Increasing My Cross-Cultural Consciousness: Books I Read in 2024, Vol. XV

 

LETTERS TO MY WHITE MALE FRIENDS
Dax-Devlon Ross

Millions of people are finally realizing that simply not being racist isn't enough to end racism. Now we are not only seeking deeper insight into how racism has harmed Black people but also how it has harmed us all. [This book] promises to help everyone who says they are committed to change develop the capacity to see, feel, and sustain that commitment so we can help secure racial justice for all.

I read this book because I own it. I own this book because it was available at the library for just a quarter. I bought it from the library because I am on a quest to increase my knowledge of and sensitivity to what it's like to be a non-white person in suburban America. I am on that quest because of prompting from our bridge-building deacon at Valley Christian Church. We have a bridge-building deacon because one man was so moved by the murder of George Floyd and its aftermath that he was compelled to help our congregation be part of the solution instead of perpetuating the problem.

While there were a few times when I got bogged down in buzzwords and generalizations, this book was fairly easy to read and absolutely, positively enlightening. (Not to mention challenging as I ask the necessary question: "Now what shall I DO about it?")

First Line: I will never forget one night in Cape Town when I was out at a dance club with a group of fellow law students.

Page 56 / Line 5: Given this context, when you look back on your education, how many Black students can you count in your classes?

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: We have to see this endeavor as essential, not mandatory.

Last Line:  "I don't want to get ahead of myself," I said to Alana, "but I think these guys may be stepping up."

What an Amazing Start for a Book Series: Books I Read in 2024, Vol. XIV

 

ALONG CAME A SPIDER: An Alex Cross Thriller
James Patterson

It begins with the double kidnapping of the daughter of a famous Hollywood actress and the young son of the secretary of the treasury. Gary Soneji is a murderous serial kidnapper who wants to commit the crime of the century. Alex Cross is the brilliant homicide detective pitted against him. And Jezzie Flanagan is the female supervisor of the Secret Service who completes one of the most unusual suspense triangles in any thriller you have ever read. "James Patterson does everything but stick our finger in a light socket to give us a buzz." - New York Times

When I read The People vs Alex Cross, I said I wanted to back up and read all of Patterson's Alex Cross thrillers...and so here I am at the very first one. What an amazing start for a book series! Alex Cross is ALREADY a character of such depth and breadth, even in this first appearance.

I ran across something that kind of mystified me and gratified me at the same time. There I was, reading a paperback edition of this book from its 25th printing; at least 28 years after the original publication date. The publisher had 25 chances to get it right, and yet I still noticed several glaring typos like the appearance of "he" instead of "the" and from the penultimate page of the whole shebang, "If anyone served to be on death row, it was Soneji/Murphy." (Shouldn't it be "deserved"?)

Another curious thing: I know that I've seen the movie that was made from this book, but there wasn't a single scene in the book that brought to mind anything from the film. That might be a function of me having only seen the movie once...and that was several years ago. (Declaration: It has nothing to do with my age.)

First Line: The Charles Lindbergh farmhouse glowed with bright, orangish lights.

Page 56 / Line 5: Gary Soneji left the farmhouse around 11:30 P.M., right on his schedule.

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: I never miss a good chance to shut up.

Last Line: Peanut Butter Man lives.

Exaggerated, Funny, Mostly-True Stories: Books I Read in 2024, Vol. XIII

 

THE CALL OF THE MILD: Misadventures in Africa, Hollywood, and Other Wild Places
Torry Martin & Doug Peterson

Whether he's dealing with pythons in South Africa, pickpockets in Ireland, or grizzlies in Alaska, Torry shares his blunders and the life lessons they've taught him along the way. Through each true story, he shares what he has learned about overcoming any obstacle that might hold us back from following God's will  -  wherever He might lead.

Torry Martin was a keynote speaker at a conference Beloved and I attended in April. He gave each conferee a copy of this book and begged us to write reviews on Amazon. Feel free to take a look for mine, because I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If you like David Sedaris but love Jesus, this is the book for you. It's full of exaggerated, funny, mostly-true stories with nuggets of True Truth attached.

First Line: KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Page 56 / Line 5: It was late October as Rob and I chugged up the twisty, treacherous roads leading to my family's cabin for one last gold-mining expedition before the snow fell.

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: I spent much of my life suffering from a severe case of comparative-worthitis  -  wanting to be anybody but me.

Last Line: "I'm good, right?"

My Final Rat Pack Read: Books I Read in 2024, Vol. XII

 

I'M A FOOL TO KILL YOU: A Rat Pack Mystery
Robert J. Randisi

When a rumor spreads that Frank Sinatra's ex-wife, Hollywood Goddess Ava Gardner, was seen in the Sands Hotel & Casino in a state of distress, Vegas pit boss/fixer/amateur sleuth Eddie G. is asked to check it out. Eddie tracks her down to LA, where he finds out that Ava’s afraid she did something horrible . . . and it falls to Eddie to find out exactly what went down. But someone’s after Ava who means her harm, and soon he’s dodging bullets in Vegas in an attempt to keep Ava – and himself – alive.

