June 30

An Unlikely Story

No, it's not really a story - it's a bookstore!  I've actually shopped here a couple of times before, but it's such a fun place that it deserves a callout!  Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, purchased an old building in Plainville, MA and converted it into a bookstore and cafe.  Of course there are plenty of Wimpy Kid books on the shelves (autographed!), but there are plenty of other books for kids (books for babies, picture books for preschoolers, easy readers for the primary grades, and young adult books for teens) and for adults, as well, not to mention a nice assortment of games, puzzles, even jewelry and kitchen utensils.  There's a cafe offering beverages and light lunches.  I took my 7-year-old grandson here for lunch and book shopping on Thursday.  He is a big Wimpy Kid fan and we looked all around the store for Jeff Kinney.  (We heard he has a writing studio on the 3rd floor; we actually walked up to the 2nd floor but hesitated to interrupt what looked like an older women's (like...my age) discussion group meeting there.)  We picked up some Wimpy Kid postcards and one of the books he does not yet own, and were happy to see that we could preorder an autographed copy of book #13, due out in October. 😊

June 29

Newport Villas: The Revival Styles, 1885-1935 (2009)

By Michael Kathrens

Newport, Rhode Island was one of 5 major seaports in British North America (along with Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Charleston, SC).  The city was a major center of arts and crafts and its 100 cabinet makers sold their fine furniture all along the Eastern seaboard while their merchants imported from Great Britain all of the factory-made goods (bolts of fabric, brass tacks, etc) the colonists were not permitted to produce.  After the War for Independence (1776-1783), the city was pretty much evacuated but it became a summer resort for wealthy southerners and, later, - in the gilded age - for New York industrialists.  These men were wealthy enough to build summer vilas that emulated the palaces of Europe.  Some of these "cottages" were Italianate or shingle styled, while others were inspired by French chateau (e.g., Marble House, Rosecliff) or by the Italian Renaissance (The Breakers). Many featured rooms that were faced with marble, whether ballrooms, dining rooms, or music rooms.  Their kitchens were often manned by French chefs who prepared dinners for up to several hundred guests.

Michael Kathrens describes 50 of these villas, providing interesting stories on the owners who commissioned them and the architects who designed them, as well as what eventually happened to each home (whether sold, demolished, repurposed as condos, school, etc).  Photos and floor plans are included.  A location map would have been helpful. Some of the villas were built as late as the 1930s as the gilded age was winding down, the victim of the implementation of the US income tax in 1913 and the great depression.

The Elms, the summer home of coal magnate Edward Julius Berwind, is one of the featured villas.  Providence Business New recently published an article entitled "The Cost of Preserving History".  Read the article here and see page 5 where I am pictured giving a tour at The Elms. :)

June 28

England's Thousand Best Houses (2004)
By Simon Jenkins

As in its sister book, England's Thousand Best Churches, Simon Jenkins has prefaced his inventory with an introduction covering all of the periods of British architecture from medieval through Tudor, Georgian, Victorian, and beyond, speculating about the future of the English house.  This volume, over 1000 pages, is also organized by county and with sumptuous photos.  He includes castles and manor houses, but also colleges, cottages, towers and houses of interest due to their occupant, e.g., Paul McCartney's home in Liverpool and Jane Austen's house in Chawton.

Although both volumes are Jenkins's personal favorites, it's hard to argue with his choices and good taste.  Background information about the occupants and histories of each building, as well as descriptive details about the architecture and layout in each entry make this a treasure trove of information about Great Britain - and I am ready to fly off to London right now and start my tour!

June 27

England's Thousand Best Churches (2000)
By Simon Jenkins

Journalist Simon Jenkins must have visited well over 1000 churches to come up with the top picks!  In this comprehensive book, his table of contents is organized by county, not only because of geographic convenience but also because characteristics like local building materials and decoration tend to be defined by a region or county.  Each county's section opens with a map showing locations of each church.  While many are town churches and some are typical Norman churches with square towers, most are Church of England, though Jenkins also covers a couple of quaker meeting houses and other non-Anglican houses of worship.  Jenkins declines to include the more famous cathedrals as he feels they receive adequate coverage in other travel publications; instead he concentrates on those churches that characterize a town or county.  He names significant historical characters associated with each church (where applicable) and those buried within.  Nice photos accompany many of the descriptions.

Preceding the 800 pages of descriptive text is a fascinating introduction describing the various stages of development of the English church, as well as a glossary of mostly architectural terms, notes about accessibility of the churches, and other helpful information.

