Off The Road: A Modern-Day Walk Down the Pilgrim's Route into Spain

by Jack Hitt

Hennepin County Library hardcover 255 pages

Published: 1994

Genre: Non-fiction, memoir, history

 

I got this after reading and enjoying The Promised Land by Elizabeth Musser and watching the movie  The Way. They made me curious about the Camino de Santiago and this book seemed to be highly recommended. It was pretty disappointing.

Right from the get-go, he disparages and discounts religion. I read the entire book, hoping that there would be a moment when he had some revelation about life and God. He seems too self-absorbed to be open to faith.

Page 46 - "Despite its literalness, the idea of the pilgrim's journey is a metaphor bonanza. Everything that happens on the road seems to translate itself instantaneously from what it is to what it means. I get lost! Yellow arrows! Fleeing dogs! Metaphor? Friend, I'm slogging through it."

 

He definitely has great command of language. (He is a professional writer.) My favorite parts were when he was writing about his own experiences rather than the sections were he has researched some of the history of the road, the churches, etc.

 

Page 83 - "On foot, a pilgrim finds that his mind can get so blurred by the stroke-inducing sunshine that in his reverie he almost believes that he can control these coincidences. Wish hard enough, and that horse will gallop right up. On several occasions I have eaten all the food in my pack, opened it, and found that my stash has reappeared. Empty bottles of water have filled themselves. Money has appeared when I had none. On precisely those occasions when I was out of hard currency and hungry, strangers have offered me meals without prompting. I could go on."

So . . . the sunshine tricks you into believing that you can control coincidences? You can have a firm belief in coincidence but not in Almighty God? It's kind of sad, actually.

Page 115 - "Most are unoccupied, unused, and unwanted." (This is in reference to the churches along the way.)

Sometimes he states his opinions as though they were immutable facts. He is clearly antagonistic toward organized religion, but he also has no time for God or for other pilgrims who believe in God. 

Page 154 - "All of us participate in these groupings in some way or another. And in these maneuverings and jostlings, one can feel a kind of low-grade panic. We are trying to assert an approach to the road or an interpretation of it that is in some sense bigger than ourselves. The old vocabulary of the road - that language of suffering, penance, grace, mystery - are terms most of us find uncomfortable in our conversations. There are those who make a show of old-fashioned piety. . . . They are, in short, annoying: they walk the road with an untroubled confidence in what they are doing. The rest of us are anxious."

This guy just rubbed me the wrong way. He is clearly superior to other pilgrims in his own mind, yet acknowledges that he doesn't know why he's making the pilgrimage.

Page 176-7 - I'm not going to quote all of this part, but he's agonizing over his purpose. "While I become less and less confident about being here, the others grow increasingly assured of their enterprise." Yet he is so critical of people whose walk is due to their faith in God. "These few would have no problem describing my free lunch as a miracle. They are an intense lot. One of them saw a statue move. They avoid the rest of us, as we do them."

Pages 190-191 - He makes a list of distinctions between groups on the walk:

all others v. cars

walkers v. bicyclists

mountain bikers v. racing bikers

short-distance walkers v. long-distance walkers

imposing suffering v. accepting suffering

not spending money v. spending money

tradition v. improvisation

past v. present

walking alone v. walking in a group

Catholic absolutism v. non-Catholic relativism

knowledge v. doubt

certainty v. ambiguity

solemnity v. hilarity

Page 248 - When he reaches the portico in Santiago, it almost seems as though he has a breakthrough. He is overwhelmed and goes down on his knees. But then he turns it into a kind of film script and his self-awareness lacks true introspection.

Page 253 - When he talks about the awkwardness of running into people he just spent weeks with, I wonder what this experience would be like for me. "We are strangers again and have little to say." Perhaps if their conversations had been deeper and more personal, there would have been a stronger connection. I don't think I'll ever tackle a walk like this! (But if I did, it would be to seek after God's direction.)

Someone who read this before me marked lots of passages lightly with pencil. Not sure what they were looking for or if they found it.

The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus bk 3)

by Rick Riordan

Libby audiobook

read by Joshua Swanson

Published: 2012

Genre: YA fantasy, mythology

Not sure why I'm continuing on with this series, but it's fluffy fun. (Though it does make me think about how an author could write Christian stories that draw young readers in the way Riordan does with mythology. Thank you, C.S. Lewis, for the Chronicles of Narnia.) This one focuses on Annabeth (sort of). My favorite part was in the aquarium in Atlanta and Frank, Leo, and Hazel warning Percy about the treatment of the sea creatures. Knowing me, I'll probably go ahead and finish the series after I get done with some of the other audiobooks I have loaded now.

The Son of Neptune (The Heroes of Olympus, bk 2)

by Rick Riordan

Libby audiobook 13.5 hours

read by Joshua Swanson

Published: 2013

Genre: YA fiction, mythology

 

It just occurred to me that I've probably blogged about this book already. Percy is chased by Gorgons, ends up at Camp Jupiter (the Roman counterpart to Camp Halfblood), befriends Frank and Hazel, they go on a dangerous quest, and at the end of the story the Argo II shows up with the people from book 1.

 

It was a more pleasant "listen" than the last book I had, but I definitely need to take time to find good audiobooks that I haven't already read . . . 

Tail of Vengeance (The Iggy Chronicles, vol. 2)

by Spencer Quinn

A Chet & Bernie mystery

Libby e short story

Published: 2014

Genre: short story mystery

Delightful! It didn't have much to do with Iggy, but it did explain the Teitelbaum issue and the Porsches . . . When the girlfriend hires Bernie to figure out if her bf is cheating and he brings back pictures of the man with another woman, that woman is the wife! Then the wife wants to hire Bernie to find out if her husband is cheating . . . it's a quick read and fills a back story that Chet has often referenced in other books. The big party scene at the end is the pinnacle. I love Chet.

<Above posted 10.13.21. Below added 2.1.25.>

I wanted a quick audiobook and this fit. I had forgotten about the Porsches and the wife's revenge. I'm glad Bernie decided to tell her what he knew (after initially rejecting her case). I also thought it was interesting that his ex-wife recommended him to her friend.

The Power of a Half Hour: Take Back Your Life Thirty Minutes at a Time

by Tommy Barnett

Hennepin County Library hardcover 165 pages + 1 page with the 30 principles + 30 pages of Personal Action Plans (1 per) + 7 page study guide

Published: 2013

Genre: Christian, self-help, non-fiction

I should just buy my own copy! This is overdue, but I can't renew it any more. I didn't get through the personal action plans . . . but have too much going on right now.

Chapter 6 is "Make a Regular Connection" and has to do with pursuing a relationship with God. I love this! I need to keep it here:

I actually need to keep it in my heart. Drawing near to the Lord, building that relationship, is the most important part of this book.

In the principle of listening to God (not just talking), I liked this quote:  "I'm a product of my society, so I'm very much a doer, so to break away from that routine and stop it has to be a definite commitment, something I do on purpose."

I get too focused on my to-do lists and my goals. I listen to audiobooks and push myself. But I know it's all pointless if I'm not focused on God and seeking His will.

Chapter 11 is titled "Own a Great Attitude." The half-hour power principle is "shift your outlook to change your destiny." There's a quote from Scott Hamilton that says "the only disability in life is a bad attitude."

I liked his section on thirty-minute meetings. Preparation can help save time so that people aren't sitting in pointless meetings for too long.

Chapter 19 "Sustain Hope" is about the half-hour power principle "Hope results from God's grace and your effort." I marked this part: "Part of my morning prayer regimen is to pray, 'God, please help me to help somebody today. I don't want to waste Your time or the opportunities You have reserved for me. I'm going to try to make my life really count today. Please bless my efforts.' At the end of each day, as part of my final prayer, I ask myself, Now did I help anybody today? If I didn't, I ask God to forgive me and to strengthen and prepare me to do better tomorrow."

