Library Staff Book Club: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

For our latest staff book club, we read two books that both happen within 24 hours.  We read Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds and The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith. Although both fit our theme, they are vastly different. Today, we will talk with the staff about The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. Check out our previous discussion on Long Way Down. You can find both books in the Recreational Reading Collection on the second floor of the library. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is also a movie on Netflix called Love at First Sight.

Seventeen-year-old Hadley is having one of the worst days of her life. She has missed her flight from JFK to London by only four minutes, making her late to her father’s wedding—a wedding to a soon-to-be-stepmom she’s never met nor cares to meet. But, in waiting at the crowded airport, she meets Oliver, a British college student at Yale, and they spark a connection. Over the course of twenty-four hours, their paths keep crossing and crossing again, as if intertwined.

Here is what our book club members thought:

Do you think it’s probable that people can/do fall in love at first sight? Why or why not?

Rachel, Circulation Manager, answered: I think there can be a mutual attraction and a desire to get to know them better, but I don’t think it would be love.

Kaylee, Circulation Associate, said: People can definitely find attraction at first sight, and if a genuine connection is made, there is a potential for love.

Sarah, Circulation Associate and Administrative Secretary, responded with: I think that largely depends on your definition of love. For me, I think love is something deeper that can’t really be achieved at first sight, but I do think you can be attracted to someone at first sight.

Melissa, Director For Library Services, answered: I don’t believe in love at first sight, though I certainly think there can be attraction or an immediate connection with someone. I understand love to include respect, common convictions, similar experiences and goals, and I think those things are impossible to get immediately.

Mary, Residence Life Secretary, answered: I certainly believe that attraction-at-first-sight can eventually grow into love, but actual love can’t be cultivated at first sight. (Babies are the exception, but of course, we’re talking about romantic love here.)

While the book is primarily a romance, what do you think of the theme of fathers and children in the story?

Rachel answered: I thought that added a lot to the story. For me, it made me think about how there’s always a chance that people will disappoint us, but if we have a strong foundation, the relationship can still be repaired.

Kaylee said: The subject of fatherhood balances out the more whimsical approach to romantic love. It’s the main source of conflict for our leads. Paternal love is something that can have a heavy effect on a person. Statistics show just how important having a father figure is in a child’s life, as it plays a role in childhood development. In The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, the lack of that strong connection deeply affects Hadley and Oliver.

Sarah responded with: The theme of fathers and children brought more nuance and substance to what would have otherwise been a sort of nondescript teen romcom to me. I feel like it fleshed out both main characters and the supporting cast around them. I was also glad to see Hadley’s relationship with her dad grow to be in a healthier place, although I feel like they had more healing ahead of them.

Melissa answered: I found it very moving, the juxtaposition of both Hadley and Oliver’s difficult relationships with their respective fathers. Since I am not much of a romance novel person, I really appreciated that part of the storyline.

Mary answered: I liked that the author included the two messy father-child relationships in the story. Although Hadley’s father had transgressed and hurt their relationship, I appreciated that he had been a good father to her in the past and desperately wanted to restore their relationship. I also liked that she began to let him in again and that there was definite hope for their future.

What do you think of the airport setting at the beginning? Do you think the story would have unfolded differently if Hadley and Oliver met somewhere else?

Rachel answered: I thought being in the airport added a uniqueness to their story because it made it where they couldn’t leave and were somewhat forced to make a connection to make the time pass better. I think they still might have hit it off, but I think being in the airport helped to escalate their connection.

Kaylee said: Settings in stories that have a hand in the plot like this one work the best in my opinion. The airport and airplane force our characters to the same physical constraints, allowing for their connection to happen.

Sarah responded with: In airports, people are in close quarters with strangers for extended periods of time. We discussed in book club that, because of the close proximity, they were more likely to have a conversation together. If their first meeting was in a coffee shop, for example, I think they would have had a nice conversation together, but would not have impacted each other’s lives in the way they did at the airport.

Melissa answered: To me, there’s something unique about being in an airport. It might be the juxtaposition of waiting for your flight while others hurry to make theirs. It’s a temporary, artificial environment that somehow makes one open to new ideas and cultures.

Mary answered: I liked the setting—the hustle and bustle and foreign-ness of an airport that any airline passenger can relate to. Yes, the story would have been quite different in most other settings. The close quarters and lack of external influences in the airplane put their new friendship in a sort of pressure cooker and accelerated everything about their encounter: what they shared in conversation, physical closeness, etc.

Did you find Hadley and Oliver likable protagonists? Why or why not?

Rachel answered: I did. They both had their weaknesses, but I felt like they balanced each other out.

Sarah responded with: I did. Both characters had other facets of their circumstances and personalities aside from their romance, so I felt like that made them both more realistic and more likable.

Melissa answered: I liked them both, but maybe especially Hadley. her struggle with her parents’ divorce and father’s subsequent remarriage was very realistic and convincing to me.

Mary answered: I found them both likeable: their openness, their banter, his willingness to help her through her anxiety.

Was there anything that surprised you about The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight?

Rachel answered: Yes. It was fairly predictable, but I thought the author added more depth to the relationships that I expected. It was a nice surprise.

Sarah responded with: Not really. I enjoyed the book, but other than the parent/child theme weaved throughout, I thought it was a little predictable. However, I needed a light read at the moment, so I’m glad I read it.

Melissa answered: I found it surprising that I liked a romance as much as I did!

Mary answered: I was surprised that, after they saw each other at the funeral, Hadley and Oliver still didn’t exchange contact information. Additionally, I watched the Netflix movie version (loved it) before I read the book. There were changes made for the movie adaptation that I was surprised not to find in the novel. I found the changes in the movie more positive, although sad, and visually delightful. I recommend the movie!

Staff reviews reflect their personal opinions and not necessarily those of the library or university.

Library Staff Book Club: Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

For our latest staff book club, we read two books that both happen within 24 hours. Each book starts and finishes within a same-day period. We read Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds and The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith. Although both fit our theme, they are vastly different. Today, we will talk with the staff about Long Way Down. You can join us next week for a discussion of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight.  You can find both books in the Recreational Reading Collection on the second floor of the library.

Long Way Down is a verse novel about a boy, Will, who sees his brother killed on the way home from the corner store. Will knows “The Rules”: “No crying. No snitching. Always get revenge.” Will has accomplished the first two rules and now it is up to him to get revenge. So, Will takes his dead brother’s gun and gets on the apartment elevator on the 7^th floor. On each floor, someone connected to Will gets on—someone dead from teenage gun violence. What will each person share with Will?  

