As always, timely and shrewd and quick to pierce to the center of issues. If there's one thing that drives me crazy about our modern attempts at progrAs always, timely and shrewd and quick to pierce to the center of issues. If there's one thing that drives me crazy about our modern attempts at progress, it's the huge clouds of empty words we throw around that make us feel "empowered" and "liberated," but which really have very little in terms of net meaning. Baldwin never does that.
If you haven't read his nonfiction, I recommend starting with The Fire Next Time. This and Notes on a Native Son are good follow-ups. ...more
A great introduction to the core of some Buddhist ideas. A reminder that nothing is real but the present. Made me want to feel more aware of and engagA great introduction to the core of some Buddhist ideas. A reminder that nothing is real but the present. Made me want to feel more aware of and engaged in and grateful for my day-to-day life.
I love the thought that memory is never objective; that each time we recall the past we are engaging in a creative act, not witnessing history. I personally very much resonated with this section:
"To ask for a revelation of God's will, and then to 'test' it by reference to your preconceived moral standards is to make a mockery of the asking. You knew the answer already. Seeking for 'God' in this way is no more than asking for the stamp of absolute authority and certainty on what you believe in any case, for a guarantee that the unknown and the future will be a continuation of what you want to retain from the past—a bigger and better fortress for 'I.'"...more
Reading this was a project, and it was oh-so-worth the time it took.
My opinion is that this should be required (well, at least strongly recommended!)Reading this was a project, and it was oh-so-worth the time it took.
My opinion is that this should be required (well, at least strongly recommended!) reading for all parents-to-be. I gained empathy I didn’t know to need, understanding I assumed I had, and knowledge—that key to success without precognition.
Educating myself through the work of this researcher and the incredible people he worked with to produce this book: a complete honor....more
Some beautiful teachings from a wise soul. The thought that we are all connected; that love springs from and leads to connection, not control; that weSome beautiful teachings from a wise soul. The thought that we are all connected; that love springs from and leads to connection, not control; that we are naturally designed to exist in love—these are healing ideas. Some of the teachings here were universal; some felt more specific to Christian denominations. I didn’t agree with all, but did feel seen. Recommend for the seeking soul. ...more
D. Michael Quinn's personal history and memoir was absolutely gripping. For anyone of a Mormon background, or a background in any high demand religionD. Michael Quinn's personal history and memoir was absolutely gripping. For anyone of a Mormon background, or a background in any high demand religion, I feel there are few more beneficial reads for shedding light on the complexities of being raised in those organizations. Particularly, Quinn's position as a person of deep faith and loyalty to Mormon teachings, a closeted homosexual, and a rigorous academic were shockingly relatable for me. Although we have major differences in personality, Quinn shared many personal thoughts--spanning his whole life--that could have come straight from my brain: on his own worthiness or lack thereof, on the trial of his gayness, on his love for God, and on his frequent disappointments in the very human leaders of the Church.
Quinn was excommunicated for his honest historical publications and his refusal to change his "warts and all" approach at a time when the Church engaged in extreme censorship. His conviction was that knowing the problems of history does not need to shake a person's faith or religious commitment. Church leaders did not agree with him, and he was part of an infamous slew of academic excommunications in 1993. Significantly, he had fought and succeeded his whole life to remain celibate of homosexual intimacy in order to retain his precious Church membership. The irony that his faith-driven publications were what ultimately pushed him out is a bitter one.
Quinn also relates his feelings on politics (his intense concern about the right-leaning tendencies of American Christians), his advocacy for minority groups and women, and his dismay at the political involvement of Church leaders (along with their own inner Church leadership politics). A true liberal Mormon (we need more of those)!
Although Quinn was pushed out of the Church, he remained a believing Mormon, if not a welcomed member, his whole life. He did so while disavowing what he construed as undoctrinal Mormon positions of bigotry, patriarchy, and white supremacy.
As a person of faith who also believes that every earthly religion is fraught with human weakness; as a gay person who struggled with self-acceptance my whole life because of religion; as an academic who believes in freedom of speech and integrity; Quinn's life story absolutely floored me.
What if every Mormon, every Catholic, every Evangelical had the bandwidth to live and believe in their religions while also letting go of hurtful doctrines and practices? What if religious people applied self-improvement and repentance to their religious practice--and expected it of their leaders--rather than trying to immortalize ancient customs and abuses and mortal leaders?
Even if one does not agree with Quinn everywhere, I believe that his memoir will inspire more compassion and nuance in any honest reader....more
There is no one in any literary canon who speaks to me as well as James Baldwin. He takes deeply fraught, nuanced issues, imbues them first with pathoThere is no one in any literary canon who speaks to me as well as James Baldwin. He takes deeply fraught, nuanced issues, imbues them first with pathos, and then provides an emotional context that calls the empowered to action and the marginalized to self-love. His commentary on Richard Wright's seminal novel is so spot-on, in the way it recognizes the context that produced the work (and made it important) but also calls out its limitations. Every person (especially every white person) in America should be required to read Baldwin's works in school.
