Some {Short} Book Reviews
It seems like time for a reading update. June, July, and August were not good months when it came to reading. I finished just one or two books over the entire summer. I’ve been picking up my pace a little more in September, so hopefully, that dry spell is behind me now! You can follow me on Good Reads (if you want) that is where I keep track of all the books I’ve been reading. So, let’s get into it. Best Fiction books (so far) The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd I loved this book. It’s the story of Ana, the wife of Jesus. (Yes, that Jesus.) It’s fiction and the author doesn’t claim anything else. I listened to this book on Audible several months ago, and I’m still thinking about Ana and her aunt Yaltha. It’s beautiful, profound, thought-provoking, and a wonderfully written book. This book is about Ana, her marriage is important, but it’s not about that. It really is about longing, about calling, about courage. I’m so glad I read (listened to) it. (It was very well done on Audible, I would suggest listening to it!) “When I tell you all shall be well, I don’t mean that life won’t bring you tragedy. Life will be life. I only mean you will be well in spite of it. All shall be well, no matter what.” Sue Monk Kidd, The Book of Longings A Single Swallow by Ling Zhang- This is a book translated from Chinese. I love a good novel about China. The structure of the novel was a story told from the voice of ghosts. An American soldier, American missionary, and Chinese man agreed to meet back in a Chinese village they spent part of WWII on the day the war ended when they all die. It takes 80 years for the last ghost (man) to arrive. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about the book when I decided to read it. I’m so glad I took the risk. It was a beautiful story, written in an interesting and usual way. “You were smart, but there were plenty of people in the world who were smarter than you, and cleverness is sometimes the biggest obstacle. Fortunately, you were also diligent and persistent. Diligence clips the wings of cleverness, allowing it to stay firmly on the ground. Persistence grinds away the sharp edges of cleverness, not allowing it to take shortcuts through things. Cleverness thus clipped can more fully penetrate the nature of things.” ― Ling Zhang, A Single Swallow The Heartbreaker by Susan Howatch- This was the third and final novel in the St. Benet’s series. It was an amazing and beautiful story of redemption. Susan Howatch has become one of my favorite authors this year. I’m considering starting her Starbridge series again. (I’ve started ordering used copies of all her books when I find them, I just want to have this series on my bookshelf.) I love these books because they look unflinchingly at the messiness of life and the power of reflection and honesty in healing. Fiction Books I’m still thinking about: These books weren’t necessarily favorites. I have mixed feelings about them. However, I’m still thinking about them and even if I didn’t love each one, I took something important from the story and each book has invited me to think about trees, Native Americans and nuns in more nuanced ways. The Overstory by Richard Powers- I’m still not sure how I feel about this book. It was well structured, very engaging, and disturbing too. It’s basically a collection of essays, some are better than others. They grow together, like branches of a tree to eventually form a cohesive story. (The author has spoken about the structure of the book like a tree: roots, trunk, branches and it does do that.). This book was not a quick read, at times I wondered if it was too long, one set of essays in particular I was never able to understand how it fit with the rest of the story (in reading reviews I’m not the only one.) BUT I see trees differently because of this book. It caused me to consider issues of conservation and even back yards in a new way. This book is a journey, I’m glad I stuck with it. “The best arguments in the world won’t change a person’s mind. The only thing that can do that is a good story.” ― Richard Powers, The Overstory There There by Tommy Orange I saw this book on a list with Braiding Sweetgrass and The Overstory, two books I have enjoyed, I thought I would give it a try. I am trying to be intentional about reading different perspectives and voices. There, There is similar to The Overstory in that it’s written from the perspective of many people, and slowly as the book progresses the stories start to intertwine. It (spoiler alert) had a violent ending and left most of the stories unresolved. I haven’t read many books about the experience of Native Americans and I’m glad I read it for that reason. There were a couple of “interlude” essays about Urban Indians, that were truly beautiful and introduced me to new ideas. I feel like this is a book worth reading if you understand there is violence and it’s written in a unique way. “When you hear stories from people like you, you feel less alone. When you feel less alone, and like you have a community of people behind you, alongside you, I believe you can live a better life.” ― Tommy Orange, There There Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy by Rumer Godden I really like Rumer Godden (I tend to like authors from the 80’s apparently Susan Howatch being the other 80’s author that I am devoted to) I’ve read the three books she wrote about nuns, religious callings, and monastic life. Each story is completely different and very nuanced. Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy was about one particular nun who started her vocation after she was released from prison, for being a madam that killed her boss. It’s raw and yet beautiful. The names are all French and a little bit hard to keep track of because of the titles used in the monastery. Godden’s books are gentle, thoughtful, and point to the power of women who have chosen a religious vocation. I’m glad I discovered these older books. What books have you read recently? Are there any books I need to add to my list? “Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.” – Lemony Snicket If you like these questions, please consider SUBSCRIBING to The Art of Powering Down; Questions to Recharge Your Soul… Every week there is a question that will gently challenge you, encourage you, or help you live your life with more intention, grace, and purpose. (Sharing these reflections and questions with friends is the greatest compliment!)
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