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Spirituality and Religion July 2017
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Driving Miss Norma : one family's journey saying "yes" to living
by Tim Bauerschmidt
"When Miss Norma was diagnosed with uterine cancer, she was advised to undergo surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. But instead of confining herself to a hospital bed for what could be her last stay, Norma--newly widowed after nearly seven decades of marriage--rose to her full height of five feet and told her doctor, 'I'm ninety years old. I'm hitting the road.' Packing what she needed, Norma took off on an unforgettable cross-country journey with three professional nomads--her retired son Tim, his wifeRamie, and their standard poodle Ringo--in a thirty-six-foot RV. Driving Miss Norma is the charming, infectiously joyous chronicle of their experiences on the road--a transformative journey of living life on your own terms that shows us that it is never too late to begin an adventure, inspire hope, or become a trailblazer. As this once timid woman says 'yes' to living in the face of death, she tries regional foods for the first time, zip-lines through a former stranger's yard, and reaches for the clouds in a hot air balloon. With each passing mile (and one educational visit to a cannabis dispensary), Miss Norma's health improves and conversations that had once been taboo begin to unfold. Norma, Tim, and Ramie bond in ways they had never done before, and their definitions of home, family, and friendship expand. Stop by stop, state by state, they meet countless people from all walks of life--strangers who become fast friends and welcome them with kindness and open hearts. Infused with this irrepressible nonagenarian's wisdom, courage, and generous spirit, and filled with sixteen pages of color photographs, Driving Miss Norma reminds us that life is beautiful and precious, and that family, fun, and self-discovery can happen at any age"--Publisher description
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| Hanukkah in America: A History by Dianne AshtonIn Hanukkah in America, religion scholar Dianne Ashton offers a cultural history of American Judaism as she describes the heightened importance of Hanukkah in the U.S. Though this festival is historically a minor Jewish religious observance, American Jews have made it more prominent for a variety of reasons -- not just because of its proximity to Christmas. This thoroughly researched book engagingly provides information on Hanukkah's history and practice, from its origin to recent American influences. |
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| The Birth of the West: Rome, Germany, France, and the Creation of Europe in the Tenth... by Paul CollinsAccording to historian Paul Collins, European civilization arose from the achievements of 10th-century Christian leaders. In this "lively narrative with a comprehensible story line" (Publishers Weekly), he gives credit to organized Germanic monarchs and the Roman Catholic Church for reducing chaos and anarchy to manageable levels. Though many of the Popes and secular kings engaged in barbaric behavior, and ordinary people lived in terror, stable centralized rule coalesced and eventually took over. For history buffs, this is a page-turner not to be missed. |
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| The Heathen School: A Story of Hope and Betrayal in the Age of the Early Republic by John DemosIn The Heathen School, acclaimed historian John Demos chronicles the work of a special Connecticut school founded in the 1820s for non-Christian ("heathen") boys from North America and around the world. The idea was that the children educated at these schools would promote Christianity in their home communities and that introducing the students to European-Americans would moderate prejudices against non-Europeans. Demos' riveting narration relates both the school's successes and some unforeseen -- and unfortunate -- outcomes of this well-intentioned missionary effort. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Keene Public Library
60 Winter St.
Keene, New Hampshire 03431
603-352-0157
http://www.keenepubliclibrary.org/
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