Here is what our book club members thought:

*Spoilers ahead

On the elevator, the ghosts smoke. Why do you think the smoke is important? What do you think it could represent?

Amber, Instruction Librarian, answered: I initially noticed the smoke because the pages of the book looked smokey to me. I do think the smoke could represent another cultural thing Will doesn’t really want to do. It also added to the dead people on the elevator vibes. The smoke added to the imagery for me.

Sarah, Circulation Associate and Administrative Secretary, said: My initial thought concerning the smoke was that it could represent clouded judgment. Will is so bent on avenging his brother and “The Rules” that he isn’t thinking clearly or rationally.

Mary, Residence Life Secretary, answered: Mystery; someone coming from an unknown, otherworldly place.

Each character on the elevator is a victim of violence. How did they challenge or enforce Will’s intentions? Which ones were the most impactful?

Rachel, Circulation Manager, answered: I thought it was interesting how they’d all impacted Will’s life in different ways, and he learned that there are often more details to the story than we realize. I think hearing from them made him realize there’s always a choice.  

Amber answered: I thought it was interesting how many of the characters killed someone else that they were sure was the right person, but it turned out it wasn’t. I think the little girl, his childhood friend, and his uncle were the most impactful. The little girl was impactful because you can see how deeply gun violence is ingrained in the community and that no one is immune, even when they aren’t directly involved. The uncle also stood out to me because he walked Will through what would actually happen, causing Will to think about whether or not he could actually pull the trigger.

Sarah answered: I feel like they all challenged his intentions in different ways: the father and uncle he never really knew because they were victims of gun violence, the classmate who just so happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, etc. They all showed the ripple effect of “The Rules” and how constant violence and thirst for revenge create a vicious cycle that only takes more lives. Without delving too much into spoilers, I hope their viewpoints changed him for the better.

What do you think was the importance of the anagrams Will makes? Ex: a veil = alive; flee = feel; loco = cool; iceman = cinema.

Rachel answered: The anagrams were a good way for him to cope because it made him look at each word in a different way. By the same method, it helps us remember how different situations and the way we look at them can impact our lives.  

Amber answered: I liked the anagrams as showing another layer of Will’s personality. I think it also gave another layer to the story in that each word is an anagram but also connected. For example: staying alive requires fleeing or that cool in the community requires dangerous, loco acts.

The book’s ending is rather ambiguous. Why do you think it ended that way? What do you think Will did next?

Rachel answered: So much of this book is about choice, and I think ending that way allows each reader to come to their own conclusion about Will’s next step. I like to think he didn’t kill anyone.  

Amber answered: I think Reynolds wanted an open ending to make the readers think about what they would do. There is still hope rather than finality in the way this was written. I am not sure what Will would do next. I wish he wouldn’t go through with the shooting, but I am not sure he will, as this is how he feels he must honor his brother and become a man. However, at the very least, I would think Will takes a little more time to actually figure out who shot his brother, rather than kill someone based solely on his assumptions and gut feelings.

Sarah answered: I think it ended that way so the readers can make up their own minds along with Will. It could also keep them thinking about the themes of the book. If it ended with a concrete description of what he planned to do after the elevator ride, I don’t think it would have had the same impact. However, I do think he made the right choice and broke the cycle.

Mary answered: The reader is left to decide what kind of decision Will makes. I’m an optimist, so I hope/believe he’ll do the right thing and break the cycle of violence that has been passed down/taught to him.

Reynolds tackles a dark issue in this book. Do you think that it offers any hope to be found as well?

Rachel answered: Yes. I think it reminds us that there’s not one right path to take, and there is a chance to learn and grow from difficult situations.  

Amber answered: This was a hard book to read. Reynolds shows how generational these thoughts/rules are in Will’s community. I do think Reynolds’ writing style and book ending give hope because Will’s encounters with the ghosts show him that retaliation may not be the best answer to the problems. Will could be the end to the cycle.

Sarah answered: I do and I think that the ending, although ambiguous, proves that. As he is given a choice to join the dead, presumably by abiding by “The Rules” and repeating the cycle, he is also given the choice to break it and not seek revenge. I think Reynolds offers hope that there are other paths you can take that do not lead to more violence and destruction. 

Mary answered: Yes, for me the hope comes in the form of showing the reader that even though Will was “positive” of who killed his brother, he had the wrong person pegged as guilty. This is a good lesson for anyone, but particularly for someone mired in a legacy of violence, blame, revenge, and manufactured “rules” to live by.

Staff reviews reflect their personal opinions and not necessarily those of the library or university.

Library Staff Book Club: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

For the February staff book club, we read The Storied Life of A.J. Fikryby Gabrielle Zevin based on our theme of books that have become movies. You can find a copy of the book at the Union Library in Recreation Reading. The movie is available for streaming through the Hulu app.

A.J. is the grumpy widowed owner of Island Books, a small bookstore in the island town of Alice Island.  Amelia is the publisher rep assigned to Island Books. A.J. is very particular about the books he sells in his shop and rejects most of Amelia’s recommendations. Things start changing for A.J. and his bookshop when an unexpected package is left at the store. This was a novel with several unexpected plot elements, but one you might choose to read on a cozy night in.

Here is what our book club members thought:

Why do you think the author chose the island setting? How does that reflect A.J.’s character?

Melissa, Library Director, answered: The island setting (reiterated in the name Island Books), to me, conveys AJ’s sense of isolation, especially after his wife’s death. Throughout the book, his island/world becomes larger as he opens himself up to loving others.

Amber, Instruction Librarian, answered: The island setting, to me, is symbolic of A.J.’s character. The island is remote and maybe not the friendliest place, at least not until you get to know the different businesses and people there. That is true of A.J. too; he is isolated from the world socially and emotionally. He is standoffish and doesn’t want friends, but as he meets new people who push into his life, he becomes more open and less closed off to everyone and everything (except maybe e-readers).

Mary, Residence Life Secretary, answered: A.J. has isolated himself from the outside world, and the island of Alice is also a bit isolated. However, the community of Alice is close-knit and supportive, and that’s exactly what A.J. needs.

Sarah, Circulation Associate and Administrative Secretary, answered: Both the island setting and the bookstore’s apt name of Island Books made me think of the phrase “no man is an island…” coined by Elizabethan poet and priest John Donne. Given how much The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry references other books and stories, I think there was an intentional reference.

