing.
This book wasn't a favorite for me, but I can definitely picture teenagers for whom this story would resonate powerfully. It's serious and deals with real-world issues.
As a literature person, I like that the author's main character has a thing for Emily Dickinson.
Hennepin County Library paperback 270 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction
This was a little too dark for me. Frenchie had a spontaneous night of fun with a guy she had liked from afar for four years. The next morning, she learns that he is dead. He overdosed and left a suicide note (of sorts). But she doesn't tell anyone about their conversations or experiences . . . not her parents, her best friends, a counselor. She just tortures herself and becomes more and more miserable and purposeless.
I only marked one point in the book. On page 104, she texts Colin to say "I'm not okay." This admission (and his amazing ability to be sensitive, patient, and watchful of her) help her to work toward understanding and healing.
This book wasn't a favorite for me, but I can definitely picture teenagers for whom this story would resonate powerfully. It's serious and deals with real-world issues.
As a literature person, I like that the author's main character has a thing for Emily Dickinson.
The Stone Heart
The Nameless City, book 2
by Faith Erin Hicks
Hennepin County Library hardcover 243 pages
genre: YA graphic novel, adventure
Oh my! This was so good! I would love to own the Nameless City books. These are "Yes!" purchases for a middle school or high school collection. I love Hicks' work! She's so talented.
Rat and Kaidu continue to be great kids who get into things over their heads. The Dao are split between those who want to fight and hold power versus those who see a need to change and work with others. The saddest part to me was the attack on the monks and the library! Mura is an interesting character. Enzi and Mura will have much to account for in the next book. . .
by Faith Erin Hicks
Hennepin County Library hardcover 243 pages
genre: YA graphic novel, adventure
Oh my! This was so good! I would love to own the Nameless City books. These are "Yes!" purchases for a middle school or high school collection. I love Hicks' work! She's so talented.
Rat and Kaidu continue to be great kids who get into things over their heads. The Dao are split between those who want to fight and hold power versus those who see a need to change and work with others. The saddest part to me was the attack on the monks and the library! Mura is an interesting character. Enzi and Mura will have much to account for in the next book. . .
Tuesday, December 05, 2017
Because of the Sun
by Jenny Torres Sanchez
Hennepin County Library hardcover 258 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction
This was on one of my reading lists, so I ordered it even though I'm not working with teens or libraries right now. It had great reviews.
Dani has a tumultuous life with her mother, so when her mother is mauled to death by a bear, Dani's grief has some unusual aspects to it.
The story was a bit too stream-of-consciousness for me. Some of Dani's mental noise - especially the spectre of the bear - was hard to visualize.
I liked her friendship with Paolo. I like learning his back story. I didn't like when the book shifted to the past and Shelley's story, but it pulled things together well.
Lots of swearing and teen attitude. Nice resolution to the story. I think this would appeal to teens who like reading serious books.
Hennepin County Library hardcover 258 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction
This was on one of my reading lists, so I ordered it even though I'm not working with teens or libraries right now. It had great reviews.
Dani has a tumultuous life with her mother, so when her mother is mauled to death by a bear, Dani's grief has some unusual aspects to it.
The story was a bit too stream-of-consciousness for me. Some of Dani's mental noise - especially the spectre of the bear - was hard to visualize.
I liked her friendship with Paolo. I like learning his back story. I didn't like when the book shifted to the past and Shelley's story, but it pulled things together well.
Lots of swearing and teen attitude. Nice resolution to the story. I think this would appeal to teens who like reading serious books.
Family Album
by Penelope Lively
Hennepin County Library audiobook 7 CDs
read by Josephine Bailey
genre: realistic fiction
This felt less like a novel and more like vignettes on family life. Dad Charles is distant and scholarly. Mom Alison is almost overbearing in her motherly love. Ingrid is a bit of an enigma at first, but becomes more than just an au pair as the story goes along. The children - this is mostly their story.
Paul - ne'er do well, lazy, unmotivated . . . being Alison's favorite was detrimental, I think. She keeps blaming others for Paul's poor choices
Gina - married to Phillip, TV journalist, strong-willed, I liked her best.
Sondra - 38, living in Rome, fashion, devoted to remaining childless, runs a boutique, getting into real estate and renovations
Katie - married to ???, Boston or San Francisco, the "nice" one, hung out with Roger a lot
Roger - married to Susan (Chinese descent), lives in Toronto, pediatrician
Claire - based in Paris, dancer on tour, getting ready to retire at 30 . . .
Allersmead - the house itself is a character in this story. How fitting that the last part is the house's perspective . . .
The stories bop around from the present to moments in time from the past. Corinna (Charles' sister) is a piece of work. I wonder if she and Martin are included primarily to help us get to know Charles a little better.
Charles is oblivious! When he's researching his book on teen male rituals, he seems unaware that Paul is a teen male getting angry with his dad.
I enjoyed this book and thinking about families, communication, relationships, etc. The Cellar Game wasn't as sinister as I expected when it was first mentioned.
Hennepin County Library audiobook 7 CDs
read by Josephine Bailey
genre: realistic fiction
This felt less like a novel and more like vignettes on family life. Dad Charles is distant and scholarly. Mom Alison is almost overbearing in her motherly love. Ingrid is a bit of an enigma at first, but becomes more than just an au pair as the story goes along. The children - this is mostly their story.
Paul - ne'er do well, lazy, unmotivated . . . being Alison's favorite was detrimental, I think. She keeps blaming others for Paul's poor choices
Gina - married to Phillip, TV journalist, strong-willed, I liked her best.
Sondra - 38, living in Rome, fashion, devoted to remaining childless, runs a boutique, getting into real estate and renovations
Katie - married to ???, Boston or San Francisco, the "nice" one, hung out with Roger a lot
Roger - married to Susan (Chinese descent), lives in Toronto, pediatrician
Claire - based in Paris, dancer on tour, getting ready to retire at 30 . . .
