Tuesday, March 11, 2014

My Current Reading List



I love to read but the older I get, the pickier I get when it comes to books. I have a hard time finding books that I truly want to read or that I enjoy. Here are some that have been hit with me (and in some cases, my children) lately.

I just finished reading Seven Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxas to the children for our read aloud. We enjoyed learning more about the lives of George Washington, William Wilberforce, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, Pope John Paul II and Charles W. Colson. I learned something new about each one of these great Christian men, especially Jackie Robinson. I highly recommend this book, whether you have read great amounts about these men or nothing at all. 

I had started Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, also by Eric Metaxas last year via audiobook. I was thoroughly engaged with learning about this German hero who was against Hitler and all the atrocities committed against the Jews in his country in the 1940's when, unfortunately, it was due back to my library and I was not able to renew it at that time. We have the book checked out now, although Emma has commandeered it and is thoroughly into learning more about this incredible man and his story. She has commented that it is good to be introduced to Germans who were against Hitler, as it is easy to forget, at times, that there were some who didn't join forces with him. I hope I will get the chance to finish it soon.

Another one that I was so glad to have the chance to read lately was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Emma read this one probably soon after it came out and had commented that it was very good (she was around 11 years old or so back then). I had not read it, though, until last month and am so glad I did. I, of course, wanted to read the book before I see the movie, but even if there had not been a movie, I am glad I have read this book. I won't spoil anything, for anyone who hasn't read it yet, but wow, it is so unique in the way it is written, the perspective from which it is written and the story itself. I highly recommend it.{For those who do not read books with colorful language, you probably want to skip this one, as it is includes a hefty amount.}

Bread and Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes by Shauna Niequist is a book that I'm currently reading - and absolutely loving. I knew as soon as I read the introduction that I would connect with this book. Shauna is a wonderful writer and I almost feel like I'm in whatever scene around her table or in her kitchen or in the cooking class that she is describing. And I want to make each and every delicious-sounding recipe right now (except the pork - I'm not that into pork). I mean, Blueberry Crisp, Goat Cheese Biscuits, Enchiladas, Dark Chocolate Toffee and Dark Chocolate Mousse and more, not to mention all the talk about, you guessed it, wine and bread. My mouth is watering the whole time I'm reading this delightful book. The deep fellowship she shares with her dearest friends is something we all crave. And the way she weaves her faith into the chapters, the true Bread and Wine, is simple and organic.

And in my to-be-read stack:

The Shack by Wm. Paul Young - I read this when it first came out and thought it was profound then. I want to read it again because my faith has opened up so much since that time, and I think that I will see it, not in a whole new way, but I'm sure I will enjoy it even more or glean a somewhat different message from it.

Cross Roads by Wm. Paul Young - When I checked out The Shack from the library, I noticed another book by the same author and decided to check it out, as well. I am looking forward to reading it for the first time. The theme is healing. Have you read this one? If so, what did you think?

Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman - I listened to this audiobook last summer and absolutely loved it. Pamela is an American who lives in Paris with her husband, Simon, who is Dutch but grew up in Great Britain. In Bringing Up Bébé, Pamela shares her experiences of discovering that not only is there French fashion and French food, which most of us are familiar with, but there is a whole new experience of French parenting that is very different from our American version. This was such a delightful, fascinating book that I have the book checked out from the library to peruse again (and it may warrant a separate post from me soon). 

What have you read lately that you would recommend? I am picky, but I always welcome new ideas.

Blessings and love. xo

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1 comment:

  1. Try reading "The Long Snapper" by Jeffrey Marx. It is a true story of a man who had played in the NFL and had been retired for three years and was a seventh-grade Bible teacher and in December 2003 he got a call to long snap for a team on the cusp of the Super Bowl.

    The reason I recommend it is because it talks about faith and self-doubt and the power of both.

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