At the beginning, A.J. is aloof and alone with no real connections to other people; they’re sort of a bother to him. Over the course of the story, he develops deep, lasting relationships. Donne’s sermon emphasizes the importance of community, which is a key theme in Zevin’s novel as well.

Rachel, Circulation Manager, answered: I think the island setting was chosen in part to help represent A.J.. While I enjoyed reading some of his snarkiness, I know that personality isn’t always easy to be around. Getting to the island took time, and similar to A.J., it took time and a desire to get to the heart of who he was as a person for people to have a relationship with him.

Each chapter begins with the description of a short story. What do you think those represent/mean?

Melissa answered: It becomes clear by the end of the book that these brief vignettes are something of a love letter to Maya—both his love for her and his love for books.

Amber answered: I didn’t pay too much attention to these descriptions. However, I think they showed more of who A.J. was and why he liked the books he did. A.J. connected through books and learned a lot about someone based on their book selection. This is further illustrated by these little notes at the beginning of the chapters.

Mary answered: I loved that these chapter introductions expanded the use of literary works in the book, and I loved A.J.’s insights that he wanted to pass along to Maya. I didn’t relate each one to the content of each chapter, so if there was a correlation, it wasn’t obvious enough for me to pick up on that.

Sarah answered: I think there was foreshadowing tucked into the descriptions of some of the short stories. Also, if I remember correctly, there was a part when A.J. said he was going to make a list of impactful short stories for Maya to read. I wondered if the stories described at the beginning of each chapter were part of that list.

At one point Maya speculates, “your whole life is determined by what store you get left in.” Is it the people or the place that makes the difference?

Melissa answered: Maya’s life is certainly shaped by books, and by people who love books and have been shaped by those stories. That is true of anyone who loves books. And I firmly believe that had A.J. run a drugstore, and Maya been left there, her whole life would have been different.

Amber answered: I think it is a little bit of both. Your place can impact your perspective but the people who are in that place have a great impact on you as well. As a librarian, I think about the times I visited the library as a child and how that helped shape my love of reading. The library was a place, but the librarians and the fact that my parents brought me to the library impacted how I viewed and continue to view libraries.

Mary answered: Personally, I believe the people make all the difference. However, the place of the bookstore drives the story with books and the reading life as an integral part of the plot. Bookstores are very community-oriented, and this environment—along with her love of reading and the pursuit of the intellectual life—shapes Maya.

Sarah answered: I think it’s the people that ultimately make the difference. However, I also think it’s possible that certain people gravitate toward certain places. Maya’s life likely would have been completely different if she was left at a restaurant or the island’s local tourist trap.

Rachel answered: While I think the setting/situation you’re in can make a difference, I think the people we’re around make the most impact on us.  

Did you find A.J. and Ismay to be likeable characters? Why/why not?

Melissa answered: I didn’t like either of them initially, though by the end of the novel, A.J. had won me over (or I would argue, he had changed into someone I really liked). I don’t normally like (or even finish) books where I don’t like the main character, so the fact that I loved this book is probably reflective of my love for books and stories. I want to go to Island Books—listen to the book discussions, browse the shelves, and meet these people. It became a very real place for me.

Amber answered: I liked A.J. more than Ismay, although neither is the most likable character. Both Ismay and A.J. grew a lot during the novel, which I appreciated. They blossomed through their relationships with Maya and Lambiase and the bookstore.

Mary answered: I did sympathize with A.J.. He was a tragic figure because of the loss of his wife, and I saw qualities in him that endeared him to me (his love of books, his willingness to take in Maya, his attraction to quirky Amelia and his ability to banter/flirt with her on their date, despite his grief and anti-social tendencies). He must have been less anti-social before Nic’s death, and he is in a time period in which he has to “find himself” again. The arc of his transformation is caused by Maya and Amy’s entrances into his world. Ismay was less likeable, but she did grow on me as she settled in with Lambiase (who was a favorite in the story!)

Sarah answered: At first, they were not likable characters to me. I began to like them better as they grew as people and their personalities softened.

Rachel answered: Not always. They had rough exteriors, but characters like Maya and Officer Lambiase pulled out the best qualities in both characters. 

If you watched the movie, what are your thoughts about the two?

Amber answered: This movie actually followed the book pretty closely. Amelia’s movie character didn’t really meet my expectations based on the book. She was not as quirky, and bubbly and she did not dress the way Amelia does in the book. I thought Amelia’s appearance was an important part of her character that was missed in the movie. All the running scenes in the movie were too exaggerated for me as well. There is running in the book, but it didn’t seem as important to plot development as it seemed in the movie.

Sarah answered: I thought the movie followed the book very closely. The script, for a large part, was almost verbatim, which I liked. While I thought that, on the screen, it was a little Hallmarkified, and I felt like some of the actors gave stronger performances than others, I still enjoyed it overall.

Rachel answered: I watched the movie and enjoyed it. I don’t always do well visualizing a story while reading it, so I liked seeing it come to life. I also liked the casting for the main characters and how much of the script matched the book. 

March Book Madness 2024: Week 1

Announcer: To the esteemed readers of the Logos Library blog, we are proud to present this next installment of March Book Madness. Are you ready? We’ve decided to take things back to a simpler time, and all the books you’ll see here will be found in the Family Room. For each genre, we will have a classic (pre-2000s) and contemporary (post-2000) pick. While thinking of some of these books as classics makes library team members feel a tad old, we hope to provide them with worthy up-and-coming competition.  

Our first round will feature Mystery and Realistic Fiction. Sarah and Amber will serve as your commentators. Sarah, why don’t you introduce yourself, tell us some about the mystery genre, and about your classic pick?

Sarah: Hi, friends! I’m Sarah Blevins, Circulation Associate here at the library. I’m very excited to be back as a commentator for March Book Madness. This year, I’m introducing the mystery genre. Mystery is a genre where an event—usually a crime—happens under strange circumstances. After a series of twists and turns, the heroes piece together clues and figure out exactly what happened.

Our classic pick is The Secret of the Caves, a Hardy Boys mystery published in 1965. In this installment, amateur detectives Frank and Joe Hardy search for a missing professor, who was last seen investigating a system of caves by the sea.

Announcer: Thank you. Will the clues you provided mean that you have a front runner? Only time will tell.  Could you now tell the readers about your contemporary pick?

