October Reads

 



Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin:  I heard about this book and resisted reading it for quite some time because I knew it was about video games, and sometimes books that heavily feature video games make me anxious about our society and my children's future, etc, etc, etc.  But, I'm happy to report, I was wrong to wait on this one.  It's a beautiful story with important themes woven throughout.


Dakota: a Spiritual Geography by Kathleen Norris:  I have enjoyed other books by Kathleen Norris (Amazing Grace and The Cloister Walk), and this was a great read as well.  Norris describes living West-River South Dakota using stories and reflections.  I found her writing to be encouraging and beautiful, highlighting the good nature of rural living while not ignoring the hard parts.



In Thought, Word, and Seed by Tiffany Eberle Kriner:  In this book, the author uses the backdrop of moving to and restoring a farm to discuss small towns, the pandemic, and race.  The narrative jumps from one topic to another quickly; sometimes it was hard to catch up... it encapsulated the scattered place that many of us found ourselves in during the midst of 2020 and subsequent years.


The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna: I picked up this book because it looked fun and IT WAS.  It's a great story about trust, friendships, and found family, all intertwined with magical realism and quirky characters.  Delightful!



Great Possessions: An Amish Farmer's Journal by David Kline: This is a re-read for me, and still lovely the second time through.  Anything written by David Kline is thoughtful, attentive and informative.  He is a gifted naturalist and farmer, and he shares stories and observations from his farm in a delightfully beautiful way.  His particular appreciation of the seasonality of farm living shines through in this book and helps me see each cycle of the year for the blessing that it is. 


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