So many books… so little time – because of scrolling? We all fall prey to distractions and interruptions, don’t we. After being humbled in 2024 when I realized that I only read 22 books that year, I was more intentional in 2025, reading 43 books (but still down from the 60-something I used to read).
One reason for adding to the list is the number of classic novels I listened to via the Sleepy Bookshelf app, in which Elizabeth the narrator puts on a welcoming and gentle voice and lolls you to sleep. I enjoyed The Enchanted April, Emma, The Secret Garden, and others because of this wonderful podcast. Highly recommend if you struggle to fall back asleep – and sleep headphones will help you stay quiet if you share a bed.
In scanning the books I read, I see a lot of 2.5 and 3.5 starts out of 5. I won’t share those with you, but offer 5 fiction titles and 1 non-fiction for you to enjoy. In no particular order…
The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose
Utterly delightful. This is the third in the Maid series, and I marvelled at how a third book could rival the first. But it does. In fact, I think it might even be better.
There’s a back and forth timeswap aspect with Molly’s current mystery and her gran’s backstory. That’s all I’ll say as the uncovering of both work together wonderfully.
I finished it last night with a pleased sigh of contentment. I’ve listened to all three, and the narrator does so well with the voices. Feels a familiar sound…
I love that there’s never any mention of Molly’s neurodiversity, but as the reader/listener we figure it out. A massive ‘show, don’t tell’ by the author.
The Names by Florence Knapp
A fascinating novel, which traces the lives of a family through the naming of the son via three different names. It took me a bit to get into this format – I wondered how tiresome this might become – but soon was captivated (especially when I learned that the author jumped ahead in seven-year segments, which kept the story moving).
Interesting to ponder how life can differ according to what name you’re given…
TW: the novel refers to domestic abuse.
This Must Be the Place by Maggie O’Farrell
A stunning book with so many different first-person points of view, alternating by chapter. I’d start off the chapter with a new character wondering who in the world they were and how they would fit – suspense held, waiting to see…. It’s an effective device for keeping the reader’s interest. I really enjoyed the chapter at the back explaining how the author had been going through a building project while writing, and how the physical moving around of her space somehow unlocked a different level of creativity. Along with her toddler child removing, while she was writing, all of the post-it notes she had arranged with the novel’s structure. Which made her throw out the conventional ways novels appear, leading to her chapter of photos of items up for auction (which I didn’t think worked and wanted to skip over but I made myself read).
Haunting, lyrical, engaging, lovely… everything you might hope for from a Maggie O’Farrell novel. I picked this up at a charity shop but it’s one I won’t part with right away. I read it too fast and will allow a slower, more luxurious read in a few years (including looking up the words I didn’t know the meaning of!).
I recognize I haven’t said anything about the book itself – its characters, the plot, etc. It hops around from Ireland to the States to South America to England and in between, but she holds it all together around one main character… Intrigued? Read it!
Wish You Well by David Baldacci
An engaging novel, set in the late 1930s. What a change for the young children when their family suffers a car accident, killing their novelist father and putting their mother into a coma. They move to their grandmother’s home in the mountains of Virginia, a harsh location to exist in.
I appreciated the emotional coming of age for Lou, the young daughter, as she and her younger brother leave New York City for a farming-in-Appalachia experience. Ups and downs and perhaps too tidy of an ending but I didn’t mind…
Compelling writing. Love that it was based on oral storytelling within the author’s family.
We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman
A wrenching story of friendship, charting the last months of lifelong friends as one succumbs to cancer. Full of highs and lows; the coping mechanisms of grief when the simply unfathomable becomes reality.
I loved Ash, the protagonist, and Edie, in them seeing reflections of my own lifelong friendship with Kristen. The shared jokes over the decades; the way the friends see so many parts of each other – many that others miss.
I loved nearly everything about this book. The only niggle was really big though, the idea that a mother who had devoted herself to her child could remove herself from him for the last weeks of her life. This pushed believability too much; I just couldn’t buy it.
Other than that, a really lovely read. Five stars.
Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True Story) by Daniel Nayeri
I so enjoyed listening to this book, especially because the author narrated it. I loved hearing his inflection on words – the way he said his home country, Iran, or how he voiced the words in Farsi. It’s an engaging account of his memories of leaving his beloved home and world as a young boy and becoming a refugee – one with a patchwork of memories. What is true? That’s a question he raises more than once, and it’s worth pondering in our own lives.
His stories, whether in Oklahoma where they found refuge or in the land of honey and jasmine, captured me. Themes of home, identity, family, personhood, and hospitality abound, among others. There are, sadly, stories of domestic abuse too. Highly recommend.
Books of 2024. In the last year, I read almost half as many books as I usually do. As I consider why, I can see that I was too overcommitted, and for relaxing I turned to stories via the animated screen rather than the book. My-one-word for the year was “reset,” but it seems I didn’t live into that word enough.
I continue to enjoy audiobooks, although I can’t seem to retain the content of deep non-fiction books through listening, so I tend to leave audiobooks for novels and memoirs. I especially appreciate memoirs narrated by the author, and books narrated by wonderful actors such as Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks (two by Ann Patchett, for instance).
This year I give you a memoir by a contemporary Christian writer, some deep but accessible theology, a modern classic novel, and two fun novels.
A Compelling Memoir
It Wasn’t Roaring, It Was Weeping by Lisa-Jo Baker
What a book! In this memoir Lisa-Jo weaves together her life on two continents – her native South African and her adopted United States – with depth, yearning, pain, learning and ultimately love. A central part of her story is the early death of her mother coupled with the way her father parented her. She’s unstinting in her descriptions of the pain of that relationship, but she also shares their redemptive journey, which will give hope to any reader who has suffered from painful parental relationships. There is hope of healing.
I loved how she wove in the various native languages into her prose, which shines with truth, beauty, and meaning. This book is a labor of love, with the craftsmanship evident in the writing. A deserving 5 stars.
Deep but Accessible Theology
A Crazy, Holy Grace The Healing Power of Pain and Memory by Frederick Buechner
I so so appreciated listening to this series of essays, some more powerful than others. The ones on grace and pain and suffering and God’s love I will listen to again while jotting down notes – this is my bane as a visual, not auditory, learner! I was captured by one of his stories about his eldest daughter suffering from an illness that nearly killed her, and how he receive an unexpected visit from a friend who flew more than eight hundred miles in the hopes of finding find him at home. Frederick was indeed home, and their time together was transformative. An example of embodied love. As Frederick reflected later, “I was moved to the very soles of my feet by that experience, and so was he…” It was “a blessed event, a holy event.”
A Modern Classic Novel
The Blessing by Nancy Mitford
A novel by Nancy Mitford that I hadn’t read before… I picked up a used copy at one of the Tattered Cover bookstores in Colorado (not THE one in Denver, but still, a fun experience) and it felt right to read it after we left Paris and landed in the south of France (as it’s set in both locales and in England).
It’s very Nancy Mitford, which is of course what I wanted, but that means it’s a product of its time and I wasn’t going to judge it on modern standards. Full of fun and quips and characters I was rooting for. A perfect holiday read.
Two Fun Novels
Tom Lake by Ann Patchell
Oh I enjoyed listening to this novel, narrated by Meryl Streep. She brought such life and joy to the story. Having holidayed in Michigan in recent years, I enjoyed picturing the cherry trees and the family who was harvesting them during the pandemic, forced together in a time of social distancing.
The story is a looking back by the mother as she recalls her acting career and what brought her to Michigan and the life of a cherry farmer. Her love for her husband and their three grown daughters is evident. Fully enjoyable. I didn’t want it to end.
The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose
I was excited for this follow up to her first novel with Molly the Maid, who loves working at the posh hotel after her grandmother died, and who solved a mystery killing. This one was another light mystery that she solved in her inimitable way. Fully enjoyable listen.
Please read and buy my books! And if you do, please write a review on Goodreads or Amazon or some other online source. And please support your books-and mortar bookstore. They are havens of fabulousness that won’t survive if we only buy online.
Books of 2023. Of the making of books there is no end! And I wouldn’t have it any other way, although after launching seven books/resources over the past years, I’m taking a wee break. I’d love for you to read the books I’ve published and endorsed in 2023 – a baker’s dozen plus one! Also, don’t miss my favorite reads of 2023.