Sarah: Absolutely! Our contemporary pick is The Case of the Missing Marquess, the first book in the Enola Holmes series of mysteries. The book follows Enola, the younger sister to literature’s most famous detective: Sherlock Holmes. When her mother suddenly vanishes, Enola hopes to find her in London. However, she instead becomes caught up in the kidnapping of a young marquess.

Announcer: Mystery isn’t a genre that I read often, so I’m unsure how this one will pan out. Which selection do you think will advance?

Sarah: Ooh that’s a tough one! I feel like Enola Holmes has the edge with ingenuity. It’s a fresh story with both new and classic characters. However, I know plenty of people who read at least one Hardy Boys book growing up, and I know they’re still beloved by many. So, that’s the one I see advancing to the next round.

Announcer: Thank you. We’ll see if you’re right. Next up, we have Amber to tell us about her selections for Realistic Fiction.  Amber, would you introduce yourself, tell us some about this genre, and about your classic pick?

Amber: Howdy, I’m Amber, Union’s Instruction Librarian. I am one of those library team members who is feeling a tad old with this year’s classics vs. contemporary matchups. Realistic fiction is a popular genre where the settings, characters, and plots remind you of events that could happen in real life. You won’t find any magic or fantasy in these books, but you might relate to some of the characters’ thoughts, feelings, or experiences. This classic pick is one that brought back childhood memories of competing in The Battle of the Books. Our classic pick is How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell. This book is pretty much as cringe-worthy as it sounds. Basically, Alan bets his friend, Billy, that he can’t eat 15 worms in 15 days. Billy finds a variety of different ways to get these big night crawlers down, while Alan does everything he can to stop Billy from winning. This ridiculous novel showcases friendship and childhood shenanigans.

Announcer: I feel like this will be a unique genre because the picks could make us think of events that have occurred in our lives. What is your contemporary pick?

Amber: Our contemporary pick is a 2017 novel by Erin Entrada Kelly titled Hello, Universe. I think this will be a good matchup because both books look at friendship. Hello Universe represents our current literary world better and may represent the world in general better. Hello, Universe is told in the alternating perspectives of four middle schoolers. Virgil is too shy, at least that’s what his parents say, but his grandmother and guinea pig are supportive. Valencia is deaf and looking for friends. Kaori is a self-proclaimed psychic trying to start a business. Chet is a bully who also wants to make the basketball team. Hello, Universe follows the kids and shows how their lives intertwine. This is a great book because you can really see each child’s thoughts and how they may not be as different as they think.

Announcer: Both of these sound like great choices. Which do you think will advance?

Amber: Hmm…this is a hard choice. I think both books are great, and I secretly hope the classic books win because they are the books I read as a child. But in this case, I think Hello, Universe might win out because it does a better job of representing diversity and the realness of life.

Announcer: It sounds like we’ll be in for some good matchups in this first round. Join us next week to meet our next two genres.

2023 My Year in Books: Sarah

We work in a library. Of course we love to read. In all seriousness, we really do love reading. Although my job consists of many other duties, I’m thankful I get to read a lot of different books, both for work and for fun. Many of us on the Social Media Team kept track of our reading goals and habits over the past year. Now, we get to share our progress on those goals, as well as some of the books that stood out to us in 2023.  

One goal I set for 2023 was to read 30 books. I read a total of 89, so I’m thrilled that I exceeded my goal. My shortest book of the year was Still Dreaming / Seguimos Soñando at 40 pages, while the longest book I read was Kingdom of Ash at 980 pages. All books I read in 2023 are logged on my Goodreads profile. Feel free to connect with me there. 

 My main goal last year was to expand my reading horizons and read more outside of my usual genres. I generally gravitate toward genres like young adult fantasy, classics, and romance, although I have started to enjoy more nonfiction, especially memoirs. I’ve also discovered a deeper appreciation for poetry. Reading from a variety of genres is something I hope to continue doing in 2024. 

So, without further ado, and in no particular order, here are some of my favorite books I read in 2023: 

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A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber:

This was my most anticipated read of the year. A Curse for True Love is the final book in Garber’s Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy (all three books are newly available in the Rec Reads section of the library) and it proved to be a satisfying conclusion. This YA romantasy series follows protagonist Evangeline Fox, who travels to the Magnificent North in search of her happily ever after, and makes a dangerous deal with the immortal, enigmatic Prince of Hearts.  

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien:

Full disclosure: this one is technically a reread, but it had been ten years since I read Tolkien’s groundbreaking fantasy epic, and now I can safely say that it has become a favorite. Although it likely needs no introduction, The Lord of the Rings follows hobbit Frodo Baggins and the Fellowship of the Ring on their quest to destroy the One Ring of Power and thwart the plans of the evil being who created it. 

Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas:

Enslaved after a devastating betrayal, assassin Celaena Sardothien is offered the chance of freedom—if she agrees to be the prince’s champion in a deadly competition to become the kingdom’s royal assassin. When someone or something begins killing the champions one by one, Celaena, the prince, and the captain of the guard investigate. In doing so, she discovers that she is destined for something far greater than she could imagine.  

Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson:

I was a creative writing major in college and have gotten back into writing fiction and poetry over the past year. This was one of the books that caught my attention when looking for ways to better my writing. I am very grateful it did! Conversational and easy to read, Peterson’s memoir on creativity and calling offers wisdom, truth, and encouragement for writers and artists in their craft, and more importantly, in their faith. 

The Scandal of Holiness by Jessica Hooten Wilson:

This book made me think a lot about the correlation between literature and faith—a riveting topic for me. In the age of countless internet trends, literature scholar Jessica Hooten Wilson offers a different approach to the old question of how can we become better people? Dr. Wilson’s solution: through the reading of great books. The Scandal of Holiness walks readers through eight carefully selected novels, explaining how Christians can learn from the lives of literary saints. 

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Want more recommendations? You can check out Amber’s Year in Books here and come back next week for Rachel’s Year in Books. 

Sarah Blevins’ reviews reflect her personal opinions and not necessarily those of the library or university. 

A Library Spotify Wrapped

Spotify released its annual Wrapped in late November—personalized listening data from the year compiled into a sharable, dynamic format. Getting to see social media stories of friends’ eclectic listening habits and going through my own “Top Songs of 2023” playlist made me (Sarah) think about how one’s reading habits can be just as wide-ranging as one’s taste in music. So, why not link the two? I’ve asked the social media team to join in and pair a song, album, or artist they’ve had “on repeat” this year with a book they also enjoy.

