The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill

I have heard this author and this book quoted many, many times. I knew it was set in World War II Holland and Germany and dealt with forgiveness, but that was about it. I first read The Diary of Anne Frank as a girl, and so I've had a long interest in the Jews and their hiding and extermination.

This story begins with Corrie describing her warm and wonderful early family life in a Dutch town. Her description of her aunts, siblings, and especially her mother and father paint a rich and inspiring picture of family love, faith, and devotion. When Corrie is disappointed in a love relationship, she writes:

How long I lay on my bed sobbing for the one love of my life I do not know. Later, I heard Father's footsteps coming up the stairs. For a moment I was a little girl again waiting for him to tuck the blankets tight. But this was a hurt that no blanket could shut out, and suddenly I was afraid of what Father would say. Afraid he would say, "There'll be someone else soon," and that forever afterward this untruth would lie between us. For in some deep part of me I knew already that there would not--soon or ever--be anyone else. 

The sweet cigar-smell came into the room with Father. And of course he did say the false, idle words. 

"Corrie," he began instead, "do you know what hurts so very much? It's love. Love is the strongest force in the world, and when it is blocked that means pain.

"There are two things we can do when this happens, We can kill the love so that it stops hurting. But then of course part of us dies, too. Or, Corrie, we can ask God to open up another route for that love to travel.

"God loves Karel--even more than you do--and if you ask Him, He will give you His love for this man, a love nothing can prevent, nothing destroy. Whenever we cannot love in the old, human way, Corrie, God can give us the perfect way."

I did not know, as I listened to Father's footsteps winding back down the stairs, that he had given me more than the key to this hard moment. I did not know that he had put into my hands the secret that would open far darker rooms than this--places where there was not, on a human level, anything to love at all.

I was still in kindergarten in these matters of love. My task just then was to give up my feeling for Karel without giving up the joy and wonder that had grown with it. And so, that very hour, lying there on my bed, I whispered the enormous prayer:

"Lord, I give to You the way I feel about Karel, my thoughts about our future--oh, You know! Everything! Give me Your way of seeing Karel instead. Help me to love him that way. That much. And even as I said the words I fell asleep. 

It will take me some time and thought and prayer to truly understand what she is saying here. I begin to grasp it and it slips away from me...but it's a star to reach for. Other parts, near the end of the story are equally moving and build on this divine love theme...

(Page 194 forwards)
It grew harder and harder. Even within these four walls there was too much misery, too much seemingly pointless suffering. Every day something else failed to make sense, something grew too heavy. "Will You carry this too, Lord Jesus?"

But as the rest of the world grew stranger, one thing became increasingly clear. And that was the reason the two of us were here. Why others should suffer we were not shown. As for us, from morning until lights-out, whenever we were not in ranks for roll call, our Bible was the center of an ever-widening circle of help and hope. Like waifs clustered around a blazing fire, we gathered about it, holding out our hearts to its warmth and light. The blacker the night around us grew, the brighter and truer and more beautiful burned the word of God. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerers through him that loved us."

I would look about us as Betsie read, watching the light leap from face to face. More than conquerers.... It was not a wish. It was a fact. We knew it, we experienced it minute by minute--poor, hated, hungry. We are more than conquerors. Not "we shall be." We are! Life in Ravensbruck took place on two separate levels, mutually impossible. One, the observable, external life, grew every day more horrible. The other, the life we lived with God, grew daily better, truth upon truth, glory upon glory.

Sometimes I would slip the Bible from its little sack with hands that shook, so mysterious had it become to me. It was new; it had just been written. I marveled sometimes that the ink was dry. I had believed the Bible always, but reading it now had nothing to do with belief. It was simply a description of the way thigs were--of hell and heaven, of how men act and how God acts. I had read a thousand times the story of Jesus' arrest--how soldiers had slapped Him, laughed at Him, flogged Him. Now such happenings had faces and voices. 

And from page 201:

Back at the barracks we formed yet another line--would there never be an end to columns and waits?--to receive our ladle of turnip soup in the center room. Then, as quickly as we could for the press of people, Betsie and I made our way to the rear of the dormitory room where we held our worship "service." Around our own platform area there was not enough light to read the Bible, but back here a small light bulb cast a wan yellow circle on the wall, and here an even larger group of women gathered. 