My heartfelt plea to find intimacy in friendship with Jesus, as modeled through the friendships of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in the gospels. A fresh look at these stories, which includes prayer practices to help you encounter our living, loving God. How to buy and a sneak peak at the introduction and first chapter.
From Sheridan Voysey’s foreword:
“With imaginative exploration of these biblical stories and sensitivity to overlooked cultural details, Amy teases out this unique relationship and the transformative effect it has on Mary, Martha and Lazarus…. Combined with Amy’s guiding prayers and creative spiritual practices, the result is a rich, graceful exploration of how Jesus befriends and changes us.”
We all need our stores of hope renewed, especially in these wearying times. That’s why my dad and I have collaborated on our second project with his art and my reflections, this time on the theme of hope. Engage with biblical images of hope through word and image – trees clapping their hands, streams in the desert – as God fills you with hope in him. How to buy and sample the introduction and first chapter.
About it, popular author Sharon Garlough Brown said:
“In this beautiful pairing of words and art, Amy Boucher Pye and her father, Leo Boucher, invite us into a journey of hope by meditating on the steadfast faithfulness of a kind and trustworthy God. Amy’s insightful reflections on Scripture and poignant prayers bring the Word to life, while Leo’s gentle paintings provide visual opportunities to savour the goodness of God’s care for us. In a time when so many are weary and heavy-laden, Holding onto Hope bids us to come, rest, and be renewed in the Lord’s love.”
Following are the 12 books I endorsed in 2023, some of which came out last year and some of which will appear this year. I stand behind my words and hope you will pick them up.
January 2023
The God Who Sees You by Georgie Tennant
Join Georgie Tennant as she gracefully digs into Scripture and reveals the God who sees us and loves us. Bringing to life stories and key passages from the Old Testament and the New, she leads us in a thirty-day journey to the heart of God. With her as a guide we find ourselves encouraged and strengthened in our faith in God.
April 2023
Why Less Means More by Cathy Madavan
Could less really entail more? Cathy Madavan says yes, having experienced a season of winnowing over several years. She invites us to consider ten principles to choose less of what we don’t need in favour of more of what we desire. She’s encouraging and real, sharing from her failures and triumphs, while welcoming us to embrace the life we long for. We can have more by embracing less – more margin and rhythm, more relationships and joy, more significance and space. Don’t miss her authentic, compelling and freeing wisdom for winning at life. I loved it!
June 2023
Valuable: Why Your Worth Is Not Defined By How Useful You Feel by Liz Carter
A gentle and fierce call to eschew the falsehood that our worth depends on our usefulness. Liz writes with clarity, compassion and authenticity in words that will empower everyone, from those seen as ‘useful’ or broken, or anywhere in between.
September 2023
Knowing You, Jesus: 365 Devotional by Tony Horsfall, Mags Duggan et al
What a brilliant way to get to know Jesus better – spending time each day with his stories and teachings. With depth and insight, Tony Horsfall and crew lead us through a chronological account of the gospels to help us to understand and love Jesus more. Encouraging, powerful, transformative – don’t miss this life-changing devotional that enlarges our love for Jesus and helps us become more like him.
Waiting for Jedidiah: How to Experience Healing after a Miscarriage by Betty Ringeisen
Betty Ringeisen knows the pain of miscarriage. She’s also experienced the refreshing and renewing love of the Father. She welcomes those of us who have suffered this particular pain into a strong relationship with the One who knows and loves us and our babies. Read her book and find hope, peace, and healing.
October 2023
To the Ocean Floor by Kate Nicholas
A gripping account of Kate’s latest experience with cancer – how and why does someone manage to contract three different types of this mutating disease? With powerful writing, she describes the indescribable: the numinous; the Creator; the indwelling Christ; her loving God. Her poetic sharing of her experience on the ocean floor led me to wonder and awe. A memoir to ponder and consider; one to read while receiving from Kate’s deep sharing of herself and her journey while joining her in praise to the unknowable God who makes himself known.
November 2023
Winter Lights by Deborah Jenkins
Sink into this comforting and enjoyable collection of stories that will help you to relax and to hope. Unwrap them without fearing that you’ll encounter one that you won’t like, such as with a box of chocolates. Delightful.
