Book Review: This Book Made Me Think of You - Highly Recommend

This book made me think of why I love books! They can meet you right where you are and tap into your most intimate wishes, hopes, and dreams. They can soothe sorrows! I don't know if I was merely ripe for this book by Libby Page (daughter to author Sally Page). Perhaps, This Book Made Me Think of You is merely brilliant for anyone and everyone. Oh, how I adored it! The characters are relatable. The premise is perfect. Plus, the book is brimming with book recommendations. Like I said, it is a brilliant book! My favorite read of 2026!

Listen to this outstanding first line: "The right book in the hands of the right person at exactly the right moment can change their life forever." That's what Alfie, the owner of Book Lane believes. When Alfie calls Matilda Nightingale to tell her she has a book to pick up at the bookstore, she insists she didn't order anything. Alfie explains her late husband scheduled a year's worth of monthly books to get her through the first full year without him. Of course, ever since his death six months ago, Tilly hasn't been able to read. What follows is a year-long adventure as Tilly regains her reading mojo and learns to live again without the love of her life.

I immediately thought, "Man, if my husband died and left me twelve selected books, I would be utterly blown away by the gesture." Like Tilly's husband, my husband is not really a book reader (he does read some, but only in his slim selected categories and, primarily, God's Word) so I know I'll never experience this scenario. Ah, but because of this book, I was able to live through it vicariously, through Tilly. Even though it deals with grief, it is incredibly life-affirming.

It took some time but I jotted down all 96 book titles mentioned in this book. Probably half to two-thirds are titles I've heard of or know. I have only read 19 of the books listed. So, now that I have the whole list, I have much to add to my endless file of books to read. Book recommendations are always welcome, as are books that feature a bookshop. And how can you not be sucked in by characters who love books?

I adored Tilly! She and I would be friends IRL. We would be two peas in a pod. Here's a line that could describe me: "After reading, crafting has always been her way of relaxing, but what she has in enthusiasm she does not possess in skill." Ha, too true! Like Tilly, I took a leap and visited Paris on my own. What fun when she explores Shakespeare and Company and finds this quote: "I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being." So many parts of her story gutted me.

I also want bookish friends like Alfie and Rachel. Everyone should have a special bookstore, and a special bookseller, like Alfie. His role in this book is tremendously touching. Rachel's part of the story made me squirm. If Tilly can forgive Rachel and restore friendship, I know I should be able to forgive and restore a friendship with a "Rachel" in my life. Bookish friends have a value beyond expression.

Indeed, this is a love song for books, both in the long recommendation lists and in the way individual books meet Tilly's need at just the right moment. Here's another line that resonated: "Maybe this is what books do, she thinks, whether stories real or imagined or poems compiled in one place for people to flick through in search of what they need. They offer something universal but allow you to find your own meaning among the words. They are for everyone and yet they are for you too." At the end, Tilly says, "I am the person I am because of the books I have read. My reading history is a map that shows the path of my life." I want to be like Tilly, a "bookish soul eager to help steer you on your way." Indeed, I wish I could read this for the first time all over again!

Word of caution: The emotions in this book are very raw and real. If you've recently lost a loved one, the story might be bookish cryptonite for you - just a place you cannot go for the moment. Still, there is merit in following Tilly's journey as she heals from the grief and finds solace in books. Moreover, I did mark this as a clean read, but should note that there are one or two curse words and a few times the Lord's name is taken in vain.

Book Review: Humankind

I love the cover of this bestselling book, Humankind: Changing the World One Small Act at a Time! It is gorgeous! If we all moved through life seeking the good of others, this world might be easier to endure. Yet, this book falls short of full and effective kindness. I believe man's greatest need is salvation found in faith in Christ! However, this too, is a need for kindness because if we do not reach out with the gospel to our neighbors and friends, how will they ever know the grace God offers? My heart breaks over the rampant evil in this world. I wonder, how can God hold back His judgment another day? Surely, He is coming soon. Are you ready for His return? Will He take you out of this evil world and give you eternal life with Him?

Brad Aronson's life changed when his wife received her leukemia diagnosis. Suddenly, people stepped up and into their lives. He noticed the dramatic effects of kindness. In cataloguing acts of kindness, he hopes to encourage others to step up and meet needs that will impact lives. This book is bursting with stories of heroes doing little things with big impact. The examples are heartwarming and inspirational. Each chapter ends with encouragement to take action. It contains so many inspirational quotes.

Even if you don't take time to read this book, you can visit Aronson's website to gain tons of ideas for putting love in action to meet the needs of others. When life is getting you down, take a moment to read one of Brad's inspirational stories. If you're willing to give your email address, you can sign up for regular doses of kindness and inspiration. Perhaps you'd like to read the book with your book club. Aronson offers discussion questions and is willing to field specific questions if you submit them to him.

This book offers such a positive message: Step out in kindness and reap big rewards for little actions!. Now, I want to see transformation on an even grander scale. What if your private prayer, your tiny testimony, and your enticing example led others to the living water of Christ? Oh, the needs that might be met, if you spent five minutes in prayer for a brokenhearted brother or a crushed colleague! I hope my life is full of tangible kindness. But, even more, I hope my life exudes, indeed spreads everywhere, "the fragrance of the knowledge of Him." (2 Corinthians 2:14)

Book Review: Stories from the River of Mercy

I should admit at the outset, I'm not familiar with Sheila Walsh's music. She strikes me as a vocalist who is vulnerable and real with her audiences. In 2018, I read her book, In the Middle of the Mess. Since I struggle with depression, it's refreshing to find a Christian who openly shares her wounds and battles. In Stories from the River of Mercy, we find an authentic telling of the conflict and resolution between Sheila and her mother-in-law.

