by Lysa TerKeurst
Scott County Library audiobook 5 CDs
read by Jill Brennan
genre: Non-fiction self-help healthy eating
I only listened to two chapters of this book, though I really like Lysa TerKeurst a lot! It simply isn't the right book for me right now. Five years ago, this would have been perfect! I love the idea that God designed us to crave Him. I think I'll look for other audiobooks by her.
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Sunday, September 22, 2019
The Medallion
by Cathy Gohlke
Scott County Library paperback 400 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction
This was our last month's book club book, but I just finished it! Part of the reason it was a slow read for me is that it is yet another book dealing with the horrors of the Holocaust. It's so difficult to read a fictional story about people and events that really happened in such an awful chapter of human history. It is a worthwhile read, but a very sad one.
Main characters:
Sophie (British, but married to a Polish fighter pilot - for the RAF - and stuck in Warsaw at the start of WWII)
Janek (her husband)
Rosa (Jewish and Polish, mother to Ania)
Itzhak (Rosa's husband, an electrician, also Jewish and Polish)
Matka (Rosa's mother)
I won't summarize much. Warsaw, Poland. WWII. Nazis. Cruelty to the point of sheer evil. Starvation. Deprivations. Death.
The medallion is a Tree of Life necklace that Itzhak gave to Rosa on their wedding day. When Rosa sends her toddler Ania away with Irena Sendler to try to save her life, she breaks the tree in half, intending to reunite the necklace along with her family after the war.
Page 357 - "I can handle this on my own. There is nothing I can't handle - just leave me alone."
"We're not meant to handle life alone, Sophie. It's too hard, too unpredictable, too messy and big. There is One who is willing and ready to help, to travel with us, if we let Him."
I love this scene! We don't get to know Carrie very well, but she has wise advice for her friend Sophie.
Page 371 - "What should I do, Lord? Not what do I want, this time, but what should I do? I can't do this alone - and I shouldn't." Finally! Sophie takes a long time to get to this point, but when she trusts the Lord, the situation changes.
Author's note, page 405 - "The Medallion is a reminder to help when help is needed, regardless of the cost to ourselves."
Scott County Library paperback 400 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction
This was our last month's book club book, but I just finished it! Part of the reason it was a slow read for me is that it is yet another book dealing with the horrors of the Holocaust. It's so difficult to read a fictional story about people and events that really happened in such an awful chapter of human history. It is a worthwhile read, but a very sad one.
Main characters:
Sophie (British, but married to a Polish fighter pilot - for the RAF - and stuck in Warsaw at the start of WWII)
Janek (her husband)
Rosa (Jewish and Polish, mother to Ania)
Itzhak (Rosa's husband, an electrician, also Jewish and Polish)
Matka (Rosa's mother)
I won't summarize much. Warsaw, Poland. WWII. Nazis. Cruelty to the point of sheer evil. Starvation. Deprivations. Death.
The medallion is a Tree of Life necklace that Itzhak gave to Rosa on their wedding day. When Rosa sends her toddler Ania away with Irena Sendler to try to save her life, she breaks the tree in half, intending to reunite the necklace along with her family after the war.
Page 357 - "I can handle this on my own. There is nothing I can't handle - just leave me alone."
"We're not meant to handle life alone, Sophie. It's too hard, too unpredictable, too messy and big. There is One who is willing and ready to help, to travel with us, if we let Him."
I love this scene! We don't get to know Carrie very well, but she has wise advice for her friend Sophie.
Page 371 - "What should I do, Lord? Not what do I want, this time, but what should I do? I can't do this alone - and I shouldn't." Finally! Sophie takes a long time to get to this point, but when she trusts the Lord, the situation changes.
Author's note, page 405 - "The Medallion is a reminder to help when help is needed, regardless of the cost to ourselves."
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend
by Katarina Bivald
Scott County Library audiobook 10CDs
read by Fiona Hardingham and Lorelei King
genre: realistic fiction
There were things I really enjoyed about this book and others I disliked a lot. Overall, I'm glad I "read" it.
Some quick observations:
I loved the literary allusions and the entire genesis of the book store. I cared most about some of the minor characters and definitely felt as though this could be a real place.
Scott County Library audiobook 10CDs
read by Fiona Hardingham and Lorelei King
genre: realistic fiction
There were things I really enjoyed about this book and others I disliked a lot. Overall, I'm glad I "read" it.
Some quick observations:
- Sara (pronounced "Saara") was such a wussy! Get a spine, girl!
- horrible accents for Iowa . . . they sounded western / Southern . . . just wrong for the Midwest
- interesting characters
- interviewing people together . . . typically police and others interview one person at a time to see if they can catch inconsistencies. I get why this worked in a literary sense, but it didn't seem realistic at all.
I loved the literary allusions and the entire genesis of the book store. I cared most about some of the minor characters and definitely felt as though this could be a real place.
Sunday, September 08, 2019
Moon Over Manifest
by Clare Vanderpool
read by Jenna Lamia, with Cassandra Campbell and Kirby Heyborne
Scott County Library audiobook, 8 CDs
genre: YA historical fiction
The historical fiction in this story went between "present day" 1930s Kansas in the grip of the Depression and WWI as depicted in letters and stories. It's placed in the small town of Manifest, Kansas, and is peopled by fascinating characters.
Abilene (made me smile, having recently finished with The Help) is a 12 year old girl who has lived the lifestyle of a hobo with her dad, Gideon, until he sends her to Manifest.
Miss Sadie
Hattie Mae
Sister Redempta
Shady
Ned
Jinx
"There is power in a story" is one line from the book that I jotted down. I think the power of this book is that very real power in stories . . . there is much that is believable and relatable in the stories of people's lives, even fictional ones.
I'm not sure how I would "sell" this book to middle schoolers. If they are fans of historical fiction, that is one easy angle. Another is the mystery of who "The Rattler" is and how the kids ferret out that information. There are also plenty of kid adventures as Abilene and her new friends explore the area around Manifest.
This is a delightful story (Ned and Jinx were my favorites) and the vocal work is excellent.
read by Jenna Lamia, with Cassandra Campbell and Kirby Heyborne
Scott County Library audiobook, 8 CDs
genre: YA historical fiction
The historical fiction in this story went between "present day" 1930s Kansas in the grip of the Depression and WWI as depicted in letters and stories. It's placed in the small town of Manifest, Kansas, and is peopled by fascinating characters.
Abilene (made me smile, having recently finished with The Help) is a 12 year old girl who has lived the lifestyle of a hobo with her dad, Gideon, until he sends her to Manifest.
Miss Sadie
Hattie Mae
Sister Redempta
Shady
Ned
Jinx
"There is power in a story" is one line from the book that I jotted down. I think the power of this book is that very real power in stories . . . there is much that is believable and relatable in the stories of people's lives, even fictional ones.
I'm not sure how I would "sell" this book to middle schoolers. If they are fans of historical fiction, that is one easy angle. Another is the mystery of who "The Rattler" is and how the kids ferret out that information. There are also plenty of kid adventures as Abilene and her new friends explore the area around Manifest.
This is a delightful story (Ned and Jinx were my favorites) and the vocal work is excellent.
Thursday, August 29, 2019
The Help
by Kathryn Stockett
Scott County Library audiobook 15 CDs
read by: Jenna Lamia, Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spencer, and Cassandra Campbell
genre: historical fiction
I'm shocked that I don't have an entry for this book! I read it several years ago. I remember being stunned that it was written by a white woman. Then I saw the movie. Amazing! I picked up this audiobook because I spend a lot of time driving and was ready for a re-read.
Despite the controversy surrounding the money the author made without credit / money going to the woman who was the inspiration for her story, I appreciate the work Stockett put into this novel. The characters are vivid and believable. The vocal work is impeccable as Minnie, Abilene, Skeeter, and others are brought to life. This story also made me think again about the racism that still thrives in America, even though it's not like it was in the early 60s. Mississippi in the news then and now . . . with monuments to Emmett Till regularly being destroyed. So incredibly sad.
Just like when I first read the text, I wished the story had brought Minnie and her kids to live with Celia and Johnny . . .
Scott County Library audiobook 15 CDs
read by: Jenna Lamia, Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spencer, and Cassandra Campbell
genre: historical fiction
I'm shocked that I don't have an entry for this book! I read it several years ago. I remember being stunned that it was written by a white woman. Then I saw the movie. Amazing! I picked up this audiobook because I spend a lot of time driving and was ready for a re-read.
Despite the controversy surrounding the money the author made without credit / money going to the woman who was the inspiration for her story, I appreciate the work Stockett put into this novel. The characters are vivid and believable. The vocal work is impeccable as Minnie, Abilene, Skeeter, and others are brought to life. This story also made me think again about the racism that still thrives in America, even though it's not like it was in the early 60s. Mississippi in the news then and now . . . with monuments to Emmett Till regularly being destroyed. So incredibly sad.
