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New in the Book Corner



Strength in What Remains: A Journey of Remembrance and Forgiveness by Tracy Kidder

Deo arrives in America from Burundi in search of a new life. Having survived a civil
war and genocide, he lands at JFK airport with two hundred dollars, no English, and no contacts. He seeks out a precarious existence delivering groceries, living in Central Park, and learning English by reading dictionaries in bookstores. Then Deo begins to meet the strangers who will change his life, pointing him eventually in the direction of Columbia University, medical school, and a life devoted to healing.



Finding Calm in the Chaos: Christian Devotions for Busy Women by Kathleen Bostrom

A book of devotions to help women create calm in the chaos of their busy lives. Each week’s devotions, prayers, quotations, and “Spirit Boosters” focus on one Bible passage, which is read each day of that week. Each week ends with a “Sabbath Celebration,” a time for quiet prayer, reflection, and renewal. The “Spirit Boosters” for each week are divided into “Reaching In” and “Reaching Out” sections. They offer suggestions for ways to be kind to yourself and to others while nurturing your own faith.



Gardens of Water by Alan Drew

A fictional story of two families and two faiths in Turkey during and after a massive
earthquake near Istanbul. A devout Muslim family and an American Christian family
must co-exist in a large refugee camp when the apartment building where both families lived is destroyed. The author is a graduate of the UI Writers’ Workshop. “Gardens of Water is the 2010 book for the “One Community, One Book” project which promotes insight and understanding of human rights domestically and abroad through discussion groups in the Iowa City area.



Creating Moments of Joy for the Person with Alzheimer’s Or Dementia by Jolene Brackey

This is a must read for families who have loved ones with Alzheimer’s. The author
gives sensible answers about the mysteries of this disease and helps readers to realize where the Alzheimer patient is coming from and how to help calm their fears and give them moments of joy. This is an excellent book with lots of practical and helpful information.



Happiness by Joan Chittister

Everyone wants to be happy. Many, however, wrongly believe that happiness comes from having enough money, fame, personal comfort, worldly success, or even dumb luck. Joan Chittister sees happiness differently. To her it is not a by-product of wealth or success but, rather, a personal quality to be learned, mastered, and fearlessly wielded. In these pages Chittister develops “an archeology of happiness” as she conducts a happiness “dig” through sociology, biology, neurology, psychology, philosophy, history, and world religions. Sifting through the wisdom of the ages, Chittister offers inspiring insights that will help seekers everywhere learn to cultivate true and lasting happiness within themselves.

Book Corner hours
  • Sunday mornings, 9 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
  • First Wednesday of each month, 5:30-6 p.m.
  • First Saturday of each month 5-6:30 p.m.

Jan Aplin, Book Corner manager

"...Jesus reduced the mark of a Christian to one word: 'By this all will know you are my disciples,' he said: 'if you LOVE one another.' The most subversive act the church can take is consistently to obey that command." ~Philip Yancey