They were services like no others, these times in Barracks 28. A single meeting night might include a recital of the Magnificat in Latin by a group of Roman Catholics a whispered hymn by some Lutherans, and a sotto-voce chant by Eastern Orthodox women. With each moment the crowd around us would swell, packing the nearby platforms, hanging over the edges, until the high structures groaned and swayed.

At last either Betsie or I would open the Bible Because only the Hollanders could understand the Dutch text we would translate aloud in German. And then we would hear the life-giving words passed back along the aisles in French, Polish, Russian, Czech, back into Dutch. They were little previews of heaven, these evenings beneath the lightbulb. I would think of Haarlem, each substantial church set behind its wrought-iron fence and its barrier of doctrine. And I would know again that in darkness God's truth shines most clear. 

As I ponder the beauty of these descriptions, I can't help but feel guilty for how little I value my scriptures sometimes! Sometimes I take them for granted, sometimes I don't bother to ask the Holy Spirit how they apply to me...sometimes my eyes just graze over the words! This book helped me understand how valuable and life-giving scripture can be to one's very survival. I wouldn't say my life was easy, but compared to this life in a concentration camp, it certainly is! I know I rely more heavily on the Lord in times of trouble; my challenge is to rely on Him at all times... to always be meek and lowly and to remember Him.

This morning I'm watching the snow lightly fall in the Canyon as I sit at my desk in complete warmth and comfort. May I always value this lovely scene and gift from God. May I never take my creature comforts for granted or as something I deserve!!!  This week I had the gift of saying goodbye to Midge Greathouse. Her daughter called Mary shortly after her death, so when we arrived, her hands and head were still warm. As we softly talked and recalled our sweet experiences with her, she grew cooler. It was so apparent that her spirit was long gone. I loved how the nurse told us that she felt there were angels attending and welcoming Midge into the Spirit world as she departed. This nurse had had many experiences like this, and told how she felt Midge was surrounded by great love and many, many welcoming spirits. Midge was meek and lowly, devoted to her family, and to the Church. Her scriptures are falling apart with notes, highlighting, and sticky notes. This is a woman who was true to her word in her deeds... It's pretty humbling to remember all that I have been blessed with, and yet, haven't perhaps shown my gratitude as I should. Midge's life was hard...and maybe our comforts are no gift!? I'm grateful for this morning's reflection time and feel grateful to move out into this snowy day with a grateful heart.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

I read this "back in the day" although I can't recall if that was high school or college. I remember wondering what all the fuss was about. I didn't think it was particularly good or memorable... I do remember that it was frequently on banned book lists, and I didn't think it was bad enough for that designation either. I recall that I liked it okay; didn't understand why it was garnering so much attention. I remember thinking it was a little odd. That's about all I remember.

Then, this winter, Leonard and I watched a documentary on J.D. Salinger. It intrigued us both. Why did he later become such a recluse? Why was his personal life so tortured? It made us both want to read this "classic" again, so when I happened to find it in a used bookstore before we came on vacation, I snapped it up.

So, I just finished it today. Again, I'm not sure what the fuss was about. It's interesting to go into the mind of a seriously troubled 16-year old. It's fascinating to read about his ease in New York City. It was depressing to read about all of his troubled relationships...and his cynicism...

I'm wondering if it is Holden Caulfield's despair that made this book attractive to John Lennon's murderer. As if, somehow, this despair justifies murder? I don't understand that impulse or connection. I found the book not depressing, exactly, but sad. His utter lack of joy was sad and his lack of belief in himself was heart-breaking. His love for his siblings represented the only positive in the book, and that wasn't enough (within the timeline of the story) to get him out of his downward spiral.  But maybe it was, since it ends soon after his time with Phoebe (Holden's little sister). I love how he enjoyed the fresh perspective and utter frankness of children.

Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng

This is an incredible book! My friend Mary lent it to me, and I wasn't too excited to read a book about life in prison during Chairman Mao's regime. I had it for awhile before I started reading it. Then my friend Briant Davis suggested that we read this book for our book club. He thought it might help people understand his Chinese wife, Jasmine. Now I had a reason to read it, so I could decide if it would be appropriate for our book club or not...

