BOOKS I FINISHED - MARCH 2026

The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction, written by Justin Whitmel Earley

Focusing on four daily and four weekly habits, this book explains why each habit is important, gives practical suggestions for implementing the habits, includes personal anecdotes, and provides several recommended resources. And it's all framed with the humble understanding that we'll fail regularly. This book is clearly and intentionally written from the perspective of the author's Christian faith, but the behaviors suggested are applicable, doable, and beneficial regardless of religious beliefs. I learned about this book on The Daily Grace Co., episode 292, Summer Playlist: Habits of Purpose w/ Justin Whitmel Earley and really enjoyed it. 

p. 8, Education is what you learn and know - things that are taught. Formation is what you practice and do - things that are caught. The most important things in life, of course, are caught not taught, and formation is largely about all the unseen habits.

p. 34, Legalism is the belief that the world hangs on what I do and that God and people love me based on how I perform. This is an important concept because it's the exact opposite of the gospel: God loves us not because of what we do, but rather in spite of what we do - in spite of our good deeds and our bad deeds. Legalism takes the unmerited love of God and bends it into something earned - and just like that, the world is about us and not about him. 

p. 67, Attention is our precious commodity. Our life is defined by what we pay attention to. This means our life is defined by which of the many cries for our attention we heed.

p. 72, There's no love of neighbor outside of attention to neighbor.

p. 85, Anger and fear have something in common: we become the center of things.

p. 89, Planned scrolling can be very different. If you carefully curate what is in your feed and when you will scroll, the dynamic radically shifts. But in general, I believe we should be wary of the flicking thumb motion. The restless thumb often correlates to the restless heart. 

p. 98, Vulnerability and time turn people who have a relationship in to people who have a friendship. That's what friendship is: vulnerability across time.

p. 101, It's worth noting that as hard as telling the truth is, telling someone that you haven't been telling the truth is even harder. 

p. 155, Place habits before love, and you will be full of legalism, but place love before habits, and you will be full of the gospel. God's love for us really can change the way we live, but the way we live will never change God's love for us. 

p. 165, Any process of curating a beautiful life will be laced with failure. That's what process means: learning as you go. But that's not an impediment to a beautiful life: it's the way to it. 

p. 184, Like it or not, you're not as independent thinker as you wish you were. You become the stories you watch. Choose them carefully. Choose ones that challenge your perspective, ones that you know you won't agree with.

Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books, written by Hwang Bo-reum and translated from Korean by Shanna Tan

Books about books always intrigue me, but this one was different than others I've read because it's a compilation of short essays. The author focuses on many aspects of reading - what we read (bestsellers, novels, poetry, etc.), places we get books (libraries, indie bookshops, etc.), our motivation to read (using a timer, to seek answers, to live the life we want, etc.), and more (quitting books, collecting quotes, book discussions, etc.). It falls into the "it's fine" category for me, neither boring nor awesome. Although I felt mostly neutral about it, I did like the convenience of being able to read an essay or two in tiny pockets of time. I learned about this book on What Should I Read Next?, episode 515 - I can't read all the books, and that's okay.

p. 42, But when a person with a narrow outlook on what life looks like starts to read, they change. The moment we realise that the life we struggle to flee from might be what someone else years for, our worldview, once the size of a keyhole, expands as if we're standing in front of a full-length window, and our ears, clogged with lies and exaggeration, clear to welcome genuine voices speaking to us. 

p. 74, Whether it's the books I've been meaning to get to, books I'm seeing for the first time, those with worn covers or brand-new ones with stiff spines - every book seems to be waving at me: Come, read me!

p. 162, But when one chooses to fixate on a problem, the problem seems to grow larger than life, and life itself turns into a problem.

p. 182, It's not going to be a light or easy read. But we shouldn't run away. Many truths in the world are hard-hitting. If you need something easy and comforting, there are self-help books. But there are times we need to learn to live with discomfort.

'Don't run away,' I remind myself. I tend to stay in my comfort zone, and reading is my way of pushing myself beyond that. Stereotypes or biases aren't easy to break; I want to grow into a more mature person.

Finding Chika: A Little Girl, and Earthquake, and the Making of a Family, written and narrated by Mitch Albom

Having read some of Albom's other books, this one piqued my interest when I saw it as an "available now" option on Libby. It's a memoir about a young Haitian girl at an orphanage that Albom's in charge of and the relationship he and his wife have with her when she comes to America for medical care. It's their bittersweet story of love, pain, faith, grief, and family. An advantage of listening to the audiobook version of the story is that it includes several recordings of Chika's voice.

2:15:59, Sometimes life throws a saddle on you before you are ready to run.

Humor Me: How Laughing More Can Make Your Present, Creative, Connected, and Happy, written and narrated by Chris Duffy

I expected to find myself more engaged in this book than I ended up being, but it was still an interesting look at the value of humor in our lives. I particularly appreciated the challenge for people to pay attention to their surroundings and to use humor as a way to connect with other people. I learned about this book from the 1/16/26 edition of Shelf Awareness. 

9:54, A sense of humor is a portal to a better life.

32:44, How do they put the toilet paper on the roll? Do they do it correctly (with the paper coming down over the top) or like a degenerate (hanging down loose and wild in the back like some kind of paper mullet)?

I'll Push You: A Journey of 500 Miles, Two Best Friends, and One Wheelchair, written and narrated by Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck

Chosen from the "available now" options on Libby, I enjoyed this memoir about two men who traveled the Camino de Santiago together. Lifelong best friends, one has a disease that has slowly (and sometimes quickly) taken away the use of his arms and legs. This book is not only about one pushing the other and a wheelchair through the mountains of Spain for several weeks, but also about their shared history, the impact of commitment in a friendship, the blessing of helping others and being helped by them, the kindness of strangers, and the personal growth experienced on a journey countless people have taken as a spiritual pilgrimage.

5:21:34, That's when I realized that more often than not the miracle isn't the absence of struggle, disease, or pain. It is the presence of grace and certainty; the ability to face strife, the unknown, or a slow death without fear.  

5:25:43, Life is messy and the only way I can make it through is to let others carry the burdens I can't. That I have to let go of the safety I find in my own abilities. I have to let go of the reins so I can embrace the provision of others. 

The Letter Keeper, written by Charles Martin and narrated by Jonathan K. Riggs

Having read the first novel in this series back in December, I enjoyed this next installment of the story. The main character is a man who's dedicated his life to rescuing kids, primarily girls, who have been victims of human trafficking. New love, a second marriage, and all the women he cares about most being stolen at one time are at the center of this story that also includes deep friendship, fierce loyalty, and sacrificial love. 

