I often find trauma novels hard to stomach. Reading THE KNOWN WORLD, which is a heartbreaking plunge into life during slavery in one Virginia county, I was amazed by how Edward P. Jones gave me the full experience of pointless suffering, outright maliciousness, slow despair, and intergenerational trauma while also caring for my tender heart. How did he manage it? I have five theories.
First, every character in this book, from those who kill others for fun to the Black slave owners to the punitive Black overseers to the good white sheriff to the supposedly insane older woman--every person is so complex and so much a victim of the institution of slavery, I began to feel my compassion accumulating as the story got violent. How remarkable!
Second, the only clear source of evil in this book is the social institution of slavery. Without the ability to point fingers at anyone, I was forced to feel the weight of collective crime against humanity, even against the perpetrators.
This leads to my third theory--not once in this novel does Jones use violence to propel the plot. Violence is just violence; suffering is just suffering. This preserves the honor and dignity of Jones's characters.
Fourth, the horrors of this world intersect with a mystical, dream-realm that, while not redemptive or salvific, still lends hope and meaning to an otherwise terrifying narrative.
And lastly, Jones is a master at uplifting the ordinary detail--the puddles in the road, the flies in the horse's mane, the carving on the walking stick--in a way that sanctifies life. This novel is long, slow, and extraordinary. I lift up to you Edward P. Jones.
Masterful, Pulitzer-prize winning literary epic about the painful and complex realities of slave life on a Southern plantation. An utterly original exploration of race, trust and the cruel truths of human nature, this is a landmark in modern American literature.
Henry Townsend, a black farmer, boot maker, and former slave, becomes proprietor of his own plantation - as well as his own slaves. When he dies, his widow, Caldonia, succumbs to profound grief, and things begin to fall apart: slaves take to escaping under the cover of night, and families who had once found love beneath the weight of slavery…
In a busy park, the animal population has a lively society governed by bison and patrolled by our protagonist, who may or may not be a dog. Their collective adventures are fresh, fun, and full of surprise. I'm amazed at how Dave Eggers managed to reimagine an old kids' literature standby, talking animals, in such a respectful way. They even have theological conversations! And hats off to him for not dumbing down his vocabulary for younger readers. The language throughout is marvelous. This is one of the best kids' books I've read in ages.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the award-winning author of The Every and the illustrator behind the beloved picture book Her Right Foot comes an endearing and beautifully illustrated story of a dog who unwittingly becomes a hero to a park full of animals.
Johannes, a free dog, lives in an urban park by the sea. His job is to be the Eyes—to see everything that happens within the park and report back to the park’s elders, three ancient Bison. His friends—a seagull, a raccoon, a squirrel, and a pelican—work with him as the Assistant Eyes, observing the humans and…
As always, Cynthia Bourgeault provides a grippingly good book here. How does she manage to make dense spiritual teaching read like a thriller? Personal vulnerability, a knack for narrative, splashes of humor, profound engagement with her material, and a stunning vocabulary.
I applaud Bourgeault for lifting up Keating as a contemporary mystic. He was also a consummate teacher, so much so that his teachings permeate any biographical content. While at times Bourgeault's own teaching agenda seems to bend Keating's life and teaching to her will, for the most part the clarity of his relationship with love shines through these pages and makes itself available to us. Such a gift.
I'm also grateful these pages include his final poems. The book is worth buying for these alone.
"Anything that is not unconditional love is not really you."
The first portrait of spiritual luminary Thomas Keating's remarkable evolution, in the last decades of his life, into a fully realized modern-day Christian mystic.
In the first four decades of his life as a Trappist monk, Thomas Keating created a comprehensive, unified psychospiritual pathway leading from healing to holiness and from contemporary psychological wellness to classic mystical sanctity and beatitude. As one of the key innovators of the meditative practice of Centering Prayer, he fashioned a powerful on-ramp to the Christian contemplative tradition. Yet, as beloved author and Keating disciple Cynthia Bourgeault shows, that was not the end of Keating's…
Writing the Sacred Journey: The Art & Practice of Spiritual Memoir invites writers of every level to uncover and honor the sacred within their life stories. With gentle, practical guidance, life-long writing instructor and spiritual director Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew helps writers overcome frequently encountered obstacles, learn introductory craft techniques, and transform the creative process into a spiritual practice. Here you’ll find themes common to spiritual memoir, literary tricks for describing the ineffable dimension of our being, activities to get started, and encouragement for deepening your work.
Anyone—everyone—can write the story of their sacred journey with heart, flair, and grace. Here’s how.
