Frozen 2 is unquestionably my favorite Disney movie, and one of my favorite movies generally. I have never read an art book like this before so I'm noFrozen 2 is unquestionably my favorite Disney movie, and one of my favorite movies generally. I have never read an art book like this before so I'm not sure how it stacks up to others. However, I loved getting behind-the-scenes looks and perspectives from this movie and special issues they had to wrestle through. I really loved this. While I would have liked a bit more text, it was almost perfect and deepened my appreciation for the movie and the artists and visionaries behind it. ...more
**spoiler alert** This book was entirely different than I had expected. I had thought it would be a bit more existential horror or suspense a la Iain **spoiler alert** This book was entirely different than I had expected. I had thought it would be a bit more existential horror or suspense a la Iain Reid. Instead, this book began as a Reid-esque susepnse novel that quickly developed into a diametric tonal version of Station Eleven. The points of both books are ultimately the same: telling the accurate story of our present and past through the lens of the collapsed future. I was not at all ready for this book because it was not at all as advertised. But I ultimately enjoyed the journey, cradled in the uncomfortable nook of hope in the face of hopelessness and purposelessness in the face of calling. ...more
"I thought about how pain is also a symptom of transformation. I thought about bouncing back. How we can start again. And again."
There's a million b "I thought about how pain is also a symptom of transformation. I thought about bouncing back. How we can start again. And again."
There's a million books on love: falling in love, falling out of love, advice for marriage, advice for dating, how to not get divorced. There's also plenty of books on singleness, most of them involving utter satisfaction, or nearing it, the journey into it. There's very few, none that I've come across, that deal with both. This is a book that declares: I am single and I can't do anything about it. Maybe I'll be single forever. And it's both horrible and beautiful at once. It's hard and it's possible. It's good for me and it's something I struggle with. Abbi Jacobson, star, co-creator, and producer of Broad City gives us that.
As I mentioned in one of my recent reviews ( The Giver ), I've never seen Broad City despite many pleas to. Typically, I'll buy memoirs like these by celebrities I've heard of but know virtually nothing about. I can't take the blame on this one, though. My sister bought me this one from a bookstore in Nebraska. She said she thought I'd like it. She was right.
Abbi is hilarious. She wrecked my heart and stitched it back together. Her road trip is something I can relate to. Driving down a road for hours, seeing cities and trying to make them my own: that sounds like something necessary. Something holy.
The only thing I took a star off for was something that frequently bugs me about memoirs. It's difficult for a subject to objectively decide what's interesting and not about their life. A few of Abbi's stories, while lovely, didn't interest me or add to her overall story. But they mattered to her, and that mattes. ...more
As others have said, this is a beautiful work of art both in its illustrations and words. Themes of mixed race and cultural identity are so necessary As others have said, this is a beautiful work of art both in its illustrations and words. Themes of mixed race and cultural identity are so necessary in world learning (and struggling) to shed its binary vision. At times, though, it was difficult to ascertain if we were hearing from Jogia or a contributor. The organization of the collection left a certain chaotic tone that was too much of a good thing. Instead of feeling artistic and impactful, it felt a bit rushed and thrown together. Nevertheless, this is absolutely worth the read (and purchase, as I made). ...more
Overall, this was an incredible collection. I really enjoyed the stories that felt less like stories, and more like tiny windows into ye Rating: 3.9
Overall, this was an incredible collection. I really enjoyed the stories that felt less like stories, and more like tiny windows into yet-unseen realities, fragments of ordinary time sent to us from the future. Arrival has to be one of the most beautiful movies made in recent years and I'm excited to read Chiang's debut Stories of Your Life and Others as soon as it's available at the library. As always, you can read mini-reviews for each story below.
