Book Review: Project Hail Mary

Occasionally, an author will self-publish a book that goes so viral it lures a traditional publisher. This is what happened for Andy Weir with his first book, The Martian. I read that book for book club a decade ago. Since I put Project Hail Mary on my 2026 movie bucket list, I wanted to read the book prior to seeing the movie. The movie must be outstanding. My youngest went to see it twice within less than two weeks. I will admit, the science kept me bogged down during the read. I would have been fine to see the movie without reading the book. But, if you have more scientific acumen than I do (most probable), you might enjoy reading prior to watching the movie.

Project Hail Mary is, as the title suggests, a story of a last-ditch effort to save Earth and humanity. Ryland Grace is an unlikely candidate to save the world. He is a junior high science teacher sent into space on a mission to tackle a pressing problem threatening the sun. He wakes with amnesia from an induced coma. Through flashbacks, the reader and the astronaut come to understand his identity and his mission. When Grace meets an alien, Rocky, battling the same problem, they form a friendship and tackle the problems together.

I still give kudos to Weir for his great skill in explaining science in simple terms. The relational bond between human and alien is touching. The stakes continually escalate. I imagine (for me, anyway) the movie will be easier to follow than the book. I'm looking forward to it, but will admit I'm waiting until my library has a copy of the DVD. A Great Awakening was a movie that demanded viewing on the big screen (I saw it twice and would have happily paid to see it a third time). I'm not feeling as strong a pull for this movie adaptation.

Book Review: A Sketch of the Life and Labors of George Whitefield

After experiencing A Great Awakening in the theater, I returned home raving about the powerful movie. It provided such a clear and accurate presentation of the gospel. Though your sins be as scarlet, Christ offers to wash them white as snow if you accept His free gift of salvation, bought for you in a transaction on the cross. George Whitefield was a revival preacher during America's Great Awakening (1734-1743). His story is fascinating and I wanted to delve deeper. A commenter on Facebook mentioned J. C. Ryle's book, A Sketch of the Life and Labors of George Whitefield. Ryle is the author of one of my favorite pamphlets, Do You Pray? I couldn't wait to explore his research into Whitefield. I borrowed it in audio form on Hoopla the next day.

I believe J. C. Ryle presented this as a lecture at some point. He gives a very direct description of Whitefield's life and ministry. He affirmed something mentioned in the movie, "He was immortal until his work was done." Whitefield preached a clear and concise gospel. He addressed man's complete ruin by sin, man's complete redemption by Christ and complete justification before God by faith in Christ, and man's need of regeneration by the spirit. His cry was convicting, "While ye were sinners, Christ died for you." He explained the transaction: the just for the unjust. He asserted even the vilest sinner could stand complete and righteous before the throne of God through Jesus' sprinkled blood that washes the blackest sins away. One has only to believe and be saved, to ask and receive, to wash and be clean. This is the pure and true gospel.

One thing I loved about the movie was the clear doctrine of the new birth. Once saved, as is evident in baptism, one is buried with Christ, washed and cleansed, and raised with him, a new creature. The Holy Spirit enters in and guides one in sanctification. The presence of the Holy Spirit is a seal of inheritance, proving one is born into God's family. Physically and spiritually, you cannot be unborn after He has sealed you with a promise of eternal life. How I want to emulate Whitefield's persistent goal, that his own name perish, so long as Christ only is exalted!

Mid-month Mention: Must-See Movies of 2026

I'm not generally a movie-goer, but this year, I've viewed 3 movies (2 in theaters) I highly recommend. All 3 were on my 2026 bucket list. Last month, I wrote up a whole movie review for my favorite movie of the year, A Great Awakening. It was powerful! Definitely a must-see! I saw it twice in the theater and would have happily gone again, if it had remained in our local theaters longer. To be honest, I might even consider purchasing the DVD eventually. 

I was anxiously awaiting May 8th, the release day for the Netflix movie adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt's outstanding book, Remarkably Bright Creatures. The big draw was Sally Field playing the main human character, Tova Sullivan. Man-oh! Man-oh! It did not disappoint. When I wasn't laughing, I was wrecked with tears. Once again, I found myself raving about the movie to anyone who would listen. I watched it again on Wednesday night with my youngest son. He loved it! I hope to watch it some weekend with my husband (a very reluctant movie-goer).

Sometimes readers worry that a movie will not live up to the book (because so many don't deliver). This fit those rare occasions when the movie actually hones the book and conveys the essence clearly. The movie cut away much of the background information for the drifter character, Cameron. But, in doing so, it gained strength for the bond between Tova and Cameron. My heart ached with the grief they each carried (Tova for her dead son and Cameron for his dead mother), grief that deepened their friendship. Add in the excellent narration of Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus, and the relationships resonated abundantly. I did see a few readers on Facebook mourning the loss of things like the missing house key, but the majority are raving about how well the adaptation communicated Van Pelt's intended story. The emotional impact is strong, characters well-developed, and take-away profound.

My third favorite movie of the year is another unexpected one. When I first heard the premise of Remarkably Bright Creatures, I didn't think I'd like the novel because it includes, well... a talking animal. Seriously. But some storytellers can pull off talking animals. On Tuesday ($6 day), Sean and I went to see The Sheep Detectives. Sean's girlfriend was bummed when she found out because she had wanted to see it, too. Thankfully, it will show later at the $5 theater near her.

I was expecting a humorous little talking animal tale about a flock of sheep solving the mystery of their shepherd's murder. I loved the idea that the shepherd read to his sheep each night from mystery novels, assuming they couldn't understand because they were only sheep. This movie was fun and entertaining, yes. But, it also led to a great deal of deeper thought about biblical metaphors. The movie stirred reflection on how we, as sheep (sometimes as shunned winter lambs), often go astray. The shepherd saves us from danger and destruction. He calls us by name.