A cover recommendation states, "Think of Simon Jenkins's book as a hip flask and carry it always".

While the book (close to 900 pages, including introductory material) wouldn't fit in my pocket or purse, it is a very helpful reference book and I would certainly include it in my suitcase on a trip through England.  I look forward to investigating many of these churches, tributes to the builders' faith and witness to their lives and history.

June 26

The Intelligent Traveller's Guide to Historic Britain (1983)
By Philip A Crowl

Summer is here and it's time to think about travel!

The modern traveler has a range of resources to learn about a new destination but, before the internet and Rick Steves's useful and delightful travelogues, there were the Michelin guides, Fieldings and Fodor's.  For those seeking information on historic sties in the UK, this title provides a thoughtful and through study of the history of Great Britain from a traveller's perspective.  Crowl divides his 800-page tome into two sections: Narrative History and Gazetteer.  The first is a chronological study of Great Britain, covering 10 historic periods from Prehistoric Britain to the 19th and 20th centuries, keeping in mind "visible and visitable" places.  This section could easily be read on its own as a history, with references to geographic sites that are open to visit, and relevant players.  The gazetteer organizes the sites by geophraphical region (e.g., London, SW England, Cotswold and Malvern Hills, North Wales, and even the Channel Islands), with commentary on the merit of each site.

An appendix lists the author's "Best of Britain" sites, whether ruined castles, cathedrals or stately homes.  I looked up a few favorite places (Chepstow Castle, Broughton Castle, Royal Botanic Gardens, Imperial War Museum) and found brief but helpful listings for each.  A lengthy book list offered suggestions for further reading.  Written by an American.

June 25

American Tapestry: The Story of the Black,White, and Multiracial Ancestors of Michelle Obama (2012)
By Rachel Swarns

This story traces Michelle Obama's line back five generations her mother's side, and four generations along 3 other great grandparents' lines.  Journalist Swarns has deeply researched the former first lady's roots back to a slave named Melvinia Shields who gave birth to biracial children.  Family members eventually experience emancipation, then Jim Crow laws.  Michelle Obama's parents, Fraser and Marian Robinson, did not attend college but were very supportive of their children's education.

While this story is familiar in that (1) a slave had relations with her white owner's family, and 2) that all her grandparents were part of the great northern migration, what makes it so fascinating is the trail from slavery to the White House.

June 24

Making Disciples Across Cultures: Missional Principles for a Diverse World (2015)
By Charles A Davis

This very insightful book is geared to missionaries working across cultures, but it is relevant for any church worker or volunteer.  While it's great to engage with those in other cultures, we sometimes fail to realize the cultural biases we bring into our own ministry or service.  The author worked for decades as a church planter in Venezuela, then as a leader of a mission agency, and he suggests ways Christian workers can rethink their ministries to allow for cultural differences and thus become more effective ministers of the Gospel.  He addresses many aspects of Christian leadership.  The chapters on "Disciples do what love requires" (Gospel-Truth vs Works-Justice) and "Leaders equip disciples for ministry" (Equippers/Ministers) were especially helpful to me.  Charlie is not afraid to cite examples of efforts that did not work (from which we can all learn), and he grounds each chapter in scripture.

June 23

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1943)
By Betty Smith

I first read this story when I was about 13.  I loved it then and I loved it when I read it again as an adult.  I did not grow up in Brooklyn, but lived in Queens as a child.

In a coming-of-age story set in the early 20th century, Francie Nolan is growing up in the immigrant neighborhood of Williamsburg in Brooklyn.  Though both her parents were born in the US, life is not easy for Francie, her little brother and her mother, as they struggle to make ends meet while Francie's beloved father grapples with his alcoholism.

There are joyous moments as Francie and her brother celebrate Christmas, especially after "earning" a Christmas tree by standing firm when the tree was thrown at them by the vendor (an annual tradition) or trips to the seaside via subway - and frightening moments, as when a vagrant exposes himself to Francie in the dark foyer of her apartment building.  Still, for the most part, life in Brooklyn is vibrant and exciting, bustling with the many cultures that came together in Williamsburg.

Despite Johnny Nolan's drinking problem, the author presents the Nolans as a loving family.  Katie Nolan loves her husband and works hard to support her family, nailing a tin can to a closet floor to save pennies in the hope the family will some day own a piece of their own land.  For her part, Francie is a good student, never gives up on her father, and remains hopeful about the future.

