I’ve been reading

I’m still dyeing and sewing, but first I’d like to share what I’ve been reading.

Belonging to a book study has really encouraged me to read some books I wouldn’t normally read. Also, a couple blogs I follow do this from time to time, and I really have enjoyed seeing what others are reading.

Visions, Trips, and Crowded Rooms: Who and What you see before you die.

If you are afraid of dying or you have a loved one who is nearing the end, I recommend you read this. What if we really don’t die alone? My Dad, although I was not in the room and only reported to me by my stepmother, talked to mom in his last days. Oh, how I wish I could have been there to see his face. I’ve always believed the visions. This book just confirmed my belief. This is an easy read and so worth the small investment of time.

 

 

 

Erasing Death: The Science That is Rewriting the Boundaries Between Life and Death

When does death occur? Had the Titanic occurred today, how many lives could have been saved? What is my hospital’s procedure in keeping the body and brain cool? Where does the “soul” reside?

This is an important book to read if you are at all interested in death. I will admit that it is a hard read, in that there is a lot of technical medical information. The author seemed to go on and on when he could have said a lot of the info in a more concise way. However, there is a lot of good info, and it’s one of those books that really makes you think. This should be required reading for medical school. I read this for a book study and we had some great discussions!

Living the Questions: The Wisdom of Progressive Christianity

 

“Ministers David Felten and Jeff Procter-Murphy, along with an all-star cast of Bible scholars and top church teachers, provide a primer to a church movement that encourages every Christian to “live the questions” instead of “forcing the answers.”

The above description says it all. This is an easy read, but one of those books to go back and reread, highlight and talk about. Our book study had a lively discussion on this book.

 

When Breath Becomes Air

This is the account of the author’s journey of on the verge of completing his training as a neurosurgeon he is diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. I found it a really slow read. He details he’s work journey more than his internal journey. His wife’s epilogue was more heartfelt and powerful than any of his words. This was a recommended read for me, but I didn’t feel I got that much out of it.

 

 

Here is another book to mention that I read several months ago.

Hillbilly Eulogy

I have mixed feelings about this book. I do believe it gives us an understanding of the hillbilly culture. Even though I spent a large part of my work life working with the marginalized or who we called “poor” people, the population I knew was much different than the culture Vance describes. It was a memoir so it was about his life and how he made it out of the culture, although it still remains with him. And that was the good part. However, I found it hard to finish the book because the last several chapters were to put it bluntly – boring – and at one point even made me angry. Some of the problems he experienced while at Yale, were problems that most of us experience in school – not just hillbillies – and I found it offensive that he felt it was only his culture who had these issues. And in the end I was hoping he’d tell us how he’s working to encourage and motivate this culture to improve their lives. No, no such conclusion. However, I did see him interviewed in the past couple weeks where he was talking about an initiative he’s started to do that very thing. That makes me feel better about the book.

Of course I’ve been reading a variety of craft books. Of my mandala books, this is my favorite. However, I have yet to get the dots looking good!

On my stack of books to read or I’m in the process or reading include Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue, Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates,  What is the Bible by Rob Bell, and Some Go Hungry by J. Patrick Redmond.

I’ve also been ice dyeing.  The August red challenge in my Icy Delights online class is all about adding any red dye with another color. My goal is to stretch students to use colors they don’t normally use or combine. After dyeing a fat quarter I just had to dye a tshirt with Oxblood Red and Azure Blue. The patterning still amazes me.

This tshirt is just a couple of my favorite colors.

And a little sewing. This is made with my indigo-dyed fabric. I’ll be sewing more of these once my machine gets back from it’s tune up.

Also felted a couple of bowls. Not real happy with them and they need more work.

Hope you’re having a good weekend. What are you reading right now?