January 2024
The Tangled Tale of the Woolgathering Castoffs by Sharon Mondragon
A novel that takes us beyond the meet-cute, showing us what tried and tested love looks like. I didn’t know that I’d so love and savor this story about the knitting adventures of septuagenarians and octogenarians! As the Woolgatherers create prayer shawls for the caregivers of loved ones with memory loss, they don’t realize that they too are on a journey of discovery with God. They receive and give God’s loving embrace as they respond to nudges of grace, one stitch at a time. Read, savor, and make a list of people you could bless with this enriching story; I loved it!
March 2024
Notes on Feminism by Lauren Windle
Funny, controversial, grace-filled, gritty, thought provoking. . . Notes on Feminism is all this and more. Lauren curates the open conversation that you’ll want to join, so read it and share how you agree, disagree, and all the in betweens.
April 2024
Peace through Prayer by James Banks
Reading Peace through Prayer feels like receiving an encircling hug from a safe and caring pastor—one who shares with you the life-changing, unconditional love of Jesus. Profound but accessible, this exploration into the gift of peace is one I recommend wholeheartedly.
May 2024
Shaped by the Spirit by Kate Pocklington
Kate invites us to pause and ponder, examining how God shapes us—not as a navel-gazing exercise, but one that helps us be outward-focused as we share God’s love with others. Her intertwining of various strands weaves together a Spirit-breathed creation that will challenge and inspire. I pray the Spirit uses her words as he shapes and forms you!
September 2024
Dwell:Inviting God’s Word to make a home in our lives, one verse at a time by Anne LeTissier
This book could change your life. Really. As week by week Anne LeTissier helps us to dive deeply into God’s life-giving words in Scripture, God will meet us and change us to be more like Jesus. Without reservation I recommend that you accept her gentle invitation, backed up by her embodied example, to dwell in God’s word. From a hesitant star giver, five stars.
Books of 2023. Here are six of my favorite reads of the 42 I read last year… One children’s book; two memoirs; one general non-fiction; one novel; one focused on spirituality. Later I’ll post the 12 books I endorsed in 2023, and here are previous years’ reads.
I’m thought I had read fewer books in 2023 than previously, but I see from my 2022 round up, I’m up by seven when comparing those two years. Still, I hope to read more in 2024, and especially some of the theology books that have been piling up.
I continue to enjoy audiobooks, not for non-fiction (my learning style means that I can’t remember what I hear) but for novels. I’m currently listening to Meryl Streep narrate Tom Lake, which is an absolute delight on both accounts. Of the top six picks I’ve just noticed that I listened to five of them! For one I bought a print copy of and another of those five I may yet buy in print too.
Onto the books…
A Beloved Children’s Story
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
What could be better than the old favorite of a spider and a pig, especially when narrated by the author himself? I’d read this novel as a child and seen the movie (which White said wasn’t as bad as he feared) but found much to marvel over when listening. Namely I loved how Charlotte exhibits sacrificial love and how she shines a light on Wilbur, giving all of herself for him while not seeking any of the acclaim. She did her good acts in secret.
I loved the characterization of the animals with all of their unique personalities. And yes, Templeton the rat steals the show when he appears in his dislikable glory. I’ll listen to this again.
Last memorable lines:
Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart. She was in a class by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.
Two Memoirs
All my Knotted-Up Life by Beth Moore
I’ve followed Beth Moore on X/Twitter, and I find her bravery and love for Jesus compelling. I was excited to listen to her memoir, especially to hear her share her story in her lovely Southern accent. It felt like a friend was taking me through the events of her life, so engagingly does she tell her stories. I was at times cheering her on and other times weeping for the atrocities and hardships she’s endured.
I highly recommend this snapshot into one of the best-known white evangelical women of our time. Her love for Jesus and the Bible shines through, and the stories of what she’s been through give me more respect for her. I loved this book.
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
I so enjoyed listening to this autobiography, narrated by the author. Yes, parts of it are eerie now, after his death, and it was strange listening to this well-known voice knowing that he’s no longer with us. There are a lot of f-bombs and others, so be warned if that’s not your thing. And yes, he never speaks of Jesus, as someone said to me, but I was moved by his accounts of God filling his kitchen as bright light, and how through that one lone encounter he was able to be clean for 2 years.
