Swords and Crowns and Rings – Ruth Park

From Storygraph: Jackie Hanna, born with dwarfism, and Cushie Moy, the girl next door, share an innocent love–a love that will be censured, but will persevere. This is the story of the triumph of a special kind of courage.
Ruth Park’s Miles Franklin-winning novel brilliantly evokes Australia in the Great Depression.

My Thoughts: I had a few nights up late reading this. The story goes back and forth between Jackie and Cushie’s point of view, but in big chapters (50-100 pages each). The size of the chapters made it difficult to put down. This is the third Ruth Park book I’ve read, the other two I read while I was in school and I’ve enjoyed all of them. She is a wonderful writer. 5-stars.

Shield of Sparrows – Devney Perry

From Storygraph: Shield of Sparrows is a slow-burn, high-stakes romantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros—where enemies become lovers, monsters stalk a cursed realm, and a forgotten princess finds the strength to tear off her crown and become the warrior she was never meant to be.

My Thoughts: This is a page turner and I felt like the world building was original. Of course the romance featured all the usual tropes. I wish I had read it later when the second book was out. I want to know what happens next! 4.5 stars.

The Naked Now: Richard Rohr

From Storygraph: For Christians seeking a way of thinking outside of strict dualities, this guide explores methods for letting go of division and living in the present. Drawn from the Gospels, Jesus, Paul, and the great Christian contemplatives, this examination reveals how many of the hidden truths of Christianity have been misunderstood or lost and how to read them with the eyes of the mystics rather than interpreting them through rational thought. Filled with sayings, stories, quotations, and appeals to the heart, specific methods for identifying dualistic thinking are presented with simple practices for stripping away ego and the fear of dwelling in the present.

My Thoughts: This was great. Lots to think about as you can see by my highlights below. 5-star read.

Lines of note:

“Mature religion involves changing ourselves and letting ourselves be changed by a mysterious encounter with grace, mercy, and forgiveness. This is the truth that will set us free (John 8:32). Yet much of our history has involved trying to change other people with our ideas.

This has gotten us almost nowhere, and it allows us to remain untransformed and unconverted ourselves.” (Page 88)

and “It comes down to this: transformed people transform people.” (Page 86)

“But faith in Christianity largely became believing things to be true or false (faith as intellectual assent) instead of giving people concrete practices so they could themselves know how to open up (faith), hold on (hope), and allow an infilling from another source (love).” (Page 107)

“Dualistic people use knowledge, even religious knowledge, for the purposes of ego enhancement, shaming, and the control of others and themselves, for it works very well in that way. Nondual people use knowledge for the transformation of persons and structures, but most especially to change themselves and to see reality with a new eye and heart. They hold and “suffer” the conflicts of life instead of passing them on or projecting them elsewhere. They do not get rid of life’s pain until they learn its necessary lessons. Such a holding tank that agrees to hold it all, eliminating nothing, is what I mean by living in the naked now and being present outside the mind.” (Page 115)

“Finally, of course, there is a straight line between love and suffering. If you love greatly, it is fairly certain you will soon suffer, because you have somehow given up control to another. Undoubtedly, this is why we are told to be faithful in our loves, because such long-term loyalty will always lead us to the necessary pruning (John 15:2) of the narcissistic self.” (Page 127)

The Left Hand of Darkness – Ursula Le Guin

From Storygraph: ‘Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new’

Two people, until recently strangers, find themselves on a long, tortuous and dangerous journey across the ice. One is an outcast, forced to leave his beloved homeland; the other is fleeing from a different kind of persecution. What they have in common is curiosity, about others and themselves, and an almost unshakeable belief that the world can be a better place. 

As they journey for over 800 miles, across the harshest, most inhospitable landscape, they discover the true meaning of friendship, and of love.

My Thoughts: Amazing world building and as usual with Le Guin, a vehicle to explore important themes of gender, religion, communication. A slow start, but worth persevering. 4.5 stars.