From the outset, the two women saw things differently. Sheila's husband, Barry, was Eleanor's only child. As such, she had a hard time with the "leave-and-cleave" process. Not to mention, Eleanor had very firm opinions on how things should be done. I would have bristled, too, if my mother-in-law came in and reorganized my kitchen.

But, the heart of the story is the current of mercy that carries these two different women into reconciliation and deeper relationship because of Eleanor's battle with cancer. I don't believe I have the level of surrender or the heart for others that Sheila develops during this journey. If only I could access that simply by reading. Still, absorbing the story made my heart long to be a better person, to love through another person's prickliness, and to show grace when I want to demand my own perspective. This was a book I was ready to purge from my shelves. I'm glad I took the time to read this slim volume before sending it along to someone else.

Book Review: And God Came In

As I read Patti Callahan Henry's novel about Mrs. C. S. Lewis, I felt compelled to dig out an older book I own called And God Came In. Dr. Lyle W. Dorsett, then curator of the Marion E. Wade Center, wrote this brief biography (republished as A Love Observed). The staff at the Wade gave me an autographed copy in December 1984. I probably haven't pulled it out and read it in over a couple of decades. My heart bursts with love for both Lyle and his wife, Mary. They were so kind to me during my Wheaton years and treated me as if I were their child.

Joy Davidman lived a vibrant and tumultuous life. She was as brilliant as they come, with a nearly photographic memory. Pushed in her early years to excel, she graduated from college in her early teens. She declared herself an atheist and, later, a communist. Patti Callahan Henry's novel about her life begins with the moment God came in. Lyle does an outstanding job of revealing how significant Joy considered this abrupt introduction to the Almighty. Her life was changed. She was changed. She must have been a remarkable young woman! Her tenacity is awe-inspiring. Of course, the English considered her abrupt and loud (many Americans are). Still, she was an excellent sparring companion and like a flint for C. S. Lewis.

I guess the thing that jumped out at me the most from reading this book is not an observation about Joy, but one about myself. As I was reading, I came upon a passage from a C. S. Lewis letter. He abbreviated the word "would" with the letters "wd." I immediately recognized this abbreviation. It is one I use when taking notes during lectures or scrawling quickly in a journal entry. It makes total sense to me now that my notations are influenced by the time I spent transcribing C. S. Lewis' letters at the Wade Center. I am sure I picked up these shorthand methods from him.

When I mentioned this to my husband, he said it was completely understandable that I would absorb things from a man I admired. That's the thing, though. I would say I admired Lyle Dorsett far more than I admired C. S. Lewis. My favorite photo of Lyle accompanies this Christianity Today testimony in the September 2014 issue (by typing in the title of the article, "A Sobering Mercy," I was able to gain access to make a copy). Indeed, I had not even read any of Lewis' works when I began my transcribing work. The first Lewis book I read was Till We Have Faces, for a class taught at Wheaton by Frederick Buechner. Then, I picked up The Screwtape Letters. When my boys were small, I read some of The Chronicles of Narnia books to them and then finished the series for myself. At some point, I also tried to read his space trilogy but lost interest.

Some people prefer novels to biographies. If so, definitely lean toward Becoming Mrs. Lewis. But some of us enjoy biography. The details are fascinating. I love a thoroughly researched biography. Lyle did a great job! It makes me want to pick up another book from off my shelves, Lenten Lands, written by Joy Davidman's son, Douglas Gresham. I've read it before, but I might as well stay on this little Lewis kick.

Book Review: Becoming Mrs. Lewis

Once again, the titles of my current reading seem to parallel. After meeting Patti Callahan Henry at her author talk in Franklin, Indiana, I was eager to pick up this historical fiction based on the life of Joy Davidman, C. S. Lewis' wife. When I worked at the Marion E. Wade Collection at Wheaton College, my time was focused on transcribing the letters of C. S. Lewis. I didn't really stop to think about Joy Davidman. Even when I met her son, Douglas Gresham (researching his book, Lenten Lands), I didn't consider Joy. Then Dr. Lyle Dorsett, my supervisor, wrote his book, And God Came In. I received this book, with Lyle's signature, as a Christmas gift in 1984.

I had such a great time briefly discussing Patti's research at the Wade (now called the Wade Center). How fun to think she may have opened a binder and read words I transcribed! Or perhaps she actually saw my own handwritten scrawl. There were times I could not decipher C. S. Lewis's words. Both he and his brother, Warnie, were born with a congenital defect of a missing joint in their thumb. I would type up a passage and leave a blank space where I couldn't decipher the words. Then later, sometimes with the help of other eyes, I would go back in and print the missing words. It was my favorite job ever, since I often would happen upon great insights in the correspondence I transcribed.

This book held a similar message to the one I gleaned from Ellen Vaughn's biography of Elizabeth Elliot. I think many people hear the name C. S. Lewis and imagine a saint on a pedestal. Neither Elizabeth nor "Jack" (as he was known) were saints. They were ordinary individuals with faults and quirks and a rare gift for sharing insights through their writing. In Becoming Mrs. Lewis, we learn how he acquired his nickname. We learn how and why he held Joy Davidman at a distance, despite a growing love building between them. 

Joy, too, held a brilliance of writing ability. Jack described her work as "flaming." He was drawn to her like a moth to a flame. She started as a friend, someone with whom he could say, "What, you too?" I loved the descriptions of their playful, literary banter. Joy was an amazing woman. She knew several languages, had a photographic memory, could discourse on a variety of subjects, and was quite frank. Yet, as with Jack, she was not perfect. The book highlights how her passion for writing led to great difficulty settling into a "housewife" role. She suffered because of her poor choice in marrying another woman's husband, who turned out to be an alcoholic with a violent temper.