Chapter 26 "Serve in a Loving Church" / help make your church relevant. This caught my attention because it's contrary to what I've been reading from Karl Vaters about small churches. Spirit of Life is a small church. Bigger isn't always better.  "I've also been asked if I think there is anything wrong with a small church. I do have a favorite answer for that one: 'No, if it only stays small for a week!' For if you have a New Testament church, you cannot stay small. In the book of Acts, we see how people were added daily to the church (see 2:47). That says to me that in seven days, then, a small church will be getting bigger."

Later in that same chapter, there's a section titled "Be Creative in Finding Needs to Fill." I love the work they do at the Dream Center and in ministering to foster children. I'd love to be doing more of this myself! Blessing others. Reaching out to meet needs.

Chapter 30 "Act!" / "Follow God into His amazing adventure for you." Barnett again writes about the importance of preparation. 

"I have to confess that I get tired of hearing people say that they're not doing anything about a situation because they're 'waiting on the Lord.' Too often that becomes an excuse to do nothing. Yes, it's important to move in God's timing and rhythm, but while you're waiting, you also need to be preparing for action, whatever that action might turn out to be."

I may still buy a copy of this and work through the action plan. I could also see myself leading a Bible study of this book. Food for thought!

Oh! Here is the list of the 30 principles.

A Murder for the Books

by Victoria Gilbert

Libby audiobook 11:12 hours

read by Melissa Bentley

Published: 2017

Genre: read the blog entry! Grr!

I *thought* this was a murder mystery. It was, but that's just a front for a bad romance novel with some ghost story tucked in. I really strongly disliked this story! Why (oh why) did I listen to the entire thing?!?! Because it was the only audiobook I had on my phone and I drove to Abbott Northwest Hospital twice and Forest City, Iowa twice and it was there. (Now I'm more careful to have more options on my phone!)

I initially liked that Amy was a librarian and there were so many book nerd references. But then it was clear that the research skills part was going on and on . . . and it was boring. (Part reference manual?) The romance was forced and dopey. The southern drawls were fine - the reader did a fine job. Amy finding everyone a possible suspect (except the real killer) was irritating. Amy getting her 30-something year old butt kicked by her 60-something year old cousin was just embarrassing. Doesn't this woman know any self-defense skills other than locking the house door?

The Amy / Sylvia and Eleanora / Rose comparison seemed a bit much, as did the connections between the 1920s story, the 1950s story, and the current story. I just did not like this book.

The Letter Keeper

by Charles Martin

Libby eBook 500+ pages

Published: 2021

Genre: Christian adventure fiction

This was an intense sequel to The Water Keeper . . . and it has an ending that makes you wish book three were already published!

Chapter 1: "But in my experience, she could either deal with the trauma now or wait until it festered and the residue spilled out her chest."

He's referring to Chris, a young woman he's just rescued from a predator. I think this resonated with me because I've seen people try to stuff or ignore emotional trauma . . . and that doesn't end well for them. It makes me sad when people try to pretend to be okay and they're not.

Chapter 4: "The first casualty at the altar of betrayal was trust. Which meant I was questioning everything."

This is an interesting line . . . Murphy could be referring to Bones or to Summer. Betrayal is such a strong word, but trust being a casualty makes sense.

Chapter 9: "I am putting something in your hand that, left alone, is harmless. But the moment you put your hand on it, it becomes something that breathes fire and deals both life and death. We're not playing with crayons, and this is not a video game."

Murphy is showing Ellie how to handle guns. She wants to be "tough" like her dad.

Chapter 10: "If that summer taught me anything, it was this: girls need their father. Period."

I wish I'd been able to participate in book club on this one. I'm sure the conversation would have been amazing. Dads are very important. But some single moms have done some absolutely powerful parenting . . . and some dads are destructive.

Chapter 14: "...there is something more valuable than money. Although you will have to dig deep to find it."

Part of Bones' graduation letter to Murphy. The "back story" telling that Murphy did for Ellie was really more about his life than Marie's life. It was interesting, though. I think if you hadn't read The Water Keeper first, this book would be less enjoyable / understandable.

Chapter 15: "I want to tell each of them they are Mona Lisa. Priceless. Beautiful and worth celebrating." / "I'll never understand what happens in a man, or sometimes a woman - although it's mostly men - to cause them to think they have the right to own another human. To force another member of the human race, made in the image of God, to do what they don't want to and wouldn't in ten million years. All for money." / "Darkness can't stand light. And it has no counter for it."

All of these jumped out at me. I think of the phrase "man's inhumanity to man" from a war movie. Sex trafficking depraves and deprives humans of dignity and self-worth. Although Martin is an excellent author, something about this topic just curdles my blood.

Chapter 20: "'If you were your enemy, would you want this to be published?' Her face revealed she'd never had this thought. I continued, 'If I were your enemy, I wouldn't want the world to know this. I'd want to keep it hidden. Want you to keep your mouth shut. Want to make you afraid that no one ever will or could love you after they'd read it. But truth is, I could never make you as afraid of me as I would be of your words. So I vote we hack off your enemy and publish this thing in as many countries as we can.'"

Murphy is trying to encourage Casey, but it was clear that her story's publicity would have a down side . . . and it did.

Chapter 22: "Once pure and unadulterated, the voice of hope is now muted by all the stuff we've crammed on top of it." 

It's hard to hold on to innocence and purity as you get older. Life brings lots of opportunities for disappointment, cynicism, and negativity.

Chapter 22: "The difference between what she heard and what I intended, or even what I thought I said, is evidence that the stuff in the pipe is real. That what we breathe in and what we breathe out can actually alter the words that are spoken so they fit a false narrative. But pain, like fear, is a liar. And it has but one lie: This love is too good to be true, and even if it were true, you don't deserve it."

This made me think of the song, "Fear is a Liar." So true!

Chapter 25: "Was her pain deeper than our love?"

 

When Murphy asks this about Casey, I think he knows the answer is yes. Yes, her pain is deeper.

Chapter 29: "'We can help their bodies, but it's their spirits that will need piecing back together.' He nodded. 'And love, the real kind, the kind that walks into hell and says me-for-you, is the only thing in this universe or any other that does that.'" / "Stripped bare, the human soul has one real desire: to know and be known." / "This is the thirst of the human soul, and only one thing satisfies it: to be accepted in the knowing."

 

I wonder what a non-Christian reader comes away with from reading this book. To me, these sentences point back to God and His redeeming love.

 

Chapter 34: "It's one of their deepest wounds - those they thought they could trust turned out not to be trustworthy."

It's a sucker punch to the gut when children's own parents or guardians traffic or abuse them. I cannot fathom this, though I know it happens.

Chapter 39: "'Will you let us call you Daughter?'"

I bawled. Probably my favorite part of the book. But Gunner (the dog) is still my favorite character. Then Clay.

Now I have to wait for book three to come out. The "reveal" on the bad guy . . . ooh. Really wish I could have been at book club!

Will Sparrow's Road

by Karen Cushman

Scott County Library audiobook 4 CDs

read by Katherine Kellgren

Published:2012

Genre: YA historical fiction

 

I'm really surprised that this was published almost ten years ago and I hadn't heard of it! Cushman is one of my favorite YA historical fiction authors. (The Ballad of Lucy Whipple is my favorite of her books.)

 

Will runs away from the innkeeper who plans to sell him to be a chimney sweep. He proclaims, "I care for no one but myself and nothing but my belly" as he seeks to make his way in the world in the late 1590s. He encounters thieves and charlatans on the road and at Elizabethan fairs. Even as he resolves to trust no one, he puts his trust in others who cheat him.

 

When he connects with Fitz, "the creature," the blind juggler, and the other oddities, something changes for him. This was an enchanting story with memorable characters.

One of my favorite parts was when Samuel and his pig duchess are trying to distract some rowdy boys by asking some riddles. This is a paraphrase, but you'll get the gist of it.

"Rich men wrap it up and put it in their pockets but poor men throw it away. What is it?"

No one could guess the answer (including this reader). The answer? Snot! A perfect riddle for rude boys.

This was an enjoyable story with lessons layered in about people, relationships, trust, honesty, and valuing what's truly important.

