Mary E. Trimble

MIGHTY: Vision for the supernatural normal Christian life by Carolyn Wing Greenlee is a convincing testimony to God’s power. The word “supernatural” in the subtitle may evoke magic or paranormal to some, but in this sense the word relates to the power of God in our every day lives, and the blessings that are ours when we believe in God’s love for us. The narrative is warm and personable, as though sitting with a friend over a cup of tea.

Greenlee shares first-hand knowledge of God’s supernatural power in normal, ordinary human lives. She provides anecdotes about her own experiences as well as those whose lives have demonstrated the strength of God’s unlimited capacity. She discusses the value and effectiveness of prayer, individually or the even more powerful group prayer.

Throughout this book the author demonstrates how individuals can gain insight in working out tough situations. She talks about God’s grace and the freedom of forgiveness. She discusses the value of studying the Bible, and the insights to be gained from the scriptures. In her book’s twenty-two chapters, the author covers the many aspects of human life and how it can be touched by God’s sanctifying grace.

Carolyn Wing Greenlee has walked with Jesus for more than forty years. She personally has faced many challenges, including blindness. A few years ago I read and reviewed her inspiring memoir, Steady Hedy: A Journey through Blindness & Guide Dog School. Greenlee has written close to fifty books. She is also an accomplished Christian songwriter, singer and playwriter, using her talents as a witness to God. In MIGHTY she shares her faith so that others may understand the joy of “walking with the Creator of the Universe.”

Book Review—Teresa James WAF’S Pilot, Gear Up/Gear Down: A P-47 to Newark

Posted on October 18, 2021 by Mary

A compelling biography, Teresa James WAFS Pilot: Gear Up/Gear Down: A P-47 to Newark by Sarah Byrn Rickman, brings to life the story of a determined young woman whose skills and dedication helped bring World War II to a victorious end.

Teresa James, born 1914 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was attracted to flying at an early age. Flying by herself by age 19, her early years of barnstorming and stunt flying honed her skills for what was to come later. When America was suddenly thrust into war with Japan, there was an urgent need for pilots to ferry new aircraft from the factories to training schools. Since men pilots were in great demand for combat, women pilots filled this vital role. Teresa became one of the early members of the “Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS).

Teresa knew how to fly, but now had to learn to fly “the Army way.” She and her fellow women pilots worked hard and soon became an integral part of the war effort. Their many accomplishments included ferrying pursuit fighter planes, high performance aircraft with a seat for only one pilot, recognized as the most important aircraft in World War II.

Teresa James WAFS Pilot is a well-written account of the importance women played in World War II. The author, through her personal association with many of “The Originals,” as they became known, has become an expert on the subject of WAFS, later known as WASP. She has written several books about various women pilots with the focus of encouraging young women to “reach for the stars.”

Book Review: The House an Alcoholic Built

Posted on October 11, 2021 by Mary

The House an Alcoholic Built by Bree Tarir is a memorable example of the ravages that result from alcohol abuse, ultimately leading to poor choices and despair.

The author, Bree Tarir, shares her family’s story with candor and honesty. Bree’s father fought in World War II and returned home haunted by the unspeakable horrors he witnessed. He turned to alcohol to cope with what is now known as PTSD. He married and had three children—Bree and her two brothers, Brandon and Kevin. Their father worked on oil rigs in northern Canada, a hard, filthy and dangerous occupation. The family lived in cramped trailers, often ill-equipped with basic necessities. At times their father was away from home for long periods of time while working in oil fields, and finally abandoned his family altogether. Bree’s mother coped as best she could, but they were often without adequate food, proper clothes and other necessities. Time and again they moved from impossible situations to even more uncomfortable ones.

Bree’s mother, desperate to provide for her family, made desperate choices. Bree’s brothers, bitter and resentful found their own destructive paths. At first Bree followed her mother’s example in her own marriage, but soon realized her unfortunate choice and eventually learned to make good, constructive decisions. Through the years, she tirelessly worked to care for her mother and brothers to help them take control and salvage their lives.