The movie addresses deep concepts amid animal hijinks. The sheep must contemplate leaving the safety of the fold, consider death and grief, and wrap their heads around the concept of God. Sean and I tried to communicate the clever scene discussing God, but couldn't remember it enough to do it justice when regaling my husband. I found a movie reviewer who captured the scene well. I didn't feel like it made light of God or led to nonsensical views. Personally, the whole movie made me think about God and our relationship to Him. Here's how Daniel Blackaby reviewed the God-explanation scene:

"There is a humorous moment in which the sheep walk through the church grounds, and one sheep tries to explain God to the other. God is a shepherd, but also a lamb. He also “damns people”, but this only leads the other sheep to assume God must be giant beaver. God is invisible, but he is also bread, and people eat him every Sunday, says the one sheep to his increasingly confused friend. Some viewers may feel this dialogue makes light of God or equates faith in him with nonsense, but I found the honest questions endearing."

The movie is family friendly and could open up conversation about the deep scriptural metaphors portrayed in the movie. God is, indeed, "complicated," but I welcome even humorous tales that drive home spiritual truths. The writing is incredibly clever and witty. It holds appeal to children and adults alike. Good shepherds, bad shepherds, beloved sheep, wayward rejected sheep - we each can find God and ourselves in this story. May I be an attentive sheep and listen to my Shepherd.   

Mid-month Mention #2: Recent Articles Worth Reading

Transported Curiosity

I now have another place to put on a larger bucket list (not my small local one). I would love to visit Lake Havasu City, Arizona. This is the site of something very cool. Did you know that London Bridge was transported to Arizona in 1968? Seriously! What a random and highly unlikely fact! Naomi Xu Elegant writes a fascinating explanation of it in her piece, "The Ideal City." It contains photos of the transporting process and all that went into creating a river to run under the bridge. The whole article is so delightful that I immediately sent the link to my brother (just promoted to Senior Construction Field Representative for the architectural firm where he works, so I knew it would interest him).

Content Caution

My smaller bucket list lost one item after I read this scathing article, by Sarah Reardon, about the modern take on Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. Sarah's essay, "We're Being Shaped by Smut," is one I agree with wholeheartedly. It is utterly depressing. What depths our society has sunken to! I despair when modern books constantly sanction immorality by inserting it ad naseum into almost every book published. How disheartening that you cannot go to see a movie depicting a literary classic without being assaulted by trash and smut! If, like me, you had wanted to view that movie, I highly suggest seeking an older, cleaner version. Emily Bronte, a clergyman's daughter, must be shuddering in the grave! I'm so glad I didn't attempt to go see this current presentation. It would have made me uncomfortable enough to walk out.

Sitting with Suffering

Speaking of being uncomfortable. Lent is a time leading up to the cross. We say we want to sit with Christ and share in His suffering, but so often it makes us uncomfortable. We squirm and would rather get to Sunday, to the moment of redemption. With Tony Campolo (who I heard speak when I was at Wheaton), we say, "It's Friday, but Sunday's a'comin'!"

I stumbled upon this excellent article by Zeke Smith, The Armchair Chaplain. It is titled, "Ilia Malinin: Is This What You Wanted?" In the article, he discusses Ilia's Olympic performance and the reaction of the press. They hounded Ilia after his failures and pushed him to look to 2030. At the end, Ilia presented a flawless performance in the exhibition gala, when there were no judges, no points, and no pressure. You can view that performance here. It is set to a tune I'd never heard, "Fear," by NF. It immediately made me think of my son because apparently it was written at a time in the artist's life when he suffered a relapse. As far as I know, my son hasn't relapsed, but we're still sitting in the suffering and the struggle. We still would love to see the redemption at the end of this road.

Zeke Smith shifts from the question of the song, "Is This What You Wanted?," to a story about Derek Redmond's emotional Olympic injury. Apparently, after breaking a hamstring, his father broke from the stands to help him cross the finish line (a beautiful picture of a father's love). Smith writes, "None of us want to be known for our worst moments, even when our worst moments are the ones that make us most recognizably human.... The truth is, none of us want the path of the cross. We're not good at sitting with suffering." When people are suffering, we must be willing to sit in the suffering with them, rather than pushing them to the purpose, the redemption that is not quite there yet. These are great words. It is an article well worth reading.

Motivational Mantra

I also found these incredibly motivating lines in Alice Lemee's article, "A Love Letter from Thailand." 

"Everybody wants to get to heaven, but nobody wants to die to get there. Morbidly, I want to engrave this into my brain. It is the ultimate motivator. Forget the Pomodoro or Eat the Frog. One day, you will die. Are you juicing every drop from our sun? Or are you postponing yourself?"

2026 Baby Bucket List - February Progress

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

I enjoy setting and assessing goals, even when a lack of progress brings discouragement. My husband and I don't have a great track record when it comes to commemorating monumental moments in our marriage (that's a mouthful). For our 25th anniversary, I simply posted our surprise at reaching it and our commitment to fighting for the marriage. I bemoaned our Covid-foiled 30th anniversary celebrations, settling for a list of 30 small things we could do to celebrate. It was, indeed, discouraging that we only completed a handful from the list. While I would have loved to travel to Barcelona, to view the La Sagrada Familia, our 35th wedding anniversary passed unnoticed, as well.

Thus, I don't hold out a lot of hope for this new endeavor, but I'm documenting it (to spur us on to some sort of completion maybe) and tracking our progress, or lack thereof. This year, I made an EASY list. Tempted by advertisements for deals on my Facebook feed, I wrote down ones I'd like to try. These are not typical bucket list locations. Indeed, you won't find any five-star restaurants or places that come to $30-50 per meal. Most of the appeal for me is in the savings angle. Of course, my husband is not a savings nut, so he often negates my savings by selecting whatever strikes his fancy.

For this 2026 Baby Bucket List, I ticked off 23 restaurants, 3 festivals, 4 places, and 7 movies. The restaurants began with a list of specials I had noticed, things like the Beef-a-Roo $5.55 meal, the Red Robin $9.99 Big Yumm Burger deal, the Logan's Roadhouse $11.99 Real Deal meal, and the BJ's Brewhouse $13 Pizookie deal. 

(image from Beef-a-Roo website)

(image from Logan's Roadhouse website)

I also added locations I'd like to try or introduce to my husband, like Ms B's Teas, Brie & Bartlett, and Jagger's. I tried to tally 26 restaurants (an every other week goal), but the last three ended up being events: Amo Fish Fry, Fair-on-the-Square, and the Quaker Days Festival.