As a reader, you can see the train heading for a derailment. Why did Joy leave her wayward husband with her attractive, driven cousin to care for her sons while she took a trip to England for her health? Given her husband's abuse (and especially his demeaning comments against her writing), is it any wonder that she was drawn to a man like C. S. Lewis? And, given Lewis' background, it is easier to understand why he took so long to assert his love for Joy. This aspect gives the book tremendous pull, as the reader waits, with bated breath, for the two to come together.

I think my favorite endorsement for Patti's book is this blurb by the New York Journal of Books: "Patti Callahan took a character on the periphery, one who has historically taken a back seat to her male counterpart, and given her a fierce, passionate voice. For those fans of Lewis curious about the woman who inspired A Grief Observed, this book offers a convincing, fascinating glimpse into the private lives of two very remarkable individuals." Joy had a fierce, passionate voice in a time and era when women's voices went unheard. Her vehement determination to protect her sons was admirable. I'm grateful to Lewis for shepherding them after Joy's death. I'm also glad to have met Douglas while working at the Wade Collection. How sad to hear from Patti that Douglas is now dealing with dementia! How sad to have to tell her that Lyle (a beloved father figure for me) is also struggling with dementia. God carries us each through trials and triumphs. He uses the good and the bad in our lives for His glory. Praise God! 

Book Review: Being Elisabeth Elliot

I'm so grateful to Sara Brunsvold for mentioning the two-part biography of Elisabeth Elliot, written by Ellen Vaughn. The Hoopla access to both Becoming Elisabeth Elliot and Being Elisabeth Elliot kept my interest piqued during my daily treadmill time. My only complaint with listening to biographies in audio form is that the reader misses out on the accompanying photos. For the first book, I found a hard copy at a local church library. A friend offered to lend me the hardback of the second book, but I may purchase this set.

In Becoming Elisabeth Elliot, we learn some of her exacting personality. In Being Elisabeth Elliot, the quirks and, even perhaps, failings seem more pronounced. Vaughn clarifies the importance of truth-telling in a biography. Elisabeth was not perfect (only Christ is). Despite an intense dedication to obedience to the Lord, she gave in to loneliness and relational desires. It was appalling to read of the flirtations that went on between Elisabeth and her soon-to-be second husband, while that man's dying wife was still alive. This detracted from her testimony.

Several favorite parts made me want to own this book. I loved the societal explanation of the '60s, Elisabeth's views on Christian ideals, and an outstanding and inspiring testimony drawn from the life of her son-in-law. Even though I was born mid-way through the 60s, the descriptions were so spot-on and well-written. Vaughn's word choices and witty commentary made me smile.

I, too, struggle with a Christianity that adheres to actions determining a person's spiritual depth. Elisabeth felt that truth liberates where dogma imprisons. I cannot remember if this is a quote from Elisabeth's or from Ellen's perspective, but it bears repeating. "We love to establish worldliness as something to be combatted by elimination of activities rather than internal attitudes." How many hold that a true Christian doesn't smoke, drink, or cuss, goes to church on Sundays and Wednesdays, and participates in a variety of ministries? These externals are all well and good, but the internals are far more significant. Elisabeth was always in a fight against graven images, often ones produced by the church.

As for Walt Shepherd's dramatic testimony, I loved it so much I transcribed it from the audio to share with my wayward son. Walt's parents were missionaries. Yet, as he came into himself, he rejected their views and beliefs. He walked a perilous path. There was even a miraculous rescue from a burning car (perhaps by angels). God's hand was clearly on Walt's life. His story was worth taking the time to transcribe from the audiobook (for my keeping). It is in Chapter 31, if you can find a copy of the book and wish to read it for yourself.

All in all, Elisabeth endured more suffering than many of us will ever know. She may not have always made the best choices, but she determined to obey her Lord and Savior. I can align with her views on obedience, on suffering, on women's roles, and on God's daily grace. Her books have been, and will continue to be, a blessing to Christians everywhere. God used her life in mighty ways, despite her failings.    

Book Review: Tips on Staying Alive

At the beginning of the month, I reviewed a book called Reasons to Stay Alive. Now, I'm highlighting a book called Tips on Staying Alive by L. Neal Pearcy. I met the author at an author fair and we enjoyed good conversation. Pearcy is a ten-year cancer survivor. His little book can be broken down into two sections. The medical half is insightful; the story half is inspiring.

Tips on Staying Alive is an articulate, well-organized book. It provides tons of leads on places to secure information if you are battling illness. In fact, if you purchase the eBook version you can more easily follow the many provided links. Pearcy hooked me in the first sentence:

"The average life expectancy in the United States is 76.1 years, according to 2022 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)."

I began calculating how many more years I may have left if the CDC estimation is close. Since I'm facing a significant milestone year, it was unsettling. I read with interest the explanations of terms, outlines of treatments, and suggestions for staying alive longer. I fully intend to create some encouraging promises (or statements) to post around my computer and other areas in the house to encourage a positive outlook.

My favorite chapter, though, was the final one. What an interesting and unusual life Neal Pearcy has lived! He has triumphed over astonishing adversities. This makes his wisdom in the first half of the book credible and valid. He offers the heartfelt story of his challenging childhood. If someone can withstand and overcome parental death, abandonment, isolation, and low self-esteem, they can overcome illness with that same determined spirit. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read Pearcy's book.