The House an Alcoholic Built is a well-written account of the life-long damage alcoholism wreaks on families, a disease that robs children of the opportunity to experience solid, secure lives in a nurturing environment. The author shares her personal experiences with stark honesty and openness, drawing the reader into the despair of a family shattered by alcoholism.

Book Review: The Healing of Natalie Curtis

Posted on September 27, 2021 by Mary

The Healing of Natalie Curtis, a historical novel by Jane Kirkpatrick, is a richly woven novel based on a true-life activist and ethno-musicologist. The story takes place in the early 1900s.

Born and raised in New York, Natalie Curtis was a classically trained pianist and singer, a child protégé. At an early age she performed brilliantly until one particular concert, a performance that went awry. From that time on, she fought sickness and depression. Her brother George, thirty, invites Natalie, now twenty-six, to join him in the west, thinking it will be good for both her physical and mental health.

A new world opens for Natalie when she happens to hear the haunting music and witness the dancing of Native Americans. With her skill and background in music, she is able to record their music—both in the form of notes on paper, and also with the “new” Edison cylinder recorder. When Natalie learns that the US Government’s Code of Offenses bans all Indian dancing, singing and even speaking in their own languages, she is determined to capture as much of their musical culture as she can. In the meantime, Natalie appeals to President Teddy Roosevelt to repeal the unjust laws. With her brother, and sometimes alone, she travels the West and Southwest to hear the many different tribes’ music and stories. Her goal is to write a book so that native music and culture will never be lost. She will name her work The Indians’ Book.

I have read, enjoyed and reviewed many books by Jane Kirkpatrick. The Healing of Natalie Curtis is high on my list of favorites. I’m always able to take away something of worth from her stories. Jane Kirkpatrick writes historical fiction, bringing to life real women, women we might not otherwise have heard about, but whose stories need to be told. Natalie Curtis was a remarkable woman and one I hadn’t known about until I read Kirkpatrick’s excellent historical novel.

Book Review: The Woman Who Smashed Codes

Posted on September 20, 2021 by Mary

The Woman Who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone is a remarkable true story about Elizebeth Smith Friedman, an American cryptanalyst extraordinaire.

In 1916 Elizebeth Smith and William Friedman met in Geneva, Illinois at Riverbank Laboratories, a highly advanced campus that pioneered modern cryptography. Soon after they married, Elizebeth and William left Riverbank in response to government offers to break codes pertaining to national security.

As Elizebeth and William branched out into the world of codebreakers, or cryptanalysts, they found that together they could solve secret messages. To them it was fun; to the country they became a vital link toward America’s security. At first they worked together. Using graph paper and pencil, they invented new techniques that transformed the science of secret writing, known as cryptology. Then, for many years they worked separately. From 1920-1930 Elizebeth worked for the American Coast Guard deciphering codes sent by bootleggers and drug smugglers. During WWII, she worked for the Treasury Department deciphering radio codes, especially from Nazi agents working in South America. William became a US Army cryptographer who ran the research division of the Army’s Signal Intelligence Service. Naturally, their work involved knowing the various languages of the countries sending the messages—Spanish, German, French, Japanese.

The world has recognized William’s work in the decades following World War II. He wrote textbooks that trained generations of codebreakers. Those who knew them both often said that Elizebeth was the more brilliant one of the pair. What held her back from public recognition was, pure and simple, gender. For instance: When massive arrests were made as the result of her codebreaking efforts of smugglers, articles and reports expressed amazement that a woman could achieve such accomplishments.

The Woman Who Smashed Codes is a well-written, detailed account of scientific and mathematical achievement. But, more than that, it’s a fascinating story that spans two World Wars, and describes in exciting detail roles the Friedmans played during those many years. The book is rich in the different facets of cryptography, with many examples of codes and code breaking, the difference between codes and ciphers, etc. People who love puzzles will be fascinated by the many examples of codes and ciphers used and how they were “broken.” The book gives a fresh view of both World Wars and the various intelligence services that it took to combat them. Although Elizebeth lived in the shadow of her accomplished husband, she served her country admirably through her own impressive capabilities and expertise.

