The Irresponsible Reader - I Read (a lot) and then Rant, Rave and maybe Review

In (Auto)Biography, Audiobook, Dogs, Fiction, General Fiction/Literature, Humor, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Non-Fiction, Science Fiction, YA/MG/Children's Books

In an effort to keep my “To Write About” pile from getting out of control (I’ve got another post coming up in the first week in January…or maybe later in the year about the older stuff), I’ve set a requirement to myself to write a catch-up post at the end of the following month (e.g., At the end of February, write about January books; at the end of June, write about the May books I haven’t gotten to yet; etc.). As always, the point of these quick-takes is to emphasize pithiness, not thoroughness.

Dear Committee Members

by Julie Schumacher, read by Roberston Dean

DETAILS:
Series: Jason Fitger, #1
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Publication Date: August 19, 2014
Format: Unabridged Audiobooks
Length: 3 hrs., 55 min. 
Read Date: January 3-5, 2026

Professor Jason Fitger is a delightful character (in fiction, please don’t sit next to him at a dinner or stand near him at a party. Or maybe don’t be in the same room with him). He’s full of himself, a little self-deluded, put-upon, and (probably) past his prime with a career going nowhere (but hey, tenure!).

We learn about him through a series of letters of recommendation he’s sending to various businesses, schools, programs, and scholarships for his students; interdepartmental emails; emails to old friends/ex-lovers/ex-wife; and maybe one or two others. I like a good epistolary novel, and this is one of them. We learn about Fitger, and a couple of his students, the moves his University is making to gut itself of the liberal arts, and more, in a way that feels incredibly authentic and very entertaining.

Still, I don’t think I could take it if the book was much longer, and I don’t know that I want to read the rest of the trilogy (but I kind of do).

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All the Best Dogs

by Emily Jenkins

DETAILS:
Publisher: Yearling
Publication Date: November 4, 2025
Format: Hardcover
Length: 208 pg.
Read Date: January 5, 2026

This middle-grade novel about a bunch of kids (and a few adults) who bring their dogs to a neighborhood dog park is just delightful. Not just because the dogs are as cute and silly and loving as you want them to be. But the kids and their situations are, too. Even the ones that start off in conflict or sadness get a good dose of resolution and hope by the end (generally tied to one of these dogs). It was cute, heartwarming, and filled with good dogs—the best dogs, actually. What more do you want?

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Children of Time

by Adrian Tchaikovsky

DETAILS:
Publisher: Orbit
Publication Date: December 11, 2018
Format: Paperback
Length: 416 pg.
Read Date: January 14-19, 2026

I didn’t write a full post on this because I can’t write a sentence about what I think about it without writing one contradicting it. And then one defending the first sentence. And then one defending the second. And then…

I love the concept of this book. Think the execution was wonderful. There’s so, so, so many cool things and ideas packed in here. But it’s also slow and plodding. It could be argued that 80% of the book is setup and only the last 20% is the story. That 20% (an estimate, I didn’t really do the math) is pretty cool and almost makes up for the rest.

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Everyone in the Group Chat Dies

by L.M. Chilton, Kimberley Capero

DETAILS:
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: December 9, 2025
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 9 hrs., 36 min. 
Read Date: January 15-16, 2026

I enjoyed (and apparently didn’t write about) Chilton’s Swiped a couple of years ago. Almost none of the charm or zaniness of that book made its way here. I’m not saying I expected a carbon copy, obviously, but this could almost have been written by someone else.

A lot of the framing of this story was well done—and the way it was ordered was, too. But I could practically see that all of the heart and character were sacrificed for the sake of clever plotting and telling. And if I have to go on without one of those pairs, I know which one it should be.

I’m not saying that I’m done with Chilton, but I won’t be in a rush for whatever’s next.

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Lit

by Tim Sandlin

DETAILS:
Publisher: Brash Books
Publication Date: October 22, 2025
Format: eBook
Length: 254 pg.
Read Date: January 20, 2026

This is quotable, clever, and filled with interesting characters. It’s also a little too convoluted; it’s hard to believe some of the interpersonal relationships with the characters, and the solution is a bit of a letdown.

