The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language by Anonymous
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Read through a Chronological Plan this year (2019)--on my iPhone with YouVersion--and in The Message translation. Enjoyed it greatly; was quite a refreshing read. God's Word is always good--and soul replenishing.


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Flight 232: A Story of Disaster and Survival by Laurence Gonzales
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Quite a read on this United Air DC-10 crash landing that I vividly remember--probably mainly from the horrific video that was captured of it by someone just outside the airport fence. Gonzales does a great job of going deep into all that happened surrounding the event--from the pilots in the cockpit, the passengers on the plane & the airline crew, to the rescue crews on the ground. Some deep analysis on the cause of the engine that blew up at 37,000 ft., precipitating the crash landing at the Sioux City Airport. Well-written and engaging. Read on the Kindle; borrowed from the library.


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Devotions for Christmas: A Celebration to Bring You Joy and Peace by Anonymous
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not bad, not really great. These were short devotionals for the whole month of December. They usually started out with a few questions. There were some that had keen insights. My wife & I read these each evening with our meal.


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Dancing with Darkness by Magsie Hamilton Little
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I'm giving this a 2-1/2 stars in my Reading Log. It was OK, but I found it hard to reconcile many of the realities of Afghan culture and life in Afghanistan with the author's purported stories. There was obviously a deep connection forged with one particular Afghan family--through the introduction of an intermediary from the UK--and the author spent good time with this family. There was a lot left unsaid in why the fiancee of a daughter of the family was kidnapped--and a lot of seemingly impossible & ineffective trips to secure his freedom (which, ultimately, came about in what seemed like a very typical Afghan power play). The whole issue of the adopted dog--and then its pups--rankled me, as 1) the author who is a student of Islam should have known better, and 2) a rather poor Afghan family wouldn't have been as enthusiastic/helpful as reported with such a "dirty/unclean" creature. The author just makes too much out of this and it tilts into an unrealistic & soppy rescued-puppy story that would be fine in the UK or the US, but not in Afghanistan. There were other things that Afghans wouldn't have normally done with or allowed for a woman to be involved in--but, as she was a young foreign woman with no protection/cover... I did like the Afghan proverbs that headed each chapter.


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The Perils of Morning Coffee by Alexander McCall Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fun, short e-book (novella) by McCall Smith involving your local Edinburgh philosopher, Isabel Dalhousie. This is one of the ".5" in the series, which I've just found out about by looking for McCall Smith books in my library on OverDrive. There's a few of them. Isabel's caught up in another problem--people problems--like usual, though this one is unusual in its genesis, which comes from a computer email program. Leads to a morning coffee--and the perils thereafter, of which Isabel was duly pre-warned by her husband, Jaime. Introduces a new neighbor I don't believe we've spent any time with before. Read on Kindle; borrowed from library.


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The Atomic City Girls by Janet Beard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I actually read this book a bit by accident...a friend told me about a book on women who had worked at the WWII secret nuclear facility of Oak Ridge, Tennessee--and saw this book at my library and started reading it. I realized later that she wasn't talking about a novel--as this book is--but about a historical book on the Oak Ridge facility! Oh well, this was still an interesting book--and is based on the historical Oak Ridge and all that happened there as thousands of women worked unknowingly on producing enriched uranium (U-235) for the world's first atomic bomb, used in finally bringing Japan to full surrender in WWII. I listened to this audiobook on my iPhone; borrowed from the library. And, I've now also started the historical book which has a title very similar, but not exactly the same.


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Vanishing Grace: Bringing Good News to a Deeply Divided World by Philip Yancey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's been awhile since I've read a Yancey book. Yancey is one of my favorite Christian writers. He is perceptive, stimulating, engaging, challenging, thought-provoking, and always presents a deep, biblical perspective on whatever topic he writes on. Vanishing Grace was no different. It's like an updated, 2.0 version of his earlier classic work--What's So Amazing About Grace? Which has always been one of my favorites. In this book, Yancey seeks to get at the question of why the Gospel--which is good news--is so often perceived by unbelievers as bad news, or as something judgmental and negative (very "anti" everything). This is a good question and Yancey has some solid, thought-provoking answers, and also recommendations.