4:19:01, "There's a thing that happens when we start to believe the lies about ourselves, and when we think other people believe them to. Those lies become our prison, the bars we see through. They hold us captive. It's like some giant hand holding our head beneath the surface of the water. Every few minutes it will let us up, only to sink us farther the next go around. A vicious cycle. In my experience, only one thing on planet earth breaks the power of that hand and flings wide the prison doors."

She nodded, whispering. "The truth?"

"And until you speak it with your mouth, out loud, you're bound." 

And the Mountains Echoed, written by Khaled Hosseini and narrated by Khaled Hosseini, Navid Negahban, and Shohreh Aghdashloo

This was an "available now" option on Libby and I really liked A Thousand Splendid Suns, another book by the same author, a couple years ago, so I checked it out. The story centers on a young brother and sister from a poor family in Afghanistan, separated in childhood when the sister was sold to a couple without children. Along with the stories of their lives over many decades, the book also focuses on the lives of several secondary characters and family relationships. Although I didn't dislike it, it felt a bit disjointed and wandering to me. I wonder if I'd have felt differently if I'd read the print version. That being said, I loved the narration and enjoyed each of the storylines. 

Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice, written by Virginia Roberts Giuffre with collaborator Amy Wallace

Published six months after the author's suicide, and including an introduction from her collaborator written after Giuffre's death, this book is an important and challenging one to read. As one of the many survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking, and one who went public with accusations involving both him and Ghislaine Maxwell, her story will break your heart and disgust you. It will also make you admire her fight for accountability, despite great personal cost, and increase your respect for those who advocate for victims. Broken into four sections, you'll learn about her childhood, the years she was trafficked, her life after escaping, and her legal battle for justice. 

It goes without saying that there are general content warnings because the book centers on sexual abuse and pedophilia, but I also want to give a specific warning that there are detailed descriptions of some interactions, particularly in the first half. While I'm not offended by those descriptions because I think they're critical for understanding the horror of what happened, I personally chose to skim over some parts because I'd read enough to get the gist of things and reading every word wasn't going to benefit me.

The Poetry Remedy: Prescriptions for the Heart, Mind, and Soul, written by William Sieghart

Originally published in the UK as The Poetry Pharmacy, the same name as the in person poetry consultations the author has with people, this book shares specific poems for specific problems. I like the format, which names the condition being treated (need for reassurance, loss of creativity, regret, social overload, unrequited love, and so on), other ailments it could be suitable for, one page of the author's thoughts on the topic, and one page (occasionally more for a long poem) with a single relevant poem. I learned about this book from This Book Made Me Think of You, written by Libby Page, which I read last month. 

p. 22, Welcome your sorrows, as you would a friend or a guest to your life. Let them perch on you for a while, like a particularly bold butterfly. And yet by the same token, don't clutch them to you. Don't enjoy their company too much. One day they're going to want to fly away; and you're going to have to let them. 

p. 120, In their heads and in their jumbled suitcases, first-generation immigrants bring whole new worlds with them to their adopted homes; their different perspective allows them to see the places they move to in ways that more established or jaded residents probably never would, and to help others see it that way, too. 

p. 160, The wisest people know that the fact something happens to everyone does not somehow invalidate its agony. Pain is pain, whether it is unique or universal.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 5, written by Beth Brower and narrated by Genevieve Gaunt

I'm still enjoying this series and the progressive character development. It's a good mix of lighthearted fluff and real life struggles. I love its focus on friendship, as well as how grief is handled. 

6:35:15, I've decided positivity is the Everest of virtues. You have to not only confront the dismal realities of life but choose, oft times, to blatantly ignore them. 

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 6, written by Beth Brower and narrated by Genevieve Gaunt

Six down, two to go in this series. I love all the characters, even the obnoxious ones, and am so impressed with all the voices the narrator uses. 

45:08, I've never thought of myself as a person who hates. The word itself hits its target with a sickening thud. I know this from having been on the receiving end of such sentiments. However, I do defend the philosophy that someone can fit rather snugly on an enemies list without it sneaking over into unadulterated hatred. As a less than average Christian, I do my best to keep my feelings in the realm of extravagant dislike with a hefty dose of disdain.

BOOKS I FINISHED - DECEMBER 2025

 

Candle Island, written by Lauren Wolk and narrated by Emily Rankin 

I enjoyed this middle grade novel about a mom and daughter who, after the death of their husband and dad, move to a small island. The mom is a famous artist who refuses interviews and values privacy. The girl simply wants to be valued for who she is. I love a story about small town life, parent and child relationships, and friendship, which this book had plenty of. I also appreciated the focus on art, poetry, and singing.

23:18, As he turned out the light, he said, "The very ink with which history is written is merely fluid prejudice."

4:25:47, My mother had taken me on her knee and said, "The world is full of both creators and destroyers. The creators tend to build things out of what's inside them. The destroyers tend to ruin things that are outside themselves. You get to choose which one you are. The rest is out of your hands."

"And what if someone's both?"

My mother had smiled. "There's no what if. We are all both. But in what measure? That's what you get to decide.

The Christmas Letters, written by Bret Nicholas

This very short book is a sweet reminder that relationships matter more than whatever our culture deems as markers of success and that we don't always realize how big of an impact our seemingly small gestures make on the lives of others.

Echo Mountain, written by Lauren Wolk and narrated by Holly Linneman

A family displaced from city to country because of the Great Depression. An old woman considered a hag at the top of a mountain. A husband and father in a coma. A woman grieving the loss of her son. A girl with a love of nature and desire to help bodies heal. This middle grade novel has friendship, both among peers and intergenerational, family dynamics, grief, and personal growth. This one was harder for me to get into than the other books by Wolk that I've read, but I liked it. 

7:32, That life is a matter of moments, strung together like rain. To try to touch just one drop at a time, to try to count them or order them or reckon their worth, each by each, was impossible. To stand in the rain was the thing. To be in it. 

The Healing Season of Pottery, written by Yeon Somin and translated from Korean by Clare Richards

A thirty year old woman who's hidden away from the world after quitting her job amidst unexpected drama accidentally finds herself in a pottery studio. What follows is a sweet novel about friendship, people supporting each other as they each work through their own issues, the art of ceramics, the beauty of handmade items and heartfelt gifts, and the rewards of living a life invested in relationships, community, and intentionality. 