Just like when I first read the text, I wished the story had brought Minnie and her kids to live with Celia and Johnny . . .
The DNA of Relationships: Discover How You Are Designed for Satisfying Relationships
by Dr. Gary Smalley
Scott County Library hardcover 206 pages
genre: Non-fiction, relationships, self-help
In the 90s, I loved Dr. Smalley's stuff. Reading this, I wondered if I've changed / grown or if his writing has changed. This seemed over-hyped and too elementary. I dislike books that spend the first few chapters telling me about the great stuff they're going to tell me in future chapters.
It had some great examples. It had sound info on communication (the true key to successful relationships, IMO). It was a fairly quick read.
It did not inspire or motivate me.
Scott County Library hardcover 206 pages
genre: Non-fiction, relationships, self-help
In the 90s, I loved Dr. Smalley's stuff. Reading this, I wondered if I've changed / grown or if his writing has changed. This seemed over-hyped and too elementary. I dislike books that spend the first few chapters telling me about the great stuff they're going to tell me in future chapters.
It had some great examples. It had sound info on communication (the true key to successful relationships, IMO). It was a fairly quick read.
It did not inspire or motivate me.
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
The Printed Letter Bookshop
by Katherine Reay
Carver County Library paperback 315 pages
genre: Christian realistic fiction
I like Reay's writing, but found this book both more complex than previous titles of hers and less enjoyable . . . perhaps a sign of my summer mood? We had a good discussion last night at book club.
Alternating between Madeline, Claire, and Janet, this story shows the personal development of these women as they navigate life together.
My favorite character is Maddie, even though the story opens with her funeral. What an amazing woman to inspire such love and devotion! I want to love Jesus and love people like she did.
Page 138 - "Please, I'm a mom. We know no limits." This made me laugh! As Claire is trying to set Janet up on a date, Madeline observes that "There might be a limit to meddling." My kids are constantly telling me to back off!
I loved Greg Frankel (the lawyer) and how he helped guide Madeline to a new way of using her talents as a lawyer. He was delightful!
Page 170 - "Dear World, This may sound slutty, but I want to be used. Love, Grammar." I had to read this a few times to decide if I liked it or not, but I definitely liked it. Both Jodi and Jes also appreciated this quote! We're such nerds.
Page 236-7 "You're a good lawyer. Here. Doing this." There's so much about this chapter that I appreciate. I think my favorite aspect is Janet's changed attitude as she seeks God and He does a work in her heart. When she says this line to Madeline, things shift into focus for her as well. I love Janet's return to creating art. I love how God can take the broken parts of us and make new life.
Page 298 - "One word. Brian says nothing more." When Brian tells Claire "yes" to her proposal about the Printed Letter, it was so joyful. Their conversation is such a delightful resurgence of love and connection in their marriage.
This is a wonderful book, though I'm not reviewing it well. I enjoyed it and appreciate Reay's literary talents and love of literature. I would definitely re-read all her books. She includes a list of titles alluded to . . . and I'm resisting the desire to see which I've read and which I would add to my list. . .
Carver County Library paperback 315 pages
genre: Christian realistic fiction
I like Reay's writing, but found this book both more complex than previous titles of hers and less enjoyable . . . perhaps a sign of my summer mood? We had a good discussion last night at book club.
Alternating between Madeline, Claire, and Janet, this story shows the personal development of these women as they navigate life together.
My favorite character is Maddie, even though the story opens with her funeral. What an amazing woman to inspire such love and devotion! I want to love Jesus and love people like she did.
Page 138 - "Please, I'm a mom. We know no limits." This made me laugh! As Claire is trying to set Janet up on a date, Madeline observes that "There might be a limit to meddling." My kids are constantly telling me to back off!
I loved Greg Frankel (the lawyer) and how he helped guide Madeline to a new way of using her talents as a lawyer. He was delightful!
Page 170 - "Dear World, This may sound slutty, but I want to be used. Love, Grammar." I had to read this a few times to decide if I liked it or not, but I definitely liked it. Both Jodi and Jes also appreciated this quote! We're such nerds.
Page 236-7 "You're a good lawyer. Here. Doing this." There's so much about this chapter that I appreciate. I think my favorite aspect is Janet's changed attitude as she seeks God and He does a work in her heart. When she says this line to Madeline, things shift into focus for her as well. I love Janet's return to creating art. I love how God can take the broken parts of us and make new life.
Page 298 - "One word. Brian says nothing more." When Brian tells Claire "yes" to her proposal about the Printed Letter, it was so joyful. Their conversation is such a delightful resurgence of love and connection in their marriage.
This is a wonderful book, though I'm not reviewing it well. I enjoyed it and appreciate Reay's literary talents and love of literature. I would definitely re-read all her books. She includes a list of titles alluded to . . . and I'm resisting the desire to see which I've read and which I would add to my list. . .
Break No Bones
by Kathy Reichs
Carver County Library audiobook 10 CDs
read by Dorothee Berryman
genre: murder mystery fiction
This book really bugged me . . . but I'm not sure how much was the text and how much was the reader's voice. Berryman did a great job with differentiating voices, speaking French, etc. but I found Dr. Brennan to be incredibly irritating. She was a pathetic and stupid character. Perhaps my perception was formed too firmly by the character portrayed on TV's Bones.
She was irrational, bossy, and impulsive. The murders and detective work had interesting elements. There were lots of clues. It kept my attention. But I won't seek out other Reichs' books, no matter how talented or popular she is. (I wonder how much of herself she writes into her protagonist . . . the pathetic "romance" stories between her and her estranged husband, and her lover Ryan . . . she was just too pathetic to me.)
Each chapter ends with a mini-cliffhanger. Interesting tactic.
And seriously. Why didn't she bring Boyd out with her at the end of the story? She always had the dog with her. Stupid storyline. What a shocker when we find out who the attacker / murderer is . . . dude!
Carver County Library audiobook 10 CDs
read by Dorothee Berryman
genre: murder mystery fiction
This book really bugged me . . . but I'm not sure how much was the text and how much was the reader's voice. Berryman did a great job with differentiating voices, speaking French, etc. but I found Dr. Brennan to be incredibly irritating. She was a pathetic and stupid character. Perhaps my perception was formed too firmly by the character portrayed on TV's Bones.
She was irrational, bossy, and impulsive. The murders and detective work had interesting elements. There were lots of clues. It kept my attention. But I won't seek out other Reichs' books, no matter how talented or popular she is. (I wonder how much of herself she writes into her protagonist . . . the pathetic "romance" stories between her and her estranged husband, and her lover Ryan . . . she was just too pathetic to me.)
Each chapter ends with a mini-cliffhanger. Interesting tactic.
And seriously. Why didn't she bring Boyd out with her at the end of the story? She always had the dog with her. Stupid storyline. What a shocker when we find out who the attacker / murderer is . . . dude!
Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Nicholas Nickleby
by Charles Dickens
Hennepin County Library audiobook 25 CDs
read by Robert Whitfield
genre: historical fiction (sort of)
Whitfield's vocal work is phenomenal! Such a range of characters and voices!
I love Dickens and had never before read this one. I almost wish I'd had the print edition . . . this was a LOT of CDs and car time! (If I'd seen "Dotheboys" hall in print, I'd have mentally pronounced it "dothe boys" but it was read as "Do the boys" and I had to Google it because it sounded so weird!)
Random notes:
Hennepin County Library audiobook 25 CDs
read by Robert Whitfield
genre: historical fiction (sort of)
Whitfield's vocal work is phenomenal! Such a range of characters and voices!
I love Dickens and had never before read this one. I almost wish I'd had the print edition . . . this was a LOT of CDs and car time! (If I'd seen "Dotheboys" hall in print, I'd have mentally pronounced it "dothe boys" but it was read as "Do the boys" and I had to Google it because it sounded so weird!)
Random notes:
- Mrs. N is ridiculous! And she has no idea how clueless she is . . . ugh! How did such a mother raise two such wonderful children as Nicholas and Kate?
- Smike (?) - I'd love to know more about his sad story. (By the end, I did! So very sad.)
- Sir Mulberry is hideous. I actually thought, "I hope he died in the carriage crash."
- Mantolinis are crazy . . . and frustrating.
- pence / shilling / guinea / pound farthing / tuppence - what are the monetary values? I need a way to compare these to better understand so many things!
- Ralph is such an evil nasty man. He gets worse and worse as the story goes on!
- Squeers is also awful. What a horrid man! And spending so much time talking about morals! Yuk.
- Names . . . "Tim Lincolnwater" repeated so much.
- Scoundrel! The whole part with Gride . . . and Ralph . . . and poor Madeleine Bray.
