Naomi has lost her husband and two sons in Moab so she decides to return to her homeland. However, she does not lose her daughter-in-law even after Naomi repeatedly encouraged Ruth to return to her mother’s house.
Ruth's reply was and still is so powerful. “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”
Ruth exhibits the traits described in the Proverbs 31 woman. She gave Naomi space to grieve while she gleaned fields from early morning till evening. Her focus was on serving Naomi not herself. What a wonderful lesson for us all!
Her character and work ethic received the attention of Boaz, the owner of the field and a relative of Naomi. Layer by layer, Naomi works through her grief and becomes a matchmaker. What a beautiful love story evolves out of heart-brokeness!
Boaz’s mom was Rahab, who had also, like Ruth, left pagan life to follow YHWH. He is drawn to this young woman who is an outsider, like himself, when he sees who she gladly gleans for her mother-in-law.
R uth refused to return to her parent’s abode,
U nbelievable work ethic, she carried the load-
T rusted God wholeheartedly, she never feared,
H umbly followed Namomi’s instructions no matter how weird!
Won’t you journey with us back to the turbulent time of Judges as we recap the amazing book of Ruth! Let’s strive to absorb the lessons that can be gleaned from this selfless servant-minded young widow!
Join Kate and Sheila as they journey through Judges, a book of disobedience, oppression, crying out to God, judge (aka leader) appointed, deliverance, and peace cycling over and over. God was clear- take over the land, but instead His people intermarried and started to worship idols. Downward spirals are never pretty, but they can teach a great deal.
In chapter 2, the text says they failed to teach the next generation.
Ch. 4-Deborah the prophetess helps her insecure commander, Barak (Be Brave-God’s in control)
Ch. 5-the resourceful Jael bravely uses what she has on hand (a tent peg) to kill the man Barak was afraid of (Serve God with what we have on hand)
Ch. 6-Gideon’s story shows the patience of God and how He meets people where they are
Ch. 8 Gideon goes from “the Lord will rule over you” to building an ephod that became a snare to the people
Ch 11- Jepthah’s unwise vow that cost his daughter’s life (Watch our words closely)
Abimelech killed his 70 half-brothers on a stone (the youngest escaped) (he received 70 silver coins-is money ever the answer?)
Abeimelech was killed by a millstone a woman dropped out of a tower (Another resourceful woman)
Samson – never trust someone (Delilah) who seeks to weaken you (Pick your friends carefully)
“In those days there was no king in Israel. People did whatever they felt like doing.” Judges 17:6 and 21:25 (Ask what does God want me to do instead)
Talk about a rollercoaster ride! Please join us & discover how this book can guide, real change always starts from the inside!
In today’s visit we dive into The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by the very talented Beth Brower.
“It takes a courageous man to marry a woman with a mind.”
Emma M. Lion is definitely a woman with a mind! She lives in London in the house she inherited but is quarantined to just the garret thanks to Cousin Archibald.
In 106 pages you are swept back to 1883 England. One journal entry shows a wordsmith in the making.
“The scurry.
The scrape.
The scratch.
Followed by an all to earthly squeak.
The garret has mice.
I weep.”
Emma lost her parents at 13 and is now trying to survive and thrive in dire circumstances until she turns 18 in a few months.
She had to sell her father’s extensive library to pay for schooling, which turned out less than optimal. Her cousin delivers a trunk that contains her mother’s Bible and her father’s illustrated works of Shakespeare. (Her father annotated texts long before it was cool. Margins are made to record the thoughts of the reader. Emma treasures this book. “I will read them through slowly, stretching the delight as far as I can.”
Are you ready to meet the colorful Emma M. Lion? Please join us as we discuss the wonders of this witty wordsmith!
When gentle Hero meets the shy Claudio in this comedy by William Shakespeare, there is alas quite a bit of spice in the gumbo with Beatrice, aka Lady Tongue, and the blunt Benedick as they banter to beat the bands. Don Pedro and company arrive at Messina and go to the home of the governor, Hero’s father and Beatrice’s uncle, Leonata. The unsavory half-brother of Don Pedro, Don John, is, as Kate said, a contaminant and sets out to destroy happiness wherever it crops up.