The Iggy Chronicles, Volume 1

by Spencer Quinn

Scott County Library short eBook on Libby

Published: 2013

Genre: detective mystery

I'm caught up on reading all the Chet & Bernie mysteries, so I'm working my way through the short eBooks. This one takes place when Mrs. Parsons goes to the hospital. Iggy goes to visit, gets loose, runs on a rampage through patient rooms, then is kidnapped.

Bernie and Chet do some detective work and find missing jewels as well as little Iggy. Ready for volume 2!

Tender Is the Bite

A Chet & Bernie Mystery, #11

by Spencer Quinn

Scott County Library eBook on Libby

Published: 2021

Spencer Quinn is a pen name for Peter Abrahams. From his website's "about the book" section:

Chet and Bernie are contacted by a terribly scared young woman who seems to want their help. Before she can even tell them her name, she flees in panic. But in that brief meeting Chet sniffs out an important secret about her, a secret at the heart of the mystery he and Bernie set out to solve.

It’s a case with no client and no crime and yet great danger, with the duo facing a powerful politician who has a lot to lose. Their only hope lies with a ferret named Griffie who adores Bernie. Is there room for a ferret in the Chet and Bernie relationship? That’s the challenge Chet faces, the biggest of his career. Hanging in the balance are the lives of two mistreated young women and the future of the whole state.

 

Chet is a fabulous dog narrator and there was a line that made me laugh out loud, but I didn't jot it down so now I don't remember it.

Involving politicians was an interesting choice. Bernie is incorruptable. The fact that his two neighbors are supporting opposing candidates is amusing.

I liked that we learned more about Bernie's past and his parting with the police department. Captain Ellis was a particularly nasty character.

Another great story! I liked having it on my phone, but it was too quick a read.

Gingersnap

by Patricia Reilly Giff

Scott County Library audiobook 3 CDs

Published: 2013

Read by: Olivia Campbell

Genre: YA historical fiction

For how short this book is, it sure took me a long time to "read" it. Set during WWII, orphan Jayna has been rescued from foster care by her brother when he turns 18. When he enlists to fight in the Pacific, she temporarily stays with their landlady until she decides to find her grandmother.

A young girl going to Brooklyn alone and asking to stay with a stranger . . . what could go wrong?

But as she always does, Giff surrounds her protagonist with memorable people (including the "ghost" of herself) and Jayna forges ahead as she worries and wonders about Rob's whereabouts.

Besides taking a long time to listen (started in my sewing room, finally put it on a portable player in my car, and finally finished it at my laptop), I didn't pay very close attention. I think my favorite of Giff's books remains Pictures of Hollis Woods. She writes engaging stories and captures the inner struggles of young girls.

Peril at End House

 by Agatha Christie

eBook on Libby, 396 pages

Published: 1932

genre: murder mystery, Hercule Poirot

I like having a book on my phone, just in case. I love Agatha Christie books, though I prefer Miss Marple to Hercule Poirot. In this story, Hercule is retired but gets drawn into a case when he encounters young "Nick" Buckley, a woman who has had numerous close calls. Her cavalier attitude toward her own safety and the constant refrain of Poirot's losing his touch made for an interesting but not necessarily enjoyable story. I didn't figure it out. I didn't love it as much as other Christie mysteries.

Out Of Many, One: Portraits of America's Immigrants

by George W. Bush

Hennepin County Library hardcover 208 pages

Published: 2021

Genre: Non-fiction, immigration

This was an incredible book. The art? Better than anything I could do. The text about the people? Fantastic! Their stories were told powerfully and their impact as Americans is significant. Especially coming on the heels of POTUS 45's awful rhetoric, this book should be read by many people in our country!

Bob Fu's story was especially powerful. Leaving China was dangerous for him. I've added his book, God's Double Agent, to my reading list.

I read about Hamdi Ulukaya in the Costco Connection, so it was fun to read another "article" about Chobani's founder. What a great guy! "Hamdi has vowed to give away the majority of his wealth in support of refugees and launched a coalition of businesses, the Tent Partnership for Refugees, to promote refugee integration."

Ezinne Uzo-Okoro said, "The privileges we are afforded in this country are abundant beyond measure." Many of these immigrants seem more patriotic and thankful than the average American! 

These stories were fascinating and made me appreciate my blessings even more. It was also enlightening to read this while also reading the Dan Rather book on patriotism. Good stuff!

Quicken WillMaker & Trust 2021 (book and software kit)

 I haven't read the entire book, but I really like this! Here are some of my takeaways:

• Letter to Survivors - "When working on your estate plan, you may find that you want to explain certain things to your loved ones. . . . Or maybe you simply want to leave some thoughts about your life."
• Making Your Own Will - "As a way to decide who gets your property, the will has been around in substantially the same form for about 500 years. For the first 450 years, self-help was the rule and lawyer assistance the exception. When this country was founded, and even during the Civil War, it was highly unusual for a person to hire a lawyer to formally set out what should be done with his or her property. However, the legal profession has since convinced many people that writing a will without a lawyer is like doing your own brain surgery." (This actually made me laugh out loud.)
• Joint Wills - This was eye-opening! "In the past, it was common for a married couple who had an agreed-upon scheme for how to distribute all their property to write one document together: a joint will. But time has shown that setup to be crawling with problems." (I remember my mom and dad having a joint will.This software helps you write a will and then create an identical will for the spouse.)
  
• Explain the reasons for leaving your property. I love that the software has all the possibilities and how-tos laid out so clearly.

 

I did a sample will for me but didn't talk it through with Louie. I'm not sure if I'll purchase the book and software or just stick with what I generated. I really want to return this to the library, but I also want our wills done!

A Cat Was Involved

 by Spencer Quinn

eBook via Libby

Short story - A Chet and Bernie

I've finally read the "how we met" story for my two favorite detectives! I loved this little story about the day Chet "flunked" out of K-9 school when he didn't pass the leaping test. It has been referred to in so many of the novels that I'm so glad Quinn wrote it and I read it. I have one big problem with it, though. 

In the novels, it definitely sounds as though Chet experienced life with Bernie when he was still married to Leta. In this short story, the divorce has happened and Leta and Charlie are already gone. It's not a huge deal, but it irked me. I loved hearing how Chet and Bernie connected. Rick Torres' younger brother Bobby just didn't understand Chet.

Surviving Savannah

by Patti Callahan

Dakota County Library hardcover 395 plus Author's Note, References, etc.

Published: 2021

Genre: Christian historical fiction

Liked but didn't love this book. It made me curious to read online about the actual ship Pulaski that went down in 1838. The Author's Note at the end also gave me lots more info about the ship.

Alternating between modern-day Everly Winthrop and the women of the 1838 incident (primarily Lilly and her aunt Augusta), the author did a great job of weaving the story between now and then. She included a lot of detail about Savannah as a city, the disparity between wealthy people and poor, the plight of the "enslaved," and the issues of grief and survivorship. That said, the most compelling storyline to me was that of Lilly trying to escape her abusive husband Adam. And that storyline was fiction . . . 

Page 5 - When Everly is recalling her young self's dad telling the story of the sinking of the Pulaski, her observation is one I can relate to!

I needed the evil to become good. I needed the dark to become light. I needed the stories to end in triumph or what was the point? I hated the stories where the sad ending left me feeling an ache in the middle of my tummy, the same place where I felt the emptiness left by losing my father the year before. I wanted - no, I needed - the stories to make sense, for the world to be restored at the end.

Page 27 - There were times Callahan's language choices were simply gorgeous! This is one instance, even though it's about a sad topic:

Grief had been coiled quietly inside me since Papa's death ten years ago - an absence that was as much a presence as any ghost. I'd become accustomed to the loss in the same way one does a limp. But Mora's death had awakened that coiled animal, that oily, slithering grief that had hidden beneath the marsh and muck of my life. Mora's absence had joined Papa's and together the loss was more than double; it was exponential.

Page 52 - The idea that we can simply forget the past and move on is one that challenges me. I believe in change and looking ahead, but unless I get amnesia or Alzheimer's, my past is part of who I am and I remember it. By the end of the book, Everly had a healthier appreciation for not dwelling on the past while still maintaining her love for history and uncovering the past. 