I love Charles Dickens' storytelling. He also has a bit of an expose' in his writing. He has a lot to say about greed and evil. I will almost certainly re-read this at some time in the future!
<Above posted 7.16.19. Below added 12.31.24.>
I started to listen to it again, but it is quite long and I think I'd rather read the print version, taking my time. Here are a few notes to add to the above:
- commented again on "Do the boys" in Yorkshire . . . had to see if that's a real place. Bowe's Hall seems to be the inspiration for Dickens' horrid school. You can read more here.
- Snorely (?) talking to Wackford Squeers is referred to as the boys' "father-in-law" but he's actually their stepfather! This drove me crazy! By marrying the boys' mother, he became their stepfather, NOT their "Father-in-law!"
- as much as I love Dickens, the fact that much of his writing was serialized leads me to believe he often "padded" his books for a paycheck. The whole scene where Nicholas is traveling to Squeers' school for the first time has the gentlemen telling stories. The Five Sisters, the Baron, . . . why include these?
- I gave up on this after less than three hours! There are 28 hours left to go . . . I have too many other books to read right now. I'll find a print copy one of these days.
How the Light Gets In
by Jolina Petersheim
Scott County Library paperback 368 pages
genre: Christian Fiction
Warning: there WILL be spoilers at the ***, so don't read past them if you plan to read this book!
This was our book club title for April, but I just got it recently from the library. Luckily, I forgot what was talked about during book club, so the plot twists were "new" to me! Unluckily, I didn't like how it ended . . . for such a talented author, I wish she'd made different choices.
First of all, I'm never thrilled with the Amish / Mennonite setting for Christian fiction. I guess I just can't relate to it as much. Although the main character, Ruth, is a modern "English" gal, the setting is primarily the cranberry farm in Wisconsin where her husband Chandler grew up.
On the positive side, I loved how this was a modern retelling of Ruth. I loved the relationship between Ruth and Mabel and how it paralleled the Biblical story.
Page 53 - "Ruth knew the odds of anyone getting through were slim. This pleased her." Yes! There are times when I love going to the lake simply because our reception is so bad that I just shut my phone completely off. And it feels great!
Page 53 - "Ruth yearned to capture this moment through any medium she could - " I'm in too much of a hurry now to capture the two paragraphs that inspired me to note this page. I love that she recognizes natural beauty and is inspired to make art. I love that God gave us the desire to create!
Page 93 - "'Oma Mabel loves us,' Sofie said, one of the simplest ways children categorize acceptance." Love truly is the hallmark of what God calls us to be and do. I want love to be the way I am known by my children, grandchild(ren), friends, etc. . . .
Page 116 - "But now, at thirty, Ruth had a different view. The adventure did indeed stop - or at least change - after children, and to try to deny that was like trying to deny the sun rising . . . " This resonated for me! I would argue that the adventure changes. A lot. Children change your life. I wasn't ready to become a parent at 21, but it's been absolutely grand! It's fun to be a grandma now - a completely different adventure!
Page 176 - ". . . finding someone to love you wholly was one of the greatest mysteries of all." When Elam has the realization that falling in love with Ruth and her falling in love with him is such a blessing. Yes! I love being married to the love of my life!
Page 177 - I won't quote the whole conversation, but it's wonderful how Elam shares God's love and the simplicity of living for God. "By loving him and loving those he puts in our lives." Simple! I'm grinning as I type this, because sometimes it's very hard indeed. And yet, it doesn't need to be. We just need God's power working in us.
Page 212 - I like to note where the title comes from. ". . . from a Leonard Cohen song, 'Anthem.' There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
Pages 304-5 - Marriage. Praying for your spouse. These pages are great for discussion . . . but I don't want to dig into them now.
*** Pages 362-3
When I got to the end, I was so frustrated! She never fell in love with Elam? And Chandler never survived? And she spent six months writing a novel which she promptly put into the fire and let burn up? What?!?!?! That felt as though the whole book was pointless. I wish I'd been able to discuss this back in April!
Scott County Library paperback 368 pages
genre: Christian Fiction
Warning: there WILL be spoilers at the ***, so don't read past them if you plan to read this book!
This was our book club title for April, but I just got it recently from the library. Luckily, I forgot what was talked about during book club, so the plot twists were "new" to me! Unluckily, I didn't like how it ended . . . for such a talented author, I wish she'd made different choices.
First of all, I'm never thrilled with the Amish / Mennonite setting for Christian fiction. I guess I just can't relate to it as much. Although the main character, Ruth, is a modern "English" gal, the setting is primarily the cranberry farm in Wisconsin where her husband Chandler grew up.
On the positive side, I loved how this was a modern retelling of Ruth. I loved the relationship between Ruth and Mabel and how it paralleled the Biblical story.
Page 53 - "Ruth knew the odds of anyone getting through were slim. This pleased her." Yes! There are times when I love going to the lake simply because our reception is so bad that I just shut my phone completely off. And it feels great!
Page 53 - "Ruth yearned to capture this moment through any medium she could - " I'm in too much of a hurry now to capture the two paragraphs that inspired me to note this page. I love that she recognizes natural beauty and is inspired to make art. I love that God gave us the desire to create!
Page 93 - "'Oma Mabel loves us,' Sofie said, one of the simplest ways children categorize acceptance." Love truly is the hallmark of what God calls us to be and do. I want love to be the way I am known by my children, grandchild(ren), friends, etc. . . .
Page 116 - "But now, at thirty, Ruth had a different view. The adventure did indeed stop - or at least change - after children, and to try to deny that was like trying to deny the sun rising . . . " This resonated for me! I would argue that the adventure changes. A lot. Children change your life. I wasn't ready to become a parent at 21, but it's been absolutely grand! It's fun to be a grandma now - a completely different adventure!
Page 176 - ". . . finding someone to love you wholly was one of the greatest mysteries of all." When Elam has the realization that falling in love with Ruth and her falling in love with him is such a blessing. Yes! I love being married to the love of my life!
Page 177 - I won't quote the whole conversation, but it's wonderful how Elam shares God's love and the simplicity of living for God. "By loving him and loving those he puts in our lives." Simple! I'm grinning as I type this, because sometimes it's very hard indeed. And yet, it doesn't need to be. We just need God's power working in us.
Page 212 - I like to note where the title comes from. ". . . from a Leonard Cohen song, 'Anthem.' There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
Pages 304-5 - Marriage. Praying for your spouse. These pages are great for discussion . . . but I don't want to dig into them now.
*** Pages 362-3
When I got to the end, I was so frustrated! She never fell in love with Elam? And Chandler never survived? And she spent six months writing a novel which she promptly put into the fire and let burn up? What?!?!?! That felt as though the whole book was pointless. I wish I'd been able to discuss this back in April!
Wednesday, July 03, 2019
Love Among the Walnuts
by Jean Ferris
paperback, PRMS discard 216 pages
genre: YA fiction
I had this up at the lake and wanted a quick read. It was goofy, fun, and very very very middle-school oriented. It reminded me a bit of the Brendan Fraser movie Blast from the Past. Sandy was raised by his wealthy reclusive parents on an isolated manor out in the countryside. When his scheming uncles try to do away with the family so that they can inherit, Sandy is spared but now has to deal with the "real world." Adding to the oddness of the story is the presence of Walnut Manor next door, a convalescent home of sorts with strange patients and weird surprises.
Fun story. I'll put it back on the shelf . . . it has a nice message about relationships being more valuable than money. (Though it's always amusing when incredibly wealthy people are the ones making this observation . . . ) Still, I like Ferris' writing style.
paperback, PRMS discard 216 pages
genre: YA fiction
I had this up at the lake and wanted a quick read. It was goofy, fun, and very very very middle-school oriented. It reminded me a bit of the Brendan Fraser movie Blast from the Past. Sandy was raised by his wealthy reclusive parents on an isolated manor out in the countryside. When his scheming uncles try to do away with the family so that they can inherit, Sandy is spared but now has to deal with the "real world." Adding to the oddness of the story is the presence of Walnut Manor next door, a convalescent home of sorts with strange patients and weird surprises.
Fun story. I'll put it back on the shelf . . . it has a nice message about relationships being more valuable than money. (Though it's always amusing when incredibly wealthy people are the ones making this observation . . . ) Still, I like Ferris' writing style.
Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God's Work
by Timothy Keller with Katherine Leary Alsdorf
Scott County Library hardcover 253 pages
genre: non-fiction Biblical living
published: 2012
This book was incredible. I've always liked Keller's stuff, but I think this is the first book of his I've read. I was surprised at how many life lessons and Scriptural applications it contained. I'm nowhere near being a pastor, yet Sunday sermon topics kept jumping out at me!
Having quit my full time job over two years ago, I still feel as though I'm trying to find God's purpose for my life. I struggle with wants vs. needs and spending less money since I now earn so little money. What are my gifts and talents and how does God want me to use them for His glory?
