Miracles and Wonder: The Historical Mystery of Jesus - This audiobook popped up in the Libby app, and I'm so glad I listened to it! It was a fascinating look at what (may have) actually happened in Jesus' time, and how the writers of the gospel (may have) molded his story in ways that would ensure his message reached further. "...since religious convictions arouse strong emotion, people seeking power have used versions of Christianity ever since to promote their social and political agendas.”

Martyr! - So beautiful and enchanting to read. I didn’t cry, but my heart felt full. I find that I always love the writing of Persian/Iranian poets. "Zee talked about how luxurious it felt to do nothing in New York City, a place where you could do anything. He kept saying “opportunity cost,” that the opportunity cost of doing nothing in the city was so immense that it felt opulent."

Meditations for Mortals - I loved, loved, loved this book. It's one that I think I'll read every so often for inspiration. "It’s a particular peril among the progressive-minded, I’ve noticed, to take the fact that a given choice might be unfeasible for the underprivileged as a reason not to make it yourself. But unless it’s you who’s underprivileged, that’s an alibi, not an argument."

Calling a Wolf a Wolf - I loved Martyr! so much that I immediately searched for Kaveh Akbar's poetry collections. This one is fantastic. "my father believed in gardens / delighting at burying each thing in its potential for growth"

Strange Pictures - This is one of those books I finished because I thought it would all come together; and it did, just not in way that was satisfying to me. The depth and thrill may have gotten lost in translation from Japanese? "When faced with true sorrow, people lose even the strength to shed tears."

Three Bags Full - I adored this silly book so much I made Justin read it right away so we could talk about it. If you're a fan of Chicken Run, you might like this sheep detective story. "It was seldom that humans took the trouble to be quiet. It always meant something."