For the first place, I selected a new-to-me bed-and-breakfast in Danville, Indiana, called The Marmalade Sky. Next, I'm hoping to book a get-away to the retreat center in Northern Indiana where I used to take November writing retreats, back when I was participating in National Novel Writing Month (Nanowrimo). Third, I'd like to take the Rockin' Thunder river lunch excursion in Madison, Indiana. For the fourth place, I'm hoping we'll head toward Southern Indiana and visit French Lick, Jasper, or Loogootee.

I'm least hopeful for the movies. My husband is neither a traveler nor a movie-goer. He scorns most modern movies because they're full of filth and bad language. But, there are several I hope to see, some way or another. The first I wanted to see was H is for Hawk. We missed it, due to bad weather and dangerous roads. I'm glad I didn't drag him out to see Wuthering Heights, over Valentine's weekend, because I read the movie opens with an explicit execution scene. Why? Why must they trash the classics? I may get my youngest to go see Project Hail Mary with me in March, as he watched Andy Weir's other novel adaptation, The Martian. Then, I'd like to see A Great Awakening (April), and The Sheep Detectives (May). Finally, I hope to watch the adaptation of one of my 2024 favorite reads, Remarkably Bright Creatures, if Sean still has Netflix then (out 5/8/26 and starring Sally Field). Then, perhaps The Magician's Nephew, in November. Don't be surprised if 2026 flies and none of those movies met my eyes (unintentional rhyme).

So, here we are nearing the end of February. We have managed to check off three items. Our first attempted visit to Beef-a-Roo was dashed because some sort of maintenance issue closed the dining area (and I didn't relish eating a gooey Beef-n-Cheddar in the car). Thankfully, we tried again on another visit to our son, and this time the dining area was available. I purchased the $5.55 deal and my husband's meal was possibly 3 times that, ha!

For Valentine's weekend, we booked a room at Marmalade Sky. John has been having further sleep issues (this is becoming a constant and wearing problem), so we requested the Tabatha Room for its king bed. We had lunch at Danville's delightful Bread Basket restaurant and bakery. We've both been there before, but I love their BLTEA sandwich (which adds egg and avocado to the typical BLT). John took the opportunity to buy a small cherry pie and a loaf of honey oat bread. Check out all these bakery items. The food was fantastic!

I will try to re-cap again in May. Hopefully, we will have ticked off more items by then (when the weather is more conducive). I know completing all 37 items is impossible. Still, it's fun to set a goal. 

Have you ever written a one-year bucket list? Do you have a life-long bucket list? Are your items all big-ticket items (like some of the 250 ideas listed in this Cassie Scroggins blog post)? Have you read Brad Fischer's The Sand Bucket List?

Book Review: The Magician's Nephew

After completing a re-read of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, I headed to the library hoping to find the second book in the series. The librarian (with obvious pride in knowing these details) explained that the order actually (although "actually" is a subjective word here) starts with The Magician's Nephew. I think I had heard this whole dilemma before, but had forgotten. In my humble opinion, I'm glad I read LWW first. It was a more striking entrance into the idea of Narnia. I preferred that book to this prequel. I may not even continue with re-reading the series.

In The Magician's Nephew, we meet Digory and Polly, two bored children in London. The kids, with the help of Uncle Andrew's magic rings, go on adventures to other worlds. By the end, they land in Narnia and meet Aslan. This book holds the clue to how the evil witch entered Narnia. It bears some similarity to Biblical stories of the first sin. While it was entertaining, I don't feel compelled to stick with this. I need something that grabs my attention with more force. Besides, I had already reviewed the entire series when I read a few of them with my younger sons (and then completed the series on my own) back in 2011. 

I would be interested, however, in seeing the upcoming movie of The Magician's Nephew, slated for the end of 2026. It will star Carey Mulligan as Digory's ailing mother. It is due to be released in IMAX theaters on November 26, 2026. If you want to know more, here's a You Tube video about the movie.

Mid-month Mention #2: The King of Kings Movie

On Tuesday, I went with two other women from my Bible study to see Angel Studios' new movie, The King of Kings. Although the movie is animated, and appropriate for children, adults should not shy away. Several things deserve commendation. It provides a clear articulation of the gospel. We all commented on how appealing it was to tell the story of Christ through the medium of a story told by Charles Dickens to his son. As the story goes along, the viewer begins to feel all of the emotions being expressed by Walter Dickens on the screen. I loved how the creators didn't shrink back from tastefully showing difficult scenes like the woman caught in adultery or Christ's time on the cross. Moreover, they clearly explain how sin separates us from God. Without Christ's sacrifice on the cross, we would be unable to bridge the chasm between sinful man and holy God. 

This story-within-a-story is loosely based on Dickens' The Life of Our Lord. Dickens wrote that book specifically to share the story of Jesus' life with his children. While Dickens is not someone I would reference as a clearly committed Christian (nor are the celebrities voicing the characters, I'm sure), I felt his tale provided an educational foundation for key stories in the Bible that demonstrate Christ's power, purpose, and plan.

I would not label it an evangelistic tool, however. It introduces kids to portions of scripture, but I would never look to a film to create a transformed life. Indeed, I noted a Reddit feed of atheist parents expressing the movie as "safe" because it presents Christ's life as "legend" rather than "truth." Still, it opens a dialogue for parents and children, and it gives a basic outline of the life of Christ. It felt reminiscent of the "Walk Through the Bible" teaching tool, condensing large amounts of Biblical details into manageable and memorable story.  

Of course, since I'm a Christ-follower and a Dickens-lover, it appealed to me. But the tale is appealing to others, as well. It is billed as the "highest opening-weekend for an animated faith-based film." It has achieved a Cinemascore audience rating of A+, a rare feat. There's no better time to take the young children in your life to learn about the life of our Lord than during the Easter season! Well-timed, Angel Studios!

Book Review: Lost on a Mountain in Maine

After seeing an enticing trailer for this Angel Studios movie, I wanted to read the book. Although written for kids, it holds interest for adults as well. Lost on a Mountain in Maine tells the true story of Donn Fendler, who, at age 12, got lost for 9 days on Mount Katahdin. I'm sure my love of Gary D. Schmidt's outstanding book, Trouble, which also involves a tween on that mountain, heightened my interest. 