Amber Owrey, Instruction Librarian: “Long Haul” by Ian Munsick was our first dance song at our wedding, which is why I chose it. The song talks about staying with someone for the long haul, not just for the short infatuation/romance at the beginning of the relationship.

The idea of the long haul and the nature descriptions in the song made me think of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Although I wouldn’t necessarily say I approved of all the relationships in the book, Kya is very into nature, biology, and ecology. The book takes place in the marshes, and Owens describes the scenery well. Tate and Kya have a long relationship, with Tate teaching her to learn to read and eventually falling in love. (Again, not condoning the actions throughout the book of either character, but Tate is in it for the long haul with Kya).

Darius Mullin, Evening Circulation Supervisor: My most listened-to album of 2023 was With Love From Rob & Jay by Rob & Jay, a duo from right here in Jackson, Tennessee. Another writer from Jackson whose work I’ve enjoyed recently is Union University’s very own Bobby C. Rogers, whose excellent collection of poems, Shift Work, was published last year.

Rachel Bloomingburg, Circulation Manager: The main time I’m listening to music is when I’m in my car, and I will often have K-Love playing. Listening to this can help to put me in a better mindset and to think of ways to actively live my faith. When I think of putting faith into action, I can’t help but think of Love Does by Bob Goff. Taking the time to listen to others and being there for them can make a big impact. While music is not a major part of my daily routine, my mom will have a song to sing no matter what situation we’re in.  The songs “You are My Sunshine” and “Skidamarink A Dink A Dink” are ones that are special to me because they’re ones that my mom would sing to me. Having a strong mother daughter relationship is something I cherish, and it makes me think of books like Ramona and Her Mother, Her Mother’s Hope, and Little Women.

Sarah Blevins, Circulation Associate: Like many, my top artist this year was Taylor Swift. With so many songs in her ever-growing repertoire, it’s hard to pick just one or two to pair with a book. However, I think that “The Archer” from Swift’s 2019 album, Lover, fits the twist on a fairytale romance found in Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber. Staying in the vein of pairing Swift’s music and Garber’s books, “Wonderland (Taylor’s Version)” from the recently released 1989 (Taylor’s Version) encapsulates the fanciful, yet dangerous feeling of the game of Caraval.

Genre Starter List: Mystery

We are well into November. Fallen leaves coat the ground and nights are cold. The chill in the air makes November the perfect time to curl up with a mug of hot coffee (or tea, apple cider, or hot chocolate) and a book. Why not make that book a mystery? To get started, here is a list of mysteries—both classics and recent bestsellers—that would pair well with these late fall days.

*Book descriptions provided by the publishers via the library catalog, unless noted otherwise.

The Hound of the Baskervilles: Another Adventure of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

When an English lord dies due to a supposed family curse, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are put on the case. Meanwhile, a ghostly hound haunts the moors and secrets are uncovered.

-Description written by Sarah Blevins

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

First, there were ten—a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a little private island off the coast of Devon. Their host, an eccentric millionaire unknown to all of them, is nowhere to be found. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they’re unwilling to reveal–and a secret that will seal their fate. For each has been marked for murder. One by one they fall prey. Before the weekend is out, there will be none. Who has choreographed this dastardly scheme? And who will be left to tell the tale? Only the dead are above suspicion.

Content waring: prejudiced language and violence.

The Maid by Nita Prose

A charmingly eccentric hotel maid discovers a guest murdered in his bed, turning her once orderly world upside down—and inspiring a motley crew of unexpected allies to band together to solve the mystery—in this utterly original debut. Molly Dunn is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and interprets people literally. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by. Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has had to navigate life’s complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection. But Molly’s orderly life is turned on its head the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself very dead in his bed. Before she knows what’s happening, Molly’s odd demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect and she finds herself in a web of subtext and nuance she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, a medley of friends she didn’t realize she had refuses to let her be charged with murder—but will they be able to discover the real killer before it’s too late? A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different—and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison, must exonerate her father of murder. Armed with more than enough knowledge to tie two distant deaths together and examine new suspects, she begins a search that will lead her all the way to the King of England himself.

Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy L. Sayers

This is a tale of murder and scandal at a chic London advertising agency, featuring the dashing and brilliant Lord Peter Wimsey. When executive Victor Dean dies from a fall down the iron staircase at Pym’s Publicity, a posh London ad agency, Lord Peter Wimsey goes undercover to investigate. Before his tragic demise, the victim had tried to warn Mr. Pym, the firm’s owner, about some scandalous behavior involving his employees. Posing as a new copywriter, Wimsey discovers that Dean was part of an unsavory crowd at Pym’s whose recreational habits link them to the criminal underworld. With time running out and the body count rising, Wimsey must rush to find the truth before his identity is discovered and a determined killer strikes again.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed. But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast. And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?

Content warning: strong language, talk of sexual situations, and violence.

The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer

Enola Holmes, much younger sister of detective Sherlock Holmes, must travel to London in disguise to unravel the disappearance of her mother.

Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

After working with bestselling crime writer Alan Conway for years, editor Susan Ryeland is intimately familiar with his detective, Atticus Pünd, who solves mysteries in sleepy English villages. His traditional formula has proved hugely successful, so successful that Susan must continue to put up with his troubling behavior if she wants to keep her job. Conway’s latest tale involves a murder at Pye Hall, with dead bodies and a host of intriguing suspects. But the more Susan reads, the more she’s convinced that there is another story hidden in the pages of the manuscript: one of real-life jealousy, greed, ruthless ambition, and murder.

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

A long-lost letter arriving at its destination fifty years after it was sent lures Edie Burchill to crumbling Milderhurst Castle, home of the three elderly Blythe sisters, where Edie’s mother was sent to stay as a teenager during World War II.

Sarah Blevins’ reviews reflect her personal opinions and not necessarily those of the library or university.

Library Staff Book Club: Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

For October’s staff book club meeting, members read the suspenseful thriller Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell. The book begins ten years after the disappearance of 15-year-old Ellie Mack. Her mother, Laurel, is long divorced and estranged from her family as she still struggles to cope with the loss of her youngest daughter. But when she connects with Floyd, an attractive man with a young daughter named Poppy who looks eerily like Ellie, she begins to delve back into the mystery of how her daughter disappeared and where she could be now.

