Spring brings gusty winds, fluctuating temps, and best of all, new growth. Yellow is not one of my favorite colors, except for, I realized this March, when daffodils, forsythia, and crocuses pop out. They are a cheerful reminder that more sunshine truly is on its way.
Cheerful crocuses in my garden bed! 🙂
Also, for me and other Christians, spring brings the season of Lent.
Lent describes 40 days of preparation for Easter Sunday. It starts on Ash Wednesday, six weeks before Easter, and technically ends on Holy Thursday , or for some, Easter Sunday. During Lent, Christians engage in prayer, fasting, and acts of service to prepare their hearts for the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Purple, the color of preparation, adorns alters and crosses, and people seek renewal and reconciliation, increased spiritual growth. Many people give up something for Lent, like chocolate or alcohol, social media or TV, to honor the “fasting” practice of the season. Some make more time in their day to pray, or choose to participate in service work.
My Lenten practices change every year. This season, I’m fasting from sweets, fasting from meat on Fridays and using the extra grocery money as a donation to Heifer International, and writing one note for each day of Lent to someone who needs love and encouragement. I’m also trying to fast from worry and anger, probably the most challenging of my goals.
In true Word Nerd style, I’m also digging into some of the words important to the season. First, the name itself. Lent comes from Old English lencten, meaning spring. It might also be derived from Western Germanic “langitinaz” or “lengthening of days.” Makes sense.
Next, I’ve been pondering the words rend and render. At Ash Wednesday service, I heard this verse from the book of Joel, one of the minor prophets of the Old Testament:
Even now says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord your God. Joel 2:12-13
Here, Joel encourages people of faith to engage in sincere change, not just outward signs of piety that have no inner significance. Joel evokes violent imagery when telling his audience to “rend your hearts.” Rend comes from the Old English “to tear.” The prophet encourages his listeners to truly open their hearts to God. Thinking about rend led me to render, which comes from the Latin rendere, re- + dare, meaning to give as well as re- + -dere to put. Render has multiple meanings, including 1) to convert something into another substance or form by means of a process or treatment; 2) to give back, restore 3) to give something in acknowledgement of dependence and obligation.
What a great word to inspire transformation, spiritual growth, and acts of service.
Hi Word Nerds! A quick check in with a great word for this week: blatherskite.
According to my Mental Floss Word Nerd calendar, “blatherskite” was used as an insult starting in the mid 17th century. It comes from Scottish: blether blather + skate a contemptible person. It means “a person who talks a bunch of nonsense loudly.”
Try to use it in a sentence. Here’s my go:
I’m tired of listening to the blatherskites in Washington, so I’m limiting my news consumption to 20 minutes per day.
How might you use this new word in a conversation this weekend? Share in the comments.
March is Women’s History Month, and despite the DEI paranoia, I’m celebrating in style… with books of course! Funny thing – my daughter and I agree that we didn’t really like history in school. “It was just memorizing dates and men fighting wars,” daughter said. But we are both finding a new love for history through reading – historical fiction, autobiography, and biography. Books have opened our eyes to the courageous people who lived before us and helped us get where we are. And they offer comfort in a tumultuous time. Our country and the world have been rocked by division and difficulty before and have survived. We will again.
In honor of Women’s History Month, I have four great books to recommend.
The Briar Club by Kate Quinn
Set in 1950s Washington DC, The Briar Club follows the lives of seven women living in a boarding house during the McCarthy era. The Briar Club opens with a murder (or, more accurately, a body), and follows an unusual structure, including short “interstitials” from the point of view of the house itself! The overarching question – who committed the murder? – is supported by a cast of well-drawn and compelling characters facing unique challenges and fighting for self-worth. Until Grace March arrived at Briarwood House, every tenant kept to herself. But with her weekly Thursday night dinner parties, Grace pulls the women (and a few men) into friendship via food and fellowship. Author Quinn even includes recipes!