Mid-month Mention: Fasting

One of my goals for 2025 is to fast more. I have spent time in prayer and fasting in the past, especially when issues grew intense with my addicted son. I'm not good at fasting. Still, I believe God is pleased when we not only bow our head to praise and petition Him, but also forego food to intensify our attentions. Indeed, I feel it is essential to pull down strongholds Satan may have on our loved ones.

When I was a teen, I babysat for a couple of children living in a Christian commune house in Chicago, near my home. I think there were two families and two single men, all sharing one roof. If my memory is correct (who knows), one of the single men talked with me about his fasting routine. He fasted one day a week. This is what I hope to build up to. It would be so cool to speak with him now, though I doubt he's still living there and may not even be living at all, as he was at least ten or fifteen years older than me.

To begin with, I am reading a chapter every other day in a book I had on one of our many bookshelves (oh, the purging that needs to be done there, sigh). I must have picked it up at a thrift store for the whopping price of 50 cents. May it be worth far more than that to my soul! It is called God's Chosen Fast: A Spiritual and Practical Guide to Fasting by Arthur Wallis. With a copyright of 1968, it is almost as old as me.

I recently took notes from Wallis' chapter on regular fasting. I want to avoid turning my regular fasting into a thing of legal bondage, as the Pharisees did in Luke 18:11-12. Wallis warns, "There is always the danger that any spiritual exercise that is done habitually becomes an empty form, a ritual devoid of any spiritual content." I will strive to fast without show and with focus on using the extra time for prayer for my sons. It was encouraging to read Wallis' example of the benefit of a public fast called for by the King of England in 1756, and again in the Second World War. Wallis observes, "Wherever in Scripture we read of a public emergency being met by a national call to fast, we find without exception that God responded in deliverance." May this bolster my heart! As Wallis states, "Fasting is calculated to bring a note of urgency and importunity into our praying, and to give force to our pleading in the court of heaven." We have seen awesome results of importunate prayer in the past. Now, again, may my humble prayers on behalf of my sons be fervent and effective.

I found a few other books on our shelves to tackle: R. A. Torrey's How to Pray, and Andrew Murray's The Ministry of Intercessory Prayer. A third book is written by a man I deeply esteem and love, Dr. Lyle Wesley Dorsett. I'm somewhat surprised my copy doesn't have his autograph. I have mentioned before that the Dorsetts took me under their wing during my time at Wheaton College. When I walked into the Wade Center to apply for a transcriber job, Lyle interviewed me and suddenly asked if he could take me next door to the Special Collections to introduce me to his wife, Mary. When I met her, Lyle spoke up. "Mary, doesn't she look just like our Erika might have looked one day?" They had lost their 10 or 11-year-old daughter just a few months before. I spent many happy afternoons in their home and they even took me along on an oral history interview trip in Scotland after my stint with the Wheaton in England program. Lyle's book, E. M. Bounds: Man of Prayer, must have been in his heart and mind during my association with him, because it was published in 1991, just four years after I graduated. As I read and as I pray, I will continue my intercessions for Lyle and Mary, who are battling dementia and cancer, respectively.

If you are interested in fasting, Bill Bright has a 7-step article on the Cru website.

Someone named Vlad Savchuk is encouraging a 21-day fast this month. I found this introductory YouTube video on his Fast Forward Challenge. Or you can watch his video of a Beginner's Guide to Fasting.

Have you incorporated fasting into your prayer time? Do you have a fasting testimony? Who knows, maybe sharing your testimony of victory through fasting might spur another individual on in their quest to seek God's forgiveness and healing in dire circumstances.

Book Review: The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife - Highly Recommend

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife has been called a "funny and moving," "charming and clever," "sweet, touching life-swap adventure you won't want to miss." It is a great debut novel, billed as perfect for fans of two of my favorite novels, A Man Called Ove and Remarkably Bright Creatures. I'm a sucker for redemptive stories and this one was a good one. The willful suspension of disbelief, while taxed, was worth it for this zany tale of mistaken identity. Kindness goes a long way in a world full of hurt and pain.

82-year-old Frederick Fife is in a rough patch. He misses his deceased wife. His money and his house paid for her cancer treatments. He is facing homelessness when an odd series of events thrusts him into a world he doesn't deserve. Bernard Greer and Fred bear an uncanny resemblance. Thus, when Bernard disappears at a park outing, nursing home nurses take Fred home, thinking he's Bernard. Fred tries to set the record straight, but because Bernard typically responded with dementia-addled comments, nobody will believe Fred. Thus, he settles into Bernard's life, loving the care he receives at Bernard's nursing home. Bernard was grumpy, blind, and incontinent. Fred is endearing, lucid, and well-meaning. He is a man of integrity and kindness, intent upon remedying Bernard's blunders from the past. But how long until his mistaken identity comes to light? And is he really not hurting anyone by his deception?

I related to the issues Anna Johnston addressed within these pages: "grief, dementia, social isolation, cancer, and addiction" (as quoted in the author's extensive and interesting acknowledgements). I loved how the story lines merged. The beauty of Fred's intervention in broken lives made me wish for a Fred in my life. This was a lovely, feel-good story, even when things seemed beyond belief. Readers will root for Fred and his willingness to ride the fortuitous wave in order to help others around him. The book illustrates how older adults are often invisible or overlooked. It highlights the deep need we all have to belong and to forgive. It is a tale of second chances and redeemed brokenness. Magnificent! When they make this into a movie (some hints within the closing pages), I'll be there in the first row!

Book Review: Hope is the First Dose

When my library listed this on their recent acquisitions, I knew I had to read it. Hope is the First Dose: A Treatment Plan for Recovering from Trauma, Tragedy, and Other Massive Things should be mandatory reading for anyone reeling from great losses or traumatic life events. As I read, I kept wishing I owned the book so I could highlight and underline key passages. Instead, I settled for sticky notes on pages I wanted to revisit.

