D.J.'s Updates en-US Mon, 09 Jun 2025 13:32:31 -0700 60 D.J.'s Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review7641277268 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 13:32:31 -0700 <![CDATA[D.J. added 'The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning']]> /review/show/7641277268 The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson D.J. gave 3 stars to The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning (Hardcover) by Margareta Magnusson
More like 3.5 stars not because it is immensely practical but because I love how Magnusson writes. This is more like a memoir with some tidbits I already know but I felt inspired to begin again. Also, I took photos of a couple of quotes and sent them to friends. I'm not sure this thin book is worth the price; however, because it is thin, I can see me reading it again and again for inspiration. Would my mom read it? I wish. She is also between 80 and 100 (the age Magnusson says she is), and she could use some help with the gentle art of Swedish death cleaning. This book was recommended to me (by a friend, not my children...lol) and I'm with Magnusson when she says to start death cleaning when you are young. So this book is for anyone and everyone with stuff. ]]>
Rating866087739 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 13:29:03 -0700 <![CDATA[D.J. Lang liked a review]]> /
The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson
"I listened to the audiobook and it was thoroughly comforting and cozy. I already, naturally get rid of things � to the chagrin of my wife � so this was also a bit, personal indulgence. Please do read (or listen). "
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Review7641229945 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 13:15:32 -0700 <![CDATA[D.J. added 'Out to Canaan']]> /review/show/7641229945 Out to Canaan by Jan Karon D.J. gave 4 stars to Out to Canaan (Mitford Series, #4) by Jan Karon
I continue on with the Mitford series, both for my mom's sake (I think she will love the series), and my sake (I'm hooked), and to appease friends and family who are aghast when I read salacious novels (this is not one of those). I have two bookmarks in this book. The first is on a page that describes a nearly burnt out Fr. Timothy, and his wife who states, "This is what preachers do -- if they do it right." Not necessarily the burned out part, but the connections that Fr. Timothy makes with the people in his town and the homeless encampment outside of his town. Granted his town has a population of 1,000 and there are three other churches; nonetheless, perhaps there is something here for pastors to learn from. I also add that I love the interactions and good natured jibs that the pastors have for one another and the differences between their particular denominations. I laugh out loud at the differences between the Episcopalians and Baptists. So true. Lol. I also teared up in two parts.

The second bookmark is on a page illustrating why Karon's work is a cut above other Christian novels. She seamlessly works in quotes in appropriate ways from great Christian writers such as Bonhoeffer. My mom will never read a Bonhoeffer book (too esoteric...although she would not use the word "esoteric"), but on page 71 is a lovely Bonhoeffer quote and a small (very small discussion on being grateful "even where there's no great experience and no discoverable riches, but much weakness, small faith, and difficulty."

I have all of the books in the series now except the new one coming out this year titled My Beloved. I'm worrying already about who is going to die and how badly am I going to cry. ]]>
Comment291547690 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 13:10:58 -0700 <![CDATA[D.J. made a comment on Sally’s status]]> /read_statuses/9527290759 D.J. made a comment on Sally’s status

Ugh. Such a depressing book! I know, I know...I gave it 4 stars, but that's because it is so thought-provoking and discussion worthy. And, I still think about thoughts I had while reading this book. ]]>
Review7639017095 Sun, 08 Jun 2025 18:11:16 -0700 <![CDATA[D.J. added 'In Search of God’s Will: Discerning a Life of Faithfulness and Purpose']]> /review/show/7639017095 In Search of God’s Will by Trevor Hudson D.J. gave 5 stars to In Search of God’s Will: Discerning a Life of Faithfulness and Purpose (Kindle Edition) by Trevor Hudson
I own most if not all of the books Trevor Hudson has written. This is his best. Not that the others weren't good. Hudson keeps growing in his writing, and the thoughts and practices in the book are a culmination of 40 plus years. I read the book in a Listening course, and met with a small group of friends ages 30-70, and we all gained from the book even though we are in different seasons of discernment. If a person can't get into a Listening course with Hudson, I'd say that this book would be a great place to start on one's listening journey. The exercises are worth the price of the book although I had been advised not to try to do every exercise all within the time that it takes to read the book straight through -- advice which I followed, and it is one reason I will keep returning to the book. I have underlined many thoughts in the book. Would my mom read it? I wish. I could comment just a bit further. My mom exemplifies some of the kingdom life in this book, yet we're never too old to learn a little more. And, I know that I have a lot to learn from Hudson's teaching and exercises. I highly recommend the book. ]]>
Review6834264722 Fri, 06 Jun 2025 10:22:53 -0700 <![CDATA[D.J. added 'Somehow: Thoughts on Love']]> /review/show/6834264722 Somehow by Anne Lamott D.J. gave 3 stars to Somehow: Thoughts on Love (Hardcover) by Anne Lamott
Let's just say this is my 3 star rating year. I think I spread out the reading of this book too much and always at bedtime so I read about 4 pages before falling asleep. Not Lamott's fault; I fall asleep with all books at bedtime. It is a very small book so the only reason for the long start to finish date comes from how spread out my reading was done.