This book really helped me see that "work" isn't just how I make money. It's about why I work. What's the purpose? If it's ever just for a paycheck, then I'm not doing it the right way. Whether I teach full time or ring up people's purchases at McDonald's, there is so much more to the concept of work.
I love how this book is structured! I would definitely re-read it. I recommend it for anyone looking for their direction in terms of work. I recommend it to pastors for a wealth of sermon ideas with lots of great Scripture references!
Toward the end, he recommends two books that I may or may not get: The Call by Os Guinness and Creation Regained by Al Wolters.
Scott County Library hardcover 253 pages
genre: non-fiction Biblical living
published: 2012
This book was incredible. I've always liked Keller's stuff, but I think this is the first book of his I've read. I was surprised at how many life lessons and Scriptural applications it contained. I'm nowhere near being a pastor, yet Sunday sermon topics kept jumping out at me!
Having quit my full time job over two years ago, I still feel as though I'm trying to find God's purpose for my life. I struggle with wants vs. needs and spending less money since I now earn so little money. What are my gifts and talents and how does God want me to use them for His glory?
This book really helped me see that "work" isn't just how I make money. It's about why I work. What's the purpose? If it's ever just for a paycheck, then I'm not doing it the right way. Whether I teach full time or ring up people's purchases at McDonald's, there is so much more to the concept of work.
I love how this book is structured! I would definitely re-read it. I recommend it for anyone looking for their direction in terms of work. I recommend it to pastors for a wealth of sermon ideas with lots of great Scripture references!
Toward the end, he recommends two books that I may or may not get: The Call by Os Guinness and Creation Regained by Al Wolters.
All Quiet on the Western Front
by Erich Maria Remarque
personal copy, paperback 175 pages
genre: historical war fiction
published: 1929
This book sat on my "should read" shelf for a long, long time. I wanted a quick fiction read since I've got a lot of non-fiction on my reading shelf right now. Wow.
This book was intriguing and made me do some searching right away. Set during WWI, I was a bit confused about its origins. I'll just grab info from Wikipedia:
All Quiet on the Western Front (German: Im Westen nichts Neues, lit. 'In the West Nothing New') is a novel by Erich Maria Remarque, a German veteran of World War I. The book describes the German soldiers' extreme physical and mental stress during the war, and the detachment from civilian life felt by many of these soldiers upon returning home from the front.
The novel was first published in November and December 1928 in the German newspaper Vossische Zeitung and in book form in late January 1929. The book and its sequel, The Road Back (1930), were among the books banned and burned in Nazi Germany. All Quiet on the Western Front sold 2.5 million copies in 22 languages in its first 18 months in print.[1]
Translated into many different languages and universal with its raw human emotion, I see why it's referred to as "the classic war novel of all time." It is horrible and amazing. I wonder what modern day soldiers think of it (or if they even read it). How interesting that it was banned and burned in Nazi Germany. I may need to read more about him . . . the little I already saw fascinates me. He left Germany for Switzerland in the 1930s, remarried his ex-wife so she wouldn't have to return to Germany, went to America and became a naturalized citizen, and didn't find out that his sister was tried and decapitated for "unpatriotism" until after WWII was over. Whew!
Back to the book. I found it very readable and horrible (as war is). I only marked three places, but could definitely see re-reading it!
Page 100 - when he is home on leave and his mother wants to hear about his experiences, he simply cannot relate to any civilian about the reality of war.
"Was it very bad out there, Paul?"
Mother, what should I answer to that! You would not understand, and never realize it. And you never should realize it. Was it bad, you ask. - You, Mother, - I shake my head and say: "No, Mother, not so very. There are always a lot of us together so it isn't so bad."
This is in such direct conflict with what he has just left. The reality of pain, fear, hunger, death . . . but he simply cannot explain it and does not want her to have to understand it.
Page 104 - While in the midst of conflict, the men often dreamed of their "other" life and its pleasures. But on leave, Paul is continually brought up short. He even misses his comrades.
I imagined leave would be different from this. Indeed, it was different a year ago. It is I of course that have changed in the interval. There lies a gulf between that time and to-day."
Page 154 - the only part of the book that made me laugh out loud!
When they are laying in the hospital ward, recovering, and Paul throws a bottle at the praying nuns who are keeping the soldiers from sleeping, a different man takes responsibility for the action. Later, he explains that he has a "shooting license."
"I got a crack in the head and they presented me with a certificate to say that I was periodically not responsible for my actions. Ever since then I've had a grand time. No ones dares to annoy me. And nobody does anything to me. I reported myself because the shot amused me. If they open the door again to-morrow we will pitch another."
This little bit of humor helped lighten a very heavy, but worthwhile book about the horrors of war.
One last thing I'd like to know - who did the translation to English and did Remarque agree with it? I may need to get a book about him and his life . . . after I finish all the other non-fiction I've got!
personal copy, paperback 175 pages
genre: historical war fiction
published: 1929
This book sat on my "should read" shelf for a long, long time. I wanted a quick fiction read since I've got a lot of non-fiction on my reading shelf right now. Wow.
This book was intriguing and made me do some searching right away. Set during WWI, I was a bit confused about its origins. I'll just grab info from Wikipedia:
All Quiet on the Western Front (German: Im Westen nichts Neues, lit. 'In the West Nothing New') is a novel by Erich Maria Remarque, a German veteran of World War I. The book describes the German soldiers' extreme physical and mental stress during the war, and the detachment from civilian life felt by many of these soldiers upon returning home from the front.
The novel was first published in November and December 1928 in the German newspaper Vossische Zeitung and in book form in late January 1929. The book and its sequel, The Road Back (1930), were among the books banned and burned in Nazi Germany. All Quiet on the Western Front sold 2.5 million copies in 22 languages in its first 18 months in print.[1]
Translated into many different languages and universal with its raw human emotion, I see why it's referred to as "the classic war novel of all time." It is horrible and amazing. I wonder what modern day soldiers think of it (or if they even read it). How interesting that it was banned and burned in Nazi Germany. I may need to read more about him . . . the little I already saw fascinates me. He left Germany for Switzerland in the 1930s, remarried his ex-wife so she wouldn't have to return to Germany, went to America and became a naturalized citizen, and didn't find out that his sister was tried and decapitated for "unpatriotism" until after WWII was over. Whew!
Back to the book. I found it very readable and horrible (as war is). I only marked three places, but could definitely see re-reading it!
Page 100 - when he is home on leave and his mother wants to hear about his experiences, he simply cannot relate to any civilian about the reality of war.
"Was it very bad out there, Paul?"
Mother, what should I answer to that! You would not understand, and never realize it. And you never should realize it. Was it bad, you ask. - You, Mother, - I shake my head and say: "No, Mother, not so very. There are always a lot of us together so it isn't so bad."
This is in such direct conflict with what he has just left. The reality of pain, fear, hunger, death . . . but he simply cannot explain it and does not want her to have to understand it.
Page 104 - While in the midst of conflict, the men often dreamed of their "other" life and its pleasures. But on leave, Paul is continually brought up short. He even misses his comrades.
I imagined leave would be different from this. Indeed, it was different a year ago. It is I of course that have changed in the interval. There lies a gulf between that time and to-day."
Page 154 - the only part of the book that made me laugh out loud!
When they are laying in the hospital ward, recovering, and Paul throws a bottle at the praying nuns who are keeping the soldiers from sleeping, a different man takes responsibility for the action. Later, he explains that he has a "shooting license."
"I got a crack in the head and they presented me with a certificate to say that I was periodically not responsible for my actions. Ever since then I've had a grand time. No ones dares to annoy me. And nobody does anything to me. I reported myself because the shot amused me. If they open the door again to-morrow we will pitch another."
This little bit of humor helped lighten a very heavy, but worthwhile book about the horrors of war.
One last thing I'd like to know - who did the translation to English and did Remarque agree with it? I may need to get a book about him and his life . . . after I finish all the other non-fiction I've got!
Thursday, June 20, 2019
The Last Year of the War
by Susan Meissner
Carver County Library hardcover 386 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction
Another wonderful story by Meissner! She's one of my favorite authors we read for book club. This one follows Elise Sontag from her present day elderly situation into her past in 1940s America and Germany. Much of the book focuses on her unlikely friendship in a detention center with a Japanese American girl, Mariko. Elise's father and mother have lived in the United States for twenty years but have not applied for citizenship status when WWII and its fearfulness interrupt their lives in Davenport, Iowa.
I didn't tag any pages in the first half of the book . . . though there was much that I enjoyed. I especially liked the opening pages as Elise describes Alzheimer's as the thief Agnes who steals parts of her life and brain from her. Having seen the devastation that dementia can wreak in a loved-one's life . . . this was a very apt description!
