MARCH/APRIL 2026

 Hello All,

It's time for another blog post. We have had some great books reported on in the past few months. Here is a list of some of them.  Enjoy!

KARLA COX

The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride  by Joe Siple 

This is THE book you want to read this year. 

100-years old Murray McBride wonders why he’s still alive, when everyone he loves is gone. But he finds out why when he meets 10-year old Jason, and learns of his five wishes. 

This story is A Man called Ove, Me Before You and maybe The Natural, rolled into one beautiful story of redemption and love where it’s least likely to be found. Funny, surprising and tears-inspiring. Everyone wants to live, but how many get the chance to really live, just when life seems to be at an end? 

The Aviator’s Wife  by Melanie Benjamin

This interesting story is well-researched historical fiction, written as though Anne Morrow Lindbergh were telling her own story of love, power, heartbreak, courage and tenacity. 

When one learns anything about Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh, a couple almost as famous and pursued as Prince Charles and Lady Diana, it’s easy to get lost in the details.  This book does a good job of sorting those details into order, sharing the thrill of flying and their unique relationship as a flying team, the pain of a kidnapped and murdered child, and the irreparable damage suffered by this couple from fame they did not want. Humanizing and true to historical diaries and other writings by the pair, it is nevertheless told through Anne’s eyes. An equally honest and historical book through the eyes of the man from Minnesota, raised to be tough and heroic, would probably be much different. I learned a lot. And I felt sympathy for both, along with other people caught — and often lost — in the crosshairs of public attention that can be  adoring but is always too curious and is not often kind. 

The Promise of a Pencil  by Adam Braun

“Listening intensely is a far more valuable skill than speaking immensely.” That’s one of the first lessons learned by Jewish student of the world and author of this book, Adam Braun, who, in his travels, asked a young beggar on a street in India what he wanted if he could have anything; the boy replied, “A pencil.” 

The book is composed of  30 mantras, life guides Braun learned along the way. Each is followed by the explanation of its power in Braun’s life. 

Braun narrates his efforts to launch a non-profit, which he now refers to as a For-Purpose, since NPs are often looked down upon by the business world; For- Purpose denotes the inherent motivation behind the efforts. He shares his passion for building schools in Laos (his first school) and other countries, and declares that anyone can find their passion and then bring about extraordinary things through a purpose-driven life. A heartwarming and worthwhile account. If I was a millionaire and 30-something, I would want to do something similar. As life is, I’m grateful for the Church’s humanitarian efforts, where I can contribute monthly and know 100% of the funds are helping. But I also contribute to various NPs and NGOs, depending on their overhead and purpose-driven percentage. That has been my guide since I got involved in a similar charity-driven NP in ND, long before I read any of the several books I’ve read about NPs and NGOs. 

Winter  by Val McDermid

This Scottish author of crime and mystery novels steps aside from cranking out what the public demands to write an ode to winter.  And what a luminous ode it is! It’s pensive, poetic, and a little scientific and cerebral. It is, most of all, a writer’s memoir. 

I was 2/3 into the book before I knew Val is a woman; her musings and educative anecdotes gave no indication until she told about talking to herself as she walked the beach and having others say, “Oh, it’s her, the writer.” 

McDermid takes the reader on a hygge-filled journey through all things Scottish, from the firths and flowers and festivals to the paintings and parties and castles and ceilidhs. And then there are always the dinners, from indoors with traditional foods or a “rummage” thrown together,  Burns poetry and singing, to outside in the long dark and damp cold, warmed by bonfires, “neeps” (the original Jack o’ Lantern), Christmas lights, and stargazing. 

Just so you can appreciate this crime writer’s poetic heart, here is the last paragraph of the book I’ll miss most at winter’s end…

“And so I celebrate the end of the winter … because it promises not just the light returning but also that the darkness will come back to be illuminated by words.” Amen, Scottish sista. 

The Frozen River  by Ariel Lawhon

Set in the second century of European presence in America (late 1700s), this story nevertheless reads like a modern-day murder drama, and the heroine is a master sleuth. But most remarkable: though it’s labeled historical fiction, much of the story is historical fact. 

Martha Ballard is a midwife in the small New England town of Hollowell; but she’s called upon to do much more than birth babies. While she’s cherished by her husband of 35 years, and revered by most people of the region, she’s also hated — mostly for her honesty. As her recognition of high-level crime increases, the danger to Mistress Ballard also increases. 

Martha Ballard was a real midwife in the 1780s and 90s, who delivered 1,000 babies live — truly miraculous in her time. She’s actually an ancestor of Clara Barton. But the author, with a masterful imagination, fills in the gaps of remarkable Martha’s diaries and brings a truly exciting page of history to life. A thrilling, tense, and tender story, as well as a fascinating and meaningful look at Revolutionary era life. 

It’s Not Her  by Mary Kubica

Always starting her stories with a jolt, Ms Kubica keeps the pace terrifying and haunting, and no matter which details I didn’t like, I was glued to the book til the end. And there’s no redemption; like Local Woman Missing, this story leaves some people alive but permanently scarred. And the surprises last til the last pages. She’s a top-tier thriller writer, but I’m staying away from now on. Too grim, too awful, too sad. 

Messenger of Truth  by Jacqueline Winspear

I’ve decided to read all of the Maisie Dobbs series. So this is #4, and thanks to JoAnn I should be able to do it! As a Maisie Dobbs fan, it’s obvious that I enjoyed it. But I loved Maisie’s introduction to art, along with her personal growth, in this installment. 

An incomplete Revenge  by Jacqueline Winspear

#5 in the Maisie Dobbs series, the gifted young woman is doubly challenged to solve crimes in a small community in Kent, and cope with the passing of her beloved Simon. She also shows kindness to a band of Gypsies (Roma), acknowledges her genetic ties through her mother’s mother, and brings forth a startling truth that ties the Gypsy band the small town together. 

I always learn something from the fictional Maisie; this one, about hops growth and harvesting! 

Among the Mad  by Jacqueline Winspear 

Again, thanks to JoAnn, I’m moving through Maisie Dobbs’ life and adventures. In book #6, Maisie goes deeper into human suffering and faces some brutal challenges as she sees a man commit violent suicide and becomes embroiled with Scotland Yard in a race against time with a mentally ill, murderous but brilliant chemist soldier. As always with the Maisie Dobbs stories, it’s about much more than solving a case; it’s understanding and having compassion for oneself and for humankind. 

Burn Down Master’s House  by Clay Cane 

This was the most unique, hard story this month. It’s really historical fiction, but all of the characters are based on real people, many of them from the author’s own heritage. He fills in the story line with haunting, graphic details of 1800s slave life and the possibility that sometimes slaves took revenge on their truly cruel and evil masters. He connects these real people into a fictional timeline that is believable and profoundly courageous, even in its ghastliness. 

