Tag: Books

Posted in Book Review, Books

Reading Updates for Oct/Nov 2025

Posted on by Melissa

ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN by Mark Twain

I honestly thought this was a re-read. However, I either never finished it earlier in my life or I completely forgot the last third of the book because I didn’t remember any of it. I chose to “re-read” it in preparation to read James by Percival Everett. The premise of that book is that it is written from the perspective of the runaway slave Jim in Huckleberry Finn. I know that for many the the dialogue and language in Twain’s book is problematic and harsh to modern day ears. Yet, if you can push beyond that aspect it really is a fascinating read and should remain, in my opinion, as considered a classic. In the end, what you find is that Twain is elevating Huck and Jim, who by society’s standards of the day are the least educated, morally suspect, and almost less than human characters to be seen as actually the most intelligent and righteous characters in the story. Their devotion and care to each other stands out. Their questioning and wrestling of how society works versus what they intuitively feel is right is prominent. I’m glad I re-read (well actually, finally finished) this book.

JAMES by Percival Everett

I am only about 1/3 of the way through this book. It is quite interesting to read it with Huckleberry Finn fresh in my mind. While it is not necessary to read Twain’s book prior to this one, I would recommend doing so if you get a chance. My journey to reading these two books came about because I saw that Percival Everett is scheduled to be one of the authors for the Lenoir-Rhyne Visiting Writer’s series in January of 2026. I am planning to attend that event and wanted to read this book prior to that. I can’t fully review a book I haven’t finished, but I will say that I am enjoying it so far and am looking forward to finishing it.

FREEWATER by Amina Luqman-Dawson

I chose this book to read simply because it was the 2023 Newbery Medal winner and it was available at the library the day I went searching for some books to read. One of my self-imposed reading goals is to read all of the Newbery Medal winners. It has been an interesting journey so far. You can see my progress here: Newbery Winners. I am about 2/3 of the way through reading this book. And I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far. Interestingly enough this book too is about runaway slaves. It is the story of a brother and sister who initially tried to escape with their mother. Their mother due to circumstances was left behind and captured. The two young children find themselves taken in by other escaped slaves who have developed a community living in a nearby swamp. Though Freewater, as it is called, is a fictional place the book is “inspired by the Great Dismal Swamp and the enslaved souls who found refuge and freedom within its confines” which stretched “over fifteen hundred square miles” from Virginia to North Carolina. This was a part of history that I had never heard of before. Even though it is a book written with an audience of young children up to the age of 14, I would highly recommend adults read this as well. It is very rich, deep, and informative.

TO LOVE AS GOD LOVES by Roberta C. Bondi

This was an assigned book for one of my Course of Study books for a class on theology. Its subtitle is “Conversations with the Early Church.” And indeed it is. The book’s premise is to be in dialogue with the writings of early church fathers and mothers, many of whom who chose a monastic lifestyle. The book touches on the subjects of Love, Humility, Passions [what we would recognize as the deadly sins], Prayer, and God. It was a really good and informative read that invites one to engage in those subjects in a new way. From the beginning the author states that agreement with the early ancients is not required because our modern day understanding and thinking is going to of course be different. However, their writings still have much truth to teach us and at least spur us to think about things in a different way. The book is both very accessible to an average lay reader but also provides an avenue to topics and thinking for those who want to go deeper in their theological thoughts.

THE FIRST THOUSAND YEARS by Robert Louis Wilken

This too was a book assigned for my recent Course of Study class on Theology. Subtitled “A Global History of Christianity,” this may appear at first glance to be quite an imposing (one might say boring) book to tackle. Yet, this one too has a very good balance of deep historical knowledge but is presented in a way that is accessible to most readers. I say most readers only to say that I think one must have at least a passing interest and curiosity into the history of Christianity from its early beginnings to enjoy reading this book. Wilken, like Bondi above, is able to balance a telling of deep rich heritage within a writing syle that is accessible and understandable. Not that it is a light read to take on a beach vacation for light enjoyment. But it is presented in a way that is not overwhelming to a reader who is interested in this subject and ready to engage with it.