The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate - A simple but beautiful time traveling story that navigates the peculiarities of the space-time continuum with creativity and grace. 3.5/5
Exhalation - Perhaps one of my favorite short stories of all time, this is a powerful, genius mediation on climate change, existence, extraterrestrial life, and the ultimate search for life. A true winner in every inception of the word. 5/5
What's Expected of Us - Unlike The Merchant… this short esoteric wondering is interesting, but unable to undo the questions about time wandering and choice-behavior that it raises. 2/5
The Lifecycle of Software Objects - I loved this but found the ending utterly unsatisfying. I also wish it had been either more fleshed out (and therefore longer) or left in wondering but much, much shorter. 3/5
Dacey's Patent Automatic Nanny - It's always fun to read a story that's simply a written piece from another world 4/5
The Truth of Fact, The Truth of Feeling - A stunning exploration of memory, mistakes, and human evolution 5/5
The Great Silence - Short but sweet, devastating and hopeful 4/5
Omphalos and Anxiety is the Dizziness of Freedom - I couldn't get into either one of these stories 1/5
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge: A book that's published in 2019 ...more
Backman delivers his signature humor-poignant mixture in an effective memoir-style collection of essays to his son. It's everything you expect from BaBackman delivers his signature humor-poignant mixture in an effective memoir-style collection of essays to his son. It's everything you expect from Backman with fun anecdotes that help demystify one of the greatest writers of our time. While it's best for parents or parents-to-be, everyone has a little something to gain from this exploration into the parental psyche. Along the way, you might just catch a glimpse of the inner workings of humanity.
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge: A book about a family ...more
Absolutely phenomenal. Baldwin has no doubt inspired civil rights leaders for years to come. Although, given the text's immense relevance in 2019, oneAbsolutely phenomenal. Baldwin has no doubt inspired civil rights leaders for years to come. Although, given the text's immense relevance in 2019, one has to wonder whether Baldwin's emphasis is well-placed. Will we ever move beyond racism and the discrimination and inequality associated with it? Ta-Nehisi Coates' Between the World and Me, inspired by this essay collection, seems to provide a more realistic tonal shift. There is still immense worth in Baldwin's perspective, the modern reader would do best to receive both men's works.
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge: A book with no chapters, unusual chapter headings, or unconventionally numbered chapters ...more
Palmer is unafraid of the reality so many of us find ourselves in. We're tired, worn out, unsure, and, most of all, afraid. Self-help books are often Palmer is unafraid of the reality so many of us find ourselves in. We're tired, worn out, unsure, and, most of all, afraid. Self-help books are often wrought with cliche positivity and get-er-done attitude. But Palmer's strength is in the quiet. Contrary to what we so often believe, sometimes the quiet is the loudest force. This is a short read but a crucial one. I urge all young people, and older adults who are worn, to pick this up immediately. ...more
Comparing this to Reid's suspenseful debut I'm Thinking of Ending Things, would be as unfair as comparing Peele's blockbuster hit Get Out to Us . IComparing this to Reid's suspenseful debut I'm Thinking of Ending Things, would be as unfair as comparing Peele's blockbuster hit Get Out to Us . In terms of quality, the first in both instances is clearly better, but it's hard to compare them along simple quality lines. All four of them are trippy, entertaining, and unlike anything else on the market.
Foe is not nearly as secretive or twisting as its predecessor, and while I admittedly couldn't pinpoint where it was going, the ending was fairly obvious to predict had I been taking better stock of normal twists and turns, and not expecting the off the wall horror inherent in I'm Thinking of Ending Things. But that doesn't mean it isn't a satisfying ending. and despite the somewhat on the nose ending, there's a second twist no one will see coming. This is a haunting novel about the effects of marriage and loss, true love and regret. It's about the collapse of middle America and the future of humanity. And it's about women and men who know what they want in life trying to coexist with radically different goals. It's a super slow burn of a novel but it'll be worth it in the end. I can't wait for his next one.
P.S. There's some great threads in the Q&A goodreads section that are worth checking out after a read through. ...more
The Troop is a horror story reminiscent of Lord of the Flies but placed in a world where the adults are all too aware of the horrors the boys are en The Troop is a horror story reminiscent of Lord of the Flies but placed in a world where the adults are all too aware of the horrors the boys are engaging in, and simply unwilling to place themselves in the center of it. As the pages turn, and the gore and guts unsettle your stomach, the true monster is revealed as something far more horrible than we imagined. During and after reading this, I was terrified to eat or drink anything, let alone touch random strangers nearby. It got off to a bit of a slow and odd start, but quickly found me greedily turning the pages until the early hours of the morning. ...more
Nathaniel, a man experiencing homelessness on LA's Skid Row, lies at the intersection of racial injustice, the power of music, homelessness, mental ilNathaniel, a man experiencing homelessness on LA's Skid Row, lies at the intersection of racial injustice, the power of music, homelessness, mental illness, and our government's red tape. Steve López, a journalist for The Los Ángeles Times begins a somewhat exploitative relationship with a street classical musician. What begins as a column subject quickly evolves into a friendship as complex and trying as our own.
