Thursday, November 20, 2014

let's talk about books, baby

I was about to write an extensive Instagram post about these books but then I remembered I have a blog. And blogs are for people who can't edit themselves to a few lines on Instagram. So I will happily write as many words as I want over here without anyone rolling their eyes at my inability to be concise.
I just finished the top two. I'm usually reading one "fun" book and one "spiritual" book at a time. A friend loaned me Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. I don't usually get through the spiritual books very quickly, if at all. But I couldn't put this one down most days. I loved the stories of the people who have walked through the doors of the Brooklyn Tabernacle and have been transformed by the power of God's love and His Holy Spirit. A lot of the book is emphasizing the power of prayer and what can (and should) happen when we cry out to God. It was a life-changing perspective for me. I highly recommend it and also think it's a must-read if you're in any type of ministry. 
"The devil is not terribly frightened of our human efforts and credentials. But he knows his kingdom will be damaged when we begin to lift up our hearts to God."

Anne Lamott. Do we need words for Anne? Probably not. This is actually the first of hers I'd ever read because a friend loaned it to me. I was liking it but not loving it for the first half. Several chapters left me a little confused by the abrupt ending, seemingly with no real point. But I think I had to get used to her voice, like your first few bites of dark chocolate...bitter at first, but then sweeter until all you want is the bitter stuff. I absolutely loved the last half of the book and couldn't put it down. I laughed out loud at several things. (Her thighs as beloved elderly aunties, the kind who did embarrassing things, but whom she was proud of because they were so great in every real and important way?? I died. That chapter alone is worth the book.) Other lines I had to re-read one or two more times to soak them in properly and I would inwardly sigh at her ability to make us feel so precisely what she felt and what so many of us have felt ourselves but couldn't put a name on it. Words that make you want to rip the page out and carry it around in your pocket just to feel their warm company. A few of my favorites: 

Again and again I tell God I need help, and God says, "Well isn't that fabulous? Because I need help too. So you go get that old woman over there some water, and I'll figure out what we're going to do about your stuff."
The world  sometimes feels like the waiting room of the emergency ward and that we who are more or less OK for now need to take the tenderest possible care of the more wounded people in the waiting room, until the healer comes. You sit with people. You bring them juice and graham crackers. 
 Courage is fear that has said its prayers.
There were a couple more less...ahem...reverential ones that made me laugh out loud but I won't share them here. Don't read the book if other people's irreverence and a few cuss words gets your panties in a knot.  

The rest of the stack is next on my to-read list. I haven't read rich sweeping fiction in a while so Swan Thieves is next on my list. A dear and generous friend sent it to me and she assured me I will love it. The Storyline team mailed me an advanced copy of Donald Miller's yet-to-be-released book, Scary Close, ("dropping the act and finding true intimacy") which sounds completely appropriate and relatable for this season of my life. I was beyond grateful and more than a little giddy that they wanted to mail me a copy and I can't wait to dig in. I'm equally excited to read the other two too. I love that I got to hear Glennon speak before I read her book because now I'll hear her voice in my head while I'm reading and pretend even more that she's my best friend, curled up on the other end of my couch, talking to me. 

So now it's your turn. Let's discuss. (Leave your email in the comments so I can reply back!) Have you read any of these? What are your recent books you've loved? 

P.S. I keep a running list on the right side of my blog of any books I've given 5 stars to. I'm very picky about what goes on that list. I want them to be one I could recommend to anyone without hesitation, knowing they'd love it. If you want to see everything I read, find me on Goodreads.com!

10 comments:

  1. I could talk books ALL DAY LONG! I can't wait to read Anne Lamott. I have that very book sitting on my shelf and haven't picked it up yet...now I will! I love the quote about courage being fear that has said it's prayers. Courage was a reoccurring anthem in my life when I went through a divorce. Some days it takes courage just to get out of bed and put one foot in front of the other one and keep parenting your children when all you want to do is cry.
    I also liked Fresh Wind Fresh Fire. A friend of mine went to that church on a trip to NYC and said she had to leave after 3 hours of worship because she had other things to do...but a day long service was a normal thing there! I really enjoyed Tell the Wolves I'm Home, I think you'll find it's a fast read. Currently I'm reading Love Focused by Bob Hughes. I'm only half way through and already it's life changing. I highly recommend it!

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  2. I havent read any in your stack! Right now in my stack I have The Well Trained Mind by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer. Its about the trivium of Classical education and is leaving me equally terrified and ecstatic about homeschooling my boys. Im also about to start This Momentary Marriage by John Piper. We are going thru that one with the couples in our community group. I also want to read the two you recommended Bringing up Boys (?) and the spirited child one before I "officially" start doing school with the boys. Thanks for the recomendations! Amy - alwaysamy@gmail.com @mamaleemoo on insta. :)

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    1. Bringing Up Boys is not bad but I would definitely recommend Raising Cain (school related) and Wild Things: the art of nurturing boys before that one. Oh, and YES to Raising Your Spirited Child. Life changing, that one.

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  3. oh my gosh, carry on, warrior is SO GOOD. i read that whole book in two days.

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  4. Oh, I love book stacks too! I have a couple of them around the house because I can't decide what I want to read! Traeling Mercies by Anne Lamott is one of my all time faves. I haven't read the others in your stack, but I'm adding them to my Goodreads list! Books that have floored me recently are Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker, Barefoot church by Brandon Hatmaker, Love Does by Bob Goff, and last year - oh my word - Lion and Lamb by Brennan Manning changed me deep inside. I think that book is called The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus these days - I have an old copy. I took pages and pages of notes, and I'm getting ready to read it again. Another one I loved was The Jesus I Never Knew by Phillip Yancey. Oh! And I actually didn't think I would be into it that much, but I read A Million Little Ways by Emily Freeman. Wow. I loved it. Highlighted the bejeebers out of that one too! I do the fun/faith book thing too. Right now my fun one is A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg. . . . I feel a little lost at the moment because I'm between spiritual books. I have a coupld waiting to be read but not feeling particularly drawn to any of them. I'm kind of waiting to be sucked in by something! :)

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    1. Love your suggestions!! Thanks so much for sharing. Another reader suggested Emily Freeman so I will absolutely add that to my list. And I'll definitely look for the Brennan Manning one too. Love Does is an absolute favorite of mine.

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    2. All the yeses to Brennan Manning, he's one of my all time favs. Ragamuffin Gospel changed my world, and that's totally not exaggerated.

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  5. I only know you via Instagram but I'm glad I popped over (I actually came in hopes of seeing more of a gallery wall seen in the background of a group photo). I love Ann Lamott. You are such a talented writer, I bet you would love her book, Bird By Bird, too.

    Spiritual or humorous memoirs are my favorite (I think there's an overlooked connection between laughter and our connection to the divine). I love Emily Freeman, and also loved Bread & Wine. Just saw What Alice Forgot on your sidebar---I've been on the waiting list for that one for so long. Might have break down and buy it:)
    - a fellow mama to boys

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    1. Thanks so much for commenting! Two of you mentioned Emily Freeman's. I will definitely check that one out. And yes, Bread and Wine is an absolute favorite. Darn long library waiting lists!! If I owned What Alice Forgot, I'd mail it to you but I only get stuff from the library too. Its definitely a favorite. Maybe you and a friend could go halfsies on it and take turns with it!
      For more gallery wall pics, look for post under the month of August, called, My Nest.

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  6. I loved Traveling Mercies. My daughter was going through bulimia at the time (she has recovered, thank God) and Ann's words were a beautiful, painful look at the mental workings of an addict.
    Thanks for your lovely words, you share your heart so well.

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