Proclaiming God's Grace and Glory: Mission Stories for Today

by H. Claude Young, Jr.

personal paperback 111 pages

published: 1979

genre: non-fiction Christian short stories

 

This is one of my read it and get rid of it books, but I only made it to page 14. The author was a superintendent in the United Methodist Church and I wish he were writing to a more general audience!

 

Some of the stories had really good pieces in them, but I stopped reading because it felt as though he were writing for other UMC "in the know" people. So many irrelevant and uninteresting names of people I've never heard of and truly don't care about. It's time to move this book along!

 

In his story Language of the Heart, he wrote: "All Christians who have worshiped in unfamiliar cultures can testify to this heart language. God speaks to worshipers in their hearts regardless of the particular tongue being used . . . " I love this idea that we can praise and worship together even if we don't speak the same language (English, French, etc.) 

In his story Mission Is Where You Find It, I love love love that after an initial hesitation about his position, people who were flagrantly sinning turned to him for prayer and compassion. I love that he chose to stay in a tourist home and show the other people living there that "being a minister does not take all the fun out of life, and that the Christian faith might offer them ways to 'the good life' that they were never going to find otherwise."

Yes! Too many people view Christians negatively - uptight, judgmental, etc. (Not without good reasons, sometimes.) It's a challenge to live out our faith joyfully and unapologetically. 

Although there were pieces of stories that I liked, I find I just cannot finish reading this little book of short stories. On to another book living on my shelf!

To Me, He Was Just Dad: Stories of Growing Up with Famous Fathers

by Joshua David Stein and the editors of Fatherly

Scott County Library hardcover 202 pages

Published: 2020

Genre: short story memoirs

 

I really enjoyed most of these stories, even though I'd never heard of some of the dads (like  clown Glen "Frosty" Little). Some made me sad ("My Father the Murderer George Hodel"). I love storytelling and these stories are well told.

I wanted Louie to read the one about Evel Knievel, but he wasn't interested. Kneivel was such a big deal in my childhood! I think it's funny that he tried to steer his son away from that line of work, but Robert also became a dare devil.

I wanted to share "My Father the Dungeon Master Gary Gygax" by Lucion Gygax with Alex, but I don't see him very often. And he'd probably react like his dad - no, thanks.

I don't know much about the Black Dahlia murder, but reading Steve Hodel's story about his dad was shocking. As a police investigator, to learn that all evidence pointed to his father's guilt . . . "Two decades have passed since I established my father's guilt. I wrote a book about it and have, since then, discovered twenty-four other likely victims of my father's reign of terror. During those two decades, I have been through every conceivable emotion. Disbelief gave way to depression, followed by anger, hatred, and rage. Now those emotions have all melded together into sadness."

The childhood memory of going to the beach was such a vivid and personal story. His resolution after his father's death is painful and yet strong. Wow.

I loved the story about Cesar Chavez! ". . . you only lose when you stop fighting - you only lose when you quit." What great advice to a son!

Many of the dads in these stories were more focused on their work than on their families, yet their time with their children left indelible memories. Dads are important!

Magpie Murders

by Anthony Horowitz

Libby audiobook 16 hours

Read by: Samantha Bond and Allan Corduner

Published: 2016 (this version 2017)

Genre: murder mystery

I've long enjoyed Horowitz' YA books, especially the Alex Rider series. But I didn't realize until recently that he had mystery books written for adults. What fun!

This is a story-within-a-story, which got a bit confusing for me. But it is so very reminiscent of Agatha Christie mysteries and yet very self-aware! I really enjoyed this and the vocal work was excellent, but I kind of wished I were reading it in print. I would have made quite a character map!

Editor Susan Ryeland gets a manuscript and starts to read. It is the story of a village and a curious death. Detective Atticus Pünd is called in to investigate, but he is dealing with serious end-of-life news from his doctor. There are so many characters and clues! Sir Magnus Pye and his wife, Johnny Whitehead, the vicar and his wife, the doctor and her artist husband, . . . 

When Susan finds the final chapters missing and then the author dies in mysterious circumstances, she plays detective. I didn't figure out either the "novel" mystery nor the overarching mystery of who killed the author. It definitely kept my attention!

Oh, there were also loads of anagrams and other word games. That's another reason I would have enjoyed seeing the text rather than listening. 

I'm going to get another of these books now that I know they exist!

I had initially read an article in the Costco Connection recommending this book. The article was fascinating and I learned a lot about this author. 

<Above posted 3.14.23. Below added 6.7.24.>

I decided to re-listen to this book before reading book #2, which recently showed up on my "ready" list. Even having "read" it before, I didn't remember the ending of Alan Conway's "novel" - who killed Magnus? And why? I DID remember what happened to Susan at the end, but again hadn't remembered the why. 

The "novel" is set in 1955. Everyone seems a legit suspect! I love Joy (Josie) the best of all the characters. The ending of the novel - "A Secret Never to Be Told" - is the culmination of the story!

Anthony Horowitz is an extremely talented author. Since Alan Conway dies in this book, I know that the next one will focus on Susan .  . . she is the protagonist, after all. Will it be about her going to Crete with Andreas?

It fascinates me that this book refers to Atticus Pünd's many cases. The eight books "written" by Alan Conway before Magpie Murders seem so real . . . as though I could look in the library catalog and request them!

***Warning! Spoilers below! (Because I forgot some of this over the last year.)***

Spoilers:

• Tom's dog Bella killed by Robert (but if he was psycho enough for his mom to want to keep him under her thumb, how did a lovely person like Joy fall in love with him and want to spend her life with him?)
  
