Recap Book Chat

Recap Book Chat
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Recap Book Chat Podcast

If you are looking for a place to dive into great books, unpack big ideas, and connect with a community of readers, you made it! My mom, Sheila Barnes has taught and inspired young minds as an elementary teacher for 40+ years. Her passion is reading and it is contagious. My name is Kate Matthews and I am an artist, seeker of wisdom and lifelong student. We decided to start a book club a couple of years ago which has impacted and grown us tremendously. We hope you will join in on the fun and get lost in the magic of reading with us.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

    This amazing story is told through the eyes of Reuben Land (aka Rube), the middle child in a motherless family living in the cold Midwest. He suffers greatly from asthma, adores his older brother, Davy (16 years old) and his younger sister, Swede (8+ she has a birthday– definitely one of the coolest siblings we’ve ever met from the pages of a book). Jeremiah Land is a father raising three kids on his own, but his full plate gets unbelievably fuller when life takes a disastrous turn. After he defends a girl being accosted by two thugs a  downward spiral begins.  Jeremiah’s non-negotiable morning routine is his daily time in God’s Word which gives him peace and guidance as he faces the trials and troubles life throws his way. Many lines flow like a cool stream but one that stuck with me was, “Fair is whatever God wants it to do.” Please join us as we recap Peace Like a River by Leif Enger, a beautiful book following the Land family through laughter, heartache, and healing. How blessed we were to meet this family! What a treasure!

    37 min

  2. 17 SEPT

    The Men We Need by Brant Hansen

    “The world is yearning for men to show up, men who know who they are and why they are here.” We hear a lot about toxic masculinity, what about a masculine man of God? The ones who Grow Up and Show Up. They do not fall prey to the myth, “I’m not hurting anyone” as they fail to become the man God meant them to be choosing instead to engage in wasteful wiles that hijack their time. Ennui is a French word that means dissatisfaction that comes from not being mission focused. “In Gen. 2:15, man was to keep the garden (NKJV), the Hebrew word, shamar means to guard, to protect and to watch over. Adam totally blew it.”  Brant gives readers 6 Decisions TO SET US APART: Forsake the fake–Relish the real  Protect the Vulnerable Be Ambitious About the Right Things Make Women and Children Feel Safe Choose Today Who You Will Become Tomorrow Take Responsibility for your Own Spiritual Life The point of real love is to want your loved one to thrive and flourish even to the point of self-sacrifice! What great gift these books would be for the males in your life! The Men We Need and The (Young) Men We Need sum up God’s role for men with wit and pithiness that packs a punch! Please join us as we dive into a subject that has baffled us for years,  at times brought us in tears when we were unaware of their gears, Brant has showed us how God wants men to be- beginning with their hearts, Isn’t that where true transformation always starts?

    43 min

  3. 11 SEPT

    Journey through Kids' Books from A to Z

    Let’s journey through Kids’ Books from A to Z,  As we bookishly celebrate back to school with glee! As we endeavor to fertilize young minds we must be vigilant in exposing them to a plethora of books, priming the pump as one might say. Please join us as book suggestions are made that might ignite a love for reading in your little tike or emerging teen and all those in between. Resistant readers are those that have not found the right book. May we be as diligent as the proverbial prince searching for the foot that fit the lost glass slipper.  No, dear listeners we will not waver, let’s discover a book for each little shaver : ) This episode gives listeners ideas to enrich or jumpstart the powerful habit of reading widely.  This could even supply gift ideas for Christmas and birthdays and such.  Let’s make reading books a language in itself, adding tried and true books to shelf after shelf! Won’t you listen along as we strive to meet the challenge of finding books of quality all the way from A to Z?