The writing frequently felt awkward to me, but I attribute that to the book being in translation. I was in the mood for a story about someone slowly coming out of a hard place into a healthier and happier one, so I was willing to overlook whatever I didn't love about the writing. Also, I love the cover art. I found out about this book from a post on the Salem Public Library's Facebook page. 

p. 27, Seven weekdays in a row, of course, would be difficult for anyone to stand. A seven-day weekend, on the other hand, was a bottomless swamp of inertia.

p. 33, She had a talent for softening things around the edges. Crafting her words to make them easier to swallow.

p. 63, The first smile of the day was important. It determined how the dozens of others that day would turn out.

p. 180, "So that I could be happy right where I am, I decided to do things 'in moderation.' So that I can look after myself and those I care about, I work at a moderately busy place, earn a moderate wage, have fun in moderation ... People look at me and say I lack ambition. But isn't 'moderation' the greatest ambition we can have? I'm being really ambitious in trying to stay happy and within the lines of moderation. It's about choice."

p. 237, "Whether it's pottery or life, it takes more than one attempt for them to come out right. And all that effort makes the end product more valuable, too." 

Hinds Feet on High Places, written by Hannah Hurnard and narrated by Wanda McCaddon

This book is an allegory about spiritual growth, maturing from a place of fear to one of joy, learning to value the hard parts of life, trusting in the good shepherd, and changing from a person focused on receiving love to one who wants to give love. I read the print version of this story back in November 2016 on my sister's recommendation, but decided to try the audio version this time. The audio includes Hurnard's explanation of how she ended up writing the book, as well as a brief autobiography. I didn't mark the timestamps in the audio version, but here are my favorite quotes as I marked them in the print version.

p. 121, From bitter experience she knew that pictures thrown on the screen of her imagination could seem much more unnerving and terrible than the actual facts.

p. 198, She felt nothing but a great stillness in which only one desire remained, to do that which he had told her, simply because he had asked it of her.

p. 230, Every circumstance in life, no matter how crooked and distorted and ugly it appears to be, if it is reacted to in love and forgiveness and obedience to your will can be transformed.

p. 253, Faith has nothing to do with intellectual belief. Faith is obedience. Faith and abandonment to Gods' will and power are inseparable. Faith is willingness to do Gods' will. Unwillingness to abandon ones' own will and to obey God is unbelief.

How Happiness Happens: Finding Lasting Joy in a World of Comparison, Disappointment, and Unmet Expectations, written by Max Lucado and narrated by Ben Holland

This was a somewhat random Libby selection, in that I've enjoyed Lucado's books in the past, had never heard of this one, and found it during a search for a book that was immediately available. A mix of current research and things Jesus said, all presented in Lucado's gentle, story-telling way, this book guides the reader toward happiness. There's also an interview between the narrator and the author, as well as a related sermon the author gave at the church he pastors, at the end of the book. 

2:23, Make your happiness dependent on how others serve you and you will always be disappointed. Find happiness in serving others and, well, you can complete the sentence. < snip > We elevate our joy by giving joy to others.

2:42, Jesus shared truth, but graciously. Jesus offered grace, but truthfully. Grace and truth; acceptance seeks to offer both. If we offer only grace, then we gloss over the truth. If we only offered truth, then we dismiss the joy of grace. Our goal is to strike a balance. Oh, if only the balance were easy to strike. I have tilted in both directions. I have been so zealous for truth that I have forgotten grace. I've been a crusader for tolerance and omitted truth.

3:16, Forgiveness is simply the act of changing your attitude toward the offender. It's moving from a desire to harm toward an openness to be at peace. A step in the direction of forgiveness is a decisive step toward happiness.

The Radioactive Boy Scout: The Frightening True Story of a Whiz Kid and His Homemade Nuclear Reactor, written by Ken Silverstein

Recommended by a friend back in September of last year, this 2004 book is about a Michigan teenager's obsession with nuclear energy. The same as I am, David Hahn spent his high school years secretly and deceptively working with radioactive materials at his home. His project eventually required federal agents to clear the area because of the danger it posed to the community. While the science-focused chapters didn't draw me in, I did enjoy the human interest aspect of his story. 

Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout, written and narrated by Cal Newport 

Although many details of this book aren't relevant to my life because they're set in the context of a career, the general principles are applicable to everyone. I always appreciate a perspective of time management and productivity that isn't all about doing more, earning more, or being more. I chose this 2024 book because it was a "skip the line" option on Libby, but I'd previously heard good things about the author. 

Stone Yard Devotional, written by Charlotte Wood and narrated by Alisa Piper 

I knew nothing about this book before I saw it as a "skip the line" option on Libby. It's slow-moving and character-driven novel, the story of a middle-aged woman who describes herself as an atheist and ends up living in a convent. It's living in the present while pondering the past, dealing with grief, exploring friendship, and learning to live with change. It's different than books I usually read, but it suited the mood I was in and I enjoyed it. I particularly liked the narrator's voice and cadence of speech (at 1.25x speed, which is my default).

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol.1, written by Beth Brower

Recommended by a friend, this novella comprised of general entries is the first in a light-hearted series of eight books about a young adult in the late 1800s. In this first volume, she's recently returned to the London home she inherited years earlier and is trying to get settled in her new life. With some relatives who are difficult and others who are allies, she navigates societal expectations and practical issues with sarcasm and a sense of humor. I'll probably work my way through this series when I need literary fluff. 

p. 41, But my true love is the evening walk, that last hour of daylight that has its way with the sunlight, shadow, and soul. 

That was the case this evening. The lamps were lit, light coming from the house, and there walked I, alone, and not upset to be so.

The Water Keeper, written by Charles Martin

The first book in a series, this novel is about a man who's committed his life to rescuing girls who are victims of sex trafficking, a life that involves lots of secrecy, danger, and solitude off the Florida coast. Woven into the story of his search for a specific girl, the book is also about the loss of two very important people in the man's life, the introduction of three new people, hope, redemption, freedom, and lasting love. 

p. 67, "How his hands touch her says a lot about how his heart holds her."

p. 136, "By definition, the leader is only leading when someone is following. If no follower, then no leader. And if you're leading, then you're judged by how well another follows. They need each other."

p. 181, These were not girls with faces and hearts and emotions and the desire to wear a white dress and press the face of their firstborn to their bosom. 

This was flesh. Period. Nothing more.

p. 183, Who am I? And more importantly, whose am I? 

In my life, in my strange line of work, I'd discovered that we as people can't answer the first until someone else answers the second. It's a function of design. Belonging comes before identity. Ownership births purpose. Someone speaks whose we are, and out of that we become who we are. It's just the way the heart works. 