• Tom killed by Robert (in a fit of jealous rage - 12yo brother found pyrite before 14yo . . . how did Brent not suspect? Why did Mary protect her violent son?)
  
• Mary died by accident when her husband called (upstairs phone not working; ran to get downstairs phone and tripped over the cord)
• Robert murdered Magnus because of letter Mary had left in case of her untoward death
• Charles killed Alan because he was going to kill off Atticus Pund and tell a radio show that the character name was an anagram for "a stupid cunt" . . .
  

How to Make Your Money Last: The Indispensable Retirement Guide

by Jane Bryant Quinn

Libby audiobook 12:30 hours

AND my personal copy hardcover 348 pages

read by: Amanda Carlin

Published: 2015 (audio version 2016)

Genre: non-fiction finance advice

I got this audiobook back when I just wanted something to have on my phone while I drive. The narrator's voice is incredible and I enjoyed listening . . . but often I wanted to skip ahead (like the social security section on "if you were born prior to 1953" . . .). Sometimes the topics were just too complex for me to wrap my brain around, though she does explain things clearly.

I remembered this title and knew that I had loaned my print copy to a friend. I got that back but kept listening. Basically, I've listened to more than three-fourths of this book and have read about 100 pages of the book. I'm blogging just to be done for now.

I love love love that she offers different scenarios! In the health insurance chapter, she says, "If you haven't worked long enough to quality for Medicare, . . . " "If you 're in a Part D drug plan. . . " She does that for each of the sections to offer advice whether you have very few resources or great wealth.

I would love for Louie to read this book so we could talk about the topics! I don't think this is necessarily a cover-to-cover book to read. Here are the chapter headings:

The Joy and Challenge of Life After Work

Rightsize Your Life

How to Double Your Social Security Income (Well, Almost)

Getting the Most from Your Health Insurance  - Before and After 65

Pensions Are for Stre-e-e-etching

Should You Buy Yourself a Pension?

Powering Your Retirement Savings Plans

The Speed Limit on Retirement Spending: Still 4 Percent?

Investing for Income: Not What You Think

Home Sweet Income-Producing Home

Living on Your Life Insurance

Just Tell Me What to Do

I'm really enjoying her advice, wisdom, and experience in these matters!

Heirlooms

by Sandra Byrd

Libby audiobook 10 hours

read by: Melie Williams

Published: 2022

Genre: Christian historical fiction

 

This book was less enjoyable due to the narrator's voice. I now have a print copy, but am unsure if I am going to read it. Her voice was perfect for minor character Annika, who is autistic. It did not vary enough for Cassidy, Helen, or Eunhee. Disappointing.

 

The modern part of the story is about Cassidy inheriting the farm property when her grandmother Helen dies. Her best friend Grace needs to study to pass the bar exam. Cassidy needs to figure out how to do what she loves, save the farm, and pay the bills. Her old love interest, Nick, also plays an important role. (As do Annika and her friend DJ, who both work at the farm.)

 

The 1950s part of the story focuses on Helen, a Navy widow and a nurse. She is contacted by recently widowed Eunhee with a request for help. The two women forge a strong bond and each has the courage to step into new roles.

 

Liked the best: the cookbook with its recipes and personal notes. Annika's photography. The food Cassidy made. The happy ending. Grace finding her area of law. Grace's grandfather saying that he knew Eunhee's secret.

 

Liked the least: Captain Adams and all men of his ilk. The awkward way Cassidy approached problem-solving.  The sleazy banker.

(Below added on 2.28.23)

Since I hadn't read the print version by book club discussion last night, I'm moving on. I did read and appreciate the author's note, however. I wonder why that isn't included in the audio version. I re-read the first two chapters before last night and I am confident I would have enjoyed the book significantly more if I had experienced it in print rather than audio! Too bad, but this is headed back to the library. On to the next book!

All the Impossible Things

by Lindsay Lackey

Maud Hart Lovelace nominee 2022-23

Published: 2019

Genre: YA realistic fiction with some supernatural elements

Red (Ruby) is in foster care. It's time to change to a new house and she is simply counting down the days until her mother is out of jail and she can return to live with her.

But Jackson and Celine Groove are different. And they welcome Red with patience, gentleness, and the animals of the Groovy petting zoo. Tuck the tortoise becomes Red's special friend.

I loved the characters in this book! Celine and Jackson are fantastic and give Red room to be herself. Marvin is quirky and delightful. I love that the animals have literary names.

The supernatural aspect is that Red (and her mother) have the ability to control the wind and weather. Red's Gamma could "dance things to life." Celine can make the stars sing.

The realistic elements are stronger than the supernatural, though, and the author makes a great statement at the end about how sometimes young people's emotions are bigger than they can deal with - like a huge storm brewing. Actually, her entire Author's Note is worth reading!

Page 177: ""She thought of The Mom's three boys, how much they'd hated her. Bio kids had a way of making parents change their minds about being fosters."

This made me think about when Louie and I had talked about adoption. We weren't sure if it would be fair to our bio children to bring in other kids who might need more of our time, energy, and attention . . . Obviously a moot point now.

Chapter 46 (starting on page 268) - I'm amazed at how Marvin has a sense of storytelling in planning out one of his videos. It's pretty cool how he explains to Red what they need to do to make an effective video by using the analogy of a dog rescue video.