The Briar Club explores the theme of trust, both interpersonal and public. Some of the language and rhetoric of our present day reflects eerily in this novel of 1950s America. Quinn weaves real people and events into her narrative. My favorite reference was to the June 1, 1950 “Declaration of Conscience” speech given by Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine. Among other things, she told the Senate:
Mr. President, I would like to speak briefly and simply about a serious national condition. It is a national feeling of fear and frustration that could result in national suicide and the end of everything that we Americans hold dear. It is a condition that comes from the lack of effec- tive leadership either in the legislative branch or the executive branch of our government… I speak as briefly as possible because too much harm has already been done with irresponsible words of bitterness and selfish political opportunism…
I think that it is high time for the United States Senate and its members to do some real soul searching and to weigh our consciences as to the manner in which we are performing our duty to the people of America and the manner in which we are using or abusing our individual powers and privileges.
Many today consider Social Security benefits a non-negotiable part of American life, something we’ve always had and will have. But Social Security wouldn’t exist without the hard work of Ms. Frances Perkins, the first woman who served on a presidential cabinet as FDR’s Secretary of Labor. During the throes of The Great Depression, Ms. Perkins’ persistence in the face of personal tragedy, political criticism, and blatant misogyny not only gave Americans the New Deal, but also paved the way for women who wished to serve in public office.
Dinners with Ruth: A Memoir of Friendship by Nina Totenberg
This memoir, by NPR Legal Correspondent Nina Totenberg, focuses on the value of friendship and relationship. Totenberg met Ruth Bader Ginsberg before Ginsberg earned an appointment to The Supreme Court, and their friendship only got stronger while Totenberg covered the court. Dinners with Ruth testifies to the importance of relationship, with those we love and even those with whom we disagree. It’s also a testament to women who, like Katharine Graham, shattered professional barriers for women during the 20th century. Like Personal History, Dinners with Ruth drops a lot of names, but overall inspires positive feelings. It’s a great read for when you are feeling overwhelmed or discouraged by the news.
Personal History by Katharine Graham
Personal History is the autobiography of Katharine Graham, whose father bought The Washington Post in the 1930’s. Graham or her relatives operated The Post until financial concerns forced the family to sell it to Jeff Bezos in 2013. After the suicide of her husband, Phil Graham, in the 1960s, Katharine or “Kay” Graham took over the business and guided it through a time of national upheaval that included the Kennedy Assassination, The Vietnam War, and most importantly, Watergate. She served as CEO in a time when few women did, and her insights into the business world and political life during her tenure at The Post are fascinating.
Personal History requires a commitment. Its 625 pages abound with references to people and dates that make the reading dense and tiresome. About midway through, after Phil Graham dies and Kay takes over the helm of The Post, the book gets interesting. I particularly enjoyed her stories about JFK, Lyndon Johnson, and Watergate.
Of McCarthy, Graham said:
By now, McCarthy was growing even more sinister and more powerful. Playing on the fears stemming from the Cold War, he made outrageous charges… After a while, we in the media learned to carry the other side and to put his charges in perspective, but he was a new phenomenon with which the press had to learn to cope, and it took a while to catch up with his methods.
Later in her book, Graham shares the details of how The Post navigated frequent attacks from the Nixon administration and uncovered the details of The Watergate scandal. She said:
We all began to worry more and more about freedom of the press and about the Nixon administration’s imperious attitude that the authority to determine what the American people should know rests exclusively with the government. We also felt, as Ben [Bradlee, famous news editor at The Post] later said, that if the press was the target “the victim is the public.”
More than once while reading Graham’s words, I was struck by how relevant they still are today. Personal History overlaps the time frames of all of the other books I’ve reviewed here. I recommend skimming/ quick reading until chapter 21.
What about you? Can you recommend a book appropriate for Women’s History Month? Have you read any I shared here? Share your thoughts!