Page 177 - "You know, I don't think it matters now what happened in the past . . . What's important is what happens now. Today." Words of wisdom from Rina, Mariko's adult daughter!
Page 199 - "I had never had a grandmother speak to me this way or look at me with the kind of love with which she was now gazing at me. . . . She loved me without having met me. . . It was so hard to know who I was in that moment, other than a teenage girl loved by her grandmother." Oma is the kind of grandmother I want to be! Loving so extravagantly that the child feels it and knows it thoroughly. (Though I would never want to go for 13 years without meeting a grandchild!) I think part of the reason I tagged this was simply because of that extravagant love . . . like God has for us.
Page 218 - "Love, when it's lavished on you after you've said ugly things, is almost too painful to bear." After the teenaged Elise had erupted at her parents and spewed all her unhappiness, her dad comforts her beautifully. His acceptance of her feelings and understanding of her expression of frustration . . . great parenting!
Page 234 - "We decide who and what we will love and who and what we will hate. We decide what we will do with the love and hate. Every day we decide. It was this that revealed who we were, not the color of our flesh or the shape of our eyes or the language we spoke." To me, this is the key point of the book. Powerful and true - our choices and decisions make us who we are.
Page 269 - "The rich have always been able to get what they want and do what they want. Money is power, Elise. It always has been." Ralph is so very right in terms of "how the world works" but his cynicism is still discouraging. Elise is so young and inexperienced in how the world works. He doesn't make things easy on her!
Page 281 - "The human brain, I have since read, is still ripening when we're seventeen. It's still growing, still forming thought patterns and avenues for arriving at logical conclusions, and it doesn't stop maturing until we reach age twenty-five." Amen! This is so true and yet 18 year olds are legal adults . . . brain development is fascinating.
Page 302 - "She nods in understanding. Mother-love transcends biology." When Elise and Mariko are talking about their lives, Elise explains Pamela and Teddy. This made me think of Katie of course!
Page 379 - "I wanted them to see that not everyone is lucky enough to have family around who love them, and I also wanted them to know that we are all on the road that leads to the edge of our mortality. Life is too brief to waste a minute of it chasing after things that don't matter." Elise brought Pamela and Teddy to nursing homes with her while they were young . . . life's lessons have power.
A reference on page 382 made me think of The Secret Language of Flowers . . . and then yesterday, I saw a copy of it on the library's "discard" cart. I almost bought it, but it's a large print edition and those tend to make me batty when I read them. I love that book and will probably re-read it! This title by Meissner was quite good, but there are others of hers that I like better. The Alzheimer's aspect most resonated with me . . . how awful to start losing parts of your memory and mind.
Carver County Library hardcover 386 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction
Another wonderful story by Meissner! She's one of my favorite authors we read for book club. This one follows Elise Sontag from her present day elderly situation into her past in 1940s America and Germany. Much of the book focuses on her unlikely friendship in a detention center with a Japanese American girl, Mariko. Elise's father and mother have lived in the United States for twenty years but have not applied for citizenship status when WWII and its fearfulness interrupt their lives in Davenport, Iowa.
I didn't tag any pages in the first half of the book . . . though there was much that I enjoyed. I especially liked the opening pages as Elise describes Alzheimer's as the thief Agnes who steals parts of her life and brain from her. Having seen the devastation that dementia can wreak in a loved-one's life . . . this was a very apt description!
Page 177 - "You know, I don't think it matters now what happened in the past . . . What's important is what happens now. Today." Words of wisdom from Rina, Mariko's adult daughter!
Page 199 - "I had never had a grandmother speak to me this way or look at me with the kind of love with which she was now gazing at me. . . . She loved me without having met me. . . It was so hard to know who I was in that moment, other than a teenage girl loved by her grandmother." Oma is the kind of grandmother I want to be! Loving so extravagantly that the child feels it and knows it thoroughly. (Though I would never want to go for 13 years without meeting a grandchild!) I think part of the reason I tagged this was simply because of that extravagant love . . . like God has for us.
Page 218 - "Love, when it's lavished on you after you've said ugly things, is almost too painful to bear." After the teenaged Elise had erupted at her parents and spewed all her unhappiness, her dad comforts her beautifully. His acceptance of her feelings and understanding of her expression of frustration . . . great parenting!
Page 234 - "We decide who and what we will love and who and what we will hate. We decide what we will do with the love and hate. Every day we decide. It was this that revealed who we were, not the color of our flesh or the shape of our eyes or the language we spoke." To me, this is the key point of the book. Powerful and true - our choices and decisions make us who we are.
Page 269 - "The rich have always been able to get what they want and do what they want. Money is power, Elise. It always has been." Ralph is so very right in terms of "how the world works" but his cynicism is still discouraging. Elise is so young and inexperienced in how the world works. He doesn't make things easy on her!
Page 281 - "The human brain, I have since read, is still ripening when we're seventeen. It's still growing, still forming thought patterns and avenues for arriving at logical conclusions, and it doesn't stop maturing until we reach age twenty-five." Amen! This is so true and yet 18 year olds are legal adults . . . brain development is fascinating.
Page 302 - "She nods in understanding. Mother-love transcends biology." When Elise and Mariko are talking about their lives, Elise explains Pamela and Teddy. This made me think of Katie of course!
Page 379 - "I wanted them to see that not everyone is lucky enough to have family around who love them, and I also wanted them to know that we are all on the road that leads to the edge of our mortality. Life is too brief to waste a minute of it chasing after things that don't matter." Elise brought Pamela and Teddy to nursing homes with her while they were young . . . life's lessons have power.
A reference on page 382 made me think of The Secret Language of Flowers . . . and then yesterday, I saw a copy of it on the library's "discard" cart. I almost bought it, but it's a large print edition and those tend to make me batty when I read them. I love that book and will probably re-read it! This title by Meissner was quite good, but there are others of hers that I like better. The Alzheimer's aspect most resonated with me . . . how awful to start losing parts of your memory and mind.
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
The God Wink Effect: 7 Secrets to God's Signs, Wonders, and Answered Prayers
by SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt
Hennepin County Library hardcover 221 pages
genre: non-fiction, Christian faith
I'm really torn about this book . . . on the one hand, I thought the title was cheesy and since there's an entire SERIES of these Godwink books I figured it was a gimmick thing. On the other hand, I plastered a LOT of post-it notes in this skinny book and it was quite inspirational. At one point, I even put a copy in my Amazon cart so I could have my own copy and highlight it. In the end, I recognize that the power is in God's Word. I can highlight that and re-read it often! (And I do.) I'm not sure why I requested this book / how it came across my reading radar. I'm trying to be better about tracking that, but I missed the boat on this one.
Page X - My first post-it had to do with the title. As he explained what a God Wink is (". . . I introduced the term Godwinks in my first book . . . some fifteen years ago . . . if there's no coincidence to coincidence, what do you call it?"), I realized that I have my own cheesy term for that phenomenon: God-incidence (instead of "coincidence"). The term "Godwinks" still bugs me, though.
Page 2 - "When I pray, coincidences happen. When I don't, they don't!" Prayer truly does make all the difference in the world! People who are not believers will acknowledge coincidences in their lives, so this isn't really a profound statement. Rather, to me it's a reminder that if I want to see God at work in my life, I need to be persistent in prayer.
Page 3 - The first "secret" (another wording that bugs me) is Prayer. "Simply put, prayer is communication between you and God. You can talk to Him anytime from anywhere about anything." I think I post-it noted this because it's a good thing to share with people who do not already have a deep prayer life. Anytime. Anywhere. Anything.
Page 11 - The stories that they include to demonstrate the points of the "secrets" are well-chosen. I loved the story of the woman who was able to travel to her son's wedding. "God, I know that if You want me to go to this wedding, You'll make the way." I love her prayer of faith and trust in God!
Page 12 - "This experience reaffirmed for her that prayer works . . . and that when you are faithful to God every day of your life, when you remain in conversation with Him, He is right there beside you and faithful to you!"
Page 34 - ". . . they were astonished to discover - as most people do - that praying consistently with another person expands the power of your prayer and divinely aligns your paths with Godwinks He wants to bless you with." I love when Louie and I take time to pray together, especially for our kids and grandson.
Page 37 - He mentions his book The 40-Day Prayer Challenge. I may or may not get that from the library . . . But I wanted to "pin it" here.
Page 46-47 - Love this!!! He listed Scriptures about "ask" . . . wow! God's Word tells us to ask. (Matthew 18:19, Matthew 21:22, 1 John 5:14, John 14:13, John 15:7, John 16:23, Mark 11:24) And those are just SOME of the Scriptures like that! Praise God!
Page 98 - "When you see absolutely no evidence that your prayers are being answered, it's difficult to keep your faith strong. But later, when we look back, we can always see that God was getting people and events into proper alignment."