That said, from the first page to the last I was hooked and couldn’t stop reading it. Most of it worked in the moment, or was something I could shrug off while reading it. But when I was done and started thinking about it, I the doubts and quibbles kept growing.

Maybe Sandlin couldn’t really figure out the book he was trying to write—tone, characters, and/or outcome—he wouldn’t be the first author to do that. As much as a lot of the passages sang—the book, in retrospect, was just good enough. Read this one to enjoy the journey, not necessarily the destination.

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The Librarians

by Sherry Thomas, read by Louisa Zhu

DETAILS:
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Publication Date: September 30, 2025
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 13 hrs., 45 min. 
Read Date: January 21-26, 2026

Individually, these characters were just fantastic—plenty of quirk, plenty of heart, plenty of “I just want to live a quiet life with books and nice people” kind of energy. Sign me up for that! The murder mysteries were intriguing enough, too. But combining the characters and the murders—with too many amateur detectives running around—it all felt very soapy. Very melodramatic.

I flitted back and forth between “Oh, I really like Character X and want to see what happens to them” and “Oh, please, shut up and return to reality! Cut the melodrama!” so often I got whiplash.

I’d recommend it with several caveats and a stress on low-expectations. Then again, I could name worse.

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Through the Ashes

by Irene Hill

DETAILS:
Series: Joe Higgins, #1
Publication Date: April 18, 2025
Format: Paperback
Length: 239 pg.
Read Date: January 24-26, 2026

This is a solid series premiere and debut novel about a former deputy who used to serve on his area’s search-and-rescue team. Years after personal tragedy struck, he’s called on to leave his drunken stupor behind and find a missing boy. Naturally, it’s not long before this search becomes so much more.

This is Hill’s debut, and it’s not that hard to tell (particularly as she introduces characters early on). But she can tell a good story, and the characters are winners.

It’s a little on the rough side, but this is a good read, and I’m ready for the second book (and probably the third and fourth).

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Memes & Mayhem II: A Comedy of Horrors

by Ashley DeLeon

DETAILS:
Series: Memes & Mayhem, #2
Publication Date: September 11, 2025
Format: Paperback
Length: 249 pg.
Read Date: January 24, 2026

Before I get into this, I thought I had posted about the first book, and I’m more than a little annoyed to find out that I didn’t. I did chat with the author briefly a couple of years ago. (I’m really bothered, I remember working on it) Anyway, this is exactly like the first book—just done a little better and is a little funnier. Experience is a good thing.

DeLeon has picked some great creepy ghost stories and tells them well—even better, she does it with a good (and oftentimes silly) sense of humor.

This is well worth your time (so is its predecessor). I had a blast with this and will do so again.

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The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco

by Michelle Chouinard, read by Stephanie Németh-Parker

DETAILS:
Series: The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco, #1
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: September 24, 2024
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 9 hrs., 51 min.
Read Date: January 26-28, 2026

This really fits in the Finley Donovan demographic. It’s a little more grounded, a little slower on the romance burn (okay, a lot slower), a little less zanier. But the same overall feel. I didn’t get as into all of the plotlines as I was supposed to—and I’d figured out the whodunit, with a pretty good (but growing) confidence in the whydunit early on. But watching our semi-intrepid investigator, Capri Sanzio, wind her way through the investigation was entertaining enough.

I didn’t buy her podcast recording at all (and it would’ve been good to see her do something other than record episodes). But the rest was okay.

It was as entertaining as you’d want this to be—not an inch more. But good enough.

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That’s a Great Question, I’d Love to Tell You

by Elyse Myers

DETAILS:
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: October 28, 2025
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 5 hrs., 32 min. 
Read Date: January 28-30, 2026

This is such a strange, comforting, hilarious, and relatable collection of short pieces. Some are memoirs, some are humorous pieces, some are hard to define. All are absolutely worth your time. They will warm your heart, bring a smile to your face, and make you feel all sorts of things.

I think this would work well on the page—but do yourself a favor and get it on audio. Myers’ delivery is so good (as anyone who’s watched her videos knows), hearing her words in her voice really captures the intangibles of the book in a way that I don’t think that the page is fully capable of.