I do recall feeling that she still has some hurt feelings (legitmately) over some things done to her (expressed toward the beginning of the book). Since I finished the book last night, I ended feeling Lamott's love for Neal (and her son and grandson, too, of course). I like Lamott; I'm glad I read this book. The lack of stars is more on me and my season of life than on her.

Would my mom read it? Eh, my mom is into Amish stories so there's not much that my mom does read. Let's put it that way. ]]>
Comment291450545 Fri, 06 Jun 2025 10:10:05 -0700 <![CDATA[D.J. made a comment on Gretchen’s status]]> /read_statuses/9514488570 D.J. made a comment on Gretchen’s status

I'll want to know what you think when we meet up for Coffee Book Club. ;D ]]>
ReadStatus9515813032 Fri, 06 Jun 2025 10:09:24 -0700 <![CDATA[D.J. wants to read 'The Trouble with Heroes']]> /review/show/7632737174 The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner D.J. wants to read The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner
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Rating865084657 Fri, 06 Jun 2025 10:09:21 -0700 <![CDATA[D.J. Lang liked a review]]> /
The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner
"Jerks. They’re great. On the page, that is. If you’re an adult that reads loads of middle grade children’s novels on a regular basis then you might, like me, be a bit sick of the nice kids. Nice kids are the bread and butter of children’s literature. They’re good-hearted, relatable, kind, and deeply, deathly dull. They get picked on by bullies and stand up for their little sisters and generally blend together so well that you have a hard time remembering one book from another. Compare all that to Finn in The Trouble with Heroes. You know what he’s doing when we meet him? Kicking over the headstones of complete strangers in the cemetery. You know how he feels about that act? He doesn’t really feel anything at all, actually. Finn is a rage-filled young man prone to sarcasm, disdain, and a general sense of jaded ennui. He is, in short, the perfect antidote to all those perfect protagonists out there and one cannot help but think that right from the start young readers are going to be HERE for what this book is putting down.

“If I were a better kid, this story would begin with my seventh-grade diploma. Instead it starts with this...� What follows is a news clipping with the headline, “Local Cemetery Vandalized�. We learn that a kid (our protagonist, as it happens) was caught kicking over a headstone at 4:00 p.m. on a Friday. And not just any headstone either. Turns out, Finn has had the misfortune (or is it fortune?) to kick and break the headstone of Edna Grace Thomas. Edna’s a bit of a local celebrity, having not only climbed all 46 of the Adirondack High Peaks but also provided correspondence and words of encouragement to fellow hikers for decades. So when Finn is brought before her daughter, he’s given an odd opportunity. To make reparations, Finn must climb all 46 of the same peaks that Edna did. This, from a kid who has been failing gym (to say nothing of his English class). Oh, and one more thing. He’s gotta wear Edna’s old hiking boots and bring along her drooly, farty dog, Seymour. Now Finn’s climbing, sweating, snarking, and yet also observing, baking, and writing poetry ostensibly for an English class where he’s supposed to focus on the topic of what makes a hero. With a father who saved lives in 9/11 then died during COVID, Finn’s relationship with the notion of heroism is shaky at best. What makes a hero? And why are they so much trouble?

