My BookStack, July and August
A "stack" of books I've read, reviewed, and might recommend.
Hello Friend,
Summer is winding down and thoughts are turning to football and pumpkin spice. Before we turn the page to autumn, let’s look back at our summer reading.
I finished seven books in July and August, which keeps me on track (and four books ahead!) for my goal of 36 books in 2024.
Here are my ratings and brief reviews. If something sparks your interest, add it to your fall TBR list. Don’t have a To-Be-Read list? I encourage you to start one today!
BookStack, vol. 4, July-August, 2024.
Rift: A Memoir of Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy (Cait West) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Highly Recommend. I met
at the Festival of Faith and Writing at Calvin University. She’s a lovely woman and survivor of the spiritual abuse often found in the Christian patriarchy movement. Cait's story reveals the harm inflicted by "religious" men who believe a woman's purpose is to marry, have children, cook, clean, and sew. Cait felt trapped in her upbringing, yearning to please both her heavenly Father and earthly father, but desiring to develop her God-given gifts by chasing dreams like attending college. She finally escaped her father's grip but dealt with mental trauma for years. Sadly, Cait's story is all too familiar, and still present to some degree in many conservative denominations. (Hardcover)How to Walk into a Room: The Art of Knowing When to Stay and When to Walk Away (Emily P. Freeman) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Highly Recommend. True to her form (i.e. author and podcaster of "The Next Right Thing"),
gives deep insight into discernment and spiritual direction in her latest book. Using the metaphor of rooms in a house, Freeman guides the reader through leaving a "room" (i.e. job, position, relationship, church, etc.) and entering a new one. Her experiences, including the difficult decisions she made to leave Hope*Writers, and her family made to leave their church, illustrate her struggles.Although the title suggests this book is primarily about walking into a room (i.e. taking on something new), much of the book focuses on walking out of a room or situation. Both are relevant to life's decisions and I'm glad she addressed them as she did, but feel the title doesn't completely match the content. (Audiobook)
Lost and Found: A Memoir (Kathryn Schulz) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommend. I’d actually give this book 4.5 stars, as it was pure 5-star at times, but 4-star at others. It’s also somewhere between a memoir and a nonfiction exposition on losing things, finding things, and the connection between all the things. Schulz wowed me with her vocabulary, analogies, intelligence, and knowledge of the world. I learned more than I cared to about meteorites, but the history of the ampersand was fascinating. In addition to her extensive knowledge, she reveals deep emotions that I could relate to, primarily grief, love, and gratitude, but also frustration, embarrassment, self-consciousness, and anger.
I read Lost & Found for a book club, where our discussion resembled a group therapy session, as we took turns revealing our greatest losses and stories of finding love. At 236 pages, it's not a big book, but it was a slow read. Though I wouldn't call it a "slog”, I had to read it in small chunks to absorb the wealth and depth of content. (Paperback)
This Reimagined Empty Nest: Stories and Poems for Moms Embracing New Chapters (Michelle Rayburn and friends) 🌟Rate it yourself!🌟
Highly Recommend. Since I contributed a chapter to this book, I won’t give it a star rating or review. But I’d love for you to pick it up and let me know what you think! For my friends, I’m extending the 10% off promo through September 7, when ordered through my website.
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics (Daniel James Brown)⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Highly Recommend. The perfect book to read during the Olympics, this story of the Washington Huskies—underdogs in the sport of rowing—tells how an 8-man crew showed their school, state, country, and the world that true success comes through grit and teamwork. I watched the movie first, listened to the book, and then watched the movie again. While the movie was exciting, the book told a more complete story of the main character's (Joe Rantz) traumatic childhood, as well as his mentor's (George Pocock) background. The movie also glossed over the important historical backdrop of World War II and Hitler's rise to power, as Germany hosted the 1936 Olympics. I highly recommend this book, but suggest you take the movie with a grain of salt and watch it (if you want) only for entertainment. (Audiobook)
Living with Hope (Michael Panther)⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommend. Michael Panther has an inspiring life story, full of tragedies and triumphs. As a child growing up in war-torn South Sudan, falling ill, and losing his ability to walk, he faced unimaginable difficulties. Michael took his experiences and the people that entered his life as signs of God's direction and protection. From living in a refugee camp, spending months in the hospital, and becoming a paraplegic, Michael hit many roadblocks. But with the support of good people, he eventually went to school, moved to the US for college, and found God's calling in his life. His heart for others with disabilities and the dream of providing them with mobility was the impetus for the Living with Hope organization he started. Michael's heart will speak to yours in this book. (Paperback)
A Likely Story (Leigh McMullen Abramson)⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommend. The author of "A Likely Story" wrote this novel—her first—with an interesting structure. Each section, at different points in time over 45 years, focuses on the four main characters: Isabel, her father Ward, her mother Clare, and her long-time friend, Brian. Though written in 3rd person, the narrator takes on each character's internal thoughts and feelings one at a time. In addition, she weaves in the text of a second novel, leading to a story-within-a-story plot line. A bit of mystery and intrigue draws the reader in.
I listened to most of the book on audio and felt using four different readers' voices was unnecessary and added nothing to the audio. As a writer, I enjoyed the topics of writing and publishing and thought Abramson's first novel was a well-written, fun read. (Audiobook and eBook)
And that’s the Stack!
What’s next? This is the photo I posted last month. I’ve cleared three off this stack. I’m almost finished with the George Saunders book (A Swim in a Pond in the Rain) which I’ve been discussing as I go with some writer-friends. I only read one fiction book over the past two months, so I’m hoping to tackle the bottom two on this stack—Lady Tan’s Circle of Women (Lisa See) and The Four Winds (Kristin Hannah). I say “tackle” because these are both thick books! I’d love it if you’d join me on one or both of them!
It’s your turn! I’d love to hear from you!
What are you reading? Got any recommendations?
Have you read any books from my stack? What did you think?
I’m adding Lost and Found to my TBR list! I love these recommendations.
I have read The Four Winds. It's a good story. I've been on the waiting list for months for The Women by Kristen Hannah. The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride is another good read, if you haven't read it yet.