June 22

Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery: The US Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 (2003)
By Nathaniel Philbrick

I never paused to wonder where the Smithsonian Institution acquired its initial collection.  Sea of Glory answers that unasked question.  Like all of Nathaniel Philbrick's books, this story is well-researched, laying the story in its historical and sociological context, and presenting the facts in a very readable format.

In 1838 the US government funded an expedition to explore the entire globe, and to bring back treasures for a new national museum of natural history. Yet the US Exploration Expedition (USXX) seemed doomed from the start.  With the ill-suited Lt Charles Wilkes at the helm, it's a wonder this expedition yielded any treasures at all.  Wilkes lacked the temperament and confidence of a leader but, worst of all, he lacked the authority.  As a lieutenant, he was at the same rank as some of his men, and his efforts to earn a promotion before the expedition fell on deaf ears.  During the course of their travels, he tended to lay on heavy punishments for fairly light matters of discipline, earning the ire of his men.  Early on, the expedition lost some of its 6 ships.  They got into arguments and skirmishes with islanders.  When they returned to the US after 4 years at sea, the arguments continued, with some sailors suing Wilkes.  Yet, for all the ill will, the expedition returned thousands of new specimens, hundreds of illustrations, and resulted in the discovery of a number of new geographic features, including Antarctica.

June 21

Time to Start Thinking: America in the Age of Descent (2012)
By Edward Luce

Many writers today try to analyze America's problems and suggest fixes, but this book was actually published prior to the current administration.  I read only the first half of the book, but it was provocative enough - and depressing enough - to warrant a mention (and a reminder to me to get back to finishing it).

This alarming and thought-provoking book describes (in journalist Luce's opinion) how and why the US has cut down spending on education, science, and research - all areas of innovation that made America a leader from the 1950s through ~2000.  One problem is that the two main political parties spend way too much time getting elected and not nearly enough in coming together to solve problems of the nation and the world.  Most of our industrial giants' big customers are overseas (and are there any major steel plants even left in the US?)  - and the middle class is being squeezed as more companies staff their positions with temp workers paid by a staffing agency offering no benefits, therefore resulting in more job changes and less company loyalty (and perhaps less innovation) - and resulting in great pay disparity among different classes of employees.  Luce also worries about possible cultural clashes growing out of the new Tea Party movement.

Even though I did not yet finish reading this book, it is clear that Luce foresaw the divided country that is the new American reality.

June 20

The Dork of Cork

By Chet Raymo

Frank Bois, born a dwarf, is a hero who really pulled at my heartstrings.  While he lives with what he calls his ugliness, he is well aware of beauty; he spends his nights observing the stars and keeping logs of his observations.  He also reads voraciously.  He has just published a book of his observations, interwoven with biographical vignettes.  Based in Cork, Frank relates the tale of his French single mother and the men in her life, who in turn influence his life.  His book brings him success and the story has a satisfying ending.

Chet Raymo is an emeritus physics professor of Stonehill College; he has published many non-fiction works that combine science and his Roman Catholic faith.  The Dork of Cork is his only work of fiction.  Prof Raymo has traveled extensively in Ireland.  Having visited Cork last October, I now share his love of this part of the Emerald Isle.

June 19

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business (2012)
By Charles Duhigg

The author, a Pulitzer prize winning journalist, gives many examples of how we develop habits (e.g., exercising to earn some reward), how businesses contribute to the development of habits (e.g., brushing teeth with toothpaste, a habit set in motion by advertising), and how businesses then utilize our habits for their advantage (e.g., Target identifying our shopping patterns and sending us personally selected ads based on our past purchases).  But what may have been most helpful was understanding how certain habits (or behaviors) can contribute to workplace success or intimidation.  This is a well-researched, fascinating look at what makes us tick regarding the evolution of our habits.  I need to read it again - and try to use my habits to best advantage.

June 18

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2001)
By Ann Brashares

Summer is here, and this young adult book (one of my favorites from my years as a YA librarian) is a fun read for teens.


With school out for the summer, four best friends are heading in different directions, the first time the 15-years-olds have been apart.  Lena is heading to her grandparents' home in Greece, Bridget was going off to a sports camp in Baja California, Carmen would stay with her dad in SC, and Tibby was remaining at home and making a documentary film about her summer job.  Browsing in a 2nd-hand shop, the teens find a pair of jeans that, surprisingly, fits each girl perfectly.  They decide to buy the jeans and send them around to each one of them to wear for a few weeks as a way to stay connected, and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is born.  As it turns out, each one goes through a difficult experience - whether relating to a boy or to family members - but each grows from her experience.  This is an affirming, clean, entertaining and funny book - one of the best YA novels yet!  Three follow-up novels have been published, as well as a film.