Clay Cane is a journalist, podcaster and author; this is the story he has been wanting to write for 20 years, he declares. 

A powerful, and in some ways disturbing book, but I’m glad I listened to it in the author’s strangely cadenced voice that added impact and reality to the story. 

MARYANN STEVENS

Stories from Suffragette City 3️ A collection by various authors. Some stories are engaging. I returned early.  

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware 4️ not a typical murder mystery. Journalist Lo Blacklock gets a dream assignment: spend a week on the maiden voyage of a luxury yacht from London to northern Norway. Lo sees someone she shouldn’t & then later hears a cry for help & a big splash. The head of security disbelieves her, throwing back that she drank a lot that night and she’s on antidepressants etc. someone writes a message on her mirror, Stop Digging. What follows is a dark story of imprisonment, escape, & recapture. 

Fly Away by Kristen Hannah 3.5️ two families fall apart when mom dies of cancer. So many mistakes. So many missed opportunities to listen & show love.  

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng 4 ️ two very different families: Mia is an artist who creates unique & sometimes strange art with photography. Apparently her art has an high end market as selling one funds 6 months of living. She & her daughter, now 16-year old Pearl move frequently, at Mia’s whim, packing all their belongings into their VW Rabbit. Thé Peterson family has lived in their town for multiple generations in a perfect suburban subdivision with rules about the color of the houses, thé size of the yards, etc. the collision of these two families & their disparate values form the basis of the story. 

The Checklist  Manifesto by Atul Gawande 4️ of course a checklist is valuable- the surprise to me was that anyone would challenge the use of one. reviewed earlier by Beth & Karla, Joann?

BETH HEDENGREN

These Precious Days by Ann Patchett
Personal essays by one of my favorite authors (Bel Canto, The Dutch House, Commonwealth). Insightful. Transcendent. Beautifully written. She writes about her three fathers—one biological and three steps—with both honesty and generosity. Other essays address friends, her mom, and her husband. The last essay movingly covers the last months of a dear friend who lives with Ann while undergoing experimental cancer treatment. A lovely book!
Doing Small Things with Great Love by Sharon Eubank
Sharon Eubank, leader of the Church Humanitarian Program, writes convincingly of why the best service happens close to home. She tells of how the Church has moved more to providing help from local markets and with local helping hands. She also speaks of how those who want to help need to ask those they want to help what is the best way to help them. Outsiders often don’t know what is really needed.
Oscar from Elsewhere by Jaclyn Moriarty
Middle school fantasy novel by Liane Moriarty’s (Big Little Lies) sister. A skateboarding 12-year-old boy from Australia is suddenly transported to a magical land where he joins characters we’ve met in previous books in the series (see The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone) on a quest to save a village of tiny (and hilarious) elves. Charming, delightful, funny, but with an important message about how children should not have to do it all without parental support.

TESSA RUSSELL

"The Temple Gaining Knowledge and Power in the House of the Lord"

GERI CHRISTENSEN

MURDER ON THE MARLOW BELLE

by Robert Thorogood

Verity Beresford is worried about her husband. Oliver didn't come home last night, so of course Verity goes straight to Judith Potts, Marlow's resident amateur sleuth, for help. Oliver, founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, had rented The Marlow Belle, a private pleasure cruiser, to host an exclusive party for the society, but no one remembers seeing him disembark. And when Oliver's body washes up on the Thames with two bullet holes in him, it's time for the Marlow Murder Club to leap into action.

Oliver was, by all accounts, a rather complicated fellow, with a reputation for bullying children during nativity play rehearsals, and he wasn't short of enemies. Judith, Suzie, and Becks are convinced they'll find his killer in no time. But things are not as they seem in the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, and this case is not so clear-cut after all. The gang will need to keep their wits about them to solve this case… otherwise a killer will walk free.

THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR OF JUDITH POTTS 

By  Robert Thorogood

Someone is killing celebrities in Marlow. First, it's a famous soccer player. Then, a bestselling thriller writer. When two shocking deaths rock their quiet riverside town, Judith, Suzie, and Becks—the unstoppable Marlow Murder Club—must untangle a dangerous web of blackmail and scandal to catch a killer.

But with their trusted police ally DI Malik suddenly suspended, and Judith's own past threatening to resurface, the women are on their own. Suspects are multiplying like tabloid headlines, secrets are stacking up, and time is running out.

Can the Marlow Murder Club crack the case before the killer strikes again—or will this be the end of their crime-solving adventures?

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED 

by Jack Higgins

As the Allied forces slowly begin turning the tide of war, Hitler vehemently orders the impossible—kidnap Winston Churchill, or kill him. A crack team of commandos led by a disgraced war hero must venture into the heart of England to carry out their mission, or die trying.

Meanwhile, in a quiet seaside village, a beautiful widow and an IRA assassin have already laid the groundwork for what will be the most treacherous plot of the war. It begins on November 6, 1943, when Berlin receivs the fateful message...

As the deadly duo executes Hitler’s harrowing plot, only the quiet town of Studley Constable stands in their way. Its residents are the lone souls aware of the impending Nazi plan, and they must become the most unlikely of heroes as the fate of the war hangs in the balance.

THE SHELL SEEKERS 

by Rosamunde Pilcher

At the end of a long and useful life, Penelope Keeling's prized possession is The Shell Seekers, painted by her father, and symbolizing her unconventional life, from bohemian childhood to wartime romance. When her grown children learn their grandfather's work is now worth a fortune, each has an idea as to what Penelope should do. But as she recalls the passions, tragedies, and secrets of her life, she knows there is only one answer...and it lies in her heart. A sprawling saga that is both infuriating and deeply satisfying as we learn how Penelope navigates between her selfish and greedy adult children and her desire to keep her fathers memory alive.  A lovely book that ends all too soon. 

A STRANGER IS WATCHING

by Mary Higgins Clark

Ronald Thompson knows he never killed Nina Peterson—yet in two days the state of Connecticut will take his life, having found him guilty via due process of law. But Thompson’s death will not stop the pain and anger of Nina’s husband, Steve. Thompson’s death will not still the fears of Nina’s six-year-old son, Neil, witness to his mother’s brutal slaying. Not even the love and friendship of Sharon Martin, a journalist who is slowly becoming a part of their world, will ever erase their bitter memories. Only time, perhaps, will heal their wounds. But in the shadows a stranger waits, a cunning psychopath who has killed before, who has unfinished business at the Peterson home...