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from any of them, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

Saturday Miscellany—3/7/26

By HCNewton

On March 7, 2026

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

I’ve been sick most of this week, and spent so little time with my eyes open it’s a wonder they still function (reading online posts really didn’t happen–nor did reading anything longer). Somehow I’m getting this post up, and I might be able to get some things up next week, too.

Odds ‘n ends about books and reading that caught my eye this week. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
bullet Ageless Literature (@agelessliterature) posted some provocative slides “What happens when a society stops reading”
bullet I get that almost none of you can take advantage of this program at a local bookstore, but it’s such a good idea, you should give it a look. Shared Stories is starting a Junior Booksellers series in March—where you casn “Meet neighborhood kiddos who are passionate about reading & hear all about their favorite books so you can love them too!” Like Hans today.
bullet Can the Dictionary Keep Up?—an in-depth look at Stefan Fatsis’ Unabridged: The Thrill of (and Threat To) the Modern Dictionary
bullet What We Lose When We Gamify Reading: Marissa Levien Makes the Case for Slowing Down—It may seem like hypocrisy for someone like me to like this kind of thing. But honestly, this is how I think–I just think like this while reading a lot. Both can be true (because the number is really never my goal, it’s just a game).

To help talk about backlist titles (and just for fun), What Was I Talking About 10 Years Ago This Week?
bullet No Problem, Mr. Walt by Walt Hackman—still up there as one of my favorites.
bullet Morning Star by Pierce Brown—remember back in our innocence when we thought that Brown was going to have mercy on us and end it as a trilogy? Good times–harrowing times, but good times. (we all know I’m not complaining here, I’m just saying)
bullet I noted the releases of: The Passenger by Lisa Lutz; Chaos Choreography by Seanan McGuire; Borderline by Mishell Baker; East Of The City by Grant Sutherland; Who Wants To Be The Prince Of Darkness? by Michael Boatman; The Courier by Gerald Brandt; and Arkwright by Allen Steele

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
bullet The Politician by Tim Sullivan—The fourth DC George Cross mystery had it’s American re-release this week. I’m assuming the victim was a politician of some sort. I’m resisting the urge to read the description until I catch up.
bullet We Interrupt This Program by Randee Dawn—”Welcome to Seaview Haven. A delightful village of charming humans, quaint homes – and cozy mysteries! Fortunately, there’s silver-haired author-turned-sleuth Winnie Arrowmaker on hand to solve them all.

But things aren’t exactly as they seem. Seaview Haven is one of the Seelie Court Network’s many invented TROPE towns, and the “mysteries” are scripted and streamed for the entertainment of enchanted creatures across the Veil. Or, rather, they were…”
bullet Flour & Forge by Herman Steuernagel—”A weary warrior. A restless baker. A magical side quest neither of them asked for, but both might need…perfect for anyone who believes that while pastry might not save the world, it can help make it a world worth saving.”

Book Blogger Hop: What Will Happen to Your Books?

By HCNewton

On March 6, 2026

In Book Blogger Hop, Books, News/Misc.

Hemingway talked about writing drunk and editing sober. I wrote and edited this sober, and then revised and added to it feverish and sleep-deprived. I think Hemingway’s strategy was better. I hope this is coherent.

Book Blogger Hop

This prompt was submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer:

If you had to, would you pass your book collection on to someone special? If not, what would you prefer your family or friends do with your books after you’re gone?

So I had this drafted last week, and then the minister at church reminded us all during the sermon that we are going to die. And it felt a little strange to have this scheduled to go given the tone of this post and that reminder. Humans have a tendency to form outsized attachments to possessions. I am fully aware that my books are just ink, paper, and glue (with a little stitching and leather thrown in for good measure). Yes, I can admit that my attachments to them are frequently outsized–and I (almost) as frequently realize that.

Still, I can have some fun with it.

I’ve ended up getting many books from family members after they’re gone (mostly before that happened). For example, I received many Nero Wolfe books from the aunt who’d introduced them to me in Middle School. Sure, most were duplicates of books I got for myself–but a lot of these were the first copies I read, and that’s kind of special. So I get the impulse behind that passing them on–and appreciate it.

