Summer’s the time to eat well, work out more, and read more books. I just love June!
The Daring Ladies of Lowell: A Novel
This cinematic page turner has it all: an unlikely romance, a salacious death, strong female friendships, class warfare, and a New England locale. Maybe those last two are only attractive to me, but I still heartily recommend this novel, which is set in the Lowell mills in the 1800s. Available on Kindle or through the paperback link above
My Bright Abyss: Meditation of a Modern Believer
Big thanks to Richard for recommending this book, a series of meditations on creativity, faith, illness, and ultimately love. At times I found it a little disjointed – I wasn’t always sure where Christian Wyman was going, and with my years of taking red pens to students’ work I desperately wanted to mark this one up for clarity. But Wyman’s insights are profound, his writing exquisite, and the moments when his prose takes flight are marvelous. Paperback link above, or read it on Kindle
Love & Salt: A Spiritual Friendship Shared in Letters
This book! My only retreat is that I gulped it down rather than savoring it a little more. Amy Andrews and Jessica Mesman Griffith guide us through their entrance into adulthood (graduations, marriage, babies, jobs) through the letters they share with each other about faith. Like the best spiritual writing, it drew me in even when the particular struggles of the protagonists didn’t resonate much with me. This book would be great for book clubs or reading alongside a friend or family member. The challenge now is deciding who to loan my copy to next. The paperback is hefty; also available on Kindle
The Spooky Art: Thoughts on Writing
I can’t say I’m a huge Norman Mailer devotee, but I still got a kick out of this book. More of a memoir than a craft book, it is infused with Mailer’s honesty and the perspective that comes with age. Paperback link above, or read it on Kindle
Snake Oil: The Art of Healing and Truth-Telling
I was glad that did not judge this book by its cover. Rev. Becca Stevens combines memoir, theology, social justice, gender issues and healing arts into an inspiring and comforting read. Rev. Stevens is the founder of Thistle Farms. Their mission statement says it all: We are a residential program and social enterprise of women who have survived prostitution, trafficking, and addiction. We create handmade products as good for the earth as for the body. Read her book in paperback or Kindle
I’ll be reading in Assisi for most of this month, where I’m returning for the Assisi Performing Arts Festival. I hope to be sharing some of my adventures with you on the blog, but if you are looking for a taste of what that lovely medieval town is like, I refer you to last year’s posts from Assisi:
St. Mary of the Expressive Religious Art
Happy reading, and be sure to keep those book suggestions coming!
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Wishing you a most blessed time in Assisi and loving to imagine how incredible it would be to spend a month there, surrounded by beautiful music to boot!