Talking to Strangers

One of my favorite authors, Malcolm Gladwell covers relevant topics that make me think and discuss these topics with others. This book focuses on the judgements that we make of strangers and decide if they are telling the truth or not. Bookending the book is a black woman who is stopped in Texas with out of state plates by a white cop. You can guess the ending from here, but the book goes through the process of how people judge and if we side on trust or not. I wish this was required reading for all police officers. There are many stories that weave through the book, Part 1 highlights a few sexual assault cases with very graphic content. Though the information helps the story, I had difficulty listening to it all.

The Call of the Wild - Jack London

I'm in a book club. I committed to reading the books. I would not read again, nor will I watch the movie. For me, reading is for enjoyment or information. This book was not enjoyable.

To Stop A Warlord

Also recommended off a podcast, this book piqued my interest as I first hear about this subject back in undergrad. The LRA, highlighted by Invisible Children puts so many people at risk in Africa. Davis has taken the last few years of her life to find a way to stop or reduce the impact of the LRA. Davis takes the readers through the journey she embarks on of private sector meeting public sector to create a change. Davis brings investors into the game and demonstrates real action against the LRA. This eye opening book is recommended and not easily forgettable. There is harshness and reality that Davis clearly conveys to the reader. 

Hamlet - for High School

Ahhh Hamlet, how I did well to avoid Shakespeare for most of my reading adventures. I knew my students needed to be exposed to more literature and British Lit. So Hamlet was recommended on various websites. There was more vulgarity in the book, but overall the students connected with work at did well. There are quite a few lines from Hamlet that are used today, in particular, "To Be or Not To Be." I appreciate that I read this, thankful for the No Fear translation, and probably will not read it again.

Rising Strong by Brene Brown

I first heard of this author on a podcast, where I receive a lot of my recommendations. However, I didn't pick up one of her books till I watched her special on Netflix. It was a great reminder to think about how I need to think from other's perspectives and think about the story they are hearing in their head at that moment of interaction.

I am interested in reading more of her work.

Pride & Prejudice

 When your friends start a book club and you have to be the first to choose a book, you might choose Pride and Prejudice. My brother bought me this particular edition for Christmas, and I enjoyed reading it again. Although it takes a little longer to read the text, I appreciate the rich language and conversations throughout the book.

Life was so different in 1800s; different roles, different expectations, and different lifestyles. What always gets me about this lifestyle is how quickly people fell in love and decided to get married. Today we think about how long you should date someone before getting married, with a minimum of knowing people around 6-9 months before being serious. Back in the 1800s, you could meet someone and be engaged within weeks or months.

I'm not sure what I'm going to talk about during the book club talk, but I need to come up with something. :) As always, I would recommend this book.

The Dream of You - Jo Saxton

I met Jo Saxton at the E-Women's conference in Roanoke in 2018. I purchased two books, and she signed this. Previously I tried to read this book but was put off by the forward. This time I skipped the forward, and was hooked, which is what I will recommend when I pass it to someone else.

Jo writes this book as a letter to the reader, looking to pinpoint various stages of life and how God meets us in those stages. She also highlights the importance of who you dreamed of being, and how to revive that dream God has input into your heart. After reading this I realized I haven't really dreamed in a long time. Why? Well, it seems that my dreams do not happen, and God seems to block them. Or is it me that has blocked the dreams and the consequences is that the dreams stay deferred? I'm trying to let my heart dream, but how do you dream without being heartbroken? Maybe you can dream without putting hopes into it.

blink: The power of thinking without thinking - Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell is one of my favorite authors, for the ability he has to challenge how you view common things. He does well to make the reader examine what is really going on behind thinking that you do. Blink examines how a judgement or thought is made in a blink of a moment, usually an accurate thought that is not always realized or explained.

I listened to this book on my way to Maine for Christmas. It definitely had me thinking and pondering different people's ability to make quick judgements and decisions.

Waiting on God - Andrew Murray

This book was on a recommended list somewhere, little did I realize it had been sitting in my Kindle App for a bit. A devotional for 31 days, examining various ways to wait on God. Through scripture, hymns, and his insights, readers are challenged to look at their desire to wait on God. 

