Books I Read in 2021, Vol. V

 

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO TOM HANKS: The Life, the Obsessions, the Good Deeds of America's Most Decent Guy
Gavin Edwards

"Niceness gets a bad rap these days. Our culture reveres those who troll the hardest and who snark the most. At times, it seems like there's no place anymore for optimism, integrity, and old-fashioned respect. Enter 'America's Dad': Tom Hanks. Whether he's buying espresso machines for the White House press corps, rewarding a jovial cab driver with a night on Broadway, or extolling the virtues of using a typewriter, Hanks lives a passionate, joyful life and pays it forward. [This book] takes readers on a tour behind the scenes of Hank's life: from his less-than-idyllic childhood, rocky first marriage, and career wipeouts to the pinnacle of his acting career and domestic bliss with the love of his life, Rita Wilson. Contemplating the life, the achievements, and the obsessions of Mr. Tom Hanks may or may not give you the road map you need to find your way, But at the very least, it'll show you how niceness can be a worthy destination."

I wasn't planning to read this book, but when I saw it on the library shelf, I couldn't pass it by. Hanks is all the things the publisher's write-up (above) claims he is and I personally find it hard to pass by any YouTube video that features him on a talk show or at a Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame induction (his speech about the Dave Clark Five should be in a hall of fame all its own). Any movie he's in is on my must-see list. That being said, there is a lot of info in this book that was revelatory to me...and enjoyable to learn. Two thumbs up for this not-really-a-biography biography.

First line: Tom Hanks is a really nice guy.

Page 56/5th Sentence: "One thing I find myself doing is removing the question marks from my dialogue," Hanks said.

Last Line: Four decades later, Hanks could say that he had turned himself into the kind of actor that he had always wanted to be.

Books I Read in 2021, Vol. IV

THE DARK HORSE: A Longmire Mystery
Craig Johnson

"It's more than Mary Barsad's beauty and wealth that set her apart in a place where most criminal cases are generally 'Bubba shot Skeeter while they were drinking beer in the cab of Skeeter's truck and trying to figure out if Bubba's Charter Arms revolver was loaded.' .... Wade Barsad, a man with a dubious past and a gift for making enemies, burned his wife's horses in their barn; in return, she shot him in the head six times, or so the story goes. But Sheriff Walt Longmire doesn't believe Mary's confession and is determined to dig deeper."

This is the fifth book in the Longmire series, and I'm glad I've decided to read through all of them. Craig Johnson has a way with words that describe geography and character without getting bogged down in dry exposition. This book's central mystery is compelling, with a mostly-unexpected twist that doesn't feel like a gimmick.

First Line: It was the third week of a high-plains October, and an unseasonably extended summer had baked the color from the landscape and had turned the rusted girders of the old bridge a thinned-out, tired brown.

Page 56/5th sentence: Sit down.

Last Line: Dog started and made a move to fetch it, but I grabbed his collar, and we both watched as the black hat hung over the void of the Powder River, pitched to one side, and disappeared into the northbound water below.

Books I Read in 2021, Vol. III

 

ONCE THIS RIVER RAN CLEAR
Peter Martin

"In 1950, as "progress" becomes another name for "greed," a sixteen-year-old boy learns from the people surrounding him. He and Urs, a bear-like man, live in a shabby cabin on the Nawaakamig River, existing happily on other people's trash and on the carp which pollute the water. Urs' land is coveted by a developer, setting off a chain of painful, tragic events, which overtake unlucky people, including the hobos who spend summers with Urs. The boy bounces from the humble cabin to the local elite to an Ojibwa community, using what he learns from each situation to find his self and settle a score."

Having spent over 20 years putting Pete's storytelling to life on the stages of Giant Step (Children's) Theatre and the Dakota Chautauqua, I was excited to read his first novel. The biggest adjustment I had to make was reconciling myself to the decidedly "earthy" language the narrator of this tale uses. But the nature of the tale and the heart of the narrator won me over within two pages. 

This is a satisfying read, and I was glad to have taken the journey. I hope Pete writes a sequel to keep the tale a-spinnin'.

First Line: If I knew the misery Laurence Larkin the Third was gonna cause I'da shot him dead the first time he showed up at our cabin.

Page 56/5th Sentence: The water was down even more and there were places with carp stranded half outta water.

Last Line: I let it take me south toward the train stop at Parker's Crossing, where I hoped to find a helpful man named Eustis, who would show me the train headed for a city with two shelters, three parks, a library, and, hopefully, a man with a long white beard and a hickory walking stick.

Books I Read in 2021, Vol. II

 

WINDS OF HEAVEN, STUFF OF EARTH: Spiritual Conversations Inspired by the Life & Lyrics of Rich Mullins

Andrew Greer and Randy Cox

"Twenty years after his passing, Rich Mullins is remembered as a once-in-a-lifetime singer/songwriter whose impact on Christian music and the church is still being felt. Through his own struggles and pursuits, Rich asked questions and started a dialogue about what it means to hang on to heavenly grace even when the stuff of earth gets in the way.

"Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth continues those conversations with thoughtful essays woven together with reflections, photos, lessons, and the lyrics of four never-before-published songs that Rich left behind. More than two dozen of today's singers, songwriters, producers, and authors share stories and remembrances of Rich that continue to influence their music and ministries today."

I got this book because of my inordinate admiration for Rich Mullins, but the book really is less about Rich than it is about the deep things of God that his "life and lyrics" brought to the surface. It could be read as a daily devotional and in fact, I read a lot of the chapters while enjoying my morning bowl of cereal. I'm sure that I'll pick it up again in a few years to remind myself that God loves me madly, that He is truly awesome, and that I am truly broken...but that doesn't lessen the Lord's love for me.

Page 56/Sentence 5: "Rich was so very relatable, in part because he was open about the pain in his own life."

Books I Read in 2021, Vol. I

 

THEY SMELL LIKE SHEEP, VOLUME 2: Leading with the Heart of a Shepherd

Dr. Lynn Anderson 

"Whether you have been called to serve as a minister or you're teaching an adult Bible study group or you're a teen leading the youth group in song, most assuredly from time to time you question your abilities and look for support and example.

"Author Lynn Anderson addresses the starting and ending place of true leadership among God's people: the heart of a shepherd. He presents Jesus, the Head Shepherd, as our only reliable model of godly leadership...."

I read this book in tandem with a man who is an elder apprentice at Valley Christian Church, and we had weekly ZOOM meetings to talk about each section: what we highlighted, what challenged us, what encouraged us. It was a great reason to read the book and a great book to read for that reason. The personal exercises at the end of each chapter were absolutely challenging and actually kind of difficult. While Anderson's style is full of practical stories/examples and reads easily, this is a book to be slowly digested and put into practice...not a beach read by any stretch!

Page 56/Sentence 5: If we go there, however, we not only stunt our own faith development, we also lose credibility as shepherds, as authentic spiritual leaders.

The First Post

 

I woke up with the idea for this new blog as a way to take the place of what I used to post in a Facebook "Note". FB doesn't DO notes anymore, apparently, so here's where my thoughts about books I've read and movies I've seen, Christmas Epistles, and anything else that doesn't fit in my two current blogs, Almost the Truth and Truth Is..., will reside.

Chances are high you'll notice that even though the title of this post is "The First Post," there are posts here that appear to have been posted before this post. That's because I've post-dated some posts that I've moved from Facebook Notes to DewDrops. 

It's postacular!

To whoever stumbles upon this...here's a tiny portion of my world, and welcome to it.

Books I Read in 2020, Vol. II

 

UNCOMMON TYPE: Some Stories
Tom Hanks

From the publisher: “ A collection of 17 wonderful short stories showing that two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks is as talented a writer as he is an actor. These stories are surprising, intelligent, heart-warming, and, for the millions and millions of Tom Hanks fans, an absolute must-have.”

From me: This was a pleasant read indeed, though it contained more foul language than I’ve ever heard Hanks utter on the screen. Most of the stories are more slice-of-life than actual beginning-middle-end narratives, but they are a fine display of the actor’s powers of observation.

Page 56/Sentence 5: After ten days of reshoots in Budapest, they had only the surfing scenes yet to do.

IF THE CHURCH WERE CHRISTIAN: Rediscovering the Values of Jesus
Philip Gulley

“Gulley’s vision of Christianity is grounded, gripping, and filled with uncommon sense. He is building bridges instead of boundaries, and such wisdom is surely needed now.”

I found the chapter titles and the values they revealed (“Jesus Would Be a Model for Living Rather Than an Object of Worship”, “Reconciliation Would Be Valued Over Judgment”) to be intriguing, so I electronically borrowed this from the library and became instantly confused when I read the introduction and first chapter. Gulley makes it clear that he doesn’t believe in the historical accuracy of the gospel accounts in the Bible - that Jesus probably didn’t say the things the writers said he said - and that he doesn’t even regard Jesus as deity. So why would he even care about following Jesus’ values...and how can he even determine what those values are...and how can the Quakers accept him as a pastor? The more I read, the more I wondered why the author even considers himself a Christian.

56/5: What is it about religion that makes otherwise kind people forsake the obvious good to uphold doctrines that have long lost their meaning?

ANOTHER MAN’S MOCCASINS: A Walt Longmire Mystery
Craig Johnson

“ The 4th Longmire novel delivers more of the taut prose, engrossing characters, beautiful Wyoming setting, and satisfying depth that reviewers have been hailing since The Cold Dish.”

I have no idea whether I would keep reading these novels if not for having thoroughly enjoyed the TV series. Don’t get me wrong, I like the books...I really do...but I just can’t tell whether I like them for themselves or because they take my mind back to the TV characters, even when the book characters do things that I’m pretty sure the TV characters would never do. Ah well. Ours is not to reason why. Ours is but to read and report.

