I’ve read so many wonderful books this summer! Rather than writing individual reviews (which are tremendously time consuming), I thought I’d do super short reviews of my favorite books, include links to buy, and most importantly, give away THREE of these titles. So without further ado…
A Light So Lovely: The Spiritual Legacy of Madeleine L’Engle by Sarah Arthur
According to A Light So Lovely, L’Engle was “a storyteller looking for a story” because “story, at heart, is one of the primary modes in which God speaks to us. And thus, it’s one of the primary vehicles of God’s truth.” Like L’Engle, Arthur is not searching for formulas for the Christian faith but rather signposts that help us as readers and fellow pilgrims to follow the light toward Jesus. Arthur is a terrific writer and this biography made me want to become a more thoughtful, compassionate Christian who is not afraid to speak the truth. Link to buy. Link to a longer review.
Why Can’t We Be Friends? Avoidance Is Not Purity, by Aimee Byrd.
Combine an overly sexualized culture that objectifies women (and increasingly men) with the human tendency to create rules rather than deal with heart issues and you have the makings of a society that does not know how to have healthy male-female relationships. We either devalue and take advantage of each other or keep our distance out of fear that we’ll be overcome by sexual temptation. Byrd unpacks these unhelpful, unhealthy (and unscriptural) tendencies and shows us a better way. By exposing faulty interpretations of Scripture and exploring how we might go beyond pharisaical rules to see one another as sacred siblings, Aimee encourages readers to promote each other’s holiness, enjoy true fellowship, and model whole relationships to a watching world. Link to buy. Link to longer review.
Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating for Justice the Restores, by Dominique DuBois Gilliard
If I had the option of giving this book six stars, I would. Without hesitation. It’s theologically robust, intellectually challenging and deeply convicting on a topic that should not be ignored. How we deal with those whom the society deems the least of these speaks volumes about who we are as a culture. Historically and currently, we’re failing. Badly. DuBois Gilliard does not shame or blame. Instead, he presents compelling facts and challenges us to help transform the prison system. Link to buy. Link for longer review.
Raise Your Voice: Why We Stay Silent and How to Speak Up, by Kathy Khang.
Khang explores the human tendency to either keep silent (far too often when we should speak up) or lash out (without understanding what’s prompting us to react). She understands why there’s much to be outraged about and knows that outrage alone will not result in personal or cultural transformation. We need to understand how external (e.g. societal dynamics like racism, misogyny, etc.) and internal forces silence us and prayerfully risk raising our God-given voices. Khang is wise, insightful, and thankfully, not afraid to ask hard questions. Link to buy.
On Reading Well: Finding The Good Life through Great Books, by Karen Swallow Prior.
Karen Swallow Prior is one of the preeminent thinkers and writers of our time. Her wit, wisdom, and insight always make for a good read. In her third book, Prior chooses 12 literature classics (including The Great Gatsby, Pilgrim’s Progress, and A Tale of Two Cities) and mines them for the virtues that they embody. Swallow Prior has an amazing ability to pull deep truths out of a text and then offer them back to her readers as invitations to grow. In chapter five, which explores faith via the novel Silence by Shusaku Endo, she writes, “But the purpose in reading this novel—or any novel—is not to find definite answers about the characters. It is rather to ask definitive questions about ourselves.” Like all of Karen’s work, On Reading Well is a rich gift and needs to be savored. Link to buy. Link to longer review.
Born to Wander: Recovering the Value of Our Pilgrim Identity, by Michelle Van Loon
Van Loon combines insights on the human condition, compassion for her fellow pilgrims, and humor with her gift of story telling in this marvelous new book. As always, she is winsome and wise, thoughtful and challenging. Here’s a sample from chapter three: “Godly contentment will keep us in a state of discontentment with the world around us. It will help us recognize temporary comforts such as a full stomach and a safe place in which to lay our heads are not the destination in our lives. Godly contentment makes pilgrims out of us.” Link to buy. Link to longer review.
Four Gifts: Seeking Self-care for Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength, by April Yamasaki.
Yamasaki tackles what I believe is one of the biggest issues of our day: the tendency to overwork. April is an experienced pastor who deeply understands the inherent challenges of taking care of ourselves while following Jesus. She presses readers to explore the motivation behind our choices but does so with gentleness and empathy. I personally plan to adopt her delightful “I-don’t-do list.” Link to buy. Link for longer review.
I will be giving away one copy of Born to Wander, Why Can’t We Be Friends?, and On Reading Well next Monday. To enter, subscribe to my site or my newsletter or share this post on social media and tag me, then leave a comment below telling me which book you would like to win if your name is chosen. (If you are already a subscriber, all you need to do is leave a comment. However, sharing always helps get the word out.) Then watch your email or FB messenger for a notice. Offer for US residents only. Sorry about that but postage is simply too high to ship abroad.
