Halbs – Page 34 – Cannonball Read 17

A History of the Quirks of the Church of Christ

Reviving the Ancient Faith: The Story of Churches of Christ in America by Richard Hughes

July 12, 2019 by Halbs Leave a Comment

Like many millennial Christians, my faith is central to my life but I don’t identify strongly with any particular sect or denomination. In fact, the whole denomination issue seems to me to be at worst be divisive, and at best a sort of menu of preferred “flavors” of church. That being said, I did grow up in the “Church of Christ” tradition. For the unfamiliar, CoC can be quickly described as “Baptist, but with more communion and fewer guitars” or “libertarian church”. Since I’ve never […]

Disturbing and Beautiful

The Crow by James O'Barr

June 14, 2019 by Halbs Leave a Comment

On the sunshine-iness spectrum ranging from Morissey to Kimmy Schmidt, I place myself towards the left, somewhere around the Joseph Gordon-Levitt dot. I enjoy poetry and creativity and thinking Thoughts, and at the same time I also try to find joy in life. If you’d put yourself in a similar position, if you’ve had someone taken away from you, or if you are a fan of the comics genre, consider The Crow. The graphic novel looks and feels familiar to anyone who has seen the […]

“Let us be what we are.”

The Basque History of the World: The Story of a Nation by Mark Kurlansky

June 12, 2019 by Halbs Leave a Comment

Several of my most recent reviews have been related to adoption and self. That’s on purpose. I’ve recently discovered both sides of my biological family through AncestryDNA, the research of an “adoption angel”, and some amateur online sleuthing. It’s hard to describe in text what it’s like to finally name your biological heritage as an adult. It feels like coming home, maybe. One of the most interesting parts for my and my kids is that I found out that a large chunk of my heritage […]

Read “The Primal Wound” Instead

Coming Home to Self: The Adopted Child Grows Up by Nancy Newton Verrier

June 8, 2019 by Halbs Leave a Comment

A few months ago I reviewed The Primal Wound, Nancy Newton Verrier’s book about the unavoidable impact that separation from the biological family (especially mothers) places on adoptees. I mentioned that while the book was a bit dated since it was written in the early 1990s, there was a lot of value in it because it articulated and normalized things that many adoptees feel. One of the primary complaints of Verrier’s first book is that it of lays out a problem without a solution. (This wasn’t […]

“I’m tired of people dying because of arguments between their leaders.”

The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, Book 2) by Brandon Sanderson

June 8, 2019 by Halbs Leave a Comment

A few months ago I reviewed the first book in the Mistborn trilogy. I mentioned in that review how good the fights were, and how much I enjoyed Sanderson’s world building. He sketches out a complex continent full of history, classes, and intrigue and puts his RPG party of thieves, smooth talkers, and warriors to work. It’s fun! In The Well of Ascension, Sanderson benefits from all of that book one groundwork while also enriching the world’s lore and political machinations. As a political scientist, I […]

Get the Most Out of Working Remote

Remote: Office Not Required by Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson

May 30, 2019 by Halbs Leave a Comment

Exactly a year ago I changed jobs. I went from a conservative 9-5 workplace where business casual or suits were required to complete freedom. Anywhere with an internet connection was potentially my office. At first, this was overwhelming. I was talking to an office-less friend about it and how he dealt with always being available. He told me a story about one time having to talk with a client while on a cruise. “Instead of looking at it like I’m always on call, I look […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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