Page 333 (and once earlier) - each time the pills that Red's mom Wanda is addicted to get dumped in the sink and washed away, I cringe! Pills should NOT be put into the water system! This is terrible and can be detrimental to the health of an entire ecosystem! I'm so glad it's super easy to get them to a drop box in real life so they can be disposed of properly. I get what the author and characters were trying to do, but I don't like reading about medications being put into the water system.

Page 355: "I was sad. My rage was spent, but my grief wasn't. Grief isn't like anger. Anger can burn out. It can be released. But grief is something that becomes a part of you. And you either grow comfortable with it and learn how to live your life in a new way, or you get stuck in it, and it destroys you."

Celine is amazing! I love that she was able to listen to Red and encourage her.

Page 367: "Red would never forget what losing Gamma had been like. It was a sadness that would stay with her forever. Watching Celine go through surgery and chemotherapy and everything else would be hard. Red knew that. But it would be impossible - for both of them - if they didn't have each other."

Sorry for the spoiler! This is a really good book. Read it. I hope this author is going to write more. For a debut novel, this has a lot of heart and finesse.

Americanized: Rebel without a Green Card

by Sara Saedi

Libby ebook 

Published: 2018

Genre: YA memoir, humor, sociology

 

I saw a student reading this and was intrigued. I've had it for quite a while and just struggled to find time to read it. It is a very worthwhile book and would be fantastic for a discussion book!

 

Chapter 2: "When you're a kid and live under the same roof as your siblings, you're forced to tolerate them. But why would anyone choose to live near their siblings if they don't have to?"

 

 The author was able to tap into the emotions of her teenage self so well! Part of that was because she had journals to refer back to, but she captures the intensity of teenage life very effectively. This part reminded me of some teenagers I know right now who are constantly at one another's throats right now. When I insist that they will likely be good friends as adults, they don't believe me.

Chapter 2: "If there was anything that terrified us as much as getting deported, it was that the principal's office would discover our address scam and send us down the road to the rough-and-tumble streets of Cupertino."

It is so sad that they had to wait so long to get green cards! And they were in fear of getting caught and deported. 

Chapter 4: I'd walked away learning a very important lesson: it's no fun to do things you're crappy at."

Oh my. This section was so funny. The page before this quote says so much more: "But here's what my parents actually helped me discover by driving me to theater school every week: I totally sucked at acting. How did celebrities make it seem so easy? There were kids in my class who'd been taking courses at A.C.T. since they were toddlers. They could do Swahili accents and had mastered the Claire Danes chin tremble on cue. They thought improv games were fun, and dropped lines from Tennessee Williams plays in casual conversation. I was just there to get famous and win an Oscar someday. The most riveting performance I gave during the twelve-week session was portraying a stoner at a party."

Chapter 4: "In my not-so-humble opinion, I believe that immigrants are the true American patriots. We never take living in this country for granted."

The power of her observations about citizenship, belonging, and what it meant to be American were so clear. She never romanticizes it; she is brutally honest about the good and the bad in being American. She just paints a picture of what it is like (and what the sacrifices of her parents meant to her) in becoming an American.

"Frequently Asked Questions" between Chapters 4 and 5:

"I bought a book called Go Ask Alice. It's actually a teenager's diary. She's a really normal fifteen-year-old girl until she gets hooked on acid and pot."

Like Sara, I read this book when I was a teen (in the 70s, in my case). And I believed it. And it affected me deeply. But then I found out that it wasn't a true teen story and a therapist named Beatrice Sparks had most likely written it. 

Chapter 5: "His smoldering brown eyes (which were always bloodshot) and his perfectly gelled brown hair bore a striking resemblance to those of a young Luke Perry (Archie's dad in Riverdale)."

It was interesting that the author was able to connect with her target audience of today's teens. Luke Perry is her generations hottie on Friends . . . but a dad character in her readers' pop culture!

Chapter 5: "Little did I know that stoners would soon become my relationship kryptonite."

 

I like her writing style and her use of language. I like her honesty and her empathy for immigrants

Chapter 6: "I wish I had spent my adolescence less annoyed by and resentful of her presence. I wish I had made more of an effort to get to know her better."

Saedi is writing about her Muslim grandma. It's hard sometimes to appreciate the people around us until they're gone. And it's so powerful to get people's stories while they're still able to share them!

Chapter 7: "But no one told me that as the years went on, I'd actually be in charge of raising him. I would be a teen mom and a virgin. Arguably, the world's most depressing combination."

She is referring to her little brother Kia. Her older sister Samira had gone off to college and her parents worked long hours at their business. I'm so glad I didn't have that kind of responsibility as a youngest child!

Chapter 9: "I grew up among nineteen first cousins, and they each played a pivotal role in my childhood and teen years."

I did not grow up with my cousins. I'm amazed at how much other people's lives have been powerful impacted by relationships with their cousins. I just can't relate to that.

Chapter 10: "Iranians kind of have no shame. We're instantly bonded by our histories and our willingness to ask strangers for ridiculous favors."

I loved how she shared cultural insights in talking about her family and her culture.

Chapter 13: "My dad even tried to impress him by telling him that my parents had seen Ozzy Osbourne in concert. . . . 'He was onstage with all his brothers and sisters.' 'Those were the Osmonds!' my mom corrected. Despite my dad confusing Donny Osmond for Ozzy Osbourne, he and Slash were still able to bond . . . "

Oh my! She can be awfully funny in sharing her stories!

Chapter 14: "I was sick to death of visits to the INS that required standing in lines that made the DMV look like a spa day. Just renewing my employment authorization card required waiting outside at 6:00 a.m. for the doors to open three hours later."