Page 100 - From James 1:5-6: "If you don't ask in faith, don't expect the Lord to give you any solid answer." My Bible has it like this: "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." Again, as much as I enjoyed reading this book, I already have the Book I need.
Page 125 - "There are countless stories of people who averted car accidents because of a sudden nudge to pull over to the side of the road. When we acknowledge God's presence in our lives and talk with Him daily, we will be able to hear and feel those little tugs. Don't ignore them. God is talking to you." I'm not very good at listening! I'm so glad that God's not finished with me yet. I get so focused on my to-do list and my plan that I forget to spend time in prayer asking Him for His plan!
Page 131 - "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)
Page 134 - "Every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything." (Hebrews 3:4)
Page 200 - Psalm 31:21-22 Really, God's Word is more than enough!
Page 215 - Deuteronomy 31:8 - this is the key part of the story about the woman who donated a kidney for a little girl. It's an amazing, powerful story about the power of God's love and faithfulness. I also liked the story about Karen Kingsbury running into Rod Stewart in a park. The stories really fit the points the authors were making.
One last thing: Why does he spell his unusual first name with capital s, capital q, lower case u-i-r-e?
"Secrets":
1. Pray
2. Ask
3. Believe
4. Expect
5. Signs
6. Wonders
7. Divine Alignment
Hennepin County Library hardcover 221 pages
genre: non-fiction, Christian faith
I'm really torn about this book . . . on the one hand, I thought the title was cheesy and since there's an entire SERIES of these Godwink books I figured it was a gimmick thing. On the other hand, I plastered a LOT of post-it notes in this skinny book and it was quite inspirational. At one point, I even put a copy in my Amazon cart so I could have my own copy and highlight it. In the end, I recognize that the power is in God's Word. I can highlight that and re-read it often! (And I do.) I'm not sure why I requested this book / how it came across my reading radar. I'm trying to be better about tracking that, but I missed the boat on this one.
Page X - My first post-it had to do with the title. As he explained what a God Wink is (". . . I introduced the term Godwinks in my first book . . . some fifteen years ago . . . if there's no coincidence to coincidence, what do you call it?"), I realized that I have my own cheesy term for that phenomenon: God-incidence (instead of "coincidence"). The term "Godwinks" still bugs me, though.
Page 2 - "When I pray, coincidences happen. When I don't, they don't!" Prayer truly does make all the difference in the world! People who are not believers will acknowledge coincidences in their lives, so this isn't really a profound statement. Rather, to me it's a reminder that if I want to see God at work in my life, I need to be persistent in prayer.
Page 3 - The first "secret" (another wording that bugs me) is Prayer. "Simply put, prayer is communication between you and God. You can talk to Him anytime from anywhere about anything." I think I post-it noted this because it's a good thing to share with people who do not already have a deep prayer life. Anytime. Anywhere. Anything.
Page 11 - The stories that they include to demonstrate the points of the "secrets" are well-chosen. I loved the story of the woman who was able to travel to her son's wedding. "God, I know that if You want me to go to this wedding, You'll make the way." I love her prayer of faith and trust in God!
Page 12 - "This experience reaffirmed for her that prayer works . . . and that when you are faithful to God every day of your life, when you remain in conversation with Him, He is right there beside you and faithful to you!"
Page 34 - ". . . they were astonished to discover - as most people do - that praying consistently with another person expands the power of your prayer and divinely aligns your paths with Godwinks He wants to bless you with." I love when Louie and I take time to pray together, especially for our kids and grandson.
Page 37 - He mentions his book The 40-Day Prayer Challenge. I may or may not get that from the library . . . But I wanted to "pin it" here.
Page 46-47 - Love this!!! He listed Scriptures about "ask" . . . wow! God's Word tells us to ask. (Matthew 18:19, Matthew 21:22, 1 John 5:14, John 14:13, John 15:7, John 16:23, Mark 11:24) And those are just SOME of the Scriptures like that! Praise God!
Page 98 - "When you see absolutely no evidence that your prayers are being answered, it's difficult to keep your faith strong. But later, when we look back, we can always see that God was getting people and events into proper alignment."
Page 100 - From James 1:5-6: "If you don't ask in faith, don't expect the Lord to give you any solid answer." My Bible has it like this: "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." Again, as much as I enjoyed reading this book, I already have the Book I need.
Page 125 - "There are countless stories of people who averted car accidents because of a sudden nudge to pull over to the side of the road. When we acknowledge God's presence in our lives and talk with Him daily, we will be able to hear and feel those little tugs. Don't ignore them. God is talking to you." I'm not very good at listening! I'm so glad that God's not finished with me yet. I get so focused on my to-do list and my plan that I forget to spend time in prayer asking Him for His plan!
Page 131 - "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)
Page 134 - "Every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything." (Hebrews 3:4)
Page 200 - Psalm 31:21-22 Really, God's Word is more than enough!
Page 215 - Deuteronomy 31:8 - this is the key part of the story about the woman who donated a kidney for a little girl. It's an amazing, powerful story about the power of God's love and faithfulness. I also liked the story about Karen Kingsbury running into Rod Stewart in a park. The stories really fit the points the authors were making.
One last thing: Why does he spell his unusual first name with capital s, capital q, lower case u-i-r-e?
"Secrets":
1. Pray
2. Ask
3. Believe
4. Expect
5. Signs
6. Wonders
7. Divine Alignment
Wednesday, June 05, 2019
Orbiting Jupiter
by Gary D. Schmidt
Hennepin County Library audiobook 3 CDs
read by Christopher Gebauer
genre: YA realistic fiction
Once again, Schmidt's amazing storytelling skill is on powerful display. This is the first of his books that hasn't been historical fiction! (Of those I've read. Though the mention of Coach Swieteck made me think of Okay For Now . . . ) Louie and I listened to this one together when we had a lot of driving to do.
Jack and his parents have taken in a 14-year-old foster child named Joseph. He got a 13-year-old pregnant when he was also 13 and he kept trying to see her, even after her parents got an injunction against him. This info comes later in the story, though.
The characters range from compassionate to cruel. Joseph's voice is at times silent and at other times, overpowering. The relationship between sixth grader Jack and eighth grader Joseph develops slowly and in classic guy terms. Jupiter is the baby girl that Joseph wants to see and take care of. He wants to be the loving father he himself does not have.
I cried. I'm listening to it over again. I think I'll get some other Schmidt stories on audio for our next road trip. I'd love to share the ones I've loved with Louie.
Hennepin County Library audiobook 3 CDs
read by Christopher Gebauer
genre: YA realistic fiction
Once again, Schmidt's amazing storytelling skill is on powerful display. This is the first of his books that hasn't been historical fiction! (Of those I've read. Though the mention of Coach Swieteck made me think of Okay For Now . . . ) Louie and I listened to this one together when we had a lot of driving to do.
Jack and his parents have taken in a 14-year-old foster child named Joseph. He got a 13-year-old pregnant when he was also 13 and he kept trying to see her, even after her parents got an injunction against him. This info comes later in the story, though.
The characters range from compassionate to cruel. Joseph's voice is at times silent and at other times, overpowering. The relationship between sixth grader Jack and eighth grader Joseph develops slowly and in classic guy terms. Jupiter is the baby girl that Joseph wants to see and take care of. He wants to be the loving father he himself does not have.
I cried. I'm listening to it over again. I think I'll get some other Schmidt stories on audio for our next road trip. I'd love to share the ones I've loved with Louie.
The Mystery of the Third Lucretia
by Susan Runholt
Hennepin County Library audiobook 5 CDs
read by Krista Sutton
genre: YA mystery
I hadn't heard of this author before, but I found her story delightful! Two 14-year-old girls, Kari and Lucas, have an adventure involving art, a "new" Rembrandt, and a mysterious stranger in disguise.
Parts of it were irritating (as is the norm for middle school books) but the mystery kept my attention and the vocal work was solid.
Kari's mom is the kind of adult teenagers need. I'll need to see if this author has written other mystery stories for young adults. She did a great job with this one!
Hennepin County Library audiobook 5 CDs
read by Krista Sutton
genre: YA mystery
I hadn't heard of this author before, but I found her story delightful! Two 14-year-old girls, Kari and Lucas, have an adventure involving art, a "new" Rembrandt, and a mysterious stranger in disguise.
Parts of it were irritating (as is the norm for middle school books) but the mystery kept my attention and the vocal work was solid.
Kari's mom is the kind of adult teenagers need. I'll need to see if this author has written other mystery stories for young adults. She did a great job with this one!