Dr. W. Lee Warren is a neurosurgeon. He explains things with precision and ease. Plus, he knows trauma and what happens when you endure TMT, The Massive Thing, that disrupts your life. Someone stabbed Warren's 19-year-old son to death. This trauma left him struggling to maintain a peaceful equilibrium. He spends much of the book analyzing how trauma disrupts life and why we react the way we do. He talks about how he had always believed "that if I tried to live a good life, God would come through for me. Losing a son was the first time God had seemed to say, 'Here's a situation you can't control or prevent with good behavior, and you can't undo it or fix it.'" This propelled him into dark spaces where he would revisit the pain and trauma (how I can relate!).

Dr. Warren outlines the four paths people take after experiencing trauma in whatever form (an unexpected diagnosis, a marital loss, whatever sends you reeling): Untouchables (endure readily), Climbers (begin discouraged, but climb to resilience), Dippers (start high, but hit valleys, and resume), and Crashers (those who burnout because of their loss or trauma). Whatever your path, TMTs will change you. As he expresses it, you might climb out of the furnace of suffering to escape the fire, but you will still smell like smoke. You want to make the TMT a thing in your life, not the thing in your life.

As Warren discusses insights from Lamentations, he gives a nod to another favorite book of mine, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, by Mark Vroegop. Next, he examines the psalms of Asaph and David. He recognizes that they "acknowledged the darkness while [they] waited for the dawn." Or in another Mark Vroegop quote, "Hope springs from truth rehearsed." Throughout this exposition, Warren is reminding you that you must retrain (or as he puts it, do self-surgery) your brain. You can choose to focus on the trauma and the hopelessness, but it will cause you to spiral. You must rehearse the truth of God's promises and destroy the lies your own brain wants to tell you about your situation. For his treatment plan, he suggests prehab, self-brain surgery, then rehab. But hope is the first and most potent dose!

Book Review: The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip

Sara Brunsvold is a new-to-me author. This book, The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip, was all things good and wholesome. It was soothing, comforting, inspiring, and encouraging. If you know me, you know my quibble with Christian fiction, where the author deems the message more important than the story. Although faith coursed through the entire novel, it was never overbearing. The novel makes the reader consider how they want to die and how they wish to live.

Rookie reporter, Aidyn Kelley, is desperate for a proper assignment. She knows she could pull off a feature. Yet, her supervisor views her request as presumptuous and overreaching. Instead, she gives what seems a menial task, writing the obituary for a woman standing at death's door. When Aidyn darkens Clara Kip's nursing home, she thinks she'll be in and out. She arms herself with the requisite questions and has her goal in sight. But Clara isn't your typical hospice patient and will not reduce into a paragraph or two. She lives large and wants to die even larger. She makes a deal with Aidyn to answer 3 questions for every extraordinary death the reporter can make up for her. As Aidyn seeks ways to die extravagantly, she learns more and more about Clara. In their precious time together, Aidyn's world expands and her faith grows.

As a reader, you cannot help being drawn in to Clara's magnetic sphere. The characters become like people you know or want to know better. Long after I completed the book, my mind licked over thoughts and lessons gleaned. Thankfully, I read this just as my mother was approaching a time of hospice. It was comforting to read this account of the hospice system. The book had been in my audio queue on Hoopla for quite a while, based on recommendations. Then, I saw the author was coming to a nearby town for a book talk. I listened to the novel prior to the talk and am so glad I did. What a joy it was to listen to the author share about the inspiration and writing process for this touching and inspiring novel. 

Compilation: Science

Photo by Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash

In skimming my book reviews over the past decade, I found 20 science reads, most of them focused on the brain or genetics. I list them in no particular order:

1. The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee - hefty tome on cancer
2.  The XX Brain by Lisa Mosconi, PhD - preventing Alzheimer's in female brains
3. The Body by Bill Bryson - an often humorous field guide to the intricacies of the human body
4. A Molecule Away from Madness by Sara Manning Peskin - when brain molecules go errant
5. Biohack Your Brain by Kristen Willeumier, PhD - boost cognitive health, performance, and power
6. Remember by Lisa Genova - the science of memory
7. Twelve Weeks to a Sharper You by Sanjay Gupta, MD - guide to building a better brain
8. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, MD - healing from trauma
9. The Circadian Code by Satchin Panda, PhD - the importance of what and when you consume
10. An Elegant Defense by Matt Richtel - the science of the immune system
11. The Aging Brain by Timothy R. Jennings, MD - preventing dementia and sharpening your mind
12. She Has Her Mother's Laugh by Carl Zimmer - the science of heredity
13. The Genius Factory by David Plotz - the science/history of genetic engineering
14. The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee - hefty tome on the science of genetics
15. Mozart's Brain and the Fighter Pilot by Richard Restak, MD - enhancing your brain's potential
16. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - powerful impact of HELA cells
17. The Human Blueprint by Robert Shapiro - the science of genetics
18. The End of Alzheimer's by Dale E. Bredesen, MD - prevent and reverse cognitive decline
19. Brain Maker by David Perlmutter, MD - how the gut heals and protects the brain
20. The Teenage Brain by Frances E. Jensen, MD - explores the challenges of undeveloped adolescent brains

If I had to select my five favorites from this list, they would be: The End of Alzheimer's, The Gene, She Has Her Mother's Laugh, The Body Keeps the Score, and The Circadian Code.