June 17

Paul and Gender: Reclaiming the Apostle's Vision for Men and Women in Christ (2016)
By Cynthia Long Westfall

Paul is the apostle most responsible for the spread of the good news through the gentile world.  He is a brilliant writer and apologist, having composed numerous letters to the churches he founded.  Yet some of his words regarding women's roles appear to be belittling and inconsistent with the high regard he generally afforded women.  Prof Westfall goes through all of Paul's writings regarding women, providing extensive notes and references.  Her contribution to Pauline research is to study Paul's remarks in the context of history and contemporary society.  In 1 Cor 11, for example, she addresses Paul's admonition for wives to wear head coverings, while men should go bareheaded.  This is a requirement that endured for nearly two millennia; when I was a little girl, my Roman Catholic friends were not allowed to enter their church without a hat or veil.  (Absent a hat, a tissue secured with a bobby pin was acceptable.) Was Paul putting women down by requiring they cover their heads?  Not according to Prof Westfall, whose research into Roman culture suggests that a hatless women was announcing her "availability", or even that she was a harlot.  It's also possible that some of the low-status Corinthian house churches included women who had been slaves or prostitutes.  By requiring head coverings for all, Paul is saying that they, too, are respectable and should be able to wear a sign of modesty.

This will be a useful resource in understanding Paul's writings regarding creation, male/female relationships, authority, etc.

June 16

I've Got Your Number (2012)

By Sophie Kinsella

This novel is delightful chick lit - and such an upbeat story that I've recommended it to many friends.  I'm not about to make excuses for reading a lighthearted romance; sometimes it's just the ticket to turn off the negative news vibes.

This humorous story, set in England, revolves around a missing engagement ring, a missing phone, and a found phone.  Poppy Wyatt looks forward to her wedding to Magnus, the man of her dreams - until she discovers she has lost her engagement ring, a family heirloom.  If that weren't enough, her cell phone goes missing - but then she finds another phone in a wastebasket.  The found phone belongs to businessman Sam Roxton's personal assistant, who has thrown it out on her way to quitting her job.  Poppy figures she'll just keep the phone as a replacement, but ends up getting messages from the unknown Sam, who is not pleased that a stranger has access to his personal information.  As Poppy is knee deep in wedding preparations, she and Sam really seem to antagonize one another (an almost certain recipe for a romance to bloom). Though funny and a bit irreverent, the story has some good lessons about respecting others, about self-respect and self-confidence, and even dealing with grief.  Poppy is a lovable heroine and I had fun rooting for her through this novel.

June 15

Turtle on a Fence Post (1997) (young adult novel)
By June Rae Wood

Delrita Johnson is a 14-year-old coping with the loss of her parents in a car accident, as well as the death of her beloved, mentally retarded Uncle Punky.  Delta has gone to live with her mother's brother, Uncle Bert, and his wife Aunt Queenie  (This story is apparently told in an earlier book, The Man Who Loved Clowns, which I didn't feel was crucial to read before this volume.)  Although she appreciates Uncle Bert and Aunt Queenie and it's clear they love her, she still feels out of place in their childless household.  Aunt Queen is so organized, and volunteers her time and efforts in many settings (e.g., local nursing home, special olympics, etc), and Delta feels she's just another of Aunt Queenie's many obligations.  But the toughest part of the household is Aunt Queenie's father, a retired army sargent unable to care for himself.  He's crusty and sloppy, which creates great friction between himself and his daughter.

Delrita just tries to stay out of Sgt Roebucks's way, until a school assignment on WW2 throws them together.  She finds a soft side to the old sgt.  Besides sharing his war memories, he also cuts wood blanks for Delrita's carvings and even loans his new truck to Mr Shackleford, the father of Delrita's friend Avanelle and heartthrob Trezano.

At one point he tells Delta of his years of working on the family farm.  When his dad would plough a field and see a turtle, he'd always place the turtle on the nearest fencepost, to rescue it from being hurt by the machinery.  Then young Orvis would rescue any turtles stranded on the fence.  He likened Delrita to the turtle on a fence; she needed someone to help her overcome her grief.

This warm and touching story weaves in many subplots, including Delrita's outreach to a retarded adult at the nursing home where Aunt Queen volunteers, making peace with the student who bought her parents' old home and a little light romance.

It was nice to see kids involved with helping others.  Very likable kids and fine writing.