Book Review–Doxology: A Novel

Posted on September 6, 2021 by Mary

Doxology: A Novel by Tanya Long Bennett is a well-written story of tragedy, faith, hope and the power of the human spirit. The story takes place in the early 1990s, West Texas.

Maria Brown is pretty sure she’s pregnant. She’s happy about the coming baby, but she’ll wait for the doctor’s confirmation before she tells her insecure husband, Billy. At one time Billy had aspirations to attend an engineering school, but those plans were dashed when he needed to care for his ailing mother. Later, he’d gone to work for an insurance company, not a fulfilling calling, but he makes enough money for them to get by. Once they were married and Maria had finished two years of community college, she would have loved to go on to Texas Tech, but they couldn’t afford it. She planned to find work, but Billy was against it—it seems her being able to stay home is the measure of his success.

Maria finds ceramics a fulfilling hobby and something she can do without challenging Billy’s fragile ego. She has an eye for proportion and texture and loves to see objects miraculously form under her hands. Maria also spends time connecting with family: her parents, grandparents and sister. She tries to keep busy, but longs to do something meaningful with her time.

When a series of tragedies occur, Maria must call upon her inner strength to cope. The importance of family becomes even more essential. While dealing with these problems, she begins to question her faith and the purpose of life.

Maria’s poignant story is told in a folksy, first-person narrative voice. The characters are well developed and authentic. The author vividly describes the countryside with its sandy soil baked by a hot Texas sun. I enjoyed this story, was saddened when the tragedies occurred, and rejoiced when acceptance or solutions were found. It’s a story that deals with realistic and transformative views of religion, faith, and trust.

Book Review: A Yovo in Togo

Posted on August 16, 2021 by Mary

“Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, for as long as you can.”
John Wesley

A Yovo in Togo: My Peace Corps Experience in West Africa 1985 to 1987 by Karen Story is a memoir rich in descriptions of Togolese and their country. The word in the title of the book, yovo, means foreigner, stranger, white person, or even rich traveler. During the two years the couple lived in Togo, they often heard themselves referred to as Yovo.

In 1985 Karen Story and her husband Brad, in their mid-twenties, left their Pacific Northwest home to an uncertain but hopeful future of bringing new skills to the people of Togo. Reaching their goals required extensive training, both in Colorado and in Togo. French is commonly spoken, and although Karen was fluent in French, Brad wasn’t and he had to achieve language proficiency. In the meantime, Karen was able to begin learning a local dialect. The training was extensive, both in language skills and cross-cultural awareness, and often seemed to drag on interminably.

After training, they were assigned their jobs and living location. Karen was trained to teach others how to build wood-conserving cookstoves; Brad’s was to teach building rain-catchment cisterns.

The author’s vivid descriptions of Togo and its people gave me a feeling of being alongside them in the beautiful but often hot, dusty, sometimes humid country. They found an endearing people, but also people in need, as in any developing country. They made many friends, but also endured being asked for money or other assistance not associated with their jobs. Men often had multiple wives and many children, sometimes resulting in inequities that were obvious to Story, but nevertheless were a part of a culture that she could do nothing about. Upon reflection, Story realized that Africa changed her more than she changed Africa.

My husband and I served with the Peace Corps in The Gambia (1979 – 1981) and I could appreciate many of Story’s good and not-so-good experiences. The author does an exceptional job of describing the people, the landscape, and the needs she and her husband worked to fulfill. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in developing world culture, specifically Africa, and certainly for anyone considering joining the American Peace Corps.

A Yovo in Togo: My Peace Corps Experience in West Africa 1985 to 1987 is available through Lulu:
https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/karen-story/a-yovo-in-togo/paperback/product-5qdmym.html

Book Review: What Lies Beneath

Posted on August 9, 2021 by Mary

Cynthia Leal Massey has written an intriguing, scholarly work, What Lies Beneath: Texas Pioneer Cemeteries and Graveyards.