This is the fifth book in the series, which I have enjoyed, but because Randisi seems to be amping up the foul language and sexuality, I think this is going to be my last. Besides, this and the remaining six titles are only available from the library as digital downloads, and I prefer having an actual book in my hands instead of having to sit at my computer or stare at my phone's screen. That said, these books are actually kind of light on "mystery" and rely on a fondness for Frank Sinatra and friends to engage the reader. They are enjoyable reads with the bite-sized chapters I like, but not enough to keep me from switching over to Alex Cross.

First Line: Jenny Phillips was a looker

Page 56 / Line 5: "Try the Beverly Hills Hotel," Frank said.

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: "Almost the truth," I said.

Last Line: "Maybe two days?"

A Quick & Practical Resource: Books I Read in 2024, Vol. XI

 

ONE-TO-ONE BIBLE READING: A Simple Guide for Every Christian
David Helm

Two people with open Bibles  -  simple and yet powerfully effective in growing disciples of Jesus. David Helm explains why, and gives you practical tips for getting started. "Helm's book encourages relational evangelism and discipleship based on the living and active word of God, offering practical tools for one-on-one Bible reading and envisioning a mobilization of God's people that would complement church programs. Helm calls us to invite people not only to an event, but into our lives and into the life of faith in Jesus Christ offered in his word." (Kathleen Nielson - Author and conference speaker)

This is another book I've read because of being an elder at Valley Christian Church. It is a quick read with a lot of practical resources for putting the concept of reading and talking about the Bible with one or two other people into practice. I wish I would have had this back when I was a youth minister. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this resource for ANY Christian...even as a tool for making your personal Bible reading effective and life-changing.

First Line: You probably know someone, perhaps a co-worker, who is not really a church person.

Page 56 / Line 5: If we try to read them all as if they are one type of literature (such as one of the letters of Paul), we'll quickly get off track.

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: No longer was he worried about whether or not he could remain a scientist if he were to become a Christian.

Last Line: Are you ready to follow Jesus?

Longmire Short Stories: Books I Read in 2024, Vol. X

 

WAIT FOR SIGNS: Twelve Longmire Stories
Craig Johnson

Craig Johnson's straight-talking lawman, Sheriff Walt Longmire, first knocked readers dead in the award-winning short story "Old Indian Trick." Since then, the sheriff has captured the hearts of mystery lovers with ten bestselling Longmire novels and the hit A&E series LONGMIRE. Now, for the first time, 12 short stories featuring an off-duty Longmire are collected in a single volume. With a glimpse into Walt's past, these stories are by turns hilarious and suspenseful. The sheriff finds himself mistaken for a deity, then elbowed into putting on a show as the Ghost of Christmas Past, and then trapped in a Porta Potty. Wait for Signs is a welcome addition to any Longmire fan's shelf and a wonderful way to introduce new readers to the fictional world of Absaroka County, Wyoming.

I normally wouldn't read two Longmire books in a row without tossing in some Rat Pack Mystery or Brit in the FBI between them, but this collection of short stories perfectly fit with a flight to Michigan for a weekend conference and the drive back with Beloved. By now, it is clear that I am a fan of Johnson's Longmire output, and this collection does not tarnish that in the least. There was even the added bonus of learning the real legend behind the naming of Wyoming's Crazy Woman Creek, which I have driven by countless times in my journeys to and fro involving visiting my in-laws.

First Line: It's hard to argue with an old Indian or his tricks.

Page 56 / Line 5: "Maybe."

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: The prison psychologist intimated that it was all a question of comparison, but that if you sat a bag of groceries next to Travis, the groceries would get into Stanford before he would.

Last Line: I drove the entire forty miles without cracking a smile -- a personal best.

Paul Becomes Paula: Books I Read in 2024, Vol. IX

 

AS A WOMAN: What I Learned About Power, Sex, and the Patriarchy After I Transitioned
Paula Stone Williams

Dr. Paula Stone Williams was a married father of three who held several prominent jobs within the Christian community. Then, she made a life-changing decision: she would physically transition from a male to a female at the age of sixty. Feeling utterly alone after being expelled from the evangelical churches she had once spearheaded, Paula struggled to create a new safe space for herself where she could reconcile her faith, identity, and desire to be a leader.

In [this book], Paula pulls back the curtain on her transition journey and sheds light on the gendered landscape that impacts many in the LGBTQ+ community. She urges men to recognize the ways in which the world is tilted in their favor and validates the experiences of women who have been disregarded based solely on their gender, while also acknowledging how she was once like those men who are blind to their privilege.

I read this book in an attempt to better understand the world of transgenderism. It certainly told the tale of the author's personal journey and feelings, but in terms of understanding "why," it never went beyond "I've always felt like I was in the wrong body; that I should have been born female." And maybe that's really the only explanation for gender dysphoria. As for insights into "the patriarchy," I think Dr. Williams was confusing the shocked reactions of the evangelical ministries he led as a cultural sense of male privilege. But to be fair, the final third of the book DOES point out several instances of being treated differently, i.e., less respectfully, merely because of being a woman, and that is something to be ashamed of and to work on changing.

First Line: I had a big dream but could not hold on to the details, except some vague sense that I'd been immersed in water.

Page 56 / Line 5: Since the subject had been so much on the back burner during my college years, I was confident it was going to go away once I got married.

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: Bible college is kind of like being at your aunt's house.

Last Line: To all who believe the call toward authenticity is sacred and holy and for the greater good, there are no guarantees you will find happiness, but you will know joy.