{"id":12424,"date":"2025-12-31T19:04:59","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T19:04:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farefwd.com\/?p=12424"},"modified":"2026-01-01T15:51:46","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T15:51:46","slug":"editors-best-of-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farefwd.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/31\/editors-best-of-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"The Editors&#8217; Best Of 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"12424\" class=\"elementor elementor-12424\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8ebca89 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8ebca89\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ee10ec4\" data-id=\"ee10ec4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0de26fe elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0de26fe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2fc1aa6b-de9a-62a7-8b57-1dd3a1fe4447.jpg?fit=600%2C350&amp;ssl=1\" title=\"2fc1aa6b-de9a-62a7-8b57-1dd3a1fe4447\" alt=\"2fc1aa6b-de9a-62a7-8b57-1dd3a1fe4447\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d7ceede elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d7ceede\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4559d43\" data-id=\"4559d43\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-88dd291 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"88dd291\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Editors' Best of 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4e3bdca elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4e3bdca\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dfba61f\" data-id=\"dfba61f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-abfc16d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"abfc16d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>If you\u2019re looking for additions to your read\/watch list for 2026, try our favorites from 2025. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year from the editors at\u00a0<em>Fare Forward<\/em>!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-324cb92 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"324cb92\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"277\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207362.png?fit=300%2C277&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-12431\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207362.png?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207362.png?resize=300%2C277&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207362.png?resize=1024%2C944&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207362.png?resize=768%2C708&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f7b0128\" data-id=\"f7b0128\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a3d408b elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a3d408b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>L<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ove\u2019s Work: A Reckoning with Life<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by Gillian Rose<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sarah Clark, Editor-in-Chief<br \/><br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cKeep your mind in hell, and despair not.\u201d Philosopher Gillian Rose\u2019s <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Love\u2019s Work: A Reckoning with Life <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">begins with this epitaph from the Orthodox saint Staretz Silouan\u2014a fitting choice for the book she wrote while dying from a sudden and aggressive form of cancer. Part memoir, part philosophical reflection from a brilliant thinker, the book begins <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in media res<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with a trip to New York to visit an old friend (now dying of AIDS at 47) and to meet the 97-year-old Edna, who has cancer of the face, drinks a bottle of Calvados every day, and is \u201can annunciation, a message, very old and very new.\u201d Chapter 2 concerns the author\u2019s trip to Auschwitz\u2014and so on. \u201cThere is no democracy in any love relation: only mercy,\u201d Rose writes, and she lays her own need for mercy clear to the bone. Weaving back and forth in time, from childhood and her parents\u2019 divorce to the final indignities of AIDS (her friend\u2019s) and cancer (her own), this remarkable book delves deeply into life, suffering, and, most importantly, love, which is the work of every life.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d6bf368 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d6bf368\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3bd4bae\" data-id=\"3bd4bae\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8feb432 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8feb432\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"78\" height=\"78\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/FF-Quotation-1-e1680069268368.png?fit=78%2C78&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-396\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aef228e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"aef228e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When all the pieces come together, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bad Shabbos<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tells a genuinely creative story that is both moving and riotously funny.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1bbd4c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1bbd4c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"274\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207283.png?fit=300%2C274&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-12430\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207283.png?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207283.png?resize=300%2C274&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207283.png?resize=1024%2C937&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207283.png?resize=768%2C702&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3058195\" data-id=\"3058195\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd4d492 elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fd4d492\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>B<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ad Shabbos<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, directed by Daniel Robbins<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sara Holston, Managing Editor<br \/><br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Outside of the classics, a tight, simple, but well-crafted film can be a rare find these days. While I can still get behind a 2.5+ hour blockbuster featuring extravagant special effects and often-overdone plotlines, I miss the days when they ran alongside shorter, smaller-budget comedies or dramas based on basic, everyday narratives. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bad Shabbos<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which played this summer in my local community movie theater, gave me precisely that. Coming in at a clean 84 minutes, this sharp-edged comedy takes place over a shabbat dinner in which the families of a young interfaith couple are set to meet for the first time. Of course, shenanigans ensue, throwing messy family dynamics into sharp relief and challenging the characters to find the best parts of themselves, and of each other, to muddle through. If I tried to give you much more detail, you might start to think the premise sounded a little absurd\u2014and you wouldn\u2019t be entirely wrong. But when all the pieces come together, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bad Shabbos<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tells a genuinely creative story that is both moving and riotously funny, and it\u2019s well worth coming along for the ride.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-301df62 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"301df62\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4434205\" data-id=\"4434205\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f814bb elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5f814bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"78\" height=\"78\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/FF-Quotation-1-e1680069268368.png?fit=78%2C78&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-396\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e3a068 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3e3a068\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While beauty can be a means of salvation, even the best artists are mere mortals.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ffc2998 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ffc2998\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"274\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207469.png?fit=300%2C274&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-12432\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207469.png?