Allersmead - the house itself is a character in this story. How fitting that the last part is the house's perspective . . .
The stories bop around from the present to moments in time from the past. Corinna (Charles' sister) is a piece of work. I wonder if she and Martin are included primarily to help us get to know Charles a little better.
Charles is oblivious! When he's researching his book on teen male rituals, he seems unaware that Paul is a teen male getting angry with his dad.
I enjoyed this book and thinking about families, communication, relationships, etc. The Cellar Game wasn't as sinister as I expected when it was first mentioned.
No Laughter Here
By Rita Williams-Garcia
PRMS hardcover 131 pages
Genre: YA realisticI found this in my email from Feb. 24, 2017 . . . and I'm just now blogging it on Dec. 5! Ah well. Life gets busy.
Akilah (“intelligence”) and Victoria (named for the
British queen) are best friends. Victoria and her family have gone to
Nigeria for the summer and Akilah hasn’t had a letter for weeks. She is
eagerly awaiting her friend’s return. But
when Victoria comes back, she doesn’t talk, smile, or act like herself
anymore.
This is the summer between fourth and fifth grade .
. . but I hope some of my readers connect with it. As Akilah realizes
the truth about what happened to Victoria in Nigeria, she vows to keep
it a secret.
Friday, December 01, 2017
Picturing Prince
by Steve Parke
foreward by Sheila E.
Hennepin County Library hardcover 233 pages plus index
genre: non-fiction, photos and stories
I read a review of this book and was curious. I liked Prince a lot as a teenager and I loved the "hometown hero" aspect of his fame. Parke did a wonderful job of telling stories about his experiences working with Prince over 13 years. The photos were an interesting mix of moods - the ones taken at the arboretum were my favorites. I enjoyed this, but am once again sad that such a talented person died young. It doesn't matter now, but I think he'd be horrified at what is happening with his estate and music. Having a will would have made a difference . . . to people on this side of eternity. And perhaps to his legacy.
foreward by Sheila E.
Hennepin County Library hardcover 233 pages plus index
genre: non-fiction, photos and stories
I read a review of this book and was curious. I liked Prince a lot as a teenager and I loved the "hometown hero" aspect of his fame. Parke did a wonderful job of telling stories about his experiences working with Prince over 13 years. The photos were an interesting mix of moods - the ones taken at the arboretum were my favorites. I enjoyed this, but am once again sad that such a talented person died young. It doesn't matter now, but I think he'd be horrified at what is happening with his estate and music. Having a will would have made a difference . . . to people on this side of eternity. And perhaps to his legacy.
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Brides of Eden: A True Story Reimagined
by Linda Crew
PRMS discard, hardcover, 210 pages plus afterword
genre: YA historical fiction
This book intrigued me. I weeded it from the school collection because it had *never* been checked out, had an unappealing cover, and was about a cult from the early 1900s. I didn't ditch it because I wanted to read it.
It was distressing that so much of what these "Holy Rollers" said and did at the beginning of the story truly is Scriptural and not really bizarre at all. As it went on and Joshua put himself forward as the Messiah and made his own proclamations, though, their "church" was clearly not what God intended for His followers. Sigh. It was very interesting to read, especially knowing that it was based on real events and real people. I wonder if I could get another Christian to read and discuss it. Cults are creepy and lives are damaged when lies are believed and one's own sanity is in doubt.
PRMS discard, hardcover, 210 pages plus afterword
genre: YA historical fiction
This book intrigued me. I weeded it from the school collection because it had *never* been checked out, had an unappealing cover, and was about a cult from the early 1900s. I didn't ditch it because I wanted to read it.
It was distressing that so much of what these "Holy Rollers" said and did at the beginning of the story truly is Scriptural and not really bizarre at all. As it went on and Joshua put himself forward as the Messiah and made his own proclamations, though, their "church" was clearly not what God intended for His followers. Sigh. It was very interesting to read, especially knowing that it was based on real events and real people. I wonder if I could get another Christian to read and discuss it. Cults are creepy and lives are damaged when lies are believed and one's own sanity is in doubt.
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
In the Belly of the Bloodhound
by L.A. Meyer
Scott County Library hardcover 515 pages
genre: YA historical fiction, adventure
Okay. I'm hooked on this series. Bloody Jack #4 and I am eager to read the next one! In this story, the girls go for a day trip but are kidnapped by slavers. Jacky is her usual amazing self at problem-solving and making things happen. I especially like the dynamic between her and Clarissa. There was an interesting twist on Constance. Initially, I thought she would be the stereotypical hyper-religious, judgmental foil. But the author really did some interesting things with this story. I love when Katy confides in Jacky about her background. This was a very good story (but I definitely recommend that you read these books in order!) Hughie's part in this story was very well-done.
Scott County Library hardcover 515 pages
genre: YA historical fiction, adventure
Okay. I'm hooked on this series. Bloody Jack #4 and I am eager to read the next one! In this story, the girls go for a day trip but are kidnapped by slavers. Jacky is her usual amazing self at problem-solving and making things happen. I especially like the dynamic between her and Clarissa. There was an interesting twist on Constance. Initially, I thought she would be the stereotypical hyper-religious, judgmental foil. But the author really did some interesting things with this story. I love when Katy confides in Jacky about her background. This was a very good story (but I definitely recommend that you read these books in order!) Hughie's part in this story was very well-done.
Mark Twain's Book for Bad Boys and Girls
text by Mark Twain
edited by R. Kent Rasmussen
gift to me, hardcover 173
genre: stories, sayings, humor
I don't remember who gave this to me or why, but it's been on my shelf of books for a long time. At times, I enjoyed reading it. Twain is funny, sarcastic, smart, observant . . . or was, rather. At times, it made me sad. As amazing a writer as he was, he's dead now. From the way he writes about religion, God, faith, etc. it doesn't seem that he believed in God or salvation. How sad for him.
