Last year when I read Batman:Hush it immediately became one of my favorite graphic novels. Written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by Jim Lee it set a high benchmark.

I just finished reading Batman: Heart of Hush, written by Paul Dini and illustrated by Dustin Nguyen. It is not the masterpiece Batman:Hush was, but it is a rich, emotionally complex followup story.

Originally in Detective Comics #846-#850, the story has been republished in the story “The Heart of Hush.”

Surgeon Thomas Elliot is now a manipulative sociopath, known as Hush. Elliot has returned to humiliate and kill Batman.

The Fielding Bible Volume III is a fascinating book of the subtleties of playing defense in Major League Baseball.

I had read their first volume and I was excited to read their third. I was not disappointed.

John Dewan and Ben Jedlovec have unveiled another wonderful guide for baseball stat-geeks.

Dewan and Jedlovec included new studies on crucial aspects of fielding, including defensive positioning, the Ted Williams shift, bunts, double plays, outfielder arms and catcher defense.

Their statistical analysis – building on the work began by stat-godfather Bill James – has significantly increased our understanding of the benefits of a good defensive player and the consequences of playing a poor defensive player.

All-Stars For All Time is subtitled “a sabermetric ranking of the major league best, 1876–2007.” I found the book to be balanced, position-specific, adjusted, and, as a former catcher, I loved the depth of the analysis.

Balanced
“Baseball’s All-Time All-Star team was determined by a comparison of each player’s offensive and defensive contributions as measured by his most important statistics.”

Position-Specific
“Each position had to be evaluated separately since each position had unique responsibilities that required its own measurements. For instance, catchers had to be evaluated for their ability to throw out potential base stealers, while pitchers were evaluated for their success in the art of pitching. Other position players were measured primarily for their success at producing runs on offense and for preventing runs on defense.”

Lit! may not appeal to all mysilentscream readers, but I liked it way more than I thought I might.

Lit! subtitled, “A Christian Guide to Reading Books” by Tony Reinke would never had landed on my reading list except for three things:

My friend Tonya recently sent me English Literature recommendations.

My friend Isaac and I read and discussed Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities.

And, John Piper tweeted: Tony Reinke’s “Lit” for 99 cents in the Kindle store. I loved reading this book. Makes you want to read. http://dsr.gd/WaktDQ

I like empirical data, so one of my favorite parts of “Quiet” is the insights researchers and analysts provided that can help introverts take advantage of their unique traits and characteristics.

As an introvert with an extrovert’s job I know that there are times when I am jealous of my charismatic woo-filled colleagues.

On the other hand, “Quiet” helps remind people like me that we can thrive on our own terms, in our own way, in an extrovert-affirming world.

Can helps her readers to appreciate that attributes common to introverts (and extroverts) are assets in different settings. Cain advises introverts to recognize and embrace our own “sweet spot.”

Frank Miller has written some great stuff.
Jim Lee is one of my favorite artists.

Enthusiastically I opened up All Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder a graphics novel by Frank Miller, Jim Lee and Scott Williams.

Page after page Lee’s art popped.
Page after page Miller’s worked plummeted.

To new all-time lows.

I’ve read or watched Batman since I was a kid. I read back issues from before I was born. Some better than others.  I have my favorite portrayals  of Batman, but now I have a new least.

Author Kay Arthur explains to her readers, “We dare not go into battle unprepared!”

Throughout As Silver Refined, Kay Arthur challenges readers to prepare for life inevitable challenges.

“I WAS A FAILURE. I was convinced of it. I had failed God, and there was nothing I could do about it. I was impotent to change my circumstances. Disappointment overwhelmed me.” That kind of humility makes this book very approachable. I wish that there were more heart-connecting stories.

The author understand people and our circumstances: “The downward spiral begins…with disappointment. Disappointment comes when our expectations aren’t met. Consequently we’re not happy about it — we’re disturbed.

When I picked up Sharon Jaynes’ A Sudden Glory I wasn’t sure what to expect.  Fortunately, my uncertainty was assuaged by the sub-title, “God’s Lavish Response To Your Ache For Something More.”

“Abiding in, dwelling in, remaining in Christ all sound like wonderful ideas. I’m sure you’d agree there is no place we’d rather be. But what does that look like… really… practically?”

Sharon Jaynes makes it clear that our busyness, even well-intentioned does not increase the likelihood that we are abiding, connecting with Christ.

“More Than a Bucket List will challenge you to go for that hole-in-one at Pebble Beach, to become an amateur chef, to scale K2. But it will also encourage you to view these accomplishments from God’s point of view and to make your bucket list matter eternally along the way. With each page, the dream inside you will be drawn out—the higher dream of what God has purposed for you.”

The author challenges her readers to choose positive values:
Pursue laughter.
Live your dreams.
Honor the strength of others.
Fight for love.
Be a Good Samaritan.
Become a more positive person.

“Sometimes, all we need is a reminder from someone who has walked before us.”

José Navajo was a young burned-out preacher. While spending Mondays with his old retired pastor Jose found his faith reignited.

This began a weekly spiritual direction and mentoring relationship that last for years.

When the old pastor had passed away he left a treasure chest of wisdom behind  for José.  

“When you read this I will no longer be here. I mean, I will not be at your side, although the reality is that I will be there in the fullest sense of the word: I will have finished my race, and I will be enjoying the long-awaited reward of gazing at my Lord face-to-face.”