Book club members share their thoughts about the novel below…

Then She Was Gone is, first and foremost, a mystery. Yet many questions are answered quite early on in the book. How soon did you guess what really happened to Ellie, and if you did, did it affect your enjoyment of the book? 

Sarah Blevins, Circulation Associate, answered: I will be the first to admit that I’m not very good at figuring out plot twists. That being said, I guessed one of the biggest plot points relatively early. Knowing what happened earlier than I anticipated sort of made me enjoy the book less, since the main character, Laurel, was solving what we as the readers already knew.

Rachel Bloomingburg, Circulation Manager, answered: This book started off slow to me, and I didn’t really pick up on the clues. 

Sara Hand, Circulation/Serials Associate and Administrative Secretary, answered: While I did have a fairly good idea of what was going to happen early in the book, I was invested to see how everything would unfold. I was especially interested in finding out how Laurel would react when she found out the truth. The ending was more anticlimactic than I expected it to be, but I still thought it was a good novel with a realistic perspective of how a family heals after a devastating tragedy.

Amber Owrey, Instruction Librarian, answered: I think I kind of knew what happened to Ellie in the beginning but wasn’t totally sure of all the details. It was definitely a different way to write the book and not a typical mystery. However, I don’t read too many mystery novels, so I am not usually too great at guessing the ending anyway. I did still enjoy the book even though we were told many of the details at the beginning and then throughout the novel.

There are four different perspectives shown in the book, but only Noelle and Floyd’s narration are in first person. Why do you think the author chose to write their chapters in first person while Laurel and Ellie’s chapters are told through third person? What effect did this have on you as you read? 

Sarah Blevins answered: Reading Noelle and Floyd’s narration in first person made it a lot creepier to me, since we could see the innerworkings of their actions through their warped viewpoints. I wonder if it was the author’s intention to up the “creepiness factor.” If so, it worked.

Rachel Bloomingburg answered: It didn’t have much effect on me while I was reading, but I could see how Noelle and Floyd’s perspective being in first person could help us think about how we might have acted in their situations. I don’t think we would forgive what either one did, but I do think it helped garner some sympathy for them. 

Sara Hand answered: I think it was an excellent way for readers to understand how someone could get to a place of such desperation that they choose to commit an unthinkable crime. While Noelle was a very unlikeable character, her inner monologue about her past leading up to her present made it more believable as to how she could have decided to do what she did.

Amber Owrey answered: I truly did not notice this while I was reading, so I am not sure it had any effect on me as I read. However, I think possibly writing in first person for Noelle and Floyd helped personalize them more and increase the reader’s empathy towards them. It may also have given Laurel and Ellie more victim characteristics because things were happening to them that couldn’t be controlled. It probably also helped show similarities between Noelle and Floyd and then Laurel and Ellie.

What was your impression of Poppy when she is first introduced? Did this change over the course of the book, and if so, how?

Sarah Blevins answered: Honestly, I struggled with what I thought about Poppy. A lot of her mannerisms and dialogue throughout felt more like an adult than a kid, especially for a kid her age. However, given she’s an only child raised by a single parent, it’s possible she just wasn’t around kids her age very much and instead adopted adult mannerisms. 

Rachel Bloomingburg answered: Poppy was a unique character, and she is very different from many children I know. I don’t think my impression of her changed much, but it does make you think about how the environments we’re raised in can affect our actions. 

Sara Hand answered: My first thought was that she acted older than her age because I assumed she may have been held hostage by Floyd without her realization. He did not allow her to go outside often, and she had no friends her age. Floyd is smart, but also pompous, so it is not surprising that Poppy acted like him. By the end of the novel, she started acting more like a child because she was being exposed to more childlike activities.

Amber Owrey answered: I always felt bad for Poppy. She is somewhat pretentious for a child, but I think it really is indicative of her upbringing. Her dad is an academic and treats her like an adult, so she tends to act like one. However, she is still a child with childlike emotions and truly childlike understanding of the world. I think she becomes more childlike and maybe acts her age more as she spends more time with Laurel.

Did you think Lisa Jewell’s portrayal of Laurel and her journey was realistic? Could you relate to the way she dealt with her grief, or did you find it alienating? 

Sarah Blevins answered: Grief is a difficult thing. While I didn’t really relate to her grieving process, I’m sure others could. It made me sad that she drifted apart from her older children during her grief, so I really wish we were able to see Laurel rebuild relationships with her kids as part of her healing journey. It’s all implied, but I especially wanted to see a scene of reconciliation between Laurel and her older daughter, Hanna.

Rachel Bloomingburg answered: Grief is something that no two people will experience in the exact same way. I think in a situation like this, where so many questions were left unanswered, it made sense why her grief consumed her as much as it did. I think it was helpful to see how much grief can continue to affect a person’s life even years after a death occurs. 

Sara Hand answered: While I hope I am never in a situation like the one in the novel, I assume that most people would probably traverse grief in the same way Laurel did. If I were Laurel, I probably would have been more aggressive in finding out more about Poppy and why she looked like my daughter, but at that point she was probably tired of trying to find answers and meeting a dead end every time. She was trying to put the past behind her and find what little happiness she could under the circumstances.

Amber Owrey answered: I don’t know if I relate to how she dealt with her grief, but I did find it realistic. I think losing a child in the way she did would cause many different reactions. It is unfortunate for her children that she was so lost in her grief and stuck on Ellie being the golden child she lost. However, I do think this could happen to many parents and may even be the way Noelle’s parents reacted to the death of their child. Her behavior did alienate her from her family and friends, but I also think it was because maybe her grief wasn’t dealt with and that there was never closure for her. She became obsessed with figuring out what happened to the detriment of her other children and her marriage.

You can find Then She Was Gone in the Recreational Reading section of our library.

Genre Starter List: Poetry

Poetry is a vast genre, one that encompasses epics, haikus, sonnets, and ballads among other forms. While the genre may appear intimidating at first, many come to adore the lyrical rhythms and unique ways of storytelling and conveying emotions. So, in continuation with our Genre Starters series, here is a list of poems and collections of poetry from different times and places.

 *Book descriptions provided by the publishers via the library catalog, unless otherwise noted.

The Shambhala Anthology of Chinese Poetry edited by Jerome P. Seaton

A collection of poems and essays that explore the main styles of Chinese poetry and the major poets from ancient times to the present.

The Odyssey by Homer

An epic poem from ancient Greece that chronicles the adventures of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, and his crew on their ten-year voyage home after the events of the Trojan War.