There are so many things in this life that I simply have not had to deal with! I need to be more thankful on a daily basis for how incredibly blessed I am.

Chapter 15: "I'm not sure what I expected, but this wasn't it. As I made the long walk from my car to the entrance of the building that normally housed the county fair, I moved past vendors selling hot dogs, American flags, and T-shirts. It was like we were being welcomed into the country by capitalism and obesity. I decided not to shell out any of my hard-earned cash on cheap memorabilia . . . though celebrating with transfat was tempting."

Again, her sense of humor but also her honesty shine through. After spending the majority of her life in America, finally getting to the citizenship ceremony was not at all what she expected or wanted. This book is worth reading. Some sections seemed a bit edgy, but genuine. Teens are curious about alcohol, marijuana, sex . . . and one of her older cousins seemed to like to help Sara learn about some of these things!

I'm No Philosopher, But I Got Thoughts: Mini-Meditations for Saints, Sinners, and the Rest of Us

by Kristin Chenoweth

Libby audiobook 3 hours

intro written by Arianna Grande and read by Melinda Sewak

book read by the author

Published: 2023

Genre: part memoir, part advice, part philosophy

I'd heard of Kristin Chenoweth, but didn't know much about her. This book was available as an audiobook and it was short, so I checked it out. It was pretty interesting!

For some reason, I was surprised by her expressions of faith in God. True, she seems to be comfortable with forming her faith to what works for her . . . but it was a refreshing mix of faith, her perspective, and some saucy observations. I enjoyed it and learned a bit, too!

 

Since it's an audiobook, there were "notes" that I made in my head that won't make it into this blog entry. At 46 minutes, she shares a song list of upbeat music. It took me a while to find the place to list the songs here:

"Playlist for a Life Gone Sideways"

• "Oh Happy Day" - Edwin Hawkins Singers - Youtube
  
• "Heroes" - David Bowie - Youtube
• "Back in Baby's Arms" - Patsy Cline - Youtube
• "Raspberry Beret" - Prince - Youtube
• "I Will Survive" - Gloria Gaynor - Youtube
• "Walking on Sunshine" - Katrina and the Waves - Youtube
• "Hail, Holy Queen" - the nuns in Sister Act - Youtube
• "9 to 5" - Dolly Parton - Youtube
• "Free" - All Right Now - Youtube (I've listened to her say this almost a dozen times. It sounds like she's saying "Free - Alternaton" but I can't find that song by that name . . . )
  
• "Unwritten" - Natasha Bedingfield - Youtube
• "No Tears Left to Cry" - Ariana Grande - Youtube

 

She loves music and lives through her music! She's a very good storyteller.

 

I jotted down her "Simple Prayer for Starting Over": "Oh Lord, help me get off my butt, on my feet, over myself. Amen"

 

It would be interesting to read this book in print. It's quick and has a great mix of wisdom, fluff, and personal memoir. 

Small Miracles II: Heartwarming Gifts of Extraordinary Coincidences

by Yitta Halberstam and Judith Levinthal

paperback personal copy 254 pages plus acknowledgments

Published: 1998

Genre: True stories, faith

 

The intro reminded me too much of SQuire Rushnell and his Godwinks perspective. There is too much focus on what WE GET instead of on WHO GOD IS.

 

I had to reconcile my understanding of God's grace (freely given, unmerited) while looking for His presence and activity in our lives WITH any personal self-serving motives. I love the stories. I love seeing "God-incidences" instead of mere coincidences or luck or karma.

 

Once I got past the intro and this "issue" of mine, I read the stories quickly. They are short - just a few pages each - but packed with that "Guideposts" style of storytelling. I ended up putting post-it note flags on five that really affected me.

 

The first one starts on page 75 and tells the story of Father O'Reilly (a pseudonym) who needs respite from his demanding hospital chaplain duties. While in a quiet abandoned seminary, his pager went off but the message was not legible. Since he couldn't get a good signal inside the ruined building, he went outside to call each of the four different hospitals he reported to to see where he was needed. None of them had called. I got chills when I read the rest of the story. Sometimes when "weird" things happen, God is protecting us!

 

The next one I flagged (pages 104-107) was where two people had a series of mishaps and frustrating situations keeping them from a planned event. They got to a park area just as two little boys were drowning and saved their lives. The end comment was worth tagging. "It's a mistake to believe that 'coincidences' happen only for our sakes. Sometimes they happen to us, but they may not be happening because of us or for us. What seems to be happening to us is actually occurring for the sake of another. It's not really our script, even though we may be major players. When a coincidence occurs that makes no sense in how it impacted our lives, we must also ask: But did it impact someone else's?"

Page 115-116 tells of a woman who baked some rolls, then gave them away. This happened three times and then she had no more time to bake rolls before her guests came! Then her guest walked in with a freshly baked loaf of bread. "One day I'll learn. You just can't outgive the Lord." Amen to that! (Faye Fields' story is much much more lovely than my summary here.)

The story on pages 154-156 isn't one of my favorites, but the line I tagged resonated and made me sad. "Stephanie Osborne headed home, feeling dejected and down. She feared bitterness; she feared that the daily realities of her job in the school system would eventually whittle away the idealism that fed her soul." Wow. Too many teachers can relate to that one. The upshot of the story was that a former student called her and told her how much she had meant to him. The comment at the end of the story is "A gift of gratitude often rekindles inspiration gone dim."