Young adult books have a short shelf life, and this book (written 20 years ago) is no longer available in RI public libraries, which is too bad because it's a good, well-rounded story that addresses lots of topics important to teens.  The book is still available on Amazon.

June 14

The Secret Keeper (2012)
By Kate Morton

This enthralling story is set in 3 different time frames: during WW2 (especially the London blitz), in the present (2012), and very briefly in 1961, where the story opens upon 16-year-old Laurel Nicolson, hiding in a tree, during her brother's birthday celebration.  Laurel is horrified to see her mother, wielding a knife meant for a birthday cake, stab a stranger who shows up at the driveway to her family's farmhouse.  Police assume Dorothy has killed the man in self-defense and life goes on in its peaceful way for Laurel, her parents, and 4 siblings at their country home.

Fast forward 50 years; Laurel's mother is dying and Laurel, now an actress at the apex of her career, struggles to make sense of the long-ago incident.  Most of the remaining story consists of flashbacks to 1940s London and the relationship between Laurel's mother, a young photographer, and another woman.  The story consists of many twists and turns, as well as some surprises along the way.  Although a bit long at 480 pp, I couldn't wait to see what would happen next.  Not only is this a story about the tragedies of wartime, but a well-written and engrossing mystery story as well.

June 13

The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights, and Other Appreciations (2018)

By John McCain

Senator John McCain has seen it all.  From his years as a serviceman in Vietnam (including 5 1/2 years in a POW prison) to his work as an Arizona senator now in his 6th term, McCain has introduced or supported some of our country's most crucial legislation - whether related to immigration, health care, or our overseas commitments.

The Restless Wave begins with John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign (other books cover his earlier years) and some of the unique challenges he faced, especially in running against a candidate of color and the risk that any negative comment could be misconstrued as racially charged.  While McCain lost the race, he continued to win his seat in the senate where his service on the arms services committee has prompted dozens of congressional trips overseas to war-torn zones; 2018 will be the first time he has not spent the 4th of July in Afghanistan since the war began 15 years ago.  McCain's visits to Libya brought him in contact with the bright, talented Chris Stevens who would be assassinated by militants; diplomatic missions to other nations helped him forge ties with many international leaders including, for example, those of Ukraine and Georgia (where they suffered Putin's aggressive attempts to grab their land) and Burma (where the formerly impressive Ang San Suu Kui now sadly turns a blind eye to the suffering of Rohingya refugees).

During an annual security conference with our allies (held in Nov 2017 in Halifax, Nova Scotia), McCain found himself trying to reassure world leaders that the US was still committed to them following the unexpected election of an inexperienced and ethnocentric US president.  During the conference, Sen McCain was approached by a British diplomat who turned over a dossier to him, which McCain then handed over to the FBI.  Its details are still being vetted by FBI officials.

McCain writes warmly of his congressional colleagues, especially Lindsay Graham, Joe Lieberman, and Ted Kennedy.  He laments the current lack of collaboration across party lines and strongly advises our government to work together for the people they represent to build consensus and make the best decisions for our nation.  He strongly censures Vladimir Putin, who continues to undermine US and other democracies' elections and violates basic human rights in his own and other nations.

McCain includes the full text of a letter he wrote to his senate colleagues upon returning from surgery for glioblastoma, thanking them for their support and urging them to continue to work for the good of the country.  He offers his readers similar advice.  If you are concerned about the present state of government, do something, including running for office.

I read this memoir as an audiobook, which was a real treat.  While the main part of the book is read warmly and ably by Beau Bridges, Sen McCain opens and closes his story with some personal thoughts and reflections in his own voice.  While the outlook for his illness isn't good, I hope he'll be able to return to the senate and continue to serve our country.  He is a humble and gifted leader and one of the few lawmakers who works across the aisle to put people above party; we could use a few lot more like him.

June 12

Our Tempestuous Day: A History of Regency England (1986; released in paperback 2011)
By Carolly Erickson

This fascinating study of Regency England (1810-1820) covers the period when the fashionable George IV served as regent for his father, who was suffering from mental instability.  The author covers war (against Napolean), the royals (especially George IV and his disastrous marriage to Caroline of Brunswick), religion, work, education, etc.  It was a time of extremes (3-year-olds being taught Latin) and troubles, but there were heroes like abolitionist William Wilberforce, religious writer and philanthropist Hannah Moore, and the Duke of Wellington to balance the negatives.

