nonfiction

The Gifts of the Jews by Thomas Cahill

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I’ve always thought of Western civilization beginning with ancient Greece or Rome.  But Thomas Cahill convinced me to take a historical step backward and consider the impact of the Jewish story as the true hinge upon which history turns.  Prior to the Jews, pagan religions viewed the world as cyclical, repetitive, and uncontrollable.  When Yahweh intercedes in the life of Avraham (then Yitzchak, then Yaakov), the unveiling of a monotheistic religion changes everything.  History becomes linear, and a relational God that interacts with humans creates the possibility of real change and human responsibility.

Anyone interested in history, culture, or religion will find this fascinating.  Cahill is a phenomenal writer, working his way through history with just enough time to appreciate what happens without dawdling.  His adherence to Hebraic terms (like the names of the patriarchs above) gives readers enough space to view the story with new eyes.

As a seminary student, I view the Bible almost exclusively through the eyes of application:  what can we learn from its stories?  The Gifts of the Jews broadened my appreciation, helping me to see that history itself was changed by this unique people group.  Continue reading →

A Hero at the End of the World by Erin Claiborne

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If you’re me, there’s no way to read this book without thinking about Harry Potter.  And I think that’s the easiest sell!  What if Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, didn’t actually go through with killing Voldemort?  What if the prophecy was wrong, and Ron was the one to kill the Dark Lord?  A Hero at the End of the World is the absurd and hilarious followup to that situation.

Claiborne clearly delights in fantasy, and her parody of a wizarding Britain was the perfect blend of skewered detail.  Her world makes sense, even though the bad guy is named Duff Slan, and the dark magic is called Zaubernegativum.  It’s all ridiculous, and I loved it.

If you’ve read enough middle grade or YA fantasy to know the familiar tropes and plots, you will probably enjoy A Hero at the End of the World.  It is a great palate cleanser before diving back into the familiar world of heroes, magic, and the end of the world.  Continue reading →

Made for More by Hannah Anderson

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Divided into three sections, I was initially unimpressed by Anderson’s book.  The first four chapters cover the biblical story of the gospel, and while it’s kind of awful to say it was boring, it also wasn’t anything new.  However, it was a necessary set up that led into part two…which was amazing.

Anderson’s main point is that understanding our identity as image bearers of God changes everything about how we relate to ourselves, to others, and to God.  She discusses what it means to love like God, be generous like God, think like God, reign like God, and live complexly yet holistically like God.  She is a very wise woman, obviously changed by her study, and her book is full of eye-openers like:

Because of this, imago dei knowledge is by necessity more than a dry, crusty intellectualism; it is more than a “worldview.”  As its root, imago dei knowledge is the capacity to wonder–to look for God’s fingerprints everywhere and then to stand in awe when you finally see Him.  Imago dei knowledge means searching for Him with childlike curiosity, wide-eyed and eager to discover who He is and the world He has made.

And while she never explicitly claims to be a feminist, I high-fived the air when I read,

Too often as women, we have restricted ourselves to the “pink” parts of the Bible.  When we identify first and foremost as women, we can begin to believe that knowledge of ourselves will come primarily through passages that speak to women’s issues or include heroines like Ruth or Esther.  But when we do this, when we craft our learning and discipleship programs around being “women,” we make womanhood the central focus of our pursuit of knowledge instead of Christ.

Made for More was a book-sized encouragement.  By reminding readers who we are, created to image God in creation, she elevates our calling and makes the world feel expansive, welcoming, and exciting.   Continue reading →

Unbecoming by Rebecca Scherm

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By the time books arrive at my library after months of sitting in my request queue, I usually forget how I heard of it in the first place.  Such was the case with Unbecoming, and the cover didn’t grab my attention.  I very nearly decided to return it unread, but I decided to give the first page a cursory look.  The very first sentence grabbed my attention, and by the end of the first chapter, I knew I was going to read the whole thing.

The first lie Grace had told Hanna was her name.

Unbecoming is an excellent example of one of my favorite tropes:  the unreliable narrator.  Grace shares what she wants to share, and as the reader, I had no idea how much of the information presented was truth, fibs, omissions, or outright lies.  I loved it!  The suspense was heightened even more by alternating sections that described her present life in Paris or her past in Tennessee.  Halfway through the book, I was dying to know what had happened in the past as well as what would happen to her in the future.  The double mystery made the book twice as interesting.

I don’t want to say too much, because I want people to experience the book as I did:  totally unprepared.  The characters are rich, the themes fascinating, and the plot fantastic.  What more do you need?  Read it now!  (Or click through to read the book jacket, which does do a great job of setting up the story.) Continue reading →

Full Frontal Feminism by Jessica Valenti

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I enjoyed reading Valenti’s persuasive argument in favor of feminism, but I don’t think I would use it to convince anyone who is on the fence.  Valenti is brash, paranoid, and sensationalistic.  Since I align myself with feminism, I can forgive her these faults and understand where she’s coming from.  But if someone were new to the movement, I think they might be more put off than intrigued.

The sections I enjoyed most were her discussions of media, body image, victim blaming and violence toward women.  Her brashness can lend an air of humor sometimes.  But I lost touch with her in the chapter on abortion, which she sees as one of our primary rights to defend.  I can understand a woman fighting for control of her body, but the lack of empathy on her part for people who consider fetuses to be babies (this is a “ridiculous” thought that she spends no time exploring) was disconcerting.  Perhaps because this was the issue upon which we disagreed, I sensed more than before her “all or nothing” mentality that alienates rather than intrigues.

