I kept to the original Big Read schedule and read When Breath Becomes Air. What a remarkable book! Everyone should read this book, especially those in healthcare.
My favorite book in April, Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?, by John Fea. Fea takes a very balanced view on the question. The answer: it's complicated. It really depends on what you mean by "Christian". Do many founders promote Christian values? Yes. But do they support the doctrines (e.g. Jesus as God, virgin birth, Jesus' death for sin, the resurrection)? Not really. It's a great read and I highly recommend it!
BTW: thank you Jeremy for recommending the app All Trails! I downloaded and used it in our recent vacation to the Algarve in Portugal and it was fantastic!
"Building a Better World in Your Own Backyard - Instead of Being Angry at Bad Guys" by Paul Wheaton and Shawn Klassen-Koop.
I'm getting into permaculture - the growing of plants in a sustainable way - and this book really offers insights that are practical and I wonder why no one has made these solutions public before. The back of the book says that "If 20% of the population implemented half the solutions in this book, it would solve the biggest global problems." I'll be in the 20%...who else?
"Tombland" by C.J. Sansom. It is the last in his Shardlake series about a lawyer in Henry VIII's England. This last book takes place just after Henry's death and he investigates a murder during Kett's Rebellion. Not his best book in the series as there was a bit of straying into the Rebellion, making it over 800 pages.
I have enjoyed the series but it will be the last. Sansom died in 2024.
It definitely holds up. Graham is probably a little young, but he also has good self-regulation if things get too scary haha. The new one has great reviews, which is why I wanted to re-read the series.
My favorite for April was Peeling the Onion by Gunter Grass. Just like Night by Elie Wiesel, it came at the recommendation of my partner from her memories of reading it years ago during high school.
It was a beautiful memoir and my first experience reading Grass. I'm listening to his second memoir book called The Box currently, but unfortunately the third memoir book he wrote hasn't been translated into English, apparently due to its revolving largely around the German language/dictionary itself.
He's an interesting figure! I've never read his fiction, but I believe he's a celebrated magical realism author. He was in the Hitler youth and was in the German army at 17 in WW2. Very reflective/meditative. Many heavy subjects are effectively communicated with whimsy. He read All Quiet on the Western Front as a boy, and I think this memoir is a very good pairing with that book.
Running the Books by Avi Steinberg. Steinberg spent two years as a prison librarian in Boston.This is another world I knew nothing about. The very fuzzy line between civilians(guards, educators, etc) and inmates reveals so much about human nature. It’s a very difficult situation.
My favorite was probably Random Acts of Senseless Violence by Jack Womack, from 1991. Don't let the title turn you off, though it's probably not for the feint of heart, though it might be good for those who keep their head stuck in the ground. Read it as a tragedy, and you'll be better prepared. The theme I was most struck by was on the failures of parents to truly protect their children in a world gone mad.
A Place For Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza and A Gentleman In Moscow by Armol Towls. It is going to be hard to top those books for the remainder of the year.
April provided two from the same author, and I'm still on pace for my 24 this year: KNIFE and VICTORY CITY, both from Rushdie. Both very different and very good, compelling, beautiful, and heartbreaking. Both forever tied together (the events of KNIFE occur just as VC is being published). Now onto the collected works of Joe Brainard.
I kept to the original Big Read schedule and read When Breath Becomes Air. What a remarkable book! Everyone should read this book, especially those in healthcare.
Oh my, yes. It's my favorite book of all-time. :)
The Phantom Tollbooth.
My favorite was a reread of The Great Divorce by CS Lewis, which always feels like an appropriate and rewarding Lenten season read.
Great book.
Sadly, i haven't had time to read a book other than my German practice books since March (oops, before March).
Learning a new language seems like a good way to spend your reading time :)
No, i don't think so. I miss reading a good book.
No, i don't think so. I miss reading a good book.
No, i don't think so. I miss reading a good book.
No, i don't think so. I miss reading a good book.
No, i don't think so. I miss reading a good book, sth other than my German practice matetials, just for the sake of variety.
No, i don't think so. I miss reading a good book, sth other than my German practice matetials, just for the sake of variety.
No, i don't think so. I miss reading a good book, sth other than my German practice matetials, just for the sake of variety.