The section of the book on "Divine Providence" and especially the story "The Drownings of Lem Hackett and Dutchy" seem to prove his point that it doesn't matter how you live your life - whether you are good or bad, you'll die. So you may as well have fun being bad. Ugh.
Many of the stories were from his autobiography, which I've not read. The excerpts from Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn were familiar. There were also many stories from shorter pieces and those were new to me, too. He had a very sardonic wit!
edited by R. Kent Rasmussen
gift to me, hardcover 173
genre: stories, sayings, humor
I don't remember who gave this to me or why, but it's been on my shelf of books for a long time. At times, I enjoyed reading it. Twain is funny, sarcastic, smart, observant . . . or was, rather. At times, it made me sad. As amazing a writer as he was, he's dead now. From the way he writes about religion, God, faith, etc. it doesn't seem that he believed in God or salvation. How sad for him.
The section of the book on "Divine Providence" and especially the story "The Drownings of Lem Hackett and Dutchy" seem to prove his point that it doesn't matter how you live your life - whether you are good or bad, you'll die. So you may as well have fun being bad. Ugh.
Many of the stories were from his autobiography, which I've not read. The excerpts from Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn were familiar. There were also many stories from shorter pieces and those were new to me, too. He had a very sardonic wit!
All She Left Behind
by Jane Kirkpatrick
Carver County Library paperback 319 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction
* There are spoilers below! Stop after the page 141 note if you don't want the plot revealed.*
The discussion at book club last night was very interesting, but we didn't talk in depth about the book itself as much as the themes it raised: alcoholism, marriage, divorce, parenting, etc. I have a lot of post-its, but overall this was not a book that I really enjoyed deeply. I'm pretty sure it's my own attitude; Kirkpatrick is a lovely writer. She has clearly done an extensive amount of research, basing her book on actual people.
page 20 - "Justice and mercy both are required of us" - Jennie says to her husband as they're talking about people who end up in prison. Charles shoots her down, of course, and it's ironic in light of what his future holds.
page 27 - "Jennie didn't believe in coincidences, but rather accepted that a larger hand turns the world and humans were small parts within it." That made me think of the phrase "God-incidences" to observe how God can provide opportunities for us that seem happenstance but are actually very purposeful.
page 73 - "Charles has promised to help me with the love apples we've planted. Tomatoes, I believe they call them now." I've heard that expression "love apples" before, but this is one of those times that reading something in a novel made me search out more info. I love that!
page 78 - "'That Danish philosopher Kierkegaard said he'd give up wealth and power for the "passionate sense of the potential, for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possibilities."'" I should read more Kierkegaard (and/or talk with smarter people than myself) to dig into the meaning of this. We talked about it a little last night, but got off-track.
page 83 - When Jennie brings to mind "Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season, we shall reap, if we do not lose heart," it almost seems out of place. Her husband is behaving erratically, has taken their child, and has stayed out all night. I get the encouragement to not lose heart, but how was she doing good? Feeding her son's hedgehog?
page 133 - "'I myself, do not do well with sick people. I so admire those who do.' . . . 'Meeting the needs of another is a gift not everyone has.' Jennie blushed but inhaled her words." When Henrietta (Elizabeth's and Josiah's daughter-in-law) made these observations, I love how she expressed them. I also love how this encouragement blessed Jennie. Encouragement is so important!
page 139 - "In that moment she knew that she would do whatever it took to stay alive, to be there for her son." Finally! I was glad Jennie fought back against the abusive addict Charles! I just wish she had been more transparent with her son instead of "protecting" him from the truth of how horrible his dad was. (Though again, we had a great conversation about this last night. Sometimes putting the child's well-being first means couching the truth in age-appropriate language.)
page 141 - "She couldn't tell him that his father had come back for money to feed his addiction. It wouldn't matter. Douglas' broken heart filtered the memory." Yeah. Kids get hurt no matter which way this falls out.
page 147 - "To ask to love and grieve at the same moment can only be accomplished with the strength of God's cradling." Her observations about the end of life and new life (Elizabeth's impending death and Baby Winifred) remind Jennie of her daughter who died at birth. God makes all the difference in the world!
Page 169 - Yuk. My post-it says "26 and 63? Just no." Again, we had a great discussion about this last night. I get that age gaps of this kind weren't that abnormal. I get that Josiah was an amazing man. But I still think a man marrying a woman almost young enough to be his GRANDdaughter is gross! (Though I appreciate the author's notes at the end and the fact that he ended up marrying a third time after Jennie died.)
page 177 - "Then we'll decide if it's worth the risk." "Every step forward is." . . . "My father once told me, a carriage is safest in the livery stable, but a carriage isn't built for that sedentary place. It's built to roll upon the roads to unknown places." "And on to unknown trails, making new ones." I love this conversation between Jennie and Josiah. It's so true - what is safest isn't always what's best, or even what's intended. I think of that with our faith. It's "safest" to keep it to ourselves and just carry the knowledge of salvation in our hearts . . . but that is not at all what God intends for us to do with the awesome gift!
page 223 - "She even expressed a word of thanks to Charles who had left her and again forgave him, forgiveness being a journey rather than a destination." There were so many times I really liked Jennie's attitude. This is one of them. As much pain as he inflicted on her, she was able to move on and reflect in a healthy way.
I love her friend Ariyah! I appreciate Jennie's kindness to the madam when they saw her in the milliner's shop. I like her brother George who built a distillery for her oils for her (and encouraged her). I like chapter 33 (starting on page 256) and all the conversation about guilt and forgiveness. Ariyah is helping Jennie after Nora's death. "Nicholas Rowe, the English writer. He said that guilt was 'the avenging fiend that follows us behind with whips and stings.' You've whipped yourself enough about Charles and Douglas and now dear little Nora. It's time you looked through a new lens." So much good stuff in this chapter! But I'm mostly glad for our discussion last night. What a great group of women!