Here's a quote on the reason Yancey wrote the book, which I find very useful in thinking about his thesis and search for answers: "I decided to write this book after I saw the results of surveys by the George Barna group.* A few telling statistics jumped off the page. In 1996, 85 percent of Americans who had no religious commitment still viewed Christianity favorably. Thirteen years later, in 2009, only 16 percent of young “outsiders” had a favorable impression of Christianity, and just 3 percent had a good impression of evangelicals. I wanted to explore what caused that dramatic plunge in such a relatively short time. Why do Christians stir up hostile feelings—and what, if anything, should we do about it? Many similar conversations have taught me that religion represents a huge threat to those who see themselves as a minority of agnostics in a land of belief. Nonbelievers tend to regard evangelicals as a legion of morals police determined to impose their notion of right behavior on others. To them, Christians are anti-abortion, anti-gay, anti-women—probably anti-sex, for that matter—and most of them homeschool their children to avoid defilement. Christians sometimes help with social problems, say by running soup kitchens and homeless shelters, but otherwise they differ little from Muslim fanatics who want to enforce sharia law on their societies."


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The Christmas Mystery by Jostein Gaarder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For 2019--read this again with Chris. So delightful! Some things you forget between readings. Such a great way to tell the Christmas Story--and the story in the story of Joachim's family in Norway, as well as the story of Elisabet the refugee. We've read this now in the Kindle edition for a few years, but also own the beautiful hardback version the book, which we used to read with our children.
For 2016--Chris read this aloud while we were living in Squantum with Mom & Dad, who also listened. Enjoyed it again very much!
A regular Christmas favorite--and I gave it 4-1/2 stars. I've read this (or with the wife & or family) probably 5 times now--and found it just as good and encouraging and uplifting this time, as well as creative. What a great addition to the days of Advent preparation.


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Love Came Down at Christmas: Daily Readings for Advent by Sinclair B. Ferguson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A little different take on Christmas--this devotional looks through at it through the "Love" chapter of I Corinthians 13. I thought it was fairly good. In the end, Christmas is all about God's amazing love in providing a rescuer for us through the sending of His Son, Jesus, to be our Savior. Yes, true love descended at Christmas--which is why we celebrate this "good news of great joy" which is for "all peoples."


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The Great Cake Mystery by Alexander McCall Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Beginnings of the famous lady detective, Precious Ramotswe of Botswana--in McCall Smith's lovely world. Didn't realize this was a Young Reader's book--but enjoyed "reading" the audiobook on my iPhone; borrowed from the library.


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A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Well, I finally got around to reading Madeleine L'Engle's classic, A Wrinkle in Time. It was OK--not as good as I thought it was going to be, based on the feedback/reviews of others. I didn't find the "other worlds" that convincing in their settings; same with the various creatures. Maybe at some point I will need to give it another chance. Maybe I am comparing this story/setting/characters too much to those of C.S. Lewis' Narnia & Space Trilogy series, which I've always found fascinating (& have reread at least a couple times). There are some interesting spiritual parallels in Wrinkle, though I'm not sure I either like the way they're integrated into the story or am not sure of L'Engle's purpose/meaning in them. Might have to do a little more research. Listened to this as an audiobook on my iPhone; borrowed from the library.


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Osama: The first casualty of war is the truth, the second is your soul by Chris Ryan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My first Chris Ryan book, I believe. Not bad. I give it a 3-1/2 in my Reading Log. Good action, plot, twists, and story that did a relatively good job, I thought, of mimicking the realities in the world of terrorists & counter-terrorists. Interesting theory on Osama's demise...and maybe not far off the mark. I think the treasure trove recovered at his Abbottabad residence sufficed for clues...Listened to on my iPhone; bought from chirp.com.