MURDER BEFORE EVENSONG

Richard Coles

Canon Daniel Clement (Matthew Lewis, Harry Potterfilms), introverted Rector of the picturesque English village of Champton, has his life turned upside-down when his infuriating mother Audrey (Amanda Redman, The Good Karma Hospital) arrives unannounced, dragging up memories Daniel would rather not confront. But a more serious challenge awaits Daniel when he stumbles upon the dead body of his parishioner. Daniel must delve under the veneer of village life to piece together clues and uncover long-buried secrets, navigating the press and public eye and the ire of his superior, the bishop. Daniel is forced to question who he can trust, and whether he himself was the intended murder victim. Based on the best-selling novel by the Reverend Richard Coles. 

“A classic Christie-esque mystery… is as much about the people and the world surrounding the murder(s) than it is about the mystery itself” -

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED

Jack Higgins

In November of 1943, an elite team of Nazi paratroopers descends on British soil with a diabolical goal: to abduct Winston Churchill and cripple the Allied war effort. The mission, ordered by Hitler himself and planned by Heinrich Himmler, is led by ace agent Kurt Steiner and aided on the ground by IRA gunman Liam Devlin.

 

As the deadly duo executes Hitler’s harrowing plot, only the quiet town of Studley Constable stands in their way. Its residents are the lone souls aware of the impending Nazi plan, and they must become the most unlikely of heroes as the fate of the war hangs in the balance.

THE CONFORT OF GHOSTS

Jacqueline Winspear 

London, 1945: Four adolescent orphans with a dark wartime history are squatting in a vacant Belgravia mansion—the owners having fled London under heavy Luftwaffe bombing. Psychologist and Investigator Maisie Dobbs visits the mansion on behalf of the owners and discovers that a demobilized soldier, gravely ill and reeling from his experiences overseas, has taken shelter with the group.

Maisie’s quest to bring comfort to the youngsters and the ailing soldier brings to light a decades-old mystery concerning Maisie’s first husband, James Compton, who was killed while piloting an experimental fighter aircraft. As Maisie unravels the threads of her dead husband’s life, she is forced to examine her own painful past and question beliefs she has always accepted as true.

The award-winning Maisie Dobbs series has garnered hundreds of thousands of followers, readers drawn to a woman who is of her time, yet familiar in ours—and who inspires with her resilience and capacity for endurance. This final assignment of her own choosing not only opens a new future for Maisie and her family, but serves as a  fascinating portrayal of the challenges facing the people of Britain at the close of the Second World War.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

 Hello All Book Lovers,

We met at Karla Cox's home last week and shared some wonderful books.  Here is the list I have so far.  If you haven't yet sent me your latest books, it's not too late.  I can always add them onto the blog.  

BETH HEDENGREN

Murder at an Irish Christmas by Carlene O’Connor

Fun cozy Christmas mystery, in a charming Irish village. The sleuth is a woman police officer, a garda, and the victim is a famous elderly musician/conductor. Garda Siobhan is thrown into the investigation because she has traveled to the village to meet her brother’s fiancee’s musical family, who are grandchildren to the victim. Against a Christmassy backdrop of snow and cozy tea chats, she gradually unravels the mystery. 

The World She Edited by Amy Reading

A lively biography of Katharine White, who was an editor at the New Yorker for 36 years, starting in 1925. White generously mentored many writers who went on to become famous, including Vladimir Nabokv, John Updike, May McCarthy, Elizabeth Bishop, Jean Stafford, and Shirley Jackson (“The Lottery”). She also married EB White and was devoted to helping him with his writing. EB White, who went by Andy, was fairly neurotic and took a good deal of coaxing to keep on writing. Katharine provided just the right amount of sympathy and motivation. He wrote columns and short pieces for the New Yorker for many years before eventually cutting his responsibilities there to focus on longer fiction. The children’s book Stuart Little was his first success at fiction and took many years for him to finish with Katharine’s encouragement. Fascinating look at the world of publishing and writing. 

Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke

One of my favorite cozy mystery series. Hannah, the sleuth, has a master’s in English and lives in Minnesota—so of course I feel a connection. She also owns a bakery and makes yummy cookies (recipes included) and has two boyfriends who both want to marry her. In every book, she solves the mystery and makes great food but can never quite decide who to marry. Fun!

Cherry Cheesecake Murder by Joann Fluke

See above. They are all pretty similar, making these books perfect going to sleep reading!

MARYANN STEVENS

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt 4 ️ this is as close to fantasy as I’ll probably get: Tova, a 70-year old widow living in the Puget Sound whose 18 yr old son who died under mysterious circumstances years ago; in California’s Central Valley, Cameron, a 30 year old orphan raised by his aunt Jean decides to look for his unknown father based on his mother’s rediscovered high school picture & an initialed class ring; Marcellus, an octopus who lives in a tank in an aquarium in Washington.

The Death of a Chimney Sweep - Hamish MacBeth by MC Beaton 3.5️ Loch Loo outdoes itself in the number & viciousness of the murders which take Hamish months to solve.

The New & Everlasting Covenant by Joshua Savage 3.5️ Using both canon & living General Authorities, Savage studies a broadened view of the everlasting covenant. I couldn’t find out much about author but his doctrine seemed sound.

Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts 3.5️ Mrs L Frank Baum, (Maud) storms onto the set of MGM studios to make sure her husband’s legacy remains safe in the filming of the Wizard of Oz. Through flashbacks we learn how love gets through all the ups & down of life with Frank & Maud.

Crossing to Safety.
Beyond the Hundredth Meridian by Wallace Stegner 4.5 ️ much more than a retelling of John Welsey Powell’s exploration of the Colorado River, this is a history of Powell’s influential work both in the West & in Washington to “ organize the scientific studies of the government.
Powell was a statesman during the Glided Age who used his crafty strategy, not for personal gain but for the advancement of science in gathering facts about the great western expanse. 1/4 acre land in the arid west was not enough to survive. More than 2/3 of all homesteaders west of the 100th Meridian failed & thé land - the free government land - reverted to the banks for outstanding loans. For a large majority, this free land did not help the poor farmer as much asbut rthe bankers & corporations that recovered thé land. US Geological Survey Bureau of Ethnology.  Powell wanted to adjust homesteader acreage based on the actual productivity of the soil. In all his planning, he wanted the outcome to be the most good for the largest number of people for the longest time.

KARLA COX

The Halloween Tree  by Ray Bradbury

A quick creative Halloween story on Halloween, because why not? Ray Bradbury is a master storyteller, but he also uses this short fantasy to teach young and old about the holiday of the dead. The bonuses: I learned a bit about Halloween traditions from throughout history (at least from Bradbury’s perspective), and I enjoyed a Halloween-specific story (truly rare for me). I wonder why no one made a Halloween movie from this youthful-viewpoint sci-fi. 

Remain  by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan

This was another atypical choice for me, as it was a ghost story, also a mystery, but also a love story. The unique and

genius pairing of romance author Nick Sparks with the edgy, sometimes scary and always thought-provoking movie maker M Night Shyamalan made for an incredible, yes, spooky, and enjoyable  tale. (I think I came under my SIL Craig’s influence, as he loves Halloween and all things spooky.)  I might not  enjoy the movie (thanks to Hollywood’s all too vivid special effects), but I had a hard time setting the book aside. 