You can read all of my reviews on Goodreads. Don’t forget about my book, Making Marriage Beautiful. It’s an awesome wedding gift and/or makes for a great small group fodder.
And if you aren’t an author or aren’t friends with authors, you might not know that we are responsible to sell our books. Most of us are much better at writing than marketing. You can support us by sharing posts like this, posting a photo of yourself with a book on your social media, writing reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, and most important, continuing to BUY and READ good books. Thanks so much everyone.
Born to Wander sounds perfect for me. 🙂
On Reading Well intrigues me more than any other of the books here. Your name is new to me, but I am interested in hearing more.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope that you take the opportunity to explore my site.
so many great titles! I’ll have to check out the Four Gifts as that seems to be an anecdote to us recovering perfectionists. However, Born to Wander is intriguing with considering the here and now and keeping our eyes on the spiritual reality of being spiritual beings in human bodies with our citizenship in heaven. At least that is what your review makes me think about.
You are my third winner!! Send me your mailing address.
Thanks for sharing about these books! Of the three, Why Can’t We Be Friends? is one that probably hits me the deepest.
You are a winner Tina. Please email your mailing address and provided you live in the US, Ill send it right out
They all sound worthy of reading! Rethinking Incarceration is at the top for me.
They all sound like they could be life changing, but Rethinking Incarceration is at the top of my list.
Hi Dorothy! I’d love to read Prone to Wander. Sounds very insightful and inspiring! Thanks for the other recommendations as well!😀
I posted your blog link on Facebook. Please see my comments on your reviews in post I previously submitted. 😝
Great. Thanks for doing so!
Thank you for these short reviews of seven books that sound meaningful and helpful to growth and understanding. I will put them on my to read list. Personally, Why Can’t We Be Friends resonates. As a single woman in my fifties who has felt complete in my relationship with Jesus but who could enjoy friendship with men if there didn’t seem to be so many minefields, I suspect this book would be helpful for me and for other single friends.
I’d like to win Born to Wander. I went on a modern day spiritual and geographical pilgrimage last year called the World Race (an 11 month mission trip to 11 countries) and I’d like to read this woman’s perspective and insight on our pilgrim identity!
They all will be on my tbr list with On Reading Well at the top.
It’s an incredible book. If you don’t win, please buy it!
All three sound great! I have had both Born to Wander and On Reading Well on my wish list. 🙂
Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating for Justice the Restores, by Dominique DuBois Gilliard, has been on my list!
Thank you for the reviews. On Reading Well would be my first, but I could be happy with any of the three .
On Reading Well or Prone to Wander. I already have Why Can’t We Be Friends, which is a great book.
Isn’t it? Byrd is such an incredible writer and deep thinker.
I would gladly add all of these to my tbr stack but I think On Reading Well would be on top!
Got it. Thanks for stopping by.
On Reading Well by Karen Swallow Prior
Thanks for stopping by.
I am always intrigued by the books you recommend Dorothy. But I confess that I have waned on being an avid reader and wish to recommit the next season to some of your current suggestions. I would be delighted to win any of these books to set me on my way! But the ones that hit me the most at first are On Reading Well and Prone to Wander.
Check your email on Tuesday to see if you win! Good luck.
Just when I thought I was making headway on my reading list, here’s more than 5 to add! 😀 Thank you, as always, for your insightful recommendations, Dorothy! If selected, I would love On Reading Well or Prone to Wander.
Do I say I’m sorry or you’re welcome? Thanks for stopping by!
I’d be most interested in On Reading Well. Thanks!
It’s a beauty. The hard cover copy I’ll be giving away just arrived today.
Eric, you’re a winner! Provided you live in the US. Please email me your mailing address. Congratulations.
I would love to win On Reading Well (for the word nerd side of me) or Four Gifts (since the busy-ness seems to be my new normal). Thank you!
I am really wanting to read Why Can’t We Be Friends! Thanks for doing this give away!
Thanks so much for stopping by. And FYI – I loved this book!
I’d love to win On Reading Well! I’ve heard so many good things!
I really is an incredible book. It begs to be savored.
Born to Wander
Got it! Thanks.
Love all the recommendations, and I’d be happy to get any of the 3 books you’re giving away but especially On Reading Well, which I feel like I’ve been anticipating for a long time now!
If you aren’t chosen to win this one, I highly recommend buying it. It’s really a terrific read.
I’d love to receive On Reading Well as a prize!
I’m sensing a theme here!! Maybe I’ll give away 2.