And read it, I did. Even though Cheng's life is hard, it's not depressing or oppressive to read about. It's actually amazing to read about. The way the Chinese government treats this woman is almost unbelievable. So many things about her situation are hard to believe and understand! For example:

• they interrogate people over and over again
• they keep detailed records of what is said
• nothing is forgotten
• possessions confiscated are kept for years
• there are spies everywhere
• mandatory meetings with scripted agendas and actions
• nothing to read but Chairman Mao
• no freedom to choose anything
• painted signs and slogans that are expected to be believed
• police and government make many, many mistakes and aren't allowed to own them or admit them
• prison life is horrible
• people were expected to learn a profession (even medical doctors) by doing it, not studying it

Maybe it's trite to say it, but how could all of this happened? Was no one thinking or speaking out at all? How did this once-great society turn so completely ignorant and close-minded? It's an amazing look at a culture gone BAD!

The real message in this book for me was Cheng's courage and persistence. She refused to admit her "guilt" so matter what. She is an amazing person! She stood against unbelievable odds and stood firm, despite all kinds of physical, emotional, and spiritual torture. 

Delicious! by Ruth Reichl

While Len and I were on vacation in Arizona, we checked out the local Deseret Industries store and I happened to find this book. I've enjoyed Reichl's autobiographical books and so I thought I would enjoy this one as well. I did! Although I have to say it was a little disappointing to find the characters and situations rather trite and predictable. It was the perfect vacation read, however, because it was purely enjoyable fluff without any depth and not much pain. And sprinkled throughout is the constant connection with various foods and dishes which is always fun for a foodie! Just before we came to Arizona, my friend Mary gave me some herbal tea that is Ruth Reichl's tea somehow?! I didn't read the label any too carefully. Now my dilemma is, do I give it to Mary or Sierra to read first??!!!

One thing besides the food that I enjoyed was the description of life in New York. I always enjoy urban settings that focus on the exciting parts of that life, with all of its opportunities and beauties and interesting shops, restaurants, and people. This book has that appeal as well.

The characters are pretty one-dimensional and the plot is predictable, but there is some intrigue with figuring out some of the clues hidden in the unfolding of the story. No basis in reality but sort of fun. Also, I enjoyed some of the descriptions of life during World War II and found them fresh and informative. Not a bad start for a first-time novelist!

Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster

I've had a hankering to reread this wonderful little novel lately. I was able to download it to my phone for free, and I enjoyed every sentence! It's a sweet story that takes place near the beginning of the 20th century. It's quaint in how men and women are depicted. It's a story told in letters, and the growth of the letter-writer is evident and enjoyable.

I vaguely remember seeing the movie that was made from this book years ago. I believe I enjoyed it...Then, quite a few years ago, for my birthday, Leonard asked my friends to give me a book they loved. My friend Sally Palmer gave me this book. She thought I would enjoy it and she was right. It recalls a simpler time and unfolds around the delightful character of an orphan. Her transformation in a women's college is just plain fun to observe. The literary device of having her benefactor be mysterious and become her confidante really enhances the story. Well worth the read. Very uplifting. Just plain good and wholesome!!!

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

This sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird is a delight to read because of the well-loved characters of Scout and Atticus. It was bittersweet returning to the South and Jean Louise's world... She saw how her life in New York had influenced her thinking...and how differently her father sees the world than she thought. Their conflict is heart breaking, and I didn't understand all of the nuances... My friend Mary lent me this book, and wants to discuss it. I think talking about it with her and with others like Christy will definitely help my understanding.

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

My friend MaryLou thought I might enjoy this book; she says I'm spiritual! I enjoyed that description and I enjoyed the book, although it's more religious to me than spiritual, per se. What I enjoyed about this book was the characters of the two brothers growing up in this little Minnesota town. Their mother was a disturbing presence, and their father was heroic. It has elements that remind me of South Dakota; the anti-Native sentiment, for example. It's sensitively written, and I enjoyed the sense of nostalgia for a simpler time and place.