            – Description written by Sarah Blevins

Beowulf by Anonymous, translated by J.R.R. Tolkien

The translation of Beowulf by J.R.R. Tolkien was an early work, very distinctive in its mode, completed in 1926. Tolkien returned to it later to make hasty corrections, but he seems never to have considered its publication. This edition is twofold, for there exists an illuminating commentary on the text of the poem by the translator himself, in the written form of a series of lectures given at Oxford in the 1930s. From these lectures a substantial selection has been made to form a commentary on the translation in this book. The accompanying Sellic Spell is a story written by Tolkien suggesting what might have been the form and style of an Old English folktale of Beowulf, in which there was no association with the historical legends of the Northern kingdoms.

The Song of Roland by Anonymous, translated by Frederick Goldin

French literature, it has been said, began with “The Song of Roland.” This great narrative poem of the late eleventh century share with its epic predecessors by Homer and Vergil a heroic vision of war and warriors. The historical battle of Rencesvals in A.D. 778 was a thwarted enterprise ending in a painful loss, the death of Charlemagne’s greatest knight, Roland. In the poem, however, this story of betrayal, defeat and futile death is transfigured into an idealization of chivalry and valor. The vigor and simplicity of the poem — it uses a vocabulary of fewer than two thousand words in its four thousand lines — are recreated in Frederick Goldin’s fluent, idiomatic line-by-line translation into verse that retains the rhythm of the original. His introduction is an absorbing description of the historical, cultural, and literary contexts of the poem.

The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri

Originally written in Italian and simply titled Comedia, Dante’s Divine Comedy follows the journey of a fictionalized version of the author as he travels through the depths of hell, up the mountain of Purgatory, and finally to Paradise with the guidance of his mentor, Virgil, and his lost love, Beatrice.

            – Description written by Sarah Blevins

Bashō’s Haiku: Selected Poems by Matsuo Bashō

Basho’s Haiku offers the most comprehensive translation yet of the poetry of Japanese writer Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), who is credited with perfecting and popularizing the haiku form of poetry. One of the most widely read Japanese writers, both within his own country and worldwide, Basho is especially beloved by those who appreciate nature and those who practice Zen Buddhism. Born into the samurai class, Basho rejected that world after the death of his master and became a wandering poet and teacher. During his travels across Japan, he became a lay Zen monk and studied history and classical poetry. His poems contained a mystical quality and expressed universal themes through simple images from the natural world.

Selected Poems and Prefaces of William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth

The Romantic era of literature boasted many great poets, but William Wordsworth is arguably one of the most well-known. This collection features many of his famous works, including “Tintern Abbey,” “I Wander Lonely as a Cloud,” and “She Dwelt Among the Untrodden Ways” among other poems that primarily focus on the beauty of nature and the wonders of days past.

            – Description written by Sarah Blevins

Sonnets from the Portuguese: A Celebration of Love by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Forty-four poems examine the depth and complexities of married love and shares a wife’s feelings for her husband.

The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson by Emily Dickinson

Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson is the complete collection of the first three volumes of poetry published posthumously in 1890, 1891, and 1896 by editors Mary Loomis Todd and Thomas Wentworth Higginson. The volumes were all received with high acclaim and contain some of her best-known poems. It was in the twentieth century, however, that Dickinson was finally recognized as one of the great poets and, without dispute, the most popular. Reading through the poems in Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson, you will see that she was indeed a woman of independence and spirit, a poet that lives today in our hearts and minds.

            – Description written by Sarah Blevins

Collected Poems of William Butler Yeats by William Butler Yeats

Irish poet W. B. Yeats is widely regarded as one of the great poets who bridged the gap between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, with a creative career spanning for over sixty years. Key facets of Yeats’ poetry include allusions to and poems about Irish folklore, mythology, and the political struggles in his home country.

            – Description written by Sarah Blevins

The Poems of T.S. Eliot by T.S. Eliot

This critical edition of T.S. Eliot’s Poems establishes a new text of the Collected Poems 1909-1962, rectifying accidental omissions and errors that have crept in during the century since Eliot’s astonishing debut, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” As well as the masterpieces, the edition contains the poems of Eliot’s youth, which were rediscovered only decades later, others that circulated privately during his lifetime, and love poems from his final years, written for his wife Valerie Eliot. Christopher Ricks and Jim McCue have provided a commentary that illuminates the imaginative life of each poem. Calling upon Eliot’s critical writings, as well as his drafts, letters, and other original materials, they illustrate not only the breadth of Eliot’s interests and the range of his writings, but how it was that the author of “Gerontion” came to write “Triumphal March” and then Four Quartets. Thanks to the family and friends who recognized Eliot’s genius and preserved his writings from an early age, the archival record is exceptionally complete, enabling us to follow in unique detail the progress of a mind that never ceased exploring.

The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes by Langston Hughes

The ultimate book for both the dabbler and serious scholar. Spanning five decades and comprising 868 poems (nearly 300 of which have never before appeared in book form), this magnificent volume is the definitive sampling of a writer who has been called the poet laureate of African America–and perhaps our greatest popular poet since Walt Whitman. Here, for the first time, are all the poems that Langston Hughes published during his lifetime, arranged in the general order in which he wrote them and annotated by Arnold Rampersad and David Roessel. Alongside such famous works as “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” and “Montage of a Dream Deferred,” The Collected Poems includes the author’s lesser-known verse for children, topical poems distributed through the Associated Negro Press, and poems such as “Goodbye Christ” that were once suppressed. Lyrical and pungent, passionate and polemical, the result is a treasure of a book, the essential collection of a poet whose words have entered our common language.

Collected Poems of Wendell Berry by Wendell Berry

Wendell Berry is a writer of great clarity and sureness. His love of language and his care for its music are matched only by his fidelity to the subjects he has written of during his first twenty-five years of work: land and nature, the family and community, tradition as the groundwork for life and culture. His graceful elegies sit easily alongside lyrics of humor and biting satire. Husbandman and husband, philosopher, and Mad Farmer, he writes of values that endure. His vision is one of hope and memory, of determination and faithfulness. For this volume Wendell Berry has collected nearly two hundred poems from his previous eight collections.