    27 min

  4. 3 SEPT

    Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce

    Twenty-two-year-old Emmy Lake, hopeful war correspondent, begins her new job at  Woman’s Friend is working under a bear of a woman, Mrs. Henrietta Bird. Mr. Collins writes stories for the magazine, he helps Emmy get adjusted to her position. Emmy types Mr. Collins's stories and helps with the advice column, Henrietta Helps, however, Mrs. Bird refuses to answer most of the letters because they are too personal. “Spines, Miss Lake, that’s what these women need.” But of course, Emmy’s empathetic heart can’t refuse the women writing in for Mrs. Bird’s help so she starts answering them on her own time. Dear Anxious, You should be very proud of yourself for doing your best when things are at their worst. Emmy’s best friend and roommate, Bunty, helps her through a tough time when Emmy’s fiance  ended their engagement. Her folks are supportive as well, “Is your mother doing the Fatheads speech? Absolute dunderhead…look at the bright side at least we won’t have idiots for grandchildren,” her dad said with a wink. Fortunately, even though fatheads may abound so do those of the handsome, brave, caring sort…enter Charles, Mr. Collins’ ½ brother. Emmy’s nights are spent volunteering at the fire station as a dispatcher. The bombings and fires made London in 1940 anything but safe. The camaraderie of Emmy and her friends during this terrible time in history draws readers into the fray living day by day in the shadow of bombings… surviving by grit and determination. When Bunty and Emmy’s friendship hits a stonewall Emmy embraces the challenge of what a real friend must do even when proverbial doors are slammed in faces… She shows up and she keeps on showing up even while trouble’s brewing at her day job as well. Won’t you show up too? Please get a cup of tea and join Sheila and Kate, as they recap Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce, a novel first rate!

    29 min

  5. 27 AUG

    The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

    “You can see God from anywhere if your mind is set to love and obey Him.” Question: What is the chief End of man? Answer: Man’s chief End is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever! Written in one night on a train trip, Kate and Sheila recap A. W. Tozer’s powerfully written book, The Pursuit of God. This inspirational jewel was published in 1948 but timelessly impactful, challenging readers to look out instead of in. We cannot simply sit in a pew to please God; we must fervently pursue Him if we are to grow closer to Him. “Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth.”  “Sin has twisted our vision inward and made it self-regarding.” Eli and his sons were sad examples of pursuing self instead of God. The self-sins are many: self-righteousness, self-pity, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self-admiration, self-love and a host of others that can so entangle our lives causing us to stagnate.   Are you ready to put down the spoon and dig deep to seek God wholeheartedly? “How tragic that we in this dark day have had our seeking done for us by our teachers.” As the parable told by Jesus about the 10 virgins illustrates, each one of us must prepare to be ready, we cannot rely on someone else to do the work. Let's make passionately pursuing our heavenly Father a vital part each day He gives us!

    30 min

  6. 20 AUG

    Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear's

    Georgina Bassington-Hope is sent Maisie’s way because she thinks  Inspector Stratton and company did less than stellar work investigating the death of her twin brother. Georginia believes her brother, Nick, did not accidentally fall from the scaffold in the art gallery. She feels like he was murdered. Will Maisie and her trusty assistant, Billy, be able to uncover the truth? The suspects are many, Nick’s three artist friends, his brother, Harry with a gambling problem, the wealthy American that has paid handsomely for Nick’s previous works, and many more! When Maisie and Billy discover their office ransacked and their case map stolen they basically had to start over from square one.  There’s some heartbreaking in this novel as readers see the class difference in London at this time, however class does not determine joy. Kate connected this to a book she’s reading, Created to Be His Help Meet, that explains how Gratitude comes before Joy. God stresses the importance of gratitude over and over in His Word. Join Kate and Sheila as they reconnect with Maisie Dobbs. It’s 1931, she hits  the streets of London and the countryside as well to track down the truth. Some of our favorite quips and quotes: “How might I serve?” (The most important question, learned from her mentor, Maurice) “Things are rarely as they seem.” “Choose your battles, Billy.” “...if I am to keep Georgina Bassington-Hope out of your way, to effectively pick up your laundry, then wash and fold it, I should say you owe me a bit more than 15 minutes in a 3rd rate caff on Oxford Street.” : ) Maisie letting Inspector Stratton have a piece of her mind. Are you ready to sip a cuppa and solve the mystery in Jacqueline Winspear’s  Messenger of Truth? Happy reading dear listeners!