Notable Quotes:
Beatrice: I’d rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me.
Claudio: Bait the hook well: this fish will bite.
Benedict: That a woman conceived me, I thank her; that she brought me up, I likewise give her most humble thanks; all women shall pardon me…I will live a bachelor.
Friar: That what we have we prize not to the worth whiles we enjoy it; but being Jack’d and lost, why, then we rack the value…
Much can be gleaned from this short play! Trust plays a part in all relationships. One’s inner circle must be made up of trusted people. Don Pedro’s had an unsavory character. Impulsiveness is an issue for Claudio, who believes without giving Hero a chance to defend herself. Don John knows that people tend to believe the worst, especially with a set-up visual. He stacks up the dominoes and waits for the drama to fall.
Join in on the fun recapping this climactic, chaotic comedy from the Wiley Wordsmith!
May blessings come to you, listeners so dear,
We hope you enjoy another classic from Shakespeare!
Maisie Dobbs accepts a case from an old friend concerning his potential land purchase. She goes to a small rural community to investigate mysterious fires that erupt regularly, in addition to a series of petty crimes. Her assistant, Billy, and his family are there to pick hops. (Every August or September, thousands of Londoners left the crowded city to live in huts for weeks to pick hops. Not long after this time period, workers were replaced by machines. What was interesting was the attitude of the pickers, they formed a community and sang and danced in the evenings, and treated their time in Kent more like a vacation than drudgery.) 1931 brought many challenges to folks in the different classes, from Londoners to gypsies to townspeople.. Prejudices are never pretty.
England was still healing from the aftermath of WWI, Billy and his sweet family are still healing from their loss, and Maisie has her own loss to work through, too. Revenge is added to loss in the village where Maisie learns about a secret no one wants to discuss. Another mystery is the Zeppelin raid that killed the baker and his family. Can Masie find answers and solve the case?
“Fear is the driving force behind revenge, but love is the antidote.” Sounds like the Bible verse from 1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” This book was filled with revenge quotes that packed a punch. Kate pointed out that maybe an incomplete revenge is one that has not been forgiven, what a powerful point!
Please join us as we recap Maise Dobbs’s 5th book, An Incomplete Truth by Jacqueline Winspear, “The past may haunt us, but only by facing it can we find true peace.”
Blessings, dear listeners!
A young brave truth-teller’s earthly life ended this past week, however his light has not dimmed. Let us remember Charlie Kirk as a life long learner and advocate for truth and living life God’s way. Read a challenging book he recommended like Mere Christianity,1984, A Brave New World… Even with his busy schedule he read 100 books a year! Reading does something nothing else can do, it stretches and exercises our minds. We can interact with authors from different centuries and backgrounds and cultures.
Charlie challenged young and old to live daringly and be difference makers. Please join us as we share my grandson's free verse poem for Charlie.
We are grateful for each of you! May we grow together! Blessings and as Charlie always said, “Buckle-up, here we go!”
It’s 1963, four housewives living in the same suburb start a book club. Margaret dreams of becoming a writer, Charlotte an artist, Bitsy a vet, and Viv would like to return to nursing. They all have kids except the youngest member, Betsy, who desperately wants to be a mother.
Charlotte says she will join the book club only if they read The Feminine Mystique. This sent up a red flag for me because of preconceived notions about the women’s movement, which brought both good and bad. Anything that demeans God’s role of motherhood makes me wonder if the author was blessed with children. After going down that rabbit hole, I discovered she had three children. In the book, How to Read a Book, the authors caution about forming an opinion before finishing a text, that is powerful advice. I learned a lot.
What surprised me was that a married woman wasn’t able to open a checking account without her husband’s signature. I also got an up close and personal glimpse of overbearing husbands and it wasn’t pretty. I had the opposite growing up, my dad never talked down to my mom, she lamblasted him.