The Soloist is one of the most compulsively readable non-fiction books I've read in a while. López's beautiful reporting pulls back the curtain on one of America's most taboo subjects: Skid Row. I loved this and highly recommend it to everyone! ...more
She knew - it was her job as a teacher of history to know - how many horrors of history are legitimated in public daylight, against the Rating: 4.5
She knew - it was her job as a teacher of history to know - how many horrors of history are legitimated in public daylight, against the will of most of the people.
Zumas' sophomore novel has been compared to The Handmaid's Tale, which is an unfair one. Atwood bolstered a work of science fiction but this one is real. But it's more than that. Atwood's tale is one that is first and foremost a cautionary tale against banning abortion and what it means to politicize a woman's body. Zumas' work is also about abortion and male political dominance, and if you've read Red Clocks' press, you'll see that for yourself. But it's also about witches and the blood we've shed from women. It's about being a good mother and wanting to be a mother. It's about wanting love and also rejecting it. It's about the American justice system and how it treats the bodies of women differently than men, and Black bodies worse than White. Yet Red Clocks is also about whales and ice, falling in love with nature and reconnecting with our family. It's about freedom. And ultimately, about how all of these are valid forms of feminine expression. Of human expression.
Zumas' characters are deliciously life-like. They bleed real blood and suck in real air. They feel real because they are, like lighthouses and dreams, not just one thing. They make good decisions and bad ones, piss people off and love them, and make you root for them as often as against. I, of course, had favorites: Ro and Gin, but I enjoyed reading about each of them the same. Eivør's story, told through rearticulated bits either directly from her hand or Ro's, was a fascinating way to deliver the narrative of a woman trapped under the weight of misogyny. It proved women have always been relegated as tools to men, and not allowed to stand on their own merits and opinion. And yet, the fact that she still captured the attention of Ro, all these years later, proves that even the women we burn still exist, boldly, in the ashes.
The only thing I took an issue with was the adoption law. I didn't fully understand its inclusion and I think the story could have been compelling without its inclusion. Single women already face a difficult battle with the adoption system, and it felt like a missed opportunity to highlight this. The world-building overall felt a little lazy and forced. Zumas trusted us masterfully to read into her prose and surrender to the journey of her words, but seemed to waver in that trust when it came to understanding the laws and rationale behind them. I almost wish that they had been left out entirely, and that we, as readers, could absorb the impact of the laws more than the implementation. Although, I suppose without it, Red Clocks would be less effective as a cautionary tale.
At a time when all feels lost, Zumas reminds us that hope is found after our wits have long since ended. She reminds us to turn to one another, and sense the blood coursing through each other's veins. Reminds us before it's too late to turn back....more
My latest trip to Powells was a doozy. I always feel so much pressure there to find exactly the right books. This was my small press pick of the trip My latest trip to Powells was a doozy. I always feel so much pressure there to find exactly the right books. This was my small press pick of the trip and I'm ecstatic I picked it.
In Wichita, Kansas, three friends navigate drugs, love, and rural America. Weaver's latest book is devastating and dark, apparently common themes for him. This novella sucked me in immediately and didn't let go until I turned the last, dismal page. It's a tricky thing to be good at devastating fiction. Few people manage to do so, but Weaver is one such talent.