There are probably at least five good themes at work simultaneously in this book for kids, which is no easy task to maintain. Messner’s been in this game for a while, and in many ways this title is a culmination of all the hard work she’s put into the art of writing over the years. As such, the topics of grief, loving someone with addiction/PTSD issues, personal responsibility, developing a love of nature and the natural world � that’s ALL in here! Yet the theme that I particularly gravitated to the most was the central one: What makes a hero? Or, rather, when you’ve been labeled a hero, what price do you pay? This book could have been so easy for Messner. All she had to do was make Finn’s dead dad a saint, then spend the rest of the book having her protagonist struggle with what it means to be the son of a hero and what heroism means, and so on and so on, and SNORE! I’m sorry, but I’ve read that book. You have too. We don’t remember what those books' names were either because that topic isn’t really all that interesting. You know what is interesting? A dead hero who shamed his son regularly for baking or wearing aprons or twirling for fun because it was “girly�. A guy who never spent time with his family because he was too busy helping other people. The complexity of this dead dad is a thing of beauty. It means that the reader, just like Finn, has to come around to figuring out how to think about the guy. Messner puts both Finn and the young readers through the same paces in trying to figure this guy out, and in the end it’s not like it’s a done deal. Finn comes to a place of peace but not entirely one of understanding. And that’s okay.

I want to double back a bit to what I was saying at the beginning about Finn being a jerk. There’s a lot of talk, when it comes to writing books for kids, on how to make your character likable. You, as the author, need the reader to care and invest in them. A lot of writers do the thing where the wisecracking kid immediately experiences something deeply unfair. Or, failing that, they’ll show their good heart by some selfless action. There’s just gotta be something about them that makes you like them enough to stick with them. But what did Messner do with Finn? Frankly, I couldn’t remember, so I went back to the book to try and figure it out. Partly, it comes down to voice. Finn’s snarky, sarcastic, and done with the world around him, but he’s also legitimately funny. He also owns up to his vandalism right at the start, while also alluding pretty consistently to his trauma. It’s so strange that I didn’t remember how often he mentions being broken at the beginning of the book. It could come off as whiny, but somehow the combination of petulance, hurt, and humor make you, at the very least, want to see where this kid is going. Curiosity is a powerful factor in getting a young reader to turn that next page (heck, it works on adults too, I suppose).

Did I tear up? I did tear up. I know enough of middle grade novels to know that if a character complains at length about something small and loving that is annoying them, be it younger sibling, younger cousin, or drooly dog, at some point in the proceedings that young or drooly companion is going to be placed in some kind of peril. In this case, Messner really turns the screws near the end of the book, and it doesn’t hurt that the audiobook narrator of this title cranks the acting up to 11 (more on him in a bit). So not only is this book tackling 9/11, the COVID-19 Pandemic, and a love of the outdoors and nature but it’s making you laugh and cry as well. And you’re not even annoyed with it when it succeeds. Doggone it.

A quick word of advice: I don’t know how your kid prefers to read their books, but if they are at all into audiobooks then you can’t go wrong with the read performed by Mack Gordon. Gordon perfectly captures Finn’s snide take on the world around him. Yet when those moments come when our hero is overcome by emotion, Mack Gordon somehow has this ability to make his voice crack in sorrow. Just a little. Just enough to make you, the listener, break a bit as well. Of course, because I listened to this as an audiobook, I had no idea what this book looked like visually. I didn’t know it was a verse novel for one thing. Seriously! I had no clue! Also, the way it’s laid out on the page, it’s incredibly visually appealing. Messner breaks everything up with newspaper articles, advertisements, text messages, obituaries, poems, and “Choose Your Own Disaster� sections. What’s incredible is that Mack Gordon’s read never gives you a minute’s pause. That man can read Finn’s auto-reply of “I am not lost in the woods or being stalked by a panther or getting swatted by a bear,� a hundred times and you enjoy it each time he does. It’s a remarkable adaptation of a book that must have been a heckuva schlep to adapt.

I suppose it’s a bit late in the review for me to realize that my earlier statements about the trouble with protagonists in children’s books is just a slight reworking of this book’s titular theme. The trouble with the hero in a book for kids is that they’re just so darn hard to write. All too often they fall into a prescribed type, and that type isn’t all that interesting because they're so common. But in this book, Finn felt damaged in all the most interesting ways. And if you cut through the design of the book (which is infinitely kid-friendly and keeps the eye busy in a good way) the story at its heart is strong. How do you write a book with hope and heart and all that emotional stuff but still make it interesting to kids? The Trouble with Heroes is the answer. Homeric. "
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Comment291450451 Fri, 06 Jun 2025 10:07:14 -0700 <![CDATA[D.J. made a comment on Gretchen’s status]]> /read_statuses/9515399327 D.J. made a comment on Gretchen’s status

I'm not sure I would still give it 5 stars based on my many 3 star ratings I'm giving this year. I think timing is a massive influence. ]]>