It definitely held my interest, but it's not a keeper. I will pass it along. There was one compelling part, though, that was impressive. The main character's father, the heroic one, is suffering mightily from the death of his daughter. He questions why God would take his daughter. He says, "Why Ariel? Why not me? The sins are mine. Why punish her? Or Ruth? This is killing her, Gus. And the boys, they don't understand, they just hurt. And it's my fault. All my fault." [He had killed as a soldier in Viet Nam.] His friend answers:

"You think God operates that way, Captain? Hell, that sure ain't what you've been telling me all these years. And as for those sins of yours, I'm guessing you mean the war, and haven't you always told me that you and me and the others we could be forgiven? You told me you believed it as surely as you believed the sun would rise every morning. And I've got to tell you, Captain, you seemed so certain that you got me believing it too." Gus sat forward and looked at his hands which were wax-pale in the candlelight. "I can't see any way that the God you've talked yourself blue to me and everyone else about would be responsible for what happened to Ariel. I can't believe God would hurt that beautiful child in order to call you to account. No, sir, I don't believe that for one moment." 

This seemed odd to me coming from Gus because mostly what I'd always heard from him was a questioning of everything my father spoke for.

"Seems to me you're just kind of reeling here, Captain. Like from a punch in the face. When you come around you'll see that you've been right all along. I know I give you a hard time about your religion but damned if I'm not grateful at heart that you believe it. Somebody's got to. For all the rest of us, Captain, somebody's got to."

Gus stopped talking and I became aware of an odd and disconcerting sound that was growing louder in the sanctuary. I didn't understand at first what it was or its source, and then I realized it was my father crying. Huge sobs erupted from him and boomed off the walls. He bend ant wept into his hands and Gus leaned to him and held my father dearly.

This part was very moving to me. This father was a minister who had patiently endured many trials...and had stood firm in his faith. I loved this part, because it showed how even the most admirable and faithful sometimes falter and need the strength of others... it's beautifully and truthfully rendered here, I think.

The Undaunted by Gerald Lund

Sierra's great friend Megan recommended I read this book as we were preparing for a trip to Lake Powell. We didn't end up going, but I still read the book. Megan told me that some of her family's ancestors appear in the story. It's historical fiction, and has many of the real pioneers featured in the account of this amazing blaze through hard rock.

It's a wonderful account of a complex history as these Mormon pioneers built a route through impassable country. Their faith and courage are remarkable. They knew it was impossible, and they knew it had to be done. They did it!

I really enjoyed Lund's footnotes and detailed explanations of the geography and the hardships these hardy people encountered. He referenced several comprehensive histories that probably would have served me better than this story, but I like to get history in light story-form! What is consistent with Lund's fictional characters though, is that they don't have a lot of depth or reality to them. They are pretty predictable and have sweet senses of humor and only understandable, superficial flaws. It gets a little frustrating to have such flat characters. However, they are "good" and have real struggles and even though they feel contrived and shallow, they do move the story ahead.

Lund does a good job describing the struggles of the faithful and the struggles of the unbelieving. But again, they are not in depth or very authentic-feeling. Still, the stories are always uplifting and optimistic. The part that moved me the most was the part when they were near the end of their journey. The pioneers had to whip and force their animals up a steep incline that ended up maiming and killing some of their loyal animals who had brought them so far. This was heart-breaking, as Lund helped us witness the pain of the owners who felt they had no choice but to move onward this way. This part was, like many parts of the book, historically accurate. This part moved me to tears.

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

My TIE friend Marilyn first recommended this book to me several years ago. She was so enthusiastic about it that I went ahead and ordered it, and then, after reading the back cover, decided Jane would enjoy it too. So I sent it to her. She loved it! She thought our father would enjoy it, so she lent it to him... He loved it! Finally, on a recent trip to Napa, I got a hold of that original copy and got to read it myself. I loved it too...and here's why.

It's nonfiction at its best. It tells a compelling story with rich detail and fascinating portraits of the people and the times. It's set in the Seattle area in the 1930's when that part of the country was fairly new to white settlement. The development of that area and the University of Washington was interesting...as were the boys who made the rowing team. These young men were hard, hard workers who never gave up. They struggled to make a living, to pay their tuition, and to make the rowing team. They feel like a whole different kind of person than one meets today, with the exception of my father's generation. It's inspiring to read of their commitment to the team, to each other, to getting their education, and so on. They just plunge onward through incredible adversity.