BOOKS I FINISHED - NOVEMBER 2025

Beyond the Bright Sea, written by Lauren Wolk and narrated by Jorjeana Marie with author's note narrated by Lauren Wolk

A newborn girl set out to sea. A loner of a man living on an island who finds her. A feisty woman who lives nearby. Their three lives are deeply intertwined, sharing the ordinary parts of life, pursuit of the girl's history, safety amidst criminal activity, and interactions with others. This story is about family - both the ones we come from and the ones we find - and identity, prejudice and acceptance, greed and kindness. Recommended by a friend, I loved everything about this middle grade novel. I enjoyed Wolf Hollow, another book by the same author, back in 2016, so I think I'm going to check out all her other books.

1:14, "You start looking back now and you might not see where you're going."

5:15, "People don't want much until they have plenty, and then they want more and more."

Crow Talk, written by Eileen Garvin

Set in nearby Hood River, this novel centers on two women in the midst of personal struggles. One is single, facing betrayal in her academic life that impacts her professional life, mourning the recent death of her dad, hurt by a strained relationship with her mom, and feeling unmoored both personally and professionally as she tries to discern what options she has for moving forward in life. The other is married, grieving the death of her best friend, missing her family on another continent, and heartbroken by her inability to connect with her young son who stopped speaking. Their lives intersect while they're each staying at their respective family's lake homes, surrounded by trees, water, and birds. I finished this book with a smile and contented sigh. 

p. 196, She couldn't remember the last time she'd cried and realized how very tiring it was, going around not crying all the time, holding everything in, pretending you were fine. 

p. 310, Frankie understood friendship now. There was nothing complicated about it at all. You listened, you talked. You remembered the other's important stories, private joys and wounds, and shared yours. You tended these small things.

My Abandonment, written by Peter Rock and narrated by Tai Sammons

This novel, which is written by a local author and set primarily in Portland, is about a girl who's kidnapped by her dad. They live hidden in Forest Park, coming into the city occasionally, until law enforcement finds them. What follows is a series of forced changes and personal choices around issues of freedom, mental illness, homelessness, family relationships, and identity, all narrated from the girl's perspective. Based on a real story, it's a novel that highlights the tension between what we know and what we wonder, where we came from and where we're going, who we were and who we want to be. I first read this book back in July 2009, but a friend recently suggested it when I was looking for audiobook recommendations. I enjoyed it in both formats.

Son of Man, written by Charles Martin and narrated by Jonathan K. Riggs

An unexpected non-fiction discovery on Libby from someone whose novels I've enjoyed (and sometimes cried over, which is not my norm), this is a compilation of short stories about Jesus, drawn from two of the author's other non-fiction books. I had no idea he wrote non-fiction, enjoy his writing, and love Jesus, so this book was a win for me. Not contradicting the Bible, but adding details to familiar stories in order to make them more relatable and engaging, I appreciate that this short book packs in so much about Jesus' life, forgiveness, love, and guidance. I think readers who enjoy the way Max Lucado's storytelling brings the Bible to life will also like this book. 

Trust, written by Hernan Diaz and narrated by Edoardo Ballerini, Jonathan Davis, Mozhan Marno, and Orlagh Cassidy

I heard about this novel twice in one week, once on What Should I Read Next?, epsisode 488 - Reading goals that are just lofty enough, and again at Coffee Talk, a bi-monthly book event at the library. It's not one I'd naturally gravitate to, but I decided to give it a try. It's historical fiction spread over several decades, but set primarily during and around the 1929 Wall Street crash, and the format is interesting. It's written as four books in one, all intertwined - first a novel, then a man's outline for an autobiography, then a memoir by the woman helping to write the autobiography, then diary entries from the man's wife. It's a story about wealth, power, class, family, marriage, and the steps people will take to get what they want. 

2:27, And what is choice but a branch of the future grafting itself onto the stem of the present?

3:06, Some people under certain circumstances hide their true emotions under exaggeration and hyperbole, not realizing their amplified caricature reveals the exact measure of the feelings it was meant to conceal.

4:14, Whatever the past may have handed on to us, it is up to each one of us to chisel our present out of the shapeless block of the future. 

9:49, For I've come to think one is truly married only when one is committed more to one's vows than the person they refer to.

When the Cranes Fly South, written by Lisa Ridzen, translated from Swedish by Alice Menzies, and narrated by Ifan Huw Dafydd

This is a tender novel about an elderly man in his last days. The story moves from the present anger and embarrassment that come with losing control of one's own life to navigating current relationships to memories both sweet and difficult from the past. With the exception of intermittent entries from his caregivers at the end of their shifts, the book is written from the perspective of the protagonist writing to his wife of about sixty years, a woman now living in a dementia care facility, as he reminisces about his life. It's about kids and parents, marriage and friendship, the care of hospice workers, and the companionship of a dog. I learned about this book from the 8/22/25 edition of Shelf Awareness and I really enjoyed it.

Where the River Ends, written by Charles Martin

Alternating between the past and the present, this novel is about a woman born into South Carolina's high society, a man on the bottom rungs of the social hierarchy, the course of their relationship from meeting through marriage, and their attempt to complete a list of things she wants to do before her pending death. Barring some distracting editing issues (who's instead of whose, for instance), I enjoyed this story of family drama, outdoor adventure, art, medical battles, and love. I've read several of Martin's books now and his novels almost always make me cry, so I've decided to work my way through all of them.

p. 123, "People are always telling me I'm beautiful. Okay, so what. I've spent most of my life in front of cameras. People use my image to sell a product. That's all. At the end of the day, they've used me - my face or figured, which by the way I had nothing do with - to tell everyone else how they are not like me. Hence, you're not beautiful. Or, you're not pretty. Or, you don't measure up." Her eyes were glassy. She waved her hand across my studio. "If you want to make great art, something that can reach beyond time and space, find someone who isn't and show them that they are. Paint the broken, the unlovely ... and make them believe."

p. 146, Painting portraits has taught me something about people. All my clients have two faces. The one they live with and the one they want me to paint. 

p. 218, But loving her and knowing what was best for her, or what she wanted, were entirely different things. 

p. 287, Love might leave, but the memory of it's touch and the hope of its return doesn't. Ever.

p. 366, "When you wake up and discover the hurt places, don't run. Sink your paddle in and ride the river."

BOOKS I FINISHED - SEPTEMBER 2025

I finished ten books this month - five fiction, five non-fiction, five audio, and five print.