To sum up, this is part of what my brain has been engaged in recently. Hope this is helpful to some one. If none of these books spark your interest, maybe my next set of reading material will. I’ll share that when I can. Otherwise, at minimum will you at least take my advice and read something? Please! Society as a whole is reading less and well, I think in many ways it is beginning to show.

Posted in Book Review, Books

MURDER YOUR EMPLOYER: McMASTERS GUIDE TO HOMICIDE by Rupert Holmes

Posted on by Melissa

Most murder mysteries start with the victim and then the rest of the story revolves around trying to discover who committed the crime. This book flips that on it’s head. Instead, we start by knowing who the murderers (or deletists as they are referred to) are from the beginning. The mystery, or the question left to be answered, is whether the three deletists will be successful in their endeavors.

The premise of the book is that Dean Harbinger Harrow of McMasters Conservatory, a secretive and secluded educational institution dedicated to the teaching of the homicidal arts, has endeavored to share the accounts of three of their students as case studies. The reader is invited to follow along with Cliff Iverson, Gemma Lindley, and Doria Maye as they each develop their individual thesis (that is how they plan to murder/delete their subject), attend classes to learn best methods and how not to get caught, and then observe the success or failure of the execution of their plan.

Admittedly, a part of me has some qualms about both the fact I enjoyed this book and am suggesting to others to read it as well. My moral code does not in any way endorse the act of murder. And if I thought that this book would indeed drive someone to consider such an action, I would not heartily recommend adding it to one’s reading list.

The fact is, that it is entertaining, engaging and a creative piece of work. The pages are full of puns and wordplays which elicited a lot of smiles, chuckles, laughter, and the occasional groan – which in my world is one of the highest praises for a well crafted pun. This is all done under the guise of what the narrator is purporting to put forth as a serious, sober, professional, and high-minded account and treatise on the purpose of this particular unique educational training.

Additionally, it it’s own darkly comic way the book does indeed pose questions of morality, friendship, loyalty, and obligations to family and friends. Again, I had to do some soul-searching as I found myself often hoping to see the three murderers/deletists successfully graduate by completing their murder/thesis.

Lastly, the twists and turns that take the reader by surprise are also well-crafted. They are plausible, well-timed, and if they were fore-shadowed (I would have to re-read the book to determine if I missed anything) it was done very subtly. I truly found myself not being able – and something rare for me – not even wanting to try to figure out what was coming ahead. I was able to just let myself drift along wherever to plot stream took me.

If you have found yourself stuck in, or at least gravitating to, a particular genre of reading lately, then I highly recommend adding this one to your list. It was an enjoyable trek down a different reading path for me and may be the same for you as well.

Posted in Book Review, Books

Hitty: Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field

Posted on by Melissa

Hitty is a small wooden doll of about 6 inches with movable arms and legs made from white ash by a peddler for the daughter of a sea captain in the 1820s. Now residing in an antique store in the 1920s, she has put pen to paper and written the memoirs of her various adventures and travels. This book was the 1930 winner of the Newbery Medal given for children’s literature and was inspired by a doll owned by the author Rachel Field.

I can say as a child I probably never would have read this book and would have given the stink-eye to any librarian who suggested it for me. I was not the kind of young girl who played with dolls. I only picked up and read this book because of my goal of reading all the Newbery Medal winners throughout the years. As an adult I am still not a “doll” person, yet I did find this to be an interesting story to read. I could see how the appeal of a tale from a doll’s perspective could be intriguing to a youngster who does like to play with dolls. And perhaps even to an older individual who collects dolls as a hobby.

Written from the first person view of the doll is a creative and imaginative decision by the author. Within the accounts of her adventures the reader is giving small glimpses into changes of society throughout Hitty’s hundred years of life. Over that span of time she travels by carriage, whaling ship, train, and finally in an automobile. She comments on the various thrills, excitement, and fear that each of these evoke from her. She ends up living in places such as Maine, India, New England, and New Orleans. Likewise, as she finds herself passing from owner to owner, mostly by being lost by one and then found by another, she remarks on the changes in clothes that people wear, family dynamics, and social issues of the day. Obviously, none of this is delved into very deeply by the author, but again I found the idea of seeing such changes through the doll as an impartial and outside observer an interesting way to view such things. As a book for children, it at the least might have inspired them to want to learn more about some part of history or culture that is only lightly touched upon within it’s pages.