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A Full Cup: Sir Thomas Lipton's Extraordinary Life and His Quest for the America's Cup by Michael D'Antonio
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ever drink any Lipton tea? You'll never think of it in the same way after reading this book on the amazing life of Sir Thomas Lipton from Glasgow, Scotland. Brought up in very humble beginnings, where his parents owned one simple grocery story, Lipton went on to become one of the sparkling rich stars of the Gilded Age--a multi-millionaire who owned hundreds of grocery shops all over the United Kingdom, as well as the developer of the Lipton tea brand, with a large branch based in New York City (he owned huge tea estates in Ceylon/Sri Lanka, where he also had a well-equipped & situated mansion in the hills overlooking his fields). Later in life, Lipton become obsessed with seeking to win the America's Cup yachting race--which the U.S. had held for many decades. Lipton did his best, spending a good bit of his fortune over many years, and sponsored a boat and crew for 4 America's Cup races. Americans loved him and he garnered much publicity for his company as a result of his involvement in these races. But, he was never successful in wresting away The Cup. He did receive a special "Cup" for being such a good loser, for so many times--and he soaked up the attention & publicity & goodwill. Lipton was one of the age's pioneering showman for his businesses--adeptly using the new mass media channels to bring attention to his products. Quite a character--always jolly, friendly, outgoing, as well as being known as a shrewd entrepreneur. Thanks, Jeff Woods, for the loan of your old book, through the GLI Library in Kabul!


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The Handsome Man's Deluxe Café by Alexander McCall Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another enjoyable read in McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Some interesting developments with Mma Makutsi as she branches out to open up a new restaurant. Also some changes with Charlie, the eyes-always-on-girls failed apprentice of Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni's auto shop. Read on my Kindle; borrowed from the library--which has a ton of McCall's Smiths' great books!


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John Calvin by W. Godfrey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I've wanted to read more about the Swiss theologian/pastor/writer and this shorter book was a fair introduction. A bit dry at times, but overall fairly interesting and also insightful. I did enjoy learning more about Calvin's context and the development of his theology. He was a busy, driven, over-worked (his own fault) man--and died rather young (54 yrs. old, I believe). Read on my iPad.


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Bellevue: Three Centuries of Medicine and Mayhem at America's Most Storied Hospital by David Oshinsky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fascinating account of the historic Bellevue Hospital of New York City and accounts of its 200+ years of operations. Bellevue has quite a history and its doctors/nurses & staff have been responsible for a number of critical medical advances--including the development of the ambulance. For a public hospital (& morgue) whose long history has been a commitment to the general public who don't have much money or insurance, or are homeless, or disturbed, or had been left on the streets to die, Bellevue has made some amazing historical contributions. This account goes right up through 9/11, the Ebola scare of 2014, and the disastrous effects of Hurricane Sandy. Read on iPad; borrowed from the library. Well-researched & written; a book well-worth reading.


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Spirit of Steamboat by Craig Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My first Craig Johnson/Walt Longmire book, though this one is a novella. Loved the suspenseful story of a hair-raising flight--in an old Mitchell B-25 bomber--to save the life of a young car accident victim critically burned and needing more sophisticated hospital care in Denver. Read on the Kindle; borrowed from the library. Looking forward to reading the Walt Longmire series, starting with Book #1, when it becomes available in my library.


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The Muslim Jesus: Sayings and Stories in Islamic Literature by Tarif Khalidi
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was interested to read this book to get a better sense of what some Muslims think or have been taught about who Jesus is. These saying/stories were collected from various Islamic authors down through the centuries following Islam's founding by Muhammad. They are extra-Qur'anic & Hadith. Some have some relatively clear connection to saying/stories from the Gospels--though many are from the false Gospels, like Thomas. Some are just kooky & twisted and are nowhere near the true Gospels' portrayal of who Jesus was/is. The test for any/all portrayals of Jesus needs to be what we were instructed by the Apostle John in I John 4:1-8. These clearly fail the test.