 

The story on pages 157-160 is pretty cool, about a vacation deferred due to illness. The comment on the end really caught my eye. "When we reach beyond ourselves to care for another, we are often led past our own fears and limitations."

 

The upshot of these stories is that God is actively involved in our lives. He still performs miracles! We need to be receptive to his working in our lives. This book is going to the "Little Library" shelf at The Recovery Church to inspire someone else. 

Oh, not that it matters, but there were enough synagogue / rabbi / Jewish references that I wasn't surprised that the focus was on God, not on Jesus. ;-)

Danny the Champion of the World

by Roald Dahl

Libby audiobook 4 hours

Read by: Peter Serafinowicz

Published: 1975 (This version 2013)

Genre: YA fiction

 

What I liked about this story was the love that Danny and his father have for one another. It was often sweet and delightful, especially his dad teaching him to fix cars. 

 

The narrator did a great job.

 

I had never read this book before and I didn't like it very well. My primary dislike wasn't just the focus on poaching; it was an obsessive idolization of poaching. His dad (and some of the other characters) almost seemed like drug addicts in their fixation on poaching. I understand the "little guy" perspective toward the rich, selfish landowner . . . and I even agree with people hunting for food to stave off starvation . . . but Danny himself observed that they weren't starving. It was basically theft. 

 

When his dad comes up with a scheme that involves ruining the hunt for the horrible Mr. Victor Hazell, I assume he wants to simply relocate the pheasants. No. He fully intends on keeping or giving to friends over 100 birds. I actively disliked the story at points, but Danny was a sweet kid.

Fighting Words

by Kimberly Baker Bradley

Scott County Library paperback 259 plus Author's Note, discussion questions, and acknowledgements

Published: 2020

Genre: YA realistic fiction

Wow. I already knew that I really like this author. This book didn't grab me immediately, but it drew me in more and more. Protagonist Della is ten years old and has a very saucy vocabulary. Her older sister Suki has been her closest friend and protector. Right away, Della warns us that the "bad stuff" is coming in her story as she explains about how they got to Francine's foster home. 

The "bad stuff" is bad indeed, but the unfolding of the story is so incredibly powerful. I was even intensely moved by the author's note and acknowledgements. This book is phenomenal!

Page 144: '"Not really,' I said. 'I just wondered what, you know, normal families ate.' Nevaeh's mom laughed. 'Oh, honey. There's no such thing as a normal family.'"

I love that line! What is normal, anyhow? I completely understood Della's curiosity and perspective. At ten, she knows that what her childhood has included is NOT normal to most people.

Page 175: "I told you, nobody goes into foster care for good reasons. Foster care might be better than anything you've ever had in your life so far, and it will still never be as good as what you should have had. If the family you were born into was what it should have been."

Francine is an amazing foster mom! Tough, yes, but real. And steady. And concerned about the girls. After this, when Della says what happened was her fault, Francine tries to convince her that it was NOT! It makes me sad when kids take responsibility for the horrible things that adults do.

Page 201: "The good news is, people can and do heal. They can and do get better."

We didn't see a lot of Dr. Fremont, the psychologist working with Della, but she is a gem. Her encouragement and patience helped Della to work through her fears and guilt.

Page 209: "'Not your sister,' Maybelline said. 'I hope she's well, but I'm asking about you.'"

I loved Maybelline (the lady at the grocery store deli counter)! She treated Della with respect and love!

Page 209: "'It'll probably make you glow in the dark! Nothing that color is meant to go inside your mouth.'"

I agree with Teena - Mountain Dew is not for human consumption!

Page 213: "I'd been thinking about it. Brains were shut up inside the hard bone-box that was your skull. If someone or something banged you upside the head, stands to reason your brain could be hurt. But just someone scaring you? Touching you where they shouldn't?"

'It's complicated,' Dr. Fremont said, 'but it's true.'

She said that when bad things happened to people, it could make their brains change for the worse. 'Especially if the bad things happen when you're young,' she said."

So much about how trauma affects children makes me deeply, incredibly sad. I don't understand how people can let their addictions or selfish desires harm little kids.

Page 227: "Francine said, 'I wished someone had helped me when I was Suki's age. Or yours.' She blew out a cloud of cigarette smoke. 'Wish I'd had someone on my side.'"

Francine may not be an ideal person to raise children, but her heart is most definitely in the right place. She is providing care and stability for Della and Suki . . . like she wished she'd had when she was young. This book is so full of pain and sorrow, but it's not a downer!

Page 230: "'Well, sure,' Maybelline said. 'That's why I never got one. I changed my mind more often that some people changed their underwear.'"

They're talking about tattoos and this line made me laugh! Maybelline was such a delight.

Page 245: "I said, 'Even Ms. Davonte couldn't ignore all of us.' We'd worked as a pack, all us girls. A wolf pack."

I loved that Della resisted the urge to deck Trevor and used words! (And not swear words this time.) It would be fun to discuss this book and the meaning of the title. What a fantastic part of the story! I know some girls who could learn a lot from Della's "wolf pack" analogy.

Page 259: "Standing just inside the fourth-grade classroom, I look up at Ms. Davonte. I smile. I say, 'This is to remind me of the best day of my life.'

She looks down at me. For a wonder, she smiles back. 'When was that?' she asks.

'Tomorrow,' I say.

And that right there, that's the very best part of this story."

Yes! I love the hope enmeshed in that answer. I love that Della and Suki are looking toward the future and things they would like to do. This story is beautifully and powerfully written. I may buy a copy to keep and share.