Native Guard by Natasha Tretheway

These poems explore the complex memory of the American South, a history that belongs to all Americans. The sequence forming the spine of the collection follows the Native Guard, one of the first Black regiments mustered into service in the Civil War. In the author’s hometown of Gulfport, Mississippi, a plaque honors Confederate POWs, but there is no memorial to these vanguard Union soldiers. This collection is both a pilgrimage and an elegy, as the author employs a variety of poetic forms to create a lyrical monument to these forgotten voices. Interwoven are poems honoring her mother and recalling her fraught childhood – as her parents’ interracial marriage was still illegal in 1966 in Mississippi.

The Hurting Kind by Ada Limón

An astonishing collection about interconnectedness–between the human and nonhuman, ancestors, and ourselves–from National Book Critics Circle Award winner and National Book Award finalist Ada Limón.

Sarah Blevins’ reviews reflect her personal opinions and not necessarily those of the library or university.

Library Staff Book Club: Self-Help Books

The library staff book club met in August to discuss a self-help book of their choice. Naturally, most of the library staff chose a book with a Christ-centered emphasis. Below, you can find out who read what book and decide if there are any books you want to add to your “To be Read” list!

Amber Owrey, Instruction Librarian, read Turning of Days: Lessons from Nature, Season, and Spirit by Hannah Anderson:

In this book, Anderson writes short devotionals related to nature and the seasons. She breaks the book into four sections, one for each of the seasons. Each devotional starts and ends with Scripture references. The devotions are mainly her musings as she works in and observes her garden, property, and nature in general. I appreciated the simplicity of connecting spiritual truths with nature, but also liked how awed she is by nature. She makes a great point at the end of the book that our modern suburban society takes nature for granted. We treat it like white noise, but it is so much more than that. Anderson provides readers with a lot to think about our human nature, sin, Christ’s sacrifice, and God’s protection. One of my favorite devotions was from the Summer section about cicadas (see IV of Summer section; pages 69-73). This devotional/chapter explains how periodical cicadas grow in the ground for 17 years before emerging. When they emerge, it is en masse and there are millions of them because millions will be eaten. The species needs to survive, so millions more than are eaten also emerge. While the cicadas wait to emerge, they grow; seventeen years is a long time. A lot can happen in 17 years, but time for God is different than time for us. We can feel like our timeline and God’s are out of sync, but God is not only concerned with length of time. God also views time in moments and will wait until the fullness of time to act. So, when our lives don’t seem to be moving at the speed we think it should, the periodic cicadas can remind us that God patiently waits for the fullness of time. He is not idle but grows us in the waiting.

Darius Mullin, Evening Circulation Supervisor, read Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work by Timothy Keller and Katherine Leary Alsdorf:

Every Good Endeavor is full of helpful commentary on how we ought to relate to our work in a world that is created by God, is fallen, and will be redeemed. The book is divided into three parts: God’s plan for work, our problems with work, and the Gospel and work (i.e. the intersection of the first two sections). Keller reminds readers that, “When we think, ‘I hate work!’ we should remember that, despite the fact that work can be a particularly potent reminder (and even amplifier) of the curse of sin on all things, it is not itself a curse. We were built for it and freed by it.” I especially appreciated the chapter “A New Story for Work,” where Keller gives specific examples of how the Gospel can affect various vocations in sections like “The Gospel and Business,” “The Gospel and Higher Education,” etc. before explaining how “The Christian Worldview Shapes All Work.” Every Good Endeavor contains a wealth of beneficial teachings and commentary, and I already plan on rereading it in the future.

Melissa Moore, Library Director, read Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism by Dr. Barry Prizant:

I chose this book for two reasons: first, six months ago when I thought my 2-year-old might be on the spectrum, I wanted to prepare myself for how best to help her. Second, we are examining our library services this year within the context of serving users with a broad range of disabilities, and I thought this book would help educate me on how to support those students.

Dr. Prizant has been in practice for 50 years, most of it serving schools and parents in relation to children on the autism spectrum. His fundamental argument is that autism means that the brain is wired differently, but that we don’t need to set about “normalizing” or changing these individuals; rather, we need to meet them where they are, understand their challenges, and see them as having innate value simply because they are human. His writing is engaging and filled with examples from his practice, which makes his argument very persuasive. Though he is not a Christian that I can tell, certainly his argument makes sense to the believer because we know that each person is created in God’s image and should therefore be respected. 

Rachel Bloomingburg, Circulation Manager, read The Listening Life by Adam S. McHugh:

Being given the topic of self-help was a little daunting because I wasn’t sure which direction I would take. While doing a search through our catalog, it popped up, so I thought, “Why not?” It ended up being a timely read for me, and I feel like it will be one I re-read. It was easy to read and practical in nature.  I loved the focus on how listening is a large part of learning to be human and building relationships, while also reminding me that learning to listen is a lifelong process. Even though I didn’t’ realize how spiritual it would be in nature, I appreciated the point McHugh made of blending my faith into daily interactions I have with others. As we are getting closer to another season, I want to leave you with this quote from page 113, “Creation praises God even when I can’t.” A beautiful reminder that even if I don’t feel that I can hear God in some moments, I can use my other senses to see Him more clearly. 

Sara Hand, Circulation Associate and Administrative Secretary, read Organizing You by Shannon Upton:

Written by a former math teacher turned housewife, Upton struggled with severe postpartum anxiety for four years after her second child was born. Through much prayer and counseling, Upton was finally healed of the anxiety she had been battling. She developed an organizational plan that helped her feel more at peace, both mentally and spiritually. With prompting from her husband, she decided to share it in this book in hopes of helping other women who may be struggling. I decided to read this book because as a working mom, sometimes my home life feels chaotic. I learned that keeping a daily written planner is a good way to let go of thoughts that can clutter up my mind. While many people use their cell phones as planners, Upton makes a case for written planners because it’s too easy to start surfing the internet on the phone and become even more distracted. She is also a big fan of lists, and I liked the idea of keeping a list of potential day trips I could take with my family, as well as Christmas gift lists for loved ones so I don’t have to agonize over what to get them when December rolls around. Of course, her organizational plan is much more in-depth than that, but those were the points that stood out to me the most.

Sarah Blevins, Circulation Associate, read The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer:

With an easy-to-read, conversational tone, Comer explains one of the reasons people so often feel exhausted in life is hurry. Then he begins his argument of the importance of slowing down amid a 24/7, always-have-to-be-plugged-in world. Sometimes I felt like he went off on tangents, but I appreciated the call to slow down, which is something I tend to not do very often. However, his true thesis is to set one’s focus on Christ—something we can all remember to do.

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All books listed can be checked out from Union’s library or requested through Interlibrary Loan.