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Paul Simon: The Life by Robert Hilburn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Loved this book. Hilburn is a good writer--enjoyed his biography of Johnny Cash. Paul Simon--well, he's a genuine musical genius. I mean, the breadth & width of this guy's career alone is enough to boggle the mind. From his early Simon & Garfunkel days, all through his solo years, plus the oft-repeated new concerts & tours with his old buddie, Art. Concerts in the park. Simon is one of those early innovators in combining American & World Music--his Graceland & Rhythm of the Saints are 2 of the best albums/recordings, ever. Period. The combination of engaging & interesting lyrics & topics with the fusion of African & Latin music with American folk & rock. Amazing stuff all-around. And, Simon hasn't just relied on re-runs of his oldies & favorites--he's continue to be creative and to make new music. Great reading about his creative process--and also getting a little glimpse into the life of his family, which over the past 30 years or so has been quite stable.


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Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great book on the history of salt & its production & collection & distribution. A lot of world history is covered along the way; very interesting. I had never thought of all the uses of salt and all the places where it has been found & mined & collected. Or from how deep in the earth it is mined. Or that there were mines below Avery Island, where world-famous Tabasco sauces are made. Fascinating stuff. Read it on my Kindle; borrowed from the library (on hold for quite awhile, due to its popularity).


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The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe about Ourselves by Curt Thompson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Good, solid book on the subject of shame and its devilish way of powerfully influencing our minds/psyches. Great insights from the Genesis account of the Fall of Man (Adam & Eve)--and how Satan used shame & a false story to seduce Eve into doubting & disobeying God. Dr. Thompson gives some wonderfully helpful insights as he discusses & illustrates how the stories we constantly end up telling ourselves are so often used to dis-integrate ourselves & the picture we have of ourselves, which effects our esteem and treatment of others. I gave this a 3-1/3 stars in my Reading Log. Listened to the audiobook on my iPhone; borrowed from the library.


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Playing with Fire: Pakistan at War with Itself by Pamela Constable
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very enlightening book on the ails & ills of a country--with so much potential--that has, unfortunately, consistently gone awry. So much hope dashed; so many millions kept bound up in illiteracy & poverty--beholden to the rich, powerful land-owners (tenants), political party big-whigs, and all-pervasive, dominating military forces (& notorious ISI). A country & government & governing bodies shot through with corruption. So much potential; so much negligence & waffling. So much double-talk. Constable's title states it frankly--this is a nation that has been at war with itself and one that has continually played with fire, almost losing control in recent years, due to the double-dealing of the military/ISI with the Pakistani (al-Qaeda-fueled) Taliban. A good quote on the horrendous impact this has had across the nation: "THE GREAT SECTARIAN DIVIDE in Pakistan—the one that presents the gravest threat to domestic peace and regional stability—is not between Muslims and non-Muslims but between Sunnis and Shiites. abetted by both Iran and Saudi Arabia, which have spent huge sums to build rival mosques, seminaries, and universities on Pakistani soil. It has spawned militant hate groups on both sides whose exclusive aim is to wipe out the other, and who have no scruples about gunning down hundreds of people at prayer. Between 1999 and 2009, official figures indicate that more than a thousand incidents of sectarian violence took place across Pakistan, killing more than three thousand people. Shiites bore the brunt of these attacks, many of which took place in mosques packed with worshippers."

There are many good things about Pakistan & its cultures/peoples--but I agree that it has been overshadowed & eviscerated with the corruption, blindness, implacableness, and extremist Islamist leanings assiduously pushed under the military dictatorship of General Zia in the 1970s. Pakistan, in its relatively short national history, has not recovered from this yet...and doesn't look to for years to come. A sad, short-sighted, surreal history shot through with corrupting influences that have, unfortunately, sorely impacted its economic potential, as well as its rich ethnic heritage.