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207469.png?resize=300%2C274&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207469.png?resize=1024%2C937&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207469.png?resize=768%2C702&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6e2c9b5\" data-id=\"6e2c9b5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-590390e elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"590390e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>H<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">adestown<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by Ana\u00efs Mitchell<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whitney Rio-Ross, Poetry Editor<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I&#8217;m shocked to find myself putting a musical on this list, but <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hadestown<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has haunted me in the best way. Set in a New Orleans-esque city and an industrial underworld, it offers a political retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth. The jazz elements alone set it apart from the usual musical fare, but it\u2019s the story\u2019s message about art that shook me. In a year when the U.S. government gutted arts funding, many artists have written about their work as witness and resistance. I strongly believe that art can yield both personal and societal change, yet I\u2019ve been troubled by some writers teetering into self-aggrandizement and even being dismissive of more prosaic forms of solidarity. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hadestown<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was a welcome antidote to this attitude, at once an inspiring and sobering look at the power of art. It shows that while beauty can be a means of salvation, even the best artists are mere mortals. This story reminded me that an artist must create with hope and humility, striving to be a worthy steward, not a savior.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5eb8a62 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5eb8a62\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-64792b8\" data-id=\"64792b8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dd21600 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"dd21600\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"78\" height=\"78\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/FF-Quotation-1-e1680069268368.png?fit=78%2C78&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-396\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ee45dd4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ee45dd4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The novel carefully explores the romance of military pursuits and \u201cthe higher cause\u201d while questioning whether any violence is truly honorable.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-209961e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"209961e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"277\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207558.png?fit=300%2C277&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-12433\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207558.png?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207558.png?resize=300%2C277&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207558.png?resize=1024%2C944&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207558.png?resize=768%2C708&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f06a869\" data-id=\"f06a869\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd59dfe elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fd59dfe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>W<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">averley<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by Walter Scott<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Michael Carlowicz, Executive Editor<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When looking for a novel to read, I like to ask for recommendations from friends whose taste I wish to emulate. My favorite read this year was recommended to me by J.R.R. Tolkien, John Henry Newman, and Jane Austen. Sir Walter Scott\u2019s <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waverley<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the first novel in the series for which the author became known, is a burst of fresh air for adventure readers who want to escape the stifling sauna of seduction, gore, and heartlessness that characterizes fiction in 2025. A classic bildungsroman, the story follows Edward Waverley through the Jacobite rising of 1745 as the young Englishman struggles to reconcile his preexisting loyalties with new convictions of justice and honor. Although set against the backdrop of a brewing war, the novel resists any temptation to bloodlust, perhaps because of how recent the historical setting of the novel (alternatively titled <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018Tis Sixty Years Since<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) was for Scott\u2019s audience. The novel carefully explores the romance of military pursuits and \u201cthe higher cause\u201d while questioning whether any violence is truly honorable. At 211-years-old, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waverley<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the perfect story for readers who love well-bred eighteenth-century characters doing more than gossiping in parlors all day\u2014and yes, there is still a swoon-worthy love interest.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c9da548 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c9da548\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6610829\" data-id=\"6610829\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5218f80 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5218f80\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"78\" height=\"78\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/FF-Quotation-1-e1680069268368.png?fit=78%2C78&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-396\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b9affb7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b9affb7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Baby!<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a balm for the past decade\u2019s frayed conversation on manhood.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0adcee4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0adcee4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"274\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207774.png?fit=300%2C274&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-12436\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207774.png?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207774.png?resize=300%2C274&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207774.png?resize=1024%2C937&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207774.png?resize=768%2C702&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2d2bfdb\" data-id=\"2d2bfdb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a0eee6f elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a0eee6f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>B<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">aby!<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by Dijon<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Will Bryant, Editor<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was a big year for indie artist Dijon Duenas. On the heels of producer credits and a feature on Justin Bieber\u2019s new album <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SWAG<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, he released his sophomore album <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Baby!<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to much acclaim. The album pushes the envelope on the sonic landscape he explored on his first album, 2021\u2019s <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Absolutely<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Baby!<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is both a more experimental take on <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Absolutely<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2019s R&amp;B core and, in a way, a return to nineties boom-bap basics for Dijon, who had toyed with softer Americana textures on <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Absolutely<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The album is, quite simply, about Dijon\u2019s first child, a baby boy born in 2023. This lyrical content, set against a backdrop of the finest procreative R&amp;B, produces twelve songs of unapologetic fatherly masculinity. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Baby!<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a balm for the past decade\u2019s frayed conversation on manhood, and it is required reading for the meat-eating Rogan enjoyers and the tote-toting matcha-drinkers alike. A friend recently described her dating pool as either \u201cembarrassing or performative, and there\u2019s no middle ground.\u201d <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Baby!<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> conquers this dilemma because it contains the breadth of masculine expression. Over the course of the record Dijon is by turns virile and nurturing, blustering and self-reflective, showing strength and admitting weakness.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d9513b6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d9513b6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d7c3ea7\" data-id=\"d7c3ea7\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-beb7cd2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"beb7cd2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"78\" height=\"78\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/FF-Quotation-1-e1680069268368.png?fit=78%2C78&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-396\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6839a56 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6839a56\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With grace, wisdom, and wit, [Hamman] makes fresh these ancient tools of spiritual formation while refusing to surrender their countercultural potency.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a91e2e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4a91e2e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"277\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207686.png?fit=300%2C277&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-12435\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207686.png?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207686.png?resize=300%2C277&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207686.png?resize=1024%2C944&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207686.png?resize=768%2C708&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e9bdd96\" data-id=\"e9bdd96\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ed7b46a elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ed7b46a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sk of Old Paths: Medieval Virtues and Vices for A Whole and Holy Life<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by Grace Hamman<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anna Heetderks, Editor<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over the past year, I (along with many others) have found myself contemplating the role of virtue in private and public life, and was thus immediately intrigued when I first stumbled across <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ask of Old Paths<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Dusting off pride and humility, envy and love, and six other virtue-vice pairs, Hamman reveals their sharp edges, and how they penetrate our (distinctly post-medieval) culture. She frames the virtue of abstinence, for example, as a proper self-love that pays attention to the body and challenges our tendencies toward immediate gratification, while fostering deliberate reflection regarding the nature of our desires, our identity as embodied beings, and our dependence on God and creation. Hamman evinces a rich knowledge of her source material, engaging deeply with Scripture, a plethora of old saints, obscure medieval devotional guides, and modern-day thinkers (including, appropriately, Alasdair MacIntyre and his ever-salient <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After Virtue<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). With grace, wisdom, and wit, she makes fresh these ancient tools of spiritual formation while refusing to surrender their countercultural potency.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-46d9323 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"46d9323\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d1c65df\" data-id=\"d1c65df\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aca513c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"aca513c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"78\" height=\"78\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/FF-Quotation-1-e1680069268368.png?fit=78%2C78&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-396\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a065c92 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a065c92\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although undoubtedly a horror, Coogler&#8217;s film leaps beyond the bounds of the genre to deliver something that is, yes, scary, but also an homage to Black culture and experience. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e7ee67 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4e7ee67\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"274\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207640.png?fit=300%2C274&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-12434\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207640.png?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207640.png?resize=300%2C274&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207640.png?resize=1024%2C937&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767207640.png?resize=768%2C702&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a77d373\" data-id=\"a77d373\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9f871f5 elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9f871f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>S<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">inners<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by Ryan Coogler<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Najma Zahira, Editor<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best movies reveal some great truth about the world. Typically, I enjoy truths that make me feel warm and fuzzy inside: love abounds even in the toughest situations, the indomitable human spirit, etc. Ryan Coogler\u2019s <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sinners<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which follows two Black twin war veterans in 1930s Mississippi as they prepare for the opening night of their juke joint, strangely falls into this category. Although undoubtedly a horror, Coogler&#8217;s film leaps beyond the bounds of the genre to deliver something that is, yes, scary, but also an homage to Black culture and experience. Coogler lays bare the often unsaid\u2013the lasting stain of religious colonialism and slavery in our country\u2013but couches it in the joy that abounds in the freedom these communities have made for themselves. The presence and power that blues music, a musical descendant of slave spirituals, holds throughout the film makes this abundantly clear. While watching, I felt the full range of human emotions: fear, hope, sadness, joy\u2014which I did not anticipate when I entered the theater. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sinners<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is worth your time because it doesn\u2019t just reveal truths we want to hear, it reveals truths we need to hear. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re looking for additions to your read\/watch list for 2026, try out a few of our favorites from 2025. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year from the editors at Fare Forward!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":69,"featured_media":12425,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"on","ocean_gallery_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-book-review","category-newsletter","entry","has-media"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farefwd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2fc1aa6b-de9a-62a7-8b57-1dd3a1fe4447.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/farefwd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/farefwd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/farefwd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farefwd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/69"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farefwd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12424"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/farefwd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12424\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12446,"href":"https:\/\/farefwd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12424\/revisions\/12446"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farefwd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/farefwd.com\/index.php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