book review: Once We Forget by Elise Geither

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️  4/5 stars

Thank you Hidden Shelf Publishing for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own. 

Once We Forget by Elise Geither is a moving exploration of how memory enriches our lives, recedes into deep forgotten places, or is lost altogether, potentially never to surface again. 

 

The story follows Rose and her mother’s partner, Henry, as they navigate the increasingly evident changes dementia takes on her mother’s mind and body. Simultaneously, Rose grapples with holes in her own memories: she cannot remember anything before the age of nine. Why is this? And, who is this mysterious blonde girl Lily that begins haunting her dreams? 

 

Through vivid, fragmented narration, Geither masterfully captures depicts how the world almost stands still for dementia patients and their caregivers. They spend their days either fighting to stay afloat or desperately grasping at remaining memories to maintain a connection to the past. As Geither beautifully writes: “We don’t know what becomes of the words. We only know they go away. And there is a soft white page left where they used to be, like a book being erased page by page.” 

 

The secondary plotline—Rose’s quest to uncover memories of a potential sister—unfolds through minor revelations. However, I craved deeper exploration and stronger narrative milestones. The story misses ripe opportunities to expand this mystery, such as the weekend Rose watches Jolie, her stay at a haunted cabin, or the moment she receives her mother’s journal. The revelation came instead in a memory that was finally poured out in full. This left me unsatisfied and still with questions. Utilizing her mother’s journal or diving deeper into her stay with Aunt Grace—the exact day her memories stopped—could have fully realized this subplot's potential. 

 

Despite wanting a more fulfilling resolution to Rose’s arc, I am grateful to have read this book. It is deeply sorrowful, yet it offers a healing space for anyone navigating cognitive decline with a loved one. The raw emotions on the page make it incredibly easy to connect with, and fans of literary fiction will deeply appreciate Geither's craft.

flaner

556 days into my most recent Duolingo stretch. And, I learned a new French word that perfectly sums up how I travel -

Flâner (pronounced ´flah-ney’) means to stroll or wander leisurely, possibly aimlessly, with pleasure, often enjoying Parisian streets, window-shopping, or relaxing.

Let’s make “la flânerie” - the act or habit of strolling a daily habit, not just when traveling.

book review: The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby by Michael Blanding

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 5/5

Thank you PublicAffairs for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

Born in 1980, right when evangelical support ushered Reagan into office, I have felt my life punctuated by the evolution of American evangelicalism. My childhood cartoons and The Price is Right viewings were routinely interjected with Billy Graham’s specials and Tammy Faye’s tear-streaked please for money. My teens were defined by True Love Waits, Promise Keepers, The Left Behind Novels, and The Passion of the Christ. In my professional life, working retail in Florida meant navigating a polarized landscape where choosing between “Happy Holidays” and “Merry Christmas” carried real consequences, all while driving past oddities like Dinosaur World and the Holy Land Experience. Now, what should be the best years of my life are marred by the chaos of radical Christian Nationalists and money-backed politicians. I doubt evangelicals realize how a lifetime of witnessing their double standards and corruption pushes away people who grew up close to God.

This ongoing chaos forced me to scrutinize where my money goes, ensuring my dollars do not fund agendas actively fighting against my well-being. Wanting to make an educated decision about a major corporation, I turned to Michael Blanding’s The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby. It delivered exactly what I needed, and more.

At first glance, using profits and tax breaks to fund a mission to share the Bible globally sounds noble. However, their hypocrisy is maddening. The Greens forcefully impose their ideas on others while turning a blind eye to the greed, corruption, fraud, sexual misconduct allegations, theft, scams, hate, and violence tied to themselves and the prominent figures they bankroll. Alongside the family history, the book masterfully details biblical history, the separation of church and state, religious antiquities, and complex judicial proceedings. It is incredibly fast-paced and engrossing for non-fiction, compiled seamlessly from countless sources without an ounce of fluff. My only wish is that it were fiction, rather than a true story of real people damaging innocent bystanders.

What struck me most is how the Green family and other evangelical leaders view themselves as God’s chosen stewards. They claim the Bible is inerrant and that only their interpretation is correct, dismissing all others. Yet, history shows everyone manipulates scripture to fit their own agenda. The book notes they worry about their legacy 50 years from now—a bizarre concern if their work is truly strictly for God.

I commend Blanding for his impartial, matter-of-fact presentation. Nearly every sentence is sourced, completely free of editorial opinion. The facts are so compelling that they require no authorial bias; the story indicts itself. Because of its logical, research-driven presentation, I hope people of all viewpoints read it. As for me, my stance is clear.