The story is mostly about Margaret and how the past haunts her. Margaret’s marriage hits some bumps when she starts writing a column for A Woman’s Place, which Walt, her husband, refers to as her jobette. When honesty clears the lies he’s been believing, he makes an about face!
Don’t grab a cigarette or a stinger, just sip some tea and enjoy the recap on The Book Club for Troublesome Women : )
Where the Lost Wander is a gem of a book by Amy Harmon! Join the Mays and John Lowry as they forge westward on the Overland Trail in 1853! Sparks fly when mule man John Lowry meets the young widow, Naomi May. Romance shows us the trail is not the only thing that is bumpy. Grittiness and resilience abound!
Memorable Quotes are aplenty in this timely treasure:
“The hardest thing about life is knowing what matters and what doesn’t,’ Winifred muses. “If nothing matters, then there’s no point. If everything matters, there’s no purpose.”
“I cannot give her shelter. Not out here.” John talking to Naomi’s mother who wisely responds…
“That’s what marriage is. It’s shelter. It’s sustenance. It’s warmth. It’s finding rest in each other.”
“Thinking takes time…feeling not so much. Feeling is instant. It’s a reaction. But thinking? Thinking is hard work. Feeling doesn’t take any work at all. I’m not saying it’s wrong. Not saying it’s right either. It just is. How I feel, I cannot trust that, not right away, because how I feel today may not be how I feel tomorrow.”--John Lowry
“It is the suffering of love. Every parent feels it. It is the suffering of being unable to shield or save. It is not love if it doesn’t hurt…The pain. It’s worth it. The more you love, the more it hurts. But it’s worth it. It’s the only thing that is.”---Jenny (John’s stepmother)
“It’s all in the mare. The best mules come from superior mothers. The jack’s important, but the mare is everything.”---John’s father
“Winifred May is a darn good woman, and William knows it, which is to his credit. The best thing about him is her…” —John
“Ma said transcendence is when we rise above the things we can’t change.”--Naomi
“We women want to make the world brighter even if we have to fight our men folk to do it.”---Mrs. Vasquez
Wagons ho… Thank you, dear readers, for joining our adventure! Blessings!
Greetings Readers! Kate and Sheila recap the impactful middle grade novel, Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech.. We meet 13 year old Sal who is traveling with her grandparents to Idaho to see her mother who left the family months ago. During the trip, Sal tells them the story of her friend Phoebe Winterbottom who thinks her mom was kidnapped.
The Winterbottom family has been receiving inspirational quotes on their doorstep, such as:
Everyone has their own agenda.
In the course of a lifetime, what does it matter?
You can’t keep the birds of sadness from flying over your head, but you can keep them from nesting in your hair,
Do you like duel story lines and mystery? This 1994 Newbery winner might be just the book for you! Blessings!
It’s Back to School time…Here’s 10 Reading Excuses that Don’t Fly or Read On Sistah : )
Saying you don’t have time - Empty distractions time will rob (set a goal to read a little every day. Even if it is just a few sentences)
It doesn’t matter what I read - Set the bar high - be a reading snob (we become what we consume. So many great options. Follow book review youtubers you trust or The Recap Book Chat Podcast for some great recommendations)
I can’t remember what I read. Reading w/o reflection is like taking a shower w/o soap (book journaling and book clubs help loads in the remembering department)
I’m in a reading rut, challenge yourself-you are not a dope! (Start small with something simple and fun to get the gears rolling- try audio books)
I’m waiting for the perfect mood - Progress not perfection is the right direction (I believe you can learn something from every book, not just the ones you love.)
I’m behind…Comparing your reading journey to others spoils the connection (Comparison steals your joy, everyone has their own pace, be sure to honor yours.)
I’m too tired/wired - Read anyway something will stick (Studies show it is super healthy for your brain to read before bed. Be sure to use a blue blocking booklight.)