I've been caught in a really bad reading pattern and haven't liked too much of what I've been reading as of late. Temporal helped me remember why I love reading. The WiFi was down at school so I couldn't work on homework. It's been a terrible couple of months and what I really needed was an escape. This gave me that and I'm beyond grateful. I'd tell everyone I know to read this book, but it's one of those I'll have to be careful in recommending. For the right reader, though, this could be everything. ...more
American Christianity, like any ideology made up of messy humans, has a history and a presence of failings. Too many people have been burned by religiAmerican Christianity, like any ideology made up of messy humans, has a history and a presence of failings. Too many people have been burned by religion, exiled from churches, and had their seat at the table forcibly revoked. American Christianity has supported prejudice at every level. But perhaps their biggest sin, or perhaps the original sin, is deifying the Bible, is adding it to the Trinity. Held Evans' newest book is in this vein of reclaiming the Bible as a tool, not a God. Her life and her prose adds a refreshing and unique spin to this crusade.
My favorite part of this book was Held Evans' retellings of Biblical stories and narratives at the beginning of each chapter. They were fun and interesting but, more importantly, they force her readers to confront the truth of the Bible as a collection of stories and genres. Some of them fell flat (namely, the one about Job) but, on the whole, they were a worthy and crucial to defending Held Evans' narrative.
There is also growth in Held Evans' argument. Unlike Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church, there are hard truths in here, and an awareness of bias on Held Evans' part. Several times, she jabs at her liberalism and finds a way back to the center. I never mind bias, especially in theology and argument, so long as there is an acknowledgment. I was most pleased to see this growth.
If you've been pushed out of human church, have doubts, developed a theology that doesn't sit well in the stomachs of mainstream pastors and theologians, have faith. There is a gospel, dare I say the gospel that has a place for you.
ARC provided by publisher as part of the launch team. ...more
The Book of Joy is a thoughtful and uplifting mediation on true joy, from two of the world's greatest men. If you're a Christian or a Buddhist, you The Book of Joy is a thoughtful and uplifting mediation on true joy, from two of the world's greatest men. If you're a Christian or a Buddhist, you will get a lot out of this, but if you are not, you will be just as welcomed into the fold of joy. This is such a helpful and necessary book. ...more
We tend to think of the Urban environment and nature as polar opposites. It's natural, and in many ways correct, to chastise human settlement as an imWe tend to think of the Urban environment and nature as polar opposites. It's natural, and in many ways correct, to chastise human settlement as an impediment to the first inhabitants: the deers and the birds and the fish. But if you look close enough, you'll discover birds at home in the spokes of bicycles, butterflies flourishing in grandmother's gardens, and house crows who no longer choose to live in the "wild." Schilthuizen peels back the skyscrapers and the traffic to show us the beautiful, incredible world of evolved animals, living among us every day. His science is vividly accessible and compelling. This is a must-read book of 2018. Pick this up; you'll be glad you did. ...more
With an increasingly changing climate, sprawling urbanism, and a devaluing of any job not requiring a college degree, American Agriculture is in crisiWith an increasingly changing climate, sprawling urbanism, and a devaluing of any job not requiring a college degree, American Agriculture is in crisis. It's little surprise that, in a world where groceries can be delivered directly to our doorstep, we forget where it all came from. But, just when all hope for farming's future seemed lost, an exceptional group of young people fled cities for countrysides, and dared to remind us all what was at stake. For all that these people have given us, we have, by and large, given them nothing in return. The Stone Barnes Center put out this collection of letters as a gift to these few who have given so much us.
While there is a vast array of perspectives and tips in this short collection, I agree with the many reviewers that the bulk of it is focused on a particular kind of young farmer. I can't claim to know how that omission feels but I do apologize for it. Despite that, I found this to be a unique and timely collection, well-structured and full of life. If you're a young, small-scale organic farmer you must pick this up. But if, like me, you're a city-dweller who can't fathom moving away, you should pick this up too. We all must eat, and it's high time we recognize those who risk it all to curb our hunger. May they be blessed by even a fraction as much as they have given us....more
With a reread almost two years later, this is just as good as I remember it. If you aren’t a fan of YA, this is still worth a read.
On a personal noteWith a reread almost two years later, this is just as good as I remember it. If you aren’t a fan of YA, this is still worth a read.
On a personal note, I started this book while working on my BA and am starting the second while picking my MS program. When I get around to the third one, will I have my PhD?
Original review:
"I will not let my fear silence the truth."
