Engrossing and suspenseful with masterful storytelling, this novel is no junk food reading. The vocabulary challenges, in part because Herbert created new languages and a complex universe of characters, religions, and politics that takes focus and patience to understand. You have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable in this reading.
I am a rule-follower. I readily admit it. I love rules for so many reasons. Rules create order, define boundaries, and facilitate group cooperation towards common goals. (Unless it’s game night at the Bradley’s. In that case, rules are useless because only 2 out of 7 of us follow them.) But it’s interesting what the…
This cycle of compromise and compliance then eventual frustration, irritation, and overwhelm is ENTIRELY my fault. I say ‘yes’ when I need to say ‘no,’ and I say ‘it’s okay’ when it isn’t, because in the moment I feel like it’s fine or no big deal. But those “no big deals” add up quickly when I’m not paying attention. I cannot have a reactionary internal system where I only defend my line if I have a negative emotional response.
Elijah’s epic life inspires great courage in the faith, but can be hard to relate to in the everyday faith walk. However, his emotional journey speaks volumes to modern day believers and offers comfort and wisdom the growth and maturity of our own faith.
I’m going to venture out on a limb and suggest that the Staples’ “easy button” has become a cultural icon. More than 15 years after its inception, one quick Google search pulls up all sorts of buying options for your very own button, years of articles written about the campaign, and loads of marketing analyses…
One of the reasons I love reading so much is because I love to learn. I love new ideas, insights and understanding. I love to exercise my mind. (I often refer to the theoretical texts that I read as my “mental gymnastics.” I thoroughly enjoy content that stretches my capacity.) In theory, there’s nothing wrong…
A big shoutout to Disney+ for making a series based on this book. I never would’ve known its brilliance without their advertising. I watched and loved the series, but per the norm, the book outshines the show in every way. Originally, I intended to read the entire collection (5 books in all) before I wrote…
This novel came to me highly recommended. Which, in my world means that at least two people I know read it and like it. It did take me a few pages to get into it. (I understand Hannah’s change in narrative voice, especially after I finished the novel – “I see what you did there,”…
It was the summer of 2020 and I, like so many others, felt shaken from the chaos and disappointments of the early Covid pandemic. The spring of 2020 was supposed to be a capstone season for me, as a mother and on several personal levels. Both my oldest son and I were positioned to graduate…
When was the last time you experienced 15, even 10 minutes of quiet? No, I don’t mean electronic devices on vibrate and the television on mute quiet. I mean real quiet. The kind of true quiet that comes when your phone is off, all other electronics too, and when no one is with you or in the house…