If you like stories with interesting leading ladies, I’ve got two adult novels for you. I’d recommend The Maid if you are looking for a lighthearted mystery and escape from the news cycle of chaos. If you’re up for a funny but also unflinching look at the plight of young, single, working-class mothers, try Margo’s Got Money Troubles.
The Maid by Nita Prose
Twenty-five-year-old Molly lives her life in exceptional and simple terms. She has a photographic memory for detail but has trouble reading social cues and other people’s intentions. Her dear Gran used to help Molly understand the world, but she died a few months ago, and Molly feels lost. Her confusion worsens when, during her shift as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, she finds one of the hotel’s wealthiest and notorious guests dead in his bed.
The head detective suspects her, and her coworkers at the hotel are using Molly’s unique personality against her… perhaps to cover up their own illicit activities. It’s all very hard for Molly to understand, and she’s going to need some help to get out of this mess, but she doesn’t have friends she can count on. Or does she?
What I liked
Molly’s unique point of view thoroughly colors this mystery. We can only see the world through Molly’s eyes, but we understand things differently than she does, adding irony, humor, and intrigue to the story. Some people give this book negative reviews because they expected more of a mystery. There’s definitely a “Clue” like aspect to the story, but it’s more about relationships and human nature. The lighthearted tone of The Maid offers respite in a time when our world bombards us with stories of war, retaliation, and selfish gain. While Molly starts the book vulnerable and scared, she learns the value of connection and gains wisdom about who she can trust. In the end, despite some despicable actions by many characters, kindness and goodness win out.
What I didn’t like
Molly’s voice can get monotonous at times – perhaps I can blame that on the narrator of the audio book I listened to. Molly’s tone comes through as I suspect it would for someone with her personality, but some readers find the voice grating. Ultimately, the humor and good feelings mattered more to me than Molly’s voice.
Recommendation
The Maid would be a good choice for anyone looking for a lighthearted break from the fire hose of chaos in our news feed. If you like Only Murders in the Building, you’d probably like The Maid. This novel is the first in a series of four. I would be interested in reading more about Molly the Maid later.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
I downloaded the audio book after I heard it recommended on one of the “year in books” podcasts I listened to in late December. The idea of a 19-year-old trying to navigate the world of motherhood and adulthood with little emotional support from her parents, much less financial help, appealed to me. I believe our society spends too much time debating abortion and not enough resources educating and empowering women to make the best decisions for their well-being. I figured this novel would explore that, and I wasn’t disappointed.
Margo is wicked sharp and uses funny descriptions to explain her predicaments. Her mom is an ex Hooters waitress currently working in retail. Her dad’s an ex pro wrestler who has spent most of his life on the road or with his other, “legitimate” family. Margo’s smart, but since she lacks financial resources, she settles for junior college after high school. There, she guilelessly falls into an affair with her English professor and ends up pregnant.
Against everyone’s advice, with a naïve expectation that the world will support a woman who chooses motherhood, Margo decides to keep her baby. She soon finds herself without employment, without money, and on the brink of eviction. Her father shows up to help, but his opioid addiction complicates the situation. Desperate, Margo turns to the online world of sex work as a means to earn some cash while still taking care of her baby. With his experience from the pro wrestling world, her father helps her create an online presence to earn fans and money. But soon, because of her job, Margo finds herself in the middle of a custody fight and a CSS investigation. After she’s worked so hard to provide for herself and her baby, she might lose everything after all.
What I liked
Margo’s Got Money Troubles highlights the challenges women face navigating the world of motherhood, employment, and child care. Margo makes several terrible decisions, and yet, I empathized with her. The poor girl is barely 20 and has no trustworthy adult role models to guide her. She is, despite all the odds, an excellent mother, and her plight challenges our current societal norms and policies for women and children. Margo is often witty and funny, even when her life seems hopeless. She demonstrates incredible resourcefulness and perseverance, and ultimately gains confidence and connections she can rely on.