There are individual books that I’d like to pass on to friends/family. I can’t imagine anyone would like them all. I wish they would. I mean, I like to think my children picked up on my impeccable taste, but sadly, they insist on possessing their own (potentially peccable) taste. Still, Son #2 will likely get my Adams collection. My daughter and Son #1 will get parts of my graphic novels/manga collections, and so on. Most likely only ones that I think they’d appreciate having (but I might sneak some posthumous recommendations/nagging in, too–I’m not giving away my last shot).

Assuming she survives me, I’ll leave the bulk of my library to my beloved spouse—with the strict instruction that she is not to dispose of them in a manner I’d find untoward. Primarily by finding them a loving home. I’m not entirely sure she’ll follow that instruction—I know she’s not into library maintenance. But I (have to) assume what she’ll do with them is right.

Maybe she can send them to a farm upstate, where they’ll have room to run around and have fun with other beloved books…

At the same time…I can’t help but think of this meme I saw at the Goodwill Librarian’s page:

or this bit of gold from Jonathan Edward Durham (although I’m not sure what you’re supposed to do with that reading/lending paperback in his scenario…maybe that’s the one that my wife had to deal with)

Have you started making plans?

REPOST (and a note): The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers: A charming, earnest and frequently delightful space opera that pretty much matches the hype.

By HCNewton

On March 3, 2026

In 2018 First Reads Challenge, Fiction

We talked about this at Book Club last night, so I thought I’d dust this off and run it again. I think I get what I was going for in the 8th/ante-penultimate paragraph back in ’18, but I wouldn’t write it today, or anything like it, really. I’m also pretty sure that I’d rate it higher, if I were still rating things with stars–at the very least, I wouldn’t dither about it like I did. Still, this is close enough to what I’d say now that I don’t feel like redoing it.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

by Becky Chambers
Series: Wayfarers, #1Paperback, 443 pg.
Harper Voyager, 2018
Read: July 18 – 20, 2018

We are all made from chromosomes and DNA, which themselves are made from a select handful of key elements. We all require a steady intake of water and oxygen to survive (though in varying quantities). We all need food. We all buckle under atmospheres too thick or gravitational fields too strong. We all die in freezing cold or burning heat. We all die, full stop.

Ohhhh boy. One of yesterday’s posts was easy — I state the premise, say the book lived up to the premise, and there ya go. A finished post. Today? I’m not sure I could succinctly lay out the premise in 6 paragraphs, much less say anything else about the book. It’s deep, it’s sprawling, it’s fun and full of heart. What isn’t it? Easy to talk about briefly.

So I’m going to cut some corners, and not give it the depth of discussion that I’d like to.

So you know how The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy starts off with the Vogon Constructor Fleet constructing a hyperspace bypass right through our Solar System? Well, if the Vogons were the megacorp doing that, the crew of the Wayfarer is your mom & pop-level company doing the same kind of work. But there are no Vogons, and it’s not a hyperspace bypass they’re constructing, but the metaphor works — the Wayfarer is building/cutting/creating ways for spaceships to make it from point A to point B faster — I’ll leave the detailed explanation to Sissix or Kizzy to explain when you read it (I think it was Kizzy, but I could be wrong — my copy is in another state, so it’s hard for me to check things like that).

The Wayfarer is made up of a mix of species — including human (some of which were raised on a planet, others not), the others? Well, they’d fit right in with the customers in the Mos Eisley Cantina (with names like Sissix or Kizzy) — too difficult to explain, but they’re all radically different from pretty much anything you’ve seen or read before. Chambers’ imagination when it comes to their physiology, culture, mannerisms, beliefs is just astounding. Really it’s fantastic. And the crew is a family — when a new crew member joins, they’re greeted with “welcome home.” And that’s just what they mean.

This new crew member is Rosemary Harper, our entry point into this world, too. She’s never been off-planet before, doesn’t understand the science behind the work they do, really only has textbook knowledge of most of the species they run into. As she learns, so does the reader. Phew. Essentially, the plot is this: the captain of Wayfarer gets a chance to make history and make more money than he’s used to — he jumps at it, but his crew has to take a freakishly long trip to get to the (for lack of a better term) construction site (see the title). This long trip is filled with dangers, encounters with family members no one has seen in ages and old friends. And pirates. Even when they get to the construction site, the challenges are just beginning and everyone on board is going to be put through the wringer just to survive.

