Podcast appearances and mentions of Leif Enger

What Books are Healthiest for Your Tween or Teen an Interview with Betsy Farquhar and Hayley Morell (Episode 293)   *Disclaimer: Some of this content is not intended for young audiences. Please use discretion.   Proverbs 4:7 NIV “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”   *Transcription Below*   Betsy Farquhar holds Masters degrees in Children's Literature and Information and Library Science. She taught middle and high school English, homeschooled her three children, and has served on many book award committees.   Hayley Morell loves reading, writing, trying new recipes, knitting, or chatting with her parrot. Hayley loves traveling and lived abroad in Europe and Asia. She and her husband and infant live in Wisconsin in an old house overflowing with books and are active in their local community.   Their Website, Book, and Social Media Handles: Instagram @redeemed_reader and Facebook: @redeemedreader   Thank you to our sponsor: Sam Leman Eureka   Questions and Topics We Cover: What are some benefits of reading and why is it worthwhile to devote our time to curating a healthy diet of books? Can you elaborate on why the Young Adult or YA category is the most controversial? What is on your radar for genres or books that will require even more discernment in the future?   Other Savvy Sauce Episode Mentioned: 21. Promoting a Family Culture of Reading with Megan Kaeb 22. Inspiring Your Children to Become Readers, Part Two with Megan Kaeb 253. Low Tech Parenting with Erin Loechner 273. Wise Living: Why to Get Outside, and Travel, and Read Aloud with Amber O'Neal Johnston   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*‍   Music: (0:00 – 0:11)   Laura Dugger: (0:12 - 1:46) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   The principles of honesty and integrity that Sam Leman founded his business on continue today over 55 years later at Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka.   Owned and operated by the Bertschi family, Sam Leman and Eureka appreciates the support they've received from their customers all over Central Illinois and beyond. Visit them today at lemangm.com.   My guests for today are Betsy Farquhar and Haley Morrill, two of the four authors of this book, The Redeemed Reader, which is also the name of the website that they run together where they have thousands of book reviews for children and tweens and teens.   We all know that books are so powerful, so it's vitally important that we're discerning both for what we're intaking and the filters that we use to allow our children to engage with books in our home. We're going to sprinkle book recommendations throughout this episode, and you're also going to learn some surprising things, such as more details about the YA or young adult category. Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Betsy and Haley.   Betsy Farquhar: (1:48 - 1:49) Thanks. It's good to be here.   Laura Dugger: (1:50 - 1:57) I would love to just start out hearing the way that the two of you found your way into the work that you get to do today.   Betsy Farquhar: (1:58 - 2:42) Mine started way back in the 1900s when I was in college. I did my senior thesis on children's literature, George MacDonald, and that led to a children's literature class my last semester, which led me to grad school with one of my now co-workers, but at the time fellow students and friends, and we got our master's in children's literature. And then rabbit trail, lots of detours, children, marriage. She and I started a blog back when those were cool and hip, and it was reviewing children's books and that was just for fun. And then we connected with Janie and Emily from Redeemed Reader. Through that blog venue, we were commenting on each other's blogs, and they brought us on board. And so here we are 15 years later.   Hayley Morell: (2:43 - 3:38) And for me, I was a high schooler. I was homeschooled. I loved reading.   So, I started my own blog back in the teenage years and I was always looking for book recommendations and came upon Redeemed Reader in the early days. I turned out they were looking for an intern. I started interning and at the end of my internship, Emily Witten, who was our founder, asked if I'd like to stay on.   And that was 14 or 15 years ago now. So, I was younger. And so, I had a period at college.   I studied at Boyce College. I worked in children's ministry and worked as a private tutor. So, a lot of interactions with children.   I was known as the babysitter with the book bag for a number of years. And now I've got my own little, and so I'm in the land of board books and happily working at Redeemed Reader.   Laura Dugger: (3:39 - 3:49) I love hearing that. And if people are watching this through video, can you both just say your name, so we know who's Betsy and who's Haley? I'm Haley.   Betsy Farquhar: (3:50 - 3:51) I'm Betsy.   Laura Dugger: (3:52 - 4:07) Okay, wonderful. Thank you for that. And at Redeemed Reader, I'm assuming you have so many book recommendations to try and read and review.   So, how do you even determine which books you are going to review?   Hayley Morell: (4:08 - 7:49) So, right now we are wrapping up one of the things we love doing, which is providing award coverage. In January is when the American Library Association announces their awards, and they like to recognize the best middle grade with the Newberry, the best picture books with the Caldecott, and then a number of other awards. We know that those books are going to be going into lots of libraries and schools.   And so, we like to provide coverage of that and review those books that we know parents are going to be seeing on shelves and wondering, is this a good book? Should we be reading this? What do we want to check out?   We also like to watch what is popular. What is causing discussion? So, several years ago, that was The Hunger Games.   And there was a lot of questions about dystopia. Should we be reading this? Is this helpful?   Do I want my teen reading The Hunger Games? More recently, some popular middle grade series like Keeper of the Lost Cities have had a lot of parents asking, what is this series? Is there anything I should know about?   And so, we try to have a balanced review. We review books that you're going to find at the library. We also like to review books that maybe you wouldn't know about.   So, a smaller Christian imprint, for example, we like to review that type of book to encourage readers to read widely, to read Christian authors, to read secular authors. We like books. And so, we each bring our own specialty to the team and experience.   Janie, who's our senior editor, is a children's author. She loves history. And so, as the community relations manager, I tend to handle review requests.   So, when somebody asks us, can you review this book? It's popular. Or I'm an author.   I wrote a book. Can you review it? I'll look at the book.   I'll look at how hard is it to get? We do try to review books that are easy to find, that you might find in your local library. But then I'll look at our team.   So, for Janie, if it is going to be a nonfiction history, let's say for a 10 to 12-year-old, I know that's going to be up her alley. Meanwhile, Betsy loves poetry. She loves nature, nonfiction.   Betsy is a very, I'd say you're one of our Renaissance people. And so, I know Betsy is going to be inclined towards maybe a novel and verse. And she also likes dealing with high school books.   You've got that teacher education background, where if it is an epic poem, Betsy is going to be our reviewer. Megan is our amazing picture book author. She's super creative, loves picture books.   Megan is who I turn to when I find a picture book. Meanwhile, I used to handle as I was the team member of the team and then turned into my 20s. So, I gravitated toward YA, and I still love a good YA fantasy.   But I am now in board book land and picture books. So, I have been expanding my reach. I do serve on our middle grade fiction, so I can help out with middle grades.   But each of us will flex in, flex out. Megan has a large family of boys. And so, if it's a boy book, she is a great person.   We love to send those to her to see if her boys like them. And that's, I could keep going because we love books, but that's a big snapshot.   Laura Dugger: (7:50 - 8:09) That's so helpful because you cover such a wide variety of books throughout your team. And as curators of book reviews, what questions are you most commonly receiving, both from young people and maybe their parents as well?   Hayley Morell: (8:12 - 9:22) I think we often get questions like, is this book clean? Is this book safe? And we like to kind of change that question.   And we like to say, why is the content in this book? Because that can be different, you know, depending on something that is in a picture book, which wouldn't be appropriate for an age, could be very appropriate for a YA book and a great discussion starter. So, it definitely depends on the content and what audience and what age of the audience we're dealing with.   So, we try to, as people ask us, well, is this safe or is this clean? Should I read this? We want to build discernment and encourage parents to interact, parents and educators to interact with our reviews.   And they know their reader. They know how their reader is going to receive a book. And what questions might come up.   And so, we like to help interact with that conversation. And then there's another kind of question we often get, which I'm going to let Betsy answer.   Betsy Farquhar: (9:23 - 10:10) The other question is, my kid likes blank kind of book or is blank kind of reader. What do I get for him or her? And so that, of course, can vary widely.   But people love to know what book is right for my family or my classroom or my child. And so, we try to write our reviews with that question in mind, not to make a blanket statement, you should all read this book, or nobody should read this book, but to give parents and educators enough information to make that decision for themselves. And then we started doing these reels on Instagram, where we're pretending we're answering a customer service phone call with questions we've been asked, right?   My son only likes video games, or my daughter doesn't want fantasy, but she reads these kinds of books. And so, we try to help people think that through.   Laura Dugger: (10:10 - 10:14) So, that's really how we continue.   Hayley Morell: (10:15 - 11:09) Sorry. And one more question that we often get because we are book reviewers is, will you review my book? And so, at that point, we do have a process.   We encourage people to submit a request. And it could be maybe a book they're curious about and would just like a review from us, or they're an author or a publisher. And so, in that case, we direct them to our review submission form.   And like I said before, we are definitely looking for books that are easy to find. That will encourage us to review a book, because while we love books that are like smaller imprints, et cetera, and we do try to provide coverage for that, we also are aware that a lot of our audience only has their library or their school library. And so, we are trying to do books that are easy to find and accessible for our readers.   Laura Dugger: (11:10 - 11:40) Okay, that's really helpful to hear what people are writing in and asking you about. And so, hearing the sweet spot from each team member, and then Betsy, how you mentioned people love to know what's right for my family. So, no, this won't fit every situation. But can you give examples of maybe books that the four of you find yourselves recommending quite a bit because they are ones that fit a wide range of people?   Betsy Farquhar: (11:41 - 13:39) Of course, we put a ton of recommendations in our book that came out in the fall. And those are sort of our most common recommendations. We have a place on our website called Starred Reviews.   And those are the best of the best in our mind of their genre. So, if you're looking for graphic novels, and you see a star on a graphic novel, it's because we think this is an amazing graphic novel. So, that's just a helpful framework, because of course, people are all over the map, right?   We're in the midst of whittling down our Book of the Year for this year. And we also have our Reader's Choice Book of the Year. And those books are ones we tend to recommend all the time.   So, I'm going to give you just some samples of what are on our Reader's Choice list, because that is a public list. And I can't reveal the 2025 releases we're considering for the other one. But for our Book of the Year for the Reader's Choice this year, we have The Found Boys by S. D. Smith.   We've got, I've got them all right here, Olivetti by Allie Millington. There's The Hiding Place: A Graphic Novel and the Watership Down: The Graphic Novel that are both really fun. People have really enjoyed them.   We've got the first book in The Dream Keeper Saga by Kathryn L. Butler. That's a Christian fantasy series. We've got Enemies in the Orchard, which is the novel in verse about World War II.   One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome, which is another novel in verse about some Black pioneers going west on a wagon train. And that might be, oh, The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo. Kate DiCamillo is a super prolific author, and we do recommend her books often.   Her book, Ferris, was our Book of the Year last year. So, there's just a quick sampling of some middle grades' books. And middle grades, for people who don't know, that's the broad fourth through eighth grade age range.   You think of like ages 8 to 12. And they tend to be the broadest in audience. You can usually read those aloud to a younger audience, or even teenagers might find them enjoyable.   So, that's a good start.   Hayley Morell: (13:40 - 14:29) I do think one of the beauties of our team is that we've worked together for a long time. And we trust our team. And so, I will happily recommend a book that I haven't seen, but I know Betsy loved and reviewed.   And it's so fun reading the same books. So, like right now, since we're on award committees, we are seeing a lot of the same books and getting to talk about them. But I think it's one of our strengths that we each bring something to the table.   And I would say if someone really likes history, I'm going to look at what Janie has loved recently, because I know she is looking for those good new history books. And its so fun recommending books and getting to play to our strengths.   Laura Dugger: (14:31 - 16:16) And that comes out in book recommendations. When you're passionate about what you're reading, it's naturally contagious, I think. And now a brief message from our sponsor.   Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka has been owned and operated by the Bertschi family for over 25 years. A lot has changed in the car business since Sam and Stephen's grandfather, Sam Leman, opened his first Chevrolet dealership over 55 years ago.   If you visit their dealership today, though, you'll find that not everything has changed. They still operate their dealership like their grandfather did, with honesty and integrity. Sam and Stephen understand that you have many different choices in where you buy or service your vehicle.   This is why they do everything they can to make the car buying process as easy and hassle-free as possible. They are thankful for the many lasting friendships that began with a simple welcome to Sam Leman's. Their customers keep coming back because they experience something different.   I've known Sam and Stephen and their wives my entire life, and I can vouch for their character and integrity, which makes it easy to highly recommend you check them out today. Your car buying process doesn't have to be something you dread, so come see for yourself at Sam Leman Chevrolet in Eureka. Sam and Stephen would love to see you, and they appreciate your business.   Learn more at their website, LemanEureka.com or visit them on Facebook by searching for Sam Leman Eureka. You can also call them on 309-467-2351. Thanks for your sponsorship.   I'm curious, over the years, what character qualities have you noticed in people who are now adults, but they originally fell in love with reading in childhood?   Betsy Farquhar: (16:17 - 17:39) So, that's a pretty broad question. I would think, I'm just going to paint this with broad strokes. People who read typically are people who think, and especially in a day and age where we're bombarded with screens and soundbites all the time, if somebody can actually read an analog book from start to finish, then typically they're going to be able to think about ideas in a different way than people who are just existing on soundbites.   So, the ability to think is pretty critical. There's been a lot of studies that show that people who read also have better empathy. It's just a way we can sort of step into somebody else's shoes, especially if we're reading a story about somebody who perhaps lived in a different time period, or they're from a different ethnic background, or even if there's just a different socioeconomic level, it helps us understand the people on the other side a little bit better.   So, that kind of, this twin characteristics of empathy and thoughtfulness, I think are pretty common. We all go through seasons where we don't read as much, whether we're stressed or perhaps, my kids are in college and they were avid readers in high school, and they're not doing a lot of reading for fun right now, but they know how to read and they enjoy it. So, they'll probably come back to that in the future.   So, I think that's a helpful thing to remember, just because your eight-year-old loves reading, when he or she is 18, they may not be reading as much, and that's okay. They'll probably come back to it.   Hayley Morell: (17:40 - 17:53) And I've definitely seen that with younger siblings too, burning out and then all of a sudden back, asking for book recommendations. And it's fun to know that reading habits stick around.   Laura Dugger: (17:55 - 18:38) That's well said. And yet, even if they lie dormant for a while, they may be reawakened in adulthood. But I think I find it's less common for someone to fall in love with reading for their first time as an adult.   So, I think it's very beneficial as parents to cultivate or instill this love of reading in our children. And you two are the experts. So, I'd love to hear your take on this.   What are some of the benefits of reading? And why is it worthwhile to devote our time to curating a healthy diet of books, both for ourselves, but especially for our children?   Hayley Morell: (18:39 - 20:06) Betsy, I think you might've said this once, but I think it came up as we were talking about writing our book. As I have a small child who's just starting to notice pages and we're reading board books and he's trying to reach for it. I remember someone once said that reading to a very young child, they're not registering the story yet.   They might be registering the pictures. But the time that we're taking reading, when I read to him or when my husband gets home from work and they read one board book together, he's not really looking at the book as much as he's looking at our face and hearing our voice. And books are becoming something that we do together and that we do as a family.   And it's a way that we're building relationships. And I think that's a great encouragement to me to keep reading. And I have nieces and nephews who loved books.   And then that's something that we enjoy the story together and we'll laugh over silly stories and we'll read. But I think that it's something that as we want to like curate our collections but also think about how are we encouraging children to love reading. It's if they see us reading too and see us enjoying books and still picking up a book ourselves.   I'm not sure, Betsy, if you have anything that you would add to that.   Betsy Farquhar: (20:07 - 20:41) Well, I just think the better we read anything, the better equipped we are to read the story in the Bible because God revealed himself to us in a written book. And so, we're sort of flexing those muscles when we read. And the more we can engage with what we read, even if it's a picture book with a five-year-old, we're beginning that practice of developing discernment.   