Erickson knows her subject well, having written many biographies of various queens (e.g., Queen Victoria, Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth II, Catherine of Aragon) and, while I'd consider this book more of a popular history (not filled with pages of footnotes and references), it's still a good source for learning English history as well as a very interesting book.  We've often heard the axiom that "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it (philosopher George Santayana).  Whether or not that's actually true, it's still worth knowing!

June 11

The Language of Baklava (2005)

By Diana Abu-Jaber

Abu-Jaber offers a loving and often humorous memoir of her father's immigrant experience and her own childhood trying to straddle two cultures.  The daughter of an American mother of Irish-German ancestry and a Jordanian immigrant father, she focuses mostly on the foods her father cooked, although even her maternal grandmother's pot roast is cited.  While she grew up mostly in Syracuse, NY, Diana's life was greatly influenced by her Jordanian relatives (4 uncles also immigrated to the US) and the many gatherings, often rambunctious, with her cousins.  Her father, "Bud", tries to instill strict guidelines regarding boys and schoolwork and Diana, the oldest of three daughters, sometimes chafes against his advice.  For Bud, cooking is both a connection with the old country and also a way to express his love for his family and friends.  This is a thoughtful story about being different, fitting in, and the immigration story from the perspective of a 2nd generation American.  Recipes are included!

June 10

Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream (2010)
By David Platt

In this potentially life-changing boo, Platt (who pastors a Birmingham megachurch) calls Christians to abandon the American dram to follow Christ's call to go, baptize, and make disciples.  He criticizes (often rightly so) our selfish lifestyle and challenges the reader to live radically for one year, specifically:

1) read the Bible
2) pray for the World
3) give sacrificially
4) go (spend at least 2% of your year in a mission field) - that's only one week
5) live in community.

I started my radical  year on June 15, 2013.
1) I would read the Bible once through each year. (Check.  I have nearly completed my 5th re-reading since starting.)
2) I would pray for the World.  Using the book Operation World which describes the religious status of every nation, along with specific needs, I would pray for the world.  I continued for about 3 years,  until Operation World became a bit outdated.  I am awaiting an 8th edition (7th ed published in 2010).  Work needed.
3) I would try to live with less than what I need.  Just after reading the book I bought the smaller of 2 cars I liked.  There are plenty of other ways to live sacrificially.  Work needed.
4) I need to find my calling.  I don't want to go and do a building project.  Looking for something for an older person.
5) To the extent that Bible study and small group, meeting regularly, constitute community, I have been blessed in this regard.

June 9

The Bargain from the Bazaar: A Family's Day of Reckoning in Lahore (2014)
By Haroon Ullah

This account reads like a novel.  A young couple in Pakistan raise their three sons: Salman follows his father as a merchant, Daniyal joins the Taliban, and Kamran goes to law school.  Except for Dani, the family remains close through thick and think, especially the bombings that shake their once elegant city.  Eventually, Dani, brainwashed and stoned, is assigned to bomb (suicide-bomber) his brother's law school.  It is heartbreaking to see that boys, even from good families, can be taken in by these promises of paradise and purity - and how hard it is to maintain a normal life in such difficult times.

Having visited Lahore, it is easy to picture the shops and settings of this story.  The city features not only elegant hotels and shops, but also a zoo, and many historic monuments, such as the Lahore Fort (featured in Kipling's Kim),  the Badshahi Mosque, and Jahangir's (Moghul emperor) monument.  The people of Lahore surely need our prayers and support in these days of uncertainty.

June 8

Grandfather's Journey (1993)
By Allen Say

Sometimes a children's book can tell a story more clearly than a lengthy book written for adults.  Allen Say relates his grandfather's story with great simplicity.  As a young man, his grandfather leaves Japan, and immigrates to the United States.  After exploring the country from sea to shining sea, its cities and prairies, via railroad and on foot, he decides he likes San Francisco best, and settles there.  He returns to Japan to marry his childhood sweetheart and they in turn return to San Francisco, and they give birth to a daughter.  When the daughter is nearly grown up, her parents start missing Japan, and decide they will all return.  They decide to live in the city, where the daughter will feel more at home.  She marries, and has a son (the author).  The grandparents want to revisit the United States, but their home is destroyed in the 2nd World War, and they are unable to return, although the grandson eventually comes to the US and makes his home here.

The reader never learns the motivation behind grandfather's first trip, nor his decision to return to Japan (other than missing his home); in fact, we never even learn the grandparents' names.  Yet this beautifully illustrated story is likely typical for many immigrants.