I only recommend reading this if you've had the chance to read Wright first; its effectiveness is somewhat limited to that context....more
If everyone out there was like James McBride, how different would the world be? His ability to recognize nuance and look past divisive categories, whiIf everyone out there was like James McBride, how different would the world be? His ability to recognize nuance and look past divisive categories, while still acknowledging the systemic problems in our country, reminds me of James Baldwin and MLK. He is a credit to the mother he writes so adoringly about here. ...more
I love Heather in real housewives, and I admire her compassion, humor, wit, and realness. This memoir gives a whole lot more where that came from. I cI love Heather in real housewives, and I admire her compassion, humor, wit, and realness. This memoir gives a whole lot more where that came from. I can see where some active members of the religion have called the book offensive—but I think that just demonstrates the Mormon culture of putting doing what’s “proper” over listening people’s real feelings and experiences. The lower rating is just because I think this is mostly written for RHOSLC fans—there’s a lot of humor and context you’re missing if you go in blind. I always like a thoughtful memoir. ...more
An absolute game-changer, on the largest scale. In awe of Frankl and other survivors like him. I love the concept that life’s meaning changes with eacAn absolute game-changer, on the largest scale. In awe of Frankl and other survivors like him. I love the concept that life’s meaning changes with each stage of life, that meaning is individual, that meaning can give purpose to suffering but suffering is not necessary for meaning.
This was just spectacular; truly world expanding and eye opening—in every sense of the phrase. So well-researched and so well-written. A poignant remiThis was just spectacular; truly world expanding and eye opening—in every sense of the phrase. So well-researched and so well-written. A poignant reminder that to be human is to be a small part of a vast network of complex, intricate lives....more
Lamott’s combination of self-deprecating humility, irreverent humor, and faith in human goodness and a higher power is so charming. Her advice on writLamott’s combination of self-deprecating humility, irreverent humor, and faith in human goodness and a higher power is so charming. Her advice on writing is no less memorable. ...more
Revealing, frank, important. Cool that we’ve reached a time where these super celebrities of the early 2000s are sharing their true stories. I don’t tRevealing, frank, important. Cool that we’ve reached a time where these super celebrities of the early 2000s are sharing their true stories. I don’t think a good memoir needs to be literary, it just needs to be self-reflective and honest. ...more
I don’t know much about DFW (other than that his magnum opus Infinite Jest is supposed to be a contemporary work of genius, and he was its moody, misuI don’t know much about DFW (other than that his magnum opus Infinite Jest is supposed to be a contemporary work of genius, and he was its moody, misunderstood, brilliant creator), but my book club did “sports literature” this month, and as a tennis lover I was intrigued by this essay collection. If you like tennis, you should read it, because it’s both an interesting commentary piece and the tribute of a lifelong avid fan, a former Junior pro himself, and longtime contributor to Tennis Magazine. The writing is phenomenal, and fascinating tennis facts abound. But I was also struck by how this apparent genius resembles so many other middle-aged men who look back on their sporting days with so much longing. “If I had only… I could have… Those were the days…” How many men look to high school sports as the prime of their lives? Apparently even a genius writer isn’t exempt from the confines of heterosexual masculinity....more
So, this is truly so well researched and the author deserves all his accolades as an accomplished sociologist. I also really like his tone; I love an So, this is truly so well researched and the author deserves all his accolades as an accomplished sociologist. I also really like his tone; I love an academic who can write to the masses. I recommend this book to all my friends as required reading to understand why our country has such a unique problem with poverty: America has more poor per capita than any other country with our wealth. This books expertly goes through the reasons and roles behind our poverty problem, and explains why so many of the typical answers just aren’t enough. It also feels beyond politics in that, yes, it certainly isn’t right-leaning, but it also blames the left in power for where we’ve landed. My big problem, though, is that the book made it very apparent that poverty is “all of our problem,” but I don’t feel very empowered to work against it as a person who isn’t wealthy. The “but what can I do?” question gets very urgent but remains a little bit unanswered, other than the need to vote for people who will put good policy in place, and to shop ethically. Anyway, I still feel everyone should read this book. ...more
This left me in tears at the end and several times throughout. It had me laughing even more. I even got chills once or twice. It’s a love story: a romThis left me in tears at the end and several times throughout. It had me laughing even more. I even got chills once or twice. It’s a love story: a romance, yes, but also a story about love for parents and love for family and friends, love for exes, love for life, and finding love for self. That it can be all those things without once becoming a cliché is what makes it good literature, and what makes its author a person worth knowing about. The writing is the one drawback; it’s not the most literarily accomplished memoir out there. TW: It can be crude in places; it’s frank to an extreme about the author’s sexual mishaps and explorations growing up. If that’s triggering for you, this won’t be your thing. It also deals explicitly with intense loss and grief....more
I have read a lot of Baldwin, Morrison, Angelou, so it was good to read something present, now, urgent. This was astoundingly clairvoyant and bell-cleI have read a lot of Baldwin, Morrison, Angelou, so it was good to read something present, now, urgent. This was astoundingly clairvoyant and bell-clear. Coates is a voice for this generation as important as any. ...more
Just a brilliant presentation of how religion and popular notions about God have changed over the centuries, ending with the author’s assertion that, Just a brilliant presentation of how religion and popular notions about God have changed over the centuries, ending with the author’s assertion that, at its core, religion was never supposed to be a vehicle for providing answers, but to help humankind cope with an unanswerable universe. Increasingly, an upsurge in fundamentalism has demanded that science and lived experience move aside so that religion can do the answering, meaning God is no longer about feeling what cannot be explained, but has become instead about explaining what we no longer feel. I resonated deeply with what Armstrong wrote here and thought her research was profoundly well conducted and explained. The only problem is that this is quite a dense book which shouldn’t be sought out for light reading, and it took me some time to get through....more