To be truthful, I did not read this as slowly and reflecting as I should have. I need to take apart my desire to finish a book, for the desire to learn and grow from the reading, especially books that are intended to grow my spiritual life. I did retain a couple of important thoughts, such as; "A holy, joyful expectancy is of the very essence of true waiting." For the next book that challenges, I need to be more reflective. 

Dumplin' & Puddin' by Julie Murphy

One weekend, I watched this movie Dumplin' that I ended up watching 3 times throughout that weekend. I looked up the movie script writer and found it was based on this book by Julie Murphy. It immediately became a favorite movie, identifying with the fat girl who seems to reside in my inner thoughts. I was hooked on the story line and wanted to read the book, then I found out there was a companion story, Puddin'. I knew I would have to save these books till break, assuming that I would read them continually till them were finished. Pretty much true.

Dumplin' follows a bit of a female lead's life in high school. It is a story about learning about self and accepting body type and realizing other people do as well. There were quite a bit of differences from the book to the movie, but it's expected. One big difference is the character of Amanda who is not in the movie. Perhaps it would have taken away from the plot of the movie, but overall a great read that I finished in one day. This book is a young adult novel, and covers themes that I wasn't allowed to read in high school, but it's a different world. I would recommend this, but would have a hard time recommending it to youth group girls due to the amount of language and sex themes.

Puddin' follows Millie and Callie through a season of life, and how their life intersects. I would not call this a sequel as it doesn't follow the main character's story from Dumplin' but includes the same characters and looks at a different point of view. This story highlights friendship and how to build friendships, including unlikely ones. Less language and sexual conversations. I'm not sure if they will make this one into a movie, but will not be surprised if they do. Julie Murphy has a few more books that I may find to read, but probably not till summer based on my experience with these.

A Lesson Before Dying- Audio

Ernest J. Gaines writes compelling stories that requires readers to think beyond their typical viewpoint. After reading his novel, ...Miss Jane Pitmann, I was looking forward to reading A Lesson Before Dying. Gaines highlights two stories closely, Grant and Jefferson, who are in the midst of recognizing human worth, learning about their relationship with God and their purpose in life. Grant, a school teacher in the quarter, is asked to meet with an inmate who is on death row. Jefferson, that inmate, is thought of with little value except from his nana. Gaines highlights the unfair treatment of African American people in 1940s through specifically the judicial system. 

I was challenged to look further of who God is and how different cultures view their ability to receive God's love. As a white person, it was eye opening to think about how some African American's can view God as for white people and not for all. It is saddening to think of the many hinderances that were done "in the name of God" but negatively represented Christ. 

I listened to this audio book, partially on a drive through Thanksgiving and then when I returned to my home. I wasn't captivated by the writing or story for 85% of the story. At the last disc, I was finally interested when it came to the viewpoint of the inmate. As the narrator read through the journal of the inmate, the story became more interesting. I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend the story, but if someone asked specifically for the book, I wouldn't dismiss it. It is important to view other's stories, this story accomplished that goal.      

The Road to Little Dribbling

Bill Bryson is a favorite author of mine, who shares a sarcastic sense of humor and has travelled to many areas I would like to. Bryson walks, rides and drives throughout Great Britain noting significant (and insignificant) thoughts of what he experiences. He weaves humor into each chapter and highlights his favorite parts of Great Britain. Bryson lived in the United States before moving in college. Though there are many fun facts in this book, one important lesson, cows kill more people than bulls. I would recommended this book, though there are a lot of foul words being used and some sexual references. This was borrowed from the public library. 

Troublemaker

I heard about this autobiography while listening to a podcast, remarking about how Leah Remini had auditioned for the role of Monica on Friends, unsuccessfully landing the part. I was further curious to have a better understanding of Scientology which she left. I wasn't a faithful fan of The King of Queens, but knew who the actress was before I read the book. What an eye opener of Scientology, it is saddening to read this and learn of what people choose to do and how some raise their kids. I don't know anyone personally who practices this belief, but know how to better pray for people in this cult. Leah is very blunt about what has happened through her life so far, good, bad and ugly. For the honesty, I am impressed and thankful. It is not all as bright as it looks on the other side. I borrowed this from the public library. This contains a lot of foul language.

Red at the Bone

Every other Jacqueline Woodson book I have read was an outstanding book that I recommended and often bought. I am unwilling to do either for Red at the Bone. This book is vastly different than the kids books that I appreciate by Woodson, this adult novel is very graphic with sexual content and has a high rate of cursing. I realize that this is based on a culture and lifestyle, but it didn't add to my appreciation to the book. The story would be more likable without the above content. I borrowed this from the local library. It has been on the bestseller list for multiple weeks.

