A summary of posts included on MORE TO COME in September 2023.
This year I began to feature Q&As with authors of new books in the MORE TO COME newsletter. It has been a big hit with readers, and I’ve enjoyed connecting with both long-time and new friends who have put their thoughts into words and shared those with the reading public.
Two of those authors have had recent accolades that deserve special mention.
First, my former National Trust colleague Joseph McGill, Jr. had his book Sleeping With the Ancestors mentioned in the New York Times. You can read my July Q&A with Joe here. And then just last week, long-time friend and author Janet Hulstrand was featured in a Politics & Prose book talk around her memoir A Long Way From Iowa. You can read my February Q&A with Janet here. Congratulations to both Joe and Janet!
Look for the sixth of my author Q&As next month. But for now let’s jump in and see what was on my mind in September.
BACKUP CATCHERS AND SERVANT LEADERSHIP
The post with the most views in September is one where I actually missed the lede. Go figure. In Ode to the backup catcher, I tied thoughts on retirement (Stephen Strasburg’s and others) together with a review of The Tao of the Backup Catcher: Playing Baseball for the Love of the Game. This little gem of a book starts slow but becomes a powerful take on servant leadership. That may not be abundantly clear from my review, but the post is still worth reading.
OTHER WORKS FROM THE BOOKSHELF
In addition to backup catchers, I read about exuberant aging, bathtub murders, flatboat expeditions, and biodiversity. Just another typical month.
- Living exuberantly is my look at the latest from Margareta Magnusson. Her take on aging exuberantly gave me the opportunity to opine about Bach cantatas and beautiful fall gardens (on a visit to the Duke chapel to hear Andrew sing), ballparks full of pyrotechnics and cities with flying pigs (on a recent trip to Cincinnati), and the bending of the elbow with former colleagues and good friends.
- In my year of reading dangerously™, I turned to Dorothy Sayers and her book Whose Body?, which is reviewed in A classic of detective fiction turns 100. This is where you’ll find the bathtub murder.
- Luxuriating in the stream of time is my review of the fascinating and informative account of writer Rinker Buck (who names these guys?!) and his trip down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers from Pittsburgh to New Orleans on a wooden flatboat.
- The Earth is Our Home focuses on biodiversity, with a short work by E.O. Wilson as my touchstone.
- Then there is the always-popular The books I read in August 2023.
WE LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES
Interesting doesn’t always equate with normal or easy. But these are the times we have, so here are my takes from September.
- When U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan set the start date for former president Trump’s trial on four criminal counts for his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, multiple bells went off in my brain, resulting in A date with history. March 4th, until 1936, was when presidential inaugurations were held. Lawmakers chose that date because it was the one on which, in 1789, the Constitution went into effect. Priceless. It is also the only date that is a command. Oh, and it is my birthday.
- Being alert to media framing ― as I discuss in Bad and broken frames ― helps us understand the challenges we face to shift our national conversations toward support for democracy.
IF YOU DON’T LIKE MY MUSIC CHOICE THIS SATURDAY, JUST WAIT A WEEK
My Saturday Soundtrack pieces in September covered an even broader range than is normally the case. Thus the meaning behind the title. I don’t expect everyone to like each featured artist or genre, but chances are I’ll get around to your favorites in a few weeks. In the meantime, check out:
- A terrific new album by Rhiannon Giddens as featured in You’re the One. Giddens, the two-time GRAMMY Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning singer and instrumentalist, is more than willing to explore the past and future together.
- Bella White may be a new artist for you, but she has A voice made for heartbreak that’s worth a listen.
- And then take a stroll down Rock & Roll memory lane with That’ll Be the Day and find out why it had worldwide impact . . . in unexpected ways.
WHATEVER ELSE TICKLED MY FANCY
- Thank you, Sean Doolittle is a piece I wrote to celebrate the career of the Nationals’ most DC-type player ever.
- At the break of day is a reminder of the beauty of sunrises and sunsets I’ve seen ― from Alaska to Asheville, Cambodia to DC, Dublin to the Dutch Caribbean, the Grand Canyon to Mohonk, and more.
- I’ve never liked the sound of the word “blog.” It just grates on my ear. Searching for the right word is a short piece where I banish it from MORE TO COME. One of my editors thinks I can still find a better word. *
CONCLUSION
Thanks, as always, for reading. Your support and feedback mean more than I can ever express.
As you travel life’s highways be open to love, thirst for wonder, undertake some mindful walking every day, recognize the incredible privilege that most of us have, and think about how to put that privilege to use for good. Women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, and others can feel especially vulnerable . . . because they are. Work hard for justice and democracy as the fight never ends.
Bash into some joy along the way.
And finally, try to be nice. Always be kind.
More to come . . .
DJB
For the August 2023 summary, click here.
*What . . . this thing has “editors”?!?
You can follow MORE TO COME by going to the small “Follow” box that is on the right-hand column of the site (on the desktop version) or at the bottom right on your mobile device. It is great to hear from readers, and if you like them feel free to share these posts on your own social media platforms.
MORE TO COME... 
Pingback: Observations from . . . October 2023 | MORE TO COME...