Book Review: The Forever Gift

By now, I should know that if I finish one book and launch into another before writing up a review, that review suffers. Amazon recommended The Forever Gift by Brooke Harris. I finished it and failed to write up a review right away. I'm not sure I can give it its due. Plus, I lack strong feelings about the book (and perhaps that played a part in my avoiding the review process). It was entertaining enough, but nothing stands out.

Heather and Kayla reminded me a lot of the mother-daughter relationship in The Gilmore Girls show. Their bond is strong. Their lives change when Kayla's knee starts hurting. She is the captain of the basketball team. Surely, she should just play through the pain. Unfortunately, it is more serious than a bum knee. Kayla's Ewings-Sarcoma diagnosis draws Heather and Kayla's father closer together, creating friction and stress in his marriage.

The book addresses the complicated relationships that occur in blended families. As many Amazon reviewers said, it is emotionally stirring. The characters are realistic and the plot builds adequately. The ending doesn't tie the story up with a tidy bow, as one might expect. Yet, it ends with hope. I think it was a worthwhile read.

📒 Content Caution: language and taking of Lord's name in vain

Book Review: The Ladies' Midnight Swimming Club

Several weeks ago, a book title jumped out at me from the Book Bub newsletter. It sounded perfect for my friend, Dawn, who had been swimming in the sea during a visit to England. The book was called Lifesaving for Beginners (by Josie Lloyd) and featured the tagline: "It's your friends who keep you afloat." I sent a quick note to Dawn with the link, but didn't bother to purchase the ebook for myself (although it was only a song at 99 cents - now back up to $8.49). Instead, I searched on Hoopla, hoping to find a similar title to listen to during my treadmill time. I landed on Faith Hogan's The Ladies' Midnight Swimming Club. It was a joy to listen to and made my time pass without notice.

This book's tagline is: "A dip in the Irish Sea is all it takes to wash away their troubles..." The Ladies' Midnight Swimming Club centers on three separate women, each facing a troublesome challenge. For the recently widowed Elizabeth, it is the discovery of the immense debt her gambling doctor husband left behind. She lost a child early in life and lived a life of deception throughout her marriage, so Elizabeth is no stranger to difficulty. Still, can she face this alone? Jo lives in a small cottage in Elizabeth's town of Ballycove. She begs her divorced daughter to come from Dublin to fill in for the local doctor position. As soon as Lucy arrives, she can tell Jo is hiding her own secret. Lucy also must deal with her recalcitrant son, Niall, who doesn't appreciate being carted off to the end of the world without his game console. As the women face these challenges, they meet as often as they can to swim in the frigid waters of the sea, a place where the vastness of the universe makes their problems seem miniscule and manageable.

I figured out one thread of the plot line well in advance, yet still enjoyed this delightful novel. Sometimes the phrasing was just beautiful, but I didn't take the time to copy lines from the book (which would have required stopping and backtracking - not an easy task while trying to whittle away pounds). I did not identify this with a content caution, because the cautionary content seemed necessary for the plot. It would be interesting to see if Lifesaving for Beginners offers a similar tale with no cautionary content. Perhaps one day I will see if I can secure that book by interlibrary loan.

Book Review: The Sand Bucket List

One of my favorite things to do is meet other self-published authors. It is an uphill climb. It's good to know there are other climbers around on similar journeys. Plus, there's something special about reading a book after you've met the author. I met a local author, Brad Fischer, at my library in July. Brad received a terminal cancer diagnosis at age 46. He captured funny stories from his past to convey to his beloved daughters the lessons he hoped they might learn from this crazy life we're given. Although The Sand Bucket List was written with this fine-tuned lens, the lessons are such that anyone can derive meaning and insight from them. The excellent writing sucks you into these life lessons with ease.

Brad has a knack for finding hidden nuggets of wisdom amid humor. He shared the story of the prank he and his buddies played in their youth. They left a manure-filled purse on the side of the road to observe reactions. Now, he experienced similar feelings of being cheated by the cancer purse, a bag he wished he hadn't found along life's road. Another story he shared, with purpose, was about a time he and his wife went snorkeling. He accidentally allowed his wife to float away from him. This related to his cancer journey, as well. He explained how difficult it was for him to vocalize his fears or despair and that left his wife floating alone with all that emotion.

After reading his book, I feel even more kinship with him. Like Brad, a dog bit me in the butt once. And like Brad, my husband used to entertain our oldest son with a puppet show. Brad gave the Frog and Duck Show, while my husband's antics animated a Ronald McDonald puppet and a Dopey dwarf puppet. Sometimes a Woody (Toy Story) doll joined the mix. One night, a naughty Woody simpered, "Roses are red, violets are blue, poops are stinky, and so are you." We were mortified the next morning at church, when Bryce parroted Woody aloud to the girl in the pew in front of him.

I wish Brad all the best in this endeavor. His writing skills shine. He begins each chapter with a short blurb or lesson and wraps up each chapter honing in on that lesson again. Plus, he tackles even difficult subjects like religious belief with honesty and vulnerability. He struggles with the bad that sometimes comes from good people of faith. His questions are valid and voiced with sincerity. We may not share the same spiritual perspective, but we found common ground. His stories reminded me of my stories, and that is the beauty of books. We can always see something of ourselves in the stories of others. 

2023 FB Prayer Project Progress

Today, May 4th, 2023, is the observed National Day of Prayer. What better time to provide an update on my ongoing 2023 Facebook Prayer Project inspired by Amy Weinland Daughters' book, Dear Dana. (Gold medal winner in the Nautilus Book Awards for memoir) I'm so grateful for stumbling upon Amy's book and for the structure her project lends to mine. I'm now 1/3 through the year and my goal of praying for my Facebook friends. By the end of this week, I will have prayed for 144 individuals.