And that's part of discipling our children. So, I do think it's all part of the same picture. It's not going to look the same for every family but just working on developing those muscles of discernment and reading intelligently, that's going to go a long way.   Laura Dugger: (20:43 - 22:07) I love how you bring in the Bible that is so important. And I found myself even just this week at bedtime praying over our daughters that they would have a love for the written word because that is what God has gifted to us. And I love how the word became flesh and dwelt among us, but he is the original storyteller and has instilled that in each of us.   And I think just a very practical way at any age to help our children cultivate this love is by reading aloud. And we recently were on a family vacation and had a rental vehicle and we had a long drive-in front of us and listened to the radio for a while. But we also like this tradition of reading one book aloud on a vacation.   So, we remember our time in Florida from one year was a place to hang the moon and it was a different book this year, but I get car sick while we're driving. So, I couldn't read it aloud. So, our oldest daughter read it aloud for all of us.   And I realized how much attention and focus is required and imagination to paint these pictures of the characters in your mind. And I just thought, wow, there's so much learning that's going on even as the one listening to the book, not reading the actual words.   Betsy Farquhar: (22:09 - 22:15) And a place to hang the moon was our reader's choice favorite last year. So, lots of our readers have read that one.   Laura Dugger: (22:16 - 22:36) It's such a good one. And as wonderful as books are, they're also powerful and influential. So, as you've reiterated, discernment is required.   And I'd love for you to elaborate on why the young adult, or the YA category can be the most controversial.   Hayley Morell: (22:38 - 25:12) Young adult protagonists are often upper teenage years. And so, we like to say, as we mentioned in our book, no topic is out of bounds. And this means that there can be a lot going on and a lot of messiness.   We like to use that word as we're talking about that. And sometimes the messiness can be thought provoking. Sometimes it can be provocative.   And we have noticed often YA deals with questions of identity. Who am I? How do I relate to the world?   And that can look like lots of different things. It can include sexual identity, which can lead to a lot of conversations. But something that we like to lean into as we look at the YA genre is that in a world where everything is constantly shifting, as you have a teen and they're encountering conversations at school, conversations with peers, or using social media, having an ever-changing feed that I can look at my Instagram feed and it's going to look nothing like a teenager's Instagram feed.   Even if you're looking at the same account, the way that reels are coming, they're getting bombarded with messages. The messiest of books is static. And you both can look at that and read the cover, read what's going on, and talk about it.   And you both have the same place to have a conversation. And so, we like to lean into that when we're looking at YA books and realize they are powerful, but they're powerful conversation starters. And books like, Betsy recently read a book, and it's called Bright Red Fruit.   And it's a cautionary tale about a teenage girl who has a relationship with an older man that's predator. And he is taking advantage, trying to separate her that is an excellent conversation starter. It's not an easy book to read.   You're reading it, getting worried for this girl, but it's a great way to say, let's read this book and let's talk about what a healthy relationship looks like, because this is not healthy. So, we love YA books that can provoke conversations. And sometimes it might be you both looking at a book and going, you know, this doesn't seem helpful.   We don't need to finish this book. It's okay to stop reading a book and return it to the library.   Laura Dugger: (25:12 - 26:11) I completely agree. And even with that YA section, one of our daughters was just saying, when I go through that section of the library, it seems like every single book is about death. And it did provoke a good conversation from that.   But I think it was Sarah McKenzie who was the first person that I heard explain the difference between a middle grade novel or YA because from my understanding, middle grade isn't just for those grades. You even said younger ages can enjoy that and older. I have friends that only read middle grade novel now as adults.   So, it's not just your reading level, but YA has different rules on it where I think you said anything goes, any topic is allowed. So, it doesn't mean that YA is necessarily what you have to graduate to once you enter high school. Is that right?   Hayley Morell: (26:11 - 27:06) But yes, it's typically and the funny thing that you kind of leaned into it, some middle grade books definitely deal with coming of age or might even have a teenage protagonist, but it's written in a way that a 12 year old could read it and enjoy it. When you get into like the higher YA, it is more like young adults, people starting their own lives, having adventures, leaving home, going on quests. And like you said, bringing in some heavier topics.   Now we have seen since like in the last five years, a lot of books dealing with death and grieving that are hitting that middle grade genre too, which can be helpful. But at the same time, if you're just reading sad books, you might want to change your diet and find a fun, happy book too.   Laura Dugger: (27:07 - 27:31) Again, in a conversation like this, it has to be more general of a recommendation, but there's such a difference, I'm sure in YA for your 13-year-old versus your 18-year-old. So, for someone who does want to dip their toe into some YA books, do you have anyones that you find yourselves recommending again for that age group?   Betsy Farquhar: (27:32 - 28:42) I'll jump in here. We've got a couple of book lists on our site that are, have actual number ages attached to them. Thirteen books for 13-year-old boys is a great one for that younger teen audience.   But those tend to be, they're grappling with some coming-of-age issues, but they tend to be more adventure based in a sense and more fun. I think of the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan. There's a little bit of language.   There's a little bit of romance, but it's very teen, young teen friendly. And its actually kind of a good picture of men being heroes and women are heroes in very, like the men are men, they're very masculine. And the women, even if they're part of the army, so to speak, they're still doing it in a feminine way.   So, it's just kind of a nice sort of entry into some of those conversations. But then if you fast forward, by the time teens are in their upper teens, they should be able to read adult books too. And so, you might find yourself reading something like Peace Like a River by Leif Enger, which is very much written for an adult market, but very accessible to teens if they're willing to grapple with some of those ideas.   But that book's going to be a lot heavier than a book for a 13-year-old.   Laura Dugger: (28:44 - 29:05) That's helpful just to have examples. And I think it's also helpful to put this into context by reflecting back through time. So, just in America, what have you learned about the trends and the changes in libraries, specifically over the past 75 years?   Betsy Farquhar: (29:06 - 31:30) So, I have a library degree too, so I love talking about libraries. In library science, we have a rule, it's called Ranganathan's Law, and it simply says every book is reader, which means that for every book out there, there's a reader out there. And libraries take that very seriously.   No book is off the table for a public library. We had an entire class on serving our community. So, the goal behind a public library has always been to serve the community in which it's placed.   Now that's changed a lot as our society has changed a lot. So, before World War II, most libraries were funded very locally, local taxes, they may have even been subscription-based, but after we have all these army vets coming back after World War II, they're going back to school later. We have this explosion of information access for people who can't get it.   So, the Library Services Act was the first one. We've had lots of iterations since then. Now it includes technology.   It started with giving federal dollars to rural libraries, and it's continued even to big cities now, but the focus is still on services for people who can't access them as easily. So, free Wi-Fi was a really big one before Wi-Fi was as broad spread. There are services for the blind and for other communities that might not be able to read as easily.   So, it's still sort of an information hub, but I think that makes us uncomfortable sometimes as Christians because our society has changed so much that we go into a library now and we're like, I would never read this book to my kid. Well, but your neighbor might, and the public library is not the parent of your child. The public library is serving the whole community.   So, go ahead and request them to stock some Christian books. A lot of them will buy the Christian books that you request because they want to serve you. You're part of their community.   So, I think we just have to remember that their goal is broader. My goal as a parent is far more niche than my public librarian's goal to serve her community. She's not my enemy.   Even if she's picking things for story time that I would never read to my children, it doesn't mean I have to ignore the library. I can love that those are image bearers. I can respectfully bring up my concerns, and I can suggest books and I can build a relationship with this fellow image bearer in my community.   It can be a great mission field. So, yes, libraries are continually evolving. That's why they now offer you can even check out sports equipment.   They're still trying to provide information and resources for the community.   Hayley Morell: (31:32 - 32:01) I just recommended or requested two books that were Christian picture books that aren't in our system. And one of our librarians helped me fill out the form explaining why I wanted them. And I just got a notification yesterday. Both are on hold for me and have been added to our library. So, it's exciting. If you don't ask, you don't know if you're going to get it. I honestly was surprised. I was like, oh, they actually got the books I wanted.   Laura Dugger: (32:02 - 32:56) It is so exciting when they do that. I love our local library, and the staff is just wonderful to work with. So, that's great encouragement for us to get to know them by name and have a relationship with them.   And just to zero in on that one piece after World War II, I think that's tied to what so many people call is it the golden age of children's literature where some people will say we only read books before a certain year, like mid-1900s. But I love that you guys review even modern books because it's not that it was all better back then. But I do think there's a piece of truth in it that libraries had to be so discerning back then with less funding.   And so maybe they had the best of the best available and then funds came in and we can have a wider range.   Betsy Farquhar: (32:56 - 33:40) There's so many factors here historically because we could really nerd out, but I won't. But what's also being reflected is simply printmaking technology because the ability to print paperbacks, paperbacks as like a thing weren't a thing until the 20th century. So, books were incredibly expensive.   You've got all those factors playing in too. So, not only are they getting different funding, but there is an explosion in printmaking technology that allows publishers to produce inexpensive books. And that allows families and libraries to buy more books.   It's not dissimilar to the way we have digital media now that's got its own sort of technology behind the distribution of the digital books. So, there's a lot of factors involved in that.   Laura Dugger: (33:41 - 34:03) That is fascinating. I'm glad you brought that up. And like I said, so helpful to look back.   But now if we're also looking forward, I'd really appreciate your perspective on where we're headed. So, what's on your radar for genres or books that may require even more discernment in the future?   Hayley Morell: (34:04 - 37:18) So, right now, romanticy is having a moment and that's a genre that is getting a lot of attention. There's a lot of marketing using that language. And I think it's really helpful to realize this is a marketing term.   So, Fourth Wing became very popular. That is a book that is for adults. It has a lot of explicit sex.   But it used the term romanticy and it sold very well. And so suddenly all books that are fantasy and have some romance are being called romanticy. And that could mean a lot of different things.   So, what we're seeing is this term that if it's used in the YA genre, we don't know what it means going into a book. It might mean a lot of focus on romance and some unhelpful sex. It also could mean a really fun fantasy that happens to have a romantic angle.   So, I recently gave a starred review to A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim. That's a Chinese fairy tale, beauty and the beast type story. And it is excellent.   One of the marketing terms that used was romanticy. And it just is a wonderful fantasy story that has this thread of romance perfectly appropriate for teen readers. But that is a term that we're currently aware of.   And this is a genre that we want to notice and take with a grain of salt. It's kind of a contrast on the other side. It's differentiating between romanticy has romance and then there's cozy fantasy, which is more cottage core, comfortable feeling.   It also could have sex. So, there's, as we run into this fantasy genre, there's a lot of things going on, but it's definitely having a moment. And it's just nice to know what's going on and what cozy fantasy is going to be focused on character development, like very like a shopkeeper who inherits a cottage with a garden and grows mushrooms.   That's cozy fantasy. Romanticy is a chosen one motif who's at some dramatic school. Dark academia is also having a moment where it's a lot of angst, a lot of little bit of horror.   And some of it can be done really well because it's popular. There's a lot of it out there. And so, some discernment is required as you're figuring out, is this a book for adults or is this a book for teens?   I think I would be cautious with books that are being marketed for adults as romanticy because you could run into some things that are meant for an adult audience and might not be helpful for that teenage reader of yours.   Betsy Farquhar: (37:18 - 38:06) The only other thing I'll add, and this is sort of a different approach, but we're seeing a lot of genre blending. It's getting harder to say this is a mystery or this is a fantasy, even this is a historical fiction story. So, I think genre fiction in general is kind of having a moment.   And when we say genre fiction, we really mean things like mystery, science fiction, romanticy, these sort of sub genres that are underneath the broader terms of realistic fiction or speculative fiction is an umbrella term that includes fantasy, dystopia, science fiction, magical realism, all the little niche downstream sort of sub genres. But we're seeing some really interesting things. It's going to be harder to automatically decide I like that genre, or I don't because they're just mixing and matching elements from all over the place.   Laura Dugger: (38:08 - 39:15) Mm-hmm. That is helpful. I had never heard of some of those things that you just mentioned, but also I'd love for you to respond after I shared this story.   I had a previous guest, Megan Cabe, who used to run a blog. It was called Young Book Love and she would review, I think, middle grade novels, maybe a little bit of YA, but she would say most topics are beneficial to read, even if they're difficult, what you all refer to as messy books. But she did provide extra caution and just said she strongly advised against explicit sexual content because those mental images have a way of sticking with us.   And I agree with her. I would also add sometimes what's not appropriate for our children is not appropriate for us either. And just a funny way to remember this, I had a loved one recently who just said, “You can't sugarcoat a turd. I'd love your take on all of that.”   Hayley Morell: (39:17 - 41:54) So, we like to use the term beyond ever after when we're dealing with this idea of what romance is helpful, what is not helpful. And like you said, the age of the reader comes into play because something that might be a good conversation point with your teen, let's say dealing with a first kiss, that is something that is good to be thinking about and be talking about having healthy conversations about what is God's design for sexuality. And as you are starting to notice the opposite sex and have feelings, what do we do with those?   And again and again, it's been shown that it is helpful to have these conversations because if we're not having a conversation about what is God's view and what does God want us to do with this, our young people are going to turn to the world, which is very happy to give them a lot of talk about sexuality, but some very different perspectives and answers that are focused on yourself, let's you do you versus no, what has God given us and how are we going to steward this?   So, one of the things that I like to, that we like to be aware of as we're reviewing at Redeemed Reader is, is this a 12-year-old reading this book? And if a 12-year-old is reading a book and in the book, a 12-year-old is having a crush and it's kissing, we don't want our 12-year-olds kissing. That's not that helpful yet.   I mean, that's, that's quite young and yes, in some cultures you might, but not yet. However, if this is a book about an 18-year-old on a high school trip, like Becky Dean has some really fun YA romances that are appropriate for teens, then dealing with what is it like dating? What is it like dealing with these emotions and chemistry that can be really well done for an 18-year-old?   But like you said, we want to be aware of our imaginations. We want to be aware of what we're able to handle. And for someone, maybe reading those romances is fun and helpful.   For another, it might be unhelpful. And I think that comes down to as a reader growing discernment and knowing what you are able to read that will still be edifying.   Betsy Farquhar: (41:56 - 42:55) I'm going to piggyback a little bit. I, I agree that there, we look to scripture for what the standards are, and the Bible is not describing sexual activity in sordid detail. So, it's probably a good idea for us not to be wallowing in the same sorts of things.   And I think the same thing is true for language. In fact, it's easier to ignore profanity in a book you're reading versus listening to it. I mean, if we immerse ourselves in audio books that have, that are littered with profanity, it's going to stick in our head differently than if we're just reading it on the page.   And I think sexual activity; there are some similar dynamics at play. Obviously, a visual scene is going to be probably stick with us even more than a written scene. But either way, you know, that's part of discernment is what is my imagination doing with this?   And the overall picture of my reading diet. Is this all I'm reading? Is this what my thoughts are going towards?   Are they pointing me back to Christ? Are they promoting some helpful conversation? Or is it just sort of my guilty pleasure? Well, that should be maybe a sign.   Laura Dugger: (43:21 - 43:45) Some love stories are described as squeaky clean. But when it comes to the world of Christian romance, what are some helpful questions that we can be asking our tween or teen? And what are some healthy considerations for filtering books that we're going to allow to be consumed in our home?   Hayley Morell: (43:47 - 47:15) So, it's interesting. I think each genre of romance can have its own pitfalls. And I know I really appreciate the authors who are writing clean, squeaky-clean stories.   