We run to fantasy to escape. we ride dragons to get above the clouds and cast spells to try and change our luck. Debut author and Harvard grad Tomi Adeyemi creates a world that is immediately consuming and escaping. But the longer you stay, the harder it is to escape the realization you're falling deeper and deeper into the world as it is now. With heartbreaking themes of cultural death, systemic racism and its relationship to both the privileged and the targets, and a reclamation and declaration of Adeyemi's own cultural identity, Children of Blood and Bone is easily the best book of the year, if not the decade. The fact that it still remains a delightful, terrifying, and phenomenal fantasy establishes Adeyemi as a talent far beyond anything we've seen from the genre in recent years.
If I had to nitpick (and it's a YA so I must), I did find the journey to be a bit too easy. I also would have liked to see a bit more diversity in the voices of each of the narrating characters.
Nevertheless, Adejyemi's debut is a war-cry for the modern age and, if we're not careful, a timeless exploration of America and the surrounding world. Run, do not walk, to the nearest bookstore and pick this up. Take time off to tear through this, hungry and alive. You will not regret your choice....more
"By the spring, the rumors had reached the cities and the daily papers had begun to report something strange out west among the Cheyenne Indians of M "By the spring, the rumors had reached the cities and the daily papers had begun to report something strange out west among the Cheyenne Indians of Montana, who, it was said, were 'greatly excited over the expected appearance of a Savior.'"
Warren takes us back to the late nineteenth century, a period I previously considered to be of little-to-no interest. His account begins with a bird's eye view of Wounded Knee, bodies littered across the ground. While I had heard of this massacre before, I had chocked it up to typical racism and colonization. But the cause, motivated by the same forces mentioned before, was more complicated than that. A new religion was sweeping across the Indian* Reservations. It was called the Ghost Dance and it was making traditional Christians (of course) increasingly nervous. A prophet named Hawthrone Wodziwob had had a vision of a replenished earth and a unification with the White Man's rule.
For some Ghost Dancers, the religion focused as a revitalization of Indian* Culture in the face of oppression. While for others, and as Warren argues, for us as 21st century readers, the movement exemplified a way for the Indians* to assimilate under American culture, while maintaining ties to their traditional ways of life. In many ways, the Ghost Dance movement paved the way for modernity to take its place in America.
I skipped over portions of this book due to a lack of interest in certain topics and repetitiveness in others, but overall I can truly say Warren's overview is engaging, fascinating, and offers a rare glimpse into the forgotten world. At a time of Standing Rock and the launching of an indigenous-focused MFA program, this chronicle stands as a necessary explanation of how we got to where we are, and how much farther we have to go.
*I use the term "Indian" in this review as opposed to the more modern term Native American or Indigenous because the author does as I consider him a better expert than I. ...more
Mailhot arrives as a stunning, haunted voice in non-fiction. Her essays lay out her life through her sons, her lovers, her mental illness, and her culMailhot arrives as a stunning, haunted voice in non-fiction. Her essays lay out her life through her sons, her lovers, her mental illness, and her culture. She is one of the few writers able to effectively step back from herself and see herself as we might - flawed, broken, whole. Her memoir bleeds on every page and screams its way down inside you. As always, you can find mini, individual reviews below.
Indian Condition (first) - 3/5 Really poetic and lovey but a bit too detached for my taste
Heart Berries - 4/5 This was beautiful. It gave voice to some of my hidden fears.
Indian Sick -5/5 Let’s get something clear: I will never not like a well written letter to an ex. That’s my MO.
In a Pecan Field - 4/5 I see a lot of myself in her.
Your Black Eye and My Birth - 5/5 She is able to do the hardest thing in a memoir: step back from herself.
I Know I’ll Go - 4/5 A really honest look at her dad.
Little Mountain Woman - 5/5 My favorite so far.
The Leaving Deficit - 3/5 This was a bit too disjointed for me.
Thunder Being Honey Bear - 4/5 An honest piece on trauma
Indian Condition (second) - 5/5 Really beautiful. I feel like this should have been the last piece.
