Let's take a moment for me to orient you to what's here
On the pages linked to this one there are dozens of book reviews.
To make finding what will interest you easier, I've given you two browsing pages (the Book Shelves) -- one for fiction, the other for non-fiction. If you hover your cursor over the title, my rating of the book appears. Then there are two pages of reviews (right .... one for fiction, one for non-fiction). I've arranged all the books in each category in alphabetical order by author.
I approach my book reviews from the perspective of my subjective experience of reading the book. There is a bit of a synopsis of the book there too, but you will figure out how I feel about it.
Here are the links:
Fiction Bookshelf
Non-Fiction Bookshelf
Fiction Reviews
Non-Fiction Reviews
But that's not all that's here on these pages. Immediately below is a review of my most recent read. Below that is the title of the book I am currently reading.
And then we get to my faves. There is a memoir I really recommend (and a couple of other memoirs too). Then there are my top picks for each of the fiction and non-fiction categories. Finally, there's an interesting grouping of four books that have helped me come to terms with a perplexing social/ political issue.
To make finding what will interest you easier, I've given you two browsing pages (the Book Shelves) -- one for fiction, the other for non-fiction. If you hover your cursor over the title, my rating of the book appears. Then there are two pages of reviews (right .... one for fiction, one for non-fiction). I've arranged all the books in each category in alphabetical order by author.
I approach my book reviews from the perspective of my subjective experience of reading the book. There is a bit of a synopsis of the book there too, but you will figure out how I feel about it.
Here are the links:
Fiction Bookshelf
Non-Fiction Bookshelf
Fiction Reviews
Non-Fiction Reviews
But that's not all that's here on these pages. Immediately below is a review of my most recent read. Below that is the title of the book I am currently reading.
And then we get to my faves. There is a memoir I really recommend (and a couple of other memoirs too). Then there are my top picks for each of the fiction and non-fiction categories. Finally, there's an interesting grouping of four books that have helped me come to terms with a perplexing social/ political issue.
My most recent read
★★★★☆
On January 21 2025 Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde spoke truth to power. At the Inaugural National Prayer Service she reminded the recently re-elected President Trump of the need to show mercy to the marginalized persons within the nation. For people of my ilk there was a collective awe at how brave she was.
Shortly thereafter, I vowed to read her book.
How we learn to be brave begins with yet another instance of the same. It came in a news interview she gave in 2020, shortly after Trump had held an upside down Bible in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church near the White House. She stated that his words and actions were antithetical to the teachings of Jesus, divisive at a time when moral leadership was needed.
This book, published three years later, is Budde’s examination of foundations to the bravery she was able to call upon to call out her president.
Determined to purchase and read the book in support of a person who could be so brave, I was intrigued by the title. Could bravery really be something that one learned? Could this be a how-to manual in the spirit of self-help books?
Generously sprinkled with wisdom throughout, it turns out this book is not. It’s a homily, a rather lengthy one, running to over 200 pages. It provides the reader with Budde’s reflections on the elements of her life that led to her actions in 2020. It is not instructive, but illustrative. In the tradition of sermonizing, she structures her reflection on scenarios in which bravery can arise. The early chapters looked at series of these using examples of famous folk in the history of the United States.
Overall, in the spirit of the homily, this book encourages and exhorts us to be our better selves as rooted in the Christian tradition of grace, love and mercy.
Budde shares the struggles of her journey through from parish ministry to becoming the Bishop in the prestigious diocese of Washington DC. I found myself craving more of that story, wishing that she had written this book as a memoir rather than a sermon.
But the message is clear. In the current tumultuous political and moral morass of the United States, Budde’s book reminds us that there is a different greatness to be aspired to, not one of wealth or power, but of service to the core of the Christian message.
Shortly thereafter, I vowed to read her book.
How we learn to be brave begins with yet another instance of the same. It came in a news interview she gave in 2020, shortly after Trump had held an upside down Bible in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church near the White House. She stated that his words and actions were antithetical to the teachings of Jesus, divisive at a time when moral leadership was needed.
This book, published three years later, is Budde’s examination of foundations to the bravery she was able to call upon to call out her president.
Determined to purchase and read the book in support of a person who could be so brave, I was intrigued by the title. Could bravery really be something that one learned? Could this be a how-to manual in the spirit of self-help books?
Generously sprinkled with wisdom throughout, it turns out this book is not. It’s a homily, a rather lengthy one, running to over 200 pages. It provides the reader with Budde’s reflections on the elements of her life that led to her actions in 2020. It is not instructive, but illustrative. In the tradition of sermonizing, she structures her reflection on scenarios in which bravery can arise. The early chapters looked at series of these using examples of famous folk in the history of the United States.
Overall, in the spirit of the homily, this book encourages and exhorts us to be our better selves as rooted in the Christian tradition of grace, love and mercy.
Budde shares the struggles of her journey through from parish ministry to becoming the Bishop in the prestigious diocese of Washington DC. I found myself craving more of that story, wishing that she had written this book as a memoir rather than a sermon.
But the message is clear. In the current tumultuous political and moral morass of the United States, Budde’s book reminds us that there is a different greatness to be aspired to, not one of wealth or power, but of service to the core of the Christian message.
What I'm currently reading
A highly recommended memoir.
The Dark Threads (★★★★★) is a memoir of an unnecessary and traumatic journey of a young woman through the mental health treatment system. I have the privilege of getting to know this author (we met on Twitter no less!). We are beta-readers for each other and email pals with daily correspondence. Her memoir depicts psychiatric diagnosis and treatment at it's worse. It is horrifying to read. But she has survived.
I have also pictured below a couple of other memoirs which I really enjoyed.
I have also pictured below a couple of other memoirs which I really enjoyed.
And some other fascinating memoirs...
My Fiction Faves
You can find the reviews for these books with the other fiction reviews through this link
My Non-Fiction Faves
You can find the reviews for these books with the other non- fiction reviews through this link.
A Political Grouping
I have been fascinated by the unholy marriage of the American Evangelical church to Donald Trump. There are several books that have helped me to understand this cultural and historical debacle. You might want to check them out.
You can find the reviews for these books with the other non- fiction reviews through this link.
You can find the reviews for these books with the other non- fiction reviews through this link.
A final thought ...
While I worked as a psychologist I didn't have the time or mental energy to read. The books reviewed on the following pages have come into my life over the last five years. I've found myself expanded by them in understanding the human condition and the context in which we explore our subjective experience of living the life we have. I hope you will find here the books that will do that for you too.