Jan/Feb 2020 Reading Update

I haven’t been so good about blogging. But, I have been getting a lot of reading in. This is a roundup of everything I read in January and February. I discovered a series that I have loved and discovered that I prefer another series in audiobook form! The Starbridge Series Glittering Images (Starbridge #1) Susan HowatchGlamorous Powers (Starbridge #2)Ultimate Prizes (Starbridge #3)Scandalous Risks (Starbridge #4)Mystical Paths (Starbridge #5) I LOVE this series. Each book stands alone, but if you read them all, they are connected and you’ll have a fuller picture of some of the characters. The Starbridge Series was written in the ’80s and ’90s about clergy in the Church of England. The stories are set in the ’30s-’60s. The first half to two-thirds of each book is about the mess the main character creates through compromise and bad decisions. The last section of each book is about the Spiritual Direction that the character undertakes to correct the mess made. It sounds weird, but the stories are very engaging and as a friend said, they are “old fashioned” in the writing style. Each book is 450-500 pages long, so the story unfolds slowly with lots of attention to detail. They are very “interior” focused books and stories. I would start at the beginning and read in order. The Honey Bus: A Memoir of Loss, Courage and a Girl Saved by Bees by Meredith May I have a long-standing obsession with bees and beekeeping. When this book came up on a Kindle daily deal it was a no brainer that I would read it. That turned out to be a happy accident because I found out later it is the Boise Reads Book of the year. It the true story of a young girl who learned about beekeeping from her adopted grandfather. It was lovely to read about bee adventures. The best part of the story was the relationship between the author and her adopted grandfather. The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall I LOVED this book. This was my first tear-jerker of the year. It’s the story to two couples, who are opposites, yet circumstances and life-callings force them into a tense partnership. Celebrating Abundance: Devotions for Advent by Walter BruggemannGoodness and Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas by Michael Leach These were the two books I read for Advent this year. Both were good. I like the compilations that Michael Leach put together, and this advent one was well done. Felicity: Poems by Mary Oliver Mary Oliver Poetry. What more can I say? Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss by Margaret Renkl These were short nature-based essays that were autobiographical. For me, this was a slow start, but it did build as the story progressed. I appreciate a thoughtful nature essay. Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah This was my first Audible book, ever! As far as audiobooks go I really enjoyed this one. It’s narrated by Trevor Noah and I can’t imagine not listening to him read/tell his own life story. I’m so glad I listened to this book. Kingdom of the Blind (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #14) by Louise Penny Another one of my beloved Inspector Gamache books. This was another audiobook that I borrowed from our library. I LOVED this book on audio. In fact, I think I will only listen to books in this series going forward. I had started the book and was having trouble getting into it as a print book, but once I heard the narration I was hooked. Radical Spirit: A Guide to Authentic Living by Joan D. Chittister I started this book last year sometime. I was curious about Sister Joan Chittister, and this book didn’t disappoint. She does a deep dive into the 12 Rules of Benedict that have shaped her monastic life. I loved learning about how these ideals are lived out in real life and how the practice has shaped her. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy This book was an impulse purchase and I think I’ve bought at least four more copies to gift to my kid’s teachers and a few other people. My son was the first one to recognize the magic of this simple book. He said, “Each page has a life lesson.” It’s hard to capture, it’s simple and yet profound. I love this one! In The Shelter: Finding a Home in the World by Padraig O Tuama I was first introduced to Padraig on the On Being podcast. He is an Irish poet. This book is a collection of essays that are mostly autobiographical. I enjoyed it and my copy is dog eared and highlighted. (that’s when I know a book is really good) He has a new poetry podcast, that I really enjoy. Poetry Unbound (Check it out!) Shameless plug… I get to host a podcast two times a month with Ray Rood. Our latest episode was on books that influenced each of us! Check it out here. Enter your email to subscribe– It’s only ever used to notify you of new questions from The Art of Powering Down.

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