The University of Washington rowing team has several meets against Cal, and that's why I thought my sister would enjoy it too. The rivalry is described well, as is the way the sport evolved in the eastern elite schools. I loved the parts about the artistic boat builder and he is frequently quoted throughout the book. Rowing as a single unit is described like poetry!

I also enjoyed the parts about the competition in Berlin. As the Nazi's prepared for the Olympics and being center stage of the world's showcase, it was fascinating to read of these characters. I learned a lot about this painful history. And, as is the case throughout the book, it's thoroughly researched and written in a very engaging way. It's an incredible story on so many levels...poetic, historic, and inspiring.

Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek

My friend MaryLou lent me this book. She is reading it as part of a principal-preparation program. She thought I would enjoy it, and she was correct!!!

This is a very readable book with lots of good examples from business and the military. But it's a book that fits every profession and every person, because it's based on good principles. The main principle is that we need to trust our leaders and our leaders need to be trustworthy. We all need to do the right things for the right reasons. What I like about this is that it's true. What I also appreciated was the many examples of how businesses thrive when they put people and their needs FIRST, rather than profits.

One of the author's main contentions is that our current culture is more or less addicted to dopamine and quick results, rather than on long-term happiness provided by the brain chemical oxytocin. Sometimes this is a big stretch to make his point, over and over, but sometimes it seems to really fit.

I am thinking about giving copies of this book to Mike and/or Don, because I think it would help any businessperson remember that people are their most critical asset. It might also help them think about ways to make their business more altruistic and rewarding and not just profitable. Just thinking about this...not sure I'll really do it!

One "test" he gives is to ask us if we would trust our leader in a foxhole to protect us. That's ultimately what a leader SHOULD do, but somehow, in recent years, we do not. He cites many examples in politics, in bustiness, and other arenas that shows how short-sighted it is to operate without integrity and trust. His contention that leaders need to create a safety zone is well-founded, because it leads to innovation and better practices... Lots of good material here, worthy of putting into practice!!! He's also very worth watching on his Ted Talks! I like it when good principles gain popularity!

Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

My friend MaryLou offered me this book. Since I really like her, and feel we have similar tastes, I was anxious to read what she thought was a good book.  Because I have read one Jodi Picoult book and didn't particularly like it, I was hesitant. But MaryLou told me I would enjoy learning about elephants, and so I took it.

She was right; this book has a lot of fascinating lore about elephants. These fascinating elephant habits are seamlessly interwoven into a story of love and loss and the parallels between the humans and the captive elephants are amazing. Another thing I really liked was the characters in this book. The first half of the book was captivating because of the off-beat and interesting characters. The story moved ahead in a very enjoyable way.

But... a little more than half-way through, the story took a weird turn, and the ending was completely surreal. I felt like I'd been tricked. I didn't buy the supernatural parts and am sorry it took that turn, and indeed depended on it for the plot to work at all. It's too bad, because otherwise I would have enjoyed sharing this book with others. As it is, I won't bother...

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

My wonderful friend Christy recommended that our Relief Society book group read this treasure. I remembered it only vaguely from when I read it as a young girl. I loved the cover of my book which had a painting of a girl sitting in a big comfy chair reading a book. Now that I think about it, I wonder if it was an abridged version? Because when I found this book in a used bookstore, I was astounded at the length of it! 537 pages! Could I have really read that hefty of a book as an eleven or twelve year old? Perhaps!

I was a little dismayed at first at the tone and the dated feel of it...but I quickly overcame that and found it sweet. It didn't take me long to get swept into the story again and to admire the girls and especially their mother.

There were many, many parts that I wanted to highlight and save...but there were too many. I need to save the whole book!

Parts to add: the position of the father, and how he's an ANCHOR to the family. Very much like God.

How Jo's role in society and in the family was a call for independence and new roles for women. This is modeled after Louisa herself, apparently.