Better Parts - 3/5 This as the last piece really emphasizes the role her mother played in her life. I don’t feel it was as strong as some her others, however. ...more
That summer I hunted the serial killer at night from my daughter's playroom. Rating: 4.5
In California, a man lurks in the shadows of night. He ta That summer I hunted the serial killer at night from my daughter's playroom. Rating: 4.5
In California, a man lurks in the shadows of night. He targets couples, forces the man to watch his wife being raped. He is meticulous and tormented, and always one step ahead of the police. And then he meets Michelle, a true-crime blogger married to a comedian. His years of hiding in the shadows are almost up, as McNamara beckons him to the light.
This was one of my two most anticipated reads of the year. Her last work of writing is the truest testament to her life. Part memoir, part true-crime narrative, all a drive at justice and a true-to-life portrait of the men and woman who lived it, McNamara's posthumous debut is a genre-busting super force. Her pacing is impeccable and her imagery of California is illuminating.
There is always an elevated love of something when someone passes away. Yet I'm convinced McNamra's work would have only be more highly liked had she not died investigating the case. Her full vision for the book would have been realized. In fact, everything I didn't like about this was a result of her publishing team.
They did have many successes. The jacket (Sarah Brody) is fantastic. The cover photograph is dark and gritty, while the back, a stark yellow, is jarringly light. This perfectly echos the contents of obsession in the book - The Golden State Killer's dark, Michelle's bright. Oswalt's afterward was humorous, poignant, and devastating. It was the perfect capstone to this book, and McNamara's epilogue was a surprise that was both touching and haunting. The type face was also perfect.
I could have done without Flynn's introduction. It teased far too much of the book and didn't add anything worthwhile, in my opinion. It felt like the selling point she offered wasn't high enough for the deduction of its inclusion. And, no fault of their own, but the third part fell flat. There was no adequate way to end this book without McNamara's own hand, but, nonetheless, it felt jarring and unproductive.
This is a must read for anyone interested in true crime. SSDGM....more
If you're looking for a clean-cut view of immigration, a narrative to fit your side, a story to simplify the lives of hundreds of migrants looking forIf you're looking for a clean-cut view of immigration, a narrative to fit your side, a story to simplify the lives of hundreds of migrants looking for better lives, of drug lords and traffickers, you need to look elsewhere. Cantú's memoir is uncomfortable. He's uncomfortable. He's a human narrator, painfully so. He is a man wrestling with guilt, shame, and identity. He writes poetically and tragically, and keenly.
The Line Becomes A River is a must-read for anyone with an opinion on immigration. It's for Americans and foreigners, Natives and Immigrants in all their forms. Cantú's memoir is a battle cry that comes just in the nick of time. ...more
“She has gone on church groups to Haiti for mission work. Charity is something that Tammy does for others. It has never before arrived at her front do“She has gone on church groups to Haiti for mission work. Charity is something that Tammy does for others. It has never before arrived at her front door in the form of an unfamiliar couple with a giving spirit and enough groceries to last until New Year’s.”
On December 23, 2008, the last Tahoe reaches the end of the assembly line in a General Motors manufacturing plant in Janesville, Wisconsin. It's a seemingly innocuous event, hardly worth mentioning in the historical events of these United States. And yet, for the people of Janesville, who are generational labors, the closing of a plant is a bombshell whose shrapnel affects every aspect of daily life.
Goldstein's epic, longitudinal ethnography picks up where the plant leaves off. Janesville doesn't die with its plant. The people - teachers, politicians, former workers, and children - still have to find ways to work and live. Paul Ryan, the current Speaker of the House, and former Vice President nominee, grew up in Janesville, and his relationship with the town is dynamic and contentious.
This book is one of several to emerge after the 2016 election. How could Donald Trump, reality-TV-star-turned-President, beat a woman who has been immersed in politics for decades? How could she, a Democrat, loose in counties and states that have historically been all blue? This book, like many others, seeks to answer that question.
What Goldstein brings to the familiar narrative is the culture of the automotive industry, a topic which is frequently discussed but infrequently understood. She also gives us a view of the Great Recession and the very uphill climb back to normalcy. Goldstein's Janesville is real. It's endearing but problematic, full of spirit and desperation, heroes and villains. This narrative lags a little bit, hence the loss of a star, but the overall effect is haunting, memorable, and unique. Goldstein arrives on the scene and lingers, chronicling every aspect of Janesville life for years.