And as I've read them and consumed them, one of the things I've noticed is that it is clean. There's no question of something being clean. But at the same time, if the only thing we're reading, going back to having a balanced book diet, is a squeaky-clean story, I don't think that's helpful because it doesn't show an accurate view of the world.   And we want to be preparing our tweens and teens for a world where, yes, there is a happily ever after. Yes, we have the fairy tale wedding, or we have an imagination that is sparked by boy meets girl. But then what happens next?   And we live in a fallen world. And so, we have to work on relationships. We have to work on communicating.   And sometimes squeaky clean can lean so far into being safe that it doesn't actually show what it is like to have a relationship with the opposite sex. I think of one story I read and it's very superficial, playful. Snarky is often something I've noticed in the squeaky clean because we don't, we have to have some form of banter.   And so, it's perpetual sarcasm and no physical touch. But then suddenly our protagonists marry and now they're still being snarky and not touching. And as an adult, I look at that and go, that is not an accurate portrayal of what it looks like to have a romance and to have marriage.   And so, we love to ask, what are the relationships like in this book? And if that's in a middle grade novel, one of the things we love seeing is are they showing a healthy family? Are they showing parents that like being together?   Because that's at a middle grade level is you're sparking that imagination. What is our protagonist seeing as the adults around them are having relationships? Do the adults like to be together?   I just was reading a really sweet, Betsy, I think you read it. But Will's Race for Home is a story about this boy and westward expansion. And so, it's when the Oklahoma, Oklahoma land rush opens up.   And there's the sweetest time where he talks about how he knows his father loves his mother because his father will look at his mother and she will blush. And it's the sweetest age-appropriate picture of what romance looks like when you're a 12-year-old looking at your parents. And I think that type of thing can be a really healthy way of having these conversations versus having a diet that is just squeaky clean and yet might actually be showing an inaccurate portrayal of what it's like to have relationships in a fallen world.   Laura Dugger: (47:16 - 47:30) Well, let's get specific on another type of book as well. How do you advise parents to think critically on what age is appropriate to consume what you mentioned earlier, the Hunger Games or a book like that?   Betsy Farquhar: (47:31 - 49:44) Ooh, pick me. I love these kind of books. I'll read anything.   And I tend to get tasked with books that are difficult sometimes. Although many of us on our team read them and we do talk about these behind the scenes. So, when you're thinking about the age your child is and when they're ready for any book, but especially a popular one, I think part of that is our job as parents is always to be watching our children, to be students of our children.   How are they consuming media in general? What kind of video games? What kind of movies?   Are they on social media? What is their media diet like? And how are they handling that?   And if they're showing discernment in general, and they're kind of grappling with issues and ideas, then they're going to be ready for a book like the Hunger Games sooner than a child who's just blindly taking it all in. There's no magic age where you say, ooh, you're 12, you can read the Hunger Games. A lot depends on what that child's already displayed.   And I think dystopia are the books where there's some apocalyptic future and there's usually an autocratic governor or government system or it's futuresque. But they're really great books about bringing up big questions about how society works and the nature of authority and even the nature of anarchy. And they're just such great discussion starters.   But if your child isn't able to have those kinds of conversations yet, they're going to miss the forest for the trees and it's going to be all shock value. But I'm going to add a big caveat. If it's really popular and you think your child is maybe ready, maybe not quite, I would probably go ahead and read it with him or her if all of the peers are reading it.   Because I would rather my child have that conversation with me than with their friend. Or at least have it with me first before they read it with their friends. Even if we skip parts, maybe it's a book that you feel like we can't read chapter 12 for whatever reason.   Be honest with your child and say, you know what? This book has a scene I'm really uncomfortable with. Maybe give a brief summary.   We're going to keep going. But engage with your children over what is popular. I think that is the number one takeaway because they're going to find answers somewhere.   We want it to be from us.   Laura Dugger: (49:46 - 50:52) That is good. And that's why I appreciate the redeemed reader because you're putting in all this work for us because we can't pre-read everything. But when we're faced with a situation like that, it is helpful that we can choose to read some with them.   And another angle, I just love a few of your quotes in the book. First, on page 76, you write, If Genesis were made into a true-to-the-book movie, the Redeemed Reader team would not allow our children to watch it. We might abstain as well.   And then you go on for page 111 and you say, the best tool we can give our growing readers is God's word. The more they know and understand the Bible, the better equipped they will be to think discerningly, to recognize error, and to know how the Bible handles the same issues. So, will you just elaborate on this wisdom and advise us on how and why to encourage our children to read the Bible, even though it is messy?   Betsy Farquhar: (50:53 - 52:58) Well, it is a messy book, but thankfully, it's not only a messy book. I mean, if it were a movie, we have nudity very quickly. Then we have rebellion against God, and then we have murder.   And before you know it, six chapters in, the world is so bad that God is sending a flood to destroy it. So, it must have been really bad. But the Bible isn't giving us all those details.   And I think that is a big piece of the picture when it comes to discernment in literature. The Bible is not shy about telling us that people sinned. I mean, our heroes, David, infidelity, murder, you know, most of the famous people in the Bible did something egregiously wrong and sinful.   And yet the whole story of the Bible is God redeeming his people. We're all sinners. And there is hope because of Christ.   None of us can make it without Christ. And so, in the Bible, you're seeing both the mess and the hope. You're seeing God's answer to this problem.   And so, as we read scripture with our kids, one of the things that is helpful is we know what sin is. It's rebellion against God. It includes everything from sexual activity outside of marriage to gossip and pride and sort of the easy sins, right?   They're all sin. So, I think that's one thing that comes across when we're studying God's word. We also see Christ.   And when we then turn to a book, just a regular fiction book or even a nonfiction book, is the book also labeling sin as sin or at least a mistake? Or is it glorifying it? How is it handling it compared to how we know scripture handles it?   Is there any hope in the book? And where is that hope found? Are they just praying to the universe?   We're seeing universe capitalized all over the place now as sort of this amorphous deity. Well, that's not hopeful. I don't want to pray to Jupiter.   You know, we have a God who cares about us. And so just getting your kids to sort of reckon with the differences between how a book is portraying hope and judgment versus how scripture portrays it, that's going to take them a long way.   Laura Dugger: (53:01 - 53:23) That's fantastic. And your book lists at the end of each chapter are reason enough to purchase the book. But I'm sure that you've encountered additional titles since your publication date that you also enjoy.   So, will you share a handful of book recommendations, maybe some from each of those sweet spots again from your team?   Hayley Morell: (53:24 - 54:03) For young adults, we've actually mentioned both of the ones that I would add. They both have received starred reviews. A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim.   Excellent fantasy for young adults. And then Bright Red Fruit by Sophia O'Heo. And that one is a discussion starter.   It is a messy book, but it's an excellent book for its audience. Those would be two young adult fantasies. We see a lot of young adult fantasies.   So, but I would have loved to include those in the book. We just read them later.   Betsy Farquhar: (54:03 - 55:03) So, quick correction, Bright Red Fruit's not a fantasy, but it is it is. Oh, I apologize. That's fine.   It's a discussion starter. And that usually means that there's something in there you need to know about before you read it. As a parent, I would recommend doing your homework on that book.   It's a really good book to read with your daughters, but you might want to pre-read it first. Middle grade, that's our biggest bucket. Because it's the most it's got the widest audience reach and it's just so fun.   So, some of the ones that we've really liked, The Teacher of Nomadland by Daniel Nayeri. He is a Christian author. He won the National Book Award for this book for young people's literature and a Newbery Honor.   It's fantastic. It's a story about World War II. Benny on the Case by Wesley King is a really lovely mystery that features the protagonist has mosaic down syndrome, and it's just not very common to read books with different disabilities represented.   So, that's just a really sweet story. Lots of fun.   Hayley Morell: (55:04 - 55:05) It's a great audio book too.   Betsy Farquhar: (55:06 - 56:40) Yes. Song of the Stone Tiger, another Christian author, Glenn McCarty. It's a kind of a mix of realistic fiction and fantasy.   So, it's fun. A new one that we like. And then I'll leave you with one more.   I actually have it right here. So, for those who are watching this, they can see it. It's called Radiant by Vonda Michaud-Nelson.   And it's a novel in verse, but a beautiful picture of what it means to love your neighbor. So, The Sword by Marty Murkowski from New Growth Press. It's kind of a family devotional resource.   It was the World Magazine Book of the Year. We gave it a starred review as well. The Amazing Generation is a book for kids by the same author as The Anxious Generation.   So, that book is like a super bestseller for adults. This is kind of taking that idea and helping kids know how not to be the anxious generation, right? How they can be the amazing generation.   The World Entire is a nonfiction, maybe technically a picture book, but it's really long. And it's for this audience. And it's a true story about World War II, about a rescue.   I think it was set in Portugal. And then a graphic novel that's nonfiction. I'm trying to cover all your different genres here.   This is How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Meadez. It's about his father and how he emigrated or escaped from Cuba. But it's a graphic novel.   So, there's a lot of visual interest. So, that's a really interesting background for kids who are hearing a lot of headlines about places like Cuba. And they're like, what's really going on?   A book like that can help them understand just some of the nuance behind the headlines.   Hayley Morell: (56:41 - 58:51) One of the things about middle grades as we talk about books is that middle grade is the age where readers are just exploding. And while you might have been able to keep up with your reader, then they hit 10 or 12 years old, and you give them a stack of books and they're reading them and asking for more. So, we definitely have a lot of middle grade reviews.   Picture books, though, are another place that we just love. And there's been some recent ones that we looked at and got, oh, this would be so good for the book. Something like Tuesday's Bear by Alexander Davis.   It's this beautiful story based on a true historical event. Unclaimed luggage is where, you know, if a suitcase gets lost, what happens to the contents? Well, one family had an idea, and Alexandra tells it through the story of this little bear who gets lost and then is found.   It's the most beautiful story. As a Christian, you can see a lot of very true themes running through it. And it's a delight to read aloud.   Wild Honey from the Moon by Kenneth Craigel. It's a story about a mother shrew whose little boy is sick, and she is going to do anything, even if it means traveling all the way to the moon to get some wild honey. It's a very imaginative story.   Beautiful pictures. A couple sneak peek that are going to just, these reviews are just going up. Iguanodon's Horn by Sean Rubin.   We've loved Bolivar, it was a graphic novel he did about a dinosaur. You can tell he likes dinosaurs. This is an amazing nonfiction picture book.   And for our Christian readers, this is a book about dinosaurs that doesn't have evolution. And I think you're going to love it. One more. His Grace is Enough. This is like Dr. Zeus type rhyming. Melissa Kruger wrote it.   It's a Christian book and it's a wonderful reminder for children. When you are dealing with sin, God's grace is enough. And I think you'll find if you read this, you'll be repeating the stanzas to yourself and encouraged as you read.   Laura Dugger: (58:54 - 59:41) I love having book lists. And if any other listeners are like me, we'll finish this episode and go ahead and put a bunch of books on hold at the library, which is always so convenient. And I'm sure a lot of people aren't able to take notes right now.   Maybe they're driving or working out as they're listening to this. But I love that every episode on The Savvy Sauce now has a transcript available. So, if anybody wants these book lists, you can go to the show notes page, either on our website or click on your podcast app and the transcript is available there.   So, thank you for all those wonderful recommendations. And do you have any other helpful tips to give us as parents if we're trying to navigate this well?   Betsy Farquhar: (59:42 - 1:00:26) Yes, start at birth and start not just reading with your kids, but asking them questions. They don't, it doesn't have to be a lengthy discussion. Is Piglet a good friend to poo?   You know, if you're reading Winnie the Pooh or if you're an Elephant and Piggy fan, like my kids were. Do you think Gerald should share his ice cream with Piggy? You can just pause in the middle of the story and just get them thinking, right?   So then when you get to the Hunger Games, you can say, what did you think of the ending? Would you have liked it to end differently? Those are great open-ended questions that get people talking and engaging and that you're often running.   If you can just think, I need to engage with my kids over what we're reading, then almost any book can be a discussion starter.   Laura Dugger: (1:00:27 - 1:00:33) Well, where can we go after this conversation to find more of your book recommendations?   Betsy Farquhar: (1:00:35 - 1:01:29) I'll do this one. Redeemedreader, alloneword.com is our website. And then we're super creative.   Our Facebook is exactly the same. Redeemedreader, alloneword. Our Instagram is redeemed underscore reader.   That's kind of a long story. But if you Google Redeemed Reader, you'll find us. And then the best way, oh yes, of course our book, which is also called The Redeemed Reader.   We're so original. But the best way to experience Redeemed Reader, other than the book, is through our weekly newsletter, which Haley curates and she does a fantastic job. But there's where you'll get the latest reviews.   We put in links for other places around the web that you might find interesting, different bookish news. Haley does a really fun book trivia with picture books. So, we like to think that it's going to make your inbox a happy place.   It's not a marketing email.   Laura Dugger: (1:01:30 - 1:01:50) I love that. We will provide links to all of that in the show notes for today's episode. And you two are already familiar.   We are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for both of you today, what is your savvy sauce?   Betsy Farquhar: (1:01:52 - 1:03:03) So, as a business owner and a mom and a wife, it's probably not a surprise that I love my planner, but I've been through a lot of planners in my day, and I have very specific requirements. It needs to be bound, not coil bound. There's a certain size.   I mean, I have issues. I should say I have high standards for my planner. The single best feature in my current planner is that it forces me to break down my to do list between my life to do and my work to do.   And that was a game changer for me because I am wearing a lot of hats as most women are these days. And so, I limit myself to the number of bullet points that I'm given in the planner so that my work doesn't overtake my family life. It tends to be that way, sadly, more than the other way around.   Usually, my family life is not overtaking the work life, but it just it just gives me a chance to articulate each week. You know, I've got a birthday coming up that I need to plan for or I need to make sure my I mean, I graduated my youngest last year from high school, but the senior year in high school has a lot of deadlines. And so, it just helped me prioritize those milestones for my family and not let work get in the way.   Love that.   Laura Dugger: (1:03:03 - 1:03:04) What's the name of your planner?   Betsy Farquhar: (1:03:04 - 1:03:17) It's called the commit 30. I know there are other planners that do the same sort of thing, but I love having a weekly spread and I just love breaking it out between life to do and work to do.   Laura Dugger: (1:03:18 - 1:03:20) Absolutely. That sounds amazing. I love it.   Hayley Morell: (1:03:21 - 1:05:10) And my savvy sauce, I was going to say, Betsy is the planner and Betsy, I know you wouldn't appreciate this is spiral bound. So, I echo having a planner is a great way for me to just sort through all my thoughts, put them down and organize what needs to get done. But my savvy sauce is related to tech habits.   And as we were getting ready for our first, my husband and I were talking about how could we be mindful with our phone usage? And I have to thank Betsy for recommending Andy Crouch's, The Tech-Wise Family. Love that book.   And one of the things that we decided to do was to create a charging station downstairs in our house. And when I am not working where I need my phone for authentication or sending a voice message or being on the phone, if I'm not actively working, my phone lives on its charger. And that's been a struggle for me.   I have to admit the moment I had a child, anxiety kicked in. And for the first month, the phone was on me because that's what I needed to have a little security blanket. But I've been learning to leave my phone behind.   And then I'm not tempted to pick it up and scroll. And I feel like a child again because I get to the middle of the afternoon. And since I haven't been distracting myself, I've been getting things done. And all of a sudden I'm like; it's two o'clock and it's not dinner time yet. I have all of this time because I've created some more time by using the phone as a tool. But not having it right present and honestly, just distracting myself with it.   Laura Dugger: (1:05:12 - 1:05:48) That is a good, savvy tip. I love both of those. And you two have such warm and engaging personalities.   And I love those benefits that you were talking about for people who are readers. I experienced all of that through both of you today. And you're so wise and discerning yourselves.   And I am just beyond grateful that the Lord gifted you with your intellect, but also this passion for reviewing these resources. You're benefiting so many parents and children alike.   So, thank you for the work that you do. And thank you for being my guests.   Betsy Farquhar: (1:05:49 - 1:05:57) Thank you for having us. It is all from the Lord. Anything we have that's wise and worth taking away.   The credit should go to him, of course.   Hayley Morell: (1:05:58 - 1:06:00) Ame