June 7

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (1998)
By Bill Bryson

The author has written extensively on travel and other subjects.  Here, he writes of his adventure of hiking the Appalachian Trail.  Much of his narrative covers his extensive preparation and the history of the trail, including the natural history of the trees and flowers along the trail.  Bryson tries to enlist the company of another hiker, and succeeds in engaging an old friend, the overweight, out-of-shape, out-of-work Stephen Katz.  Together they set out; Bryson writes of hazards encountered along the way, including wild animals and long-winded walkers.  About midway through the trek, Katz drops out.  With Katz, a foil to the more fit, more dedicated Bryson, the book shines.  In his absence, it tends to drag a bit.  While Bryson is able to maintain a more consistent pace, I missed Katz's efforts and companionship, but Bryson presses on, completing many of the remaining miles in sections, rather than one continuous walk - and doing the trail as a solo hiker has its benefits, too.  This is a good book to read in anticipation of any long hike, especially the Appalachian Trail, and it's clear that the preparation and execution of this long walk was a learning experience in many ways.

June 6: D-Day

Six Armies in Normandy (1983)

By John Keegan

The author opens with a memoir of his own war years as a child in England's west country where he experienced the war through the Yanks who were stationed nearby and became his new friends - and whom he later learned were so crucial in the success of D-Day.  Keegan then outlines the Normandy invasion from the perspectives of the Americans, Canadians, Scots, Brits, Germans, and Poles - each army playing crucial roles  From the preparations and execution of D-Day and the weeks of battles that followed and resulted in the expulsion of the Germany army from Normandy, Keegan discusses the major figures and actual battles in each area.  I read most of the book on audio, but then got the book to look at the maps and photos.


I read this book shortly before visiting Normandy, a pastoral and quiet corner of northern France, in December 2015.  Though nothing can prepare one for the silence of the now-peaceful Omaha beach nor the dignity of the memorial and the rows of crosses and stars of David at the American cemetery at Coleville-sur-Mer, still is was helpful to read this account to get a better picture of what happened in Normandy 74 years ago.  

June 5

The Man Who Stole Himself: The Slave Odyssey of Hans Jonathan (2016)
By Gisli Palsson (translated by Anna Yates)

I sometimes get tired of books – both fiction and non-fiction – about great, famous people involved in the turning points of history, and ask myself why there are not so many books about regular people living their lives below the radar.  This book satisfies me in that regard, along with opening windows in my mind about seeing a part of history that has evaded my wandering reading over the years.  First of all, who ever gave a great deal of thought to slavery as a Danish issue, or even of Denmark as a colonial power?  It turns out that the Danes behaved a lot like the rest of Europe in this regard!  Second, I appreciated the account of Hans Jonathan as the slave of Danish colonialists who returned to live in Denmark, and wanted to be just an ordinary person.

He ran away to Iceland where it seems he was accepted for himself and lived a life where he was accepted for who he was as an equal in a tough society.  And third, I liked Palsson’s reflections on how people in our own generations have reacted to learning that their Icelandic ancestor was the son of a black slave woman and a white Colonial man.

Guest Blog by Dewey Christy  (Thanks, Dewey!)

June 4

Weedflower (2006)
By Cynthia Kadohata

This young adult book features Sumiko, who is 12 years old when her world suddenly changes with the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  Raised on her parents' flower farm in California, she and her family lose everything when the US government decrees that all Americans of Japanese descent be rounded up and relocated. Sumiko and her parents, along with other family members, are sent to the Posten internment camp built on the grounds of a Mohave reservation in Yuma, AZ. The camp is hot and dry, and her family's new quarters are a former military barracks, a very different setting from the colorful flower gardens that had been her home.

Most of Posten's residents seem to make the best of a very bad situation, trying to provide schooling and other staples of society to make life as "normal" as possible.  Sumiko meets a young Mohave boy who initially resents the intrusion on his tribal lands by the Japanese.  Eventually he and Sumiko strike up a friendship, partly based on their mutual feelings of alienation from American kids and American society, but in the end proving to be a rewarding cross-cultural relationship that enriches the lives of both.

Endnotes indicate that Japanese Americans served in the war in Europe (as volunteers and draftees) and that their regiment was among the most decorated.

After reading this book, I spoke with Tom Shikashio, a friend whose family had been interned in a camp in Idaho.  I felt such guilt that my [and his] government would force American citizens out of their homes and businesses based on an erroneous assumption that they would side with the Japanese.  Tom had been a little boy at the time and, as was typical of my kind and humble brother in Christ, he insisted that it "wasn't so bad".  I respect Tom for taking the high road when he had every right to retain anger.