Carver County Library paperback 319 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction
* There are spoilers below! Stop after the page 141 note if you don't want the plot revealed.*
The discussion at book club last night was very interesting, but we didn't talk in depth about the book itself as much as the themes it raised: alcoholism, marriage, divorce, parenting, etc. I have a lot of post-its, but overall this was not a book that I really enjoyed deeply. I'm pretty sure it's my own attitude; Kirkpatrick is a lovely writer. She has clearly done an extensive amount of research, basing her book on actual people.
page 20 - "Justice and mercy both are required of us" - Jennie says to her husband as they're talking about people who end up in prison. Charles shoots her down, of course, and it's ironic in light of what his future holds.
page 27 - "Jennie didn't believe in coincidences, but rather accepted that a larger hand turns the world and humans were small parts within it." That made me think of the phrase "God-incidences" to observe how God can provide opportunities for us that seem happenstance but are actually very purposeful.
page 73 - "Charles has promised to help me with the love apples we've planted. Tomatoes, I believe they call them now." I've heard that expression "love apples" before, but this is one of those times that reading something in a novel made me search out more info. I love that!
page 78 - "'That Danish philosopher Kierkegaard said he'd give up wealth and power for the "passionate sense of the potential, for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possibilities."'" I should read more Kierkegaard (and/or talk with smarter people than myself) to dig into the meaning of this. We talked about it a little last night, but got off-track.
page 83 - When Jennie brings to mind "Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season, we shall reap, if we do not lose heart," it almost seems out of place. Her husband is behaving erratically, has taken their child, and has stayed out all night. I get the encouragement to not lose heart, but how was she doing good? Feeding her son's hedgehog?
page 133 - "'I myself, do not do well with sick people. I so admire those who do.' . . . 'Meeting the needs of another is a gift not everyone has.' Jennie blushed but inhaled her words." When Henrietta (Elizabeth's and Josiah's daughter-in-law) made these observations, I love how she expressed them. I also love how this encouragement blessed Jennie. Encouragement is so important!
page 139 - "In that moment she knew that she would do whatever it took to stay alive, to be there for her son." Finally! I was glad Jennie fought back against the abusive addict Charles! I just wish she had been more transparent with her son instead of "protecting" him from the truth of how horrible his dad was. (Though again, we had a great conversation about this last night. Sometimes putting the child's well-being first means couching the truth in age-appropriate language.)
page 141 - "She couldn't tell him that his father had come back for money to feed his addiction. It wouldn't matter. Douglas' broken heart filtered the memory." Yeah. Kids get hurt no matter which way this falls out.
page 147 - "To ask to love and grieve at the same moment can only be accomplished with the strength of God's cradling." Her observations about the end of life and new life (Elizabeth's impending death and Baby Winifred) remind Jennie of her daughter who died at birth. God makes all the difference in the world!
Page 169 - Yuk. My post-it says "26 and 63? Just no." Again, we had a great discussion about this last night. I get that age gaps of this kind weren't that abnormal. I get that Josiah was an amazing man. But I still think a man marrying a woman almost young enough to be his GRANDdaughter is gross! (Though I appreciate the author's notes at the end and the fact that he ended up marrying a third time after Jennie died.)
page 177 - "Then we'll decide if it's worth the risk." "Every step forward is." . . . "My father once told me, a carriage is safest in the livery stable, but a carriage isn't built for that sedentary place. It's built to roll upon the roads to unknown places." "And on to unknown trails, making new ones." I love this conversation between Jennie and Josiah. It's so true - what is safest isn't always what's best, or even what's intended. I think of that with our faith. It's "safest" to keep it to ourselves and just carry the knowledge of salvation in our hearts . . . but that is not at all what God intends for us to do with the awesome gift!
page 223 - "She even expressed a word of thanks to Charles who had left her and again forgave him, forgiveness being a journey rather than a destination." There were so many times I really liked Jennie's attitude. This is one of them. As much pain as he inflicted on her, she was able to move on and reflect in a healthy way.
I love her friend Ariyah! I appreciate Jennie's kindness to the madam when they saw her in the milliner's shop. I like her brother George who built a distillery for her oils for her (and encouraged her). I like chapter 33 (starting on page 256) and all the conversation about guilt and forgiveness. Ariyah is helping Jennie after Nora's death. "Nicholas Rowe, the English writer. He said that guilt was 'the avenging fiend that follows us behind with whips and stings.' You've whipped yourself enough about Charles and Douglas and now dear little Nora. It's time you looked through a new lens." So much good stuff in this chapter! But I'm mostly glad for our discussion last night. What a great group of women!
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Dreaming With God: Co-laboring with God for Cultural Transformation
by Bill Johnson
Loaned by Kelly Harvey, paperback 181 pages
genre: non-fiction, Christianity
This book challenged me in a good way. Whenever I read a book like this, it leads me back to Scripture (always a good thing). I am so glad that Kelly wanted me to read this; I hope she and I get time to talk about it!
Page 30 - "There is no question that spending time with God changes our desires. We always become like the one we worship." I love that! I love drawing near to God and caring more about laying up treasures in Heaven and not as much about the material things the world values.
Page 38 - "It's difficult to build something substantial on a negative." Johnson writes about how being convicted of one's sinfulness is only part of revival. We also need to be aware of God's holiness and how our identity changes when we accept that.
Page 48 - "There is a misconception that often exists in the artistic community; creativity must come from pain." Oh my! I vividly remember a fellow theater student at the U dismissing me as any kind of artist or performer - I just didn't have enough pain and trauma in my life. I was so discouraged by this idea that you had to be miserable to create! Praise God - He designed us to be creative!