Voices in My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) Episode 619: I Cheerfully Refuse In this solo episode of Voices in My Head, I reflect on rest, recovery, and the quiet joy of being newly certified as a chaplain after years of work. I also share a heartfelt recommendation of I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger—a novel set in a broken world that somehow still points toward hope. Through story and reflection, this episode explores what it means to “cheerfully refuse” despair, choosing instead to live as people of hope, even in chaotic and uncertain times.     Connect with Rick Lee James Website: RickLeeJames.com Email: RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.com Streaming: Search “Rick Lee James” on your favorite music platform or on Spotify https://t.co/S7nCRl0xqa Audiobook Out of the Depths: A Songwriter's Journey Through the Psalms (Audible): Audiobook Link Special Offer 10% off at Bandcamp: use code 10off at checkout RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.com Hosted by Rick Lee James — Voices in My Head Podcast            

Voices in My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) Episode 619: I Cheerfully RefuseIn this solo episode of Voices in My Head, I reflect on rest, recovery, and the quiet joy of being newly certified as a chaplain after years of work. I also share a heartfelt recommendation of I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger—a novel set in a broken world that somehow still points toward hope. Through story and reflection, this episode explores what it means to “cheerfully refuse” despair, choosing instead to live as people of hope, even in chaotic and uncertain times.Connect with Rick Lee JamesWebsite: RickLeeJames.comEmail: Rick@RickLeeJames.comListen / SubscribeSubscribe, rate, and review Voices in My Head wherever you listen to podcasts.Music & MerchBandcamp (music + merch): RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.comStreaming: Search “Rick Lee James” on your favorite music platform or on Spotify https://t.co/S7nCRl0xqaAudiobookOut of the Depths: A Songwriter's Journey Through the Psalms (Audible):Audiobook LinkSpecial Offer10% off at Bandcamp: use code 10off at checkoutRickLeeJames.Bandcamp.comHosted byRick Lee James — Voices in My Head Podcast This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickleejames.substack.com/subscribe

Refusing Despair Amidst Cultural Darkness   What does it look like to cheerfully refuse a collapsing culture without giving in to cynicism, fear, or despair? Host Curtis Chang and Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson—Fletcher Jones Chair of Great Books at Pepperdine University— dive into Leif Enger's I Cheerfully Refuse, exploring why great novels still matter, how Christians can resist ideations of apocalypse with joy, and what faith-filled fiction reveals about beauty, truth, and survival in dark times. This conversation is for listeners hungry for cultural commentary,hopeful resistance, and deeper ways of reading the world through faith.   01:28 - Challenges of Reading Contemporary Novels 06:03 - The Meaning Behind the Title "I Cheerfully Refuse" 07:47 - Lessons for Dark Times 10:02 - The Enduring Power of Books vs. New Media 12:16 - Cultivating Fruitful Practices in Dark Times 14:36 - Living as a Cheerful Refuser Today 15:02 - Is the Christian Worldview True Reality Or A Bubble? 17:04 - What Is Enger's Idea of True humanity? 18:19 - Recommendations for Similar Books and Authors   Sign up for The After Party Sign up for The Good List Get tickets: Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference and our recording with Matt Maher     Mentioned In This Episode: Leif Enger's I Cheerfully Refuse Leif Enger's Peace Like a River Leif Enger's Virgil Wander Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 Claude Acho's Reading Black Books Eugene Vodolazkin's Laurus Rumor Godden's In This House of Brede Dylan Thomas' Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night More About Christopher Beha Jessica Hooton Wilson's The Scandal of Holiness   More From Jessica Hooten Wilson: Jessica Hooten Wilson's website Explore Jessica's books HERE Read articles and Essay by Jessica HERE   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook   The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.  

This week's episode is an old favorite from 2024. Leif Enger writes novels about good people living through bad times. His new book, I Cheerfully Refuse, epitomizes what the Los Angeles Tines calls Enger's “musical, sometimes magical and deeply satisfying kind of storytelling.” In this episode, Leif Enger and Jonathan Rogers talk about dystopian fiction; courage, literacy, and hope; and the bass guitar.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Leif Enger joins us to talk about his latest novel, I CHEERFULLY REFUSE. Interviewer: Susan Marie Conrad.We'll talk with Susan Marie Conrad about her memoir, INSIDE: ONE WOMAN'S JOURNEY THROUGH THE INSIDE PASSAGE.The Chuckanut Radio Players  are sitting pretty in another new episode of As the Ham Turns. Our resident poet Kevin Murphy  wows us with his wondrous wordsmithery and original performance poetry… Our musical guest is singer-songwriter and multimedia artist Bob Paltrow.   Hosted by Village Books' Co-Owners, Kelly Evert and Paul Hanson. Rich Donnelly announces.  Performed live at the Lairmont Manor  in Bellingham, Washington, the City of Subdued Excitement. 

Renata Hopkins reviews I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger, published by Grove Press.

Before Becoming You was a methodology, a class, or a book — it was a question. A question that our host Suzy Welch grappled with for decades as she sought to make her way in the world, as a wife, journalist, mother, and professor. Is it ever really possible to write the story of our own lives, or are we fated to edit the script handed to us by our family, culture, and circumstances? In time, Suzy came to realize that her answer was…yes. And it wasn't just her answer, she believed, it was all of ours. In this intimate and thoughtful episode, Suzy sits down with her daughter Sophia to explore two of the books that helped her reach that conclusion, and thus shape the entire Becoming You Methodology. They are The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen and Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. What begins as a conversation about literature quickly turns inward — becoming a candid reflection on generational patterns, personal reinvention, and the question that sits at the center of Suzy's work and the Becoming You journey for all who take it. The Values Bridge digital assessment is available at thevaluesbridge.comPIE360 Feedback tool is available at pie360feedback.comWant more Becoming You? Pre-order the Becoming You book.Learn about the Becoming You Certification Program.You are always growing and evolving and so are we. Sign up for the Becoming You newsletter for fresh new content in one tidy package. You can follow and tag Suzy on:Instagram: @suzywelchLinkedin: @suzywelchTikTok: @suzywelchYouTube: @suzywelch_X: @SuzyWelch

In a world competing for our attention, our guest this week admits: “It's probably harder to read novels now than it ever was.” But their value cannot be overstated. The novel's unique humanity, its careful and open treatment of the human experience, helps us to develop a sympathetic imagination, tuning our hearts and minds in a way that non-fiction argument simply cannot. Christopher Scalia, author of 13 Novels Conservatives Will Love (but Probably Haven't Read), makes the case that it is a distinctly conservative interest to explore the Western tradition through fiction. Recommendations in hand, he invites adults to refresh their reading list with novels—from the very inception of the form up to the present. Chapters: 1:47 The great book rut 4:11 Novels: the medium of recent Western tradition 5:30 The 18th-century bildungsroman 9:47 “Conservative” themes 16:18 The American dream in My Ántonia 22:39 Miraculous realism in Peace Like a River 29:02 Acknowledging the existence of evil 31:44 Wonder and encounter over strict interpretation 37:03 Revisiting works from your school years 38:47 Why narrative works 42:01 Books that nearly made the cut Links: 13 Novels Conservatives Will Love (but Probably Haven't Read) by Christopher Scalia Christopher J. Scalia at American Enterprise Institute The History of Rasselas by Samuel Johnson (1759) Evelina by Frances Burney (1778) Waverley by Sir Walter Scott (1814) The Blithedale Romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1852) Daniel Deronda by George Eliot (1876) My Ántonia by Willa Cather (1918) Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (1937) The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark (1963) The Children of Men by P. D. James (1992) Peace Like a River by Leif Enger (2001) Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (2004) The Road by Cormac McCarthy (2006) How I Won a Nobel Prize: A Novel by Julius Taranto (2023) Also on the Forum: Heights Forum Book Reviews On Reading Literature by Joseph Bissex Some Summer Reading Recommendations for Teachers by Tom Cox Modern Literature: On Curating the Contemporary featuring Mike Ortiz Guiding Our Boys through Modern Literature featuring Joe Breslin and Lionel Yaceczko Featured opportunities: Teaching Essentials Workshop at The Heights School (June 16-20, 2025) Convivium for Teaching Men at The Heights School (November 13-15, 2025)

On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments: reading retreats, one finished and one scheduled Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: we boss some more TBRs The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site) .  .  .  .  1:16 - Our Bookish Moments Of The Week 7:18 - Our Current Reads 7:32 - Finders Keepers by Stephen King (Meredith) 9:37 - Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King 10:24 - Holly by Stephen King 12:17 - The Stand by Stephen King 12:18 - The Shining by Stephen King 12:55 - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon (Kaytee) 17:24 - Poirot: The Greatest Detective in the World by Mark Aldridge (Meredith) 20:46 - Night Wherever We Go by Tracey Rose Peyton (Kaytee) 24:54 - Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito (Meredith) 28:58 - Mrs. March by Virginia Feito 29:30 - The Lost Library by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead (Kaytee) 31:08 - CR Season 5: Episode 25 31:10 - The Candymakers by Wendy Mass 31:12 - CR Season 3: Episode 41 31:14 - When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead 31:27 - Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead 33:08 - Boss My TBR From Emily 33:45 - Sweep by Jonathan Auxier 33:48 - My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman 33:52 - Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty 33:54 - S by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst 33:58 - Vicious by V.E. Schwab 34:18 - The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune 34:20 - A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab 34:23 - Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend 34:25 - The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman 34:27 - The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall 36:38 - Schuler Books From Bethany 40:38 - Murder at Gulls Nest by Jess Kidd (releases April 8, 2025) 40:42 - The Last Party by Claire Mackintosh 40:45 - Out by Natsuo Kirino 40:47 - Baby X by Kira Peikoff 40:50 - The Stolen Child by Ann Hood 41:03 - Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray 41:09 - The Wedding People by Alison Espach 41:12- The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker 44:55 - The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker 45:17 - Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer 45:47 - I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger 46:17 - Virgil Wander by Leif Enger 47:30 - Meet Us At The Fountain 48:25 - I wish people would utilize our website for the plethora of things it offers. (Meredith) 49:46 - The Candymakers by Wendy Mass 49:49 - When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead 50:17 - I wish for a “find all and replace” option for books. (Kaytee) Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. March's IPL comes to you from our tried and true partner, An Unlikely Story in Plainville, MA. Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business.  All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!

