When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d
“When lilacs last in the dooryard bloom’d, And the great star early droop’d in the western sky in the night, I mourn’d, and yet shall mourn with ever-returning spring. Ever-returning spring, trinity...
View ArticleResistance is (Almost) Futile
The kids and I had just finished lunch when there was a knock on the door. I saw a minivan out the window, and I thought it might be a friend. I opened the door to find a well-dressed man who quickly...
View ArticleCriminal Injustice
A few years ago I got pulled over and received a ticket. I became nervous when I noticed that the police car had started following me. I tensed up and kept my hands on the wheel at ten and two. I...
View ArticleBook Reviews, May 2015
The May installment of mini book reviews has the two books I referenced in my last post about criminal justice, as well as two very different novels set during World War II, and another book on...
View ArticleThe Bad Samaritan
The TV sitcom Seinfeld (in)famously ended with the foursome getting arrested for violating a Good Samaritan law. They saw something good to do and ignored it, which was typical for their characters....
View ArticleHospital Stories (6)
A few years ago I worked at a hospital as a constant observer. It was a transitional job as I tried to figure out the next step of my life. What exactly is a constant observer? one might reasonably...
View ArticleBook Reviews, June 2015
The June installment of short book reviews has humor, a look at evangelical Christian purity culture, and two more World War II novels, one of which has an appearance by a certain famous detective....
View ArticleSmothers Brothers
Seven years ago, Andy, one of my best friends, was shot and killed in the line of duty as a police officer. I miss him so much. Last year I wrote about one of my memories of him. It helps me to...
View ArticleA Change of Heart and Mind
After the recent Supreme Court decision to allow same sex marriages in all 50 states, the internet has been full of celebrations, cautions, laments, explanations, accusations, and recriminations. I’m...
View ArticleBook Reviews, July 2015
In July I read a wide variety of books. Let’s get straight to the reviews! Get in Trouble by Kelly Link is a collection of strange and beguiling stories. The stories feature pyramids and ghosts and...
View ArticleSummer Reading
I have a short piece up at the Rock & Sling blog called “Summer Reading: The Perfect Time to Get in Trouble.” Though I did already write a review of Kelly Link’s book of short stories titled Get...
View ArticleBook Reviews, August 2015
The August installment of brief book reviews includes the work of a southern poet, John Hersey’s classic on the devastation of the first atomic bomb, and a meditation on church. Searching for Sunday:...
View ArticleBook Reviews, September 2015
My September book reviews include the latest from a recently announced MacArthur “genius” award winner, a memoir by a very funny woman, a rollicking sword & sorcery adventure, and a powerful book...
View ArticleHospital Stories (7)
A few years ago I worked at a hospital as a constant observer. It was a transitional job as I tried to figure out the next step of my life. What exactly is a constant observer? one might reasonably...
View ArticleBook Reviews, October 2015
I’m trying something new with October’s batch of book reviews. The first review is twice as long as usual so that I could go into more depth on the important history of voting rights in America. I...
View ArticleBook Reviews, November 2015
November’s books are a varied lot, but they were all pretty great (with one notable exception–I’m looking at you, Luke Skywalker). You might find something you like. NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism...
View ArticleMystery Science Theater 3000
I discovered Mystery Science Theater 3000 at the right time. I was in junior high, and it hit the right funny sweet spot, weird and wacky and nerdy all at the same time, that made it irresistible to...
View ArticleBook Reviews, December 2015
This is my final installment of book reviews for the year, soon to be followed with a year end wrap up of the best books I read in 2015. Watch this space! In the meantime, listen to this song from...
View ArticleBest Books I Read in 2015
I read a lot of great books in 2015, and I would recommend many of them to interested readers. But I thought it might be helpful to narrow it down to a smaller list of titles for a year end wrap up....
View ArticleBook Reviews, January 2016
A new year of books and book reviews! I’m hoping to match my reading and reviewing goals from last year and do them one better (i.e. 51). These three books were a great start to the year. People of...
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