 

"If one wants to move beyond the past, one must not delve into the past," some out-of-date advice book once told me. But no one, even if they believe they have, moves past the past.

Page 85 - This section reminded me of my visit to Williamsburg! How incredible to physically be in a place where historical figures lived and moved!

If we were to talk of the Pulaski we must be near the place where the passengers had boarded. I'd always believed that one can't understand the past without visiting the places where events took place.

 

Page 157 - Priscilla / Chike was a fictional character, but she was one of my favorites. As a slave woman who was nursing Lilly's child Madeline, the conversations between the two women grew as Lilly's understanding of the evils of slavery grew. Lilly has just suggested in a question if her husband had gotten Priscilla pregnant.

"No, mistress. My little girl, my Anika, she belonged to me, and to a man who loves me, a man I love." She lifted her chin and closed her eyes, a pride and a pain Lilly would not and could not understand yet speared her chest with sorrow.

Page 164 - This line caught me and reminded me of why I need to stay grounded in God's Word daily! Maddox is sharing some life wisdom with Everly.

"We are our truest selves when life and death walk hand in hand. When crisis comes, and tragedy explodes, our true character comes to the fore. ... Choices are made."

Page 179 - As Everly is talking with Margarite Mulvaney about her research into the Longstreet family, Margarite's offhand comment is kind of gross, but extremely accurate. I like making the effort to seek out inspirational stories.

"Isn't it odd how we can find the devastating stories and not the inspiring ones? My daughter calls that trauma porn."

Page 198-9 - there's so much to unpack here! Grief, life, love . . . 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 218 - Yes! We spend so much time, money, and thought on things that DO NOT MATTER! As Augusta fears for Henry's life (and everyone else's), she thinks of life before.

She stroked his head and whispered prayers she'd never before uttered, ones she'd heard in church while her mind wandered down frivolous paths. Had their former lives mattered at all? All the energy and time they had spent to maintain their particular way of living - why had they bothered? The teacups and bric-a-brac, the fine lace and silk gowns. It was all a mirage. Now their silver and linens, their hand-painted table service, their hand-sewn gowns all lay at the bottom of the ocean.

Page 293 - The whole section on Everly going down on the dive to the Pulaski bothered me. For a whole host of reasons it bothered me. It was so selfish of her to insist and to lie to Maddox. Then for her to be excited about her epiphany and the decision to live . . . grrr.

Page 340 - 342 - The guy who left flowers at the grave. I could see this coming a mile away. I wish the resolution had been different.

Page 359 - It was interesting how often Callahan used the word "enslaved" to refer to slavery. In most books I've read that are set in this era, "slavery" and "slaves" are used. This caught my attention and it will be interesting to see if it comes up in our book club discussion next week. Everly is talking with her friend Sophie about family trees, research, and the huge difference between a white woman's genealogy and a black woman's . . . .

She squeezed my hand. "You and I both know there's a difference between prejudice and obliviousness but sometimes it can have the same result."

Page 394 - I love when Oliver tells Everly all the reasons he loves her and then ends with this gem about not wasting life.

"Please give me time to tell you all the other reasons. This exhibit, this wreck, it shows us - life is such a quick thing. Please don't let us waste one more minute of it apart."

What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism

by Dan Rather & Elliot Kirschner

Hennepin County Library paperback 284 pages

Published: 2017

Genre: Non-fiction, history, government, society

Sadly, I didn't get to finish reading this before needing to return it to the library. There's a waiting list (and I had waited a while to get it after requesting it . . . ) but my time management skills are not at their peak.

One of the things I loved about this book was Rather's general attitude and approach. After observing this:

For I have seen how a nation can pick itself up and make progress, even at divisive and dysfunctional political moments like the present when we seem to be spinning backward.

he next makes this statement:

I have found that the vast majority of men, women, and children I have met over the course of my life are kind and well intentioned.

Rather has seen a lot of this country and a lot of human activity. I love that he can come away from it all believing this about people.

The entire chapter on Dissent (starting on page 35) is incredibly powerful. I thought about scanning it and keeping it.

This would be an amazing discussion book. I'm sure that some would see him as too left-leaning, but he makes some very worthwhile observations and raises some legitimate questions about America and patriotism (which is not the same as nationalism!).

I may need to request this again to finish reading it . . . 

(The above was written 8/4/2021. I'm adding the below on 9/7/2021.)

 

Scott County Library - 270 pages ( Due to font differences? Or did the version from Hennepin County have more material? Curious.)

This book is amazing. There were so many thoughts and expressions that really resonated with me that I didn't even use post-it notes. I just enjoyed it and thought about buying my own copy. What an incredible man! I love how he (and his co-author) mixed stories from his childhood and young adult life with the content he was writing about. 

The book has these sections and chapters:

What Is Patriotism?

Freedom (The Vote / Dissent / The Press)

Community (Inclusion / Empathy / Immigration)

Exploration (Science / Books / The Arts)

Responsibility (The Environment / Public Education / Service)

Character (Audacity / Steady / Courage)

Some of this book was very educational for me! On page 58 of the section on The Press, he wrote

"None of us could have predicted how technological and regulatory changes would usher in a new media landscape that, building on the Nixon legacy, would transform the very nature of news. In 1987, under President Ronald Reagan, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) abolished the Fairness Doctrine. In place since 1949, it had stipulated equal airtime for differing points of view. In this environment where media outlets felt less compelled to present balanced political debate, AM radio stations in particular started to switch to a lucrative form of programming best exemplified by Rush Limbaugh - right-wing talk radio. For hours on end, Limbaugh, and others who followed his lead, would present their view of the world without rebuttal, fact-checking, or any of the other standards in place at most journalistic outlets.

Later, Rather writes in the chapter on Science:

So how did we get to a juncture in our history where we are rallying, marching, and lobbying to defend science against the forces of misinformation, greed, and narrow self-interest? There are many factors contributing to our current crisis: the political divide, a general loss of faith in experts and authority, and suspicion of corporations . . . Science has also had some self-inflicted wounds. We have been told that chemicals like DDT were safe, we have seen unethical research like the Tuskegee Study exposed, and we are confused by shifting directives from scientists on our own health (Is fat in our diet bad or good?).

Although Rather definitely skews liberal (IMO), he is intelligent, articulate, and thoughtful. He doesn't denigrate people he disagrees with. He's been around a long time and has seen a lot of life. This book is wonderful. I thought about trying to list my three favorite chapters, but that's tough. My favorites from each section were The Vote, Immigration, Books, Service, and Steady.

Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks

by Jason Reynolds

Hennepin County Library hardcover 188 pages

Published: 2019

Genre: YA realistic fiction

 

I don't remember where I read a recommendation for this book, but I really like Reynolds' writing style. This was a series of short stories that had characters and themes interwoven. It was beautifully written! The flying school bus had me curious up until the last story. Most of the stories were bittersweet and even heart breaking . . . but there was plenty of light in them as well.

 

From the first story about the "Low Cuts" (little hooligans) and why they wanted money so much to the "broom dog" that helped Canton through his mom's accident, this book is powerful.

 

One section where the language captivated me was in the story "Satchmo's Master Plan." "But no matter what his mother said, no matter what she taught him, it didn't matter. Fear had clamped down on his brain and the scars on the back of his leg - the raised dots and dashes like Morse code on his skin - served as a reminder that dogs were dangerous." 

Reynolds is such a good writer!

A Piece of the Moon

by Chris Fabry

Dakota County Library paperback 360 pages

Published: 2021

Genre: Christian realistic fiction / "historical" - 1980s

This was our book club title for July and I loved it! I know we've read one other Chris Fabry book, but I seriously need to get more of his stuff! His writing style is great! It felt like you got to know the characters and could care about their lives. It took place at a country radio station in West Virginia.

 

*** Spoilers ahead. If you haven't read the book, do!***

As soon as I read the premise of millionaire Gideon Quidley hiding a treasure and leaving clues via Bible verses, I thought of Forrest Fenn and the recent discovery of his treasure in the Rockies. It made this story that much more believable and made me curious to do some extra reading on Fenn.