I only have one speed quick quick quick, learn to savor slow, (try some classics! They were written in a much slower time and have a way of making the reader slow down as well)
No, I can’t explain what I read in a simple way, but AI can so what the hay (try some kid lit, it is written in easier to explain ways but can still pack a punch)
I’ll wait for the movie, NOT at all groovy (so many books that have been turned into movies have been altered from what the author originally intended. Why not do both! You will appreciate it in a more indepth way and can see if it lines up with what the author intended.)
There is a reader inside all of us. We often suppress this desire to curl up with a book and a cup of joe or tea because we (insert excuse here) ________. Don’t fall into the trap! We tend to do what is important. Carve out some reading time, your brain will thank you!
Booklight - hooga
Reading Journal - Amazon.com: Reading Journal: For the Love of Books, A Book Journal and Planner for Book Lovers to Track, Log and Review
Greetings! Today, Kate and Sheila dive in recapping the book of Joshua!
This scripture is just as powerful today as it was in Joshua’s, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord you God is with you wherever you go.” 1:9. Followed by …”choose this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Spoken like a godly man with a purpose!
This book packs quite a punch! Here’s an acrostic on Joshua to get us going.
Jericho-epic battle!
Over and over he’s told to be strong and courageous
Served the Lord wholeheartedly
His mentor was Moses
Unwavering leadership-Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua
Asked for the sun to stand still
We gleaned so much from reading Joshua and we hope you did too. Thank you for joining us!
Have a blessed day!
PS Notice there is a curse in 6:26 about rebuilding the city of Jericho. It was fulfilled 530 years later when Hiel lost his firstborn and his youngest in 1Kings 16:34.
This novel is set in an interesting way, devoting chapters to Penelope and individual members of her family, but also to more secondary characters such as Antonia and Dannus (the bright spots). Each snapshot gives characters their own unique voice.
The Shell Seekers by Rosamonde Pilcher has a dual timeline, WWII and present day which was 1987. Penelope's three children were a bit hard to take. Olivia seemed the most sensible, although loaded with the “I am woman hear me roar” vibe, at least she was not greedy like her siblings. Nancy and Noel were unlikeable and self-absorbed.
Pilcher's writing is unique in that she uses the senses extremely well. Her ability to make readers hear the ticking clock, smell the food being served, hear bird’s song, and even feel the importance of plants as a symbol of growth highlight the best parts of the book. Penelope did not have an easy life, her husband ran off with his secretary leaving Penelope the kids and his gambling debts to pay off.
Penelope grew up in a loving and welcoming home with a famous artist for a father. Nancy and Noel are eager to sell the beloved painting of Lawrence Stern called The Shell Seekers. Penelope ponders to herself, “perhaps she had not expected enough of them.” “I have given them all I can and they always want more.” Pilcher painted a powerful picture of ingratitude in this novel.
The first sentence of Leo Tolstoy's novel Anna Karenina is: “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” The Shell Seekers shows the tension families have when wills collide. Won't you join us for the ride?
Welcome friends! Today Kate, Sheila, and the boys dive into a classic from 1943,
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. As a child the narrator drew two pictures that received heavy criticism from adults. So he became a pilot instead of an artist.
When his plane crashed as he was flying over the Sierra Desert the pilot meets the little prince. As Titus pointed out, the telling of this story gives the reader the child’s viewpoint (Little Prince) and the adult’s from the pilot’s point of view simultaneously. The Prince lives on a small asteroid, B-612, where he takes care of his rose and 3 volcanoes and pulls up baobabs before they take a hold and become unmanageable. “It is a question of discipline.”
We uncovered a plethora of powerful quotes! Here’s a few:
“Well, I must endure the presence of a few caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies.”
“Words are the source of misunderstandings.”
“It is much more difficult to judge oneself than to judge others. If you succeed in judging yourself rightly, then you are indeed a man of true wisdom.
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
Little Prince: What do you mean tame?
Fox: It means to establish ties. If you tame me then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in the world. To you, I shall be unique.
This book had an unexpected ending and a lot of life lessons. Maybe because it was written during WWII or maybe it was written back when people pondered more. This story has many layers.
Won’t you join us and meet The Little Prince? Blessings dear friends!
