Sunshine Days
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Spring, is that you?! We are happily enjoying some warmer weather. I can hear my kids outside the open windows. It's drizzling a bit, but they are happy to be outside. And one of them is serenading me through the walkie talkies. This is the life!
Managed to read quite a bit this month, so let's get to those reviews...
If you are new to the Christian faith or have been away from church for a long time, this might meet the need for a review of the Old Testament narratives. I personally enjoyed learning stories that I have not learned growing up in the Protestant tradition but that are included in the Catholic editions of the Bible. I applaud this author's effort to reconnect with the faith that his father clung to as his health failed. I was hoping this book would be testimony of the author's personal faith journey, starting at his father's bedside & continuing to a genuine belief. Instead, it was a mere rehashing of the stories without the plumbing the depths of the redemption narrative that weaves throughout the Old Testament. At moments, the author would make a connection between the events of those ancient times with modern history or a personal story. These were unfortunately few & far between. However, I am hopeful that others will pick up this book out of curiosity & perhaps be prompted to study the Bible itself.
From the introduction which contrasts 2 highly successful athletes who were raised in very different ways. One was a specialist--never venturing outside his father's chosen sport. The other played many sports until his parents knew that he was the one making the choice in what to pursue. The author goes on to show the reasons why exposure to a wide range of interests is actually preferable to hyper-specialization. While some professions need someone to be a specialist, the majority of fields & projects benefit from people with a broader variety of backgrounds. Specialization has even led to disastrous results at times! Overall, the book encouraged me as an adult to continue the habit of lifelong learning. As a parent, it reassured me that my kids benefit from trying & experiencing new things.
This is one of those "it's been on my shelf unread for way too long" books. If you've found yourself reading the Bible with yourself as the central focus, this book will give you practical methods for refocusing your reading. The Bible teaches us about ourselves, but it is not about us. The Bible is a much broader story that is centered on God Himself & how He interacts with His creation. It is the story of His plan to redeem His fallen creatures. This book is a great refresher & encourager of the life-giving habit of Bible reading.
This is totally different from anything I usually read, but I couldn't resist something from writer & historian Jasmine Holmes when it came through on NetGalley. In this debut novel, the author transports us to the town of East Cobb, Mississippi with Thea & her husband Kid. Their excitement for this new adventure in all-Black town is quickly diminished as they arrive. From the outset, the townspeople show their disapproval of Thea's desire to work outside the home. And that's not even mentioning Southern Gothic elements. Holmes weaves together her vast knowledge of Black history with her love of classic literature. She introduces deep characters with deep hurts--the Carriers in particular are each so interesting. She addresses themes that are relevant today--racism, sexism, classism, trauma, complicated marriages, the extended repercussions of slavery. And she does it in such a winsome but horrifying way, highlighting the terrible effects of generational trauma. Even if this isn't your genre, I think this could be a good one to try outside of your comfort zone!
This topic is one that we will all face at one time or another. The authors have faced various health issues of their own & also challenges in their parenting journey with neurodivergence & other hard paths. Throughout the book, these ladies point your focus onto our good Father who walks with us through the suffering that we experience in this fallen world. It is a book with so much encouragement & is saturated with Scripture. It would definitely be a helpful book for a friend that you know is walking through hard times or for you to read to know how best to encourage them! Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read & review this book.
The plot of this book is so riveting. Sadly, it is also written in such a way that much of it drags on & really loses your interest. I read this with my 8-year-old for school & we both were struggling at times to understand the Scottish dialect & the historical context. (Thank goodness for Google!) Again, the story itself is great & the characters are likeable. The pacing just felt sluggish for most of the novel.
I've been very encouraged meditating on this concept of the ordinary obedience of faithful believers throughout the centuries. They haven't made the history books or newspapers but have quietly lived a life of consistent belief in & devotion to their Lord. While the influencers & controversial church "leaders" seem to get the most attention, it is the faithful service of everyday saints that truly builds His Kingdom. May we all strive to live such lives.
This is such a joy-filled book! Ray Ortlund approaches his reader as a wise grandfather talking to a young person. While my kids would not consider me a young person, I felt that the message of this book, especially from such an author, was timely. The brokenness of the world can make me tend toward cynicism & wanting to retreat away from all of the pain. But that is not what Christians are called to do. We are supposed to be the ones pressing in to deeper relationships & calling others to enjoy the goodness of God & His creation. That's a reminder that I truly needed & I'm sure I'm not the only one. Since it is written as an exhortation to a younger audience, I could see this book making a wonderful college graduation gift, too!
(As part of the Crossway reviewer program, I received this book in exchange for my honest review of it.)
I read this in preparation for next school year when my oldest will be introduced to Mr. Swift. It is a short satirical story. The battle referenced in the title is between classic writings of such folks as Virgil & the more modern books of Swift's day. Many of the references & jokes & witty barbs that Swift inserts are lost on me. I will probably look for a bit of a notated version to help my son's reading of it be more enjoyable.
First off, the cover art is lovely. I was intrigued just by that alone. When I saw the authors' names, I was more intrigued to know what they had to say on the subject of children's books. One is an author of juvenile fiction & the other runs a book review website & community. I glanced at the table of contents & was disappointed. The opening chapters about teaching our children from the Bible first & pointing them toward stories that show truth & goodness are important. My disappointment was mostly in the book recommendations. They listed the same titles that we've all known about for years--Narnia, Lord of the Rings, Wingfeather, etc. There seemed to be no attempt at searching for books that might expand beyond the typical booklists. If you are just starting your home library, these are great places to start, but I feel other books have given more rich & diverse booklists than this.
Phew! Lots of reading in the little margins of the day has added up to quite a stack of books!
Some were audiobooks, which completely counts! Do you utilize audiobooks?
Cheering you on!
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