The Big White Farmhouse

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#61. THE DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART by Fr. John Croiset, SJ
★★★★★
It took me two months to read this beautiful book recommended by one of the priests at our parish.  He described it as the best resource on the devotion of the Sacred Heart.  So many incredible passages and nuggets of wisdom – you should see how many sticky tabs I have down the side!  I know I’ll be returning to the prayer section in the back.  Highly recommend.  Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

#62. WHAT SHE KNEW by Gilly Macmillan
★★★☆☆
This book is a about every parent’s worst nightmare: a mother allows her eight-year-old son to run up ahead and when she catches up, he has disappeared.  The story follows what happens next: the police procedures, the way the media starts to become suspicious, and how life unravels when someone you love is missing.  I really liked how Macmillan included things like emails and social media comments to further the story – so cool.  3.5 stars.

#63. YOUR PERFECT YEAR by Charlotte Lucas
★★☆☆☆
For the life of me, I just could not get into this book.  Going into it (and judging from the cute, illustrated cover), I thought this was a light romantic comedy about a curmudgeon who finds a mysterious diary filled with tasks for a “perfect year.”  I was not expecting the dark and really heavy theme of suicide.  Add to that some translation issues and the weird pacing…it was just an okay read.

#64. WISDOM OF THE DESERT FATHERS AND MOTHERS by Fr. Philip G. Bochanski
★★★☆☆

St. Anthony’s plan for the monastic life, recorded in chapters 16 to 43 of the Life, begins with a simple mission statement: “Beginning over each day,” Anthony says, “let us increase our zeal.”  The monk (and hence the saint) is to be formed through daily effort and by persevering.  Day by day, choice by choice, he is called to be attentive to God’s will and zealous in his pursuit of holiness, without losing heart amid the struggle.  Life on earth is short in comparison to heaven, after all, and so the sacrifices that one has to endure, whatever pain and suffering might come, are small compared to the glory awaiting one who can persevere to the end. – p.57

This was an interesting little book about fifth century desert monks and mystics.  Another overview-type book that can serve as a jumping off point for deeper investigation.  Solid three stars.

#65. THE MAN WHO WAS THURSDAY: A NIGHTMARE by G.K. Chesterton
★★★☆☆
My first thought as I finished the last page of this book: “What in the world did I just read?!”  The Man Who Was Thursday is a detective story that centers around seven anarchists who go by the names of the week (our main character is Thursday).  I know the bigger story is allegorical, but I had trouble figuring it out.  After reading a few articles online (including this one and this one), I’m happy to hear that most people don’t “get it” and it’s not just me, ha!  From the second article above:

In the book’s dedicatory poem to his life-long friend, Edmund Clerihew Bentley, Chesterton warns that this adventure is difficult to understand, being drawn out of a prevalent nihilism and into a realm of ultimate idealism—or perhaps even Catholicism. Moreover, he supposes that it may be the case that no one, except E. C. Bentley, will be able to understand what the story is about. “‘Who shall understand but you?’” Chesterton reminisces in his autobiography, “In reply to which a book-reviewer very sensibly remarked that if nobody understood the book except Mr. Bentley, it seemed unreasonable to ask other people to read it.”

Still a worthwhile read if only for the detective adventure.  (This was also my 1908 pick for the 20th Century in Books Challenge.)

#66. THE LAGER QUEEN OF MINNESOTAby J. Ryan Stradal
★★★★☆
From the blurb: “A novel of family, Midwestern values, hard work, fate and the secrets of making a world-class beer.”  As someone who doesn’t even really like beer, I can’t believe how much I enjoyed this book!  The family dynamic as they struggle with life and each other was hard but also hopeful.  I sure loved those hard-working grandmas!  This won the WILLA Literary Award for Contemporary Fiction in 2020 (where I first heard about it) – well deserved.

#67. FUTURE WIDOW: LOSING MY HUSBAND, SAVING MY FAMILY, AND FINDING MY VOICE by Jenny Lisk
★★★★☆
This heartbreaking memoir detailed one woman’s experience as her husband battled stage four gliobastoma for eight months.  So, so sad but beautiful too.  I thought the way she interspersed advice for those going through a similar experience (as well as people who want to get involved) was smart and I’m sure will be really helpful for someone out there.  3.5 stars, rounded up.  (And thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!)