I have petitioned God's throne for surgeries (breast cancer removal, ACL, and hip replacement), childbirth, and court cases. I have prayed for healing from childhood abuse, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. It has been my privilege to intervene for job concerns and pet losses, for prodigals and missionaries, for course completion and foster parenting. Many praises are trickling in: a child's new job in London, a safe delivery of a first grandchild, and peace in the midst of a horrible-no-good-week.

Settling into a structure has certainly helped to attain my goal of reading less and praying more. Every Wednesday, I draw 8 slips from my bag of Facebook friends' names and alert them to my upcoming week of prayer for them. Next, I take what I know (some respond, but for many, I must scour their wall to find information to lead me) and select a scripture verse to pray for each individual for the rest of that week. Every Saturday, I send a message (a month out) reminding them that they were prayed for and alerting them to the verse I selected to accompany my prayers. This is also when I offer to place needs on an ongoing prayer list and request any information they can give about answered prayer.

I have a set routine. I pray for each individual using a 3x5 card with information including family names of spouses, children, and grandchildren, in addition to any specific prayer requests shared. For some (if hard to glean information) it is hard to fill the time, but I shoot for 3 to 5 minutes per person, 3 times each day (before my morning devotions, some time after noon, and prior to bedtime). Since many do not give any specifics, I have developed two lists of guided prayer topics. When I was using one list of ten topics, my prayers felt too rote and repetitive. Although I originally intended to fast while praying, once a week, I only managed to maintain that for a brief time. Sob!

It is surprising how often my prayers for others' needs reminds me of my own need for the same request. I am equally astonished by the depth some are willing to share and the silence of some I thought would reply. How comforting to know that even when I don't know the details I should provide in my prayers, God is aware of the needs of each individual. And for everyone, I pray that God would bring them into relationship with Him and deepen whatever trust and belief they may already hold. It has been a privilege. The time I've spent has been far more valuable than the time I would've devoted to reading. May you lift prayers to the Father today and may He answer in His perfect wisdom and impeccable timing. Praise God, He is never too soon and never too late.

Book Review: Praying for My Life

One of my Facebook friends, whose name I drew early in my 2023 Prayer Project, is battling breast cancer. Following her mass removal and reconstruction surgery, she faced a further battle with depression. In seeking to encourage her, I headed downstairs to find a book I could send. I settled on an older devotional I had on hand: Rhythms of the Heart: Readings That Connect Your Mood to God's Word by Shelley Chapin with Joni Eareckson Tada. While scanning my shelves, I also happened upon this book (knowing my mother-in-law's great love of Guideposts, I think this was probably a book she passed along to me at some point).

Praying for My Life: Holding On to God's Promises, No Matter What was written by Marion Bond West (and published by Guideposts). Marion's husband, Jerry, died of cancer, leaving her to raise their four children. The book walks the reader through countless situations demanding relentless faith in God. Marion is an outstanding storyteller. Each chapter held my attention fast and made me reassess the trials I sometimes find overwhelming. The challenging stories of her twin sons left me exhausted. What whirling dervishes! Their antics made my sons look like angels (if you read my blog from the outset, when mine were small, you would know they tested me sorely).

While the twins were a handful in their early years, they were a hurricane of trouble as they hit their teens. Marion struggled to parent effectively. Her grief often stood in the way. Her desire to be used by God also led her to seek opportunities to speak into the lives of others before speaking into the lives of her own sons. By young adult age, they presented tremendous trials. One battled drug addiction and the other manic depression. Yet Marion continued to cling to God's promise of restoration. I appreciated her honesty and vulnerability. She doesn't gloss over her weaknesses or inadequate responses.  

This book aided my current prayer ministry. It reminded me we must pour out our intercession for others because God holds those prayers in golden bowls in heaven (Revelation 5:8 and 8:3-5). But, even more, it spurred on my prayer for my prodigal son. If I read this book for no other reason, the impact of a question on page 74 was worth every page turned. Marion's daughter posed a question that stopped me in my tracks. She asked, "Mother, how do we know that our continual fear and worry isn't a worse sin than being addicted to drugs or whatever?" Ouch!

Are you facing overwhelming odds in some situation of life? Praying for My Life will lift your eyes to One who holds every circumstance in His hands. It will remind you to intercede with urgency. To believe He will repay the years the locusts eat. It will encourage you to pray as if your life depended on it. You will claim these verses in Habakkuk:

"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places." - Habakkuk 3:17-19 (ESV) 

Book Review: Dear Dana

Two things converged to bring this compulsively readable book into my life. Thanks to an Amazon gift card from a friend, I felt free to spend the money on books. Then, to earn more sweepstakes entries, I signed on for Book Bub. This has been a double-edged sword for me. While I love book recommendations, the daily smattering of titles increases my burgeoning wish list and TBR piles. For this book, I saw the title (Dear Dana: That time I went crazy and wrote all 580 of my Facebook friends a handwritten letter), noticed the low e-book price ($.99), clicked to purchase, and immediately started reading (on my Kindle for PC).

I love everything about this idea. Letter writing saved my life! When I moved in my senior year of high school, when I launched out at a college where I knew not a soul, when I moved overseas to live and work in England for seven months, and when I courted my husband during graduate school, letter writing kept me going. I still keep a stack of those old letters in my closet. I may not read them often, but they are too significant to throw away. They were a lifeline to sanity when loneliness might have driven me crazy.