In our discussion, April shared that she had experienced and also knew families whose sibling relationships were as positive as those portrayed in this book. The comment had been made that this was unrealistic.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

So I was in Napa and my sister Jane lent me this book. I read a few pages and decided I needed my own copy. I loved it so much I bought one for Diana before I left town. When I got back to Rapid City, I lent it to my friend Mary. She read one chapter and gave it back to me because she had to buy her own copy. It's that good. It's that compelling! I'm in the process of reading it a second time.

Kondo's assertion is that we can't live our lives buried in our stuff. We can't be who we are. We can't even know who we are because dealing with all of our "stuff" prevents us from BEING. It's a fascinating concept and one I'm beginning to believe.

I've experimented with the idea of getting rid of things I don't LOVE. It has been marginally successful. I haven't gone all in yet, mostly because, well, I'm not sure why!? I've been telling myself I should do it when we sell our home and move. But the house hasn't sold, and honestly, wouldn't it be better to do it first? I'm building up my courage to begin...To be continued!!!

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

My sister Alice Jane has recommended some wonderful books to me over the years. She prefers nonfiction, usually, so my ears perked up when she mentioned a novel she really enjoyed. I went to the library and was a little daunted by the heft of this book, but decided it was worth a try. After all, it's winter in South Dakota; isn't that the best time to sit by the fire and read?

This story is amazing. It follows the incredible journey of how a young doctor and an Indian nun, working in Ethiopia, produced a set of twin boys. They were raised by two other doctors and their story reveals aspects of a fascinating African culture. The story also moves to New York City and uncovers sad aspects health care disparities.

The author's training and practice as a doctor permeates the story. In fact, at times, it was too much for me. The blood and suffering are great and intimately described. There are painfully horrific scenes that are haunting. There are also lovely scenes and altruistic characters who are heroic in their efforts to ease suffering. I found the descriptions of how the twins communicated and complemented each other's strengths and weaknesses fascinating.

I was positively amazed at the level of detail and description of food, people, medicine, travel, etc. that are included along the way. This is an epic panorama of a fascinating place, people, and time.

Summer Ball by Mike Lupica

I enjoy listening to Mike Lupica when he's interviewed on the radio. He seems like a good guy, so I thought I'd give one of his books a try. Since he writes about sports for young people, I thought it would be a good idea to see if it's good enough to give Gabriel. Our tastes are pretty different, but I thought this might be one that would bridge the gap. We'll see! I'm giving it to him today.

This story features Danny Walker, a small (compared to his friends and teammates) basketball player. He's the son of a professional player and that helps explain some of his enthusiasm for the game. When we were raising Melissa, I was thoroughly surprised and impressed by her sports work ethic. Nothing was too much to ask in practice, and she practiced on her own. She has the passion to get better and will do anything to do it. Danny is like that, and I've often wondered if that's a trait that is inborn.

What makes this book better than most young adult literature is the sensitivity of the characters, the wisdom of the adults, though no one is perfect. My favorite aspect, though, is the way Lupica has Danny react to challenges. When he encounters a bad coach, Danny just works harder to impress him. Overcoming challenges with a great attitude is a recurring theme which would serve kids well, I think. I guess it's okay to have a loser coach; there are plenty of them out there. I do question, however, that he ended up looking like a complete chump at the end, when compared to Danny's nobility. There is something to be said for being obedient to your coach...not sure Danny and the team found the right balance there. But all in all, I think this book teaches good values.

I also like the friendships and the appropriate interaction between them. These kids are 12-14 years old, like each other, but don't go down any sexual roads at all. I appreciated that. And they support each other in very effective ways.

Lupica describes all the basektball moves and strategies in great detail. And even though I didn't understand or necessarily follow it all, it didn't detract from the story for me. I was able to follow it enough to feel joy when the game went well and pain when a shot was missed. Danny's floor pass also was described in a way that I could see. It also helped me understand that the game is more complex than I usually can appreciate.

I just heard Lupica interviewed on Imus this morning, and he's just signed a four-book deal with Simon & Schuster. The first of the four is out, and I might give it a try. I like how he weaves a story, makes his characters interesting and real, and is also unpredictable. Stay tuned for Gabe's reaction!