What I didn’t like
I’m currently re-evaluating my relationship with social media and stepping back from online life. Margo is trying to build an income online, so lots of the book revolves around creating and posting videos and gaining followers. I got tired of hearing about TikTok and other platforms and found Margo’s obsession with followers unhealthy.
Recommendation
Margo’s Got Money Troubles is a great book for readers interested in women’s issues, particularly the plight of single mothers. Content warning: Margo turns to OnlyFans, a pornography site, to earn money. She discusses the nude pictures and videos she posts of herself. The novel also explores the role of religion and culture on motherhood. Throughout the story, Margo contemplates how the Virgin Mary must have felt being a young, pregnant woman in terms some might view as offensive. Her mother marries a religious conservative who disapproves of Margo’s choices.
Note: Margo’s Got Money Troubles is currently being adapted for television by A24 and AppleTV. And the author, Rufi Thorpe, earned her MFA from the University of Virginia, my alma mater!
Can you recommend other books about people who learn to love themselves? Share in the comments!
As a YA author, I enjoy, and learn from, reading books similar to mine. You Started It by Jackie Khalilieh caught my eye because its main character shares lots of characteristics, like anxiety and obsessive organization, with one of my MCs.
Jamie Taher-Foster can’t wait for her boyfriend Ben to return from summer camp so they can tackle all of the activities on her senior year bucket list. But his first day home, Ben breaks up with Jamie, triggering her anxiety and kicking off a master plan to win him back. Enter Alexander “Axel” Dahini, a dancer and YouTube star who agrees to pose as Jamie’s boyfriend so she can make Ben jealous. And Jamie can help Axel with his parents by pretending to be his “good Arab girlfriend.” Jamie even drafts a contract to define the limits of her relationship with Axel, but free spirited Axel never signs it, and Jamie’s plotting falls apart.
What I liked
This is a fun YA romance with a “fake dating” trope that works. The chemistry and banter between Axel and Jamie works well, and each of them discovers something important about themselves over the course of their unusual relationship. It was interesting to learn a little about Arab culture – honestly, I would have liked to see more. Khalilieh tackles relevant issues for teens, including self-discovery, strained family relationships, and learning to make healthy choices. Jamie battles anxiety and demonstrates constructive ways to manage it – most of the time. When she doesn’t, she deals with the consequences. The cast of characters is diverse and interesting.
What I didn’t like
Sometime the dialogue, especially for the teen characters, felt too on the nose or heavy handed with counselor speak. However, since Jamie has anxiety and works with a counselor, perhaps it’s reasonable to expect her to adopt some of the language from her therapy sessions. I did at times feel like I was being hit over the head with character revelations and would have preferred that the author allow me to draw my own conclusions instead of so blatantly pointing them out to me.
Recommendation
You Started It is a fun YA romance that would appeal to fans of Jenny Han or Nicola Yoon. It tackles relevant issues for teens and explores healthy ways to manage communication, relationships, and mental health.
You Started It will release May 2025. Check it out!
Can you recommend a fun YA romance, just in time for spring?
Wow! Another crazy week of news, with certain people saying lots of interesting things. So it was funny to me when my Mental Floss Word Nerd Daily calendar (a gift from my awesome friend and Wahoo Sharon) recently presented “prattle basket” as an “old-fashioned word to bring back.”
The phrase, which describes someone who will not stop talking, was first used way back in 1602, followed closely by “prattle box” in 1671. Chatter box entered the lexicon in 1774.
I feel like we have a lot of prattle baskets getting attention in our society these days. Do you agree?
Prattle basket made me think of a Word Nerd post I shared years ago about a bloviating megalomaniac. Guess who that was?
bloviate \’blō- vē-āt\ verb, perhaps an irregular form of “blow” To speak or write verbosely or windily
megalomaniac \me-gə-lō-ˈmā-nē- ak\ noun One who suffers from a mental disorder marked by feelings of unlimited importance and power