I’ve been rereading the Lord of the Rings - so wonderful, beyond words
Agreed. Worth re-reading every few years. :)
My favorite book in April, Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?, by John Fea. Fea takes a very balanced view on the question. The answer: it's complicated. It really depends on what you mean by "Christian". Do many founders promote Christian values? Yes. But do they support the doctrines (e.g. Jesus as God, virgin birth, Jesus' death for sin, the resurrection)? Not really. It's a great read and I highly recommend it!
BTW: thank you Jeremy for recommending the app All Trails! I downloaded and used it in our recent vacation to the Algarve in Portugal and it was fantastic!
Sounds interesting!
And I'm so glad AllTrails worked for ya! It's really been a game changer for us.
It’s so precise and gives you lots of cool info. We would not have found these trails if we didn’t have All Trails!
"Building a Better World in Your Own Backyard - Instead of Being Angry at Bad Guys" by Paul Wheaton and Shawn Klassen-Koop.
I'm getting into permaculture - the growing of plants in a sustainable way - and this book really offers insights that are practical and I wonder why no one has made these solutions public before. The back of the book says that "If 20% of the population implemented half the solutions in this book, it would solve the biggest global problems." I'll be in the 20%...who else?
Oh interesting, thanks Opher! I'll look it up.
"Two Old Men" by Tolstoy. It's about two men who go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and how it changes them. Highly recommend.
I'm about two-thirds into Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer by C.S. Lewis. It's easy to swallow, hard to digest.
I'm very familiar with those two authors, but not those two works! Thanks for sharing.
"Tombland" by C.J. Sansom. It is the last in his Shardlake series about a lawyer in Henry VIII's England. This last book takes place just after Henry's death and he investigates a murder during Kett's Rebellion. Not his best book in the series as there was a bit of straying into the Rebellion, making it over 800 pages.
I have enjoyed the series but it will be the last. Sansom died in 2024.
I haven't heard of it — thanks for the rec, Ralph!
I can't believe Graham is old enough for the Hunger Games, but that's exciting! I love that series and I'm curious about the latest one.
It definitely holds up. Graham is probably a little young, but he also has good self-regulation if things get too scary haha. The new one has great reviews, which is why I wanted to re-read the series.
My favorite for April was Peeling the Onion by Gunter Grass. Just like Night by Elie Wiesel, it came at the recommendation of my partner from her memories of reading it years ago during high school.
It was a beautiful memoir and my first experience reading Grass. I'm listening to his second memoir book called The Box currently, but unfortunately the third memoir book he wrote hasn't been translated into English, apparently due to its revolving largely around the German language/dictionary itself.
Haven't heard of it — thanks for the rec!
He's an interesting figure! I've never read his fiction, but I believe he's a celebrated magical realism author. He was in the Hitler youth and was in the German army at 17 in WW2. Very reflective/meditative. Many heavy subjects are effectively communicated with whimsy. He read All Quiet on the Western Front as a boy, and I think this memoir is a very good pairing with that book.
Running the Books by Avi Steinberg. Steinberg spent two years as a prison librarian in Boston.This is another world I knew nothing about. The very fuzzy line between civilians(guards, educators, etc) and inmates reveals so much about human nature. It’s a very difficult situation.
Sounds really interesting!
My favorite was probably Random Acts of Senseless Violence by Jack Womack, from 1991. Don't let the title turn you off, though it's probably not for the feint of heart, though it might be good for those who keep their head stuck in the ground. Read it as a tragedy, and you'll be better prepared. The theme I was most struck by was on the failures of parents to truly protect their children in a world gone mad.
Interesting, I'll check it out. Thanks Justin.
The Horse and His Boy. I’m re-reading the Narnia series and it is a joy.
Great one! The whole series is just a gem, even as an adult.
A Place For Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza and A Gentleman In Moscow by Armol Towls. It is going to be hard to top those books for the remainder of the year.
Towles is hard to beat!
April provided two from the same author, and I'm still on pace for my 24 this year: KNIFE and VICTORY CITY, both from Rushdie. Both very different and very good, compelling, beautiful, and heartbreaking. Both forever tied together (the events of KNIFE occur just as VC is being published). Now onto the collected works of Joe Brainard.
I've never read Rushdie, but he's certainly high on my list.