What a harrowing tale! And how heart-wrenching those days must have been for his parents. I listened to the audio book on Hoopla. The primary narrator is a boy who presents the story from Donn's perspective. An adult narrator then provides tiny asides with deeper information and details about the story. Although I would love to see the movie, I'm not interested in getting the Angel app. I'm hoping my library will somehow secure a copy one day.

==========

Just discovered: My library has this movie available now on Hoopla! Hoping to find time to watch it soon!

2/23/25 - We watched the movie on Hoopla last night. READ the BOOK! Or watch the trailer. They must have taken every action moment and combined it into the trailer. It was heartbreaking, yes! But, oh so slow. As usual, the book is better than the movie. I was also surprised that an Angel Studios film would begin with so much casual cursing. At the outset, they are interviewing an old man about the occurrence and his language is not something you'd want your young children (who may be interested after reading the book) to absorb. Moreover, the book emphasizes Donn's reliance on prayer during his challenging days in the wilderness.

A Multitude of Movies in March

I spent the first week of March watching quite a bit while staying with my mother. She calmed to every musical and somewhat when I watched the BBC's The Monarch of the Glen (a series I have no access to, but my parents own 7 seasons of it - I only managed 3-1/2 seasons). We watched her beloved Meet Me in St. Louis, The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, Singing in the Rain, Les Miserables (a staged production), and my favorite, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. My house is very quiet. We don't watch television at all (don't have cable or any other access points). Still, the practice of watching must have influenced me because I watched more movies in March than I have in a long time.

Not long ago, I discovered my library access to a documentary/movie portal called Kanopy. It is like Hoopla (a certain amount of credit per month), but focuses on documentaries and movies. I watched a documentary about William's Syndrome called Truelove: The Film. Then I got on a Felicity Jones kick. I watched Like Crazy, about a British student attending college in America who overstays her visa. It was a sad and disturbing movie about how bureaucracy stood in the way of her marriage. Not one I recommend. My next Felicity Jones fare was the Masterpiece Theater production of Northanger Abbey, a book I read 5 years ago.

After that, I explored famous writers who lost children (don't ask me why). So, I watched the Roald Dahl story, To Olivia. Then, I watched the 1977 movie, Mary White. William Allen White was a writer and author in Emporia, Kansas. His 16-year-old daughter died when she struck a low-hanging branch while riding her horse. The actress who played Mary did an outstanding job of communicating the girl's spunk and convictions.

Sean was interested in the Mary White movie because it corresponded to a period in history that he was then studying in his AP US History course. I also watched another movie at his behest. He had read the book Into the Wild for another class. I regretted that choice because it had a few minor nude scenes in the telling. No doubt this is why the teacher didn't share the movie with the class, ha!

Watching some of the Viking TV episodes about Great Britain led me to seek some more British fare. Thus, I watched Irish Wish, a cute little movie set with gorgeous footage of Ireland. It is about a young American girl who makes a wish on an ancient stone in Ireland. She wishes to marry her best friend's fiancé. As her wish unfolds, she learns it wasn't the best wish. I also made a 20-mile trek to the closest theater I could find showing the movie One Life. I adored Anthony Hopkins and Helena Bonham Carter in the film. Yet, I think I would have been fine waiting for library access and watching it at a later date. In my opinion, the documentary my husband and I watched on Kanopy in February (called Nicky's Family) was a more compelling telling of Nicholas Winton's story. Oh well.

So, what did I do besides all that movie watching? Well, nothing much. It seems I've been expertly avoiding thinking about difficult things. I did, however, begin purging in the kitchen. At this point, I only have two bags and am through a third of the cupboards. I attended a webinar on memoir writing (not for myself, but because a close friend has asked for help in writing her memoir). I would love to pick up where my writing stalled out mid-year, but still haven't made that happen. If my friend can get me writing again, even in a quasi-manner, it will be helpful.

Mid-month Mention: Spring Author Talks and Upcoming Movies

AUTHOR TALKS:

Shortly after finishing Susan Meissner's Only the Beautiful, I discovered an author talk available with the writer in February (I mentioned it in my book review post).

Laura Beth Vietor (The Lover of Books) is also offering an author talk on May 6th at 8 p.m. with William Kent Kreuger, discussing The River We Remember. I have read and reviewed his books Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land. I have not yet read The River We Remember, so I'm not sure I'll attend this author talk, but he is certainly an author to watch. Again, if interested in participating search up The LBs (Lover of Books) page on Facebook, or her YouTube channel (for repostings - I noticed an author talk with Patti Callahan Henry for Once Upon a Wardrobe, a book I'm reading now, and one with Laura Spence-Ash, for her delightful Beyond That, The Sea).

Or you can participate in upcoming author talks with Jane Healey for her Historical Happy Hour: 

2/22/24 - Kristin Hannah, discussing The Women

3/5/24 - Allison Pataki, discussing Finding Margaret Fuller

3/28 - Kate Quinn and Janie Chang, discussing The Phoenix Crown

You can register to attend any of these live interviews at janehealey.com

I also stumbled upon an author talk for writers who wish to explore the therapeutic benefits of journaling. Though the free talk on February 7th has already passed, you may wish to join Dr. Hilton Koppe, author of One Curious Doctor, for his 2-part talk on Tending Heart: Reflective Writing for Well-being:

SPRING MOVIES:

ONE LIFE

A Bleecker Street post on Facebook has me excited about a movie coming in March:

"Embark on a journey of courage and compassion with Sir Anthony Hopkins in ONE LIFE. Based on the incredible true story of Nicholas Winton, a man who risked everything to rescue hundreds of predominantly Jewish children from Nazi Germany on the eve of WWII. Also starring Helena Bonham Carter, Johnny Flynn, and Jonathan Pryce, coming only to theaters March 15."

You can view the trailer here.

I'm not a big movie-goer, but I would love to see this one in the theater. Indeed, I was so intrigued, I watched a 60 Minutes news story about Nicholas Winton and then an older documentary, called Nicky's Family, available from my library on Kanopy.

SOMEONE LIKE YOU

I'm also interested in another movie due out on April 2nd, Someone Like You. Based on a Karen Kingsbury novel (brief review here) and produced by Karen Kingsbury Productions, the movie looks sweet and emotionally stirring.