The introduction alone is fascinating. Massey, a born and raised Texan, traveled thousands of miles to visit more than a hundred Texas cemeteries, graveyards and burial grounds. She recalls many peaceful visits to Texas cemeteries as well as some harrowing experiences. Massey’s extensive research is impressive as she tells the story of the founding of Texas through those buried in pioneer cemeteries— some stately, some abandoned—from the early days through the nineteenth century.

The large volume is enriched with many pictures reproduced from archives as well as pictures of grave sites as seen today. Throughout the book are text boxes with captivating subjects, gems such as the devastating effects of yellow fever, the difference between cemeteries and graveyards, and the history of the Texas Rangers, to name only a few. These pictures and text boxes further convey the cultural history of Texas from the period before and during its years as a Republic (1836 – 1845) and after it became the 28th state in 1845. The guide also provides descriptions of headstone features and symbols traditionally used by early Texans.

The book is organized using Texas Heritage Trail Regions, then cities, towns, unincorporated communities and forts. As the many graves are visited, the reader is taken back in time while learning about individual attitudes and challenges, and how those people helped shape what is Texas today.

What Lies Beneath: Texas Pioneer Cemeteries and Graveyards is an ambitious, well-written account of Texas history. Massey’s background in journalism and love of history shine through the pages of this valuable resource of early Texas families and their communities.

Book Review: This House of Sky

Posted on August 2, 2021 by Mary

While camping in Montana, my husband and I happened to stop in the town of Seeley Lake at a small general store with a big book selection. I couldn’t resist This House of Sky: Landscapes of a Western Mind by Montana native Ivan Doig (1939 – 2015). Reading this excellent memoir was the perfect book, both for enjoying the story itself and for being surrounded by the rugged Montana landscape which Doig so aptly describes.

Ivan’s mother died of her life-long struggle with asthma, leaving his father to care for his six-year-old son while working in various jobs as a top hand on cattle ranches, or herding sheep in hilly, harsh country. After a while Ivan’s maternal grandmother came to live with them and help take care of the little boy. Although the two–father and grandmother–were often at odds, together they pooled their resources to eke out a living. They often lived in cramped, rough housing under difficult circumstances including harsh weather and grueling terrain, all while trying to tolerate one another. They did it for Ivan, to make a home for him.

I love Doig’s droll humor. His admiration for his father and grandmother shines through as they struggle for survival. Even through the tough times and sometimes harsh words, their sense of family is evident. The author’s lyrical language as he describes their hard-scrabble life kept me enthralled. I’ve read other works by this fine author and he continues to be a writer I hold in high esteem.

Book Review: Libbie

Posted on July 12, 2021 by Mary

Libbie: A Novel by Judy Alter, is an insightful, fascinating re-creation of the life of Elizabeth Bacon Custer, wife of legendary George Armstrong Custer. The author brings life to the page with vivid descriptions of the story’s characters and their surroundings. Although a work of fiction, it closely follows documented history, letters and other writings.

Libbie, an only child, came from a family of wealth. Her father, a judge, took a dim view of “that Custer boy.” George came from a large, boisterous farming family. The two of them couldn’t have had more different backgrounds, yet they were drawn to one another. As a boy, George declared that one day Libbie would be a general’s wife.

When Custer graduated from West Point, he sought Libbie’s hand in marriage. Even Libbie’s father admitted admiration for Custer’s Civil War military achievement. At age 23, Custer was the youngest brigadier general in the U. S. Army. And Custer was right—Libbie did marry a general. The “boy general” was astute in military matters, but vain and impulsive in his personal life. Nevertheless, when together their life was passionate, their love unwavering.

Libbie became a camp follower. Although she was the General’s wife, she endured hardships with inclement weather, isolation, and difficult traveling conditions. Still, she loved Army life and made her own contribution toward the comfort of others.

When the Civil War ended, Custer continued his military career as an Indian fighter, again winning honors. They traveled to various military forts, but it was in 1867 at Fort Lincoln, Dakota Territory, that Libbie waited for her beloved husband of twelve years while he fought the Battle of the Little Bighorn.