In this episode, Russ sits down with Dr. D. Nathan Phinney, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Northwestern College, to explore the intersection of leadership, service, and faith. Dr. Phinney shares his journey from faculty member to administrator, reflecting on the importance of humility, patience, and seeing leadership as an opportunity to serve others with grace.The two discuss key leadership principles, including taking the long view in decision-making, embracing trials as opportunities for growth, and fostering a culture of integrity and equity. Dr. Phinney also shares insights on the evolving landscape of higher education and the role of faith in shaping effective leadership. Whether you're an aspiring or seasoned leader, this episode offers meaningful lessons on leading with purpose, wisdom, and a servant's heart.Podcast recommendation: Future You with Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn, At the Table with Patrick Lencioni Book recommendations: Godwin by Joseph O'Neill, I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger, The Ballot and the Bible by Kaitlyn Schiess

It's Valentine's Day! To mark the occasion, Big Books and Bold Ideas is dipping into the archives to focus on love — and not just romantic love. This show highlights love of all kinds: familial love, love between friends, even the love of books. We start with Leif Enger, who joined host Kerri Miller in Red Wing last June to talk about his novel, “I Cheerfully Refuse.” Enger's latest book is dystopian in nature, but at its heart, it's a love story. We then dip into Miller's conversation with British-Nigerian author Ore Agbaje-Williams, whose subversive and wickedly funny novel, "The Three of Us,” delves into love between friends. Is it possible our friendships are more foundational than the bonds we form with romantic partners? We end with Jedidiah Jenkins and his memoir, “Mother, Nature.” It recounts a five-thousand-mile road trip he and his mother took to retrace the route his parents traversed in the 1970s as they walked across America. It sounds sentimental. But it's really Jedidiah's attempt to reconcile two conflicting truths: that his mother loves him completely and that she does not accept that he's gay.If you want to hear the complete conversation from any of today's authors, click the links above or look for the episodes in your favorite podcast.

We'll hear from Wisconsin Conservation Voters about the significance of the new president pulling the US out of the Paris Climate Accords. Long story short: In one way, we're “on our own,” but on the other hand there's always been a lot that individuals can do to minimize impact on our fragile climate. Another solo endeavor is at the heart of a segment with author Laura Bird, as she returns with more recommended reading for, as the poem says, the bleak midwinter. Forty Acres Deep by Michael Perry, A Winter's Rime by Carol Dunbar and Cheerfully I Refuse by Leif Enger. Laura also talks about some books for the warmer months coming soon: The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy, Bummer Camp by Ann Garvin, True North by Andrew J. Graff UpNorthNews with Pat Kreitlow airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-8 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and Instagram to keep up with Pat & the show! Guests: Kristin Lyerly, Salina Heller, Laura Bird

This week, Betty reviews Leif Enger's newest book Virgil Wander. Enger is a master storyteller and this book does not disappoint.

In this episode, Jenn and Kelsey are joined by award-winning author Leif Enger to chat about his latest book. Part romance, part nautical adventure, part love letter to stories, this sweetly hopeful piece of dystopian fiction has it all! You'll cheerfully refuse to put this one down!

Episode 150! 6th Anniversary! October 10, 2024 On the Needles 1:05 ALL KNITTING LINKS GO TO RAVELRY UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.  Please visit our Instagram page @craftcookreadrepeat for non-Rav photos and info     Weather or Knot Scarf by Scott Rohr, HolstGarn Coast in Butterfly, Black, Charcoal, Silver Grey, Wisteria, Freesia, Passion Flower   OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams, Destination Yarn Postcard in Yosemite   Fall SHaGS by Sarah Jordan, Fibernymph DyeWorks Mountain Tweed BFL in A Game for All Seasons (pumpkin contrast, pink/purple/blue/red/orange/green stripes, Simultaneous Heel Flap and Gusset Socks)-- DONE!!    Peace and Joy socks by KnittenKristen, Gauge DyeWorks Trifecta Fingering in Jack o'lantern with pumpkin mini   Fleetwood sweater by Tanis Lavallee, Teal Torch Knits DK in mermaid gradient   Islesburgh Toorie by The Doull Family, Jamieson's of Shetland Shetland Spindrift (ink, sherbert pink, pumpkin, purple, parma gentian   Colorwork Cuff Club by Summer Lee, Three Irish Girls Adorn Sock in Elixir (2010! Carpe yarnem!) On the Easel 18:35 Seascape gift Calendar of favorite things Field Guides–collectibles! Cloud studies On the Table 23:24 miso sweet potato and broccoli bowl – smitten kitchen    Japanese Sweet Potatoes with Tofu and Gochujang Butter   Carolina Gelen's Butter Beans Alla Vodka   Cabbage Stir-fry with peanut butter  from DALS Leek & Cheddar scone (underbaked) Smoothies for the heat Broccoli with Beef–premarinated the beef with corn starch slurry Veg protein bread–which I do NOT recommend. On the Nightstand 34:21 We are now a Bookshop.org affiliate!  You can visit our shop to find books we've talked about or click on the links below.  The books are supplied by local independent bookstores and a percentage goes to us at no cost to you!   Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer  Bundt Instrument by Nancy Warren (audio)  The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier  Bright Sword by Lev Grossman  State of Paradise by Laura van den Berg The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz (audio)    When the Killing's Done by T.C. Boyle The Hunter by Tana French Virgil Wander by Leif Enger   On Reflection 58:50   Needles 43 projects last year and only at 24 this year? Lots of gnomes, goodly amount of gifts.  More process/KALs?  But some super happy making sweaters (ilha, gridlines, 3 summer tops) Dark Academia got most likes   Cortney loved: Monica's Bay Area Yarn Crawl coverage, the Explicate Hat by Hunter Hammersen, Coloring Book Raglan by Aimeeshermakes, and Dark Academia sweater by River Road Knits.   Easel Sheep butter mold from last year anni episode Bird and pb London one: big ben, fox, typewriter, pretzel, wine   Cortney is happy with these creations: last summer's bird prize, annual Gouachevember, tiny typewriter for the SFPL tiny art show.   Table Full veg! No kids!   Cortney noticed: how the podcast continues to ignite cooking projects, be they low-sodium, less meat, more mushrooms.   nightstand 125 books!  +41 last year pre-anniversary Audio, foreign, cant keep away from challenges Sue grafton! Christmas/holiday books Better idea what's going to annoy me even if i cant keep away from it Fresh water for flowers by Valerie Perrin I cheerfully refuse by leif enger Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez   Cortney finally figured out: her genre of choice! Environmenal/eco fiction!! Where the environment IS a character, or an important feature. Books like: The Light Pirate by Lucy Brooks-Dalton and I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger. Also, alway happy to read a well-written romance or witchy story.

Jen Oshman joins Hunter and Autumn on the podcast today to discuss her book Cultural Counterfeits: Confronting 5 Empty Promises of Our Age and How We Were Made for So Much More. In today's culture, women and girls are influenced by idols that promise purpose and meaning for their lives―outward beauty and ability, sex, abortion, and gender fluidity. Within the church, women may elevate good things like marriage and motherhood to the status of idolatry. Ultimately, these idols are hollow and leave women feeling unsettled, but where should they turn instead?In Cultural Counterfeits, Jen encourages women to reject these idols' empty, destructive promises and embrace real hope and peace in Jesus, calling them to recognize their unshakable and eternal identities in him.Resources mentioned in this episode:Cultural Counterfeits: Confronting 5 Empty Promises of Our Age and How We Were Made for So Much More by Jen OshmanIt's Good to be a Girl by Jen and Zoe OshmanKing: A Life by Jonathan EigVirgil Wander by Leif EngerHow to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David BrooksThe Rise of Christianity by Rodney StarkDominion by Tom HollandThe Case Against the Sexual Revolution by Louise Perry

This amazing story is told through the eyes of Reuben Land (aka Rube), the middle child in a motherless family living in the cold Midwest. He suffers greatly from asthma, adores his older brother, Davy (16 years old) and his younger sister, Swede (8+ she has a birthday– definitely one of the coolest siblings we've ever met from the pages of a book). Jeremiah Land is a father raising three kids on his own, but his full plate gets unbelievably fuller when life takes a disastrous turn. After he defends a girl being accosted by two thugs a  downward spiral begins.  Jeremiah's non-negotiable morning routine is his daily time in God's Word which gives him peace and guidance as he faces the trials and troubles life throws his way. Many lines flow like a cool stream but one that stuck with me was, “Fair is whatever God wants it to do.” Please join us as we recap Peace Like a River by Leif Enger, a beautiful book following the Land family through laughter, heartache, and healing. How blessed we were to meet this family! What a treasure!

“I Cheerfully Refuse” is Leif Enger's latest novel set in a not-too-distant America. A tale of a bereaved and pursued musician embarking under sail on a sentient Lake Superior in search of his departed deeply beloved bookselling wife.

Nate, Cody, and special guest Luke Rosamilia review Leif Enger's latest novel, I Cheerfully Refuse. The first 30 minutes of the episode are spoiler-free, then we dive into plot details.

“Probably doomed and perplexingly merry.” That's how Leif Enger describes one of the characters in his new novel, I Cheerfully Refuse. While the story brings words like dystopian and apocalyptic to mind, it bears witness to a deep sense of hope and even optimism. How and why? That's the topic of this episode of The Russell Moore Show featuring Enger.  Moore and Enger talk about what inspired I Cheerfully Refuse, including classic tales like The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. They talk about how Enger explores despair in fiction and the real world, the nuances of suicidal behavior, and how to combat the unbearable overwhelm caused by a 24-hour news cycle. They discuss Enger's writing process, how religion emerges in his life and books, and where the two differ in their understanding of evangelism. Tune in for a gracious, rich episode that turns our eyes toward the light that the darkness will not overcome. Resources mentioned in this episode include: I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger Leif Enger The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis “A Weird, Wonderful Conversation with Kim Stanley Robinson” “The Story of Orpheus and Eurydice” Walker Percy Garrison Keillor David Copperfield by Charles Dickens Zero at the Bone: Fifty Entries Against Despair by Christian Wiman “Clergy on the Rocks” The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to questions@russellmoore.com. Click here for a trial membership at Christianity Today. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Executive Producers: Erik Petrik, Russell Moore, and Mike Cosper Host: Russell Moore Producer: Ashley Hales Associate Producers: Abby Perry and McKenzie Hill Director of Operations for CT Media: Matt Stevens Audio engineering by Dan Phelps Video producer: Abby Egan Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Ep. 172, Susie Boutry (@NovelVisits), Catherine Gilmore (@GilmoreGuide), and I are together for the first time on the big show to catch up on our 2024 reading — so far!  We talk about the current publishing landscape, what books are topping bestseller lists to date, and our personal reading as it stands halfway through the year. We share our stats and talk about expectations and hopes for the remainder of the year. Plus, we each share our TOP 5 books and our biggest disappointments so far. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. The Bookish Landscape [1:51] Books Mentioned James by Percival Everett [4:00] The Women by Kristin Hannah [4:14] Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder by Dav Pilkey [4:22] A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas [5:00] House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas [5:01] A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas [5:02] Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros [5:15] Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros [5:16] Atomic Habits by James Clear [5:17] Icebreaker by Hannah Grace [5:26] Our Personal Reading for 2024 (So Far) [6:59] Books Mentioned Medea by Eilish Quin [8:12] Sociopath by Patric Gagne, PhD [8:12] The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley [8:13] River East, River West by Aube Rey Lescure [8:15] Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin [11:53] In Memoriam by Alice Winn [13:33] The Measure by Nikki Erlick [16:03] Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett [16:04] Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver [16:05] Our Top Five (So Far)  [16:49] Sarah Leaving by Roxana Robinson | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:18] Victim by Andrew Boryga | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:50] Real Americans by Rachel Khong | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:05] Margo's Got Money Trouble by Rufi Thorpe | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:16] The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (July 2, 2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[48:32] Susie How We Named the Stars by Andrés N. Ordorica | Amazon | Bookshop.org[20:44] Wolf at the Table by Adam Rapp | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:50] Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:46] Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:28] Women and Children First by Alina Grabowski | Amazon | Bookshop.org[50:52] Catherine James by Percival Everett | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:43] Mercury by Amy Jo Burns | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:39] The Women by Kristin Hannah | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:12] The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:31] I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:46] Other Books Mentioned Shiner by Amy Jo Burns  [30:13] Cinderland by Amy Jo Burns [31:23] Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong [33:14] The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo [44:16] Long Bright River by Liz Moore [48:59] The Hunter's Daughter by Nicola Solvinic [49:28] No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister [51:37] The Road to Dalton by Shannon Bowring [51:40] Virgil Wander by Leif Enger [54:59] The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton [55:15] The Iliad by Homer [55:36] Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel [55:37] The Road by Cormac McCarthy [55:39] Our Biggest Disappointments (So Far)  [56:27] Sarah Everyone On This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson | Amazon | Bookshop.org [56:35] Sandwich by Catherine Newman | Amazon | Bookshop.org [59:45] Susie After Annie by Anna Quindlen | Amazon | Bookshop.org [58:01] The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:01:17] Catherine Family Family by Laurie Frankel | Amazon | Bookshop.org [59:01] Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:02:00] Other Books Mentioned Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson  [56:46] Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson (October 22, 2024) [57:17] We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman [59:51]

Bret Lott knows how to make a woman cry. Possibly a man, too, but I'm not sure. I know he's cried (sobbed, he admitted) when reading Leif Enger's book, Peace Like a River. I already liked Bret Lott but that made me like him even more.  Bret Lott, award-winning author of now 16 books (both fiction and non-fiction) didn't start out to become a writer and, in fact, met obstacles along the way. I'm glad he persevered; if you've read Jewel, one of Oprah's Book Club selections, then I'm sure you're glad as well. He wanted to ride a horse and be a Park Ranger. Grateful that didn't pan out.  Fun sidenote: Since I'm also from Southern California, it was a delight to find out that Bret used to work at Knott's Berry Farm at the candy apple booth and once-a-month he made waffles for Mr. Knott.    Bret is giving away a signed copy of his latest book out this month entitled: GATHER THE OLIVES, On Food and Hope and the Holy Land  - comment below or on social media to be entered! Born in Los Angeles in 1958, Lott grew up in Buena Park, CA and Phoenix, AZ before returning to California to live in Huntington Beach, CA. He met and married his wife of 40 years, Melanie Swank Lott, at First Baptist Church of Huntington Beach/Fountain Valley. A graduate of Cal State, Long Beach(1981), Lott headed to Massachusetts for graduate school at UMass Amhurst. He received his MFA in 1984 and landed his first teaching position at Ohio State Univ. In 1986, Lott joined the English Department at the College of Charleston, where he is now a tenured professor and director of the new MFA program and leads writers retreats to Italy. Find out more about his writing retreats here: https://bretlottwriting.com Be sure to comment below to be entered to win: Gather the Olives. Some gems: The difference between a good writer and a bad writer: the bad writer says, "Here I am, I have something to say." The good writer writes a good story and you're not aware he or she even exists. I write to try and understand things, why people do what they do and what happened to their lives. I shared a short story with a girl I liked. She wasn't impressed. I knew right then that I loved her.  Jewel was based on my grandmother's life. She had 6 kids and the 6th, my aunt, was Down Syndrome.  You're given what you're given in life; the writer's job and joy is to write the pages torn from that life and try to understand it better. The best art fills us with wonder and glory and mystery and beauty which are all manifestations of God.   