Remain asks us to consider if love can set us free, even from the boundaries of life and death. A transcendent concept for much of the world, but for me a truly comfortable truth. Definitely one to read, not watch or listen to if ghost stories aren’t your thing. They aren’t always mine. (It will be made into a movie, according to the credits. And Shyamalan is making it, so I’ll plan to see it.) 

History Matters  by David McCullough 

A peek into the inside of the man who “elevated history into great literature” (his own words about another author), this is a collection of essays and speeches from the late great D McC, as his daughter (who helped assemble the compilation) referred to him when speaking of him as a writer and historian. David McCullough really was a great writer, incredible scholar, and loving family man. His story, not told here directly yet told through his words,  is unique, interesting and inspiring. 

This book is also a great place to find his heroes, and to learn even more about some of the great ones whose stories he has told. 

One tiny sample from one of the speeches in this amazing book of an amazing man - the history in essay form of a great historian of our time, can be found in this: “a large modern bookstore may have a hundred thousand books or more. And we get to choose! All these different voices, all these different points of view; and we get to choose! Or to go into a vast library, where choices are even greater; and we get to travel in the mind!” 

Maybe the best of his books, because it’s such a concise distillation of the millions of things he has has said and written. I’ll probably buy this one, and you know what that says… 

The Stolen Life of Collette Marceau  by Kristin Harmel

This story of jewel thefts as a family tradition, WWII resistance efforts vs corrupt French police, and never giving up on finding lost loved ones is historical fiction at its best. 

Kristin Harmel never disappoints me; her research is meticulous and her stories are powerful. But this one had some personal undertones, which she shares in the Author’s Note at the end. She also brings some ethics questions to the forefront, since her main characters, descendants of the notorious/heroic Robin Hood, steal to accomplish a greater good. And yet it’s based in 1940s France and 2018 U.S. So much to enjoy in this book! 

The Colony  by John Tayman

This is a documented, accurate account of the Leper colony on Molokai, Hawaii. While I had heard of the colony before, I had no idea of the deprivations and circumstances of this natural prison: lava-rock cliffs on three sides, the crashing waves of the ocean on the fourth. At it’s peak, well over a thousand people were confined there, almost always against their will. Now only 28 people live there, quietly and by choice. This book tells how it happened, the ignorance and misconceptions that continued it, and the heartbreak of a disease that has been misunderstood since biblical times. But more importantly, it tells of the pure goodness of a few, the hope that survived  unfair and unthinkable circumstances, and the gradual cures that have changed the face of leprosy (now called Hansen’s Disease for the Swedish doctor who isolated the bacilli that causes the disease). The book is long and sometimes overly-detailed, but the real-life characters become people I want to meet someday. It’s descriptive and educational.  I learned a great deal. 

The River is Waiting  by Wally Lamb 

I almost turned this audiobook back in because of the language and coarse sound of the reader. But this heart-breaking story of Corby, a Rx drug and alcohol-addicted young father who causes a tragic accident that tears his life and family apart, deserves to be heard. From the forever guilty and permanently destroyed husband and dad’s point of view, you get no heroism; just raw pain and honesty. From the inside of addiction and recovery, and from the inside of a prison with lots of human darkness but a few rays of human light, there is little happiness in this story; but there is hope and elemental kindness. And in the ineffably sad ending, there is peace. 

Mailman  by Stephen Starring Grant

Surprisingly similar to the previous book, in that both are from a dad’s point of view who loses his job and faces tough times. But that one is fiction, this one is a memoir, and while that one is brutal and poignant and often harsh, this is creative and funny, analytically heartwarming, and truly profound. 

This personal account of an executive marketer and consultant who is laid off and becomes a mail carrier during COVID, takes place in the Appalachians, in Blacksburg, West Virginia, where hill people rub shoulders and share mountain space with engineers. Sometimes happily. 

And while The River is Waiting points acutely at the problems in America, and ends with the onslaught of COVID, Mailman is unabashedly patriotic, in spite of its current place in the Pandemic. For example, this message sandwiched in the middle of a chapter in the middle of the book: “Being born as an American was like winning the lottery of life.” And “There has to be a starting point. It is love of country. America is an idea. Without love of country, how will we ever muster the energy to perfect that idea?” 

A fun and lovely story, and one that deepened my appreciation for my own life and experiences. Grant, while swearing to a level I would normally avoid, painted the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains and the nobility of humanity so well I was frequently moved to tears. 

Radical Sisters  by Judith L. Pearson

“The doctor can make the incision, but I’ll make the decision.” ~Shirley Temple Black  

“I have a streak of stubbornness and a loud voice.” ~Rose Kushner

“I believe that one must leave the world a better place than you found it.” ~ Evelyn Lauder

The lives of these three famous women provide an inspiring and motivating biographical trio, well-researched and told with gusto. All three had breast cancer; two died from cancer. But they spent their lives, and a large chunk of their fortunes, to ignite a movement, and change the way society views this scourge of women. 

When each of these three were diagnosed with breast cancer, they faced a medical world of myths, outdated protocols, and a shocking lack of research. Thanks to their trailblazing efforts, each in her time, the door was opened to greater awareness, better funding for research, and more effective methods of treating the disease that was as much an epidemic as AIDS yet received a fraction of the funding. In a man’s world, these “Radical Sisters” demanded a shift in how society viewed breast cancer, and worked to change the world for others. There are so many powerful stories and fascinating details; I’ll leave it to you to pick it up and learn why breast cancer is now one of the most overcomeable cancers. Survivors and advocates of today stand on the shoulders of these powerful, determined women, whose legacy has empowered advocacy for better healthcare, increased (through better-funded) research, and greater awareness. 

Sheltering Rain  by JoJo Moyes

Most if not all of you have read JoJo Moyes, so you know what a queen of writing about healing broken families she is. This story is about three generations of Irish women (actually four) whose silent suffering has driven them apart, each in her time. It begins with Joy, living in China as Queen Elizabeth (the one we all knew in our lifetimes) is crowned. Joy’s mother Alice, her daughter Kate, and Kate’s daughter Sabine all throw up emotional walls that must be torn down for any of them to thrive. It doesn’t happen. Until the horses and another suffering woman bring them together in Ireland. 

Though some “secrets” were predictable, I loved the way the story unfolded, transitioning between the past in China, on steamer-ships, in London, and the present (which happened to be late 90s) in Ireland. 

Of course I loved hearing the names and descriptions of places I visited just last summer. 