 

The Black Angels: The Untold Story of the Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis, written by Maria Smilios and narrated by Gina Daniels

Chosen from the "skip the line" options on Libby, I'd never heard of this interesting book until I borrowed it. It weaves together American and New York history, blatant and systemic racism, a deadly disease running rampant, and the personal stories of specific nurses, doctors, and patients. Focusing on Sea View, a city hospital where black nurses worked under deplorable conditions and without respect, positions they had to fight to get when white nurses started leaving in droves, it's a story of the women who cared for the sickest and poorest tuberculosis patients for decades. 

Cast of Characters: Common People in the Hands of an Uncommon God, written by Max Lucado

Focusing on twenty-two people in the Bible, this book shows how God doesn't need or want us to be amazing or perfect. He meets us where we're at, uses our messy lives for good, and loves us unconditionally. Lucado's a gifted storyteller and I love how his writing always brings to life Bible stories I've heard countless times. Each short chapter ends with questions for personal consideration or group discussion. 

p. 27 (speaking of 1 Cor. 13:4-8), Rather than let this scripture remind us of a love we cannot produce, let it remind us of a love we cannot resist - God's love.

p. 37, Are you aware that the command from heaven not to be afraid appears in every book of the Bible?

p. 115, Changing direction in life is not tragic. Losing passion in life is.

p. 124, X-ray the soul of the vengeful and behold the tumor of bitterness: black, menacing, malignant. Carcinoma of the spirt. Its fatal fibers creep around the edge of the heart and ravage it. Yesterday you can't alter, but your reaction to yesterday you can. The past you cannot change, but your response to your past you can.

p. 126, Revenge is irreverent. When we strike back, we are saying, "I know vengeance is yours, God, but I just didn't think you'd punish enough. I thought I'd better take this situation into my own hands. You have a tendency to be a little soft."

p. 128, To forgive someone is to display reverence. Forgiveness is not saying the one who hurt you was right. Forgiveness is stating that God is fair and he will do what is right.

p. 188, You don't impress the officials at NASA with a paper airplane. You don't boast about your crayon sketches in the presence of Picasso. You don't claim equality with Einstein because you can write "H20."

And you don't boast about your goodness in the presence of the Perfect. 

How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen, written by David Brooks

I appreciate books that are packed with useful information, but written in a manner that's easy to read. Such is the case with this deep dive into how we can better see people as unique individuals with stories to tell, whether in general, through the lens of the hardships in their lives, or from the vantage point of their positive traits. Drawing from a lot of scientific research and the personal experiences of many people, both well-known and unknown, it's about asking good questions, paying attention, showing empathy, and the deep need all humans have to connect with others. I learned about this book from Kendra Adachi in her May 2024 Latest Lazy Letter from The Lazy Genius. 

p. 7, Wise people don't just possess information; they possess a compassionate understanding of other people. They know about life.

p. 7, Being open-hearted is a prerequisite for being a full, kind, and wise human being. But it is not enough. People need social skills.

p. 15, How often in your life have you felt stereotyped and categorized? How often have you felt prejudged, invisible, misheard, or misunderstood? Do you really think you don't do this to others on a daily basis?

p. 26, You can be loved by a person yet not be known by them.

p. 31, If you see the people you meet as precious souls, you'll probably wind up treating them well.

p. 45, Even when you know someone well, I find that if you don't talk about the little things on a regular basis, it's hard to talk about the big things.

p. 81, If you want to build a shared connection, try sitting with their experience before you start ladling out your own.

p. 87, I've come to think of questioning as a moral practice. When you are asking a good question, you are adopting a posture of humility. You're confessing that you don't know and you want to learn. You're also honoring a person. 

p. 103, The essence of evil is the tendency to obliterate the humanity of another.

p. 109, These days, if you want to know someone well, you have to see the person in front of you as a distinct and never-to-be-repeated individual. But you've also got to see that person as a member of their groups. And you've also got to see their social location - the way someone people are insiders and other people are outsiders, how some sit on the top of society and some are marginalized to the fringes. The trick is to be able to see each person on these three levels all at once. 

p. 115, Remember that the person who is lower in any power structure than you are has a greater awareness of the situation than you do. A servant knows more about his master than the master knows about the servant. Someone who is being sat on knows a lot about the sitter - the way he shifts his weight and moves - whereas the sitter may not be aware that the sat-on person is even there. 

p. 126 (speaking of when someone is depressed) I learned, very gradually, that a friend's job in these circumstances is not to cheer the person up. It's to acknowledge the reality of the situation; it's to hear, respect, and love them; it's to show them you haven't given up on them, you haven't walked away.

p. 216, We live in a culture that is paradigmatic rich and narrative poor. In Washington, for example, we have these political talk shows that avoid anything personal. A senator or newsmaker comes on to offer talking points on behalf of this or that partisan position. The host asks gotcha question, scripted in advance, to challenge this or that position. The guests spit out a bunch of canned talking-point answers. The whole thing is set up as a gladiatorial verbal combat. Just once I'd love to have a host put aside the questions and say, "Just tell me who you are." It would be so much more interesting, and it would lead to a healthier political atmosphere. But we don't live in a culture that encourages that. 

p. 235, Today, in our identity politics world, we are constantly reducing people to categories: Black/white, gay/straight, Republican/Democrat. It's a first-rate way to dehumanize others and not see individuals.

p. 257, Successful friendship, like successful therapy, is a balance of deference and defiance. It involves showing positive regard, but also calling people on their self-deceptions.

Inside Out & Back Again, written by Thanhha Lai

Drawing from her own refugee experience of fleeing Vietnam as a child and landing in Alabama, this novel is about one pivotal year in the life of a ten year old girl. Although it's a work of fiction, it's a strong reminder of how citizens of a refugee's new country have the power to break their new neighbors' spirits or help to lift them up, that expecting newcomers to have or accept the religious beliefs we happen to hold is ridiculous, not knowing the language and customs of a foreign country someone has arrived in through traumatic circumstances doesn't make them stupid, and the English language is an absolute beast to learn if it's not what you were raised with. Written in verse, it can be read in one sitting.

p. 63, Everyone knows the ship
could sink,
unable to hold
the piles of bodies
that keep crawling on
like raging ants
from a disrupted nest

But no one
is heartless enough
to say
stop
because what if
they had been
stopped
before their turn?

p. 108, Then by chance Mother learns
sponsors prefer those
whose applications say "Christians."