Page 49 - "Yet many believers have simply tried to make the good news more intellectually appealing. This must stop! The natural mind cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God (see 1 Cor. 2:14). The wisdom of God is foolishness to men. It's time to be willing to appear foolish again, that we might provide the world with a message of power that delivers, transforms, and heals. This is true wisdom. It alone satisfies the cry of the human heart."
Page 56 - "Not understanding is OK. Restricting our spiritual life to what we understand is not. It is immaturity at best." I'm so glad that God is patient with me as I struggle to understand and to trust Him completely!
Page 63 - The section on Mary's mystery was so interesting to read as a mom . . . "Her pondering gave place for the roots to be established and the word to grow until the promise became manifest. God's Word grows in the heart of the believer." Maybe "ponder" should be my word next year . . .
Page 71 - "Few things are more devastating to pastors than when people leave the church. It feels like a personal rejection (and often times it really is). Those in ministry are certainly not immune to these feelings. Pastors are a unique breed - there are times when people who hate us leave the church and we still feel bad." This is food for thought for me . . . the rest of the paragraph is quite good. Seeking God's will makes all the difference in the world!
Page 89 - "There is no such thing as secular employment for the believer. Once we are born again, everything about us is redeemed for Kingdom purposes. It is all spiritual. It is either a legitimate Kingdom expression, or we shouldn't be involved at all." I love this! What a wonderful perspective!
Page 90 - Covert and overt ministry . . . covert ministry "works within the systems of this world to bring about change by reestablishing the proper norms of thought, beliefs, disciplines, and relational boundaries. In other words, we work to change the culture. This requires more time, as the goal is not a specific healing or conversion. The goal is the transformation of society itself by invading the systems of the city in order to serve." This is the heart of the book, in a way. It's a challenging idea.
Chapter 6 - The Practical Side of Things - this is my favorite chapter. "If it matters to you, it matters to Him." "It is because of my passion for Jesus that I love the Church the way I do. My love for God is my love for life. They cannot be separated." "When we live with genuine passion for God, it creates a passion for other things." The three specific stories within the chapter really captivate me. God is so good!
Page 146 - In the chapter on "Celebrating the Living Word," I finally put a post-it note with a question. "Why do these ideas challenge me so much?" Some of his writing about truth - "All Truth is not created equal" and Bible interpretation and the Holy Spirit not following rules . . . I wasn't completely sure I agreed with him or even understood him! I probably ought to re-read the chapter and grapple with it, but I want to return the book to Kelly and move on.
Page 149 - I struggled with this, too. "We prophesied the best we knew how. When the day of delivery came, the baby was in fact born dead. There was great mourning; first because of their heartbreak and loss, and second, because we didn't actually hear from God and missed it with all of our prophetic pronouncements. We met as a church family to review the tragedy and our mistakes." Sometimes I think I simply lack faith. Other times, I realize that God performs miracles but that *I* cannot make them happen on my desire or prayer. This is something I need to pray about more.
Page 151 - "Christianity was never to be known by its disciplines. It's to be known by its passion; and those without passion are in far more danger than they know. Demons are attracted to religiously sanitized environments where there is no power." I'm so glad that my God inspires passion!
Page 157 - "We have been given this amazing tool to fulfill our stewardship role: 'Death and life are in the power of the tongue . . . ' (Prov. 18:21 NASB)." Yes! This is one of the reasons I wanted to move on from this book. Lois lent me one on words. God is working on me in this area!
Page 158 - "One of the essential tools necessary to redefine the nature of the world around us is the gift of encouragement." Praise God! That's one of my favorite things to do!
Page 166 - "We have the honor of living at a time when our lives make a dramatic difference in the outcome of world events. We were born for this hour. Our assignment is to live as though nothing were impossible." This is a wonderful way to look at things, instead of bemoaning all that is happening that is discouraging.
Page 176 - "Is there anyone hungry enough for what He has shown us in the Scriptures that we will pull into our day something that is reserved for another? Is there anyone willing to lay themselves down to bring more of God's promises across another great divide? Or how about the promise that says everyone will know the Lord?" This is a "get off your butt and do what God is calling you to do" message.
Page 177 - "It's a New Day" I love this and thought of Kelly instantly: "Brand-new believers are not waiting for the mature to tell them that something is possible. They've read the Book, and they know it's legal. This tattooed generation with their body piercings and little fear of death has locked into the possibility of significance. They have seen what prior generations have called impossible, and will settle for nothing less." This sounds like a call to stop being an old fogey and join the young'uns who are moving forward for God . . .
Page 179 - "We are in a race. It's a race between what is and what could be. We are uniquely positioned with the richest inheritance of all time." I want to re-read Hebrews . . . I'm so grateful to God for inspiration, creativity, Truth, mercy, love, and grace.
Loaned by Kelly Harvey, paperback 181 pages
genre: non-fiction, Christianity
This book challenged me in a good way. Whenever I read a book like this, it leads me back to Scripture (always a good thing). I am so glad that Kelly wanted me to read this; I hope she and I get time to talk about it!
Page 30 - "There is no question that spending time with God changes our desires. We always become like the one we worship." I love that! I love drawing near to God and caring more about laying up treasures in Heaven and not as much about the material things the world values.
Page 38 - "It's difficult to build something substantial on a negative." Johnson writes about how being convicted of one's sinfulness is only part of revival. We also need to be aware of God's holiness and how our identity changes when we accept that.
Page 48 - "There is a misconception that often exists in the artistic community; creativity must come from pain." Oh my! I vividly remember a fellow theater student at the U dismissing me as any kind of artist or performer - I just didn't have enough pain and trauma in my life. I was so discouraged by this idea that you had to be miserable to create! Praise God - He designed us to be creative!
Page 49 - "Yet many believers have simply tried to make the good news more intellectually appealing. This must stop! The natural mind cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God (see 1 Cor. 2:14). The wisdom of God is foolishness to men. It's time to be willing to appear foolish again, that we might provide the world with a message of power that delivers, transforms, and heals. This is true wisdom. It alone satisfies the cry of the human heart."
