This is the 4th in my series on books I have been reading in 2023. These are books 19-24. I want to reiterate that my reports attempt to give neutral summaries of each book, so that I discipline myself to listen to each author, rather than to criticize. I continue to pick my reading largely from what a variety of friends recommend, friends who differ greatly in their position on issues. Some of them make these recommendations because they fear I am skewed in one direction. I find it very helpful to consider multiple points of view on a variety of topics. It also has helped me to vary the genres – non-fiction, fiction, memoir, documentary, podcast, etc.
Book #19 was the children’s fiction book, The Watsons Go To Birmingham, 1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis. It was originally published in 1995, and was made into a TV Movie in 2013 by Tonya Lewis Lee. Readers say the book is appropriate for readers age 10-12 years and grade levels 3-7. This book is the story of a black family from Flint, Michigan, set in the early 60’s. The mom of the family, Wilona, originated from Birmingham, Alabama, where her mother still lives. They haven’t been to Birmingham in many years, but they talk with Grandma Sands on the phone. The children in the story are Byron, age 13, Kenny who is in 4th grade, age 10 or so and Joetta, age 6 or 7. Kenny is the narrator of the story, and he is recognized as very smart and loves to read, both of which make him the object of bullying at school. He is only somewhat protected by Byron, who has flunked at least one grade and remains in elementary school, holding a god-like status there. Byron is friends with a fellow bully, Buphead, and is descending into delinquency as a teenager. Bullying is prevalent in their school. Therefore, Daniel and Wilona make a decision to take him to spend the summer with Grandma Sands in Birmingham. Their hope is that she will have success disciplining him because their discipline has failed to produce results. They also hope that seeing the racial situation in Birmingham will wise him up, which I assume means that they believe a Black young man must be circumspect and live an upright life in order to stay out of trouble. While they are there, the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church takes place, which kills 4 young girls and blinds two others. The trauma of this event is significant, particularly for Kenny. The family returns to Flint, with Byron, with a new unified consciousness and solidarity.
Book #20 was Woke Racism by John McWhorter. My second book report highlighted multiple books/media from a left leaning perspective. I imagine I bothered some people with that list of books. As I began reading Woke Racism, I imagined bothering a different set of people, and I frankly trembled. I had never heard of John McWhorter, which I imagine means I am pretty uninformed. The premise of his book is that “Anti-Racism,” as represented by Ibram X. Kendi and Robin DiAngelo, is a religion which is exerting enormous influence and terror over all dissenting viewpoints, the terror of being labeled and punished as “racist.” He calls anti-racism a religion because of its internally contradictory beliefs, in his opinion. He urges people to recognize that “Anti-racism” imposes its religion through intimidation and canceling; one cannot discuss its ideas logically without social consequence. Furthermore, Anti Racism gives no practical help to oppressed people; in fact it scoffs at the desire to help correct oppression. McWhorter exhorts his readers to stand up to this religion, just say no, and get used to being criticized. He outlines a simple plan of three points to take real action to improve the lives of people, who do need help. McWhorter does not counsel his readers to “cancel” and suppress the Anti-Racist viewpoint; rather he sees their value if they will “sit back down” at the discussion table, as one viewpoint among many.
“Book” #21 was a documentary on Endometriosis called “Below the Belt: the Last Health Taboo.” This aired in mid-June on PBS. It follows the cases of four women who live in continual pain and with significant life altering limitations from endometriosis, which does not simply build up on the uterus, but also on other crucial internal organs. The documentary asserted that 1 in 10 women worldwide suffer from endometriosis, but doctors know very little of what causes it or how to treat it. The goal of the film is to raise awareness, solidarity with those who suffer from it, and to promote research.
Book 22 is Pilgrim’s Progress. I have never read this before, though I have been familiar with much of it. Bunyan seems concerned to help readers distinguish true Christianity from false Christianity. Like reading The Screwtape Letters, it emphasizes that suffering is to be expected in the normal Christian life. It also teaches an attitude of humility for the true Christian. The path to salvation requires one to confess one’s sinfulness, cling to Christ for salvation and live with an abiding reverence for God. Rebuke is often needed and should be welcomed by a real Christian. Finally, the beauty of our eternal home is continually promised, a motivation to hope and perseverance for all Christians.
Book 23 is a podcast by the Economist on the end of Affirmative Action. (https://www.economist.com/checkspod) It featured John Prideaux, Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon and Jon Fasmon. It was an excellent example of civil discourse among people who hold different views. Charlotte Howard was the most concerned about the end of Affirmative Action, but acknowledged that it had always been a flawed instrument to bring about desired diversity in colleges. I want to do more reading on this. I heard that the New York Times published multiple different opinions in the Week In Review immediately following the Supreme Court decision.
Book 24 was Everything Sad Is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri. It is labeled a novel, but it is his memoir of leaving Iran with his mother and sister. Because of his mother’s conversion to Christianity, the family came under threat by the Iranian police and were forced to take refuge in the US, ending up in Oklahoma. It is engaging and moving. Two notable things – first, the treatment of Daniel’s peers of him and his family because of their ignorance of his country and second, the price Daniel’s mother was willing to pay to be a Christian. Daniel reports that she considered Jesus more valuable than living a comfortable life in her homeland, more valuable than her life. We listened to the audiobook, which was read by the author. We also listened to an interview of Daniel Nayeri (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/podcasts/gospelbound/everything-sad-is-untrue/), in which he mentioned that his mother vetted his account with the exception of disputing his depiction of his step father. Some of the other characters are given fictitious names, and some are conflations of more than one actual person in Nayeri’s life. These are reasons for the designation of the book as a novel.
I am behind in my reading, behind in my reporting. Nevertheless, I still am pressing on, because reading these multiple perspectives has been very enriching for me. The discipline of reporting rather than reviewing has challenged me, but also promoted growth. I trust that God will use this project for blessing!