A wise retired teacher in my church recommended this book to me. Probably appropriate for late middle school to Jr high, kids, it is also a great readA wise retired teacher in my church recommended this book to me. Probably appropriate for late middle school to Jr high, kids, it is also a great read for grownups—especially onsiderin* the times we find ourselves in now, where the old America we knew and loved has been overwhelmed with Russia and its oligarchs.
The book is a reminder that cold-hearted greed and cruelty can come upon any nation, and leave starving, homeless children in its wake. It happened (and,to a lesser extent, is still happening) in Russia, and it could happen here. In the end, we have heroes like Alex, who, seeing a path to safety and wholeness, has to make the choice to take it for himself, or to turn back and show others the way....more
Speaking the language of the millennial, including plentiful *f*bombs, Russell explains the 12 steps. I loved this book about his progress through theSpeaking the language of the millennial, including plentiful *f*bombs, Russell explains the 12 steps. I loved this book about his progress through the steps, and their deep spiritual significance for him. He is a brilliant writer. The words sing off the page. After I read this book, I finally felt like I understood the steps. I'm not addicted to anything, and so I wasn't sure I'd relate. However, Brand suggests that, simply by living in this consumption-oriented society, we ALL have a bit of the addict in us. Thought-provoking food for thought....more
This was almost a great book. A great book shows and doesn’t tell. For about 70% of the story, the author showed the predicaments , foibles and triumpThis was almost a great book. A great book shows and doesn’t tell. For about 70% of the story, the author showed the predicaments , foibles and triumphs of the characters. And then for the last 30%, Page after page after page of explaining why Mrs. Saint did what she did. I enjoyed the book and the characters, until we got to that point. And it was disappointing to be told, “She did this because she felt like that.” Or, “the reason xyz happened is because . . .”A little explaining is okay, but this was altogether too much. It stopped being fun to read then....more
Wonderful, redemptive memoir of Lynda Barry's rough-and-tumble childhood, and all the ways she grew wise because of it. I recommend this to the moon aWonderful, redemptive memoir of Lynda Barry's rough-and-tumble childhood, and all the ways she grew wise because of it. I recommend this to the moon and back....more
If I met Brene Brown, I'm not sure I'd like her. Did she really run around and ask people whether others "did the best they could," and consider that If I met Brene Brown, I'm not sure I'd like her. Did she really run around and ask people whether others "did the best they could," and consider that a research question? What does that even mean? Is she really that freaked out about what she looks like in a Speedo? What she thinks is a big deal in life is so not what I think of as a big deal. And yet, she is willing to put her whole self on display here. I guess that's her vulnerability thing. And she does make some excellent points about honest communication and good boundaries that are applicable far beyond simply recovering from failures. So, in spite of my eye-rolls every time she talks about "The Rising Strong Process" as if there ought to be a tiny [TM] following that phrase, and despite her decidedly upper-middle-class, self-centered suburbanite attitudes, I did find myself nodding quite often as I read this book. Overall, I got a lot out of it....more
Oh, so sad. This is oh, so sad. Beautifully written.*spoiler alert* Horribly sad story of two lonely older people who just want the warmth and intimacOh, so sad. This is oh, so sad. Beautifully written.*spoiler alert* Horribly sad story of two lonely older people who just want the warmth and intimacy of each other's company over night. Of course, the whole town starts talking. And the woman's family doesn't approve. And the sweetness sours. And it's just so terribly sad that their own relatives get in the way of their simple companionship. So, I loved this book, and I hated it. Because I just wanted them to be happy. I wanted to give it fewer stars because it broke my heart, but heart-brokenness is a sign of a well-done, five star book. So . . . *sigh!*...more
I adored Bone. At first a bit jarred by the Disney-esque renderings of the Bone boys juxtaposed with the more realistically drawn people of the valleyI adored Bone. At first a bit jarred by the Disney-esque renderings of the Bone boys juxtaposed with the more realistically drawn people of the valley, I soon got over that and was completely absorbed in the story. I could not put this down, even though it weighs like, seven pounds. A brilliant work of art and an enthralling story. Highly, highly recommended!...more
**spoiler alert** I read this on the anniversary of my mom's funeral. Perfect timing. Of course, being a work of Roz Chast, the book is outlandishly h**spoiler alert** I read this on the anniversary of my mom's funeral. Perfect timing. Of course, being a work of Roz Chast, the book is outlandishly hilarious. And then, it is just so familiar and achingly sad at the same time. She describes her parents' slow descent into infirmity, illness and then death. So many of us have been there. She shows pictures--actual pictures--of her parents' amazing collection of stuff--petroleum jelly dating back to the 40s in the medicine cabinet, a dizzying array of her mother's handbags, a drawer full of tops of jars (why just the tops?). We just cleaned out Mom's house. I totally identified. And in the humor of it all, and there is, humor--there is also honesty. Some people "get" how to be with someone who has dementia. You sorta realize their not playing ball on your field, and you go over and