August was a memoir-heavy month! People interest me.
Thin Places by Mary DeMuth
To say Mary DeMuth had a rough childhood would be an understatement. Raised by a hippie mother and a series of stepdads, she was repeatedly assaulted at a young age by some neighbor boys, with no one to rescue her. It’s difficult even to read about her experiences. The book highlights a series of “thin places” – moments past and present when she’s very aware of God’s closeness and presence in her life. I probably describe too many memoirs as brave, but this one really is. It takes guts to present your life not as a textbook before-and-after-Jesus testimony, but as an ongoing work of God, still in progress. To publicly wrestle with your past and your scars, and admit that bad things happened to you and you don’t know why, but you know God loves you anyway. This is real stuff, and I’m thankful to Mary DeMuth for writing it.
Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected by Kelle Hampton
If you’re already a fan of Kelle Hampton’s blog, most of this memoir will be a re-tread to you – but no less moving than the first telling. The book chronicles the first year of her younger daughter, Nella, who has Down syndrome, and Kelle’s emotional journey toward embracing the realities of that diagnosis and even finding joy in it. I think Kelle is a fantastic writer and all-around awesome person, so I enjoyed the elaboration not only of Nella’s story, but also of Kelle’s family background, how she met her husband, etc. The book itself is in full color, with many of her own great photos, and looks and feels like a yearbook. I loved it.
Shooting Stars by LeBron James and Buzz Bissinger
This is the coming of age story of LeBron James and his four best friends, from his perspective. LeBron, Little Dru, Sian, and Willie started playing basketball together in a kids’ league in a rough area of Akron, Ohio. They established an instant bond, and at a young age, made a pact to stay together through high school and win a national championship together. In high school they were joined by transfer student Romeo, who became their fifth BFF and the final piece to the achievement of their dreams. This is a heartwarming, inspiring story – even more so because it’s all true. I cried!
Hana by Lauren Oliver
This short story for Kindle recounts and fleshes out the events of Delirium from the perspective of Lena’s best friend Hana. It was a nice complement to the first book. I probably shouldn’t even count it because it was so short, but oh well.
The Summer of My Greek Taverna by Tom Stone
I was prepared to be charmed by this memoir of an American living and working on a tiny Greek island. I enjoyed the insights into Greek life, but even with the interesting people and good food, the book fell flat for me. I had a hard time finishing it. I do plan to try some of the recipes though!
Blackout and All Clear by Connie Willis
Considering how long I went on in my Goodreads review, I should have devoted an entire post to these books. I’ve been hearing about them for years from my friend Marie, and when I saw them available in my library’s e-book section, I decided to take the plunge. Quick summary: In 2060, society has mastered time travel, and historians are sent back to key points in history to observe them. After Polly, Eileen (real name Merope), and Mike are sent to various points around the London Blitz in WWII, they find themselves marooned, unable to get back to their time. With difficulty, they find each other and try to find a solution, while also surviving the Blitz and preventing any of their new friends from finding out who they really are. While the plot could have used some heavy editing, it’s the characters and their bravery and sacrifice that make this story wonderful. I was an emotional wreck after reading it, and it’ll stick with me for a very long time.
Books for August: 7
2012 year to date: 45
Add a Comment + Posted in: book reviews, reading
The past week or so has been rough for my family. My paternal grandmother is in ICU in Texas having a lot of complications from a bypass surgery. She’s stable for the moment, but every time they patch one hole in the boat, another springs up somewhere. So we’re all living in a constant state of tension. While my parents were in Texas with her last week, my brother in Indiana had a freak accident with some machinery and severely injured his thumb. It’s broken and needed serious stitches, but he got a very good report from the doctor yesterday and won’t even need surgery! Thanks be to God for that and also for the fact that he still has a thumb at all. Because when you get a text that says “Destroyed my thumb,” you’re thinking things are pretty dire. (And also wondering how he’s texting to tell you this.)
On top of this, my dryer broke last week – it needs a new belt. The good thing about dryers (at least old models) is that there are only a few things that can go wrong. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to find parts for mine because it’s so old, but my dad just located some and will finish the repair job tonight. I told him not to worry about it so soon after getting back from Texas, but that’s my dad. I’m thankful for his help and also for not having to buy a new washer and dryer right now. It’ll be nice to do the laundry, which has stacked up alarmingly.
I (mostly) ran a 5K last Saturday! I was never able to run at all until a couple of years ago, when I started running intervals on my walks. I’ve built up my running time very, very slowly, and may never be able to run continuously, but I can do enough to please myself. :) Besides, intervals are healthier for you and burn more calories than nonstop running. My time wasn’t as “good” as I’d hoped, but it was still an improvement over last year.
I’ve realized that in everything, not only physical things, my progress is usually very slow – but it sticks. It’s frustrating to see other people “getting there” in a fraction of the time, but for me, slow and steady eventually wins the race.
6 Comments + Posted in: domestic, family, fitness, life lately
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| (the wise words of Kelly Clarkson) |
This week I had a very obvious, but very freeing, epiphany:
Everyone has consistent difficulty with something.
People talk a lot about how everyone’s gifts and abilities are different and that’s how it should be. In the body of Christ we can’t all be hands or all be feet, etc. But I think it’s equally important to observe the flip side. Like most people, I tend to take for granted the things that come naturally to me. I can get impatient or annoyed with others who struggle with those things. I’m not talking about subjects so much as life skills. Like good financial management, or good eating and exercise habits, or keeping a clean and organized home. We all know people, or are people, who fight daily to master those things. Those who grasp them easily may think, Come on. Get a grip. It’s not that hard. Except that for them, it is. Just as our abilities are very personal and nuanced, rooted in personality and experience, our difficulties are too.