I recommend this one for a thought-provoking listen. I learned a lot about addiction – the big terrible thing he mentions in the title.
A Compelling Non-Fiction Read
The Art of Rest by Claudia Hammond
I have recommended this book so many times, and this is the one I listened to and then bought a print version of. It’s a fascinating look at the top ten ways people find rest. I was delighted to learn that number one is reading a book! The author does a good job of not only present the results of The Rest Test (the research she was part of conducting) but delving into the studies on each of the top ten ways people rest (the ten form the chapters of the book). She brings the social science results but in an approachable way.
Why do we need to rest? How can we be MORE productive when we do rest? Lots to ponder here, especially for a 3 on the Enneagram (someone who likes to achieve).
A Top Novel
For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy on My Little Pain by Victoria MacKenzie
A lovely imagining of the lives of two medieval women, Margery Kempe and Julian of Norwich. I loved this novel of their backstory and meeting, reading it far too fast. I’ll read it again. I received it as a special gift from a friend who also loved reading it.
Julian was compelling, and I so enjoyed how the author brought out what could have been her struggles when she first settled into life in her cell – all that she gave up to be there. Margery was much less compelling, but that’s probably true to life, and made the story believable.
Because I had this characterization of Julian in my imagination, I found I’ve not been able to shift to Claire Gilbert’s in I, Julian – even though I went to the book launch for it! Hopefully in 2024 I can read it.
Memorable mention. . . Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano.
A Spiritual-Formation Winner
When the Soul Listens by Jan Johnson
A wonderful exploration of what the author calls contemplative prayer, with her definition being more broad-ranging and inclusive than I might make. I loved how she weaves her stories of God changing her to be more like Jesus through her slow but steady noticing of, and welcoming, his presence in her life. I’m very familiar with the concepts that she writes about but thought she does so in a fresh, inviting way.
My only sadness is that I listened to this book and therefore am considering getting a print version, not least for the prayer exercises at the end of each chapter.
Books of 2022: Six endorsements for wonderful Christian books and six general-market recommendations. (Here are the round-ups from past years.)
I’ve read about 35 books this year, which is down by about 15 or 20 in a usual year. Two reasons for that – one is that after 16 years of running the Woman Alive Book club, I relinquished it to Claire Musters. Although I love reading widely, I realized that I needed to hand over the beloved book club to another host to guide it through the late teenaged years and beyond. My work as a writer, retreat leader, and spiritual director means that my focus is on areas of spiritual formation.
The second reason is that I’ve written two books this year (coming your way in 2023), and all of that writing has meant less time for reading. Something I aim to rectify next year!
I love reading fiction, and so I give you reviews of five novels that I loved. I’m not including my reviews that included lines such as these:
A sweet story if utterly predictable.
A light read that I picked up on a giveaway table at a supermarket.
6 Books I Endorsed
Christmas Changes Everything by Elisa Morgan
How can we, like the characters in the original nativity story, be changed by Christmas? With heart-warming and sometimes challenging stories, Elisa Morgan invites us to enter into the wonder of Christmas. We too can accept, yield, believe, wait, and rejoice—and be forever changed by our loving God. Don’t miss God’s life-changing invitation!
Brightest and Best: 31 Advent Devotions on Jesus by Philippa Wilson
Interweaving the wisdom and grace of her aptly termed Carolsville with the wonderous story of Jesus, Philippa Wilson in Brightest and Best sparks longing and love within us during the Advent and Christmas seasons. She welcomes us to share her deep love of the ‘little Lord Jesus’ – a mind-bending notion of the God who became Man. I commend it with joy.
God Isn’t Finished with You Yet by Catherine Campbell
Catherine opens up the world of the Bible in glorious shades and images as she brings alive the stories of six people. With grace and truth she shows how God didn’t give up on them – and how he doesn’t give up on us. I especially appreciate how she reaches our hearts through the narrative and our minds with her teaching. Read, ponder and savour this delightful, trustworthy and powerful book. You won’t regret it.
