Saturday Good Reads

I sometimes include items here I don’t personally agree with, and for any of several reasons. They may be well written. They may express a viewpoint that needs to be understood. They may be filled with a passion that is impressive, even if I don’t agree with it.

I don’t support Donald Trump for President, but I understand why his supporters do. And that support succinctly summed up in “A Letter from Trump’s America,” reprinted by Rod Dreher at American Conservative. If you want to understand Trump’s appeal, and indirectly why the political establishment in its entirety doesn’t know how to deal with it, read that letter.

Another important read: Tim Challies reviews the book Messy Grace by Caleb Kaltenbach. When he was a teenager, Kaltenbach “came out” to his parents, causing pain, disappointment, and outrage. Except in this case, Kaltenbach came out as a Christian; his parents were gay.

And Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s “best buddy” on the court was – Antonin Scalia, proving that people who fundamentally disagree on just about everything can still be civil, compassionate, and kind to each other.

Two undiscovered poems by J.R.R. Tolkien. A doctor spends six years bicycling around the world. A husband thanks his wife on Valentine’s Day, in a poem. And more. 

Poetry

10 Edward Thomas Poems Everyone Should Read – Interesting Literature.

Thank You Note – Loren Paulsson at World Narratives.

Robert Southwell – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

Daily Observance at Abu Ghraib – Maureen Doallas at Writing Without Paper.

Undiscovered J R R Tolkien poems found in 1936 school magazine – Oxford Mail.

Life and Culture

Bullies with a Cause: The Rise of Snowflake Fascists – Pamela Paresky at Psychology Today.

Cycling doctor declares the world better than expected – BBC News.

A Letter from Trump’s America – Rod Dreher at American Conservative.

Community Creates the Music of Our Life – Jon Mertz at Thin Difference.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s moving tribute to her “best buddy” Justice Scalia – Vox.com.

Writing

Cervantes’ Unparalleled Influence: The Man Who Invented Fiction – William Egginton at Signature.

Faith

Death, the Prosperity Gospel and Me – Kate Bowler at The New York Times (Hat Tip: J of India).

Oh, Bravery, Do You Have to Be So Hard? – Mick Silva.

The Next Culture War – David Brooks at The New York Times.

Messy Grace –Tim Challies at Informing the Reforming.

Art and Photography

Winter White – Leanne Burden Seidel at The Boston Globe (Hat Tip: Tim Challies).

Unraveling Light – Tim Good at Pixels.

I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables, sung by Anne Hathaway.

Painting: Blue Girl Reading, oil on canvas by August Macke, 1914.