By God’s grace and good circumstances, I’m good at basic life skills. On the surface I may look like I have it together. But I never stop struggling with my deep need for security – relational, financial, emotional – and terror of doing anything to seriously or irrevocably jeopardize that security. (I recently took an Enneagrams test for the first time. I’m a Six, which explained a lot and also made me even more amazed at how God has worked in me through the last few years.) I’m okay with taking minor risks, because that’s how we learn and grow, and life would be pretty boring without them. I can even handle major risks decently, if I’m backed into a corner or God has otherwise made it crystal clear that this is the way I should go. But the line of voluntarily making huge changes and taking huge risks is almost impossible for me to cross. I have many wonderful, freewheeling friends who think nothing of moving from job to job or city to city, or losing their life savings to grad school or a business venture, or having non-ideal romantic relationships. I wish I was more like them. I know they get impatient with me as I work toward change in different areas of my life. As I agonize over even the smallest of steps, I know they secretly roll their eyes and think, Gosh Brenda, get it together. It’s not that hard. But to me, it is. It is very, very, VERY hard. If I’m meant to take some big leaps, I will get there eventually. But it’ll be gradual, in my own time, fighting every step of the way. Just like many people fight every day to pay down their debt or lose weight. It’s the same struggle, just with different skin on.
I hope that realizing this will help me to be kinder and more patient toward others’ ongoing struggles when they look different from mine. And to remember that those who are strong where I’m weak may also be weak where I’m strong. None of us can look down our noses at each other. We all need so much grace.
5 Comments + Posted in: reflections
Today’s Wild on Wednesday is even girlier than usual. Here are my Summer Fashion MVPs – things I’ve worn the heck out of this summer!
I can’t remember the last time I wore a heel higher than about an inch. I KNOW! My office has gone to casual attire the past two summers, and this year that’s translated to fully embracing flats and wedges. Most days you can find me in (left to right): Chinese Laundry wedges, Report Tia sandals, Unisa wedges, or Anne Klein bejeweled flats. I got the first three pairs at DSW, and the Anne Klein pair at Ross for $15 two years ago. Sadly, my CL wedges are falling apart from so much wear, and there’s nothing I or the shoe repair guy can do except keep gluing them back together. I haven’t seen any others like them, and they go with everything.
The nail colors I’ve reached for again and again: Party In My Cabana, Miami Beet, Privacy Please, and Bright Lights Big Color. I have a mini pack of a few South Beach colors (of course), but loved Miami Beet so much that I got a full size bottle. OPI is the best.
I’ve been all about the semi-floofy skirt this summer. I now have the Loft eyelet skirt in three colors, because when something really works, I get several. But I’ve also gotten a lot of mileage out of this purple patterned skirt (a no-name brand that I happened upon at Half Off Half), and this embroidered Gap skirt that I picked up in Evansville last year. I often wear these skirts with the Merona tees and tanks from Target that have some ruching at the neckline. I usually prefer Mossimo tees at Target because they’re more fitted, but Merona ones work really well tucked in to a skirt. Yes, despite visions of Steve Urkel dancing in my head, I’m daring to tuck some things in for the first time since 1997. Having that option is already revolutionizing my wardrobe!
It took me a while to establish my “uniform” for summer, but I’m really enjoying the comfort and breeziness of it. Soon enough I’ll be back in structured clothes and stilettos. Maybe by then I’ll feel ready.
3 Comments + Posted in: fashion
My favorite recipe of the last six months is undoubtedly Ina Garten’s Parmesan Roasted Broccoli. I make it for dinner about once a week. I found it on Amateur Gourmet, where it was touted as The Best Broccoli Of Your Life. But don’t take his and my word for it – ask Bethany how many times her preschool son has REQUESTED broccoli since I passed this on to her!
This recipe is very forgiving. I’ve never measured the ingredients, and I often forget the basil, but it’s still delicious every time. (You don’t have to eat it while reading about basketball, but it can’t hurt!)
Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
From Ina Garten
Ingredients:
4 to 5 pounds broccoli
4 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
Good olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 Tbsp pine nuts, toasted
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp julienned fresh basil leaves (about 12 leaves)
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Trim the broccoli florets from the stalks, leaving an inch or two of stalk attached. Discard the rest of the stalks. Pull the florets apart, with a knife or with your hands. You should have about 8 cups.
2. Place the broccoli florets on a sheet pan large enough to hold them in a single layer. Toss the garlic with the broccoli and drizzle with 5 Tbsp olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
3. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until crisp-tender and the tips of some of the florets are browned. Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts in a small pan over low heat.
4. Remove from the oven and immediately toss with 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, roasted pine nuts, Parmesan, and basil. Serve hot.
Last week my eggplant was ready for harvest, so I made eggplant parmesan! Working from a recipe in my old Better Homes & Gardens cookbook, I sliced the eggplant, dipped it into beaten egg and then panko crumbs, and fried the slices in olive oil for about five minutes. (They got a little burned, but I sometimes like things a little burned.) Then I put the slices in a baking dish, topped them with parmesan and mozzarella cheeses and tomato sauce, and baked for about ten minutes at 400 degrees. DELICIOUS and so quick and easy. I felt like Pioneer Woman eating a meal from my own garden topped with homemade tomato sauce from my own tomatoes! And yes – I ate the whole thing. :)