Dystopian novels aren't known for being hopeful.But that's exactly what Leif Enger brings to the genre with his new book, “I Cheerfully Refuse.” The beloved Minnesota author joined MPR News host Kerri Miller at the Sheldon Theatre in Red Wing on June 4 for a special “on the road” version of Talking Volumes. Their conversation revolved around books: the unpredictable journey of writing them, the sometimes haphazard way of finding them, the way a good book leaves a mark that cannot be erased. As Enger's protagonist Rainy says, “I banged and barged through dozens and hundreds of books. Did I understand it? Not by half, but when it thunders you know your chest is shaking.” Talking Volumes with Leif Enger They also touched on how to maintain hope when the world around you feels like it's going up in flames. “I Cheerfully Refuse” is set in the “near future” when climate change, wealth concentration and religious zealots who are proudly illiterate flourish. But Rainy and his cherished wife, Lark, “refuse apocalypse in all its forms and work cheerfully against it.” When tragedy strikes, and Rainy is forced to set out in a small sailboat on a near-sentient Lake Superior, hoping to reunite with Lark, the quest unfolds. Spoiler alert: Despair never wins. Guest:Leif Enger is the author of many books, including the 2001 breakout hit, “Peace Like a River.” His new novel is “I Cheerfully Refuse.” Before he became an author, Enger worked as a reporter for MPR News. He lives in Duluth with his wife, Robin. Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts.Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.

Elyssa and her guest Erin share the books, resources and other details about their latest “Behind the Page” event. Here are the resources and book titles they discussed or mentioned in this podcast. Adventure Books James by Percival Everett Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura Cozy Mysteries A Bean to Die For by Tara Lush (A Coffee Lover's Mystery #4) Peril in Pink by Sydney Leigh Nonfiction Books The Real Hoosiers: Crispus Attucks High School. Oscar Robertson, and the Hidden History of Hoops by Jack McCallum A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks by Dave Gibbins Paranormal Books Bride by Ali Hazelwood Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett (Emily Wilde #2) RomCom Books Funny Story by Emily Henry The Break-Up Tour by Emily Wibberkey and Austin Siegemund-Broka Books that People Shared The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane Virgil Wander by Leif Enger (author coming to Wild Geese Bookshop this summer) The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles Yellowface by R.F. Kuang Greymist Fair by Francesca Zappia The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt The Little Liar by Mitch Albom (from last time) Shark Heart by Emily Habeck (from last time) Resources Talked About Talpa Search - https://www.pageafterpage.org/what-should-i-read-next Staff Picks and Book Lists - https://www.pageafterpage.org/staff-picks E-Books and E-Audiobooks - https://www.pageafterpage.org/e-books-e-audio-downloadable-movies

Today's Stories Are Soul Food episode covers two new dystopian tales, a book and a show. The book is Leif Enger's "I Cheerfully Refuse", which Brian cheerfully despised for Leif's overly luminous characters and bass-playing giant protagonist. The show is Amazon Prime's "Fallout," which Nate skipped his way through, watching the innocence of the virginal protagonist be stripped from her episode by episode through violence, immorality, and (apparently) cannibalism. Nate talks about how the show's potential was ruined because the director, Jonathan Nolan, had only one trick: take innocence and corrupt it. Beyond that, the show never gets beyond the video game logic which bounds it. Brian asks why the destruction of the innocent seems to be the theme of most postapocalyptic fiction, and the guys talk their way through Margaret Atwood, The Road, Mad Max, and other tales of scientific dystopia. Why do we love such stories? Brian answers that it's because our lives are so easy. Listen to the episode to see if Nate agrees... #SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #Books #Movies #NDWilson #JonathanNolan #Fallout #AmazonPrime #ICheerfullyRefuse #LeifEnger #DystopianSciFi #Postapocalypse #Innocence

Leif Enger writes novels about good people living through bad times. His new book, I Cheerfully Refuse, epitomizes what the Los Angeles Tines calls Enger's “musical, sometimes magical and deeply satisfying kind of storytelling.” In this episode, Leif Enger and Jonathan Rogers talk about dystopian fiction; courage, literacy, and hope; and the bass guitar.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hannah has absconded to New York City, but no one will go to the Beatrix Potter exhibit with her. Such a shame. No matter! We're fired up about the Newburyport Literary Festival, and ready to talk books, starting with a recap of Leigh Bardugo's brand-new "The Familiar," which Sam has decided he likes quite a bit. Maybe not quite as much as both of us like "The Secret Commonwealth," but not everyone can be Philip Pullman. Dude is just unparalleled in his ability to ask giant questions (religion! fascism!) with effortless storytelling.  Not sure Sam would say the same about Christine Ma-Kellams, whose debut novel, "The Band," is among the strangest books he's ever read and he's not quite sure what to make of it. If you at least know what we mean when we say "K-Pop," you might be into it. But Hannah is super into "I Cheerfully Refuse," the latest from Leif Enger and a novel that offers a bit of hope-punk future along with multiple sentence that just hit you right in the chest. Finally, we wrap with a look at John Le Carre's "Call for the Dead," which is a George Smiley novel, and Sam now knows that Smiley is, indeed, his greatest recurring character. If you haven't read a book from 1961 in a while, give it a shot. It's a good way to get influencer culture off the palate. 

I do enjoy our regular new books show with Bethanne Patrick, the astonishingly widely read book critic of Los Angeles Times. For April, she recommends freshly published books by Salman Rushdie, Erik Larsen, Amor Towles, Mohamed Amer Meziane, Patric Gagne & Leif Enger. Of these, she picks Leif Enger's new novel, I Cheerfully Refuse, as the best book for April. But I'm so intrigued by Mohamed Amer Meziane's The States of the Earth, that I've already booked him to appear on the show. I'd also like to get Patric Gagne on KEEN ON - after all, who wouldn't want a psychopath on their show?Bethanne Patrick maintains a storied place in the publishing industry as a critic and as @TheBookMaven on Twitter, where she created the popular #FridayReads and regularly comments on books and literary ideas to over 200,000 followers. Her work appears frequently in the Los Angeles Times as well as in The Washington Post, NPR Books, and Literary Hub. She sits on the board of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation and has served on the board of the National Book Critics Circle. She is the host of the Missing Pages podcast.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger is a big-hearted, hopeful novel that's part adventure story, part love story — with unforgettable dialogue, characters, and sense of place. Enger joins us to talk about writing dystopian fiction, the importance of setting, world building and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff recommendations from Marc and Mary. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                    New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.      Featured Books (Episode): I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger Peace Like a River by Leif Enger Virgil Wander by Leif Enger CivilWarLand in Bad Decline by George Saunders Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes The Mysteries of Pittsburgh by Michael Chabon Featured Books (TBR Topoff): All Our Shimmering Skies by Trent Dalton The Summer Guest by Justin Cronin

My name is Harrison Otis, and I'm a graduate student in the English Department at Baylor University. Today I'm reviewing Peace Like a River, the 2001 debut novel by Minnesota author Leif Enger.

Saint Athanasius ChurchContra Mundum SwaggerVideo Version

If you were a lawyer drawing breath in summer 2022, you heard about the “victory bell” case. A prominent defense attorney, returning to base camp with a stunning victory after defensing a medical malpractice case, rang his firm's victory bell and announced, the victim “was probably negligently killed, but we kind of made it look like other people did it.” The comment was captured on video, and the internet did its thing.A common hot-take was that the video would undo the verdict. But many appellate attorneys scoffed: an attorney's puff talk after trial, the cooler heads responded, is not a trial irregularity.Enter Brooke Bove, who wrote the successful new-trial motion in Garcia v. Quraishi that got the judgment vacated. Brooke gives an insider look at trial, and why the defense attorneys reference to an empty chair particularly galled the trial judge.Bove, an Army communications specialist before becoming an appellate attorney, shares her insights into the case and what is coming next, as well as top legal tips and strategies.Brooke Bove's biography and LinkedIn profile.Appellate Specialist Jeff Lewis' biography, LinkedIn profile, and Twitter feed.Appellate Specialist Tim Kowal's biography, LinkedIn profile, Twitter feed, and YouTube page.Sign up for Tim Kowal's Weekly Legal Update, or view his blog of recent cases.Use this link to get a 25% lifetime discount on Casetext.Other items discussed in the episode:Episode 42 discussing the “victory bell” case, Garcia v. Quraishi.The LA Times article on the “victory bell “case.The Lawterature PodcastPeace Like a River by Leif Enger.

How large of an impact does a good or bad element have on a story? On this episode of The Bookmark, Autumn, Chris, and Miranda discuss books that left them with a love/hate relationship. The Bookmark is your place to find your next great book. Each week, join regular readers Miranda Ericsson, Chris Blocker and Autumn Friedli along with other librarians as they discuss all the books you'll want to add to your reading list.

Charlotte Mason set her method firmly on the power of narrative. This episode is the book discussion of a novel from 2001: Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. Miss Mason kept up with current literature and said "our novels are our teachers." This beautiful, symbolic, realistic, and panoramic novel is an excellent teacher. Emily, Nicole, and Liz have a grand time unwrapping some aspects that reveal some of its wonders.

Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia, the second book in C. S. Lewis's Chronicles, shifts our perspective on the reliability of myth, explores the relationship between faith and faithfulness, and teaches simple but profound life lessons along the way. I'm Rachelle Ferguson of Kittywham Productions, and Unknown Friends is my weekly book review podcast. Visit the Unknown Friends homepage at www.kittywhamproductions.com/podcast. To learn more about me and my work as a Christian playwright, explore my website at www.kittywhamproductions.com. Support the podcast and unlock bonus content (including a limited-time offer to get a free copy of Leif Enger's Peace Like a River): www.patreon.com/unknownfriends Get in touch with me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/rachelle.ferguson Connect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/kittywhamproductions Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast, leave a quick review, and share with your book-loving friends!

Kicking off the podcast with best-selling author, Leif Enger.

Hello to you listening in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia!Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is 60 Seconds for Story Prompt Friday with questions carefully chosen to help you collect stories in the oral tradition or spark your own writing. Either way, you'll say, "Thanks for the memories." “Is it hubris to believe we all live epics?” [Peace Like a River by Leif Enger]An epic is a large body of work made up of smaller stories featuring deeds and adventures by a courageously heroic figure in an action-packed setting with some magical forces thrown in.My dad was a child of the Great Depression, joined the US Navy to fight in World War II when he was underage, came home, put himself through school on the GI Bill, married, raised a large family, lost his beloved wife to cancer far too early, battled cancer himself, and walked into very late age with two really really bad knees.What makes this epic? Dad showed his children how to live to a good death. Dad was in a nursing home for 9 months before he died short of his 92nd birthday. No more walking outside, no more Mass at his church, no more singing in the choir, no more freedom or independence.  And yet there was a grace, a resilience, dignity, even humor about the change in his circumstances that went with him to the very end. That was epic.  Story Prompt: How are you living an epic? Write that story!Practical Tip: The magic of stories is also in the sharing. If you wish share your story with someone or something.   All that matters is you have a story.This is the place to thrive together. Come for the stories - stay for the magic. Speaking of magic, I hope you'll subscribe, follow, share a nice shout out on your social media or podcast channel of choice, including Android, and join us next time! You're invited to stop by the website and subscribe to stay current with Diane, her journeys, her guests, as well as creativity, imagination, walking, stories, camaraderie, and so much more: Quarter Moon Story ArtsProduction Team: Quarter Moon Story ArtsMusic: Mer's Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron MusicAll content and image © 2019 - Present: for credit & attribution Quarter Moon Story Arts 

Generally I like to read old books that have stood the test of time, but I make an exception for Leif Enger. In this episode, I share about his books and why you should read them!* SUMMER SALE *Use coupon code, SUMMER, to get 15% OFF my course, All About Homeschool, for a limited time only! Click HERE to order All About Homeschool now!Enjoy the show? Leave a rating and review!

Leif Enger's latest novel, titled Virgil Wander after its protagonist, depicts a middle-aged movie house owner getting a second chance at life. While the novel is engaging, quirky, and optimistic, it seems to lack the zealous Christian faith of Enger's first novel, Peace Like a River. The Unknown Friends podcast is now on Patreon! Visit our page at https://www.patreon.com/unknownfriends, where you can explore the different ways to join as a patron and get access to bonus content like our new monthly preview episodes. I'm Rachelle Ferguson of Kittywham Productions, and Unknown Friends is my weekly book review podcast, where I discuss classic and contemporary literature from my personal reading list. Visit the Unknown Friends homepage at www.kittywhamproductions.com/podcast. To learn more about me and my writing, explore my website at www.kittywhamproductions.com. Get in touch on Instagram: www.instagram.com/rachelle.ferguson Connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/kittywhamproductions Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share with your book-loving friends!

Join us in our third book club as we discuss Leif Enger's bestselling novel, Peace Like a River.

