Book Review: Everyday People

I've long appreciated short stories, but they took over my reading pile after I found myself with unpredictable bursts of reading time when I was in the throes of my newborn babies. When my hygiene might be suspect and there may or may not be a well-rounded meal on the table and I might not remember when the floor was tidy enough for me to vacuum thoroughly, I could find satisfaction in beginning and finishing a short story in one sitting. I am past that sleep-deprived state, but I will always have a fondness for short stories.

Everyday People: The Color of Life--A Short Story Anthology is a curated collection of short stories. Many had me highlighting a line or passage (certainly not a given for me), and I would sometimes have to pause mid-paragraph to digest.

In the introduction, we learn the stories have all been written by people of color. And regarding the title Everyday People, Jennifer Baker reveals, "The name of this anthology is not meant to solely focus on the racial composition of the writers or characters but to showcase the larger story and relationships depicted as well as the landscape--be it in New York City, Maine, Alabama, Great Britain, South Korea, Ghana, or Sri Lanka."

My heart would tug as I would become invested in these stories, wishing I could alter outcomes and guarantee happiness. The fact that I was so drawn in speaks to the caliber of the work. They are far reaching. Perhaps we're following a fantastical account of a mental connection that allows individuals to communicate without speaking. Then there's the story of the older woman who enters homes with newborn children to support the families, but only for a fixed amount of time before she takes her leave. And the account of how people get into prostitution. Or maybe we're reading of the grandmother and granddaughter who can catch ghosts in their hair.

I imagine this title being used as required reading in a college course, leading to rich conversations in class. Some of these stories will make you uncomfortable, but as we wrestle to articulate what wrung us out, there can be insight into ourselves.

For those wanting more, at the close of the book you can find numerous recommendations in "Reading List of Contemporary Works by Women, Nonbinary, and Transgender Writers of Color/Indigenous Writers."

(I received a digital ARC from NetGalley and Atria Books in exchange for my honest review. I've used Amazon Affiliate links here; should you purchase through these links, I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.)

Book Review: Madeleine L'Engle Herself

Madeleine L'Engle has worldwide recognition as the author of A Wrinkle in Time. I've had some of her other fiction and non-fiction recommended to me, but I've been amiss in exploring more, even as some of those titles wait patiently on my bookshelves.

Madeleine L'Engle Herself: Reflections on a Writing Life is filled with hundreds of L'Engle's quotations grouped into ten different categories; she delves into "Creating Characters," "Inspiration and the Creative Process," "Elements of a Writer's Life," "Writing from Truth," and "The Wisdom of Children," for starters.

I entered unsure if I'd like this format compared to her essays and longer works. However, I'm not at all ashamed to admit that I highlighted this book extensively; Carole Chase compiled the quotations, pulling from speeches and writing workshops, in addition to L'Engle's published works. She found all the pertinent bits and put them together into one volume I marked up time and again.

L'Engle writes in a way that seems effortless and so much of it resonated with me, even in brief snippets. There are some overlaps and themes that emerge, but not enough to be a detraction. It's a beautiful work, one whose insight and connections surprised me. And, if you're like me, with young people offering frequent interruptions or perhaps if you yourself also suffer from periodic bouts of insomnia, I can confirm that this is the perfect sort of title to pick up, make progress on, and then set aside until your next opportunity.

A welcome addition was the Reader's Guide. While you would expect to find the discussion questions, the aspect I appreciated most was the inclusion of the writing prompts. The intentionally structured prompts are geared towards composing fiction, non-fiction, and poetry to allow individuals to focus on their specialty or stretch themselves, as they see fit.

The best compliment I can pay is that while this text was an enjoyable read in and of itself, it's creating a deeper longing in me to engage with L'Engle's other titles. It would be a suitable gift for the writer in your life needing encouragement or inspiration, or anyone who admires L'Engle's work.

(I received a digital ARC from Convergent Books and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I've used Amazon Affiliate links here; should you purchase through these links, I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.)