Gone Before Goodbye  by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben

This suspense novel about a world-class combat surgeon whose life is turned upside down at the grisly death of her husband and the loss of her career, is more like the old-time radio drama style; each character is voiced individually. Which is nice, because there’s no male trying to sound like a female, and no woman trying to sound like a man. The main narration is Reese Witherspoon as Maggie, and she makes the story feel so real. It’s an exciting and surprisingly clean story. I loved that. 

But I found myself wondering frequently how much Reese actually wrote. There are exceptionally detailed passages about many topics, including medicine, surgery, and the geography of inner Russia and Bordeaux France. I suspect the best-selling co-author did the research and structured the chapters, while Witherspoon came up with the concept and, yes, brought the story to life with her many talents. In this age of AI, it’s hard to trust that much is personally written. And we might not be able to tell, or ever have a way to be sure. That makes me uncomfortable. 

Death of an Ice Cream Salesman  by Penelope Cress and Steve Higgs 

A British comedy/PI story that moved quickly and offered an entertaining story. Apparently it’s a series (“A Mike Atwell story”), and I did feel a little like I missed the first act; plus it ends with a bit of a cliff hanger. All in all, a quick interesting Private I story. 

The Bookshop on the Corner  by  Jenny Colgan

A sweet little romance about a woman who loves books and has a gift for pairing them with people. After losing her library job, introverted Nina, who’s never been seen without a book in her hand, finds the courage to start over. Setbacks and heartache accompany her, but Nina finds a new life, out of the chaos and smells of Birmingham, far to the North in Scotland. 

A predictable story, but enjoyable. 

JO ANN ABEGGLEN

The Shepherd of the Hills 

by Harold Bell Wright

Gone before Good-bye

Reese Witherspoon

by Harlan Coben

How to Tet Negative For Stupid

by John Kennedy

GERI CHRISTENSEN

MARBLE HALL MURDERS

by David Horowitz 

a sequel to MAGPIE MURDERS, an excellent mystery

CARAVAN

by Dorothy Gilman

Rather long and rambling, but a good story by the end.

THE DAY SHELLY WOODHOUSE WOKE UP

by Laura Pearson

A great story with a surprise ending.  I really enjoyed it.

 

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025

 Hello All,

It's time for a new Bookshare blog featuring some of the latest books that have been reported on.

Lots of great books here for you to choose from.  We will be meeting next month on December 8th at 

the home of Karla Cox.  See you there!

BETH HEDENGREN

Sunrise on the Reaping, by Suzanne Collins. Very well written—such a brutal concept. Children fighting to the death to entertain the masses. I almost quit reading and had nighmares one night. But I finished. It’s a prequel to the main Hunger Games Trilogy, so it tied in with that at the end and looked toward the happy resolution to that. But, as Krystian says, “why do we read Hunger Games?”

The Wizard of Oz. by L. Frank Baum

The original is delightful—well worth a revisit. Much as I love the movie—the book is really lovely. Direct, simple style. Strong characters and a message you get but it is not over stressed or didactic. 

The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood

Delightful story of 3 very un-similar women in a British village and how they solve the mystery of who murdered a neighbor. 

Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization by Brad Wilcox (but not the Mormon Brad Wilcox)

Written by a University of Virginia sociologist, this book reports on extensive research on the links between the decline in marriage and declines in happiness and prosperity. He goes on to demonstrate that couples who take a “we-before-me” approach are happier and less divorce-prone. He has evidence that the happiest marriages are characterized by frequent date nights, family fun time, and chores done together as a couple and with kids. (Sounds like the Proclamation on Family, right?) Wilcox warns against anti-marriage messages in popular culture that seem to discourage people from marrying and building strong families.  

Odyssey by Stephen Fry

A delightful retelling of the Odyssey! Not a word for word translation, but a very accessible and enjoyable story of the heroes of Troy and their journey home from the most destructive war in history to that point. Fry (the brilliant reader of the Harry Potter books) clearly knows and loves the Greek epic poetry, dramas, and legends. He blends them all together for a coherent and compelling tale of adventure, tragedy, and self-discovery. 

Really fun to read, especially after reading the excellent story of the Trojan women—A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes. I am always moved by how these people that lived thousands of years ago were basically the same as we are in their emotions, desires, needs, and potential for either evil or good. 

Beth Hedengren

801-836-2830 

MARYANN STEVENS

• Murder on the Brighton Express by CJ ARCHER 3️1900 London Cleo holidays in Brighton with her cousins, aunt & uncle, her only family. She meets a journalistic investigator at the beach who tries to blackmail her to get Cleos help after they’d returned to London. Cleo keeps an eye on the young& is horrified when  the young woman does not get off the train, fearing foul play.  Train employees say suicide. Cleo enlists help to find the body. The lazy Scotland Yard sergeant closes the case as suicide without an autopsy or a suicide note. Cleo & her side kick work to clear her name & discover the real criminals. 

• ️️Black Widow by Daniel Silva 4 A very, very secret service agency in Israel recruits people from all walks of like to infiltrate thé newest Isis encampments. One recruit is an Algerian-French Jewess MD who emigrated from France to Israel with her parents. The agency basically kidnaps her to avoid detection & teaches her to become an avenging Isis black widow (one who has lost a lover or husband, lover, brother, etc ) who is also close to the supreme leader & needs medical attention. ISIS Plots are planned for European capitals as well as Washington DC. Can IDF use the intel to stop the massacres? 

• All We Thought We Knew by 3.5️ by Michelle Shocklee 1942 After a  whirlwind courtship & a four day honeymoon moon, Ava’s sailor is shipped out to the Japanese Theater where he promptly dies in battle.   Ava forms a strong bond with an intelligent & gentle German enemy alien at the Army post where she works. But he is transferred to North Dakota & she feels lost & alone again. Fast forward to the 1960s & Maddie, Ava’s daughter, is violently opposed to the Vietnam War.  Mark, her twin brother enlists with help from his Best friend. Mark dies. Maddie falls apart. She blames her parents for letting Mark go & Maddie leaves home for the California hippie scene for over a year. Her mother is dying & her dad finds her & asks her to come home to thé Tennessee horse farm where she was raised. Ava‘s secrets are revealed and her brother’s best friend returns from Vietnam missing an arm. Interesting family dynamics but thé love bind. 
• ️Lost Souls of Leningrad by Suzanne Parry 4️ an intimate telling of the Nazi siege of Leningrad that starved half the population. The soul of a family kept alive as grandmother & granddaughter support each other. Great to read WWII from a new perspective. Very good. 

A Rather Dastardly Death by Anthony Slayton 3️ Mister Quayle, Secretary to Lord Unsworth is called upon again to solve a murder & keep the family’s honor in tact. Family vacation on the Rivera between WWars. 

The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor 4️ Harvard PhD & business consultant describes how to built a culture of happiness which boosts the bottom line in business & builds great relationships anywhere. 