For more book information check out our website at https://recapbookchat.com/page/2/
Today we dive into episode 193, Five on the Side, where Kate and Sheila discuss impactful books they’ve read on their own. The list was varied and insightful:
S=’The Scarlet Thread” by Francine Rivers-
K= “God’s Chosen Fast” by Arthur Wallace
S=”The Gift of Fear” by Gavin De Becker-”T
K=”Clear Your Clutter with feng shui” by Karen Kingston
S=”A Spring of Daisies” by Cindy Escobar
K=”Sink Reflections” by Marla Cilley
S=”The Indigo Girl” by Natsha Boyd
K=”Soul Care” by Rob Reimer
S= "Where the Lost Wander" by Amy Harmon
K=”Milly and the Warm Wind” by Jenna Winship
Bonus Picks: S=”Strays Like Us” by Celilia Galante
K=”Truth Journey Family Devotional Book” by Jenna Winship
Thanks for joining us on our reading quest to read the best!
https://recapbookchat.com/2025/07/11/book-lists-2-x-5-12/
“Are you brave enough to wade into the great river of life?” Join us as we dive into a book about family, friends, and love served with a hearty dose of laughter on the side. Kate DiCamillo outdid herself with her 2024 book, Ferris!
It has something for everyone from an outlaw sister to a gifted pianist to Ferris’ plan to reunite her separated aunt and uncle. Emma Phineas Wilkey was born under the Ferris wheel hence the name Ferris. Pinky, her little sister, is a caution. Clarisse, her grandmother, lives with them and her uncle recently started living in the basement while he is attempting to paint the world but seems to be stalled after he painted a foot.
Ferris and her father share coffee each morning as he discusses his musings from the encyclopedia he’s currently reading. “Ferris took a sip of coffee. It was rich and mysterious. It tasted like being an adult.”
Ferris’ father’s favorite quote, “The dogs bark but the caravan passes by” is a powerfully pithy reminder for us all not to let criticism stop forward progress.
Ferris and her friend, Billy, are concerned about Mrs. Mielk, a teacher they had in school because she is grieving the loss of her husband. “Grief takes away your words. For a while it takes away everything.”
As Ferris’ mother says the Wilkys live large and it is beautiful,
Everyone’s invited to the lighting of the chandelier dinner, won’t you join in the fun?
Greetings dear listeners! Today Kate and Sheila recap the fifth book of the Bible, Deuteronomy.
“…for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God.”(7:21) God called Moses from a burning bush and Moses obeyed and led God’s people. They are often referred to as ‘stiff-necked’ people which means Moses’ job was far from easy. Moses’ main goal was to get God’s people to love Him with all their hearts and with all their souls and with all their might (6:5). Notice ALL is used repeatedly, just as a house divided will not stand neither will a heart divided remain faithful.
Deuteronomy might possibly be the most quoted Old Testament book by Jesus. He used texts from it 3 times when He was tempted by the devil in the desert…
Deut. 8:3, “Man does not live by bread alone…”
10:12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord you God require of you, but to fear the Lord you God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments…”
Deuteronomy is a book of beginnings and endings. Moses has taught and retaught God’s commandments because holiness doesn’t just happen. Moses instructs the people to serve God wholeheartedly and to teach their children what God’s done for them in the past and to be strong and courageous moving forward.
Moses passed the torch to Joshua after seeing the Promise Land and blessing the people. “And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.” 34:10
Please join us as we dive into the dynamic book of Deuteronomy! Check out our website for past episodes https://recapbookchat.com/2025/06/30/pivotal/
Join us with our special guests as we discuss the delightful classic by Roald Dahl, The BFG.
“Meanings is not important,” said the BFG. “I cannot be right all the time. Quite often I is left instead of right.”
Sophie is the youngest but she is also the linchpin in solving the giant problem. Sometimes kids think bravely when adults don’t try to see a possible solution. This is the growth mindset vs fixed mindset we’ve discussed on previous podcasts.
Sophie tells the BFG they have to do something to solve the giant problem. They have to work together to discover a solution that teaches us a real-life lesson. Let’s be aware of challenges and problems and open to ways to solve them.