As a book written in 1929, it must be noted that it does contain some dialect ascribed to certain characters and words ascribed to natives of an island that may seem offensive to modern readers. An astute and mature reader can, or at least in my opinion should, be able to take such things in stride and take into account the always changing attitudes in what is the norm of a certain period of time. I personally, don’t even think these few problematic passages are enough to “corrupt” the thinking or attitude of a young reader today. But I also admit I am not an expert in childhood development nor am I a children’s librarian with experience and knowledge on what books are best to recommend to children.

All I can say is that as an adult reader (and secret aspiring writer) I found the story idea unique and well-written and well-crafted.

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Posted in Book Review

THE SECRET CHORD by Geraldine Brooks

Posted on by Melissa

The biblical King David of Israel was referred to as a “man after God’s own heart.” In The Secret Chord, Brooks gives us a fictional story that fleshes out the biblical accounts known about David and provides a glimpse of a possible narrative showing how such a man might have lived out that experience. Brooks does here what she does best in her novels. She takes a historical fact or a small known entity and builds a narrative framework that seems so plausible and real that, at least in my case, makes the reader want it to be true. That may seem odd to say, because she does not shy away from the bad and ugly while also writing about the good. Yet, since we all know that life is not all roses, puppies, and kittens, something can’t seem plausible and real unless the unsavory moments and actions are also included and addressed as well. We are shown a man who does indeed desire to serve his God faithfully and to lead God’s people in his role as king. But, we also see a man. A man with typical human desires and wants that sometimes cause him to stumble and make the wrong choices and take the wrong paths.

We see this story primarily through the eyes of Nathan the prophet, through whom God speaks to David. Nathan is one of the king’s closest and most trusted advisors. As Nathan shares his account with us, the reader, he also gives voice to the women in David’s life and how their lives were impacted and shaped by their relationships with him. This includes his mother, his many wives, and even his daughter Tamar who was raped by her half-brother. Each of these relationships also highlight the complexity of the human condition. In giving space for these women to speak for themselves, Brooks really shines in what I mentioned earlier in providing a plausible story that can easily be seen as possessing the possibility to be true.

One must keep in mind that this is not your grandmother’s Bible study book about the life of King David. However, it was fascinating to read about biblical accounts of the exploits of David from an enhanced perspective. And although challenging, I found her choice to use the Hebrew names for people and places quite interesting and enlightening. It added to the aspect of reading about old stories with fresh eyes and a different view.

I do have one caution to provide to any potential reader. Brooks has decided to include in this narrative an idea that has been proposed and discussed elsewhere by biblical scholars and other authors. That is, the portrayal of David and Jonathan’s relationship as being more than just a friendship and as one that included a sexual component between the two of them as well. If that is an idea and portrayal that is super offensive in that you can’t just ignore and dismiss it and instead will let it over-shadow and dis-color the rest of the narrative, then I suggest you avoid reading the book. It is not a major plot line of the story, but it is included and referenced to several times and runs as a tributary that does feed into the river that is the main story.

Brooks is a master weaver in the art of telling a story. While told in a somewhat linear fashion, she also deftly includes backstory and flashbacks at just the right time. Her poetic prose brings to life the people, places, and settings in such vivid detail. She does not disappoint here in The Secret Chord and has once again helped solidify her spot as one of my top five favorite writers of all time.

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Posted in Books, Personal Thoughts

I’m Still Here!

Posted on by Melissa

I thought I needed to drop in and let anyone who is interested know that I am still here and have not abandoned this blog. I know my posts over the past few months have decreased in frequency. It is definitely not for lack of interest or for lack of things I want to say. I also still have many older writings and poems I want to share and I do want to keep my reading lists (both the ones I’ve read and want to read) up to date, including more book reviews. So please don’t give up on me yet. Keep checking in on here periodically. I promise I’m going to do my best here.

