The Open Table – Book Reviews
Jesus was known –some would say notoriously so—for His “open table” eating style. In the Gospels, Jesus loved to share life at the table with others and never refused an offer to eat with someone. Most of Jesus’ great discussions with His disciples and others happened around the table. In honor of that model, The Open Table is a forum where all are welcome to join in the conversation about the books suggested and more. It’s a place where book reviews will be served up, but also where other thoughts, observations, and life happenings can be discussed and ideas savored. Your participation is encouraged. All contributions will be valued and nourished. Good manners are expected of course at The Table. Welcome to The Open Table. I hope we can meet here often. Great times are ahead! –thyrkas
Killers of the Flower Moon
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI By David Grann --Review by Paula Jones As a high school senior, after reading William Faulkner’s “As I Lay Dying,” I was left enraged by the overwhelmingly selfish motivations of Anse...
The Complete Stories of Flannery O’Connor
The Complete Stories of Flannery O'Connor --Review by Teri Hyrkas "Why would Flannery O'Connor ruin her short stories by including gratuitous violence in them?" This was the question raised by a friend who heard that I had attended a week-long class at The Glen...
A Theology of the Ordinary
August 19, 2017 Book Review A Theology of the Ordinary By Julie Canlis ISBN 978-0-692-84028-3 Published 2017 --Review by Douglas Balzer Wonder! It is one characteristic I appreciate in a book. When an author is able to capture me as Julie Canlis did in her book...
A Man Called Ove
A Man Called Ove, featuring Rolf Lassgård, Bahar Pars, and Filip Berg Rated PG-13 --Review by Ashley Linne A Man Called Ove is a story about someone who appears to be the typical cantankerous “old man next door” until you get to know him. A moving and dark comedy from...
Evicted
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City By Matthew Desmond --Review by Paula Jones Around 380 BC Plato wrote, “Our current state of affairs reduces to poverty men born for better things.” This short sentence summarizes Harvard Sociologist Matthew Desmond’s...
Night’s Bright Darkness
Night's Bright Darkness: A Modern Conversion Story by Sally Read --Review by Teri Hyrkas Sally Read, health professional, lauded poet and author of the spiritual memoir Night's Bright Darkness: A Modern Conversion Story,...
Humble Roots
Humble Roots: How Humility Grounds and Nourishes Your Soul by Hannah Anderson --Review by Teri Hyrkas When Jesus described himself as "gentle and lowly in heart"(Matthew 11:29), he was letting his listeners know that he was a typical person, a blood and bone, standard...
The Dragon Keeper’s Handbook
The Dragon Keeper's Handbook: Including the Myth & Mystery, Care & Feeding, Life & Lore of these Fiercely Splendid Creatures By Shawn MacKenzie ISBN 978-0-7387-2785-1 Published 2011; 314 pages --Review by Douglas Balzer Here be Dragons . . . Not the...
Lion
Lion, featuring Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara Rated PG-13 --Review by Ashley Linne Lion tells the emotional and beautiful true story of an Indian boy named Saroo who was lost on the streets of Calcutta at age 5, adopted by an Australian family, and 25 years...
Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?
Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? By Frans de Waal --Review by Paula Jones When I was a young teacher, my third grade class began a science unit on animals. For homework I assigned a simple worksheet aimed at helping students understand the difference...