Page 56 - "Not understanding is OK. Restricting our spiritual life to what we understand is not. It is immaturity at best." I'm so glad that God is patient with me as I struggle to understand and to trust Him completely!
Page 63 - The section on Mary's mystery was so interesting to read as a mom . . . "Her pondering gave place for the roots to be established and the word to grow until the promise became manifest. God's Word grows in the heart of the believer." Maybe "ponder" should be my word next year . . .
Page 71 - "Few things are more devastating to pastors than when people leave the church. It feels like a personal rejection (and often times it really is). Those in ministry are certainly not immune to these feelings. Pastors are a unique breed - there are times when people who hate us leave the church and we still feel bad." This is food for thought for me . . . the rest of the paragraph is quite good. Seeking God's will makes all the difference in the world!
Page 89 - "There is no such thing as secular employment for the believer. Once we are born again, everything about us is redeemed for Kingdom purposes. It is all spiritual. It is either a legitimate Kingdom expression, or we shouldn't be involved at all." I love this! What a wonderful perspective!
Page 90 - Covert and overt ministry . . . covert ministry "works within the systems of this world to bring about change by reestablishing the proper norms of thought, beliefs, disciplines, and relational boundaries. In other words, we work to change the culture. This requires more time, as the goal is not a specific healing or conversion. The goal is the transformation of society itself by invading the systems of the city in order to serve." This is the heart of the book, in a way. It's a challenging idea.
Chapter 6 - The Practical Side of Things - this is my favorite chapter. "If it matters to you, it matters to Him." "It is because of my passion for Jesus that I love the Church the way I do. My love for God is my love for life. They cannot be separated." "When we live with genuine passion for God, it creates a passion for other things." The three specific stories within the chapter really captivate me. God is so good!
Page 146 - In the chapter on "Celebrating the Living Word," I finally put a post-it note with a question. "Why do these ideas challenge me so much?" Some of his writing about truth - "All Truth is not created equal" and Bible interpretation and the Holy Spirit not following rules . . . I wasn't completely sure I agreed with him or even understood him! I probably ought to re-read the chapter and grapple with it, but I want to return the book to Kelly and move on.
Page 149 - I struggled with this, too. "We prophesied the best we knew how. When the day of delivery came, the baby was in fact born dead. There was great mourning; first because of their heartbreak and loss, and second, because we didn't actually hear from God and missed it with all of our prophetic pronouncements. We met as a church family to review the tragedy and our mistakes." Sometimes I think I simply lack faith. Other times, I realize that God performs miracles but that *I* cannot make them happen on my desire or prayer. This is something I need to pray about more.
Page 151 - "Christianity was never to be known by its disciplines. It's to be known by its passion; and those without passion are in far more danger than they know. Demons are attracted to religiously sanitized environments where there is no power." I'm so glad that my God inspires passion!
Page 157 - "We have been given this amazing tool to fulfill our stewardship role: 'Death and life are in the power of the tongue . . . ' (Prov. 18:21 NASB)." Yes! This is one of the reasons I wanted to move on from this book. Lois lent me one on words. God is working on me in this area!
Page 158 - "One of the essential tools necessary to redefine the nature of the world around us is the gift of encouragement." Praise God! That's one of my favorite things to do!
Page 166 - "We have the honor of living at a time when our lives make a dramatic difference in the outcome of world events. We were born for this hour. Our assignment is to live as though nothing were impossible." This is a wonderful way to look at things, instead of bemoaning all that is happening that is discouraging.
Page 176 - "Is there anyone hungry enough for what He has shown us in the Scriptures that we will pull into our day something that is reserved for another? Is there anyone willing to lay themselves down to bring more of God's promises across another great divide? Or how about the promise that says everyone will know the Lord?" This is a "get off your butt and do what God is calling you to do" message.
Page 177 - "It's a New Day" I love this and thought of Kelly instantly: "Brand-new believers are not waiting for the mature to tell them that something is possible. They've read the Book, and they know it's legal. This tattooed generation with their body piercings and little fear of death has locked into the possibility of significance. They have seen what prior generations have called impossible, and will settle for nothing less." This sounds like a call to stop being an old fogey and join the young'uns who are moving forward for God . . .
Page 179 - "We are in a race. It's a race between what is and what could be. We are uniquely positioned with the richest inheritance of all time." I want to re-read Hebrews . . . I'm so grateful to God for inspiration, creativity, Truth, mercy, love, and grace.
Monday, November 13, 2017
Under the Jolly Roger
Jacky Faber - book 3
by L.A. Meyer
Hennepin County Library paperback 518 pages
genre: YA historical adventure
I'm really enjoying these books. Jacky is sassy and impulsive (at all of fifteen years old), but essentially a clever, kind person. She kind of reminds me of Tom Sawyer and his fence-painting scheme . . . This book mostly takes place along the coast of France, in London, and in Ireland.
I actually put a post-in note in this time. Here's the passage from page 343:
"I've found that a good deal of the pleasure in eating oysters is in watching the disgust on the faces of people who do not enjoy them, as you hoist them up and slide them down your neck."
I have no desire to eat oysters, but this made me laugh. It kind of sounds like something I might do; eat oysters primarily to gross out someone else!
I need to read some of the other books on my ledge, but I will order the next book in the series. Jacky Faber is an engaging heroine!
by L.A. Meyer
Hennepin County Library paperback 518 pages
genre: YA historical adventure
I'm really enjoying these books. Jacky is sassy and impulsive (at all of fifteen years old), but essentially a clever, kind person. She kind of reminds me of Tom Sawyer and his fence-painting scheme . . . This book mostly takes place along the coast of France, in London, and in Ireland.