Back in May I announced to family, friends, and my local church that I am considering a call into full-time ministry as a Licensed Local Pastor in the United Methodist Church. This includes a time and process of discernment that I have to proceed through. This has been taking up quite a bit of time and mental/emotional/spiritual energy and has kept me from devoting the time I would love to spend on this.

With that said, I would like to repeat something I know I’ve shared in other places here. I do not claim to be the most read individual or the smartest individual. You can find better writing and more sophisticated thoughts in many other places. My goal for this has always been to just be a part of a conversation at large. Though not the smartest, I feel I do (at least occasionally) have something worthwhile to add. So, I wanted a way to share that with others who may be interested in my perspective on things. Additionally, as I am only one individual I do not claim that any of my thoughts on spiritual and faith matters should be taken as a full representation of the United Methodist Church. My views, while certainly influenced by my membership of and love of this denomination, are my own. I am an imperfect person trying to work out my own calling from God and my own spiritual journey as best as I can. I always encourage (respectful) push back and commentary on anything I post. I am not unwilling to examine and consider viewpoints that are different from my own. Our life experiences shape and mold who we are, how we engage the world, and even how we encounter God. I hope I never get to a point where I am unwilling to admit I may be wrong about something. But, I do promise that the things I write come from the heart and out of a true desire to understand God’s love and to share it with others.

One area I would love to get back to is adding more Book Reviews. I hope that I will soon be able to carve out some time for this. Until then, however, I have at least come up with a Rating System I am somewhat satisfied with. I say satisfied because I have a lot of trouble rating and reviewing books. (I’m sure I’ve said this before elsewhere as well!} I respect anyone who puts time and energy into writing, because I know and understand how difficult it can be. Thus, I have a hard time being too critical about a book at times – mostly out of sympathy for the author. But, below I have included my current rating system. I hope maybe it will help if you visit here in the hopes of getting some reading suggestions. Again, applying to my lists is a work in progress, so please be patient. Though I hope it will go quicker than writing actual reviews. And as always, I welcome any questions about any particular book and I’ll respond as quickly as possible.

★★★★★ Awesome! Tops on Re-Read List. Want with me if ever stranded on a desert island.
★★★★☆ Great! Would Re-Read if have time.
★★★☆☆ Good. Would Re-Read if nothing else available.
★★☆☆☆ Okay.
★☆☆☆☆ Not Good. Struggled to Finish.

(No Rating) Usually means is a sort of niche book assigned or read for a particular personal reason.

Thanks for visiting. I hope that something here on this blog will be helpful to you on either your reading journey, spiritual journey, or just life in general. Thanks!

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Posted in Books

LibraryThing Website

Posted on by Melissa

On the left sidebar I have a “chiclet” that will link you to an online catalog of the books I own.  A few of them have ratings and reviews attached to them, and I am working on updating the rest of them as well.  This is my most favorite book related website.  It has a wide range of versatility (and constantly expanding) for those who want to keep an online list of books.  Some use it for their physical collection of books (as I currently do) and others use it as a reading list, and even others use it as both via the available tag system.  Additionally, the creator keeps promising a collection system to be put in place to make it easier to separate and differentiate classes of books such as those owned from those only read.

Another great aspect of this site is the numerous chat groups that are available that allow one to interact with other readers and discuss books, authors, and anything else.  I have found that there is a good mixture of groups that allow in-depth discussions as well as some that possess a lighter more fun-based attitude.  Either way, it is a good place to give and get suggestions on good books to read. 

It is impossible to list all the aspects here, so if you enjoy reading, or just talking about books, I suggest you go to www.librarything.com and check it out.  You can take the tour before you decide to join.  And signing up is totally easy.  All it requires is a username and password.  From that alone you can enter a certain amount of books for free, or if you want you can get a lifetime membership for a low one-time fee and enter an unlimited amount.  

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