Page 32 - "Even though he would arrive home dog-tired from work at the plant, cars kept coming and he'd tinker all hours of the day and night. He didn't charge, which was a hardship to his family, but there is no gift to the world like a man doing what he enjoys."

In this passage referring to Pidge's dad, I saw the truth and beauty in that last line. Work isn't work if you love doing it.

Page 67 - "A timer could help you get out of the way of the first vocal, but it couldn't bring the magic. And it seemed like the world was becoming less about magic and more about timers every day."

There was a lot of radio-specific content in the book, but Fabry wrote it in a way that made it accessible and even interesting. I think we all know what dead air time sounds like (or get frustrated with DJs who talk over singers) and this "magic" is what Waite is about. He's old-school and values the smoothness that comes with listening and practicing good timing.

Page 82-82 Waite teaching Wally about value using a $20 bill. This is so good! Start midway down the left hand page with "It's more than a streak," . . . this book is so good! I loved Waite and his compassion for others! I loved the theme of second chances and reconciliation.

   

 

Page 170 - "That which is foreign is often feared, especially when it comes to prayer."

I'm not sure what about this most caught my attention. It's interesting how something different (an idea, a culture, food, etc.) can make people fearful.

Page 207 - "The nurses tried to stop it. They were all out of sorts. Milton Quidley pulled the plug on his daddy. Gideon died an hour ago."

I couldn't believe it. No matter how selfish and petty you are, to end your parent's life so the will can be read . . . isn't that murder?

Page 223 - "The call made him feel warm inside. Growing up, all he'd heard was how bad and stupid he was. And that was from someone supposed to love him. Waite lived differently."

Clay was such a delightful character! I loved how he was able to keep Jubal from Milton by telling him how to treat her fleas (which she didn't have). I loved that he recognized that Waite was special. And I loved when he courageously went on-air to convince people that the dam was ready to break and they needed to evacuate. 

Page 243 - "The Kid listened from the front of the boat and didn't speak. And it struck Waite that the most powerful thing you could do was listen."

The personal growth in Clay (The Kid) also reflects a growth in Waite. I loved these interactions! And I loved Clay reaching out to Waite's adult estranged daughter. 

Page 252 - "Every dang time he'd work in a verse or two about the heavens declaring the glory of God or some such. I'd tell him to keep his religion to himself. But if you really believe you got an answer to life's problems and you don't tell nobody, what good is the answer? So I don't fault him."

 

When TD goes to talk to Corky about Gideon Quidley and the treasure, their conversation gives us more insight into the eccentric millionaire and his desire to share God's Word with people. I like TD's story arc quite a bit.

 

Page  258 - "He rode away thinking libraries were filled with smart people who could find anything."

Clay again. And me liking his observation! I'm a bit biased about librarians, though. 

Page 326 - "Laughter is like water to a dry pump. A little will prime it and pretty soon you have all you need and then some."

When Pidge is thinking this about Clay, it made me think of the positive impact his presence had in her life, Waite's, TD's . . . and his own. This was just a really, really fantastic story! And I loved what happened to the wealth, too.

Of Mutts and Men

by Spencer Quinn

Scott County Library eBook (Libby)

Published: 2020

Genre: Murder mystery

From Goodreads: 

When Chet the dog, "the most lovable narrator in all of crime fiction" (Boston Globe), and his partner, PI Bernie Little of the desert-based Little Detective Agency, arrive to a meeting with hydrologist Wendell Nero, they are in for a shocking sight--Wendell has come to a violent and mysterious end. What did the hydrologist want to see them about? Is his death a random robbery, or something more? Chet and Bernie, working for nothing more than an eight-pack of Slim Jims, are on the case.

Bernie might be the only one who thinks the police have arrested the wrong man, including the perp's own defense attorney. Chet and Bernie begin to look into Wendell's work, a search that leads to a struggling winemaker who has received an offer he can't refuse. Meanwhile, Chet is smelling water where there is no water, and soon Chet and Bernie are in danger like never before.

 

I read this quickly and moved on to request the most recent (2021) release . . . 

 

One of my favorites in this book was the little girl. I've already returned the ebook and I can't recall her name. Lindy? Anyhow, she rocked! Glancing through reviews on Goodreads, I think Quinn's writing style either tickles your fancy or it doesn't. I love the story from the dog's point of view. 

Chet and Bernie

I love this series and get tired of googling it to figure out titles. No bells & whistles, just the titles (from Goodreads, Amazon, etc.) I haven't read any of the e-short titles yet.

#.1 - A Cat Was Involved (e-short) / 2012

#.3 - Tail of Vengeance (e-short) / 2014

#1 - Dog On It / 2009

#2 - Thereby Hangs a Tail / 2009

#3 - To Fetch a Thief / 2010

#3.1 - Santa 365 (e-short) / 2015

#4 - The Dog Who Knew Too Much / 2011

#5 - A Fistful of Collars / 2012

#5.1 - The Iggy Chronicles, Vol. 1 (e-short) / 2013

#6 - The Sound and the Furry / 2013

#7 - Paw and Order / 2014

#8 - Scents and Sensibility / 2015

#9 - Heart of Barkness / 2019

#10 - Of Mutts and Men / 2020

#11 - Tender Is the Bite / 2021

#12 - It's a Wonderful Woof / 2021?

Heart of Barkness

by Spencer Quinn

Scott County Library eBook (Libby)

Published: 2019

Book #9 in Chet and Bernie Mysteries

Genre: Murder Mystery

 

I read this a few weeks ago, but kept forgetting to blog it. It was my first time reading on Libby, Scott County's new eReader. I really enjoyed having the book on my phone!

 

In this one, Bernie's neighbors the Parsons have gotten a saguaro cactus from their son who was recently released from jail. Soon a conservation officer shows up to charge them with a crime. As Bernie and Chet look into the mystery, one body after another shows up. Shooter (who is clearly Chet's progeny) plays a key role in this tale. 

 

I love Chet! I don't like when people try to hurt him. I love that the good guys win in the end. These books are addicting and I quickly ordered and read the next title in a weekend at the lake.

 

 

 

The Long Way Home

by Louise Penny

Hennepin County Library audiobook 10 CDs

Published: 2014

read by: Ralph Cosham

Genre: murder mystery

 

Ann has recently discovered Penny's Inspector Gamache. I hadn't read one in a while, so I got this. I quickly remembered what I like (detail, clues, etc.) and what I dislike (overdramatized, overwrought characters).

 

Since I was listening to an audiobook, I just have quick jotted notes.

• When listening to the audio, the shifts between scenes and characters in a chapter is disconcerting. I'm pretty sure on the page, you can see a gap. But the reader goes directly from Myrna and Clara to Gamache and Bouvoir . . . and it bugs me.
• The St. Lawrence River and a meteor impact you can see from space?! I had to Google it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlevoix_crater    Fascinating!
•  Asbestos . . . lots of interesting stuff here, but I was surprised at how clueless they were while learning about it.
• "fine line between privacy and secrecy" - yep. 
• The Tenth Muse . . . overdone and overwrought.
• Norman / No Man 
• Captain's vs. admiral's cabins on the ship . . . why did this bug me? Why did Myrna and Clara stay silent so long?
• symbolism . . . and lots of it.
• Duh! Massey! Killer chase . . . seriously. How did they not consider this? Asbestos-covered canvases and who's trying to kill whom? 

I think I need to read other authors. For some reason, Penny just bugs me. (Or maybe I'd like the print books better?) I think Miss Marple is my favorite detective.

Becoming Bulletproof: Protect Yourself, Read People, Influence Situations, Live Fearlessly

by Evy Poumpouras

Hennepin County Library hardcover 299 pages

Published: 2020

Genre: Non-fiction advice

 

This was a really interesting book by a fascinating woman. Former Secret Service Agent Evy Poumpouras could probably have just written a memoir and had my attention. The self-help aspects were a little less intriguing for me. This woman has already had such an interesting life and she's still pretty young! (And gorgeous - her author pic is impressive.)

 

I put a lot of post-it notes in here, but it's been over a week since I finished the book . . . not my best mode for blogging, but I definitely enjoyed reading this.