The boys thought the audio was a hoot. Whether you read the book or listen to the audio you and your listeners are in for a fun time.
Thank you for helping us to spread the love of reading!
Join Kate and company as the boys discuss "Way of the Warrior Kid" by Jocko Willink, a decorated retired Navy SEAL, whose motto is, "You can do anything if you do the work.”
Readers meet Marc, a 5th grader who can’t swim, can’t do pull-ups, and doesn’t even know his multiplication facts. He has a false identity of being a wimp along with thinking he is dumb. His fixed mindset is holding Marc back until his Uncle Jake comes for a visit and Marc’s training begins!
This is something all parents and grandparents can do for their kids. Let them know that all problems and challenges can change for the better. Beginnings are difficult and often require a nudge or three : ) Once they start seeing the benefits of doing the work, they’ll start pushing themselves. In the words of Uncle Jake, “Even if you can’t perform at a high level, showing up and doing something is still a thousand times better than not showing up at all.” Doing the hard work to improve, no matter what, is how dreams turn into reality. “Discipline equals freedom.”
By the end of the book, Marc has come up with his own warrior code. Are you ready to move forward? We’re on a quest to read the best, won’t you join us? Here’s a link to Jocko’s interview on why he wrote the book Jocko Willink and the Way of the Warrior Kid
Look for the movie in August!
‘The Brick’ is finally finished! Kate and Sheila discuss Les Miserables in its entirety… (spoiler alerts galore-avoid if surprises you adore) …it has taken us a bit, but so totally worth it!
Victor Hugo shows readers that, “Heroes come in all shapes” from the unbelievable bravery of young Gavroche to the mysterious motives of the misunderstood Jean Valjean.
Hugo can bloviate like no other author, from Waterloo to the sewers of France! He can also pack quite a punch in few words:
“One cannot goad people into moving faster than they are prepared to go. Woe to him who tries to force their hands.” People will rise to the level of expectations but we must let them rise (like bread in the making) we cannot force anyone’s progress! Victor nailed it!
“What is Progress? We have just said it. It is the permanent life of all people. But it sometimes happens that the momentary life of individuals is opposed to the eternal life of the human race.”
Do we oft times put the pebbles in first? Do we worry and fret over the trivial? Eternal life is one that is lived in harmony with God❤️He is our Rock He must come first!
“But a civilizing race must be a masculine race…Those who become effeminate bastardize themselves.” In our society young men are committing suicide 4 times the regular population! The war against toxic masculinity has wreaked havoc by giving young men false identities, leaving our society with boys.
Readers are taken on a journey starting with injustice and evil and falsity and darkness toward justice and goodness and truth and light! What an emotional roller coaster ride for determined readers! Warning: Not for the faint of heart!
Let’s put on SCUBA gear before embarking on this deeper than deep dive! Thanks for joining us on our quest to read the best! May you have a day that is blessed with a book, a cuppa, and friends!
In this conversation, we delve into Brant Hansen's book 'Unoffendable', exploring themes of anger, forgiveness, humility, and the importance of love in personal growth and relationships. Mom and I share personal reflections and key takeaways from the book, emphasizing the need to practice an unoffendable mindset in everyday life. The discussion also touches on cultural Christianity and the call to redeem rather than condemn the world around us.
We highly recommend it to everyone. It is in my “read once a year” list. Brant is a raw and authentic author as well as a nationally syndicated radio host and lover of toast. I love the way he breaks down misconceptions and inspires change in a beautiful and memorable way. Additionally Brant talks about how much more peaceful and fulfilling his life has been after implementing the major yet simple concept of being unoffendable.
Correspondingly Unoffendable does not shy away from heavy issues such as trust, forgiveness, laziness, anger, grace and addiction but meets them head on and sheds light and hope where we need it the most.
If you have read Unoffendable we would love to hear from you and your big takeaways. You can leave a voice memo, contact us on our website or join in and share your thoughts on our Facebook group Recap Book Chat.