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Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ by Timothy J. Keller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Excellent set of meditations (from Keller's sermons over the many years of his pastorates) on the true meaning of Christmas and its implication for our lives. Keller takes a refreshing look at some of the standard Christmas Story passages, highlighting powerful insights that were very enlightening and encouraging to my faith.

“Christmas, therefore, is the most unsentimental, realistic way of looking at life. It does not say, “Cheer up! If we all pull together we can make the world a better place.” The Bible never counsels indifference to the forces of darkness, only resistance, but it supports no illusions that we can defeat them ourselves. Christianity does not agree with the optimistic thinkers who say, “We can fix things if we try hard enough.” Nor does it agree with the pessimists who see only a dystopian future. The message of Christianity is, instead, “Things really are this bad, and we can’t heal or save ourselves. Things really are this dark—nevertheless, there is hope.” The Christmas message is that “on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Notice that it doesn’t say from the world a light has sprung, but upon the world a light has dawned. It has come from outside. There is light outside of this world, and Jesus has brought that light to save us; indeed, he is the Light (John 8:12).”

“Christmas means joy—“glad tidings of great joy.” Here in verse 4, the passage ends on the same note. John is saying, “My joy will not be complete until you have the same joy in fellowship with God that we do.” The idea of joy is important in the writings of John. In John 16:22 Jesus promises that his followers’ joy will be unshakable, because the “full measure” of Christ’s own joy will be reproduced in us (John 17:13)—a remarkable prospect.”

Good book for an Advent devotional. Got a great deal on this on amazon.com, with help from BookBub.com on good e-book deals.


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Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship by Robert Kurson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great true yarn spun by master storyteller, Robert Kurson, detailing the adventures of 2 deep sea wreck divers searching for the most famous 17th century pirate's boat, Joseph Bannister's Golden Fleece, sunk in a battle with the British Royal Navy. Lots of twists & turns and drama, which involved doing extensive research in old documents to find out more & to pinpoint the possible location of the sunken Golden Fleece wreck...which had not been located/found before. Kurson also wrote Shadow Divers--which was an excellent book on the finding & identifying of a lost/forgotten sunken German U-Boat from WWII. Listened to this on my iPhone; borrowed from the library.


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My Other Life by Paul Theroux
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An "novel" by the travel writer Paul Theroux which has a character who scarily resembles an autobiographical Theroux, with liberty & license, no doubt (as he professes in the preface). Ranging across places, times, & experiences in Central Africa, Singapore, England, and Medford & Cape Cod, Theroux's stories take in a myriad of interesting characters with whom he interacts. Including Queen Elizabeth II and her peculiar husband (Duke of Edinburgh, if I'm not mistaken) at a private dinner. Some very engaging & thoughtful writing, often disparagingly so, with some wonderful levity mixed into some heartbreaking relationships & conflicts.


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The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life by David  Brooks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Some good things have been happening in Brook's life in the past few years; many have noticed the difference in his regular NYT's columns. This book gives some good insight & specifics as to Brook's recent faith journey--I found the chapter describing his double religious upbringing--Jewish by family/culture & Christian by education/summer camps--very fascinating. Both of those influences were strictly cultural/traditional, but later in life, after experiencing some true difficulties/crises, Brooks describes how his views of the Bible and who Christ was/is slowly changed. As with all of us, his spiritual journey is a work-in-progress, and this book is a call against the status quo of individualism/"me-ism" and a challenge to rise above tribalism to live a solidly moral life that is a benefit & blessing to others & our wider communities. Some of it seemed a bit weak on the "why" that should/ought to be the way we live--i.e. we were created for this by a loving, caring God of all peoples--but it gives a lot of solid food for thought for a general audience. Borrowed from the library; listened to on my iPhone.


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