I actually put a post-in note in this time. Here's the passage from page 343:
"I've found that a good deal of the pleasure in eating oysters is in watching the disgust on the faces of people who do not enjoy them, as you hoist them up and slide them down your neck."
I have no desire to eat oysters, but this made me laugh. It kind of sounds like something I might do; eat oysters primarily to gross out someone else!
I need to read some of the other books on my ledge, but I will order the next book in the series. Jacky Faber is an engaging heroine!
Friday, November 10, 2017
The Hangman
by Louise Penny
Scott County Library paperback 87 pages
genre: mystery, quick read
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. It's not really a novella . . . but a bit more like an "I can read" book for adults . . . Part of Canada's "Good Reads" series.
The story takes place between The Brutal Telling and Bury Your Dead without really mentioning them. A man is found hanged - suicide or murder? Of course it's murder! Gamache and Beauvoir sort things out quickly.
I'm glad I read it, and hope that this program gets more adults reading. Not a problem for me . . . I'll move on to the next book now!
Scott County Library paperback 87 pages
genre: mystery, quick read
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. It's not really a novella . . . but a bit more like an "I can read" book for adults . . . Part of Canada's "Good Reads" series.
The story takes place between The Brutal Telling and Bury Your Dead without really mentioning them. A man is found hanged - suicide or murder? Of course it's murder! Gamache and Beauvoir sort things out quickly.
I'm glad I read it, and hope that this program gets more adults reading. Not a problem for me . . . I'll move on to the next book now!
Thursday, November 09, 2017
Understanding the Fundamentals of Music (The Great Courses)
Professor Robert Greenberg
(San Francisco Performances)
Hennepin County Library audiobook 16 discs
genre: non-fiction, music
I liked this less than his classical music course, but it was educational. I was very interested for the first seven discs, then started zoning out when he got to "intervalic profiles," "chromatic collections," "pitch gravity," and the "circle of fifths." He made a comment about assuming that people would listen to the lectures multiple times to really gain an understanding . . . nah.
I loved the early stuff, like the instrument families and timbre. I jotted down the basic tempos - presto (very fast), allegro (fast), andante (moderate), adagio (moderately slow), lento (slow), and largo (very slow). I really am not very good with my knowledge of some of this, so I hope I spelled those all correctly. I made sure my car was parked when I wrote those down!
When he was going on and on about Pythagoras and explaining tones, I just wrote "TMI." It really was a "too much information" course for someone like me. I'm not that passionate about music. I just like it.
Sometimes he's clever and fun. Other times, he's snarky and arrogant. I love these Great Courses and will gladly listen to more!
(San Francisco Performances)
Hennepin County Library audiobook 16 discs
genre: non-fiction, music
I liked this less than his classical music course, but it was educational. I was very interested for the first seven discs, then started zoning out when he got to "intervalic profiles," "chromatic collections," "pitch gravity," and the "circle of fifths." He made a comment about assuming that people would listen to the lectures multiple times to really gain an understanding . . . nah.
I loved the early stuff, like the instrument families and timbre. I jotted down the basic tempos - presto (very fast), allegro (fast), andante (moderate), adagio (moderately slow), lento (slow), and largo (very slow). I really am not very good with my knowledge of some of this, so I hope I spelled those all correctly. I made sure my car was parked when I wrote those down!
When he was going on and on about Pythagoras and explaining tones, I just wrote "TMI." It really was a "too much information" course for someone like me. I'm not that passionate about music. I just like it.
Sometimes he's clever and fun. Other times, he's snarky and arrogant. I love these Great Courses and will gladly listen to more!
Tuesday, November 07, 2017
Arthritis
subtitled "Your comprehensive guide to pain management, medication, diet, exercise, surgery, and physical therapies"
by ten people within the Dorling-Kindersley company
Hennepin County Library hardcover 213 pages with glossary, index, etc.
genre: non-fiction health
This book is beautiful to look at and has helpful information. As is true of all D-K books I've ever seen, the photographs, illustrations, etc. really help communicate the information well. With the Q and A sections, Myth or Truth?, inset diagrams and photographs, reading the main text can become disjointed.
Since I found the Stokes and Helewa book so incredibly helpful, I mostly skimmed this book looking at the "cool stuff" (since this also has to go back to the library). The sections on Maintaining Your Mobility and Protecting Your Joints are probably worth copying, but I'll focus on the other book for now and return to this blog entry (and this book) if I feel the need for more ideas!
by ten people within the Dorling-Kindersley company
Hennepin County Library hardcover 213 pages with glossary, index, etc.
genre: non-fiction health
This book is beautiful to look at and has helpful information. As is true of all D-K books I've ever seen, the photographs, illustrations, etc. really help communicate the information well. With the Q and A sections, Myth or Truth?, inset diagrams and photographs, reading the main text can become disjointed.
Since I found the Stokes and Helewa book so incredibly helpful, I mostly skimmed this book looking at the "cool stuff" (since this also has to go back to the library). The sections on Maintaining Your Mobility and Protecting Your Joints are probably worth copying, but I'll focus on the other book for now and return to this blog entry (and this book) if I feel the need for more ideas!
Arthritis: How to Stay Active and Relieve Your Pain
by Barbara Stokes and Antoine Helewa
Hennepin County Library paperback 406 pages plus resources and index
genre: non-fiction health
Oh my! I wish I had started with this arthritis book instead of spending time on that first one. Speaking of time, as I renewed this book the *second* time, I thought about just buying my own personal copy off Amazon. I probably should have! But I will blog it, photocopy some pages, and return it today.
This book was helpful, well-organized, and easy to understand. I made a list of some questions to discuss with my doctor and I made a list of things I can do to make a positive difference in mitigating the impact of arthritis pain in my life. (My left knee has been challenging lately . . . )
I want to photocopy pages 65-68 with the look at osteoarthritis. I am so grateful that I am as healthy as I am, but would like to be proactive. When my knee pain is really bad, it's hard to do the things I enjoy.