Just like that
Mother amends our faith, 
saying all beliefs 
are pretty much the same.

p. 132, I step back,
hating pity, 
having learned
from Mother that 
the pity giver 
feels better, 
never the pity receiver

p. 135, Would be simpler
if English
and life
were logical.

p. 143, One one side
of the bright, noisy room, 
light skin.
Other side,
dark skin.

Both laughing, chewing, 
as if it never occurred
to them
someone medium
would show up.

Jacob Have I Loved, written by Katherine Paterson and narrated by Moira Kelly

I chose this 1980 story from Libby's "available now" options when I needed an audiobook. The main character is a girl who lives in the shadow of her twin, resenting the way her sister is revered by everyone on the small island where their family lives. She struggles to find her own place in the world, navigating various relationships within and outside of her family, working on the water with her dad, and trying to decide what she wants her future to look like. Although there were a few lines that made me chuckle and the premise intrigued me, this Newbery winner is a coming of age story that I didn't enjoy as much as I'd hoped to.

The Last Exchange, written by Charles Martin and narrated by Joshua Manning and MacLeod Andrews

A Hollywood star with a hard childhood, horrible husband, drug addiction, and years of infertility. A bodyguard with absolute dedication to protecting the star from anything and anyone who could harm the Hollywood star. This is a story of professionalism, friendship, and love all tangled up in each other, sometimes displayed in ways that are unexpected and questionable. I've only read three of Martin's books and this is the second that made me cry. 

25:37, I've always believed that if you don't know something about somebody, you fill the gap with trust until you do. 

4:44, "In my line of work I've met people. All kinds, all walks. Some up, some down. One things is true of all of us. Nobody has their stuff together. Not presidents, not paupers, not soldiers, not actors." He glanced at her. "We are all a mess and no amount of money, no amount of drugs changes that. When you're broken, life is about finding the beauty in the mess and then holding on for dear life. And there's no shame in that, provided we're honest about it."

10:40, "Brokenness is not weakness." She waved her hand across the crowd. "Look around. We're all broken. Welcome to the human race. Weakness is being broken, but too proud to ask for help. Sitting there thinking you got this." She shook her head once. "You don't got this. You don't got this at all. Real strength is knowing that and understanding that you're broken. Only then do you got anything."

Louder Than Hunger, written by John Schu

Written in verse, this is the story of a young teenager with anorexia nervosa and the long, complicated process of quieting the destructive voice in his head. There are school bullies, family members who simultaneously love and don't know how to deal with each other, a team of mental and physical health professionals at a treatment center, and the development of a genuine friendship. Not only is the main character male, which I appreciate because book characters with eating disorders are usually female, but his fictional experiences are based on the author's own life. I heard about this book from someone in a group I'm part of and think it's excellent. 

Tunnel 29: The True Story of an Extraordinary Escape Beneath the Berlin Wall, written and narrated by Helena Merriman

I thought this book, which I learned about from What I've been reading lately: the new and the notable, the 7/15/25 Modern Mrs. Darcy post, was fascinating. With a self-explanatory title, it's about how quickly the wall went up, the hard and dangerous work to create an escape tunnel, and the successful passage of 29 people into freedom. I enjoyed hearing more information about each main character in the afterword and plan on watching the The Tunnel, a 1962 documentary that NBC filmed throughout the digging and during the escape. 

Walking: One Step at a Time, written by Erling Kagge and translated from Norwegian by Becky L. Crook

Given that I go on a walk every single day and love it, I was intrigued when I heard about this book on What Should I Read Next?, episode 268 - Our team's best books of the year. It's a small book that talks about why, how, and where we walk, as well as the impact that walking has on our lives, creativity, and productivity. It has separation between sections, but no chapters, and is written more like a collection of related thoughts. It felt like a gentle conversation that includes facts and quotes, not like research on walking. I enjoyed it. 

p. 5, Journeys of discovery are not something you start doing, but something you gradually stop doing.

p. 84 (speaking of Magdi Habib Yacoub, the British-Egyptian surgeon who performed over 20,000 open-heart surgeries), I was curious and asked Yacoub what he had learned from studying thousands of beating human hearts. Yacoub replied, without much ado: "Go for a walk every day." He assured me that this advice would never grow outdated. 

p. 91-92, What would happen if world leaders were forced to take daily walks among the people?

< snip >

There is something undemocratic in distancing yourself from the natural world, the street, and the people over whom you rule. In Norway, leading politicians fortunately walk among the electorate. They see us and we see them. They shop where we shop and have their coffee in the same coffee shops as those who put them in power.

Though you might be able to glean a lot of information from reading, listening at meetings, looking out of car windows, and peering down from your skyscraper, everything appears different if you walk along the streets where the citizens are gathering their own food for cooking, opening a shop, checking their phones, loving, reading, conversing, and thinking. From far away, the world can seem homogeneous, but your mental map no longer matches the actual terrain. 

The greater the physical distance between the decision makers and those affected by the decisions, the less relevant the decisions appear to the people impacted by them. 

p. 98, To walk is to enjoy simple pleasures.

What Does It Feel Like?, written by Sophie Kinsella and narrated by Sally Phillips with author's note narrated by Kinsella

I've never read any of Kinsella's books, but this novella came up as a "skip the line" option on Libby and it intrigued me. The main character is an accomplished author who's diagnosed with cancer, has brain surgery to remove the tumor, and has to relearn everything in her life. It's a short book, but shows the contentment found in her lucky personal and professional life, devotion of her husband, discouragement and confusion of knowing just enough to realize you don't know anything anymore, difficulty of breaking the news to family members, and repetition of everything from offers to help and kind words to the plastic chairs in countless waiting rooms. Although a work of fiction, the story's mostly autobiographical and was inspired by Kinsella's own recent experience with cancer. It's a heavy topic, but written in a simultaneously realistic and positive tone that I enjoyed reading.

BOOKS I FINISHED - AUGUST 2025

The Borrowed Life of Fredrick Fife, written by Anna Johnston and narrated by Tim Carroll

The main character in this novel is a kind 82 year old man, recently (as in the day the book starts) homeless, and with no family. By a bizarre and coincidental circumstance, he ends up with an opportunity to live the life of a man who just died. This deception brings him a place to call home and people to show kindness toward. It's a full life, but for the guilty conscience. Addressing things like addiction, estrangement, widowhood, grief, and terminal illness means it could be a downer of a book, but it's not. Because it's also about friendship, second chances, family, forgiveness, and love. I learned about this book from a friend in a reading group and adored everything about it.