In the midst of all this is laughter, love, joy, pain, sorrow, and learning. Rosemary becomes part of the family — by the actions of the crew bringing her in, and through her own reciprocal actions. Now, many parts of this book seem slow — but never laboriously slow — it’s the way that Chambers has to construct it so that we get the emotional bonds between the characters — and between the characters and the reader — firmly established, so that when the trials come, we’re invested. I was surprised how much I cared about the outcomes of certain characters at the end — it’s all because Chambers did just a good job building the relationships, nice and slow. The book frequently feels light — and is called that a lot by readers — but don’t mistake light for breezy.

I want to stress, it’s not laboriously slow, it’s not boring. It’s careful, it’s well-thought out. It’s your favorite chili made in the slow cooker all day, rather than dumping the ingredients in a pot an hour or so before dinner. It occasionally bugged me while reading, but by that time, I was invested and had a certain degree of trust for Chambers — and by the time I got to the end, I understood what she was doing in the slow periods and reverse my opinion of them.

I frequently felt preached at while reading this book. There were agendas all around and these characters did what they could to advance them. Most of the speechifying and preaching worked in the Wayfarer Universe, but not in ours. When I read it, I had no problem with it — but the more I think about it, the less I agree and the more annoyed I get. The opening quotation was one of the themes pushed, another had to do with family and/or brothers — but the best lines about those involve spoilers or need the context to be really effective, so go read them yourselves. I don’t want to get into a debate with the various characters in the book, so I’ll bypass the problems I have with just the note that I have them. But in the moment and in the context of the novel, the writing behind the characters’ points/values, the emotions behind them are moving, compelling and convincing — and that’s what you want, right?

It is super, super-easy to see why this won buckets of awards — and probably deserved most (if not all) of those awards. This is one of the better space operas I’ve read in the last few . . . ever, really. It’s easy to see why it got the hype and acclaim it did, and while I might not be as over-the-moon as many readers are with it, I understand their love. I heartily enjoyed it, and can see myself returning to this universe again soon.

As far as the star rating goes? I’ve vacillated between 3-5 a lot over the last week or so (including while writing this post), usually leaning high — so take this one with a grain of salt, it’s how I feel at the moment. (that’s all it ever is, really, but I’m usually more consistent)

—–

4 Stars

MUSIC MONDAY: “Sweet Symphony” by Joy Oladokun ft. Chris Stapleton

By HCNewton

On March 2, 2026

In News/Misc.

The Irresponsible Reader's Music Monday logo

Music Monday's originated at The Tattooed Book Geek's fantastic blog and has shown up hither, thither, and yon since then.

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Looking Back at February 2026

By HCNewton

On March 2, 2026

In Books, Calendar Items, Currently Reading, News/Misc.

I finished 28 titles (and haven’t finished 4) last month. That’s two months in a row with 4 left unfinished (given that I have 3 project reads, I think that’s going to be a common number). Given the number of days in February, I’m not going to complain about that (particularly given how long it too me to read Banners of Wrath.

The Month in Reading

(thanks to Bookmory for the image)

TBR Piles

	Audio	E-book	Physical	Goodreads Want-to-Read	NetGalley Shelf/ARCs/Review Copies
End of 2025	4	89	112	192	11
1st of the Month	3	89	112	193	9
Added	2	1	5	9	4
Read/ Listened	2	3	2	0	6
Current Total	3	87	115	202	7

My TBR Range

(feel free to click on the chart if you want a version that’s a little easier to read)
Breakdowns:
“Traditionally” Published: 26
Self-/Independent Published: 2

Genre	This Month	Year to Date
Children’s	3 (11%)	6 (10%)
Fantasy	4 (14%)	8 (14%)
General Fiction/ Literature	2 (7%)	5 (9%)
Mystery/ Suspense/ Thriller	6 (21%)	16 (28%)
Non-Fiction	4 (14%)	5 (9%)
Science Fiction	3 (11%)	4 (7%)
Theology/ Christian Living	2 (7%)	4 (7%)
Urban Fantasy	3 (11%)	8 (14%)
“Other” (Horror/ Humor/ Steampunk/ Western)	0 (0%)	1 (0%)

Review-ish Things Posted
Books of the Month

Other Recommended Reads

Other Things I Posted

Spotlights/Cover Reveals

Music Mondays

WWW Wednesdays

Saturday Miscellanies

Enough about me—how Was Your Month?