Nancy Potter is an education civil rights attorney from Pittsburgh, PA. You can read more about her work here: https://mcandrewslaw.com/our-attorneys/nancy-e-potter/   She can be found on both Twitter and Instagram as @nncypttr   Today we discuss "Peace Like a River" by Lief Enger. https://www.leifenger.com/peace-like-a-river

The Forefront team gathers to discuss the art they've been experiencing recently: Abbey on Turtledoves Sean on C.S. Lewis's The Discarded Image Zack on Jonathan Ogden Rich on Montell Fish Nate on The Chosen Cody on Leif Enger's Virgil Wander

In this episode ofSignposts, I sit down with one of my favorite novelists, Leif Enger. We talk about his writing, identity, and the what has influenced his writing. Leif Enger worked as a reporter and producer for Minnesota Public Radio for nearly twenty years before leaving to write fiction full-time. He is the author of Peace Like a River (Grove/Atlantic, 2001), So Brave, Young, and Handsome (Grove/Atlantic, 2008), and Virgil Wander (Grove Press, 2018). He lives in Minnesota with his wife Robin.I invite you to listen in on our conversation, and be sure to subscribe to receive future episodes of Signposts 

My favorite read so far this year, thanks to the palpable faith of one central character: Leif Enger's Peace Like a River blends Zane Grey, Homer, Robert Louis Stevenson, and the King James Bible to shape a remarkable story about a family looking for a lost son and finding what they didn't know they needed. (Read John Piper's 2008 review of Peace Like a River: www.desiringgod.org/articles/not-heartwarming-christian-fiction) I'm Rachelle Ferguson of Kittywham Productions, and Unknown Friends is my weekly book review podcast, where I discuss classic and contemporary literature from my personal reading list. Visit the Unknown Friends homepage at www.soundcloud.com/unknown-friends. While studying English and classical languages at Hillsdale College I founded my company Kittywham Productions, where I publish original play scripts and skits for churches, schools, homeschool groups, and Christian theaters. To learn more about me and my writing, visit my website at www.kittywhamproductions.com. Get in touch on Instagram: www.instagram.com/rachelle.ferguson Connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/kittywhamproductions Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share with your book-loving friends!

Pastor Jackson shares the story behind his love of reading (it involves dishes and Little House on the Prairie!) and how narratives can help us through rocky seasons. Plus, he and Pastor Courtney each share five recommended reads from their favorites lists. And we wrap it all up with Psalm 91 and praying for our pastors and those in leadership in this stretching season. Psalm 91 Pastor Jackson's list: Under the Unpredictable Plant by Eugene Peterson The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene Crime and Punishment by Fedor Doestoevsky The Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren Father Elijah by Michael D. O'Brien Pastor Courtney's list: Silence by Shusako Endo Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler East of Eden by John Steinbeck Gilead by Marilynne Robinson Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

Jonathan Rogers talks with Leif Enger, author of Virgil Wander and Peace Like A River. They discuss Leif's love of beautiful places in his favorite novels, the ability of readers to feel the delight of the author, and the magic of discovering the way a story goes as you're writing it. Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/member See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I have an old wooden cane by my backdoor, and here is an episode where I talk a little too much about me trying to be "cool." Roly poly!! Heidi + Sarah PLAIN and Tall "So Young, Brave, and Handsome" by Leif Enger is the current book I am #whatchareadingtoday "Day by Day" from Godspell Ephesians 6:10-20 My poem called Grief. Sincerely, Sarah  Find more at www.sincerelysarahstudios.com Song by Taylor Leonhardt "Today If You Hear Him" Photo by Nikki Santerre Photography

This week we’re discussing the novel Virgil Wander by Leif Enger, which is MBA’s Winter Reading Selection. Every student and staff member received a copy of the novel, generously donated by alumnus Morgan Entrekin. Mr. Entrekin graduated from MBA in the class of 1973 and is now the CEO of Grove Atlantic Press. In the … Continue reading Winter Reading: Virgil Wander →

It's a surprise bonus episode with the one-and-only Leif Enger! David chatted with him recently about the inspiration for Peace Like a River, his early days as a writer, the choices he makes as a writer, his process, his love of western novels and movies, and much, much more. If you like this episode please be sure to rate and review wherever you get podcasts. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

And we're on to another book! Join David, Heidi, and Tim as they dive into a new book, Leif Enger's novel, Peace Like a River. In this episode they chat about the first 50 pages (aka: the first four chapters). Remember: when you rate and review the show you help spread the word! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Pastor Wilson talks about the Troll Guardians that can be found online, pestering any and all promoting something from Moscow, Idaho. Additionally, he unpacks the greek word architelones, and recommends Leif Enger's, Virgil Wander. 

This week, Pastor Wilson talks about the Troll Guardians that can be found online, pestering any and all promoting something from Moscow, Idaho. Additionally, he unpacks the greek word architelones, and recommends Leif Enger's, Virgil Wander. 

About a year ago, Dave and I had the privilege of being joined in-studio by acclaimed novelist Leif Enger while Barnabas was out on a work-related trip. He declared us really bad friends, and we're okay with that. So, today, as we all gear up for Thanksgiving, we're representing this interview as a special holiday gift to you! Listen in as we discuss: Leif's writing process and why it took 10 years for Virgil Wander to be released; Why his latest is his "most Christian but least evangelical" book yet What it means to be a successful writer (and how he handles criticism); How his three books connect with different seasons; and Why book tours actually still matter. And to add salt to the wound, here's how we included Barnabas in our group photo. A few of the books mentioned in this episode: The Book of Delights by Ross Gay The Overstory by Richard Powers 1984 by George Orwell The Plot Against America by Philip Roth Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson As always, be sure to grab a few bags of the Table of (mal)Contents blend by our friends at Lagares Coffee Roasters. Also, don't forget to grab a copy of Aaron's ebook from The Gospel Project, Jesus Saves Christmas, here. Sharing and supporting the show Leave a five-star rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to the show. Give us a follow on Twitter at @MalContentsPod Be sure to use the Amazon affiliate links above to help us pay for the costs of producing and hosting the show. Interested in sponsoring Table of (mal)Contents? Let's talk via email or DM @malContentsPod on Twitter.

Amanda and Jenn discuss political nonfiction, twin stories, nonbinary reads, and more in this week’s episode of Get Booked. This episode is sponsored by Book Riot Insiders, Libro.fm and The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. FEEDBACK Chloe Poems’s Li’l Book O’ Manchester (rec’d by Arlene) The Night Brother by Rosie Garland (rec’d by Arlene) Pies and Prejudice: In Search of the North by Stuart Maconie (rec’d by Arlene) QUESTIONS 1. I love books that take a look inside a certain industry. I’ve read Deep Sea and Foreign going about commercial shipping and Flower Confidential about the cut flower industry recently. I’ve previously read books about the funeral trade and restaurant/food industry. So I’m looking for more! Preferably ones that are about things that don’t immediately spring to mind. Thanks in advance. -Anna 2. Fun, Light, Realistic YA – Not too fantastical or sci-fi. I’m looking for recommendations for my teenage daughters, ages 15 and 16 and I’m stumped. It seems we keep finding books with material that is too young for them too dark and serious. They have liked “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”, “When Dimple Met Rishi” and the “Selection” series. They would love realistic fiction that isn’t teen romance but we are having a hard time finding anything fun that isn’t childish. -Cami 3. I recently came out as nonbinary after several years of being out as queer/bi. I am looking for a book with queer or nonbinary characters, though that certainly doesn’t need to be the focus of the book. I would just like to see more of myself represented in the things I read, and I knew you two would do a fantastic job! I like a little bit of everything, and I don’t shy away from YA or children’s books (Jessica Love’s Julian is a Mermaid is what inspired me to come out as nonbinary!). I would just say no religious books, please, and bonus points if the book is written by a queer or nonbinary author. Side note – thank you for this beautiful podcast! I have found so many books because of it, and I just adore you two. -Cheyenne 4. Hello Readerlicious Rock Stars! First off, you folks are super awesome and I adore listening to your show. My identical twin sister and I love reading about twins and I’d love some twin-ish recommendations from you all for us to read together. Some things to consider: 1) We’re open to any genre (other than horror) or reading level (middle grade and beyond). 2) Plots surrounding twins tend to be dark for some reason. Or, at least that seems to be the case with most twin books I’ve come across. A focus on fun/upbeat/kickass/bright/optimistic would be great. Please, no tragic death of one of the twins. That would be way too much of a bummer. 3) We’d love it if you could recommend some reads that don’t involve the typical good twin/bad twin trope. As twins who are constantly facing the ridiculous tendency for folks to categorize us/twins in that kind of binary way, it’d be great to read something that doesn’t do the same. How about BOTH twins being bright lights in the world? 4) Along the same lines as no twin death, I’m not a fan of any book that delves into serious abuse or tragic death of kids. As a mom of two cuties, it’s way too hard for me to read about kids and dark, tragic circumstances; i.e. abduction, murder, rape, etc. 5) We’re huge fans of strong, fabulous, outrageous, potentially super power grrls who kick ass. Characters who overcome hardship and beat a crappy system are definitely ones we’d love to root for. Thank you! -Nicole 5. Hello! I love your podcast! I am looking for a personal recommendation. Every so often I come upon a book or movie that broadens my mind and my heart. These books and movies usually have unconventional characters who become unlikely heroes. Strong character development, authenticity, and complexity are all fabulous, and magical realism is a bonus. Some of my favorites have in this genre have been The Seventh Gate by Richard Zimler, Peace Like a River by Leif Enger, Mink River by Brian Doyle, Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson, Sing Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward, and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz. I would love another one to devour and fall in love with. Thank you for your help

*Headphones Recommended* Look ahead to some fantastic paperback releases with this month’s SHELF TALKING! Recorded live at Literati: –Nick Dybek shares excerpts from his WWI-era novel The Verdun Affair. –Leif Enger recounts the long road that led to his third novel, Virgil Wanderer. –Astrophysicist Adam Becker reads the introduction to his debut What Is Real?: The Unfinished Quest for the Meaning of Quantum Physics. Shelf Talking is produced by Mike and Hilary Gustafson with John Ganiard, Bennet Johnson, and Sam Krowchenko Our theme songs are “Orange and Red” and "Bonhomie" by Pity Sex (2016, Run for Cover Records)

Only a very few novels come together in such a way as to perfectly capture the aspects of language, faith, adventure, beauty, and mystery that we love so much in the Rabbit Room, and Leif Enger is the rare author who has written more than one of them. Whether it's the miraculous tale of Peace Like a River, the conversational grace of So Brave, Young, and Handsome, or the high-flying kites of Virgil Wander, Leif is a teller of the kind of tales that we love to love. Here, in his 2013 Hutchmoot address, he reminds us that we’re all driven by a holy wind, and we’re at our best when we relax into its mystery, and sail a course full and by. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this arts review episode, Cody Schweickert, Zack Osinski, and Nate Mancini discuss the music and movies they've been experiencing recently. 00:12 - Introduction 00:48 - Zack recounts his experience at a concert featuring Josh Garrels + The Gray Havens 12:42 - Cody discusses 21 Pilots, Joel Ansett, and the book Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. 21:56 - Nate reviews the new biopic Tolkien and recommends the recently completed Enneagram song series by Sleeping at Last

Chart-topping novelist Leif Enger burst onto the literary scene in 2001 with Peace Like a River – one of this century’s few fiction debuts to sell a million copies. Set in northern Minnesota in the 1960s, audiences fell in love with Peace Like a River’s arcadian small town setting and 12-year-old protagonist Reuben ‘Rube’ Land […]

Chart-topping novelist Leif Enger burst onto the literary scene in 2001 with Peace Like a River – one of this century’s few fiction debuts to sell a million copies. Set […]

Chart-topping novelist Leif Enger burst onto the literary scene in 2001 with Peace Like a River – one of this century’s few fiction debuts to sell a million copies. Set in northern Minnesota in the 1960s, audiences fell in love with Peace Like a River’s arcadian small town setting and 12-year-old protagonist Reuben ‘Rube’ Land – a young narrator every […]

It’s the Andrews like you’ve never seen them before. When Adam hits record without telling the crew, he subjects the BiblioFiles world to a regular, old, unpremeditated Andrews family exchange. Once that’s finally over, we begin a discussion of Missy’s latest read, Virgil Wanderer, and revel in the beauty of Leif Enger’s recent offering.Referenced Works:– Libromania (closereadspods.com)– Virgil Wander, Peace Like a River, So Brave, Young, and Handsome by Leif Enger– An Interview with Leif Enger about Virgil Wanderer (The Rabbit Room)– Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers– Pelican Book Club: Jayber Crow We love hearing your questions and comments! You can contact us by emailing adam@centerforlit.com, or you can visit our website www.centerforlit.com to find even more ways to participate in the conversation.

In this episode of The Happy Rant Ted, Ronnie, and Barnabas discuss a range of topics from the very fun to the very serious. INDY LIVE is coming! On March 31 we will host our 3rd live event in Indianapolis and you can get details in the episode or at HappyRantPodcast.com The recent Abortion ruling in New York and how such travesties come about Abortion arguments and why the sides talk past each other The conflict between teens and Native Americans at the March for life Leif Enger's genius  

On Tuesday January 29th, Josh will be talking with Norman Mitchell about the release of his first novel The Hidden One, a political thriller surrounding The fate of those caught up in the “Iron Cage” after World War II. In addition to writing and his fascination with history, Mitchell also enjoys reading, biking, listening to music and following politics. He and his wife live in Golden Valley, MN.  Then, we rebroadcast an interview Steve conducted with Minnesota author Leif Enger about his recent novel Virgil Wander. Virgil Wander is set in a small Minnesotan town bordering Lake Superior. With intelligent humor and captivating whimsy, Enger conjures a remarkable portrait of a region and its residents, who, for reasons of choice or circumstance, never made it out of their defunct industrial district.  Write On! Radio airs from 7-8pm CT on KFAI, 90.3 FM in Mpls/St. Paul, and on the web at www.kfai.org