 

Page 7 - Right away in the prologue, she's relating her experience in NYC on 9/11. Wow! This was a powerful way to start her story.

 

I prayed in Greek, as I'd been taught growing up in the Greek Orthodox Church. I kept my eyes open as the world around me split apart. I wanted to see death coming for me. I knew I had no choice in my death, but I could choose how I faced it. Even when I could no longer hear the sound of my own voice, even when my face and mouth filled with dust and ash, I kept my eyes open and prayed. As the tower collapsed above me, strange as it might sound, I felt a peculiar peace spreading through me.

 

Not peculiar at all! That's God in action, Evy. You should pray more, not just when you think you're going to die.

 

Page 11 (still prologue) - I like how she noticed the actions of others who were not first responders.

 

They helped because it was the only thing they could do. Because, without being told, they already knew that when it seems like the world is ending, being willing to help others is the antidote to fear.

I believe that most people prefer to do the right thing. I love seeing / hearing about people being kind, compassionate, helpful. 

Page 14 - In direct contrast to that last note . . . 

Fast-forward to today and we find ourselves facing new fears. Mass shootings, school shootings, and cyberattacks filter into our social media and news feeds. The world feels full of fear in a way that can immobilize and overwhelm us at a moment's notice.

Is there more fear or just more fear-mongering? As people want to exclude God and faith from their lives, are they just reaping what they've sown? I can't imagine how stressed I'd be without faith in Jesus and the power of God's Word. No thanks.

Page 36 - I really liked how she shared about her childhood and how that shaped her attitudes and career choices. This quotation sums up part of her life philosophy (in my mind).

I know fear keeps us alive, but I also know that fear can keep us from living.

She had also talked about our Fight, Flight, or Freeze responses. This is a really interesting book. She uses a lot of F-bombs, though.

Page 60-61. I decided to take a photo of this two-page spread. These are good questions to ask yourself. It's so easy to get sucked in to other people's "stuff." 

 

 

Page 72 - This really hit home. It has come up a lot in our book club discussions in the context of God using our pain as a way for us to minister to others who are suffering. The author has a secular take on that idea.

 

When we can find meaning in our personal tragedies and use them as a way to enhance our lives, or the lives of others, we'll emerge stronger and more resilient. 

 

There was more, but I'm already tired of blogging on this book!

 

Page 107 - Her advice was interesting, even if I enjoyed her personal stories more.

 

Predators primarily seek out those they perceive as weak. The ones they think will go down easy, who won't put up a fight. You know why? Because they don't want a fair fight. They want someone they can conquer. They are looking for an easy target. Don't give them one.

 

 It breaks my heart when the most vulnerable people are hurt further. This advice is valuable, but it doesn't go far enough in helping people know how to be stronger. 

Page 153 - Again, interesting.

Reading body language is about becoming an investigator of behavior. The body doesn't lie. In fact, regardless of a person's agenda, the body wants to tell the truth. Sometimes, no matter how much a person tries to remain composed and controlled, the body will signal when it's lying. Professional interrogators call this bleeding information, because information will leak from the body almost like an open wound.

She goes on to talk about posture, leg movement, etc. She has had such interesting life experiences!

Page 176 - I just wrote "Trump" on the post-it. She worked detail for three other presidents, but not #45.

Over-the-top denials are intended to be so emphatic and dramatic as to eliminate any trace of doubt from your mind. But remember, the truth is simple. When someone tells the truth, they tend to tell it directly and matter-of-factly.

The example she listed at the top of this section (subtitled "Emphatic Denial") are what made me think of our last president . . . especially "I categorically deny everything you just said."

Page 185 - This line made me think of the challenges in being an effective teacher!

But did you know that most people stop listening about three minutes into a presentation because their minds wander or they get bored. It's a challenge to hold people's attention for a long period of time. This is why connecting with your audience is just as important as knowing your facts.

She's actually worked as a teacher in her post-Secret Service life, so she knows a few things. :-)

 

Page 223 - I love her answer to the question, "How do I make someone respect me?"

 

 "You can't." Respect is not something that can be forced or demanded. It's a gift. If someone wants to give it to you, they will. And if they don't, they won't. That's it. Yes, your words are your most powerful weapon. But when it comes to commanding respect, sometimes it's best to hold your silence and simply show the world who you are through what you do.

Page 242 - This was a post-it for me to check myself! It's in the section subtitled Keep Your Ego in Check. Yikes!

Have you ever been in a meeting when you could tell that the person was talking just to hear the sound of her own voice? Not only do they end up contributing nothing to the conversation, but it often ends up feeling like a waste of everyone's time. When people monopolize the conversation without adding anything of substance, it's a sign of insecurity. Don't be that person.

I think for me, it's more of a habit. I babble, whether or not I have something worthwhile to say. And I'm not a good listener. This is something I don't like about myself.

Page 254 - I loved this graphic and the description! Covid has definitely made "personal space" weirder, but this is a good way of explaining. (Another reason not to teach elementary school. They do NOT respect personal space very well!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 262 - She really does have a lot of good, solid advice.

Don't let a bad five minutes in your day - a traffic incident, disagreement with a friend, anything - ruin your entire day or week. You have power in how you react to setbacks, and being able to move on is a skill worth cultivating.

Page 266 - I don't necessarily agree with her assessment of "mentoring," but she makes a good point.

These teaching points in life don't need to come only from those you consider admirable. You can learn just as much from an asshole as you can from a role model. Some people possess qualities you admire most while others show you what you should carefully avoid.

Page 281 - I love how Poumpouras closes her book by talking about the positive traits she gleaned from the men and women she worked for in the White House. They were all insightful and interesting. I marked this one about Hillary Clinton because it kind of surprised me.

Over the course of my career, I have never seen anyone take as much mistreatment as Mrs. Clinton endured in the public eye. . . . Her unwavering defiance is unlike anything I have ever known. When I am faced with ridicule, criticism, or judgment from others I think of her.

I actually checked out the author's webpage after reading the book. I'm glad I saw a review of this and chose to read it!

Scents and Sensibility

by Spencer Quinn

a Chet and Bernie mystery (#8?)

Scott County Library audiobook 8 CDs

Published: 2015

read by Jim Frangione

genre: murder mystery

A saguaro cactus, Shooter, Mr. and Mrs. Parsons' son Billy, a crooked cop, . . . this is one of my favorite C&B stories so far. I liked that there wasn't the Susie Sanchez romance as much (though she may take a job in London . . . ). I didn't like that Chet was treated poorly by the bad guys. I loved the Shooter / Chet storyline!

The Great Earthquake and Firestorms of 1906

by Philip L. Fradkin

Hennepin County Library hardcover 349 pages plus endnotes (photos included)

Published: 2005

Genre: Non-fiction, history

I got this book after our book club read The Nature of Fragile Things. That work of historical fiction made me curious about what the 1906 San Francisco disaster was actually like. Fradkin's extensively researched and well-written novel was fascinating, but also a bit daunting. I'm giving up on page 138 out of 346 pages. There are another 72 pages of endnotes, index, etc. 

The biggest surprise to me was that they used black powder dynamite to try to create a firebreak! But of course, the explosives just set more fires and spread it faster.

It's not surprising to me that most of what we know about what happened is from upper middle class people. We have very few first person perspectives from poor people or minorities. It's also unsurprising that some engineers had been warning of the potential for disaster and were not heeded. Will we humans ever learn?

The photographs and first person letters were most powerful. I've not been to San Francisco since the 1970s, but this makes me want to go visit!

The Promised Land

by Elizabeth Musser

(Book 3 in the Swan series?)

Carver County Library hardcover large print 515 pages

Genre: Christian realistic fiction

Published: 2020

It's such a delight to get a book club title so that I can read it before book club! (We meet tonight 6/28/21.) I don't ordinarily like reading large print books, but it's better than going to discussion without having read the title. From the back cover: "When her husband of twenty years announces that he's leaving her, Abbie Jowett feels an overwhelming loss. Desperate to mend her marriage and herself, she follows her son Bobby to France to walk the famed Camino de Santiago pilgrimage."