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

I watched Shala grow into the competent young mother she is today. And she is occasionally very shy. Yet she suggested our book group read this particular book. I was hoping she would come to our discussion, but she didn't. I am grateful we chose to read it, though, even though it didn't bring her out! 
I went to the library and couldn't find it in the young adult fiction section. It was in the children's section! It's 152 pages long, divided into chapters, but it's considered children's? That's okay--I found it! 
Our discussion of this book was wonderful. There are many themes to consider, but the one that sticks in my mind is the theme of beauty. There's power in beauty. Here's an excerpt that illustrates this point:

"Tree-ear loved the symmetry of the prunus vases that grew on Min's wheel. Once, back in the spring during his early days with Min, he had watched the potter place a plum branch in a finished vase to judge the effect. The gentle curves of the vase, its mysterious green color. The sharp angles of the plum twigs, their blackness stark amid airy white blossoms. The work of a human, the work of nature; clay from the earth, a branch from the sky. A kind of peace spread through Tree-ear, body and mind, as if while he looked at the vase and its branch, nothing could ever go wrong in the world." During our discussion, there were many fascinating insights about Korean culture, about the similarities to molding vs. being molded, about honesty and ethics, and on and on. It's a rich little book! I am glad I also bought a used copy online so I can take the time to read it again. It helps to have brilliant women in our group whose insights make me want to read it again... My copy also has Linda Sue Park's acceptance speech for the Newbery award this book received, and it's a very worthwhile read as well. I appreciate her humility!

Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver

Kingsolver is one of my favorite authors. My sister Ann recommended this one, which surprisingly I hadn't yet read. Her book club read it and she thought I would enjoy it. I did!

As usual, Kingsolver's characters are fascinating and their conversations make me chuckle. Her metaphors are AMAZING and often stop me in my tracks. I loved how the story unfolded and how Dellarobia Turnbow's character developed over the year of the story. It was a delightful read, even though the subject was a hard one...a marriage ending and climate change!

The science instruction inherent in any Kingsolver book is a gift to me. (Prodigal Summer comes to mind, in particular.) Weaving science into the story makes it much easier for me to understand and be interested. I appreciate the education!

Now here's the part that I found disappointing... This marriage and family is struggling. It's heart breaking to watch, yet so understandable! Dellarobia's thinking is such that any woman could relate--and her love of her children is clear and palpable. Her experiences in church and with her in-laws are all intriguing, often funny, and often heart-breaking. I was hoping throughout the whole story that Dellarobia would find a way to make it all work without divorce. That she did not, was disappointing.

I know many would cite irreconcilable differences, but I would not. Her husband Cub has a good heart, which she recognizes. They've already overcome so many challenges! She doesn't see a way to be a leader or have more patience with her situation or somehow make it work. That was disappointing because it could have been a road map for a different way of thinking and acting... This view of "finding ourselves" and putting ourselves first in a selfish way is the way of our current culture. There's a better way...See the excerpt from Yearning for the Living God by F. Enzio Busche that I added at the end of my reflection. That's an example of how different thinking might have helped this marriage succeed.

And let me say right here...it's easy to blame one's partner. But as I have learned from life, and first from C. Terry Warner, that when you give a (difficult or unlikeable) person a different kind of person to respond to, they change! In other words, YOU change, and the other person does too, in response, because you are giving that person a different person to respond to. My explanation is clumsy, but I know it's a true principle! It even works with children--and if you think about it and experiment with it, you will see that I am right! It's a wonderful, powerful principle because YOU have the power to change...and hence the situation does too.

Yearning for the Living God by F. Enzio Busche

My friend Sally lent this book to Len because she thought he would enjoy it. This was after he had told her how he'd been watching lots of Nazi/World War II documentaries. He began reading it, said it was good, so I picked it up to read on our Arizona vacation.

It's a good read, with lots of anecdotes about what life was like growing up in Nazi Germany. Elder Busche tells his history with examples as well as analysis of what was going on at that time. He really gives unusual context for the thinking and prevailing culture of the decades during and after the second World War. Then he recounts his conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and tells the stories of his experiences with the church over the course of his lifetime.

These stories are unusually frank and intimate. He recounts his struggles and challenges candidly and in a way that his readers can learn from. I was most impressed with the period he was a branch president in Dortmund and led his congregation in building their own chapel. The way he balanced work, family life, and church service was amazing. It's faith-promoting to read about someone so committed to doing the right thing. His readers have to respect his commitment to living the high character standards set by his father. I also enjoyed the many photographs that show his growth and his family's changes over the decades.