You can view the trailer here.

UNSUNG HERO

The final movie I want to mention is one I will probably forego seeing in theaters and hope the library secures a copy at a later date. It is the story of the Christian musical group For King and Country. I had the rare opportunity to see them in concert at our 2015 annual Bible camp, CBLI. It is called Unsung Hero and opens on April 26th.

You can view the trailer here.

Book Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

Drawn by a movie preview in my Facebook feed, I checked out Jennifer E. Smith's book, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. The lead character looked familiar. It turns out she played the lead in the movie version of Five Feet Apart. She's an attractive, spunky gal, and quite charming. The Love at First Sight movie sounded appealing, but I always prefer to read the book first. The book was delightful. Yet, I was skeptical the movie version would be as wholesome as the book.

Hadley Sullivan knows it will be a terrible day. After all, she's traveling to London to attend her father's wedding. He couldn't settle for abandoning his family. He had to seal the deal by marrying someone else, someone Hadley has never even met. When she misses her flight, she must wait for the next available one. But a British boy named Oliver ends up sitting next to her. Those four lousy minutes that made her late may just change her life...

As the inside cover tease reads: "Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it."

The dialogue is fun. The characters are endearing. I'm so grateful the author didn't follow the way of modern YA by muddying the waters with a tryst in the airplane lavatory. No, this is a clean and enjoyable romance I would feel safe handing to any teen reader. I'm thrilled I encountered that advertisement.

Here's the movie trailer that lured me in:

As for the movie, I am impressed! No, more than that, blown away. Not only is it clean (momentary exception*), but it enhances Oliver's storyline in such a way that I think it outpaces the actual book. In fact, I far prefer the way Oliver's story plays out in the movie. It holds more substance and feeling. 

I rarely laud a movie over the book. This movie gutted me. I sat sobbing on my couch (and this, moments after my husband heard me cracking up from a clever line). The movie was magical and moving (so much so, I watched it a second time). It nailed the essence of Smith's novel.

Exception*: In the movie, when Hadley phones her father in the middle of the night to say she missed her flight, he is lying in bed next to his pending bride. Is it any wonder our young people see no hesitation for sex preempting, or outside of, the holy commitment of matrimony? 

 

Book Review: Five Feet Apart

Two of my friends have grandchildren who battle cystic fibrosis. I knew it brings difficulty in breathing because of mucus that concentrates in the lungs. Still, I didn't know much about the disease. This young adult novel, Five Feet Apart, by Rachael Lippincott, will go far to raise awareness. The book has won several awards. It earned the Goodreads Choice Winner for Best Young Adult fiction in 2019 and the YALSA 2020 Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.

Crippled by perilous lungs, Stella Grant meticulously follows her regimen. She avoids any known contaminants to keep herself viable on the lung transplant list. When she encounters Will Newman at the hospital, she knows she should run the other way. Yet, she's determined to break through his callous disregard for his cystic fibrosis. All Will wants to do is unplug from all the machines and live his life with abandon. As their relationship develops, it sweeps them closer and closer emotionally, yet they must always remain six feet apart physically. With so much restricting them, they assume they can afford to steal one foot of distance from the general constraint.

This story sucks the reader in. I learned a great deal about this disease and the many challenges it presents. My heart goes out to these young people and their constant battle against lungs that betray them. The authors nailed the character development and the plot pacing. At first, I didn't care for Will. His arrogant personality, abrasive tone, and foul language turned me off. But I came around to like him. I hung on every word when Stella's life hung in the balance. The book has a somewhat happy ending, but it contains cautionary content along the way.

After finishing the book, I located the movie version (which came out in 2019). While the ending is different, I enjoyed the movie. It is a tear-jerker and tugs at the emotions more than the book. It has a positive message: take time to show your love to others with the powerful power of touch. They mention sex several times in the movie. Although, the closest Will and Stella get to this is a scene where they strip down to their underwear in front of one another. Still, parents should know of this compromising content. Apparently, a sequel for the movie is in the works. It will be called All This Time.  

Compilation: 15 Books About Dementia

Even prior to my mother's dementia diagnosis, I sought books on that topic. I suppose it began with a book club selection, Still Alice. Many in my book club could relate to the story by Lisa Genova. I did not know I would one day be able to relate as well. Although it can be a quite depressing topic, it is not without hope. Some of these books are non-fiction. Some are fiction. Each offers something to hold on to in order to get through the darkness. Here are 15 books I have read and reviewed (in chronological order to when I read them, earliest to most recent):

1. Still Alice by Lisa Genova - novel
2. Dancing With Rose by Lauren Kessler - memoir
3. The Patient's Playbook by Leslie D. Michelson  - non-fiction
4. Brain Maker by Dr. David Perlmutter - non-fiction
5. Switch by Ingrid Law - middle-grade novel
6. Before I Forget by B. Smith and Dan Gasby - memoir
7. Where the Light Gets In by Kimberly Williams-Paisley - memoir
8. The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin  - novel
9. Goodbye Vitamin by Rachel Khong  - novel
10. The Aging Brain by Dr. Timothy Jennings - non-fiction
11. The End of Alzheimer's and The E. of A. Program by Dr. Dale E. Bredesen - non-fiction
12. How to Forget by Kate Mulgrew - memoir
13. Walking Through Twilight by Douglas Groothuis - memoir
14. Four Umbrellas by June Hutton and Tony Wanless - memoir
15. Biohack Your Brain by Kristen Willeumier, PhD - non-fiction 

We decided to watch Still Alice on Saturday night. Given all of my recent brain blunders and speech slips, it was hard to watch. Just yesterday, I was trying to say "egg shell" and could only get out "egg thingie." My siblings have asked if I will take the genetic testing to see if I'm a carrier of the Alzheimer gene, but frankly that terrifies me. I'd rather not know. Plus, the movie indicated if one tests positive, it is a 100 percent chance the individual will present with dementia at some point in the future. To be given that finality is, perhaps, more than I could bear. Whatever happens, it is in God's hands.

