The Nine by Jeffrey Toobin
As a person who is not endlessly fascinated with the law in general or the supreme court in particular, I found this book utterly engrossing. I enjoyed the glimpse of how the court works on both a professional and personal level, and I know that I will follow it much more closely in the future because of this book. – 9/10
Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt
I read this with my sixth grade literature students, a lovely piece of historical fiction – 8/10
My City Was Gone by D. Love
This book about a small town in east Alabama that has the unfortunate distinction of winning one the one of the largest punitive damages case in the nation, $700 million dollars, at the same time they were destroying the stockpile of chemical weapons there (prompting another distinction, the first time the government issued gas masks to civilians.) We live less than an hour away, and pass by this town often, and I enjoyed learned more about it. – 8/10
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
This was worth reading once, not because it made me long for the road (it didn’t) or for freedom (ditto) but because the rhythm of the prose is enchanting. It’s dated, but I like dated. – 8/10
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
A very solid contemporary novel, awkward in parts. I think better editing would have enhanced it. – 7/10
completed in The Bible – Job and Genesis
We’ve been watching the debates all along, but it gets more exciting with Super Tuesday fast approaching. We’ve acquired our voter registration cards and we’re ready to cast our votes.
Who’s watching tonight’s debate? What do you think?
Posted in politics
I am teaching Little Women to my literature classes, one of which is composed of twelve 6th grade boys. They are not excited at the least bit at the prospect of 440 pages of a “girl book.” Any suggestions for helping them to get over the mental hurdle? Girls have so much less trouble reading “boy books.”
Posted in books
People frequently and genuinely ask me how I am doing, health-wise. I don’t really know what to say. I’m not feeling as well as I was last month. That’s disappointing. It’s frustrating to feel badly and more frustrating to feel as if my pain is impacting so many aspects of my life. I don’t want to be a whiner, or spend my time feeling sorry for myself, I guess I’m starting to get adjusted to the fact that this is going to be a long journey for me, with no easy fixes. I have a regularly scheduled visit with the rheumatologist next week, and there’s a great deal more to do and to try.
Posted in family life
The babywearing group I helped to found was featured on the local news this week. You can watch here.
Posted in in the news
He was not a perfect man, but he fought for justice, and that’s worth remembering.
Posted in culture
If you are a friend or longstanding kind reader, you know that Michael and I seem to gravitate towards transition. We got engaged, planned a wedding, got married, I moved halfway across the country, started a job I had no training for, and then we conceived Kate all in a five month period. We then moved halfway across the country again with a 4 week old less than a year later. Our girls are 17.5 months apart. We’ve moved three times in less than four and a half years of marriage. We’ve been members of four churches. But who’s keeping score?
We’ve been fairly stable the last eighteen months. We own a home. We’ve stayed in the same church. But beneath it all, we’ve been contemplating a big change. Continue reading
Posted in family life
There is a land of pure delight,
where saints immortal reign,
infinite day excludes the night,
and pleasures banish pain.
Could we but climb where Moses stood,
and view the landscape o’er,
not Jordan’s stream, nor death’s cold flood,
should fright us from the shore.
There everlasting spring abides,
and never-withering flowers:
death, like a narrow sea, divides
this heavenly land from ours.
O could we make our doubts remove,
those gloomy thoughts that rise,
and see the Canaan that we love
with unbeclouded eyes!
Isaac Watts, via This Breaks My Heart of Stone
Posted in theology
Kate has decided in the last few weeks that she loves Josh Ritter. If we play music in the car, it must be Josh Ritter, and she often sings along. If I try to nonchalantly play something else, this is what happens:
Kate – “Who sings this song?”
Kristen – “Wilco.”
Kate – “Wilco is not my favorite. Josh Ritter is my favorite. I need to hear Josh Ritter.”
Sorry, Jeff Tweedy.
Posted in family life, music