1:39:26, Ah, young love. There was nothing better, except, perhaps, old love. Love of fifty years. But you had to start somewhere. 

2:35:48, Grief was love with nowhere to go. 

4:35:54, "Feelings are like flatulence, better out than in. That's what I always say!"

The Council of Dads: My Daughters, My Illness, and the Men Who Could Be Me, written by Bruce Feiler

This book was mentioned in The Life Council: 10 Friends Every Woman Needs, written by Laura Tremaine, which I read in March 2024 and I immediately put it on my TBR. The author's twin daughters were three years old when he received a rare cancer diagnosis. Naturally saddened by the prospect that they may grow up without his presence in their life, he formed "The Council of Dads." These six men had come into his life in various ways and had known him for different lengths of time, but he believed they each represented some aspect of himself that he'd want his girls to know. The chapters of the book alternate between stories about his own life, the relationship he had with each of the men and the conversations they had when asked to be on the council, and letters he wrote to update people during his year of treatment and surgery. Between enjoying stories about friendship, having my own mom die when my siblings and I were kids, and being a parent myself, I loved the premise of this book and enjoyed reading it.

p. 63, Cancer, I have found, is a passport to intimacy. It's an invitation - maybe even a mandate - to enter the most vital, frightening, and sensitive human areas. It's a responsibility to address those issues we rarely want to discuss, but we feel enriched when we do.

The Dictionary of Lost Words, written by Pip Williams and narrated by Pippa Bennett-Warner

A random "skip the line" selection from Libby, this novel is inspired by the real women who contributed to the Oxford English Dictionary, yet didn't receive any credit for their work. The protagonist is someone the reader follows through decades of her life, a girl raised by her dad to love words. As she grows beyond childhood she realizes that many words are being intentionally left out of the dictionary and dedicates herself to defining and cataloguing them. In the process, the story addresses societal issues and historical events. Strangely, I'm still not sure if I liked the book or not. 

3:06:07, Our thinking was limited by convention, the most subtle but oppressive dictator. 

4:12:06, "The dictionary is a history book, Esme. If it has taught me anything, it is that the way we conceive of things now will almost certainly change."

4:57:15, "When yer feared, you need to think ordinary thoughts, do ordinary things. You ’ear me? The fear’ll back off, for a time at least."

11:10:45, The dictionary, like the English language, is a work in progress.

Her Own Two Feet: A Rwandan Girl's Brave Fight to Walk, written by Meredith Davis and Rebeka Uwitonze and narrated by Mirirai Sithole

This book was co-written by a Rwandan teenager who spent a year in America as a nine year old and the woman she lived with during that time. The girl was born with disfigured feet and was unable to walk. Not only did she do everything she could on her own to get herself up off the ground, but she then took advantage of an opportunity to have her feet surgically repaired. That opportunity meant leaving her family, community, and continent for a year, moving to an unfamiliar place where she didn't speak the language, and experiencing intimidating medical situations. It's the story of her courage and tenacity, but also a reminder to not take for granted whatever access to medical care we have and to do what we're able to make regular life more accessible to those with physical disabilities. I'd never heard of this book, but it was an "available now" option on Libby and I thought it was good. Technically a middle grade book, which means it's great for kids to listen to, it doesn't feel childish in any way for an adult reader.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, written and narrated by Maya Angelou

I read the last of Angelou's seven memoirs, the only writing of hers I'd ever read, back in 2019 and felt pretty neutral about it. When this one came up as a "skip the line" option in Libby, I decided to give it a try because it's famous and well-loved. Covering her childhood up through age 16, it describes the life of a child who experienced, among other hardships, blatant racism, rape, a summer spent living in a junkyard, and teenage pregnancy. But it's also the story of a child who knew specific people cared for her, was smart, became resilient, and learned the power of words. I love how a child who coped with childhood trauma by refusing to speak for several years grew to be a woman whose words are valued worldwide. My little summary feels paltry, but I really enjoyed the book and like it when an author narrates a book about their own life. 

7:38:04, The quality of strength lined with tenderness is an unbeatable combination.

10:10:07, Mother whispered, "See, you don't have to think about doing the right thing. If you're for the right thing, then you do it without thinking."

The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party, written by Daniel James Brown and narrated by Michael Prichard

Recommended by a friend who said it was a good, I opted for the audio version of this book. Needless to say, a deep dive into the story of a group of people who chose a hard path with the belief that it would be worth the struggle, followed the advice of someone they shouldn't have listened to, and ultimately paid for that decision by either dying or surviving by eating the emaciated bodies of those in their group who died isn't exactly a fun time. It was interesting, however.

Love Forms, written by Claire Adam 

A woman in her late fifties, recently divorced and the mother of two adult sons, has been trying to find the daughter she placed for adoption when she was a teenager. It's set primarily in Trinidad and Tobago, where she's from, and London, where she currently lives, but also in Venezuela, where she was sent to to give birth in secrecy. Incidentally, the author was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago and currently lives in London. Alternating between the present and the past, this novel addresses hard topics (teen pregnancy, political unrest, adoption, family dynamics) in a gentle way. I learned about it from Shelf Awareness, 8/8/25 edition, thought it was great, and will be putting Adam's other novel on my TBR.

My Glory Was I Had Such Friends, written by Amy Silverstein

I read Silverstein's first memoir, Sick Girl, back in 2010. That book's about the nearly twenty years she lived as a heart transplant patient, having received a donor heart at just twenty-five years old and exceeding her post-transplant life expectancy by a decade. Then that heart finally failed. This memoir, which I learned about in 9 nonfiction books that will make you a better friend, a 2/22/23 Modern Mrs. Darcy post, is about the amazing friendships that sustained her through waiting for a second transplant. She and her husband temporarily moved from New York to California to increase her chances of getting another heart, a period of time that lasted five months, and nine women rotated shifts so that she was never without a friend by her side. Set in the context of her health situation, this is a moving testament to the importance of friendship - the support it provides, challenges it faces, and all the opportunities it gives us to think past ourselves. I loved it. 

p. 85. A sick person dressed as a sick person becomes an even sicker person is how I've come to figure it. 

p. 178, In the moments of greatest uncertainty and dread, there is something to be said for history and habit and the comfort that comes from an utterly familiar voice on the other end of a phone.

p. 244, It's so easy to get lost in the chase when the goal is life itself. It blinds you to the quality of that life.