56/5: I stopped saying anything.

DELIGHTING IN THE TRINITY: An Introduction to the Christian Faith
Michael Reeves

“ This brief and winsome book presents an introduction to the Christian faith that is rooted in the triune God. Reeves takes cues from preachers and teachers down through the ages, setting key doctrines of creation, the person and work of Christ, and life in the Spirit into a simple framework of the Christian life.”

I read this to be able to participate in a book discussion group hosted by Pastor Brad Dewing at my church (Valley Christian Church). All I had to do was read the “Introduction,” and I knew this was a really good decision. Can’t count how many times I said “I’ve never thought about it like that before!” while reading this book.

56/5: For when Jesus sends us, he is allowing us to share the missional, generous, outgoing shape of God’s own life.

DAVE BARRY’S COMPLETE GUIDE TO GUYS: A Fairly Short Story
Dave Barry

“For thousands of years, women have asked themselves: What is the deal with guys, anyway? What are they thinking? The answer, of course, is: virtually nothing. Deep down inside, guys are extremely shallow. But that has not stopped Dave Barry from writing an entire book about them.”

I really needed this book to be able to relax while reading Reconstructing the Gospel (below). Dave Barry writes the way I try to, often making me chuckle and sometimes even eliciting an actual guffaw.

56/5: Let’s say a guy named Roger is attracted to a woman named Elaine.

RECONSTRUCTING THE GOSPEL: Finding Freedom from Slaveholder Religion
Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

“Reconstructing the Gospel is an attempt to work through the problem of sin and culture infecting the presentation and living out of the gospel. A gospel that justifies slavery, racism and oppression of the poor and marginalized is not the same gospel that Jesus was presenting.”

I got the ebook version of this for free from InterVarsity Press in an attempt to educate myself on the issue of racism as part of my response to the killing of George Floyd. I picked it because of the title, thinking, “I don’t think the gospel SHOULD be reconstructed. what the sam hill is this guy talking about. Truth be told, I’m still not real sure what he’s talking about. (Sorry.)

56/5: No, I can’t dip into the DPAC and get my Christmas-spirit fix in ninety minutes any more.

WOMEN IN MINISTRY: Four Views
Edited by Bonnidell Clouse and Robert G. Clouse

“Should women teach men? Should they exercise authority over men? What about ordaining women? Even those who agree that Scripture must determine our answers do not agree on what it teaches. And too often, differing sides have not been willing to listen to one another. Here in one volume are the views of four deeply-committed evangelicals that focus the discussion on the issues.”

I chose this book to educate myself on the different schools of thought about women in positions of church leadership because of its format of a main paper by a proponent of a particular view, followed by shorter critiques by three people who adhere to three different views...with each of the four people getting their turn to present their views and pick at the others’. The main take-away? It takes a lot of nit-picking in the original language to come up with a firm conviction on the topic...and each of the four thinks they’re right and the others are wrong. SO...there doesn’t seem to be much room for dogmatism.

56/5: If the Scriptures have been completely and correctly understood from the beginning and that understanding has been transmitted, it would seem that there would be little or no need for further biblical or theological study.

THE PRINCESS DIARIST
Carrie Fisher

“When Carrie Fisher discovered the journals she kept during the filming of the first Star Wars movie, she was astonished to see what they had preserved—plaintive love poems, unbridled musings with youthful naiveté, and a vulnerability that she barely recognized. Before her passing, her fame as an author, actress, and pop-culture icon was indisputable, but in 1977, Carrie Fisher was just a teenager with an all-consuming crush on her costar, Harrison Ford.”

Fisher’s reputation for brutal honesty and sailor-friendly language is well-earned, but this was a welcome respite from all the weighty reading I had been doing this third of the year. I have to admit, though, that some of her observations about her affair with Ford were far deeper and wiser than you’d expect from a 19-year-old:

With him, love was easier done than said
Instead of taking you to heart, he would take you to bed
And you take what he has to offer lying down
You’re getting more involved while he’s still getting around

It’s all a matter of touch and go
‘Cause he’s one for all and all for show
But after all was said and almost done
I was playing for keeps and he was playing for fun

56/5: The fact that Harrison and I had rolled around in the backseat during our return to London didn’t necessarily mean that it was a prologue for a more elaborate event.

I AM C-3PO: The Inside Story
Anthony Daniels

“Daniels tells a riveting, humorous, and often moving tale of life on (and off) the sets of all nine Star Wars movies, giving fascinating new insights into that galaxy far, far away.”

Perhaps obviously, I kind of unavoidably drifted to this memoir while finishing up The Princess Diarist, and I couldn’t be happier. Daniels’ eye for detail befits a droid and his storytelling made me feel like we were sitting around an Ewok’s fire recalling all the joys, surprises, and pains of having spent a lifetime inside a gold-colored suit.

56/5: He’s shot with Roman Polanski and Stanley Kubrick.