The Invisible Man

by H.G. Wells

Libby audiobook 6:15 hours

Read by: Scott Brick

Published: 1897 (this version 2006)

Genre: Science Fiction

 

This book is one that I had "known" only by reference to it and through reading a Great Illustrated Classics version. I'm not even sure if I've ever watched a movie version . . . and Louie tells me that listening to the audiobook doesn't "count" as reading it. Whatever. Brick did a fantastic job with the reading. Wells is a genius but this is dark!

 

Griffin is an unlikable character. The first half of the book is full of mystery and hints, but the Invisible Man is a complete jerk and treats people like garbage. The second half of the book is him telling his story to Dr. Kemp. And then we learn that he's even worse than we thought!

 

It fascinates me to think of Wells coming up with this story in the late 1800s. His imagination at what science might develop is so amazing! Griffin starts out in medical school and then switches to physics. The "explanation" of how invisibility would work is nonsense, of course, but it is still fascinating. What is interesting is how his focus and selfishness devolves into completely maniacal tyranny.

 

Kemp refers to his behaviors as "brutal self-seeking." Even when he describes being at his dad's funeral, his lack of compassion or concern for other humans is startling. He has an incredibly bad attitude and is not a sympathetic character at all! 

 

I'm glad I "read" it . . . it's another of those books that is part of our culture and has some interesting things to say about humanity. Toward the end, though, I wondered why people didn't just have flour or ashes to throw at the Invisible Man so that they could capture him more easily.

 

And the tramp becoming an innkeeper . . . the ending left many possibilities open! Wells was a genius, but he certainly saw the potential for the worst in humanity!

The Last Thing He Told Me

by Laura Dave

Libby eBook approx 500 pages

Published: 2021

Genre: suspense, realistic fiction

I had never heard of this author before, but the story sounded interesting. 

 

"Before Owen Michaels disappears, he smuggles a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her. Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers—Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother.

As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered, as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss, as a US marshal and federal agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared."

It took me a bit to get into it. I didn't like that the teenage Bailey was such a pill (as teenage girls can be, even without losing their birth mom at a young age.) But once I got into it, it was hard to put down. I wasn't sure how it would end . . . and it's frustrating that there are at least THIRTY pages of extra stuff at the end of the book. I was expecting more from the story, but it ends a bit abruptly (because I was anticipating more to the story). The extra stuff is good - book club discussion questions, acknowledgements, author interview, etc. But I just wasn't ready for the story to end where it did.

I may look for more books by this author. I tagged one section. "This is the thing about good and evil. They aren't so far apart - and they often start from the same valiant place of wanting something to be different." I don't agree with that line, but it made me think of politics and how often people on the extreme ends of the spectrum want to "improve" things, but have very different ideas about what that is and how to get there.

Once Upon a Wardrobe

by Patti Callahan

Hennepin County Library hardcover 271 pages

Published: 2021

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction 

Based on C.S. Lewis and his Narnia books, this story focuses on Megs Devonshire and her little brother George. Megs is a math and physics student at Oxford. Her little brother has a sickness that will likely end his life early. A fan of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, he asks his big sister to find out where Narnia "came from" as author Lewis is a professor at Oxford. Only Megs' love for her brother brings her to seek out the famous man. Only his way of answering questions is through telling stories about his life. Megs wants certainty. 

I enjoyed this book very much, but it was not a page-turner for me. I really enjoyed the sister and brother dynamic (even more than Megs' evolution as a character and a thinker). 

Page 99: "I watch him. The thing is, I want a miracle for George. I want something or someone like Aslan to prowl through the door and save us, save us from the sorrow and the pain and the absolute loneliness of it all." 

Part of the reason I didn't connect as much with Megs is because I am NOT a logic-focused person. I love stories and imagination. When she read to George or told him stories, I connected best with that relational aspect of her character. Wanting an Aslan, a saviour, resonates for me!

Page 120: "It took months, but Jack saved up his money, and Warnie, out of love, chipped in. Jack bought the book for fifteen schillings."

I love the brother relationship between Clive Staples / C.S. / "Jack" and his brother Warner. I love that he wanted to own a book so much that it became his focus. (This book was Twilight of the Gods). 

Another book that was raved about was Phantastes by George McDonald. This came up as SUCH a big deal, that I added a post-it note about reading it myself. I have soooo many books on my shelf already, but I'm curious. I may have to request it from the library just to appease my curiosity.

Page 154: "Warnie walks ahead as if he has somewhere to be, while Jack continues chatting. 'Every life should be guided and enriched by one book or another, don't you agree? Certainly, every formative moment in my life has been enriched or informed by a book. You must be very careful about what you choose to read - unless you want to stay stuck in your opinions and hard-boiled thoughts, you must be very careful.' "

I love the idea of going for a walk and talking and listening and thinking about meaning. 

Page 204: ". . . Jack had known that his intellect stood over his imagination, that the two hemispheres, as it were, of his mind were in sharp contrast. He realized that all he'd loved, he believed to be imaginary, and all he'd believed was real, he thought grim and meaningless.

Near dawn, Jack went home, and morning rose over the Kilns to see him a different man.

Something within him had shifted.

'Even if Christianity isn't my favorite myth,' he told Warnie,' it's the only one that is true.'"

I love when atheists come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ! I love how the thinking and talking of the Inklings made such a difference for Lewis and others. 

Page 205: "He wants to know if it's true that there's something more when this something ends. Not whether there is a doorway in the back of his wardrobe; he know that is just a way to tell a story about something more. But maybe in the back of his life there is a place he will go, a place they will all go."

