Quick Lit: What I’ve Been Reading Lately

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed — by Lori Gottlieb

A therapist shares what she learns from working with her patients and the therapist she seeks out after being blindsided by a breakup. I loved this book, devoured it in a weekend, and wrote down pages of quotes. It’s fascinating, insightful, inspiring, funny, and impossible to put down.

Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men — Caroline Criado Perez

The premise of this book is that throughout time “the lives of men have been taken to represent those of humans overall,” leaving “one big data gap” when it comes to the lives of women. The author walks readers through everything from city planning to seat belts to medical testing and how these things and others have been designed (often unconsciously) with only men in mind. Fascinating and frustrating.

Song for a Whale — Lynne Kelly

Oh my gosh, I loved this book! Iris, a twelve-year-old Deaf girl who often feels alone in the world, learns about a whale named Blue 55 who is ostracized by other whales because his song isn’t understood. Iris writes a song for Blue 55, determined to communicate with him. Lynne Kelly’s work as a sign language interpreter really shines through in her most recent novel. I loved the reference to the humpback whale record published in a 1979 National Geographic that I remember from my childhood. I hope, hope this book wins the 2020 ALA Schneider Award!

The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness: The Path to True Christian Joy — Timothy Keller

This is more pamphlet than book and is a super-quick read. Tim Keller says everyone is searching for “an ultimate verdict that we are important and valuable.” We “perform” to measure up either in our own eyes or in the eyes of others. But in Christianity, Christ’s perfect life is given to believers. There is no reason to perform to earn favor or value. We can forget what others think of us or even what we think of ourselves. God sees and receives us through the perfect work of His Son. That’s good news!

Lenny’s Book of Everything — Karen Foxlee

This is a gorgeous middle grade novel different from anything else I’ve ever read. Lenny has a little brother Davey, who isn’t so little. He lives with a form of gigantism doctors are unsure how to cure. Lenny and Davy find solace in a Build-It-at-Home Encyclopedia set that comes in monthly installments. Beautifully written, heartfelt, heartbreaking, and hopeful.