Shakespeare Saved My Life: Ten Years in Solitary with the Bard, written by Laura Bates

Bates, a Shakespeare scholar and college professor, found herself teaching in the SHU, the highest security part of the prison, with students who were serving life sentences for murder. Her volunteer work in that position introduced her to many people over the years, but she developed a special relationship with one man whose life was transformed by studying the works of Shakespeare. This memoir is as much his story as hers. The book will make the reader consider things like whether prisons should offer college courses or if minors should be given life sentences, give some insight for how a kid or teen may end up committing violent crimes, and raise awareness about our personal biases. I learned about this interesting book on What Should I Read Next, episode 292 - A life-changing library trip and liked it.

p. 104, I didn't necessarily want to go skydiving at the age of ninety, but I did want my life to expand with each passing year, rather than narrow. I wanted to avoid spending my life in a prison of my own making. 

p. 122, In seg, after so long, you get this sense of helplessness: there's nothing you control in your life, nothing! You need somebody else for everything in your life: for your clothes to be clean, for something to eat, to go to the shower, you need somebody else. After long exposure to that, it just grows into you and then you don't have any kind of confidence in yourself, you feel like that's your life, you feel like you're just this animal that they say you are.

p. 162, "It is not our conscience that torments us over our image; that is our ego tormenting us. Our conscience torments us when we behave in ways that are contrary to our values. When you look in the mirror and cringe as a result of your shame, it is your conscience. When you look in the mirror and cringe as a result of how people think of you, it is ego. Which of the two is more prevalent in your life?"

p. 179, I was once interviewed by a local news reporter who asked the common questions: Why are you doing this? Why do you care about these prisoners?

"I do care about them," I replied, "but, hey, I also care about you and me. Most of these guys will be on the street one day, and when the move in next door to you or enroll in one of my classes on campus, I want them to be less violent than they were when they came to prison."

p. 224, Why do we assume that educating a criminal is merely helping him commit more sophisticated crimes? Whey can't we assume that an education can give this person the tools to make more acceptable choices? 

Our second argument is "Why should we do good for bad people?" The answer is because "anything else would be bad." If we are not doing good for bad people, then we are doing bad for bad people. We should not be working on ways to do bad for isolated populations of people; rather, we should work on developing good no matter who is on the receiving end. That is our obligation to society. 

p. 245, Regret suggests a concern for yourself: "I'm sorry I got caught because I'm sorry I'm in prison," whereas remorse is driven by concern for the victim: "I'm sorry I did that because I'm sorry he's dead."

The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement, written and narrated by Sharon McMahon

I've heard positive things about this book from a few people over the last year, and know even more people who like the author, so I grabbed the book from the "skip the line" options on Libby. I enjoyed learning about people I'd never heard of and the impact they made on our country. The whole book is a good reminder to not just say something's important to you, but to prove it with your actions. It's about people who did the right thing simply because it was the right thing, regardless of whether they received any recognition, and often at great personal cost. 

5:39:18, But quiet lives can sometimes leave the loudest echoes.

8:00:31, What will history remember with kindness? The leader with the most cunning tweets? The one with the most self-aggrandizing speeches and the biggest audiences? No, it's not the cynics who emerge the heroes, but the people who spent their lives in service to others. It's those who fight for justice for someone whose reflection they don't see in the mirror.

9:13:16, The protestor was likening black children to animals. Listen, y'all don't need to write to me saying, "That's not true Christianity." I'm not asking you to believe it is, but these were not fringe beliefs in many of the evangelical churches in the south. This was how most white Christians at that time and in that place interpreted the scriptures. It was what they heard from their pulpits and what they wanted taught in schools. White supremacy and white Christian identity are inextricably linked in American history. Facts don't require our personal approval for them to be facts.

10:06:59 ... education is liberation and an educated population is very difficult to oppress.

Under the Overpass: A Journey of Faith on the Streets of America, written by Mike Yankoski 

The author and another young man chose to spend five months being homeless, a decision made out of a desire to put their Christian faith in action and to the test. Dividing their time between six major cities (Denver, D.C., Portland, San Francisco, Phoenix, and San Diego), the men started off in separate rehab facilities as a way to transition into their new life, then lived on the streets for the duration. This book chronicles their experience of never knowing where they'd sleep or if they'd eat, the ups and downs of their relationship throughout their time together, the realities of life on the street, and the way they were treated by other homeless people, the general public, and Christian churches (which they made a point to continue attending every Sunday). I didn't make note of how I heard about this book, but it's been on my TBR list since December 2023 and I'm glad I read it.

p. 14, Suddenly I was shocked to realize that I had just driven twenty minutes past the world that needed me to be the Christian I say I am, in order to hear a sermon entitled "Be the Christian you say you are." Soon I would drive back past that same world to the privilege of my comfortable life on campus at a Christian college. 

p. 46, If we are the body of Christ - and Christ came not for the healthy but the sick - we need to be fully present in the places where people are the most broken. And it has to be more than just a financial presence. That helps, of course. But too often money is insulation - in conveniently keeps us from ever having to come face-to-face with a man or woman whose life is in tatters.

p. 48, Obviously the people standing in front had good enough intentions, but our good intentions and sound theology are wasted if those we minister to don't feel that we care about their immediate concerns. 

p. 65, While kids might pretend people who don't exist do, it's the parents who pretend that unwanted people who do exist don't. 

p. 107, To me, one of the best things about the gospel is that Jesus Christ proclaims and restores human and eternal worth for everyone who believes - regardless of what a person might look or smell like now, no matter what's crawling through his hair.

And because we follow this Christ, each of us has both the ability and the responsibility ("response-ability") to do the same. 

p. 121 (quoting Of God and Men, written by A.W. Tozer) We hear a Christian assure someone that he will 'pray over' his problem, knowing full well that he intends to use prayer as a substitute for service. It is much easier to pray that a poor friend's needs may be supplied than to supply them. 

p. 140, "The Bible clearly says, if you see someone hungry, feed them; if you see someone naked, clothe them. Those words weren't meant for us to make books and sermons about. They're written so people don't go hungry and naked. And they require action from all followers of Christ, not just the rescue missions."

p. 217, The bottom line is that real love always shows itself in action.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963, written by Christopher Paul Curtis and narrated by LeVar Burton

Tyler and I (and occasionally Tim) listened to this middle grade novel about a family who lives in Michigan, but goes to visit relatives in Alabama. It addresses racial tensions in the 1960s, but also has lots of sibling shenanigans, family life, and funny moments. We didn't realize until after we finished it that it's written by the same author that wrote Bud, not Buddy. We enjoyed the audio version of both books.