George, as young as he is, knows that his life will not be long. He wants the answer to that big question: what happens when I die? His hunger for more of Mr. Lewis' stories is deeper than mere curiosity about Narnia.

Page 218: "'Megs, every human interaction is eternally important.' He smiles, and I swear those eyes that usually twinkle are swimming with tears."

That phrase struck me - every human interaction is eternally important. I want my interactions with people to point them to Jesus. I want to glorify God each and every day, through my thoughts, words, and actions.

Page 233: ". . . I think of George in front of the fireplace asking for only this for Christmas. I think of next Christmas when George likely won't be here, and me wishing I'd taken the chance, broken through the stone wall of logic and fear."

I was so worried that Megs would not take advantage of Padraig's offer to drive her and George to see Dunluce Castle in Ireland. What a bold adventure! I loved Padraig as a character! What a delight. And I'm so glad she overcame her fears. (And I had to look up info about the castle online . . . tourist visit someday?)

Page 259: "I think the lion follows all of us around. We just have to look for him."

George has wisdom beyond his years. I love that he drew Aslan into the different scenes he drew of the stories of Jack Lewis' life.

Page 266: "I'd believed - fool that I was - that because I knew this end was coming, I was prepared, that I would not grieve as I had. As if one can pre-grieve and get it out of the way. It's not true. Grief is the price I paid for loving fiercely, and that was okay, because there was no other choice but to love fiercely and fully."

Yes. Grief is the payment for loving deeply and losing someone.

I look forward to our book club discussion in three and a half weeks!

The Life You've Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People

by John Ortberg 

my personal copy, paperback, 222 plus extra material

Published: 1997

Genre: Christian Living

I was looking through my bookshelf for books to donate to Recovery Church in St. Paul. This caught my eye. Part of me wants to keep it to re-read it . . . but I have SO many books and time is limited. I probably read this twenty years ago. I marked up lots of pages. In the flyleaf, I noted the spiritual disciplines: joy! (celebration), slowing, prayer, servanthood, confession, and listening. (Do you see why I'm tempted to re-read it?!)

Page 45: "Spiritual disciplines are to life what calisthenics are to a game." This quote is in the section with the heading, "Spiritual disciplines are NOT a barometer of spirituality." (Emphasis mine.)

My hope is that this book will be an incredible blessing to someone who needs the encouragement in living a life for God. I've put this title in my Amazon cart so I can think about it / pray about it / consider doing it as a group study at my church. How ironic!

Oh! I also had a piece of paper in it that had the word "chiaroscuro" and its Merriam-Webster definition. "Kee-ar-uh-scur-oh" Chiaro (clear, light) + (o)scuro (obscure, dark). The quality of being veiled or partly in shadow, a pictorial representation in terms of light and shade.

Becoming Muhammad Ali (a novel)

by James Patterson and Kwame Alexander

Scott County Library hardcover 308 pages

Published: 2020

Genre: YA historical fiction

Maud Hart Lovelace nominee 2022-23

 

Based on Cassius Clay's childhood and youth, the book alternates between Patterson's prose as best friend "Lucky" and Alexander's prose poetry as Ali. I was disappointed to go online after reading the book to find that this best friend was not one real person, but rather a fictional construct. Too bad, because that character served to show a better side of Ali than what I knew of him already.

 

 In the poem "Early Christmas" on page 120, I love how the surprise gift of a brand new Schwinn bicycle was set up. What a delightful gift for a youngster!

Then on page 152, the bad news happens. It reminded me rather forcefully of what I felt when Nick called me after his first night at the U of Minnesota. Ick when bad things are done to people . . . 

Page 168 - "I don't know what made him think that in a million years a black man could ever be president. In most places around where we lived, black people could hardly even vote!"

There were lots and lots of references to racism and social justice but they were not preachy or judgemental. They were just part of the consciousness of the character as he grew up seeing so much discrimination all around him.

Page 181 - 

"Boy, don't you dare blaspheme the Good Book. 

I'm just saying, I don't need church to tell me what I already know. 

What you know and what you think you know is two different things."

I love how Ali's mom stood firm on her faith and tried to get the young boxer to understand.

Page 232 - "Not many people could make Cassius Clay feel humble. But his mother did. Every day."

I'm not curious enough to do more research, but IF Ali did go with his mom to her job as a domestic and help her clean all day, that would be amazing. It is very effective in terms of the storytelling of this book.

This is another of those "liked, didn't love" books. It is a quick read and even a worthwhile read. I'm not sure how much is fact and how much is fiction.

The Bookshop of Secrets

By Mollie Rushmeyer

Carver County Library paperback 347 pages

Published: 2022

Genre: Christian realistic fiction

 

There were so many things to like about this book! Rushmeyer is a Minnesota novelist and has clearly spent time on the North Shore. We had a good book club discussion, even though I hadn't finished the book on time (again! What is up with me?). 

 

There is book nerdiness, a hidden treasure, a bit of romance, a lot of healing from past pain, . . . but I have so many post-it notes in it that I'm just going to jump in.

 

Page 25: "It's okay to trust again. Don't be afraid to let them in, to see you, all right? We're not meant to live in the shadows, unseen. Everybody needs to know and be known by others."

 

Dee is a wise woman. Her advice for Hope hits the mark.

 

Page 30: "Sometimes you just do things because it's the right thing to do. Helping you is my pleasure."

 

I love Mags. She was just the person to help Hope connect safely.

 

Page 107: "Attending church wasn't the definition of being a Christian. But the times in his life he least wanted to be around other believers were the times he most needed to be."

