Listening so hard to an audiobook I almost ran out of gas but Thankfully Did Not

Science picture books, nonfiction ice escapades, and Emma M. Lion

For the Littles:
Hidden Creature Features by Jane Park
Seems like your typical science-y picture book…until you meet such terrors as this:

Suddenly, you are look at penguin tongue bristles. Absolutely disturbing. We like this book.

One Long Line: Marching Caterpillars and the Scientists Who Studied Them by Loree Burns
Do you have a budding nature scientist in your house? This illustrated (short) chapter book goes into detail on scientific discoveries of the processionary caterpillars. My little scientist was enraptured. I liked that it told the history of the science but also included side notes with more science details, and the illustrations were understated and very nicely done. So much science!

For Family Readaloud:
Endurance: Ernest Shackleton’s Incredible Journey by Alfred Lansing
The only book you should read during a winter storm, honestly. On our snow day, I looked over the vast, snowy expanse and thought, Yes, I am like Shackleton. Then checked my mail, which didn’t come because of the snow. Sir Ernest Shackleton sets out to walk across Antarctica on foot (as one does) for the first time in history - but quickly everything goes wrong. The ship gets stuck in the ice floes and crushed. The new plan is just to get the men home alive. This book is a bit slow starting off, but my kids all enjoyed listening to the daily life on the ice, the character sketches of the men, and the more exciting bits where things got hairy. I cry at the end, and several places close to the end.

For Myself:
History of the Rain by Niall Williams
I didn’t like this one as much as This Is Happiness (read that one!) or Time of the Child (read this one too - at Christmas!). It is told from the perspective of a very sick young woman, in flashbacks, with frequent fanciful interruptions, tangents, literary experiments (even the introduction to another book inside the book). At first, I loved it- I thought it was exciting and new. But about 30 pages in, I found the main character annoying, and I could never really like her. This book was written earlier than the other two I loved, so just goes to show growth.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (volumes 1-4) by Beth Brower
On my drive down to a writing conference, and back, I listened through these audiobooks (and have continued on afterward). I was really into one ballroom scene and glanced down to notice my gas was at 0, completely empty! I had no idea how long I had been driving on fumes - I had to see if Aunt Eleanor was going to put a stop to her dancing with the Duke, right? - but luckily my little Corolla valiantly chugged along to the nearest gas station.
All that said, I really like this series. Jane Austen-ish times, but more like watching a good BBC miniseries (that isn’t as good as Jane Austen because what can be, let’s be real). The diaries are written from the perspective of Emma, a sufficiently downtrodden young maiden (orphan, obviously), who isn’t beautiful or rich (but somehow is uniquely alluring to young men, and actually is beautiful). These aren’t heavy reads, but they are entertaining and very clean! I would let my twelve year old read them if she had any interest at all (no, I can’t get her away from the Manga right now).
My one criticism: Emma has far too many pokers in the fire. I counted up five definite potential suitors (all tropes I’m afraid - the rich Darcy-esque Duke, the Broody Artist Photographer, the Suddenly Handsome Childhood Friend, the Preacher, the Scoundrel). That is too many, I’m sorry, I feel like I need a flow chart to keep the love interests straight. My oldest suggested that the author kill off a few of them, have at least one marry another woman, and - problem solved. So, take note, Beth Brower. I’m looking forward to getting volume 5.

Clarity and Light by Jesse Baker
I’ve been reading this book of devotional poetry in the mornings - a smooth transition between bible study and poetry writing. “Devotional” poetry sounds flowery, but these poems are earnest and relatable. Jesse is a pastor whose poems arise out of his biblical study and sermon writing process (which you can read about fully in this Rabbit Room article by the author - but an excerpt I cannot resist including:

Poetry has helped my sermon writing; but, it has also helped me to experience the whole of the spiritual life as a patient, attentive, and prayerful experience of God and his Scriptures. With that poetic foundation, when I preach, I hope sermons have the same effect on listeners that a poem has on readers, that it is seen as an open door inviting people into an exploration of both the text and the God revealed in the text. I also hope the whole of our worship becomes, not simply a chance to learn, but an opportunity for the church to embody their spiritual lives prayerfully and poetically, that they in turn become living poems through which the world encounters the Maker of all things. - Jesse Baker

The collection is organized chronologically, so you could keep it alongside your bible readings and tuck in to the aligning poems (though most poems include a scripture excerpt as an epigraph, so you could read it on its own and understand the context just fine). One of my favorites from the collection, on my favorite book of the bible:

Thoughts on Ecclesiastes
by Jesse Baker

The Teacher says all life is a vapor,
As if it has a scent like cigarette.
That life is like we’re all walking through awned doorways
Crowded with smokers on a rainy day
Getting their quick nicotine fix,
While we, against our wills, are unmistakably marked
With their peculiar perfume.

I wonder what it would have been like
Had the Teacher been around pipe smokers,
Catching their aromatic sweetness—
A vapor not standing as a barrier
To Joy, but as a warm and welcome embrace
Into an experience of goodness.
Their smoke wafts and billows in the air,
like arms waving us to come close.
Almost as if to say,
Come, friend. Taste and see.

(originally published on The Rabbit Room Substack)

Writing Updates:
I went to a lovely writing conference - in Real Life! - The Habit Winter Retreat. I wish that I lived in that area to engage with that group more - it was refreshing to be in a group of writers and the discussion not focus on getting our writing out there, but instead thinking through how do we honor God with our writing (while still getting our work out there). If you want to spend some time with deep thinkers, go to this!

Upcoming Workshops: Sharon Olds! Hang on to your hats for her Odes…

I also guest-posted over on Abigail’s substack about my dear friend Heather’s poem and how very well it invites the reader in. My post was the first in a series: Prepare a Table: Hospitable Poetry for Everyone. (check it out)