    34 min

  7. 14 AUG

    Haven by Megan Wagner Lloyd

    One of our favorite quotes from Haven by Megan Wagner Lloyd is… “You don’t have to be big to be brave.” This book has love, adventure, and a whole lot of grit from a little cat that does not quit. Haven is on this journey to help Ma Millie, her human, who is very sick. She summons all her courage to venture outside to find the nearest neighbor, Jacob Levan, unfortunately he’s not home. This forces Haven to trek into town, a daunting feat for this fearful feline, but fortunately she meets a fox who volunteers to lead the way! But can the fox be trusted??? “Today’s biggest challenge will be the river,” the fox informed Haven. “Tomorrow, the ravine.” “What’s a ravine?” Haven asked. This delightful duo invites the reader to join the journey. “What’s a home?,” asked the fox. “A home is a place that’s just yours…where you’re safe.” “Life’s not safe…All the forest is my home.”  Haven struggles to keep up with the fox as they journey through the forest, whenever her strength fails she focuses on rescuing Ma Millie. There is one danger the fox never tells Haven about…a bobcat is tracking them!  What a wonderful mix of adventure, friendship, resilience, and purpose! Let’s join the boys for as they recap this beautiful book! Thanks to Aimee & Brody for recommending it!

    13 min

  8. 6 AUG

    The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare

    Greetings Recapsters! Kate and Sheila dive into the Shakespearean comedy,  The Taming of the Shrew. Kate is the older sister that is as easy to get along with as a mama bear robbed of her cubs. Her sister, Bianca, draws suitors like bees to flowers. Here’s the rub, their father forbids Bianca to wed until Kate is married. No one is up for this arduous task until Petruchio comes on the scene. He has come to Padua ‘to wive and thrive’ and Kate suits his liking, however, she resists so forcefully he calls her a wasp to which she replies,  “If I be waspish, best beware my sting.” How will Petruchio tame Kate? He shows up to their wedding very late wearing rags riding a nag. “He has some meaning in his mad attire.” Why was he late? What’s with his clownish clothes? Maybe, absence made Kate’s heart grow fonder and when he finally arrived she was thrilled that he wasn’t a no show. When asked about his clothes, Petruchio replied,  “To me she’s married, not unto my clothes.” Then he whisks Kate away before their reception.  Have you ever heard the phrase, ‘kill them with kindness’? He deprives Kate of food because it’s not good enough for her. Along with a new dress and the bed which were also not suitable for his new bride. As her ‘taming’ continues readers can see Kate slowly beginning to change into a better version of herself. Some say Shakespeare crossed the line here. That he is a hater of  women but we beg to differ. He’s using humor and wit to show something very daring for the 1590s. Are you up for a bit of comedic culture? “...There’s small choice in rotten apples.” He is a wordsmith indeed, who but Shakespeare could make accident sound poetic…”’twas a fault unwilling.”  The Taming of the Shrew: Act I - The Play's the Thing | Acast Love Better: Untamed Love on Apple Podcasts

    29 min
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About

If you are looking for a place to dive into great books, unpack big ideas, and connect with a community of readers, you made it! My mom, Sheila Barnes has taught and inspired young minds as an elementary teacher for 40+ years. Her passion is reading and it is contagious. My name is Kate Matthews and I am an artist, seeker of wisdom and lifelong student. We decided to start a book club a couple of years ago which has impacted and grown us tremendously. We hope you will join in on the fun and get lost in the magic of reading with us.

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  • Creator
    Recap Book Chat
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2024
  • Episodes
    160
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Recap Book Chat
  • Show Website
    Recap Book Chat

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