️️Good Night Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea 4.5️ thé donuts girls. Taking inspiration from his own mother’s WWII Red Cross service, Urrea  weaves a wonderful story of camaraderie, heroism, tenacity, love & loss. Great book. 

One Life by Barbara Winton 3.5️ In 1938, a friend tells Nicky Hinton of the terrible conditions existing for children in Czechoslovakia. Nicky organizes resources to evacuate & save from certain death over 600 children. Over his life his engagement in humanitarian work is constant - even after he’s 100 years old. Book got tedious as Author-daughter describes every job he ever had. 

️️️A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes 4️ Have thé lives of women ever been the same? I see many parallels. Three goddesses, Hera, Aphrodite, & Athena,  insist Paris decide which will be awarded the golden apple because of her great beauty. Penelope, wife of Odysseus writes letters & asks him if thé Bard’s tales  of him are true & asks why he stays away 10 years after Troy has fallen. 

Stories of The Amazons. 

Wife of Hector watches a Greek throw her infant son from the walls of Troy only to become his slave & the mother of his son. 

Cassandra, daughter of Priam sees the future - that would be very uncomfortable ‘gift’- & goes quietly to her death at the hands of her captors. 

Her sister is sacrificed to the Greeks gods to insure their safe passage home. 

Hecuba, Priam’s queen & Mother of Hector is taken by Odyssey to the nearby king who for money hid her youngest son & then betrayed him to the Greeks. Odyssey believes such treachery deserves punishment which he allows her to dispense. She kills both of his sons before his eyes & then blinds him with the same dagger but spares his life so he can agonize over the loss of his sons & relive his treachery. 

Calliope thé Poet & muse of heroic poetry must compose on command. “I have sung of it all, including the women in the shadows, forgotten, ignored, untold & I have shaped them & have sung of them because they have waited long enough.”Why in war do we not sing of half the world? They are equally heroic.”

Lots of good books. 

KARLA COX

SEPTEMBER

The Overstory  by Richard Powers

This is 23+ hours of listening to prose about trees and their people. So it’s not for everyone. But each symbol and word-rich chapter introduces you to a new, unique individual who cares deeply about a particular type of tree - or, in the case of Patricia, a hearing-impaired genius who learns finally to relate to humans after she has cared about plants and their souls her whole life (shades of Is a River Alive?), a particular connection to nature. Eventually,  all the characters are brought together, to connect with each other in their defense of trees and nature. Awful things happen. Beautiful things happen. Regret, redemption, and loss travel through the book like a seedling on the wind from the arboral star of this epic, the Chestnut. There are far too many word gems to record, but all of them are treasures to my brain and soul. 

I’ve never been a true activist (though at times a bit of a crusader); but this book persuades me to lean with grace toward those who are. 

A quote from the synopsis: “There is a world alongside ours - vast, slow, interconnected, resourceful, magnificently inventive, and almost invisible to us.” For me personally, that’s analogous to the world and gifts of the Spirit - unseen and usually unappreciated. 

A most unusual but beautifully written book. 

I’m glad I listened to it; because reading would have taken me another 5 or six hours beyond the 23. (I would have stopped to write down quotes from almost every page…) 

Gung Ho by Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles

I read this book because Tim asked me to read it. The concepts taught in story form are preached to improve business practices. But, as with all truth, they apply to life in general, and to spiritual circumstances when applied analogously. The authors use three concepts that came, so says one of the two main characters, from his Native American grandfather: The Secret of the Squirrel, the Way of the Beaver, and the Gift of the Geese.  I definitely see the benefits of these concepts in the business world.  I had to dig for the spiritual implications. 

These Precious Days  by Ann Patchett

What a beautiful collection of thoughtful reminiscences, by an author I believe I would like very much if we were to meet. 

If you’ve read anything by Ann Patchett, you know her character development is superb. But these essays required no development; just profound perspective, vibrant emotion, and rich insight - since each essay is from Patchett’s life. About home, family, friendships and writing, Patchett shares details that make you feel as if you are her friend, having a lengthy and introspective conversation. I don’t have to agree with her about not having children to respect her decision to live childless. I don’t have to come from a divorced family to appreciate her three-fathers blessings. I don’t have to have watched a friend fight cancer (though I have, too many times) to value the tenderness in her tale of unexpected friendship and loss. I can’t say enough about the resonance of these essays, personal messages artfully inlaid with universal meaning. A truly lovely book. 

The Little Liar  by Mitch Albom

Another WWII story; who knew Mitch Albom could go there with such astuteness? Like Death, the narrator of The Book Thief, this narrator is Truth. And truth, while always valuable, is not always kind. 

The story revolves around a family of Greek Jews (interestingly, my second in as many months; and I’ve never read anything about Greek Jews before) who are rounded up with as many as 40,000 in Salonika/Thessaloniki and hauled by cattle-car to face death. Except one young son strangely left behind, Nico. 

The story is filled with psalm-like gems of wisdom, such as  “Evil travels like dandelion seeds, blowing over borders and taking root in angry minds”; or  “Hate is an ancient melody; blame is even older.” Or “Time does not heal all wounds; some, it only rubs deeper.” And this: “The heart has many routes to love; compassion is one of them.” Are these and so many others that I didn’t write down,  ancient wisdom? Perhaps handed down through rabbis? Or simply the wisdom of Mitch Albom? I’m not wise enough to know. But it was Albom, speaking as Truth, who faithfully researched and eloquently told this partly true and deeply meaningful story. I’m grateful for his commitment to the vow, “Never again.” 

This is the Story of a Happy Marriage  by Ann Patchett

I enjoyed These Precious Days so much, I checked out the next Ann Patchett book that came up; it was a collection of her published essays/short stories, and it takes us into the very real world of Ann Patchet’s life. Hard things, funny experiences, life-changing events, the love of a dog… These and more take us from her child to the present day. 

Like These Precious Days, This is the Story of a Happy Marriage is a delightful and incredible wander through the days, people and intelligence of a truly remarkable writer. Again, I feel like I have a new friend. 

Though there are painful stories here too, and circumstances that don’t resonate for me, novel author Patchett proves she can write truth as creatively as fiction. She is remarkable because she writes until her audience understands. 

The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club  by Martha Hall Kelly 

I’m a big fan of Martha Hall Kelley, a favorite historical fiction writer who usually bases her characters, and much of their circumstances, on real people. This one is based on her mother, uncle, and their background on Martha’s Vineyard. But the book’s story is placed in WWI, and many of the characters hail from that time period. Two sisters, trying to maintain their family farm in the face of their parents’ death and brother’s enlistment, find their every talent called upon to save their grandmother and the farm they love. The very real twists and turns bring them and their innocent Book Club friends to the brink of arrest or worse, while wondering if their brave brother is alive or dead. 

A delightful story and a good wander into German activity on American soil. 