At first, I didn't enjoy the book at all. I don't like broken marriages, I didn't like Abbie's overbearing personality, and I didn't initially connect with Bobby, Caroline, or anyone else. But I'm glad I kept reading!

I wrote down this quotation from chapter four, but am not entirely sure which character said it. "Yes, grief is so odd. It catches me at times when I expect the least of it." Grief can be odd indeed. It's weird how I'll have a thought or memory of my mom or dad and just start crying. And it's been more than a few years now!

Chapter 5 included this blurb about spiritual disciplines:

"Spiritual disciplines are all about making room for God. In our fast-paced life, it is often easier to push God into a tight schedule with the rest of our day rather than take time to truly hear Him."

This was told to Abbie by Diana, a spiritual advisor. Sometimes my practicing spiritual disciplines becomes closer to me checking items off my to-do list and less about drawing near to God. This caught my attention.

In chapter 7, I started to appreciate Abbie's life story and perspective. She is looking through a scrapbook and remembering tragedies and difficult life events. 

"I would have to figure out how to protect everyone I loved. . . . Maybe that was when I went from an ordinary perfectionist to a control freak, hypervigilant and fearful. . . . How perfectly ironic that what drove him away was me trying so hard to make sure he never left."

This was powerful, her realizing how and why her personality changed. I like to empathize with the protagonist. This chapter helped me appreciate her more.

In chapter 8, Abbie is again visiting with Diana. 

"I felt most useful in a group when I could help others come up with a plan. . . . Now I just drive everyone crazy with my planning and my control." 

It's interesting how one's strengths can also mirror one's weaknesses! 

In chapter 10, Bobby is taking on the burdens of his parents and grandparents. They don't *want* him to shoulder their issues, but he is concerned and feels as though he needs to rescue them.

"When I click off the phone, I feel the cloak covering me, smothering me with worry. I feel old. Not just like an 'old soul,' Mom and Dad's description of me, but old like all the fun and adventure and cool stuff I hoped to experience has been ripped right out of my sketch pad, wadded up, and discarded."

In chapter 11, after Bobby has spent time with Jean-Paul, who has lost the use of his hands, he realizes the blessings he enjoys. There are definitely times for us to be grateful for our many, many blessings - especially the ones we can take for granted!

"Then I pause a moment, cradling the phone in my left palm and gazing at my hands. Young hands that work - no tremor, no arthritis, no fear. And I bow my head and think, Thanks, God, for my hands."

Chapter 12 brings an observation by Abbie.

"But Miss Abigail wouldn't have called it ridiculous. She called 'coincidences' like these winks from a God who loves to remind us of His presence."

This made me think of the book Godwinks! I may need to buy a copy of that . . . 

In chapter 13, Caro is tempted to fall off the wagon as a way to cope with stress. The language that Musser used to describe this is so evocative.

"I am tempted to go to the cave and pull out three good bottles of wine and chug them down one after another until the hot sparks of hate are extinguished by the deep burgundy liquid that will kill my soul."

I like drinking wine, but have known people who struggle with alcoholism. It seems that this description is apt.

In chapter 19, Caro is reflecting on the perilous mountain situation. I love that Caro and Abbie connected. I love that Caro had her sister-in-law Tracie as a support in staying sober. I love her growth as a character in this story, though the story line with Bastien felt a bit overdone.

"But you'll be happy to hear that some things are beginning to get through my thick head. Like helping Rasa. It felt, I don't know, it felt really good. And natural. Like maybe some of the junk in my life can help me know how to help others. If that makes sense."

Chapter 21 is where I cried. And cried. Abbie's willingness to let go of those she loves most. Wow. Great book! Makes me want to read the rest of The Swan House Series.

I look forward to discussing this book with other readers.

Shouting at the Rain

by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Scott County library hardcover 269 pages

Published 2019

Genre: YA realistic fiction

 

I read this a few weeks ago, but remember being slightly disappointed. Perhaps because I *so* love Hunt's first two books, my expectations were too high for this third effort. 

 

Here's the summary from Amazon: "Delsie loves tracking the weather--lately, though, it seems the squalls are in her own life. She's always lived with her kindhearted Grammy, but now she's looking at their life with new eyes and wishing she could have a "regular family." Delsie observes other changes in the air, too--the most painful being a friend who's outgrown her. Luckily, she has neighbors with strong shoulders to support her, and Ronan, a new friend who is caring and courageous but also troubled by the losses he's endured. As Ronan and Delsie traipse around Cape Cod on their adventures, they both learn what it means to be angry versus sad, broken versus whole, and abandoned versus loved. And that, together, they can weather any storm."

 

I grabbed shots of some text to blog about. Here's from page 63:

 

 I love her grandma's wisdom. "Don't let yourself go to the sad place for too long." I just love her words to Delsie at this time - respecting her feelings, but encouraging her to put her "arm around happiness and invite it inside." Sweet message!

Yes, the girls in the story were most definitely making this hard for Delsie. Mean girls are so challenging!

Page 64 was too blurry of a photo to include here, but the part I wanted was this:

"Well," Grammy says, "you either succeed or you learn. If it doesn't work out, you can handle it. You'll be sad, but you can handle it. That Brandy Foster won't break my girl."

I manage a smile, but all I can think about is Tressa. It's weird - I don't even like her, but I still wish she liked me.

Although Grammy is more tuned in to her game shows than her conversation with Delsie, she does build her up and help her cope with the situation. Delsie's awareness that she wants mean girl Tressa to like her even in her own dislike is also interesting . . . don't we all want to be liked?

Page 149:

There are so many things I like about this! The challenge of her asking, "If I'm not hurt, what does that mean?" The sadness of "I know that watching Brandy walk away will stick with me for a long time." I love the observation that "some friends are just glitter, and some friends are glue." Hunt really is a wonderful writer.

In the Author's Note, she did such a cool thing with anagrams! Love this! I haven't yet taken the time to figure them all out, but now they're here for me to return to when I can.

  I really like her writing. This story just didn't blow me away like Murphys and Fish . . . still, she has such an excellent message. I loved the growing friendship between Delsie and Ronan. I like how even the crabby Olive had a sweet moment in the book. Hunt is a clever and sensitive author. I'd still like to own copies of all her books.  

<Above published 6.28.2021. Below added 8.18.2023.>

Like I posted on another book, I listened to this on Libby while at work. The reader was Lisa Cordileone. It was enjoyable. I think my favorite parts were the surprise for Olive and Ronan and his dad buying the "relish" house (or mustard? ketchup? brown bun?). Fun.

Night Bird Calling

by Cathy Gohlke

Dakota County Library paperback 420 pages

Published: 2020

Genre: Christian historical fiction

I didn't even get a copy of this before the book club (April), so I didn't go that month. I'm glad I've read it, though the focus on abusive relationships and the constant fear of some of the female characters wasn't exactly enjoyable.

Back of book:  "Appalachia, 1941. When Lilliana Swope's beloved mother dies, Lilliana gathers her last ounce of courage and flees her abusive husband for the home of her only living relative in the foothills of No Creek, North Carolina. Though Hyacinth Belvidere hasn't seen Lilliana since she was five, she offers her cherished great-niece a safe harbor. Their joyful reunion inspires plans to revive Aunt Hyacinth's estate and opens a public library where everyone is welcome, no matter the color of their skin."

Page 60 - "What struck me more than the color of his skin was the hunger and wonder in the eyes of Olney's nephew, Marshall Raymond, as he took in Aunt Hyacinth's library for the first time.

'All those books!' Marshall had whistled, slipping his hat from his head with the reverence one might offer in a great cathedral. 'Never in my life did I think I'd see so many books in one place.'"

Any time someone is awed and pleased by a library, it makes me happy. I love libraries and books!

Page 71 - "If only I could have God's forgiveness, His love and approval, life would be complete. But I knew that wasn't possible. God was too holy to look at sinners and smile - and I was chief among sinners, 'a snake in the grass,' as my father had once labeled me. That message resounded through all my growing years and was reinforced in my married years."

