The months have sped by, and I’ve fallen behind in posting to my blog. I hope to change and post at least weekly if not more frequently. Today I’ll bring you up to date on my reading.
Last week I finished Simply Speaking by Peggy Noonan, which I believe has been re-titled Speaking Well. Thanks to her experience as a speechwriter for presidents, she has a thorough grasp of both the written and spoken word. She shares examples of paragraphs from good—and bad—speeches. Noonan’s observations and practical tips can go a long way in helping writers, especially those who speak, focus and craft what they want to say. I highly recommend this book.
This week I’ve started Spoken from the Heart by Laura Bush. I’m 58 pages into the 438 page book. So far her remembrances of growing up in a Texas town in the 1950s have much in common with mine growing up in a rural Pennsylvania community about the same era, although I never snuck out of my house at night or walked around town with girlfriends while wearing plaid pajamas. She writes in a conversational style with great detail thrown in between commas. I’m still getting used to her style. The book ends with a 13-page index. Photographs are included here and there. I’ll keep you posted.
I’m also reading God’s Word to Women by Katharine C. Bushnell. The author (1855-1946) was a scholar of both Greek and Hebrew and a staunch advocate for women’s equality. When she discovered scriptures in a foreign language (I think, Chinese) had been slanted to keep women in subjection, she began studying for herself the original languages. What she found will surprise and amaze you. She is probably not 100 percent right, but I’m sure she’s not 100 percent wrong either. It’s a challenging book that you need to read with a Bible in one hand.
Reading plows your mind, as I said in this month’s newsletter. Enjoy the cultivation.