Fantasy with Friends: Do You Enjoy Books with Schools of Magic?

By HCNewton

On March 2, 2026

In Books, Fantasy with Friends, News/Misc.

Fantasy with Friends is a weekly meme hosted by the good people over at Pages Unbound. Fantasy with Friends poses questions each Monday about fantasy, either as a genre as a whole or individual works.

This week’s prompt is:

Do you enjoy books about schools of magic, or do you think they are overdone? Do you have any favorite magical schools or magical school books?

On the one hand, I feel like I’ve read a million of these, but I’m having trouble coming up with actual names:

There’s Hogwarts, of course, that’s going to be pretty much everyone’s first thought, right? (as much as many of us don’t want it to be, for variety of reasons)
Of course, you’ve got Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy, which is both cooler, and freakier than that.
I remember liking The Osthorne Academy of Young Mages from Sarah Gailey’s Magic for Liars, but don’t ask me anything about it.
I’ve never gotten around to reading about Novik’s Scholomance (I don’t even know the full name), but I’ve heard a lot of good, bad, and meh about it. So I don’t know if I actually will get around to it.
I’ve also never gotten around to reading Rowell’s books about the Watford School of Magicks (and I really only skimmed the bits from Fanboy about it, too).
Annnd…that’s it. That’s all I can remember.

This suggests that I haven’t read as many as I think I have, or that my memory is garbage. I’m ready to believe either.

The Summer Program at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs kind of counts, but not really. Ditto for Camp Half-Blood or Camp Jupiter. Drew Hayes’ Trestlevend University comes close, too. But all of these are really for parahuman/supernatural beings, not quite magic schools.

So, do I think they’re overdone? Maybe, but I clearly haven’t over-read from them. But also, anything can be “overdone” until it’s not. It’s all about the execution, not the elements that make it up. Sure, many things could scream “Hogwarts Knockoff,” but it could be written in such a distinct, clever, and engrossing way that we’ll all start saying that “Hogwarts walked so [insert name] could run.” Any trope, theme, setting, or character type can be overdone, tired, or used enough to be a cliche. But if the right author comes along and deals with them in their own particular way, we just won’t care.

Do I enjoy these? Sure–if everything else is compelling. That’s kind of the core, really–I liked the silly escapism of Hogwarts, and the almost complete lack of silliness to Brakebills. I can’t tell you why I enjoyed Osthorne, but I think it was just a step or two away from a typical American High School depiction, just with that magic flair. It’s really not the school–it’s the depiction of it and the world it’s in.

Basically, if you throw a bunch of mages (or whatever you want to call them) of various skill levels in a building together, and insert some sort of outside complication or inside conflict, something entertaining is bound to happen. Kids with adults, rookie adults with experienced adults? Doctorates and grad students mixing together? Whatever. All of those can be a source of whimsy, comedy, horror, drama, trauma, adventure, and so many other things. So yeah, bring ’em on.

I’m sure some of the other posts in response to this prompt will be more thoughtful. I’m looking forward to reading them. Do you have responses to this? (either for the comment section below or from your own post)

30 Key Moments in the History of Christianity by Mark W. Graham: Quick Vignettes from the Early Global Church

By HCNewton

On March 1, 2026

In History, Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

30 Key Moments in the History of Christianity:
Inspiring True Stories from the Early Church Around the World

by Mark W. Graham

DETAILS:
Publisher: Baker Books
Publication Date: January 27, 2026
Format: Paperback
Length: 272 pg.
Read Date: February 15-22, 2026

This emphasis on Our People* across space and time might prompt us to question the extent to which our own national, political, and cultural identities compete with or even overshadow our most foundational (and eternal) identity as Christians. In some important ways, modern American Christians have more in common with Christians from seventh-century Nubia, Persia, and southern Arabia than with agnostic neighbors who share our national flag.