Crazy! That's what Amy Weinland Daughters must have been to embark on this daunting task. But, how cool! Amy noticed a Facebook friend, Dana, posting about her son's battle with cancer. When the mother and son moved to Memphis for his treatment at St. Jude's, Amy felt compelled to send letters. Sadly, the stricken son died. Amy recalled a comment by a neighbor who, after grieving her lost husband, mentioned that at some point the casseroles and letters cease. Amy didn't want that to happen to her Facebook friend, even though they hadn't seen one another in thirty years. But how to continue expressing her condolences and prayers? She didn't even have an address for Dana. This little realization triggered something that resonated deep within. The impact of receiving a handwritten letter is incalculable. What if Amy wrote a letter (not just a note, but a 2-pager) to every Facebook connection she had?

What's even crazier? She put feet to the plan. She created a spreadsheet, placed the names in a box, pulled out each name, and wrote to each individual, no matter how close or distant in life. I rarely highlight passages in memoirs, but I did so in this book. The exercise changed Amy's heart, and mine too. I wanted to share a few of those nuggets, but in writing them down, they took up almost two pages. Here are a few key points: small, everyday actions can morph into big things; writing letters is therapeutic for both the sender and receiver; intentional letters have no monetary value, but exponential personal worth; and our interactions with people can change us if we remain open and teachable, looking for that potential in even seemingly insignificant or limited relationships (i.e., Facebook friends you have never even met but connected with through some random situation).

She presented one concept I'd love to explore more. Dana asked Amy to join in a 5K for cancer awareness. The physical exertion of this was more than Amy was accustomed to (after health issues). Her observation about praying through the physical pain struck me. She wrote, "Not only did turning my focus to God get me through the next lap, I prayed in a way I never had before. Being depleted physically seemed to augment me spiritually." I'm guessing this principle might apply to fasting as well. Hmm.

As her sister-in-law said, "Don't think that your words aren't life to someone and aren't well received if they don't quite know how to respond." So often, we crave feedback from what we send out into the world. This is inspiration and encouragement for writing, as well as posting on Facebook. Amy wrote, "The key is to... continue to press on boldly... regardless of any lack of feedback." She encourages the reader to never let a lack of "likes" keep you from sharing something that might help another individual.

Amy's correspondence with Dana was life-giving. She gave of herself in prayer and writing. Dana responded, "Know that every word you write matters!" In the same way, through her Facebook letter writing project, Amy learned, "Being connected to each was far more than an exercise in randomness and instead a very deliberate pattern that meant God had been looking out for me through relationships from the beginning."

Deal for today only: To the first five individuals who send me their email that is attached to their Kindle account (you can easily read with the Kindle for PC or Kindle on phone app), I will gift you a copy of this e-book. Express your interest and send your email address to wendy@wendygortonhill.com. Merry Christmas and happy reading and letter writing! 

Book Review: Just Show Up

When I picked this book up from the library, I learned it was a follow-up book. Thus, I set it aside and went after Kara Tippett's initial book, The Hardest Peace (reviewed here). This one didn't move me as thoroughly as Kara's telling of her story. Yet, it was an informative and helpful book. Just Show Up: The Dance of Walking Through Suffering Together is a brilliant book for anyone walking alongside a struggling friend. Those struggles could vary: marital difficulties, death of a parent or child, wayward child facing grave consequences, cancer in self or loved-one. Personally, I've experienced each of these scenarios. Some walked alongside me with grace, showing care and understanding. Some offered unrequested platitudes or advice. A few withdrew and walked away in avoidance.

I cannot say I always respond to another's suffering with the right words or responses. This book emphasizes the best thing to do, just show up. Be there for the person: in silence, in assisting in whatever capacity might meet a need, in prayer, and in presence. It is not surprising that our normal reaction to suffering is a desire to pull away. Many hang in the balance of their pain, feeling like others have forgotten them or do not care. We are called to lean in to those difficult friendships. To embrace the awkward moments. To endure the hard and gritty. And in doing so, we find a blessing. As Kara proclaimed in her first book, God is IN the hard and God IS good.

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Aside: My library provides saving statistics on each receipt. When I checked out this book, I discovered someone else's receipt in the book: "You just saved $15.99 by using your library. You have saved $53.92 this past year and $332.12 since you began using the library!" It made me chuckle. My most recent receipt says I saved $26,964.90 since I began using the library. Ha!

Second aside: After finishing this book, I took an hour and a half of my Sunday afternoon and watched the documentary (available for free on YouTube, here). It is such a touching story and reminds us we each have a story that holds promise for comfort to someone else. May my story give God the glory!

Book Review: The Hardest Peace

I cannot remember how I came across this author. Was it a recommended read in one of the many email services I receive? Was it a Netflix movie recommendation (once I read her books, I intend to watch the documentary)? I cannot believe I didn't find her story sooner. This book was written in 2014. The book I intended to read turned out to be a later book, Just Show Up: The Dance of Walking Through Suffering Together. Thus, I searched until I found Kara Tippett's first book, The Hardest Peace: Expecting Grace in the Midst of Life's Hard.

Bring tissues to your cozy chair if you sit down to read this book! Kara Tippett's story expresses pain, but persistently points to God's goodness. Church-planters Jason and Kara Tippetts received a devastating diagnosis after Kara discovered a lump in her breast. This young family, with four children, face down questions, confusion, despair, and suffering without ever giving up on the God who writes their story. Kara admits she is a broken woman seeking peace in the middle of vast pain. She writes, "Hard is often the vehicle Jesus uses to meet us, point us to that peace, and teach us grace." I cried hardest at her parting letters to her husband and children. This book bolstered my faith, with Kara's words to Jason, "The plan is beautiful, even if the path is hard. I trust Him, I trust Him, I trust Him!"