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Though this story is famed among Hemingway fans, most people I’ve heard describe this story, and the movie based on it, call them boring and depressing. I guess I’m a Hemingway fan, though late to the table. (I didn’t read any of his until my daughter won the Hemingway Award through her high school journalism writing.) I loved the symbolisms and the inherent themes of courage in adversity and of love for others, even the fish he fought to capture. From the publisher’s review: “It tells a fundamental human truth: in a volatile world… what sustains us, ultimately, is hope.” Too short to pass up, it’s worth the detail and contemplative structure. I loved it’s conciseness, and it’s symbolic beauty. 

The Story She Left Behind  by Patti Callahan Henry 

Who knew this story by an author I’ve enjoyed for her mystery and suspense would create a tale of Ireland - a place I now love, Gaelic - a language I actually studied a bit, and of enchanted places I long to see?! 

To be fair, the key characters are actually based in London and the Lakes District, England and the shores of May River, South Carolina. But the tale is woven of times and peoples past, of remarkable interconnectedness, and an inner secret place and story that everyone might have, but most have forgotten. 

Here’s one of the beautiful quotes from the book, spoken by the narrator: “Bronwyn made up her own language; [Callum] hid his - both having untold stories that needed to find their way out. …The internal landscape of the soul needs to belong to oneself before it can be shared with others. Some creations are for the creator and no one else; the created act a discovery, a quest for oneself.” A magical book. 

Fun bonuses: The story is partially based on two real women: Barbara Newhall Follett, a troubled child prodigy author, and Beatrix Potter, the beloved children’s author and illustrator, who is casually included in the story as though, of course these fictional people knew her! 

Also, the killing fog (known as the Great Smog or the Great Smoke) that drove the key characters out of London was real. It occurred in 1952 and may have killed 12,000 people. It resulted in the Clean Air Act of England. 

More or Less Maddy  by Lisa Genova 

If you’ve read anything by Lisa Genova, you know she is a crusader, with human struggles as her cause and fiction as her tool. This story is about a girl who’s just like any other stressed-out college freshman, who thinks it’s normal to feel overwhelmed, and doesn’t fit in with her oh, so perfect Connecticut country club family. Until she is diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. 

Genova is incredible at taking the reader inside the suffering. While I have known enough sufferers of BPD to feel compassion, I’ve never considered the spiraling intensity of the highs or the merciless depth of the lows. 

The book was hard to stay with because of the terrible language and casual sexual references; and quite frankly, it was painful for me empathetically. But I still recommend it for the educational insights that enhance compassion for those who deal with any mental health issue. And the hopeful ending. 

Save the Date  by Mary Kaye Andrews

Just a fluffy love story about a florist in Savannah GA who feels like an outsider and who can’t catch a break even though she’s talented and works hard. Until she meets the proverbial manly man, complete with rough hands, who she hates until she falls for him. Terribly formulaic but still fun to listen to. I probably wouldn’t have bothered with it though,  if I were reading the book. 

Proclaim Peace  by Patrick Q. Mason and J. David Pulsipher

I have heard many podcasts and read another book by Patrick Mason. His voice is somewhat brusque, but his message is bullseye. While I disagree a little with some of his points (e.g., that Nephi used anger and violence unnecessarily), he makes some important points, too many to mention here, all the while citing scripture and modern prophets and their revelations. 

Here’s one example of backing up his non-violent case, point by point.

Eight Criteria for balancing the ledger when violence (war, punishment) is essential:

-Disinclination

-Forbearance

-Divine Consent

-Accountability

-Restraint

-Grief

-Steadfast Connection

-Increased Love

In my opinion, these steps were followed after the U.S. dropped bombs on Japan; we are now solid friends and allies with the Japanese people. 

He makes a strong case for God’s ability to use violence and still be omnisciently loving. And he said this: “There’s nothing that says we have to be happy about God’s occasional resort to violence [e.g., in the destruction of the wicked after Christ’s crucifixion].  If we shrink from divine violence, and are morally troubled by it, it means our sensitive souls are simply a reflection of God’s own sorrow over the violence He sometimes deploys.”

A remarkably timely book, so relevant for our times! 

OCTOBER

The Maid’s Secret  by Nita Prose

For you who have read the Molly the Maid series, this one feels like a wrap. A spirited art heist mystery and an epic love story combined, as the key to both lies in the past - all to be found in Molly’s beloved Gran’s diary. 

I squeezed in time to read this in strange places and limited moments. Well worth it!! 

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post  by Allison Pataki

Great recommendation, Marlene! I enjoyed learning about this rich and powerful woman who had a wonderful life, though she was unsuccessful in marriage. Married four times, all ended badly; she had periods of wastefulness of her wealth as the heiress of Post and General Mills, but was, overall, and kind and philanthropic woman. A fascinating book (though not a biography - rather a novel written as though in her words). 

Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage  by MC Beaton

Agatha Raisin’s marriage to James Lacey is ruined because our dear, obnoxious, feisty Aggie’s first husband is alive! And then he’s not… Another crazy chase through the Cotswolds as Agatha and her comical cohorts try to solve the murders that follow them around, til Agatha herself is the victim! Great murder mystery fun. Which doesn’t sound right, but I know y’all understand. 

Brave Companions  by David McCullough

After a beautiful and revealing prologue about McCullough - who wanted to be an artist but became arguably the greatest historian of our time, this historian provides a collection of historical biographies: the brave companions of the earth in this dispensation. 

~Alexander Von Humboldt

~Louis Agassiz 

~Harriet Beecher Stowe

~Medora, ND (and Marquis de Mores, his wife Medora Hoffman, and Teddy Roosevelt)

~Frederick Remington 

~Miriam Rothschild

~Harry Caudill

~David Plowden

~ And SO many more pioneers and builders of America, the world, the mind. People with a rare vitality and sense of purpose. 

He summarized the amazing - and sometimes frightening - advances of the last century, and encouraged readers to SEE. See the world, see the people, see history (and understand its lessons), see the amazing accomplishments of others. READ. Talk to people. And be grateful. 

Bookended by the wisdom of this great historian, this was so worthwhile! 

The Pioneers  by David McCullough

The second of my history craze, Pioneers tells the story, not of the American West, but the acquisition and subsequent battles (some against nature, some against other humans) to claim the land northwest of the Ohio River - country that became Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. McCullough’s account focuses on the beauties of the land along the Ohio River, the work it took to clear the dense forests, and the struggles of those courageous and pioneering souls whose efforts in Ohio define our country, including freedom of religion, free universal education, and the prohibition of slavery. 

Too many aspects to share much here, the vast sweep was explained through the lives of five truly great but lesser-known main characters. He then incorporated more well-known people into the story of these five. Masterfully written, in true McCullough style. 