* The term that Graham uses to describe Christians.

What’s 30 Key Moments in the History of Christianity About?

This is one of those that’s all in the title and subtitle. Graham, a history professor, looks at thirty moments from various parts of the world during the first millennium that proved to be turning points in Church History—he focuses on movements, teachings, and individuals to bring these “Moments” to life.

Graham’s Method

Each chapter—each “moment”—is considered in three steps:

The Background: historical context, some background leading up to the events in focus, some description of the area/people (as a group and individuals) focused on.
The Moment (or Moments, occasionally): this is the meat of the chapter, the events that the chapter is focusing on—what’s the point of interest in this idea/part of time/chapter.
The Mathēma: while avoiding hagiography or romanticizing the moment, what lesson can we learn by analyzing the moment or seeing what it tells us about us today?

When Graham outlined this in his Introduction, I was sold—if this was going to be how the book went, I was in for the long haul, period. It was, and I really appreciated it. If only so it makes it easy to come back to look at one or two moments for something and get everything you need in that chapter.

The Moments Selected

I’m not overly familiar with the Early Church—and my Medieval Church history is okay. But when I looked over the Table of Contents astounded by how few of the chapter subjects rang any kind of bell for me. I found that a little embarrassing, but it also excited me—I was going to learn a lot.

For example: Constantine turning to Christianity (Chap 8); Arius at Nicea (Chap 10); Justin Martyr (Chap. 2); Perpetua’s martyrdom (Chap 4)—all of those made sense to include, and I was glad to refresh my memory and see how Graham addressed things like that. On the other hand you’ve got: the Church in the Sassanian Persian Empire (Chaps. 6, 11, 13, 19); Nubian Christians twice saving their Church in Sudan (Chap. 21), or Armenia as the first “Christian Nation” (Chap. 7)—I was utterly clueless about these things. Granted, at last 95% of what I know about Sassanian Persia comes from some Fantasy novels from a decade or so ago—so that’s not saying much. But, wow, all of these were just so fascinating. (ditto for all of the chapters not mentioned)

I’m not—by any means—claiming to be any kind of an expert on any of these moments in time now. But I’ve at least been exposed to them, and am intrigued enough to try and track down a deeper history about some of them.

So, what did I think about 30 Key Moments in the History of Christianity?

It’s not a drawback—it’s a feature, but you need to know going in that these chapters are brief and you can’t get meaty history or analysis. 30 moments from 1,000 years in less than 300 pages? Yeah, depth isn’t on the menu. But, to stretch the metaphor, it’s a great tasting.

If you read this in a sitting or two—or just a chapter at a time—you’re going to get rewarded. You’re going to get a good reminder that The Church isn’t just something that happened in the New Testament and in your local congregation. Nor can the history be reduced from New Testament→Early Fathers/Councils/Creeds→long time of nothing important→Protestant Reformation→Late 20th Century Evangelicalism/today.

Our People (I’m really liking that phrase) have been around since The Garden, and we can relate to them, learn from them, and be inspired by them wherever they’re found in time or on the globe. Graham gives an accessible introduction to some outstanding examples of this from the first millennium A.D.

I really hope there’s a sequel covering the next 1,000 years or another 30 from that same period. I’d rush to get it. In the meantime, I heartily encourage you to go pick this up.

Disclaimer: I received this book as a participant in the Baker Publishing Group Nonfiction Reviewer Program. However, as always here, I read this book because it interested me, and the opinions expressed are my own.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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Saturday Miscellany—2/28/26

By HCNewton

On February 28, 2026

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

Odds ‘n ends about books and reading that caught my eye this week. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
bullet Libro.fm has a neat deal–donate $15 to a library, and get a free audiobook—this campaign ends today, but there’s still time! Also, apparently today is the end of National Library Week, which is totally a thing I knew about before now.
bullet New book collects the weirdest forgotten stories of printing history—Okay, this article is just a thinly-disguised advertisement for a Kickstarter, but it’s still a fun read
bullet My New Take on Whether We Should Remove “Old” Books from School Classrooms
bullet Monthly Manga Mania Featuring Firsty Duelist Blue Exorcist by Kazue Kato—It’s the time of the month for Firsty Duelist to educate people like me about Manga
bullet It’s also time for the Captivating Characters of the Month Linkup
bullet A couple of month-end link wrap-ups to check out are: 10 Interesting Posts from the Book Blogosphere You May Have Missed in Feb. 2026 from Pages Unbound and February 2026 Book Blog Wrap-Up from A Literary Escape

