August 2020 In Review

AUGUST 2020  |  IN REVIEW
READ  |  WRITE  |  DISCUSS  |  PRAY  |  SERVE  |  REFLECT

Even in Cambridge

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Read

The Nightingale

Not only had I been meaning to read this book for a while, Kristin Hannah’s characters satisfied a recent itch I had to read about female WWII heroines.  This epic spans the entire war and aftermath, but Hannah’s use of short scenes kept me turning the pages despite the horrors.  I recommend gathering your own courage to open this book and remember the stories of those who never got a parade for bravery.

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Write

The Art of Memoir

This month I felt daunted by the writing task ahead of me: revision.  When I picked up her book on craft, Mary Karr seemed to know exactly how to commiserate and how to encourage.  It was great to hear from someone who had “been there”, someone who could provide new insights into how to keep going with my project.

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Discuss

Heads of the Colored People

Overall, we enjoyed reading this short story collection.  While some of the characters were incredibly unlikable, we loved the connections between the stories, as well as the diversity of Black experiences in different places in life.  We felt challenged and stretched and grateful for this chance to rethink what it means to be Black, and how being Black can mean many different things.

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Pray

From Motivated Infernalist to Hopeful Prayer Warrior

When my writing group insisted I share my beliefs about hell in my memoir, I balked at committing to a theory.  Months later, a friend of mine recommended a book that offers a detailed analysis of Christian biblical explanations.  I dove into the research.  By the end, I still felt confused about the Bible’s message and yet satisfied in my commitment to pray for the worst, and hope for the best.

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Serve

Animal Therapy and More

I learned about this charity through some friends who keep this group close to their hearts.  The charity has always worked to provide integrative therapies to children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, and now they also have an emergency fund to help families who are suffering further from circumstances due to the COVID pandemic.  Consider making a donation today.

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Reflect

Reflect

Check out the reflect button on the homepage where you can view this and all monthly newsletters.

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VISIT THE SITE

Looking forward to reading & discussing with you!

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