Library
Grateful by Diana Butler Bass
Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks by Diana Butler Bass Are we as aware of gratitude as our ancestors were? That’s doubtful because….”Society is awash with a loneliness epidemic.” Gratitude is about relationships, not about repaying debts. The book surprised me. I thought, ‘…another book on being grateful–it’ll likely be redundant.’ It’s not! This book is an invitation to become aware of gratitude in new ways. “What is gratitude:…
An Alter in the World
An Alter in the World: A Geography of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor. I found this book of the author’s spiritual journey very engaging. It’s the type of book (if mine) I would underline important parts and thoughts. There are many. The author presents a sense of God in different arenas. Each chapter stands alone and is deeply engaging. Every chapter is worth the reading by itself. Areas of presentation include community, reverence, working wilderness, grounded-ness and more. It’s likely…
In the Beginning
Karen Armstrong is one of my favorite authors. So I was excited at the prospect of getting into her “interpretation” of Genesis. In The Beginning. Ordinarily Armstrong is an accessible writer about issues of religion. This book made me just a little confused and angry. Problem, the book doesn’t seem to know exactly what it is. It is not so much an interpretation of Genesis as a meditation of the fallenness of humankind, seen through the lens…
RAIN (Reign)
RAIN (Reign)by author Ann M. Martin. Rose Howard is interested in homonyms, numbers, schedules and rules. Her father, teachers and friends, not understanding her obsession, react often with anger and derision. Her one sure comfort is the companionship of Rain, a dog. When a mega-storm demolishes much of the town, Rain vanishes, Rose has to leave her routines and safe places to go and find him. “Hearts will break and spirits soar for this powerful story, brilliantly…
The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. What a delight to pick up a book that my 3rd grade teacher read to us. I still remember being at home anticipating the next chapter. This edition has some incredible illustrations (illustrated by Inga Moore). They capture the story mood. The book is easy to read and full of surprises. The characters solve mysteries – change, and learn life’s lessons. The book is about caring, loving and learning. It’s a timeless…
The Trouble with May Amelia
May Amelia Jackson lives in Washington state in 1900 with a family of seven brothers. The farm they are working hard to create in the wilderness around the Nasel River is wet and muddy. Often she is taunted about being a ‘Useless Girl’ so she is proud when her father asks her to translate for a gentleman who’s interested in buying their land and making them rich. The man is a crook. The farm is lost. May Amelia learns…
The House of Unexpected Sisters
The House of Unexpected Sisters by Alexander McCall Smith brings a new case to the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi take the case regarding a woman whom it appears has been wrongly dismissed from her job. Who’s at fault…the employee or the employer? It quickly becomes more complicated than than anyone suspects. In the midst of the investigation, yet another unexpected turn of events occurs. Mingie Ramotswe comes to the attention of Mma…
Blood Brothers by Elias Chacour
Blood Brothers is roughly one-third personal memoir, one-third history lesson and one-third a meditation on peace. It takes as its central theme the dangers when outside forces stress and forcibly disrupt a community’s peace. This done by disregarding its inherent dynamic. Chacour was born in pre-partition Palestine isn 1937 and retired in 2014 as an Archbishop of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in post-partition Palestine. He seems uniquely qualified to both describe and address the issues facing Palestine…
Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit
Matthews explains Bobby Kennedy’s life starting as a shy boy under the shadow of his older, famous brothers. It details JFK’s run for president and his realization that he needed his younger, more compassionate brother’s help. After the campaign, Bobby learned to be all that JFK wasn’t and became Attorney General. Together they learned about and fought for civil rights and against the mob bosses, and believed in helping the poor minorities. John’s death was described from the point of…
Alabama Spitfire: The Story of Harper Lee
A Young Harper Lee Alabama Spitfire, written by Bethany Hegedus, tells the wonderful story of Nelle Harper Lee. It tells of how she grew from her tom-boy childhood into the fame of writing with her novel, To Kill A Mockingbird. Racial Injustice Lee was always mesmerized with the world of words. Her dream came true when she was allowed to write for a year in New York. This opportunity lead to the creation of her famous novel. This novel brought public…
Louise Penny Novels
Author Louise Penny Three mystery novels by Louise Penny: The Brutal Telling, Bury Your Dead, and A Trick of Light are available for your enjoyment. Penny is an award winning Canadian mystery novelist of twelve Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels. Chief Inspector Gamache Her series of books contain little or no sex or violence and are literally a ‘kinder, gentler’ mystery novel than what one often finds these days. I am charmed by Inspector Gamache, but he is not without his faults.…
God, A Human History by Reza Aslan
God, A Human History Reza Aslam, author of Zealot, a life and times book about the historical Jesus. He has recently written another book, God, A Human History. This is a much more readable book than one written by Karen Armstrong on similar religious topics. Aslan’s work plays to his strong suit as a sociology and religious history professor. Have you ever wondered whether humanity is “hard wired” to believe in a Deity. Or have you wondered how other cultures and times…