Marvelous Local Romantic Getaway

We celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary on August 4th. My husband and I never plan elaborate celebrations. He doesn't like to travel and parental responsibilities often keep us close to home. I have a friend who just returned from an anniversary-marking Alaskan cruise. Her photos left me jealous, yet something like that was out of the question for us. Back in 2020, the pandemic (and other things) foiled our Mackinac Island plans for our 30th anniversary getaway. Our feeble substitute flopped because we only tackled a third of our 30 celebratory activities. In 2021, we took a day trip to Indiana's largest waterfall and then attended our friend's play in Urbana, Illinois, fitting in a brief visit with my mother-in-law (such a blessing, because we didn't realize it would be our last visit with her).

This year, I searched the Visit Indiana website for a romantic getaway option. It will not surprise my regular readers that a coupon lured me in - ha! Cabins and Candlelight in Colfax, Indiana, offers the fixings for a steak dinner if you book a weeknight visit before December 22, 2022. I highly recommend this destination if you live in the Indianapolis area and crave a simple romantic getaway. We had a delightful time and marvel that we were unaware of this local opportunity (only 40 minutes away from us).

I was expecting a cabin similar to the one I visited in Southern Indiana ten years ago for a writing retreat. While that cabin was isolated and quiet, the Colfax cabin was far more luxurious and accommodating for a romantic getaway. Every minute detail inside enhances a couple's stay. The owners set soft music playing on the stereo system and arrange two place settings at the cozy table (with a candle, should you want a candle-lit dinner). 

The kitchen is well-stocked with food and cooking supplies.

Behind the small table, there's a reclining couch and a chair for relaxing. The armoire holds many romantic CDs and DVDs, plus puzzles, games, and previous visitor logs.

I would have loved to cozy up with the visitor logs and simply read about previous visitors. From the few I read, many were quite touching. They mentioned retreating from a myriad of responsibilities, trials, and challenges. What a blessing to get away from the daily burdens of jobs, child-rearing, or cancer treatments. Many couples referred to their annual visit to celebrate their anniversary. It is a place you want to visit again and again.

I can't wait to come back to take advantage of the many opportunities we missed. We didn't use the inviting hot tub, 

nor sit to watch the birds and chipmunks on the back porch (too hot).

We brought our own DVD (a faith-based movie, Summer Snow, I had picked up at a garage sale recently), but so many of their titles were enticing. If we had planned a two-day visit, I could have completed a puzzle. And again, my natural curiosity makes me want to explore all those visitor logs.

This was, by far, the best anniversary getaway in the last decade. My selfie might be bad, but we have happy faces!

We enjoyed our steak dinner, with baked potatoes, pears, and cheesecake for dessert. In the morning, John whipped up a batch of his famous cheesy scrambled eggs. They provided a list of all the amenities and supplies, so we knew to pack slices of American cheese (for our eggs) and my favorite hazelnut creamer (for my coffee). After cleaning up the kitchen, we took a hike along their trails to the Sugar Creek.

Before we left, we admired another element of the woodsy cabin décor: a moose business card holder:

and we purchased a souvenir coffee mug (isn't it classy?):

Although we regretted leaving this calming oasis, we had one more goal to achieve: a stop in Thorntown, Indiana, to visit Stookey's Restaurant, known for their onion rings. We placed an order for a small serving, along with some salads. The stack was enormous; we ended up taking half the rings home.

The only improvement to the trip would have been a stop at Donaldson's Chocolatier in Lebanon, Indiana. But, by then, we were eager to get home and make sure the boys had not neglected the house and dog.

Movie Reviews: Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (and Maverick)

I rarely go to see movies in the theater. The last movie I attended (and the first one since the pandemic began) was a movie Sean wanted me to join him in seeing: Top Gun: Maverick. We both enjoyed that one immensely. It was riveting and full of suspense. Several of my friends recommended that movie. Apart from one bedroom scene (implied rather than shown) and some cursing, it was less cluttered than I expected.

Then, my Facebook feed exploded with trailers and ads for the upcoming movie, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. I was so lured in (a British cleaning woman, Paris, dreams above her station) that I watched the trailers repeatedly, to the point where my husband said, "You're watching that again??" You watch the trailer and see if you're not enticed. Once the movie opened, I read hundreds of reviews billing it as a wholesome, entertaining movie with a great message. It was rated PG - another good sign. I couldn't find someone to go to the movie with me. Yet, the lure continued to pull, so I went alone.

The movie is an underdog story. It is whimsical with the feel of a fairy-tale. For example, take the moment that incites the driving conflict: a glimmering Christian Dior gown transfixes Ada Harris when she sees it in an apartment she cleans. The owner explains that, despite the exorbitant cost of 500 quid, it was worth every bit because she feels amazing when she wears the gown. Thus, Mrs. Harris sets her sights on Paris and a Christian Dior couture dress.

Difficulties are inevitable with any dream. She must raise the funds, make the trip, get inside the restrictive showroom, and wait for her gown to be ready. Although much of this is unrealistic (again, fairy-tale quality to it), the message about persistence in pursuing one's dreams is valuable. How satisfying to see arrogance receive a comeuppance. My heart followed every emotional high and devastating low in Mrs. Harris' journey.

I agree the movie is more wholesome than most that come out of Hollywood today. Yet, would it have been so difficult to leave off the can-can dancing scene, drinking, smoking, and mild cursing? It is as if producers must fill movies with some sort of degenerate behavior for fear it will not go over well enough. Never mind those of us who wish movies and books were cleaner.

Still, I would say I enjoyed this movie. I relished the vicarious visit to Paris. It was a light-hearted romp of a film. Rooting for Mrs. Harris to get and wear her dress was inevitable. Even if you are not a fashionista, you will enjoy the bright colors and delightful display. Go forth and pursue your own dreams, even if they are as frivolous as owning a dress above your station!

Book/Movie Review: News of the World

I love finding book and movie recommendations on Facebook. While browsing one day, I noticed a friend recommending News of the World, a movie she watched on a vacation flight. Of course, I didn't want to view the movie first, so I checked out both the book and the movie. As sometimes happens with hold lists, the book came in at the same time as the movie (pushing me to read fast enough to watch the movie within the one week library borrow time).