Book Review: Louisiana's Way Home

Louisiana's Way Home is a sequel to Kate DiCamillo's last book, Raymie Nightingale, the first time DiCamillo has returned to a previous novel. We begin with Louisiana Elefante's grandmother and guardian whisking her away in the middle of the night, leaving home and friends behind. Louisiana resents the separation from friends and pets, all because of a purported reckoning of the family curse.

Louisiana is a character that is spunky and still pulls at your heart strings. She has a vivid personality with big feelings and heartfelt observations: "In some ways, this is a story of woe and confusion, but it is also a story of joy and kindness and free peanuts."

We follow along as Louisiana and her grandmother drive away from Florida and how they adapt when adjustments must be made to their travel plans. When they have a forced stop for some rehabilitation, Louisiana connects to the locals, making friends and foes. Louisiana, already a child who has had to shoulder more than most, learns more details about her origins and wrestles with those revelations.

Kate DiCamillo is a wordsmith and captures reality so accurately. She creates worlds where there is hurt and pain, and in spite of it all, beauty emerges. I found myself blinking away tears at the close of the book. And being reminded that people like Grandfather Burke exist in the world is everything.

(I received a digital ARC from NetGalley and Candlewick Press in exchange for my honest review. I've used Amazon Affiliate links here; should you purchase through these links, I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.)

Book Review: Virgil Wander

Leif Enger garnered much praise for his lyrical novel Peace Like a River; I had the opportunity to teach it in my freshman English class. When So Brave, Young, and Handsome was published, it fell flat for me, but I was cautiously optimistic when I learned Enger was coming out with a new novel this fall.

Virgil Wander was a pleasure to read. Its title character has a near-death experience, one that changes the course of his life. His previously lonely but comfortable existence is altered on every level.

With Enger's characteristic finesse, Virgil Wander is a lovely, entertaining read. Enger has managed to create a town filled with personalities that come alive, a vivid place that I would love to explore. I'd start in the cafe, then spend a few hours flying spectacular kites with Rune, and conclude with a movie at the Empress Theater. The humor can be tongue-in-cheek, and I couldn't help but be amused as the run-down town finally settles on a theme for their annual celebration (no spoilers from me). Themes of friendship, family, and belonging are prevalent, and there are mysterious incidents and visions, and readers are left piecing together what is real and what is a side effect of Virgil's injuries.

Enger does not disappoint with this newest novel. It can't edge out Peace Like a River, one of my favorite books, but it is a beautifully written, engaging read that I genuinely loved and see myself returning to and enjoying again and again.

(I received a digital ARC from NetGalley and Grove Press in exchange for my honest review. I've used Amazon Affiliate links here; should you purchase through these links, I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.)

Book Review: Bible Journaling Made Simple

I grew up at a time when the most interaction you had between a page of the Bible, beyond reading it, was a possibility of highlighting or underlining a passage, possibly with an added liner note (and some people didn't even feel comfortable with that). I don't know if the popularity of bullet journaling had any impact on the emerging popularity of creating visual art on Bible pages, but it's been interesting to see the evolution take place.

I have a creative side, but my drawing abilities are at the level you'd find in an average early-elementary-school-aged child. However, I have some friends that have begun Bible journaling, and we bought our oldest a Bible with pre-printed marginalia that she colors in. I appreciate seeing what others can do.

When I saw the soon-to-be-released book Bible Journaling Made Simple by Sandy Allnock, I was interested to review it. It is rich with helpful step-by-step illustrations aimed at non-artists. The primary goals are to teach techniques that will give others confidence as well as create a new medium for interacting with the text. As far as the latter is concerned, Allnock shares how she reads in the morning, reflects on a key verse or theme throughout the day, then if she is inspired, she will draw or paint in her Bible that evening. Whether or not she creates, she has deepened her faith by her reflections.

Allnock starts each chapter with a number of questions for those who may go through this book in a group setting, and at the close of each chapter, she recommends similar passages that could use the illustrations that were the focus in that section.