Streams in the Wasteland by Andrew Arndt
Andrew Arndt has made friends with the desert fathers and mothers, and he invites us to enjoy their friendship too. His winsome book reveals how their wisdom sheds light on the problems we face today. One to read, underline, ponder, and share.
Images of Grace by Amy Scott Robinson
A masterpiece in metaphor. In Images of Grace Amy opens the door for us to understand abstract concepts in concrete ways, ushering us into the presence of God. With engaging anecdotes and a winsome exploration of the biblical stories, she proves a helpful guide to not only sin and atonement but forgiveness and restoration. A book to return to again and again during Lent – I highly recommend it.
Prayer Starters by Suzie Eller
Struggling to find the words to chat with God? Suzie Eller’s Prayer Starters will give you ideas for ways to start up—and continue—this most life-affirming conversation. I especially appreciate the mini Bible studies. Enjoy!
6 General-Market Recommendations
I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O’Farrell
Utterly compelling memoir with the theme of near-life experiences. What, 17 of them? Hard to start reading a new chapter knowing her life would be threatened, even if I knew ultimately that she’d be all right – after all, she is alive. The last chapter on her daughter’s allergies was almost too much for me to read, as it chimed with me as an allergy parent. (But our kids’ experience isn’t anywhere on the level of hers.)
As always, her writing is exquisite. It gave me an insight into one of the characters in the book I read just before this one, Instructions for a Heatwave. As she detailed her experience of recovering from encephalitis, I thought of Aoife and how her extreme dyslexia meant she couldn’t read –and how she covered over her challenges in daily life.
One I might well read again.
Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O’Farrell
I loved this snapshot of life in Britain in 1976 during the heat wave – which was the heat wave to end all heat waves until we lived through the summer of 2022 (and following?). I read this book in a couple of sittings during the stifling heat, and her descriptions of the stultifying air were so apt.
The Riordan family is so compelling in each of the characters, although the father remains largely a mystery up to the end. I liked the varying first-person view throughout, and thought the novel ended on a hopeful note.
Simply wonderful.
Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler
A poignant look at a family abandoned by the husband/father and the lifelong effect on the relationships. Pearl, the mother, clearly isn’t an easy person to live with, and her three children each express their coping mechanisms in different ways. I found the way Cody, the eldest, treated his brother Ezra, sad and painful.
The title refers to the restaurant that Ezra runs, and his attempts to foster the family relations through enjoying a meal together – which always seem to end in some kind of argument.
A moving look at family life in all its messiness.
The Maid by Nita Prose
I really enjoyed this one. Celebrates a neurodivergent protagonist in a life-affirming way. Molly the maid lives to bring the rooms in the Regency Grand Hotel back to perfection. And she’s the maid who finds Mr Black “dead in his bed.” What follows is a delightful if at times heart-rending search for why he died, along with flashbacks from her past that shine a light on who she is today.
At times I could hardly bear to listen more, as I wanted to shield her from nefarious characters whom she trusted. In the end, a very satisfying story.
A friend called this Eleanor Oliphant meets Agatha Christie, and that’s not a bad summary.
Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior
What a wonderful book. I’m glad more fiction features octogenarian protagonists. In her eighties, Veronica lives on the west coast of Scotland and one day her cleaner/helper unearths a locked box. With it Veronica descends into a lifetime of memories, which spur her into a journey of discovery – including a trip to Antarctica to visit the penguins.
I loved this story, with its themes of family, buried history, social class, poverty and wealth, climate change, and conservation. I did figure out a plotline before the ending, but it came about differently than I anticipated (but that’s only a minor quibble). Delightful and thought-provoking.
(I listened to it on Audible. The main narrator did a good job, but the female supporting narrator was a bit stilted at times, and it felt like she was reading a script.)
The Willoughby Close series by Kate Hewitt
Five books that I enjoyed. They manage to be light but deep, which doesn’t seem to make sense! I mean that in I easily got into the story, which felt like an escape to the English countryside, and each protagonist went through something deeply challenging and emotionally engaging.
Kate isn’t afraid to tackle tough issues but does so in a gracious way. Each book reveals a journey of change within the characters, which I appreciate. It’s also fun too to see characters from previous books – I like seeing their journey continued. I think that’s part of the reason why I keep buying the next book in the series.