Monday, May 27, 2019
Dragondrums
by Anne McCaffrey
Hennepin County Library audiobook 8 CDs
read by Sally Darling
Published: 1979 (this version 1992)
genre: YA fantasy
I had read all three Pern books with Menolly as a primary character several times in the 1970s and 80s, but grabbed this when I was looking for some audiobooks for drive time recently. It was fun to revisit Piemur's story. (His voice changes, the MasterHarper has a special job for him, he's in the drum heights learning the measures . . . )
The vocal work was interesting. Darling has an odd accent that I couldn't quite place . . . something from out East? Anyhow, it worked for the story but kind of made me giggle. I ended up finishing the book in the print format just to be done.
McCaffrey is a delightful storyteller. I've not read all her Pern books, but most of them. Dragonsong is probably my favorite.
(Above written 5.27.19. Below added 10.11.22.)
Since I had re-read (listened) to books one and two, I decided to finish off this series.
Same reader. She *does* have an interesting accent, but it does not detract from the story. I love that Piemur is able to use what he's learned in the drum heights to make a new life in the South.
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Between Heaven & the Real World: My Story
by Steven Curtis Chapman with Ken Abraham
Scott County Library hardcover 430 pages
genre: autobiography
I have long enjoyed SCC's music. I remember hearing about the accident when his teenage son accidentally hit and killed his little girl in their driveway at home. How does a strong Christian get through the pain of that? When I saw this book, I knew I wanted to read it and learn more about his journey. What an amazing story!
Filled with lots of photographs, SCC shares about his childhood, music, struggles, and faith. One thing I didn't know about him (since I don't go to concerts) is that he is very talkative! The book gets a little long-winded, but since I am cut of the same cloth, verbosity doesn't put me off. I truly enjoyed reading this story of his life.
I marked a LOT of passages and there were many more I didn't mark that impressed me. At times (especially the last quarter of the book), I had to wipe tears from my eyes just so that I could continue reading.
Page 48 - in his childhood, their family agreed to host a layman, Dr. Baird, who was in town for a revival. What a cool experience! And how life-changing for the Chapman family!
"It turned out that a layman's revival did not feature a 'professional evangelist' but centered around the personal stories presented by a group . . . the laymen simply shared their own experiences of putting their faith in Jesus Christ and then stayed around to talk, answer questions, and pray with anyone wishing to trust Christ with his or her life. It was a deeply spiritual yet very natural, low-key presentation . . . Dr. Baird was not a theologian or a preacher; he was a dentist."
Page 65 - I love this! It makes me think of legacy and how I want to be faithful to Jesus and shine His light in the world. It also makes me think of Delta (I can't remember her last name) in junior high. She seemed alien to me! But I knew she had strong faith and strong morals, without her being self-righteous.
"Years later, at class reunions, some former classmates told me, 'We always knew where you stood as a Christian, and that made you kind of uncool, but we respected you.'"
Page 84 - His dad's insistence on practicing is admirable.
"'If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right!' And the fact that we were just singing on a Sunday morning in our little church was never a reason for anything less than a stellar performance. 'If we're gonna do something for the Lord, it needs to be done with excellence.'"
Page 107 - When SCC and Mary Beth were dating and had a makeout session that caused him to apologize to her and they had a conversation about saving themselves for marriage . . . powerful.
Page 121 - "I finally realized there was more going on than what met the eye. We were in an invisible but very real spiritual battle. Satan hates marriage. He loves romance and sexual desire because he tries to twist them for his purposes. Marriage, however, is a symbolic picture of our relationship with Jesus. That's why God is so pro-marriage, and that is why the enemy works so hard to destroy marriages."
Page 188 - "'You, as a husband, are responsible for the emotional well-being of your wife.' Whether or not Dr. Dobson actually said that I'm not sure, but that's the message I heard. To me, that meant if my wife was not doing well, it was my fault. Her emotional health was my responsibility as her husband. If she was broken, I had to fix whatever had caused it. I had no idea that fixing someone - even myself - was impossible."
As I read this, there were times I appreciated the challenge in being both candid and respectful. I wonder what his wife's feedback was on this . . . he doesn't shy away from admitting his mistakes and flaws, but this focus on "fixing" people, relationships, etc. persists throughout the entire book. In fact, the next page I marked was 195, where they are visiting with a counselor.
"I still felt a heavy weight of responsibility to fix what part of this brokenness was my doing, and I was sure much of it was. Maybe we just needed to pray and read the Bible more and try harder."
Page 227 - I'll miss the context of this without including the entire interaction, but I love how God uses us in our faithfulness. SCC was "ambushed" by a Howard Stern employee and gave the best testimony he could for Jesus, but was mocked as a Christian. He was a "fool for Christ" and kicked himself for not being more wise.
"But at least one husband started a fresh journey with his wife as a result of the encounter in which I felt I had failed to represent the Lord well. It was a poignant reminder of the truth: God never calls us to be successful; He calls us to be faithful."
Page 336 - When he was in the midst of deep despair, repeating God's promises over and over helped him survive. "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord. . . . " There truly is power in God's promises.
Page 337 - "She had asked Mary Beth on February 20, 'Does God really have a big, big house? I wanna go to God's big house. I wanna live with Jesus in His big house.' And I knew - I knew both intellectually and spiritually - that it was true. It was all true. Maria was with Jesus."
Even re-reading this now to blog it makes me tear up. I want the people I love to have this same conviction and knowledge of life after death. What am I doing to share the Good News of eternal life?
Page 340- "It was all I could muster, but as I did, the light and the clarity came back. I sensed that we were on holy ground. God's act of drawing back the curtain just enough that I could peer into eternity, to catch a glimpse of His eternal perspective, was a gift He gave to help me survive. I could do nothing to make it open again; there was no magic formula."
Page 354 - "It wasn't that what I had done previously was insignificant; it was simply that my world had shifted on its axis and I viewed things through a different lens."
This notion of a dramatic change in life and world-view, aka a paradigm shift, is hard to comprehend until you experience it. I know that phrase bugged me (paradigm shift) until 2013, when my world changed dramatically. Reading this immediately made me think of my own world shifting on its axis.
Page 356 - "Many times I cried out like David in the psalms. I felt like I was wrestling with God. It wasn't a matter of trying to be 'spiritual' or simply saying the right things; it was survival."
Page 400 - "'Satan is screaming lies over us all day long. And God whispers the truth in a still, small voice. So often the voice we listen to most is the one we hear the loudest.'"
SCC is quoting / paraphrasing a friend of his, but this is so very true! I need to be careful to spend time drawing near to the Lord so that I can actually hear Him over the loud voice of the accuser!
Page 405 - Although I've not experienced the highs of SCC's fame or the lows of his loss of a beloved child, I definitely can relate to his dilemma about wanting to shine for Jesus but not fake the personal struggle. It's really hard to want to witness and bring people to the knowledge of Jesus, but to also want to be authentic and confess the struggles.
"I was at the place where I basically said, 'Okay, God, if that's what You want to do, to have us stand in front of the world as broken as we are, and maybe even have everything fall apart with everybody watching, then it's in Your hands. . . I can't imagine how that's a good thing, but I'm going to trust You with it.'"
Page 407-8 The letter from his adult daughter Emily was amazing!!!
"One of the best things, ironically, I believe that you gave me was your inability to fix it. Really, it was a kind and gentle introduction to a harsh world that eventually every child has to grow up in and out from under their parents' wings and cope with. If you could have fixed it all, why would I have needed to turn to God? You always led us to the throne of grace, especially when you couldn't fix it."
"And that, that is indeed a great gift, because on these really hard momma days, when I feel like I am failing, the enemy is throwing all his darts, . . . then somehow I have to raise kids and have hope to look for the kingdom coming in what can feel like a hellhole at times, I remember what you taught us. Maybe I can't fix it, but I know the One who can."
I love this book enough to want to buy it, but as I'm working on saving money AND decreasing clutter in my home, I'll just recommend it highly! (And appreciate public libraries.)
Scott County Library hardcover 430 pages
genre: autobiography
I have long enjoyed SCC's music. I remember hearing about the accident when his teenage son accidentally hit and killed his little girl in their driveway at home. How does a strong Christian get through the pain of that? When I saw this book, I knew I wanted to read it and learn more about his journey. What an amazing story!
Filled with lots of photographs, SCC shares about his childhood, music, struggles, and faith. One thing I didn't know about him (since I don't go to concerts) is that he is very talkative! The book gets a little long-winded, but since I am cut of the same cloth, verbosity doesn't put me off. I truly enjoyed reading this story of his life.
I marked a LOT of passages and there were many more I didn't mark that impressed me. At times (especially the last quarter of the book), I had to wipe tears from my eyes just so that I could continue reading.
Page 48 - in his childhood, their family agreed to host a layman, Dr. Baird, who was in town for a revival. What a cool experience! And how life-changing for the Chapman family!
