THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for Spotify. What's one thing that you're thankful for?

BOOKS I FINISHED - AUGUST 2023

The Beast and the Bethany, written by Jack Meggitt-Phillips and illustrated by Isabelle Follath

A 511 year old man who wants to maintain his youth. A beast who provides an anti-aging potion for the man in return for being fed whatever he wants. An obnoxious girl who will soon be fed to the beast. I read this book, which is the first in a three part series, aloud to Naomi and Tyler just for kicks and we all found it entertaining and funny. I chose this book for the "with a character that shares your name" category of a reading challenge I'm doing this year, but was surprised to also see a brief appearance by a character with my maiden name.

p. 12, A wonderful life can turn someone into a terrible person. It makes you forget that there are people in the world who have problems, and this can stop you from really caring or worrying about others.

p. 148, When you are feeling un-jolly, there is nothing worse than having to deal with someone who is in a good mood.

p. 222, "It's a downright waste of life to spend too much time living in the past."

God Came Near: Chronicles of the Christ, written by Max Lucado 

Divided into two sections, God's incarnation and our imitation of him, and with short chapters that read like individual essays, this book helps the reader to better understand what it meant for Jesus, who was fully divine, to also be fully human. The more we know him, the more we'll be like him. I haven't read the study guide in the back of the book, so I can't vouch for that part. This book was the August part of a year-long gift from a friend, one book to unwrap and read each month. I chose this book for the "on theology" category of a reading challenge I'm doing this year.

p. 13, Christianity in its purest form, is nothing more than seeing Jesus. Christian service, in its purest form, is nothing more than imitating him who we see. To see His Majesty and to imitate him, that is the sum of Christianity. 

p. 48, You can almost see the tools of the trade in his words as he spoke. You can see the trueness of a plumb line as he called for moral standards. You can hear the whistle of the plane as he pleads for religion to shave away unnecessary traditions. You can picture the snugness of a dovetail as he demands loyalty in relationships. You can imagine him with a pencil and ledger as he urges honesty.

p. 80, Our problem is not so much that God doesn't give us what we hope for as it is that we don't know the right thing for which to hope. 

p. 83, In the darkness we listened to the divine orchestra. Electricity danced in the sky like a conductor's baton summoning the deep kettle drums of thunder.

p. 117, Never say anything about anyone in their absence that you wouldn't say in their presence.

p. 121, Somehow this eyeless pauper had discovered a candle called satisfaction and it glowed in his dark world. Someone had told him, or maybe he'd told himself, that tomorrow's joy is fathered by today's acceptance. Acceptance of what, at least for the moment, you cannot alter.

p. 125, The best way to deal with our past is to hitch up our pants, roll up our sleeves, and face it head on. No more buck-passing or scapegoating. No more glossing or covering up. No more games. We need a confrontation with our Master.

p. 128, (speaking of familiarity) His aim is deadly. His goal is nothing less than to take what is most precious to us and make it appear most common.

p. 134, God came near. If he is who he says he is, there is no truth more worthy of your time.

Heartsongs, written by Mattie J. T. Stepanek

This is the first of five books of poetry written by a boy who died at age 13, just a couple years after the book was published. (Two more of his books were published after his death.) The poems in this collection were written when he was 3-5 years old. I chose this book for the "author under 30" category of a reading challenge I'm doing this year.

The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins

A group of teens forced to fight to the death and a country that finds their battle entertaining. Contestants choose whether to cooperate with each other or to think of no one but themselves, various leaders choose whether to sabotage contestants and when to support them, and each must always give consideration to both the spoken and unspoken strategies of everyone involved. I chose this book, which is the first in a trilogy, for the "bad reviews" category of a reading challenge I'm doing this year. It's obviously a popular book now, but it didn't get good reviews when it was first published 15 years ago. 

The Outsiders, written by S.E. Hinton

Family life. Gang life. Wealth. Poverty. Foolishness. Maturity. Violence. Compassion. This novel reminds the reader that no one is exactly as they seem, that other's lives are always more complicated than we naturally self-centered people realize, and that people as a whole are more alike than different. I chose this book for the "makes you cry" category of a reading challenge I'm doing this year.

p. 123,  "I mean, most parents would be proud of a kid like that - good-lookin' and smart and everything, but they gave in to him all the time. He kept trying to make someone say 'No' and they never did. They never did. That was what he wanted. For somebody to tell him 'No.' To have somebody lay down the law, set the limits, give him something solid to stand on. That's what we all want, really."

Salt to the Sea, written by Ruta Sepetys

Inspired by the worse maritime disaster ever, the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff this novel is about people trying to escape to safety during WWII. Told in alternating voices, it's about refugees with secrets trying to determine who they can trust, regret about choices made, fanaticism and sacrifice, evil and integrity, loss and resilience, and what it looks like to truly care for someone. I chose this book for the "young adults best-seller" category of a reading challenge I'm doing this year.

p. 280, "It might be better for you to think for yourself, rather than memorizing the words of others."

Sold, written by Patricia McCormick

This novel is about a girl from Nepal whose family is in extreme poverty. Given an opportunity to leave home and work as maid, she's happy to have a way to help provide for her family's needs. It's only later that she discovers she's been sold into prostitution in India. Trapped both physically and financially, she must learn how to survive the horrific circumstances of her life and ultimately decide if the opportunity for escape is worth the risk. I chose this book for the "current world issue" category of a reading challenge I'm doing this year.

A Tale of Two Cities, written by Charles Dickens and narrated by Simon Prebble

Set during the French Revolution, this novel is about politics and prisoners, those who look after the well-being of others and those who delight in their death, the separation and reunification of family members. It's about loyalty and integrity, as well as betrayal and evil. It's about love in various relationships, always doing what's best for the one who's loved. I chose this book for the "written before 1920" category of a reading challenge I'm doing this year. Struggling to follow along when I started reading the physical book, I searched online to find the best narrator for the audiobook and then checked that version out from Libby. 

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8/26/23 - WORTH REPEATING

*****

Poem

Fingerprints look like ripples
because time keeps dropping
another stone into our palm.

~ Bill Knott, quoted in 180 More: Extraordinary Poems for Every Day, selected and with an introduction by Billy Collins

*****

Your truth is the whisper in the chaos.

~ King of Glory  // All Sons & Daughters // All Sons & Daughters

*****

Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.

~ Those Who Remain: A Postapocalyptic Novel // G. Michael Hopf

*****

The measure of achievement is not winning awards. It’s doing something that you appreciate, something you believe is worthwhile."

- Julia Child // quoted in 8/15/23 1440 Daily Digest

*****

Love God and do whatever you please: for the soul trained in love to God will do nothing to offend the one who is beloved.

~ St. Augustine

*****

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THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for our extra freezer. What's one thing that you're thankful for?

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for deodorant. What's one thing that you're thankful for?

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for wild blackberries. What's one thing that you're thankful for?

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for cities that offer free outdoor performances of music, plays, movies, ballet, and so on in the summer for the people in their community. What's something you're thankful for?