One Thousand White Women  by Jim Fergus

Thank you for this one, MaryAnn. I found it a fascinating story, and had to research after I finished to find out if it was all true (it wasn’t, but the request by Cheyenne Chief Little Wolf was real). Fergus created a realistic and believable journal style, then wrapped it with an “actual” ancestor of the protagonist, May Dodd. With all the horrors of the U.S. government’s conquering of the Native spirit, it really is a believable story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

The Amazing Mrs Polifax  by Dorothy Gilman

The irrepressible Emily Polifax is off to Turkey this time, where her mission is to rescue a Russian defector in Türkiye and come home within the week. Well, it doesn’t happen quite that way… Making friends with surprising people — including a friendless young British man, a gruff and dirty vagabond, and a wandering band of Roma — and finding supposed allies are actually the worst kind of enemies, Mrs. Pollifax finds herself facing death and instantaneous decisions nearly constantly. As always, a fun spy chase with the good guys - and gals - coming out on top. 

I immediately looked for the next in the series… 

The Incredible Kindness of Paper  by Evelyn Skye

A classic Hallmark movie - in a book. Oliver Jones and Chloe Hanako Quinn are BEST friends - and eventually more - from first grade on. Then suddenly Oliver is gone, without a word of goodbye or explanation. Years later, when life is much different for both of them, and they have moved beyond childhood romance, their paths cross again. And again. And again. While predictable from the start, the plot is fun and the characters are creative. 

So sweet and clean it was well worth it! 

Is a River Alive?  By Robert MacFarlane 

Conceptually this book is several books, even though, as a whole, it’s a treatise that champions ecology and the rights of nature. I realized, when it came back into my list to check out, that I hadn’t finished it. And it was like picking up a different story.  MacFarlane tells different stories by focusing on different needs and different triumphs. This is highlighted in part by the background he gives on his key human characters (though the stars of the story are the rivers). An illustrative example is the chapter about Yuvan from Chennai, and his efforts to save the rivers of India. Yuvan grew up with a seriously abusive stepfather and only got out alive because an educator whom he trusted sent him to find haven and education in a school 50 miles away. After four years of inner searching and outer learning, he was strong, confident, and, quite frankly, ready for battle in a deeply non-violent way - rather through education and awareness. His chapter points to the power that can come from stillness and caring about ALL things. He founded a trust called Palluyir, a Tamil word that translates to “all of life” - exactly what he devoted himself to protect. After saving his mother from the evil stepfather with a personal power verbalized in a single single sentence, he forgave him, and served as the individual who officiated at his death. He not only forgave his abuser, he sent him peacefully to his Maker when his time on earth was done. 

I could break down each chapter similarly. And here is just a tiny example of his feast-worthy delicious prose: “The sunset has slaughter in it, and spills scarlet onto the vast clouds amassing inland.  Swallows sit like musical notes on the staves of telephone wires.”  This is truly a wondrous, richly written, poetic soul- feeding, and for me, paradigm-changing and hopefully earth-changing book. I’m grateful I discovered it. I sing its praises to anyone who sees rivers, mountains, and trees as living beings with rights (a view I have only recently come to hold), and all creatures as worthy of kindness. 

Truman  by David McCullough 

As I have deep respect for the historical and biographical skills of David McCullough, I now have greater respect for Harry S Truman (the S stood for nothing, just as Tim’s grandfather had a no-name middle initial; the reasons are intriguing).  The Man from Missouri was a more common man than most presidents. He came from a farm, had financial struggles early in life, gained a high reputation by earning it, and dealt with a bizarre range of challenges during his presidency - from facing down Stalin to firing MacArthur. His integrity and genuine kindness, while overlooked by many in the difficult passages, was unquestioned. 

I’ll say no more; a biography like this about a man like that deserves to be read. 

Separation of Church and Hate   By John Fugelsang

Okay, this author is a comedian and broadcaster, so maybe those occupations play stronger than his authorship. At any rate, this book is harshly stanced and not for the faint of ear. Like many other strongly political books, I listened to this to better understand how people who think and believe differently are viewing things. But I thought this would be more enlightening because its premise is the Bible, and even more strongly the New Testament and its accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus. 

But Mr. Fugelsang, in the name of condemning hatred, bigotry and un-Christian behaviors, comes across with all three — and delivers his version of right with high irreverence. To be sure, he uses humor well at times; but overall, he did not persuade me that I am going to hell for my right-centrist beliefs. 

To me, it was worth finishing. But it’s not one I can recommend in good conscience. In spite of lots of truth and meaningful persuasion, there is too much anger, too much vitriol, too much of what he claims is wrong with his opponents. 

Green Lights  by Matthew McConaughey

A surprisingly clever approach for a memoir, the famous actor shares his first 50 years of life with candor, humor, and an unavoidable sprinkle of spicy language. He comes from a religious and loving, yet tough and violent family. His personal story shares it all - his triumphs, his failures, his lessons learned, and his advice to everyone based on his rich and diverse life experiences. 

I don’t know what this book would be like to just read it; I think it was made to listen to McConaughey, as he calls himself, tell it in his unique and familiar voice. Great fun, but not for everyone. 

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

I’ve never read this classic dystopian novel, so it was time. The symbolisms are clear, the similarities to our society are haunting, and the ending is hopeful. 

It’s short, it’s powerful, and it includes a favorite quote (“suck the marrow… live as if you’ll die tomorrow”). Happy to add it to my list! 

The Canceling of the American Mind  by Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott

This enlightening, well-researched book is about cancellation culture and how to fight it; but it’s primarily about the demise of freedom of speech. It’s a galvanizing deep dive into what has happened and what continues to happen when people and their opinions are shut down,  or “canceled”, and when the right to speak openly and honestly is ostracized, threatened, even condemned.  The authors, whose political views are opposite, unitedly recognize the vital need to respect the voices of others instead of assuming someone is wrong simply because you disagree. It’s far more in-depth than I can cover in a review; but the bottom line is simple: we in America MUST promote “the American principles of individuality, resilience, and open-mindedness.”  A return to the values we as Latter-day Saints have been taught by prophets - civility, courtesy, respect, peace-making, would save our country from the path of ruin. Really affirming. 

Mornings on Horseback  by David McCullough 

A detailed biography of the Roosevelts — not just Pres Roosevelt, but his entire family, and all before his time as president. Having read a couple of books on Roosevelt recently, it was fun to compare and enhance the things I had already learned. No one interested in Teddy Roosevelt can overlook his time in the area of North Dakota now named for him (Teddy Roosevelt National Park). But there is so much about the man and his family that’s interesting! 

One funny little fact I’m surprised I had not encountered previously: The name Roosevelt is Dutch, and was originally pronounced slightly different than the three-syllable pronunciation we normally here now. But only a girl from Roosevelt UT and North Dakota would care about that detail, right? 

GERI CHRISTENSEN