I appreciated how Allnock intentionally recommends quality but affordable materials to make beginning Bible journaling an inexpensive venture, as well as making sure, if she paints over the entire page, that the text is still readable underneath. With how thin most Bible pages are, one can imagine them curling with a lot of water or paint applied. She also has suggestions for how to safely iron a page to combat that. She also recommends patience and reminds people not to be too critical of their handwriting, fear of painting, and so on.

I found this a pleasant experience; I'm not yet sure if I have the confidence to color and paint in my Bible, but maybe I'll take an intermediary step to do a page or two in a bullet journal (another suggestion of hers). Bible Journaling Made Simple is just that -- a good resource for those who don't feel they are naturally artistic but have an interest in learning.

(I received a digital ARC from NetGally and F+W Media in exchange for my honest review. I've used Amazon Affiliate links here; should you purchase through these links, I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.)

Book Review: Silent Night

I love the Advent season and can be caught listening to Christmas carols long before it is thought appropriate. To foster similar love in my two children, we have a tradition of wrapping up books with winter or holiday themes and beginning after Thanksgiving, each daughter opens a book a day. Every year I add a couple new titles and remove lackluster ones. New to my collection last year were three picture books with song lyrics as the only text.

Silent Night by Lara Hawthrone is a beautiful book with the simple but profound lyrics of the beloved song sprinkled on each page. The illustrations are beautiful, and since I grew up seeing Jesus portrayed as white although he was a Jew in the Middle East, special mention must be made that I am drawn to the accurate representation throughout the book -- the holy family, shepherds, wisemen, even angels have dark skin.

I love this picture book and expect it will soon join in the Advent book rotation, where it will remain for years to come.

(I received a digital ARC from NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's in exchange for my honest review. I've used Amazon Affiliate links here; should you purchase through these links, I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.)

Book Review: Modern Patchwork Home

As a newly married adult shortly out of college, I didn't see the value in owning a sewing machine -- my short exposure through a sewing unit in junior high gave me basics but I left it at that. I was early in my knitting abilities when I started teaching English at a middle school. However, the teacher next door to me changed that. She was my age, also a knitter, and a huge resource to me as I taught. She became an informal mentor, able to give advice and answer any questions. I learned she was a quilter, but I imagined it as a fuddy-duddy activity, with dated-looking results.

Then one day, another teacher brought her quilt in to show off to my mentor, who had taught her. The colors were playful, the pattern modern. That day was when I envied that skill and vowed to acquire a sewing machine. I put it on my Christmas list, but my husband and I loved exchanging gifts way early, so by Thanksgiving I was already in possession of my new toy. After a lesson from my mentor, I was off. I made quilt samplers for everyone in my family the following Christmas, and my sisters have gotten various quilts from me for different big events (they are of varying quality, but my heart was in it).

When I saw the cover of Modern Patchwork Home: Dynamic Quilts and Projects for Every Room (edited by Vivika Hansen Denegre), I was delighted to get an advance copy. The quilt on the cover draws you in, and as I'd seen similar patterns but didn't know how they were constructed, I was ready to dig in.

Graphic Cross Quilt

The photographs are well staged, and the book is replete with colors and patterns that draw you in. I love the Braided Table Runner as well as the Reflected Wedges Runner. I can so easily see the Twisted Flower Tote filled with a current knitting project and my Kindle, as long as I make duplicates for my girls so they don't steal mine. The Sketchbook Cover caught my eye. And someday I'd love my make the Module Quilt or Urban Trek Quilt, and something about the Graphic Cross Quilt catches my eye.

Twisted Flower Tote

While you see there are several projects I would love to make, the tips at the start are the exact education I need before beginning. I am too much a beginner to know some of the tricks of the trade, like how to make multiple blocks at a time; there are instructions for how to make half-square triangle blocks two at a time, even as many as eight at a time, with cheats on how to alter to your own needed size. I've watched friends work with paper piecing, but that was another elusive detail, now revealed.

Reflected Wedges Runner

Such a beautiful book with helpful tips and clear directions is bound to inspire others to visit fabric stores and sit down at their sewing machines again.

(I received a digital ARC from NetGalley and F+W Media in exchange for my honest review. I've used Amazon Affiliate links here; should you purchase through these links, I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you)