This refrain of hers got old, but it was a reminder to me that words have power. Parents can send messages of hope, encouragement, and love. They can also tear down, discourage, and hurt. 

Page 119 - "'In the end, when people hear something ugly long enough, they believe it's true. They want to believe it - to set it in a box they can understand and label.'"

In this passage, Lilliana is referring to Ida Mae's gossip. Again, the power of words can be used to heal or to harm. In some ways, Ida Mae seemed like the darkest character in the book! (And that's saying a lot, seeing how many abusive men were part of the story.

Page 141 - "Right now they're stirring the pot. Once the Klan gets worked up and going, it's like a fire; it smolders and smokes, looking for a place to vent, until it explodes. It's that venting, that explosion that worries me."

The KKK . . . those white robes and hoods seem to be evil from the pits of hell. How does burning a cross on a black family's lawn communicate anything other than hate and evil? Did these people really think they were Christians? Did they read their Bibles? Ugh!

Page 153 - "'Your aunt bore no children. The child she raised is gone. She needs to give you her stories, your family's stories. While there is time, if there is still time, listen. It is the gift that matters most to her.'"

When the doctor tells this to Lilliana, it made me think of the stories I *didn't* listen to or write down. Now that my parents are gone, so are there stories. (Except the few that I do have recorded.)

Page 173 - "Of course he was 'Jesse' to those he'd grown up with. Certainly he was to Miz Hyacinth, though she never referred to him as anything but Reverend Willard from the moment he returned from seminary, and she insisted others do the same. She' accorded him all the respect she'd have given an older, more experienced pastor, and never failed to let him know how his sermons blessed her. If only she knew how she had blessed him! He hoped she knew."

 

I liked this - that even though Hyacinth was the elder to be respected, she chose to show this young man respect in his profession and in their community. (Yes, I know respect can and should be a two-way street.) I just liked this observation.

 

Page 174 - "Was she a believer in Jesus Christ as her Savior? Did she know she could turn to Him in her need even if she couldn't turn to another human being? Jesse didn't know. He'd assumed she believed, being Miz Hyacinth's niece, having grown up in a church - and above all because of her kind and loving heart. It went without saying, didn't it?"

 

No, it doesn't go without saying. We don't know what's in someone else's mind or heart. We need to share the Good News and encourage people to talk about their faith journey. Don't assume!

 

Page 261 - "'I didn't mean you ain't welcome - if it was up to me.' Celia mourned that it was not and she knew it. 'I just mean you need somewhere to lay your head and be warm, a table to set your feet under.'"

 

I love that it is a child who desires to show hospitality and grace to the young couple down on their luck! I wish it were up to the Celias of the world to extend hope and blessing! Sometimes we need to be more childlike in our faith.

 

 Page 309 - "'Such news (bombing of Pearl Harbor) could strike fear in all our hearts did we not know that You are in charge of this world and our lives, that nothing happens without Your knowledge, and that You alone can bring good out of the horrors man perpetrates for evil. Protect the men and women in our armed services. . . . '"

The pastor's prayer is so wonderful. Reading it in this book was a blessing! I didn't type all of it here, but it's all wonderful.

Page 379 - "Tell that preacher over to Saints Delight to bury me beside my Shadrach on the mountain and say words over me. Never mind that I wouldn't attend his church. I found God on His own mountain. No church building could hold me after that."

Granny Chree was such a cool character! The letter she left had lots of instructions, but I love the idea that "no church building" could hold her. She was a nature gal for sure!

Page 398 - "What I saw was hope. Hope that things might mend. Fragile, but real."

Yes! Hope has so much power and possibility!

Page 423 - "Sometimes they know of nowhere and no one to run to, no one to trust - have even been taught not to trust outsiders or the police, or are so beaten down they don't believe in their own worth or that they deserve love or protection. They may even believe they deserve the abuse and become unable to stand for themselves."

In her afterword, Gohlke addresses the "horror of abuse" that she writes about. It's pretty powerful. She is a talented woman who is making a difference with her writing. Praise God!

The Report Card

by Andrew Clements

Prips paperback 173 pages

Published: 2004

Genre: Children's realistic fiction

I was "helping" Louie with a plumbing job at the parsonage and grabbed this book to pass the time. I had seen it before on my media center shelves but had never really looked at it closely. Clements is a delightful, solid writer. I'm so glad I grabbed it!

Nora Rose Rowley is an extraordinary genius, but has worked hard to make sure everyone thinks of her as an average student. Even her parents don't know how smart she is! When she sets out to draw attention to the growing emphasis on grades and testing (and the negative effect it can have on students), the consequences are not what she had predicted.

There were so many lines and scenes that tickled my fancy! I loved how Nora interacted with the librarian. This is a book I would enjoy re-reading and having on my own bookshelf.

Ready Player Two

by Ernest Cline

Hennepin County Library hardcover 366 pages

Published: 2020

Genre: SciFi

This book had some negative reviews, but I didn't pay much attention to them. I enjoyed it as much as the first book, but also disliked it. An electronic "utopia" (The OASIS) is more sinister and sad to me than it is fascinating. Some of the technology in this book is still out of our reach, but much of it is here and now. Perhaps it's more impacting that I read this up at the lake, where we just had internet access set up . . . no more "off the grid" when we're enjoying the beauty of this place. Not to be a Luddite, but sometimes I do NOT enjoy what technology has to offer.

In this follow-up to Ready Player One, Wade and Samantha have split both as a couple and over ideological differences. James Halliday left another piece of cutting edge technology that Wade discovers (a non-invasive neural interface) and another challenge / Easter egg hunt is set in motion. This one is far more sinister than the first.

Page 62 - "Since the U.S. legal system still insisted on giving corporations even more rights than its citizens, this idiotic lawsuit dragged on for months . . ."

Wade makes this observation when IOI sues him for ownership of GSS, but it seems very apropos to current day life in America. 

Page 91 - "Thanks to the OASIS Neural Interface, your gender and your sexuality were no longer contrained by - or confined to - the physical body you happened to be born into."

Cline's advocacy of gender and sexuality as being individually determined (and flexible) continues in this book. I know he will be seen as a champion by some, but it makes me sad that people reject what God has given them. Again, I see modern-day parallels as people fight to change the gender designation on their own birth certificates. I need compassion and a better understanding.

Page 135 - "It's cool to use the computer, don't let the computer use you . . . . There is a war going on. The battlefield's in the mind. And the prize is the soul." - (Prince glyph)

 

Before I read the "Level Five" section, I loved that Cline started with this quotation from Prince. I'm not familiar with the song, but I recognized the glyph immediately. One of the things I love about Cline's books are the cultural references from the 80s and 90s that I recognize. There are lots of wonderful new references in this book! And a LOT of Prince content. These lyrics also hold a lot of truth in them. The battlefield is in people's minds. And our souls are at stake.

 

Page  264 - "Prince suddenly changes his mind, and says, 'No, no. I was wrong all along. You really should hate yourself for being gay, because God says it's a sin for you to be the person He made you to be . . . '"

When Aech says this, she's working through her own angst as a lesbian character. It's a misconception that God wants anyone to hate themselves. He wants holiness and wholeness. This is quite likely also a misconception of Prince's choice to join the Jehovah's Witnesses, but I don't really know what that entailed for him.

Page 297 - "Tolkien's work directly inspired the creation of Dungeons & Dragons. And then D&D, in turn, inspired the first generation of videogame designers, who tried to re-create the experience of playing D&D on a computer."

This was interesting to me. It makes sense, but even though I grew up with Tolkien, D&D, and videogames, this connection hadn't occurred to me.

Page 359 - "That was when I realized - those memories of my parents were going to live on forever, along with all of my other memories. Because I was going to live forever. We all were. Every person who had ever put on an ONI headset."

Even if technology could replicate all our memories, feelings, thoughts, etc., the soul of a person is beyond capturing. The desire to be remembered and the desire to have an afterlife . . . some of this cannot be addressed without talking about eternity (and to me, God's design). I've spent some time this week thinking about eternity. My dear friend Connie died last week. She was the same age I am - 55. She did not have children. I believe she trusted in Jesus. I hope to see her in Heaven someday.