Whether it takes the form of racism, anti-Semitism, or any other kind of bigotry, prejudice hurts all of us.  Recent events, tweets, and speech suggest that our country - and our leadership - have learned little since the days following Pearl Harbor.  Michelle Obama said, "When they go low, we go high." Let's aim for the high road.

June 3

Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America (2017)

By Michael Eric Dyson

Dyson, an African American university professor and Baptist pastor, relates his experiences as a black man; he writes his story as a Sunday worship service, with chapters entitled "Call to Worship", "Hymns of Praise", Sermon", etc.  He challenges white people to understand how their whiteness (a kind of entitlement) keeps them from seeing the prejudice faced by blacks. It is tough to read because it's painful - and convicting - to realize that black people are still treated as second class citizens in many places.  One of the 6 sections in "Sermon" is entitled Coptopia and offers many instances in which blacks are mistreated by police solely because of their race.  Author Dyson cites several of his own shocking experiences [and a dear friend of mine was similarly mistreated by a cop for the "crime" of driving while black].  "Benediction" offers many concrete ways whites can help "compensate" blacks for their pain.  A final chapter, "Prelude to Service", laments the election of a white supremacist and urges all of us to hold on to hope.  What struck me most about this book was the level of pain and anguish (and anger) Dyson expresses.  This book was an eye-opener to me, and a good window through which to try to understand the black experience.  Now, what am I going to do about it...  Hopefully, help to heal, don't accept insulting rhetoric, be an encourager, and not just be complacent.

June 2

Snow in August (1997)
By Pete Hamill

Here is a story that examines prejudice from a number of perspectives.  Set in the 1940s after the war, 11-year-old Michael Devlin has lost his father in the Battle of the Bulge.  He and his mom live in an apartment in Brooklyn where they scrape by.  Early in the story, Michael witnesses a brutal attack on a Jewish shopkeeper.  Although he doesn't squeal on the perpetrator, he is treated as though he had.  Michael gets to learn new perspectives on the Jewish faith when a local rabbi asks Michael to be his shabbos goy, a gentile who performs tasks (like turning on a light switch) for a Jew on the sabbath.  Rabbi Judah Hirsch is Polish, and also comes to speak better English as he spends time with Michael.  He, in turn, shares some stories of the faith and teaches Michael some Yiddish words. The two also share an interest in baseball, especially in the Dodgers.  Like their baseball hero Jackie Robinson, Michael and the rabbi also fall victim to prejudice, actually resulting in violence.  It is still a beautiful story with a mystical ending (perhaps kind of a copout) featuring a golem, a kind of Jewish hero figure.

This story takes place just after WW2, after the freeing of the Jewish concentration camp survivors, and about 15 years before the American civil rights movement.  While I have seen improvements in racial and religious freedom in the last 50 years, we still have a long way to go - as local politics and news attest - and I appreciate a story that helps us see our need to do better.  Michael is a good role model.

June 1

The Paris Wife
By Paula McLain

Fictionalized biographies seem to be a new literary genre in recent years.  Are they fiction when all of the facts are correct but only the conversation and thoughts are imagined?  I've read several, and Pat Nixon, Laura Bush, and Consuelo Vanderbilt are among recent subjects.

The Paris Wife chronicles the imagined interior life of Hadley Hemingway, the first of Ernest's four wives. Based on research, this "novel" appears to include all of the known events of Hadley and Ernest's life together.  Both come from broken families torn by suicide.  Originally from Chicago, they move to Paris where they live a happy, bohemian life among the Paris literati (Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald).  Hemingway is just starting his career as a writer and they travel to locations like Pamplona, where they hang out with a group of American and British expatriates, and Switzerland, which will play roles in some of his future novels.  Hadley is his ardent supporter and is with him when his first two books (In Our Time and The Sun Also Rises) are published.  Their son Jack is born during their Paris years, and they happily take him along on their travels.  As Hemingway's star rises, however, another woman (Hadley's close friend) intervenes, and their marriage falls apart.  Hadley is a real lady, and Ernest appears to still love her, but he chooses to be unfaithful and pursues a new woman.

Among the fictionalized biographies, Hadley Hemingway is perhaps the least known subject, yet her story is the one that has been the most successful.  These books tend to be very readable, rather than burdened by the footnotes and dry details one finds in a straightforward biography.  Perhaps that is because the reader has the advantage of getting into the subject's thoughts, even if they may not be actual thoughts.  In any case, this book was a good window into both Ernest and Hadley's marriage, and was also a good lead-in to The Sun Also Rises.