Elder Busche also shares many faith-promoting stories of people he's known over the years, from business associates to destitute and humble members of his congregation. Their stories and impact on him are fascinating. It's also uplifting to read about the many miracles in his life and how he attributes them to the Lord. The title is apt; he seeks the Lord and continually finds Him.

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Here's a sample from the chapter "Saints of the World." Pages 230-233 - I want to remember this example because it's a beautiful reminder of where our hearts should be! And how differently the world views these issues...

In the early yeas of my membership I had the opportunity to counsel with one young sister who was going to get married. She was about twenty-nine years old and was a refugee. She was very educated, articulate, and talented. She had also been on a mission. She had met a young member who was just twenty-one. He had hardly any education and was a blue-collar worker. Not only was he much younger than she was, but he was also much shorter.

I saw nothing wrong with them getting together because I feel that when two people are committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ, all other aspects do not mater. I believe that under the influence of the Spirit, any marriage can become a success. They were married in the temple. However, about a year later, the sister came to me again and said, "I've made a terrible mistake." She was crying and said, "I cannot go through with this." I was shocked. I felt, in my innocence, that there was no way anyone could get out of a temple marriage, remembering the text that I had read in the scriptures and also the words we receive in the temple endowment. I wanted to help, and so I listened carefully and sought communication with the Spirit.

I was finally prompted to ask her a couple of questions. I asked her, "Sister, do you have a testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ?" She said, "Yes." I asked her then, "Do you keep all of the sacred covenants that you have received in the holy house of the Lord?" She answered, "I think so." I asked her to tell me about her husband. "Does he believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?" Again she said, "I think so." I asked her if he lived in harmony with the covenants of the temple. Once more she answered in the affirmative.

Then I heard myself say, "I remember that we talked earlier, before you were married. You came to me with questions about the purpose of your life as a church member living away from the center of the Church and with no prospects of marriage. I remember that we had this conversation once. I hear you complaining now about your husband, how clumsy he is and how you suffer from his lack of education, how you cannot have a stimulating conversation with him, and how he does not like the same kind of music you like, and other things. Could it be that you have a wonderful opportunity here? Could it be that we are not meant to find ourselves but to lose ourselves?

"Instead of looking at all of the things that separate you from your husband, you have the great opportunity to see inside of him and see the hidden beauty because he is, like yourself, a child of God. Therefore, he has the potential of a god in him, but the only way it can grow inside of him is if he finds someone who loves him and who looks through his behavior, his lack of education, who sees the beauty of his character and the beauty of his spirit. He needs someone who treats him as if he were already at that level where he would be acceptable to you. Could that be the purpose of your life, to help bring this man to the celestial kingdom?"

I could see that my words did not sit well with her. She took it like swallowing a bitter pill. She was obviously not happy about my counsel. Yet thirty-five years later, when Sister Busche and I were in a stake conference, we saw a couple sitting in the congregation who caught my attention. On both sides sat children and grandchildren. I was touched by the tender love I observed between the husband and wife, and then I noticed that she was considerably taller than her husband. Suddenly, it struck me, can this be the same couple from all those years before? I saw them cuddling together, she holding his hand and looking at him with a tender awareness of her partner's strength and dignity. As I continued to be fascinated by them, I recognized that she was indeed the one with whom I had talked to many years earlier, who had left my office so distraught. With the greatest feelings of joy, I was permitted to witness that, yes, she had done it. I could now see that she would not give up her husband for anything in the world.

I learned that he had become successful in his building and construction career. Their children and grandchildren were all together, smiling and happy. We must understand the reality of the Living God and what He, through His Spirit, can do in our lives, when we focus on him and do the things that He will whisper to our souls. The things that look too difficult for us to master are in reality opportunities for growth. For me, this sister will always stand as an example of how we can turn a challenge into a great success when we focus totally and completely on the Living God. I wish that we would all learn from that wonderful sister who has glorified her life by not wondering, "What's in it for me?" but by asking, "What does the Lord want me to do?"