If you're confused about the 2016 election, misunderstanding of the White Middle Class, or hungry for another personal ethnography, please pick this up. ...more
I'm recommending this primarily to my church leader friends, be them on church staffs, volunteers, or congregates.
I had the honor of hearing from Dr.I'm recommending this primarily to my church leader friends, be them on church staffs, volunteers, or congregates.
I had the honor of hearing from Dr. Rah first-hand at an annual conference my school hosts. Rah was our keynote speaker, and his lecture seemed to highlight much of what I had thought was wrong with the American Church but was unable to state. The Next Evangelicalism names the institution responsible for much of the brokenness "white" American evangelicals have perpetuated - White Cultural Captivity.
This was an especially timely read, as many on the Evangelical Right, around this time every year, declare war on Christmas. "White" American Christians tend to mistake actual persecution with a solid red Starbucks cup. So it seems particularly timely to explore this phenomena.
What I appreciated most about this was the diversity of Rah's source of ideas. He moves expertly and fluidly between philosophy, psychology, urban sociology, literary theory, and, of course, theology. He also pulls often and repeatedly from other thinkers and writers. Both of these additions bolster Rah's credibility and argument. We are inclined to listen to him, not just because he makes sense, but because everyone else around him makes sense too.
Rah, as he himself admits, will be radical to many Evangelical leaders. He will be too liberal, too theoretical, too detached from reality. But here's the ugly truth that's coming: if evangelical leaders are not careful, if they miss the warning signs, they will death on two fronts. Their churches will meet their own demise, and the people they desperately want to serve will leave scorned and disillusioned with this God they claim to serve. With the stakes so high, on Earth and in Eternity, Evangelical leaders must, at the very least, come to Rah with an open mind. Several of his ideas earned margin marks from me.
As an example, he mentioned wanting to free Christian counseling from individual sessions. While he makes a good argument, the truth is that such a shift would be unethical and unwise if one sought out the council of many leading psychologists. Here is the truth about such a book: whatever claims Rah makes need to be evaluated. I think he would tell you the same. We should not blindly accept what he has to say, but we should hear it. We need to.
This lost a star as Rah sometimes casts too wide a net. His argument is well supported but, if possible, is too much so. He covers a lot in a short amount of time, and there is a decent amount of foundational knowledge readers must have in order to appreciate his full argument. That said, he does do an overall good job of building his main argument so that the layman can follow without issue.
Readers should expect to be uncomfortable when they finish this. They should expect to be frustrated and angry and sad. They should expect to be hopeful. But, if they can muster the courage to confront the discomfort, I think they will find it to be worthwhile. ...more
There will undoubtedly come a time when Backman loses his power of me; it's simply the way of things. Today isn't that day. I found myself immediatelyThere will undoubtedly come a time when Backman loses his power of me; it's simply the way of things. Today isn't that day. I found myself immediately drawn into the streets of Helsinborg. Though this is brief, I truly believe Backman's greatest strength is in the short form. Both this and And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer are some of his finest pieces.
In this novella, Backman tackles yet another cliche through fresh eyes. What are the lengths you would go to save another person's life? His characters, though we meet them only briefly, immediately demand our full attention. We break with them and love with them and awe at their brief but powerful developments.
While I thought the text itself was perfect (or, as close to perfect as possible), I did have a few issues with the publishing. I hate the title. It makes this book feel way more campy and shallow than it actually is. And the Christmas tree cover is tired (Alan Dingman). It also, in my opinion, cheapens the novella's worth as projecting an image of lightheartedness that is unwelcome. Carly Loman's interior design is well done overall. The font is nice, the numeration is clean, and most of the illustrations are lovely (though I can't quite guarantee these were all done by her - I just couldn't find any other specific name). A few of the illustrations, however, felt hurried and I felt there was a stark difference between some of them as a result. This was a minor detail though. The illustrations overall really enhanced the plot, and gave me a longing to visit Sweden when I finally get myself to Norway.