A Book-ish Related Podcast episode (or two) you might want to give a listen to:
bullet Crime Time FM‘s NADINE MATHESON In Person With Paul—was a lot of fun to listen to

My favorite sentence/passage/phrase (or two) that I read this week:
“The questions we have for the dead haunt us like unfinished dreams.”
—Head Fake by Scott Gordon

To help talk about backlist titles (and just for fun), What Was I Talking About 10 Years Ago This Week?
bullet The Story of Lucius Cane: Book One by Vanya Ferreira—(I’d completely forgotten about the existence of this book)
bullet Steal the Sky by Megan E. O’Keefe
bullet Freedom’s Child by Jax Miller—that was 10 years ago??
bullet I mentioned the releases of: The Absconded Ambassador by Michael R. Underwood; Out of the Blues by Trudy Nan Boyce; The Drowned Detective by Neil Jordan; The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury; Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon (and one I forgot last week):
bullet Prey of Angels by JCM Berne—the latest in The Hybrid Helix looks great!
bullet The Book of Spores—the ebook for this anthology is available now, “Collecting fungal tales from across countless universes, this FanFiAddict anthology spotlights the best of fantasy, science fiction, and horror.”
bullet After the Fall by Edward Ashton—”Part alien invasion story, part buddy comedy, and part workplace satire, After The Fall… asks an important question: would humans really make great pets?”
bullet Amari and the Metalwork Menace by B. B. Alston—huh. I thought this was a trilogy, but the publication of the fourth book reminds me to not assume so often.

(full credit to @jasonroygaston)

The Greatest Sentence Ever Written (Audiobook) by Walter Isaacson: Looking at Things Self-Evident

By HCNewton

On February 27, 2026

In Audiobook, History, Non-Fiction

he Greatest Sentence Ever Written

by Walter Isaacson, appendices read by Holter Graham

DETAILS:
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: November 18, 2025
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 1 hr., 28 min.
Read Date: February 18, 2026

What’s the Description of The Greatest Sentence Ever Written?

To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, Walter Isaacson takes readers on a fascinating deep dive into the creation of one of history’s most powerful sentences: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Drafted by Thomas Jefferson and edited by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, this line lays the foundation for the American Dream and defines the common ground we share as a nation.

Isaacson unpacks its genius, word by word, illuminating the then-radical concepts behind it. Readers will gain a fresh appreciation for how it was drafted to inspire unity, equality, and the enduring promise of America. With clarity and insight, he reveals not just the power of these words but describes how, in these polarized times, we can use them to restore an appreciation for our common values.

How Was the Narration?

If this is how his lectures go? Sign me up for a class. Isaacson comes across as a knowledgeable person just talking to you about something he cares deeply about–not as someone reading text (even text he wrote). There’s just enough personality to it to keep you listening, but not so much that it overshadows the material.

It’s just what this book needs.

So, what did I think about The Greatest Sentence Ever Written?

It feels strange to talk about a book that clocks in at 80 pages or 88 minutes in audiobook format (and that counts the appendices). But that’s how it’s being sold, so that’s how I’m going to talk about it. And really, he’d have had to tackle at least one more sentence

Do I wish he’d spent a little more time on a phrase or two? Did I really need as much detail has he gave on one thing or another? Yes to both. But I can’t remember what those things were now. And if I listened to/read it again today, I’d probably have other things I’d like to hear more/less about.

At the end of the day, this is a very nice meditation on that vital sentence, and a reminder that it’s still something important, something to rally around.

For the 250th anniversary of the Declaration, this is something important to think about. On the 249th or 252nd, it would be to. It’s sort of an evergreen idea. Probably an evergreen book, too.