 

Ronan's faith (and wrestles with faith) were believable. He was a great character. And he was a fantastic mentor for Tate.

 

Page 126: ". . . Charlotte snatched his prosthetic leg and bounded across the beach with it. The dog's tail wagged like she thought herself the funniest animal in the world."

 

This scene made me laugh out loud. Charlotte is a German Shepherd and I could totally envision her playing keep away with Ronan's prosthesis.

 

Page 160: "He excused himself to retrieve their clothes from the dryer. As he pulled out her plaid shirt, letting the warmth soak through his arms then wrap around his chest, he couldn't help but feel her words and understanding had done the same on the inside."

 

I love the feeling of warm laundry fresh from the dryer! And the thought of that cozy feeling on the inside . . . nice!

 

Page 179: "She'd never thought helping others could start stitching up the gashes in her own heart."

 

It's amazing how helping others can transform your heart, attitude, and life!

 

Page 186: "A door, opening into a new life. Like she'd found the key to the Secret Garden. A whole beautiful world of friendships and a normal life lay inside the wall. She could glimpse it ahead."

 

I loved the literary allusions! There were plenty. The Dusty Jackets book shop offered a great setting.

 

Page 196: "Ronan didn't mind that Hope and Tate took their time at the ice cream stand next to Granny's Cafe' . . . "

 

Why did the author not just call it by name? Grandma's is a Duluth institution.

 

Page 264: "Who needs normal anyway? None of us are normal, so you fit right in."

 

Mags again. She was great. So was Kat.

 

Page 264: "Her name. One truth bomb at a time . . . "

 

Somehow I just liked the idea of a "truth bomb" and only one at a time . . . 

 

Page 328: "Don't judge based on one conversation or misunderstanding."

 

Dee's wise advice again.

 

Page 329: "As if her life was a jug of broken pottery and she had to find all of the fitting pieces to glue it back together, but half the pieces were missing. God was the potter. He was making something new. In her. Patiently molding her a new story, a new life filled to the brim with goodness and love. He hadn't abandoned her to her own devices . . . "

Yes! We need to trust God and let HIM do the hard work.

Page 346: I loved Ulysses' letter to Hope. I loved that he wrote it when he had some mental clarity.

This was a lovely book. I'm not sure why it took me so darn long to finish!

Also had pirates, sex trafficking, lighthouses, community pariahs, food and cooking, and a whole lot more.

Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood

by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Libby audiobook 9 hours

Read by Robert Ramirez

Published: 2006

Genre: YA historical realistic fiction

Set in 1968, this story was intriguing in some ways. Lots of foreshadowing at the start, some interesting character development, . . . but way way way too much swearing for me. Lots of F bombs and other harsh language. It was realistic but incredibly unpleasant to listen to. I got about a third of the way through the book (3+ hours) and decided it was okay to stop listening. 

I liked how smart and sensitive Sammy's dad was. I liked Sammy's different perspective on life (compared to his peers). I liked learning what the foreshadowing was leading to . . . even though I didn't like what it led to.

Audiobook thing - "Beefas" ??? Is that the kid's name?

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Libby audiobook 3 hours 

Read by Jeremy Irons

Published: 1961 (this version, 2004)

Genre: children's fantasy

When I was a kid, I loved this book. I think it was the idea of a giant peach with tunnels and hidey holes running through it . . . I liked the idea of attics, forts, and other hideouts.

When I was a mom with young kids and I read it to them, I was horrified! The two aunts were absolutely wicked in how they treated young James. I don't know if I even finished reading the book to my children. And the aunts get smashed to death by the peach! What kind of children's book . . . 

I got this audiobook because I spend a lot of time in my car. It's nice to have stories to listen to. Jeremy Irons has an amazing voice. 

This story is too ridiculous for me, though. James' mom and dad are eaten by a charging rhino in "35 seconds flat" . . . ? Um. Don't think that is a thing that a rhino escaping from the London Zoo could or would do.

Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker were as horrible as I remembered. Poor James! To become an orphan and then to be treated so abusively by his guardians . . . sad.

The seagulls (500 tethered to the peach - logistics?), crossing the Atlantic in one night, living in Central Park in the peach pit, . . . this story is just too bizarre. And the centipede is an obnoxious jerk.

Anthropomorphic stuff . . . poems and songs / limericks . . . the Cloudmen (I don't remember this from earlier reading.) Interesting. Weird.

Matilda

by Roald Dahl

Libby audiobook 4 hours

read by Kate Winslet

Published: 1988 (this version, 2013)

Genre: children's fantasy

I've read this before and have seen the movie, but it's been a long time. I enjoyed it more than I expected. 

I didn't remember Mrs. Phelps, the librarian. I loved that she was compassionate, encouraging, and discreet. She was an excellent character!

The voice work was fantastic, of course. Kate Winslet! It was weird, though, that Miss Honey seemed to have an Irish lilt. And Miss Trunchbull was so darn loud. I kept having to turn the volume down, then I couldn't hear the next part. The producer should have taken better care of volume control. It was frustrating.

When Miss Honey invites Matilda into her home for tea, I couldn't help think that there's NO WAY a teacher can do that nowadays. Later in this scene, I liked that Matilda become aware of Miss Honey's poverty. I think it's been too long since I last read this, because my brain kept "seeing" the movie and the actors. 

I find that I like the book version much, much better. (Though I adore the work that Danny DeVito and Rhea Pearlman do as Matilda's awful parents.)