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Reading a newly produced English translation of this German translation/paraphrase from the original Latin. Wolfmuller has this and many other theological deep cuts available in PDF for free on his website, https://wolfmueller.co/

The ARC has arrived in my inbox! Hooray!

This book has been sitting on our shelves for years, and NO ONE has read it. So I picked it up. Well into the 2nd third, and it's starting to feel a little sloggish. Also I'm picturing Pickett as Joaquin Phoenix's Emperor Commodus, which I don't think is the vibe the author exactly intended.

On the one hand, English boarding schools sound like they are just the worst. Paradoxically, I've come to this conclusion by reading semi-autobiographical accounts of them written by titans of English literature.

I am curious/hopeful about the prospects of the title of this book ending up being a Latin joke.

Our narrator has made sure that no one in the family will ever forget "Ho! Tom Bombadil! Tom Bombadillo!"

My Kindle Unlimited trial expires at the end of the month. Onward!

"The rivers of Your grace do not ascend up. Lofty mountains; instead, they flow down to the low-lying valleys of the humble heart."

"Who can even conceive of the magnitude and riches of Your kindness?"

It's been like 150 years (and several weeks) but somebody wandered over to the Iken section of the cemetery and I'm like TOO SOON, KATIE. <3

Gotta say, I love Sarah Lindel.

Yesterday, this book somehow 🤷‍♀️ ended up in my work bag, and I snuck in a bit of reading during the down time. But at about page 84, I put it away, sensing a big looming ugly cry on the horizon.

Yep.

Cry count: I don't know, 6? The book is a safe 20-minute car ride away, and I still just teared up thinking too much about what I read. I'm traumatized. I'll be ok.

God as narrator is such a gutsy move, my husband thinks I must be mistaken about this. Omniscient 3rd person present tense narration almost always comes off as pretentious or ridiculous or both, but, theoretically, if your narrator is actually a credible take on the Almighty, it should work. 🤷‍♀️ Anyway, this narrator works in Whistle Grove on several levels, and that is kiiind of amazing.

I am thankful for Lowell and Priscilla's companionship and courage as I walk to my car, having entrusted my autistic son to an ABA center for his all-day therapy. I think of Priscilla whenever I get the little progress reports for my boy.

Updated cry count: 2(ish)

I think there are parallels between Miriam and Scarlett O'Hara and I am intensely curious what that is about. Also I found the literal grove of family trees in the back, very nice! I haven't needed the German lexicon yet, but I spotted and am inappropriately delighted that there is a definition of sauerkraut included. I just made a fresh batch.

I had hoped to be able to write a review on Amazon as soon as this goes live there on the 8th. Well. Turns out I really don't have much time for reading physical books. I find this maddening but also salutary. I think this will be a book best read slowly, and savored. I've been thinking all day about what I've read so far. Tip of the hat to Katie Schuermann for encouraging healthy reading habits in me.
Cry count: 1.5

I chose this as my next classic to tackle in honor of my son, who has developed an unfortunate fondness for this word.

My daughter is the age I was when I first read this, so it's been on my mind to read it again. It's been a solid decade. Then I read a compelling review of this in the Lutheran Witness Online and that settled it.