Captain Kidd has already raised his daughters. His wife is dead and his printing business closed down. Now, he makes his way across Texas doing newspaper and periodical readings for townsfolk who are hungry for word from the rest of the world. I loved the mention of Household Words, the periodical in which Charles Dickens published his serialized novels. Too fun. Now, Captain Kidd takes on a new task. He agrees to return a ten-year-old girl to her people. The Kiowa tribe held the girl captive after they killed her parents and sister. Now that the white people bought her back, he agrees to return her to her aunt and uncle. The journey is harrowing and the two, thrown together in this circumstance, open up and bond. It is a beautiful tale.

In this case, the book and movie are both good. The book gives more information and a rounder tale, but the movie provides such a tender, uplifting message. The casting was perfect. My husband reluctantly watched with me because he is not a big fan of Tom Hanks, but Hanks did a superb job playing this role. The young girl chosen to play Johannah Leonberger was also outstanding. I loved the harrowing, classic Western shoot-out. The Texas dust storm led to a heart-wrenching moment that almost brought tears to my eyes. If you are looking for a decent movie to watch, I recommend News of the World. It emphasizes the power of story, the redemption available when we invest in each other's lives, and the blessing of unexpected opportunity sometimes cloaked as a burden.

August 2021 Recap

August has been an exhausting month. Lots going on emotionally. I've already written about the opportunities we had to celebrate our 31st anniversary. We didn't fathom, at the time, the true blessing. 

Besides our anniversary, my parents were due to celebrate their 60th anniversary in the middle of the month. Thus, my siblings and I tried to come up with an appropriate gift for such a significant achievement. My dad had talked about renting an RV and bringing my mom to visit each of us in our respective states. Despite his hunger to see all of us, it was a dangerous plan (given their recent health issues and my mom's dementia) and we prayed he would abandon the idea. In the end, we settled on a company that makes tribute videos for special occasions. 

It should have been an easy and effective idea. Not so! We dithered about who should start and supervise the project. I only balked because I'm horrible with technology, but every other sibling is far busier than me. My sister took charge. Then, despite almost daily reminders, participants held off on sending in videos, right up to the deadline. The actual recording was as easy as opening their email, hitting record, deciding if you wanted to keep or redo, then clicking on done. Even a technological moron, like me, could easily handle that. I submitted four brief videos - the first, a greeting from John and me with Sean and Toby (revealing Sean's height as a 6 foot 14-year-old); the second, of Trevor showing off his convertible; the third, riding in the back of the convertible as Trevor drove; and the fourth, showing my mom my book room (I know she would have loved it when in her normal mind). We didn't make the deadline, and they didn't receive the video on their anniversary.

My sister tried to make it special by sending balloons, banners, and a Giordano's pizza (one of their favorites), but I think that celebration triggered more difficulties for my mom. Their day held a load of chaos, and I don't think they enjoyed the celebration. I tried to call, but heard them battling another disturbing escape attempt (my mom is desperate to visit her parents and my dad, instead of following the "dementia rules," insists on giving her the truth). Between mom's hospital visit for a fractured spine and dad's cancer scares and knee injections, they had their own challenging August.

In the meantime, my mother-in-law anticipated her trip to Texas to meet her first great-grandbaby. They decided that John's older brother Rick would accompany her. They arrived on Monday, August 16th, and had a wonderful dinner together with John's sister and husband, Martha and Phil, Martha's daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Saul, and the baby of honor, Sophie. Martha sent this adorable photo of mom holding Sophie:

On August 17th, they headed to Las Cruces, NM, to enjoy lunch out. They were all walking from the vehicles to the restaurant (Martha, a nurse, walking behind my mother-in-law) when my mother-in-law slumped to the ground. Martha caught her fall and began CPR, but she died in an instant.

It was so sudden and unexpected. Many might say, "but she was 92!" Still, she was in perfect health. Indeed, she proudly relayed the doctor's words from her recent appointment: "you're healthier than people half your age." Not a thing wrong with her. Her knees gave her trouble, but no heart issues or high blood pressure. One minute she was walking along, enjoying her family, and the next she was meeting her Maker.

Despite our shock and grief, there are so many reasons for gratitude. She didn't die alone. Family surrounded her. She didn't experience pain. There and then, gone. She had just visited with many of us: the Texas family, Rick, our visit in early August, her granddaughter in Illinois, who had lunch with her every week. We didn't visit her often enough, but visited in a tent with her at Thanksgiving. Plus, she had spent a delightful Christmas with our family, and then another visit when Bryce came in May. I'm grateful we included her. For each visit, I experienced hesitations (at Christmas, because I didn't want to share my family gift opening time - yet my prayers were answered as she felt included and I didn't mind at all; in May, because I wanted Bryce all to ourselves - yes, I'm selfish, like that).

The timing was also an ironic blessing. We have been attempting to sell some of the family property but have hit snag after snag. Extensive presentations met with rejections by the town council. John has put in hundreds of hours on this process, all to no avail. My mother-in-law loathed the sale of the property. It brought her to tears. She had hoped and prayed that it wouldn't sell until she died. The very day she left us, the town council finally approved a proposal. Now the details of the land sale have given way to the many details that come after a death. The family asked us to write her obituary. I've never written an obituary. 

I snagged this excellent FB photo of my mother-in-law, taken at her church the day after our August visit with her. Trevor replaced the distracting background with a neutral one. She was an extremely generous lady. Right until her death, she worked as a volunteer at the Daily Bread soup kitchen. She baked cookies to share with the men from the Salvation Army shelter. Her time, talents, and money, always spent in helping others. She never made you feel like anything was an imposition. For example, in April I found a beautiful sweater on clearance but it was too big. I bought it anyway (only a buck) and asked if she would alter it to fit me. She took it with her and had it ready for me when we visited her on August 7th. Whenever I wear it, I will smile and think of her.

Trevor experienced car issues in August. While driving home from his girlfriend's house, a fox ran alongside his car and then darted in front of him. With another car approaching, he couldn't swerve to miss impact. Here is the state of his car now:

Not long after that, the rear brake pads had to be replaced. Ugh!