Valenti’s book is empowering and informative.  I’m glad it exists.  But it’s not quite my feminist manifesto.  Continue reading →

Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure by Sarah Macdonald

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Despite my love of Indian people and Indian food, I have never been very interested in visiting India.  Unfortunately, Macdonald didn’t convince me to change my mind.  Sure, I loved reading about her growing appreciation for the chaos and contradictions of India, but I’m content to let that be her story and not mine.

The book is interesting, but a little awkward.  Some chapters detail her personal life (losing her hair, nearly dying of double pneumonia, meeting Bollywood superstars), while others chronicle her pursuit of religious experiences.  I liked both, but the book as a whole didn’t feel cohesive.

Since India is the birthplace of a huge number of religions, it makes sense that Macdonald, previously an atheist, would take advantage of her new life to explore the realm of the spiritual.  I enjoyed learning about Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Islam, etc alongside her.  But, like many spiritual explorers, she tends to highlight the pros and ignore the cons.  In the end, she wants to take a little something from each religion, and she never stops to discuss the fact that this belittles many of the religions that claim this picking and choosing is impossible.  It felt like she didn’t want to offend anyone, which, while understandable, doesn’t exactly make for persuasive writing.

I’m always down for a book that explores the topics of travel and religion, and I’m glad I spent time reading Holy Cow.  But I don’t think I’ll be rereading anytime soon.  Continue reading →

Safe People by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

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This is an excellent book for people who have ever been in an unhealthy relationship (everyone).  The three sections, “Unsafe People,” “Do I Attract Unsafe People?” and “Safe People” concisely describe the patterns of relating that people naturally fall into.  Cloud and Townsend help their readers identify people in their life who are unsafe, and equally important, help readers identify what personal habits they have that perpetuate unsafe relationships.

Boundaries (which, coincidentally, is another book by Cloud and Townsend) play a huge role here.  I loved the delicate balance they find between owning our own flaws and holding people responsible for theirs.  There’s no blaming, just understanding.  And there is so much hope!  Whether you constantly find yourself in draining and/or abusive relationships, or perhaps you simply have a person or two in your life that drive you nuts, this book offers the possibility of reconciliation, growth, and maturity.  I loved it, even when some of the descriptions were a little too on-the-nose.  Continue reading →

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

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If the movie is anything like the book, I completely understand why Wild has been getting so much attention.  Strayed’s story is amazing!  It would be compelling enough as one woman’s journey hiking the PCT alone, or else to describe the grief of losing your mother at a young age.  The fact that Strayed’s story does both at once is a testimony to the power of travel, the healing growth that comes from pushing your limits in a new, difficult situation that demands your full attention.

Strayed is a brilliant writer, balancing the introspective moments of hiking alone with humorous (or occasionally terrifying) interactions with fellow hikers.  I loved getting to see the PCT culture that bonds disparate people because of a shared intense experience.  I’m not sure I could ever hike the PCT, but Strayed does a remarkable job of making it sound appealing despite descriptions of lost toenails.

I loved this book, and I’m going to watch the movie so I can relive the experience.  Nature, healing, endurance, learning who you are–the story is beautiful, and I’m so glad I got to read it.  Continue reading →

Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans

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It’s a cool thing to discuss why Millennials are leaving the church today, but it’s refreshing to hear from an actual Millennial.  Even more so because Evans is self-professed obsessed with the church even while railing against its failings.  This complicated relationship with God, religion, and the people who make up a local church makes for a compelling read, both for those who are leaving Christianity and for those who can’t understand why this is happening.

The book is divided into sections based on seven sacraments, and each section is made up of various vignettes, some of which fit the theme better than others.  I found myself more interested in Evans’s personal story than the think pieces she wrote.  Not that they aren’t good–I just think the most important part of this conversation is individual people telling their stories of heartache, desire, and frustration.

I love Rachel Held Evans because, well, honestly, because she reminds me of me.  She thinks she knows best, and is therefore constantly thrown by the reality that she is not, in fact, perfect.  She relies on her head knowledge and struggles to trust in her heart knowledge.  She has a million ideas about how to make the world better, but she’s as much of the problem as she is the solution.  I resonate so deeply with all of this, and I appreciate getting to live through her and learn alongside her.  Continue reading →

The Longest Way Home by Andrew McCarthy

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A book about a traveler who fears being unable to commit to marriage?  Um, yes please!  McCarthy’s book is an absolutely beautiful combination of self-awareness and travel log.  As he hops from Patagonia to the Osa to Vienna to Kilimanjaro, McCarthy considers how his love of travel–and the escape it offers–affects his relationship with his father, his children, and especially his fiancee.

This combination of physical exploration and emotional introspection hit exactly upon what I too love about traveling.  Finding yourself outside of a normal routine, relying on strangers for help, and witness to events and sights totally new–these circumstances of travel offer people a chance to examine themselves in a deeper way than life typically allows.  The fact that this can become a crutch, so that self-awareness is dependent upon isolation and exploration, is also explored as McCarthy works his way toward marriage.  His honesty and transparency made me trust him and root for him as he found a way to merge his love of traveling with his love for his fiancee.  Continue reading →