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Leah's avatar

1 - Caitlin’s article and the story make me optimistic about medicine + fertility awareness working together for the good of women.

2 - Brown’s poem. First time, I read it as the pastor’s literal house. Sat on it, then thought - wait? What if? And reread with a different type of ‘house.’ Am I off or is that so clearly obvious to the seasoned poetry reader? But it is so perfectly true.

3 - I’m glad my Advent observance list is considered as possibly helpful to someone. I kept adding links and thought of how much time your newsletter must take. Thank you for enriching our lives, and I appreciate your work. Happy Thanksgiving to you, Haley!

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Haley Baumeister's avatar

poetry is sneaky like that.

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Leah's avatar

Thank you for reminding me of one of the basic rules of reading it. Ha. Regaining literacy over here.

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Amelia Buzzard's avatar

I came across a great Protestant liturgy for Advent-Epiphany this year. It’s “O Come O Come Emmanuel” from Jonathan Gibson, a Westminster prof. It opens each day with a meditation passage from a great figure in church history, from Gregory of Nyssa to John Calvin. Besides which the physical book itself is simply beautiful.

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Haley Baumeister's avatar

I think I've seen that one around, but marking it down now - thanks, Amelia.

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Abigail W. Miller's avatar

I’m currently reading both of those books! Though Never Let Me Go has been slow going on these grey November days.

And I’m so glad you enjoyed my piece!

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Haley Baumeister's avatar

what a wild coincidence. hopefully Dominika's piece on Never Let Me Go will be some inspiration to plod on, if you need it.

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Shelby Arnette's avatar

Never Let Me Go has haunted me for years, so when I saw it on your Goodreads I was excited! Thank you for sharing Dominika's essay, I have not read the essay yet but I have a feeling that pairing theology of the body with this book will help me understand some of my own tangled ideas about it. I also read it when I was a teenager and really had no categories for my uncomfortable interest in the story. Excited to look at it again as an adult with much more context!

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Christy Isinger's avatar

Such great articles! I read Never Let Me Go so long ago that I really have forgotten all these themes and ideas he's trying to deal with, it is so necessary to make the connection to the meaning of what the body is for, and I also really agree wholeheartedly with the theme of children having no parents as given that message of having no meaning or value. I remember that vividly from the book. I remembered something!

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Jim Dalrymple II's avatar

Great stuff here!

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Kelly Garrison's avatar

This is an amazing collection! I looooove “Never Let Me Go” and always wanted to think more about its implications for ART. I can’t wait to read that piece you linked!

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Julie's avatar

Lovely Haley!!! Especially the advent themes.

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Dominika's avatar

LOL I have hope that one day I will recommend a book you'll wholeheartedly love, Haley 😂 but also, when I was teaching that Human Person class, I kept thinking how I'd love to write a 'Theology of the Body and Literature' book one day... it's an idea that's still percolating in my mind.

And I'm working on a post about O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi" right now. I may have to use that beautiful painting by Ferenczy in it. Thank you for introducing me to another wonderful artist.

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Meghan Safstrom Fisher's avatar

Wow… I made a Life Considered! Day made :)

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