After creating the Woman Alive book club sixteen years ago, I’ve reached the difficult decision that it’s time to hand it over to the next host. I’ve loved talking all things books for so many years, but I decided it was time to move on as I embrace the writing-speaking-spiritual-direction life.
Here is the video announcement and following is my very last magazine entry – featuring my own 7 Ways to Pray!
Thank you to all of you who have been an amazing part of this group. I’ll continue to be active in the Facebook group.
I missed out writing about what I read in 2020, but want to join in with this yearly look back at a life in books. (Here are other years.) I read some 50 books in 2021 – down from 2020 but still a good number. I love reading and so yes, this may be more than you read – or of course less! Too often I read too fast, so I’m not saying my number is a gold star of achievement. I respect and laud those of you who read slowly and digest a work fully and thoughtfully.
I read most of my books on my e-reader, as often I’m reading works that aren’t yet published. I love a print copy when it’s a theology book that I want to underline and highlight, especially because I’m a visual learner so often can picture a passage later. That’s also why I can’t listen to many non-fiction books, because the words wash over me and leave me soon after I’ve heard them. I have experimented over the past couple of years with audio books, and find I enjoy listening to novels. In fact three of my four top reads from the general market are those I listened to.
For the highlights of the books I’ve read, I give you two books I birthed (and yes I’m proud of them!), five books I endorsed, four top picks from my monthly selections for the Woman Alive Book Club (you can find my selections from September onwards here with the full reviews), and three general-market novels I most enjoyed with one honorable mention.
2 Books I Birthed
7 Ways to Pray: Time-Tested Practices to Encounter God (NavPress/Form, 2021)
A hands-on guide for prayer – a book I wanted to write about for many years. Check it out if you haven’t already. If you have read it, could you please write a review?
Celebrating Christmas: EmbracingJoy through Art and Reflections (BRF/Credo, 2021)
The lovely 25-entry book to celebrate Christmas, with my dad’s lovely artwork and my reflections. As it’s the eighth day of Christmas you still have time to read it this Christmas season! Again, if you’ve read it, could you please leave a review online?
5 Books I Endorsed
What a privilege to be asked for endorsement for some amazing books! Following are my endorsements. Just a few additional notes: I’m a huge fan of Sharon Garlough Brown – I adore all of her books. If you’re new to her, start off with Sensible Shoes and then enjoy the other three books in that series before you move onto Wren and Katharine in this series. I got to give a blurb for my lauded teacher! That was amazing. Gemma Simmonds was my tutor on Ignatius at Heythrop College where I did my MA in Christian spirituality, so I was super chuffed to read and endorse her book!
I commend each of these – enjoy!
Feathers of Hope by Sharon Garlough Brown (IVP, 2022)
A novel by Sharon Brown feels like a gift, and even more so when we reenter the lives of characters we’ve come to love. Meeting Katherine, Wren, and the others again feels like a reunion with dear friends. One where we eschew the small talk and dive right into matters of the heart for a soul-strengthening conversation. Join in with this ordinary and extraordinary community of followers of Christ where no subject is too messy and love is given and received, sometimes awkwardly but always with grace and forbearance.
Journey to Love by Matt Mikalatos (NavPress, 2021)
We all want to love and be loved. But what does that mean? Through winsome stories and heartfelt reflections, Matt Mikalatos gently probes what love looks like as he welcomes us on a life-changing journey. Don’t miss not only reading this book but putting it into practice. You’ll never be the same!
Dancing at the Still Point by Gemma Simmonds (Form, 2021)
A joyful, freeing guide to retreats with fully accessible practices to suit a range of personalities. An approachable companion, Gemma Simmonds provides all we need for an enriching time with God. I can’t wait to try it out!
They’ll Never Read That by Tony Collins (Malcolm Down Publishers, 2022)
A fascinating account of the who’s who of Christian publishing in Britain from one who has lived through the highs and lows – not only learning firsthand from the legendary Edward England but experiencing redundancy from both sides of the table. In engaging prose, Tony Collins shares a behind-the-scenes look at the making of books and magazines that shaped the lives and faith of thousands. Entertaining and informative.