August is ending on a pleasant note, though. Bryce had made plans to visit and attend one of Sean's football games for the last weekend in August. It was a real treat to have him home, even if only for a little over 50 hours. The game was a nail-biter. First the other team was up; then we scored but failed at the two-point-conversion. Then, each side managed another two touchdowns. At one point, they called Sean's name as having recovered a fumble (he later said he was merely on the pile). With only 4 minutes left in the game, our team pulled ahead. But the other team snuck in a long run, placing them ten yards from their goal with only seconds on the clock. Thankfully, we held them and our team won.

I'm so grateful that the coaches pray with the players. Few schools do that anymore. This is a photo (again from FB) after Friday night's game:

I took my own photo of Sean with Bryce, we returned home so Sean could clean up, and we all went out for lunch. Each of the boys headed off to gather with friends. John and I spent Saturday night watching the last installment of The Library Thief (a Swedish series, based on a true story, available on Hoopla) - a show I recommend, despite one compromising scene and a depressing ending. Very well done! Such a clear sign of what happens when a soul succumbs to greed and ambition.

We're still dealing with the fall-out of August 2021, but thankful for God's grace in the midst of it all.

Forgiveness and Redemption Movies

I love books and movies about forgiveness and redemption. This is probably because I so desperately need forgiveness and redemption in my life. My mistakes and faults are numerous. Oh, how I need the grace of God and others!

Even though many of the pandemic restrictions are lifting, I still attempt to shelter in place as much as possible. Home is safety and security in an increasingly unstable world. Thankfully, besides reading (easier now than when the pandemic started), I have been watching some noteworthy movies and shows. I'm grateful for the Hoopla resources and Amazon Prime.

Back in October 2019, I read Simon Winchester's book, The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary (my review here). I discovered the 2019 movie version of the book on Hoopla and eagerly watched. All the while, I thought in my head, "Now here's a movie my husband would enjoy." He is most particular and quite fed up with modern fare, full of foul language, superfluous sexuality, and intense violence. I warned him that some aspects of the movie are loathsome, but necessary to express the tale of redemption. So, after viewing it alone, I watched again with my husband. I was right - he said it was a fascinating and thought-provoking movie.

If you are looking for a movie that fleshes out themes of forgiveness and redemption, this overlooked 2019 production of The Professor and the Madman satisfies. I marveled at the forgiveness and love offered by the victim's wife to the madman. Yet, Dr. Minor struggles with accepting her forgiveness (and God's) believing he must somehow make his own atonement for his sins (one of his more atrocious, disturbing acts). In his attempt to make up for her loss, the doctor improves this woman's financial and educational lot in life. Although he has shattered her life, in some ways, he has also saved her life and the lives of her children, in giving her the power of words. Though his mental illness harms society, it also profits society.

And once again (as in my book review), I kept reflecting on the precise timing and gracious redemption of Dr. Minor's story. If he hadn't been a doctor in the Civil War, he might not have done the atrocious things required (branding awol soldiers and severing gangrenous limbs). Without that devastating experience, he might not have gone mad. If not mad, he might not have murdered. Thanks to the verdict of insanity, he was secluded in an asylum at just the right time to encounter the professor's plea for help with the dictionary. Without Dr. Miner's time and tenacity, we might not have the OED as a resource today (they may have given up on the tremendous task). Moreover, we might not know this extraordinary example of God's gracious redemption of sin, pain, and suffering. The movie provides so much to contemplate about sin and the prevenient grace of God (God loved us while we were sinners - our depravity deserved death, but God offered grace).

Another outstanding opportunity through Hoopla - the chance to take in Cameron Mackintosh's 25th Anniversary performance of the musical Les Miserables. After completing college, I spent six months working in London on a student work visa. During that time, I snagged a rare treat. I secured a second-row seat for Les Miserables (off to the side, mind you, in a restricted view area - although I thought the view excellent) at the student fee of 5 pounds. What a marvelous experience. I ended the evening with the purchase of a tape of the performance and a mug.

I listened to that tape often enough to have the words of almost every song memorized. However, this 25th anniversary celebration provided the entire story in song (different from the musical I viewed way back in 1987). It was a rich and thrilling show! I wouldn't suggest it to my husband, because although it is a tale full of forgiveness and redemption, I had forgotten how many of the lyrics are rather raunchy in tone. Then again, the pristine doesn't require redemption.

It was magnificent! I couldn't help but sing along. So many fabulous soloists - young Cosette ("Castle on a Cloud"), Eponine ("On My Own"), Marius ("Drink With Me"), Gavroche, and of course, Jean Valjean ("Who am I?" and "Bring Him Home"). Talk about a tale of redemption! If you're unfamiliar with Victor Hugo's story, it is a must read. It tells of Jean Valjean, a man who steals a loaf of bread, serves his time, and then flees for years from a policeman who is intent on re-capturing him (despite the remarkable gift of grace that has turned Valjean to a life of redemptive sacrifice and service). One minor act of forgiveness (the priest's assertion that Valjean didn't steal his silver, but forgot to take the gifted candlesticks, as well), propels grace upon so many other lives. What powerful juxtapositions: Valjean's grace next to Javert's vengeance; Valjean's acceptance of grace and Javert's suicide because he cannot accept Valjean setting him free; the contrast between mercy and the law (as Javert sings in "Stars" - "those who falter and fall must pay the price"). Impressive!

Then I found another convicting movie called End of the Spear. I was already familiar with the story of the five missionary men who lost their lives trying to witness to a savage tribe in Ecuador. Since several of them attended Wheaton College (my alma mater), I had heard the devastating details and even had a close friendship with the niece of the widow Elisabeth Elliot (Jim Elliot, one of the five, is most known for his quote, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose.")

Presented from the perspective of Steve Saint (a mere child when natives speared his pilot father, Nate Saint), End of the Spear is a magnificent tale of forgiveness and redemption. After the five men died, the wives and their children moved to live with the violent tribe and show them the personal forgiveness that wooed them to God's ultimate forgiveness. The ensuing friendship between Steve and the man who killed his father is a testament to what God can do in a heart. Convicting! I struggle with forgiving far lesser offenses. Indeed, what is a marital conflict over parenting tactics when held against the murder of a family member? Why do I worry about offending others by speaking of my faith? Oh, for the depth of grace and forgiveness shown in these movies and the unwavering dedication to sharing the gospel of salvation from sin through Christ's death on a cross. I need that constant reminder from Matthew 6:14-15: "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."