"It turned out that a layman's revival did not feature a 'professional evangelist' but centered around the personal stories presented by a group . . . the laymen simply shared their own experiences of putting their faith in Jesus Christ and then stayed around to talk, answer questions, and pray with anyone wishing to trust Christ with his or her life. It was a deeply spiritual yet very natural, low-key presentation . . . Dr. Baird was not a theologian or a preacher; he was a dentist."
Page 65 - I love this! It makes me think of legacy and how I want to be faithful to Jesus and shine His light in the world. It also makes me think of Delta (I can't remember her last name) in junior high. She seemed alien to me! But I knew she had strong faith and strong morals, without her being self-righteous.
"Years later, at class reunions, some former classmates told me, 'We always knew where you stood as a Christian, and that made you kind of uncool, but we respected you.'"
Page 84 - His dad's insistence on practicing is admirable.
"'If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right!' And the fact that we were just singing on a Sunday morning in our little church was never a reason for anything less than a stellar performance. 'If we're gonna do something for the Lord, it needs to be done with excellence.'"
Page 107 - When SCC and Mary Beth were dating and had a makeout session that caused him to apologize to her and they had a conversation about saving themselves for marriage . . . powerful.
Page 121 - "I finally realized there was more going on than what met the eye. We were in an invisible but very real spiritual battle. Satan hates marriage. He loves romance and sexual desire because he tries to twist them for his purposes. Marriage, however, is a symbolic picture of our relationship with Jesus. That's why God is so pro-marriage, and that is why the enemy works so hard to destroy marriages."
Page 188 - "'You, as a husband, are responsible for the emotional well-being of your wife.' Whether or not Dr. Dobson actually said that I'm not sure, but that's the message I heard. To me, that meant if my wife was not doing well, it was my fault. Her emotional health was my responsibility as her husband. If she was broken, I had to fix whatever had caused it. I had no idea that fixing someone - even myself - was impossible."
As I read this, there were times I appreciated the challenge in being both candid and respectful. I wonder what his wife's feedback was on this . . . he doesn't shy away from admitting his mistakes and flaws, but this focus on "fixing" people, relationships, etc. persists throughout the entire book. In fact, the next page I marked was 195, where they are visiting with a counselor.
"I still felt a heavy weight of responsibility to fix what part of this brokenness was my doing, and I was sure much of it was. Maybe we just needed to pray and read the Bible more and try harder."
Page 227 - I'll miss the context of this without including the entire interaction, but I love how God uses us in our faithfulness. SCC was "ambushed" by a Howard Stern employee and gave the best testimony he could for Jesus, but was mocked as a Christian. He was a "fool for Christ" and kicked himself for not being more wise.
"But at least one husband started a fresh journey with his wife as a result of the encounter in which I felt I had failed to represent the Lord well. It was a poignant reminder of the truth: God never calls us to be successful; He calls us to be faithful."
Page 336 - When he was in the midst of deep despair, repeating God's promises over and over helped him survive. "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord. . . . " There truly is power in God's promises.
Page 337 - "She had asked Mary Beth on February 20, 'Does God really have a big, big house? I wanna go to God's big house. I wanna live with Jesus in His big house.' And I knew - I knew both intellectually and spiritually - that it was true. It was all true. Maria was with Jesus."
Even re-reading this now to blog it makes me tear up. I want the people I love to have this same conviction and knowledge of life after death. What am I doing to share the Good News of eternal life?
Page 340- "It was all I could muster, but as I did, the light and the clarity came back. I sensed that we were on holy ground. God's act of drawing back the curtain just enough that I could peer into eternity, to catch a glimpse of His eternal perspective, was a gift He gave to help me survive. I could do nothing to make it open again; there was no magic formula."
Page 354 - "It wasn't that what I had done previously was insignificant; it was simply that my world had shifted on its axis and I viewed things through a different lens."
This notion of a dramatic change in life and world-view, aka a paradigm shift, is hard to comprehend until you experience it. I know that phrase bugged me (paradigm shift) until 2013, when my world changed dramatically. Reading this immediately made me think of my own world shifting on its axis.
Page 356 - "Many times I cried out like David in the psalms. I felt like I was wrestling with God. It wasn't a matter of trying to be 'spiritual' or simply saying the right things; it was survival."
Page 400 - "'Satan is screaming lies over us all day long. And God whispers the truth in a still, small voice. So often the voice we listen to most is the one we hear the loudest.'"
SCC is quoting / paraphrasing a friend of his, but this is so very true! I need to be careful to spend time drawing near to the Lord so that I can actually hear Him over the loud voice of the accuser!
Page 405 - Although I've not experienced the highs of SCC's fame or the lows of his loss of a beloved child, I definitely can relate to his dilemma about wanting to shine for Jesus but not fake the personal struggle. It's really hard to want to witness and bring people to the knowledge of Jesus, but to also want to be authentic and confess the struggles.
"I was at the place where I basically said, 'Okay, God, if that's what You want to do, to have us stand in front of the world as broken as we are, and maybe even have everything fall apart with everybody watching, then it's in Your hands. . . I can't imagine how that's a good thing, but I'm going to trust You with it.'"
Page 407-8 The letter from his adult daughter Emily was amazing!!!
"One of the best things, ironically, I believe that you gave me was your inability to fix it. Really, it was a kind and gentle introduction to a harsh world that eventually every child has to grow up in and out from under their parents' wings and cope with. If you could have fixed it all, why would I have needed to turn to God? You always led us to the throne of grace, especially when you couldn't fix it."
"And that, that is indeed a great gift, because on these really hard momma days, when I feel like I am failing, the enemy is throwing all his darts, . . . then somehow I have to raise kids and have hope to look for the kingdom coming in what can feel like a hellhole at times, I remember what you taught us. Maybe I can't fix it, but I know the One who can."
I love this book enough to want to buy it, but as I'm working on saving money AND decreasing clutter in my home, I'll just recommend it highly! (And appreciate public libraries.)
King and Maxwell
by David Baldacci
Scott County Library audiobook 11 CDs
read by Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy
genre: detective fiction
I grabbed this after my sister's reaction to the last Baldacci book I read . . . she's a huge fan of King and Maxwell. I like the characters pretty well, but I'm not a "must read" fan.
The vocal work on this was irritating for the first few CDs. Not the actual voices, but the pacing. It sounded as though they didn't record at the same time and place, so the person who edited left odd gaps. The narration and all male characters were read by McLarty. Only Michelle Maxwell's (and other female characters') lines were read by Cassidy.
Not sure why I made a note of this, but I jotted "Charge of the Light Brigade" on my car paper . . . there must have been a reference to it in the book, but I don't remember it now. Must. Google.
I loved the little old neighbor lady by the Wingos' house! "I gotta pee." She was a hoot! I kind of wished she'd been in more scenes.
Alan Grant is evil. As I listened, I kept thinking of his wife and kids not being aware of his other life. The lengths someone might go to in exacting revenge . . . this story's premise is extreme, but definitely gets at some of the baser aspects of human nature.
Sam Wingo, geopolitics, etc. Interesting stuff.
Edgar was another favorite character for me! Brilliant but clueless. I love him! By the end of the story, I'm actually thinking of getting whatever is the "next" book in this series to see how the Edgar part turns out . . .
The description of the president's limousine - "The Beast" - was fascinating! I wonder if it's true?
I suppose the sign of a wonderful book is one that makes me more curious. This one succeeded!
Scott County Library audiobook 11 CDs
read by Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy
genre: detective fiction
I grabbed this after my sister's reaction to the last Baldacci book I read . . . she's a huge fan of King and Maxwell. I like the characters pretty well, but I'm not a "must read" fan.
The vocal work on this was irritating for the first few CDs. Not the actual voices, but the pacing. It sounded as though they didn't record at the same time and place, so the person who edited left odd gaps. The narration and all male characters were read by McLarty. Only Michelle Maxwell's (and other female characters') lines were read by Cassidy.
Not sure why I made a note of this, but I jotted "Charge of the Light Brigade" on my car paper . . . there must have been a reference to it in the book, but I don't remember it now. Must. Google.
I loved the little old neighbor lady by the Wingos' house! "I gotta pee." She was a hoot! I kind of wished she'd been in more scenes.
Alan Grant is evil. As I listened, I kept thinking of his wife and kids not being aware of his other life. The lengths someone might go to in exacting revenge . . . this story's premise is extreme, but definitely gets at some of the baser aspects of human nature.
Sam Wingo, geopolitics, etc. Interesting stuff.
Edgar was another favorite character for me! Brilliant but clueless. I love him! By the end of the story, I'm actually thinking of getting whatever is the "next" book in this series to see how the Edgar part turns out . . .
The description of the president's limousine - "The Beast" - was fascinating! I wonder if it's true?
I suppose the sign of a wonderful book is one that makes me more curious. This one succeeded!
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