What I read: November 2013 (with some bonus blogs)

When my show closed around the middle of the month I was able to kickstart my reading a little bit. Here are the books that I read, and because we all will have some downtime in the next few days, I’m linking to some of my favorite blogs for you to peruse when you’re half-asleep and sort of watching football on the couch after Thanksgiving dinner.

Living By Faith, Dwelling in Doubt: A Story of Belief, Uncertainty, and Boundless Love

I already reviewed Kyle’s book when I hosted his blog tour earlier in the month, but I mention it again for two reasons:

1. It’s worth a read.

2. I want credit for reading three books this month, not two. Clearly all of those childhood reading programs at the library where you got stickers for the books you read have left their mark.

 

Rock-Bottom Blessings: Discovering God’s Abundance When All Seems Lost

I went straight from one memoir from Loyola Press to another, this one by Karen Beattie. [Disclaimer: LP sent me all these books, but they’ve never asked for anything in return – not even a review, though of course I review everything because, again, I want credit for reading the books. Even the one time I drove their social media maven back to her hotel in Boston she didn’t ask for a ride, I offered.]

Reading this was timely, because what the exterior and most of the marketing doesn’t make obvious is that this is a book about money, specifically the author’s relationship to money and how that affected her feelings of security and blessing. As I’ve been struggling lately with my relationship with money as well, it was a grace to read thoughtful, inspired writing on a topic that is too often taboo.

Beattie takes us along with her while she navigates job loss, infertility, and trouble with the adoption process, and more importantly she makes us enjoy the rocky ride.  When she includes vignettes from her childhood they are engrossing and revelatory. This one was a page-turner, so much so that one day when the wifi was down at work and I couldn’t get my grading done, I only pretended to be annoyed for those 45 minutes while I “had to” read my book.

Moloka’i

Speaking of page turners, this novel by Alan Brennert is the reason I slept so late today, because it has been keeping me up at night. Through the story of a woman sent to the leper colony on Moloka’i as a girl, he illuminates the history of Hawai’i without being didactic, and the tension between old and new ways – particularly religious ones – without being heavy-handed.

Bonus blogs!

Here are a few of my favorites:

Leigh Kramer is a delight, writing about spirituality, personality, and relationship.

Preston Yancey has a way with words like whoa, as does Hilary Sherratt (conveniently, they happen to be engaged).

Elizabeth Esther is funny and conversational and thoughtful and I can’t wait to read her book, Girl at the End of the World

Antonia Terrazas makes spiritual writing easy to read, and is going to seminary so you know she is fierce.

Rachel Held Evans is a force. When sociologists look back on our time, she will be a case-study in internet-influence. I wish I could combine length, thought, and timeliness the way she can.

Andi Cumbo-Floyd  writes about writing without devolving into navel-gazing (no small feat). Her book, The Slaves Have Names, just came out and I have it waiting in my Kindle queue.

Fran Rossi Szyplczyn offers timely theological reflection and plenty of suggestions for other resources as well.

Ed Cyzewski  also writes about writing, as well as parenthood and the sacrifices that sometimes come with choosing a profession you love.

I have to stop or I will be here all day sharing blogs. Happy reading!

Who/what are you reading this month?

Disclaimer: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Purchases made through these links send some change back into my piggy bank, at no additional cost to the purchaser.