Join us as we talk about our first takes on the Oscar Nominations, a few new trailers, First Reformed, Glass and Downsizing. Also, the our stew about Alexander Payne's films. Which do we like...which ones we aren't that fond of and why. Plus, all the films we've seen in between. Next show takes on depictions of writers and the writing life--fiction or biopics. NOTES TITLE: Cultural Stew Podcast EPISODE: 0027 DATE: 1/27/19 NEWS WE CARE ABOUT: 17:30 Golden Globe recap - Surprises? Did we get anything right? Golden Globe winners here-- (https://variety.com/2019/film/news/2019-golden-globes-winners-list-1203099006/) The Oscar Nominations were released… ROMA is in two categories (Best Pic/For Film), The Favourite and Roma are tied with 10 each. Won’t You Be My Neighbour snubbed big time. Screen Actor’s Guild tonight SAG noms--SAG Winners here---- (https://variety.com/2019/film/awards/2019-sag-awards-winners-list-1203119846/) Michael Jackson Musical confirmed--Don’t Stop ‘til You Get Enough--on Broadway 2020 Netflix will pair John Cena with Jason Bateman for an action comedy. Sopranos prequel film The Many Saints Of Newark Michael Gandolfini Sundance Film Festival Ted Bundy--Zac Efron, trailer link!! (https://youtu.be/UP1ya1fiH_U) Ghostbusters 3! (continuing from original universe?) done by son of Ivan Reichman?? Sp teaser--link!!! (https://youtu.be/TyjqCRJmCPE) Movie...lololo...pass Movie Pass is back. Tomorrow Man is picked up. Local film...Peter Doyle, Rochesterian! http://www2.ljworld.com/living/arts-entertainment/2019/jan/22/kevin-willmott-who-co-wrote-blackkklansman-nominated-for-screenwriting-oscar/ TRAILERS: Extremely Vile https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzL2yBTrh8Q&t=0s Beach Bum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSALRP1mZNQ Umbrella Academy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DAmWHxeoKw The Boys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NilteC-7jeM The Man Who Killed Hitler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFHJMBQIav0 John Wick 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7XM597XO94 Spiderman Far From Home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYYtuKyMtY8 THE RECOMMENDATION LIST SOMETHING YOU WATCHED (36:58) Valerie: First Reformed: https://youtu.be/hCF5Y8dQpR4 RON: Glass https://youtu.be/95ghQs5AmNk TONY: Downsizing https://youtu.be/UCrBICYM0yM To download your free audiobook today go to: audibletrial.com/culturalstew. TODAY’S PICK IS: Virgil Wander by Leif Enger https://www.amazon.com/Virgil-Wander/dp/B07HFG23VD TODAY’S STEW (TONY): The Art of Losing, or How when you suffer loss, you evolve MEDIA OF THE WEEK: Alexander Payne… Any of his films Next STEW: (Valerie) Films depicting famous writers or the writing life. THE MOVIES WE MIGHT EXPLORE (Valerie ) (examples) The Wonder Boys, The Hours, Swimming Pool, Shakespeare in Love, Sylvia, Misery, Adaptation, Capote, The Shining, The End of the Tour, One True Thing. ANY of these will do. GRAB BAG: (1:35:16) KIDS CORNER: Netflix- Carmen Sandiego - Y7; Wall-E 2008- G SCORE OF THE WEEK: WEEZER https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2019/01/24/688131461/hear-weezers-surprise-new-covers-album BOOK OF THE WEEK: “THE SLAP” a 2008 novel by Australian author Christos Tsiolkas WHAT’S ON YOUR RADAR AND IN YOUR QUEUE (1:38:22) TONY W - A Very English Scandal (AMZ PRM), The Slap (Library), All The President’s Men (again), Destination Wedding L - Weezer dropped a new album this week “The Teal Album” features renditions of such 80s hits as A-Ha’s “Take On Me,” Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” The Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” and Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” in addition to classics from the 60s and 70s like Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” and ELO’s “Mr. Blue Sky.”  R - Royal Rumble is tonight on the WWE network, Roman Empire, Shtisel (Netflix), Disobedience RON W - Glass, Spiderverse, Punisher S2, First Man, Wayne, Sex Education R/Q - not much, catching up on backlog of DVR/Netflix/HBO etc shows (counterpoint, True Detective S3) Q -. May try for some Oscar movies if any are still out at AMC, other wise catching up. Valerie: W - Ben is Back, A Dog’s Way Home, The Wife, Mary, Queen of Scots, First Reformed, First Man (Amazon Prime) Ethan Hawke-- Up for Original Screenplay by Paul Schrader--Taxi Driver, Raging Bull American Gigolo--ha. . L- Virgil Wander by Leif Enger- Virgil R - Roma, The Favourite, Vice Q - Off Camera with Sam Jones (Netflix) Sex Education (Netflix), OUTRO (1:50:34) TONY where can we find you on social media? @smtorchio and facebook anthony carter ins: antcarter85 VALERIE: @vbvidmar on Twitter Instagram pennylane64 facebook.com/valerie.lorraine RON you can find me pretty much everywhere @gfmedia You can find us at: CulturalStew.net, @culturalstewnet on twitter and Cultural Stew on Facebook MUSIC: Intro & Break music “Please Listen Carefully” by Jahzzar Available thru the Creative Commons license from FreeMusicArchive.org Taking you out courtesy of Epidemic Sound Do have you original music you’d like us to take a listen to and possibly share, contact us!

Our Christmas episode features two local writers.  Steve talks to Kate DiCamillo about her recent children's novel Louisiana's Way Home. Katrina Elizabeth "Kate" DiCamillo is an American writer of children's fiction for all reading levels, usually featuring animals. She is one of six people to win two Newbery Medals, recognizing her novels The Tale of Despereaux and Flora & Ulysses. Then he speaks to Leif Enger about Virgil Wander. It's the first in ten years from the award-winning, million-copy bestselling author. Midwestern movie house owner Virgil Wander is 'cruising along at medium altitude' when his car flies off the road into icy Lake Superior. Virgil survives but his language and memory are altered and he emerges into a world no longer familiar to him.

We are ecstatic to welcome Greta Eskridge (@maandpamodern) to the show!  She is the ultimate nature enthusiast, and you will not want to stay inside another minute when you hear her wonder at all things outdoors.  Greta gets real, simple, AND fun which is exactly why we knew she was a must-have guest on Homeschool Unrefined. Today's podcast is brought to you by audible - get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at www.audibletrial.com/homeschoolunrefined. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Our Audible listens: Everything Is Horrible and Wonderful by Stephanie Wittels Wachs, You're On an Airplane by Parker Posey, The Roald Dahl Audio Collection, The Collected Stories of Winnie the Pooh by AA Milne. How To Raise a Wild Child by Scott Sampson Greta on the Read Aloud Revival Podcast Episode 62 Find Greta at her website, instagram, and her podcast.    Loving This Week Maren: Her mug from Caribou and this mug from Jo's Coffee. Angela: Peace Like a River by Leif Enger   Visit our website Support us on Patreon here. Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com Visit our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

First Draft interview with Leif Enger

Leif Enger was raised in Osakis, Minnesota, and worked as a reporter and producer for Minnesota Public Radio for nearly twenty years.  His newest novel is called Virgil Wander. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is one of the greatest professional failures of my life, missing that. Barnabas Piper You’ve heard us all talk about his books a lot. You’ve heard Barnabas admit that he has a semi-idolatrous man-crush on him. And a couple weeks back, it happened: Acclaimed novelist Leif Enger joined us on the show.

Steve talks with Minnesota's own Leif Enger about his new novel Virgil Wander. Leif Enger worked as a reporter and producer for Minnesota Public Radio before writing his bestselling and award-winning debut novel Peace Like a River. His second novel, So Brave, Young, and Handsome was also a bestseller. Anna speaks with Mike Corrao, also a Minnesotan, about his new novel Man, Oh Man – a humorous but insightful experiment that will have you questioning how you've always approached novels. Mike Corrao is a writer and filmmaker whose work has been featured in publications such as Entropy, Always Crashing and The Portland Review.

Lori can't get enough of Ray Donovan. Donny is not a fan of Sally 4 Ever on HBO. Lizzo's "Boys" named one of the top 10 songs of the year by Time Magazine. Snoop Dogg gets a Hollywood star. Guest is Leif Enger, author of "Virgil Wander".

Lori can't get enough of Ray Donovan. Donny is not a fan of Sally 4 Ever on HBO. Lizzo's "Boys" named one of the top 10 songs of the year by Time Magazine. Snoop Dogg gets a Hollywood star. Guest is Leif Enger, author of "Virgil Wander". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A gorgeous sweeping story of a small town movie theater owner (Virgil Wander) on the North Shore who experiences something very dramatic in the opening pages of the book. This is a story of new beginnings, amazing characters and beautiful storytelling. We also found the story to be funny, sweet and poignant. This is Leif’s 3rd novel…. Peace Like a River and So Brave, Young and Handsome are the other 2 books. 5 out of 5 stars

Andrea Debbink is an editor and author with more than a decade of experience in the publishing world. Currently she’s an editor at American Girl where she creates nonfiction content that empowers girls to explore their creative potential. Her new book Spark: A Guide to Ignite the Creativity Inside You just won a 2018 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award. We chatted with Andrea about what it looks like to take a creative risk, her favorite books on creativity, and what creative risks Ashley and I are taking in 2019. You can connect with Andrea on Instagram, Goodreads, or at andreadebbink.com. Grab a copy of Andrea's book, SPARK: A Guide to Ignite the Creativity Inside YOU, illustrated by Emily Balsley. People & Things We Mentioned: The Lovely Drawer has 25k followers on Instagram and still struggles with getting her posts seen. Leif Enger writes slowly. Ashley highly recommends this novel, and his halfway through his current. And Leif is on Instagram! That book we couldn’t remember the name of that Ashley read about the cycles of creativity? It was Ryan Holliday’s Perennial Seller that she talked about in this episode. Ashley recommends the #amwriting podcast. Anthony Trollope worked as a mail carrier and wrote before he went to work each day. If he finished a novel before heading to work, he started a new one. Woah. Books We Talked About: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert Daily Rituals by Mason Curry Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living by Manjula Martin How to Be a Happier Parent by KJ Dell’Antonia

Hi friends and readers! Katie and I spent this entire episode catching up on what we've been reading (and the book-to-movie adaptations we've been watching), including Anne of Green Gables, To All the Boys I've Loved Before, Crazy Rich Asians, Walk Two Moons, and so much more. Check it out and let us know what you're currently reading! Books mentioned:  Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech Love That Dog by Sharon Creech Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery The Ensemble by Aja Gabel To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han Far from the Tree by Robin Benway Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel  Peace Like a River by Leif Enger  Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman The Wonder by Emma Donoghue  Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan Follow Us Everywhere! Website:https://www.nothankswerebooked.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nothankswerebooked Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nothxwerebooked/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoThxWereBooked  

We are ecstatic to welcome Greta Eskridge (@maandpamodern) to the show!  She is the ultimate nature enthusiast, and you will not want to stay inside another minute when you hear her wonder at all things outdoors.  Greta gets real, simple, AND fun which is exactly why we knew she was a must-have guest on Homeschool Unrefined.   Today's podcast is brought to you by audible - get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at www.audibletrial.com/homeschoolunrefined. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Our Audible listens: Everything Is Horrible and Wonderful by Stephanie Wittels Wachs, You're On an Airplane by Parker Posey, The Roald Dahl Audio Collection, The Collected Stories of Winnie the Pooh by AA Milne. How To Raise a Wild Child by Scott Sampson Greta on the Read Aloud Revival Podcast Episode 62 Find Greta at her website, instagram, and her podcast.    Loving This Week Maren: Her mug from Caribou and this mug from Jo's Coffee. Angela: Peace Like a River by Leif Enger   Visit our website Support us on Patreon here. Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com Visit our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

In today’s episode Mollie and Katie talk about how our reading has been slow, but good, what author we’d like to go on a tropical besties vacay with, and how Jeremiah Land from Peace Like a River is full of boundless wisdom. We also ponder the question: do you have to love your job? Very existential of us.   Books Mentioned: Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr Liane Moriarty (author of such books as Big Little Lies and The Husband’s Secret) Sweet Bitter by Stephanie Danler Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson Peace Like a River by Leif Enger   Follow us all over the internet! Website:https://www.nothankswerebooked.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nothankswerebooked Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nothxwerebooked/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoThxWereBooked

Part two of Vice and Virtue! We're joined by guest Sara Shaw to talk about the ways in which virtue is portrayed, exploited, utilized and embodied by a variety of different characters. Homework for the episode: The Crucible by Arthur Miller; Dogma, 1999 film directed by Kevin Smith; Peace Like a River, 2001 novel by Leif Enger.

History of Wolves (Grove Atlantic) History of Wolves is the story of fourteen-year- old Linda, who lives with her parents in an abandoned commune in the icy woods of Northern Minnesota. Isolated at home and at school, Linda finds unusual company in her beautiful classmate, Lily, and her charismatic History teacher, Mr. Grierson. When Mr. Grierson is accused of possessing child pornography, Linda’s world shifts dramatically. Things seem to look up when the Gardner family moves in across the lake. Linda is welcomed into their home as their son, Paul’s, babysitter. However, this sense of belonging, and her newfound feelings of purpose come at an unexpected price—Linda is drawn into secrets that she doesn’t understand and is eventually forced to make decisions that will affect her entire life. Praise for History of Wolves “[A] stellar debut . . . A sense of foreboding subtly permeates the story . . . [the] wordsmithing is fantastic, rife with vivid turns of phrase. Fridlund has elegantly crafted a striking protagonist whose dark leanings cap off the tragedy at the heart of this book, which is moving and disturbing, and which will stay with the reader.”—Publishers Weekly (starred boxed review)  “An atmospheric, near-gothic coming-of-age novel turns on the dance between predator and prey . . . Fridlund is an assured writer . . . The novel has a tinge of fairy tale, wavering on the blur between good and evil, thought and action. But the sharp consequences for its characters make it singe and sing—a literary tour de force.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)  “The writing is beautiful . . . a triumph of tone and attitude. Lovers of character-driven literary fiction will embrace this.”—Booklist (starred review) “First thing you see is the bracing intelligence of the book’s young narrator – no big-eyed sentiments for Linda, raised amid blighted ideals in the ceaseless winters and vast swamps of northern Minnesota. So observant is Linda that you trust her instantly, but it’s her own search for trust, for connection even at enormous cost, that will hold you to the final hour. Emily Fridlund’s language is generous and precise, her story grief-tempered and forcefully moving. History of Wolves is the loneliest thing I’ve read in years, and it’s gorgeous. These are haunted pages.” —Leif Enger, author of Peace Like a River “As exquisite a first novel as I’ve ever encountered. Poetic, complex, and utterly, heartbreakingly beautiful.”—T. C. Boyle “So delicately calibrated and precisely beautiful that one might not immediately sense the sledgehammer of pain building inside this book. And I mean that in the best way. What powerful tension and depth this provides! I’m so excited for readers to encounter the talent and roiling intelligence of Emily Fridlund.”—Aimee Bender Emily Fridlund grew up in Minnesota and currently resides in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Her fiction has appeared in a variety of journals, including Boston Review, Zyzzyva, FiveChapters, New Orleans Review, Sou'wester, New Delta Review, Chariton Review, Portland Review, and Painted Bride Quarterly. The opening chapter of History Wolves won the 2013 McGinnis-Ritchie Award for fiction, and Fridlund's collection of stories, Catapult, won the Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction and will be published by Sarabande in the fall of 2017.

Marianne snakker om Så ung, så kjekk, så modig av Leif Enger. Bokprat fra 23.09.2014.

Katherine Hyde reviews Peace Like a River by Leif Enger, published by Atlantic Monthly Press.