join them on their field. And some people don't get it. They insist on reminding their loved one of shared reality. Roz doesn't seem to get it. But that's honest. She's honest about the fears about money. She's honest about her unfinished business, and how, sometimes the people you love will just not let you finish it, no matter how much you wish they would. She's honest about how difficult it can be to be with someone who perseverates about details. For my mom is was her medications. For Roz's dad, it was his worthless (but precious and important to him) bankbooks. Enough to drive you crazy. And then there are those last conversations. You usually don't know which words will be the last ones you express to the one you love, but you usually remember them afterward. Fortunately for Roz, she could remember them with tenderness. The last series of drawings she does of her mom are just beautiful and heartbreaking. They speak for themselves. Humor, and then--tenderness. A very, very sweet book. ...more
Who reads essays these days? I got this book through a most circuitous process, and I"m so glad I did. Nothing like an excellent essay to get your thoWho reads essays these days? I got this book through a most circuitous process, and I"m so glad I did. Nothing like an excellent essay to get your thoughts provoked, and to reset your mind into a deep, critical place. Scott Russell Sanders is an excellent writer, and, really, he provoked so much activity in my gray matter that I almost feel like writing my own book of essays in response. I really enjoyed his works, especially "Faith and Work." ...more
This is the first Gunter Grass book I've ever read, and it is not a walk in the park, but it is very, very rewarding, thought-provoking and rich. GrasThis is the first Gunter Grass book I've ever read, and it is not a walk in the park, but it is very, very rewarding, thought-provoking and rich. Grass is a complex writer. He kind of reminded me of Faulkner in his style sometimes, although he's not exactly Faulknerian with run-on sentences and all. I just got the impression that his sentences and paragraphs sort of circled around into each other. At times his writing feels hypnotic. By the time I got to the end of the book, I realized that that was the point. German history had sort of circled itself. The whole book is a sort of a return--a circling back to what Germany had been before the war. But can one go back after visiting such horror on one's neighbor? How do you ever recuperate, personally and nationally, from the enormity of evil visited on Germany? On Europe? And yet, history floats past, just on the surface of the German conscience, just as it floats by on the surface of the Vistula River; it is reviewed, if not critically evaluated, the stuff in the river is there. The book ends with the two main characters bathing, cleansing. It didn't strike me until a couple hours after finishing what a fitting end it is to a book that begins with the flooded consciousness that was postwar Germany. I feel a little overwhelmed, having just put this book down. I can't quite wrap my head around what I've just experienced. Again, it was a difficult read, but that's no reason to put it down. Dig through it, friends. This is a masterwork....more
I came to this book just as I am beginning to learn about McKnight's Asset Based Community Development approach. I realize most of the essays in TCS aI came to this book just as I am beginning to learn about McKnight's Asset Based Community Development approach. I realize most of the essays in TCS are twenty to forty years old now. And I do not judge the book on all the water that has passed under the bridge since they were written. McKnight makes many good points about the disempowerment of people that happens when we rely on outside experts for local social solutions. If anything, many of the points he makes are absolutely confirmed by the passing of more time and the every deeper entrenchment of outsider, centralized, "efficient" social policies. He does, however come across as extremely polemical. Not a lot of nuance, or space for the fact that there are, in fact, people who actually do benefit and need, for example, allopathic medicine. And that, perhaps, the profession of social work does have a place in the fabric of community life. Churches cannot do it all. Heck, churches barely exist today. Also, local communities can be known to discriminate in ways that our entire nation will not allow. So, local communities don't always know best. Overall, though, I like much of what he has to say. And I really do appreciate his later work on ABCD. ...more
Anybody who has ever struggled through fundie teenager faith angst, will TOTALLy relate to the hilariously over-devout, egoistic struggles of young MoAnybody who has ever struggled through fundie teenager faith angst, will TOTALLy relate to the hilariously over-devout, egoistic struggles of young Mormon missionary Craig as he wends his way through his two-year mission adventure to evilly Catholic Belgium, where the locals are, um, somewhat less than enthusiastic about the LDS message.
I'm not a Morman, but I remember the days of ridiculous do-or-die teen evangelicalism when I was a kid. This book is SoOOoooOOo Funny for anyone who's been there. The sweet thing about "Way Below the Angels" is that the author grows up in his faith--he puts away truly childish things, and becomes an honest practitioner of his faith, rather than an earnest, though misguided, teen parrot.
I was laughing out loud through many pages of this book. He is an excellent comedic writer, especially as he gently mocks "deep" theological conversations of 19-to-25 year olds, and the missionaries' desperate attempts at relevance as they attempt to "proselyte." And he is probably at his best when he writes out Flemish syntax in English. Just hilarious. I really enjoyed it....more
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