Pages 71-74 on fibromyalgia are pages I wanted to share with my friend Kim. They are probably not "news" to her, but it helped me understand what she is dealing with so much better.
Pages 220-228 are the range of motion exercises that I want to start doing! The directions and drawings are very clear and helpful.Pages 230-233 have the stretches that I want to start doing.
Pages 247-256 have the strengthening exercises. That's a lot of copying! I almost wish I'd just ordered my own personal copy of the book . . .
My personal list of "What I can do" items is from various places in the book. I'm excited to focus on what I CAN do instead of bemoaning my pain and challenges. My personal list:
Hennepin County Library paperback 406 pages plus resources and index
genre: non-fiction health
Oh my! I wish I had started with this arthritis book instead of spending time on that first one. Speaking of time, as I renewed this book the *second* time, I thought about just buying my own personal copy off Amazon. I probably should have! But I will blog it, photocopy some pages, and return it today.
This book was helpful, well-organized, and easy to understand. I made a list of some questions to discuss with my doctor and I made a list of things I can do to make a positive difference in mitigating the impact of arthritis pain in my life. (My left knee has been challenging lately . . . )
I want to photocopy pages 65-68 with the look at osteoarthritis. I am so grateful that I am as healthy as I am, but would like to be proactive. When my knee pain is really bad, it's hard to do the things I enjoy.
Pages 71-74 on fibromyalgia are pages I wanted to share with my friend Kim. They are probably not "news" to her, but it helped me understand what she is dealing with so much better.
Pages 220-228 are the range of motion exercises that I want to start doing! The directions and drawings are very clear and helpful.Pages 230-233 have the stretches that I want to start doing.
Pages 247-256 have the strengthening exercises. That's a lot of copying! I almost wish I'd just ordered my own personal copy of the book . . .
My personal list of "What I can do" items is from various places in the book. I'm excited to focus on what I CAN do instead of bemoaning my pain and challenges. My personal list:
- have a positive attitude
- focus on what I CAN do
- rest
- ice
- NSAIDs (Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) - Ibuprofen
- practice positive self-talk (page 167)
- relax / breathe / yoga
- walk, swim, bicycle (gradually increase distance and duration)
- consider alternative ways to do things
- get good sleep at night!
- work with an OT or a PT
- change position often
- get shoes that fit well (good support)
- take frequent breaks (stand up, stretch, relax)
- maintain good posture
Thursday, November 02, 2017
The Foxman
by Gary Paulsen
audiobook 3 discs
performed by Johnny Heller
genre: YA realistic fiction
Overall, this was a wonderful story of a teenage boy growing up. Some of the language choices were odd - not exactly outdated, but weird. I can't remember the phrase Paulsen used for lip balm . . . it wasn't Chapstick, but close. An odd term I'd never heard before.
The north woods setting, the uncle and aunt who take him in when his alcoholic parents become abusive, the elusive and mysterious Foxman all add up to a wonderful coming-of-age story for Carl.
The ending was so sad, but fitting. Heller's vocal work is fine for the story.
(Above posted 11.02.2017. Below added 04.14.2020.)
We actually own this audiobook, so while the libraries were closed due to Covid-19, I grabbed it to re-listen in the car.
Carl is actually the cousin that the protagonist goes to live with. I can't remember the protagonist's name and now I'm wondering if Paulsen ever gave him one! He is the one who is drawn to the Foxman and who grows so much over the course of the story. (Though his cousin Carl gets his teenage girlfriend pregnant and will most definitely have some growing up going on!)
When he gets snow blindness and panics, I love the observation he makes about how easy it is to be level-headed when you're in the comfort of your own home and how hard it can be to think clearly when you're panicking.
Also, he let the books burn with the cabin?!?!? Why???
In the author's notes at the end of the story, I was again struck by Paulsen's reference to praying to luck or "whatever" is out there. After I read one of his other books where he basically said he had done too many bad things to be forgiven by God, I wrote him a letter explaining that ALL have sinned and fall short of God's glory. God loves all His creation, Mr. Paulsen. Just ask Him. (I never sent the letter . . . )
There was a lot of autobiographical info in the book. The author interview was very interesting.
audiobook 3 discs
performed by Johnny Heller
genre: YA realistic fiction
Overall, this was a wonderful story of a teenage boy growing up. Some of the language choices were odd - not exactly outdated, but weird. I can't remember the phrase Paulsen used for lip balm . . . it wasn't Chapstick, but close. An odd term I'd never heard before.
The north woods setting, the uncle and aunt who take him in when his alcoholic parents become abusive, the elusive and mysterious Foxman all add up to a wonderful coming-of-age story for Carl.
The ending was so sad, but fitting. Heller's vocal work is fine for the story.
(Above posted 11.02.2017. Below added 04.14.2020.)
We actually own this audiobook, so while the libraries were closed due to Covid-19, I grabbed it to re-listen in the car.
Carl is actually the cousin that the protagonist goes to live with. I can't remember the protagonist's name and now I'm wondering if Paulsen ever gave him one! He is the one who is drawn to the Foxman and who grows so much over the course of the story. (Though his cousin Carl gets his teenage girlfriend pregnant and will most definitely have some growing up going on!)
When he gets snow blindness and panics, I love the observation he makes about how easy it is to be level-headed when you're in the comfort of your own home and how hard it can be to think clearly when you're panicking.
Also, he let the books burn with the cabin?!?!? Why???
In the author's notes at the end of the story, I was again struck by Paulsen's reference to praying to luck or "whatever" is out there. After I read one of his other books where he basically said he had done too many bad things to be forgiven by God, I wrote him a letter explaining that ALL have sinned and fall short of God's glory. God loves all His creation, Mr. Paulsen. Just ask Him. (I never sent the letter . . . )
There was a lot of autobiographical info in the book. The author interview was very interesting.
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