The Blind Side - Evolution of a game

I saw it at the library, I didn't pay attention when the movie said based on the book by Michael Lewis. There are plenty of lines in the book that are quoted word for word. Michael Lewis goes beyond the Tuohy family to find the history of the offensive linebacker, the position Michael Oher is seemingly built to play. Lewis introduces the rise of importance of the offensive linebacker, laying out the important physical build to lead up to Oher's experience of the game. 

As most people have at least heard of the movie, there is a basic understanding of Michael Oher's life in Memphis, transitioning from an all black neighborhood to moving in and becoming family with a white family. Going beyond what a movie is able to portray, Lewis highlights the struggles and life Michael had and how by looking at his childhood, there is no way he should be in the position he is today. 

Michael Lewis intertwines the various stories to give the reader views they have not previously been exposed to. Though some sections are harder to remain focused on, this book challenges readers to look beyond their race and upbringing to identify people they can help another human being out. 

Lewis is similar to Malcolm Gladwell, identifying the oddball that doesn't belong in a situation, and identifying the factors that propelled them to their success. Looking deeper than just the "stars lining up," to identify key factors throughout a persons life. Michael Lewis has written other books focused on sports, including Moneyball, highlighting the key stats that make winning baseball teams. 

Orphan Train

 A novel that opens your eyes to an event that you haven't heard of before is truly a gift. This novel highlights historical events that shaped the Midwest as we know it, providing children as laborers and house workers for many farms and families. Christina Baker Kline created a story that drew you in to both main characters, created a picture of growing up in the 1920s and provided a reader with realities of living in the foster care system. It is not always a favorable picture, the truth isn't always. Kline does provide a redemptive ending, demonstrating throughout hardships people can rise and find a family of their choosing. 

Kline highlights the actual orphan trains in the 1920s and has done quality research to inform readers of conditions these orphans endured. The story intertwines between the Midwest and a coastal Maine town, proving  relatable to many. The updated ending also includes a book study guide and questions answered by the author. This book challenges how we interact with foster children and to examine the grim reality of the past. 

Borrowed from administrator at school, and will pass along to another co-worker.

The Women in the Castle

Jessica Shattuck takes an approach to a historical novel that I hadn't really thought about or read about. Shattuck writes of German citizens that opposed Nazi rule during World War II, highlighting the people that lead the resistance and their goal to stop Hitler. 

It might be easy to clump all Germans together, aware of what was going on and supporting Nazi forces, that would be a mistake. Take a step back and remember media and information was not as widespread as today, and hindsight is more clear than the moment. Reading this novel reminded me that not every German supported Hitler and some people do the best they can with the information they have been given. This book is a reminder to dig deeper, to not be satisfied with the information presented to you and the importance of friendship and forgiveness. 

Jessica Shattuck is a writer of both fiction and non-fiction, with multiple listings on the New York Times bestsellers. This book was found at the local library. 

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman

Usually when I read, it is an author that looks like me, talks like me and frequently thinks like me. I have been challenged to read, grow and learn from authors and people that challenge what I have grown up and live with. I don't want to live in an echo chamber, and I know I live in a world that is privileged for me. So, I will broaden my reading library and learn from other stories and lives. 

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest J. Gaines was recommended off a reading list for high school students. I wanted to preview this book before possibly having a class read it. To be honest, I hadn't heard of this novel or the author. Ernest J. Gaines was born in 1933 in Louisiana. This particular story is historical fiction taking place in Louisiana, following slavery to freedom rights movement, particularly focusing on the life of Jane starting as she was a slave on a plantation to when she is 109.  Throughout reading this story, I was challenged to understand context and language but more so challenged to understand history. History that I have not really been exposed to or understand a different point of view and what really happened. Through this book I have a better picture or really a glimpse of how people different than myself have been and continue to be treated. What am I going to do with this information I learned? My goal is to remember that people experience the world different than I do, and do what I can to change that in my classroom. 

This book was borrowed from my local library, it did take over a month to be able to borrow it after I put it on hold. Gaines has a collection of published books in African American literature. 

Gaines, E.J. (1971). The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. New York: Dial Press.