Books read in 2023: No. 23 - The Book of Haggai

published by Zondervan

Started: June 26
Finished: June 26

Notes: Another book from near the end of the Old Testament, this one also concerning one of the prophets.

Mini review: In this book, God calls for the building of the Second Temple after the Jews are allowed to returned to their homeland. A bit different than most of the other prophets' books in this part of the Bible.

Books read in 2023: No. 22 - The Book of Zephaniah

published by Zondervan

Started: June 26
Finished: June 26

Notes: I've slacked on my Bible reading somewhat this year and I'm trying to catch up, especially as I'm near the end of the Old Testament.

Mini review: This one holds familiar themes to those of the prophets in the latter part of the Old Testament: Jerusalem and Judah and Israel will be punished for their sins but eventually they will be redeemed by God and their enemies will be trampled upon. This part of the Bible really is repetitive and rather dull, so I can see why it's not preached about or studied nearly as much as other parts of the Bible.

Beer of the Week Blast from the Past: Olde Heurich Brewing Co. Beers

Another week in which I didn't get to try any beer, but as always I still have some old notes about a brewery that's longer with us, this one originally from the Washington D.C. area. So, enjoy.

Heurich's Foggy Bottom Ale

Beer score: 6.9

Had just a tad too much fizz for my liking, but went down smooth. Had a bit of a kick in the aftertaste that made this beer a little too strong for novice beer drinkers.

Heurich's Foggy Bottom Lager

Beer score: 5.3

Too spicy for me in a sweet, cinnamon way, but went down smooth and was frothy.

Heurich's SpringFogg Bock

Beer score: 7.2

Fairly sturdy, somewhat like a strong lager. Had a little froth and a little sweetness. Went well with cigars.

Heurich's WinterFogg Porter

Beer score: 5.8

Wasn't bad for yet another of those spiced-up winter brews, though there was too much carbonation. Had a fruity flavor mixed into a fairly sturdy maple texture. Was one of the better winter brews.

Books read in 2023: No. 21 -- No Country For Old Men

by Cormac McCarthy

Started: June 22

Finished: June 26

Notes: I've been meaning to read more from this author, and his recent passing has prompted me to delve into this novel. Yes, I've seen the movie, and yes, I remember the basics of the characters and the plot, but I don't think that will cause me too many problems in enjoying this one.

Mini review: Damn, but this was a good novel. No, correct that. This was a great novel. Better than the movie, even with as much fame as the movie has. And the story pretty much follows the movie almost line for line, though I've read McCarthy wrote this one as a screenplay before making it into a novel. Usually I don't care for novels which read somewhat like a screenplay, but here it work perfectly. I won't go into the plot or characters or details because most readers will already know from the movie. But this was worth reading, and I might even read it again at some point. This is the kind of novel that makes you want to write, and that's the best compliment I can give any literature.

I will add that this is not adventure fiction, though there is a fair amount of violence. This is a novel of ideas, of thoughts, of feelings, though I wouldn't necessarily say it's a novel of high ideals, though perhaps it is in some ways of thinking. It is a bit of a tale of nostalgia for simpler times and simpler people, but it also speaks frankly against such a notion, that simpler times and simpler people never really existed except perhaps in our memories.

Books read in 2023: No. 20 - The Book of Habakkuk

published by Zondervan

Started: June 22
Finished: June 22

Notes: Trying to catch up on my Biblical readings, I turn to another of the prophetic works from the latter portion of the Old Testament.

Mini review: In this book the prophet Habakkuk has a conversation with God and questions God concerning evils, especially evils perpetrated against Israel by the Chaldeans. God gives an answer, mainly that he will punish the Chaldeans even harsher than the Israelites are being punished. The final chapter is basically a prayer or poem in which Habakkuk shows his faith in God.

Books read in 2023: No. 19 - The Book of Nahum

published by Zondervan

Started: June 21
Finished: June 21

Notes: Because of travel and other things going on with my life of late, whenever I've been between books, I've not had a Bible handy. Which is unusual since I own a dozen or more copies of the Bible. So, my Bible readings have been limited the last few months. It's time to get back to that. Oddly enough, this is perhaps the book of the Bible which I am least experienced and knowledgeable.

Mini review: This book mainly seems to be a prophecy by the prophet Nahum concerning the destruction of the Assyrian city known as Ninevah. Ninevah was eventually attacked by Babylonians, but whether one considers that prophetic would be for others to speculate.

Books read in 2023: No. 18 -- Lost Lexington Kentucky

by Peter Brackney

Started: June 17

Finished: June 21

Notes: I've always considered Lexington, Kentucky, my hometown, having lived there twice, once from 1969 to 1993 and then again from 2006 to 2010. So, I'm always glad to read a little history about my hometown. This book focuses upon architecture, specifically about buildings in Lexington that no longer exist, some of which I remember and others that were before my time.

Mini review: This was a nostalgic blast from the past. Some of the structures here were before my time, though I had heard of most of them. Some were destroyed during my time, and I remember them fondly as landmarks of my youth. Others have been destroyed since I left Lexington, leaving me with bittersweet memories, especially when it comes to the changes at the University of Kentucky. But change and growth are natural, yet the Bluegrass Region has lost much. I hope they don't lose more.