If you want to cry this holiday season, or think deeply, I would strongly recommend picking this one up. ...more
The Innocent Sleep is a lie. This is nothing but a guilty, restless, cry.
Tangier. A man leaves his baby alone in an apartment. Just for a minute. J The Innocent Sleep is a lie. This is nothing but a guilty, restless, cry.
Tangier. A man leaves his baby alone in an apartment. Just for a minute. Just to run an errand. An earthquake. A child is lost forever, and a husband is struck equally by guilt and grief.
Dublin. 5 years pass. A husband sees his dead child in a crowd.
The Innocent Sleep overflows with life. Harry, a grief-stricken, possibly delusional father wrestles tangibly with his guilt. Robin, mother to a dead son, spills her grief out with every word she writes. Told in alternating perspectives, Perry delivers a heart stopping novel that is gloriously written and meticulously calculated. This is a delicious mystery. But it's also a gut wrenching family drama. My only qualm was that it seemed to drag in a few places. With perhaps a bit more editing, this would easily be one the best books I've read. If you pick this book up, be ready to cry, to scream, to be sucked in deep and held.
I hope to someday get to read this in the original Norwegian. I've looked for it online but can't find it. Regardless, I really enjoyed this collectioI hope to someday get to read this in the original Norwegian. I've looked for it online but can't find it. Regardless, I really enjoyed this collection. I liked it for its narratives but I especially loved what it gave me in terms of my culture. Fjords, cold, IKEA, and other Nordic charm, fill these pages and I was so glad to read.
Nice and Mild - 3.5/5 - "If you like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain" A charming story but a bit shallow in my opinion
Taking Off, Landing - 2/5 - This was a complete 180. I'm going to have to think about this one.
Small Knot - 4/5 - The end sucked but I really loved the rest of this strange and endearing story.
Gold Pattern - 5/5 - A really interesting portrait of ecstasy in an era of one night stands.
Overtures - 5/5 - Such an interesting story about our families' expectations and claiming our own identity.
A Renowned Engineer - 4/5 - Sad but lovely.
The Girl Holding my Hand - 5/5 - One of my new favorite stories. I loved everything about this.
From the Lighthouse - 4/5 - Really interesting but just too short to be 5 star worthy.
Grandma is Sleeping - 5/5 - it's difficult to make me love a character in three pages but Øyehaug does it.
An Entire Family Disappears - 5/5 - This was a really interesting format and I loved the subtle reminder of our impermanence.
It's Raining in Love - 2/5 - I didn't connect to this one at all.
Compulsion - 4/5 - I've actually heard of a show like this before. I really enjoyed reading this.
Oh, Life - 3/5 - Oh, Lord. This was... interesting. Not bad though.
Echo - 2.5/5 - Really good characters but a too-weird plot.
The Deer at the Edge of the Forest - 2.5/5 - only half a page long so not much to judge but I thought this was an interesting concept.
It's Snowing - 4/5 - Øyehaug has a knack for capturing some extraordinary moments.
Fortune Smiles on Mona Lisa - 5/5 - Fantastic! A very fun and touching story.
Deal - 5/5 - Another thing Øyehaug is great at is inserting us right in the middle of someone's everyday life. It's wonderful to journey with them.
Trapeze - 6/5 - Fantastic characters, shocking twist, and a really engaging plot. Stunning.
Blanchot Slips Under a Bridge - 4/5 - I didn't get this one but I really enjoyed it? Curious.
Air - 5/5 - There's a saying in Norway about it never being too cold, only having insufficient clothes. I only mention it because I really liked this story for giving me a piece of my culture.
Transcend - 5/5 - She does something interesting with this play format again but takes it to an abstract level which is wonderful and compelling.
Meanwhile on Another Planet - 3.5/5 - Interesting but I always hate being explained to.
Vitalie Meets an Officer - 4/5 - Really interesting and engrossing
The Object Assumes an Exalted Place in the Discourse - 3/5 - This was more essay than story and I think I was a bit too dull to fully appreciate it.
Two by Two - 6/5 - I loved this. It was the perfect story to end on. I loved the characters, the plot, and the prose. So so good.
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