The Whole Christmas Story by Jo Swinney (BRF, 2021)
During Advent we can become so mired in shopping and planning, parties and church services, that we lose our focus on why we’re dashing round. Jo Swinney’s book of Bible-based reflections provides a refreshing antidote as she helps us to step back and take a Google Earth view of the God’s grand narrative. Build in some time this year to journey with her about why Jesus was born in Bethlehem – your celebration of Christmas will be all the richer and sweeter.
4 Top Recommendations from the Woman Alive Book Club
I recommended fiction and non-fiction in the book club this year, enjoying, for instance, Patricia Raybon’s jaunt into a cozy mystery (All That Is Secret). For as much as I appreciate fiction, however, I see that my top reads include three memoirs and one spirituality book.
A Burning in my Bones by Winn Collier (WaterBrook/Authentic, 2021)
The winsome authorized biography of Eugene Peterson. An excerpt from my review:
Winn’s book isn’t hagiography; he presents Peterson’s blind spots as well as his wisdom and grace. For instance, for many years Peterson gave too much to the church to the expense of his family – his daughter once counted him being gone for 27 nights in a row. But the picture that emerges is of a man deeply committed to God and his living Word, a pastor poet who approached his work with love. I highly recommend this book.
Paul: A Biography by Tom Wright (HarperOne/SPCK, 2018)
Yes, I was a bit behind in reading this one by the renowned New Testament scholar. I loved it. Here’s an excerpt from my review:
It’s certainly not too late to read this wonderful biography; I highly recommend it. My only critique is that it’s a bit wordy at times – I wish it had been slimmed down to reduce the tangents and repetitions. That’s a small criticism though, for Paul: A Biography will help you appreciate this fascinating early pillar of the church, one who met Jesus on the road to Damascus and who was changed forever from a man who persecuted the followers of Jesus to one who proclaimed his message of good news.
Where the Light Fell by Philip Yancey (Convergent/Hodder, 2021)
A compelling and well-written account of one wounded by Christians who finds healing and belonging through our loving, saving God. Excerpt from my review:
What especially struck me was Yancey’s comment that “deconstructing a person is easier than constructing one”. Through the mentorship of a godly father figure and his years of searching for truth through his writing, he’s succeeded in putting together a robust faith in a loving God who does not reflect the angry god of his childhood. Therefore, his memoir could be especially helpful to those grappling with painful experiences of Church or Christians who have wounded them. The paths that he and his brother have taken in their lives reveal starkly contrasting ways to deal with a false picture of God.
Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison Warren (IVP, 2021)
A wonderful look at the Anglican compline; she writes with the fresh eyes and enthusiasm of one who has come to liturgical prayers later in life, digging deeply into these words that have withstood the test of time. Excerpt from my review:
I highly recommend this book whether or not you appreciate liturgical prayers. Her writing is deep, thoughtful and poetic without being inaccessible. Although at times she’s America-focused, this bent is not overly distracting. She includes some wonderful prayer exercises at the end, along with questions to discuss or ponder.
3 Favorite General-market Novels and 1 Honorable Mention
The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J Ryan Stradal
My US editor told me about this book, mentioning it during a zoom call, and I thought he said Logger Queen. You know, maybe a relative of Paul Bunyan? But no, he meant Lager, and even though I didn’t know what an IPA was (oops – not an IPO like I just wrote! Ha!), I loved, loved, loved this book.
Here’s my review: I listened to this book on Audible, and at times found the listening a frustrating experience because I wanted to race ahead in the book (the narrator did a great job, by the way). I loved this story and its characters. I found it somewhat surprising that the author is a man, for its the women who shine; the women who succeed.
If you’re from Minnesota and have moved away, like I have, reading it will make you smile and feel nostalgic. People walking past me in North London would have seen me grinning and laughing, and must have wondered what was up, especially as my earbuds were hidden by my hair.
I loved it, even though I don’t drink beer and I even had to look up what an IPA is.
Anxious People by Frederik Backman
I finished listening to this wonderful novel on the drive back from leading a retreat at Penhurst Retreat Centre and so enjoyed the whole experience. What a delight – even though, yes, it’s about anxious people.
A bank robber robs a cashless bank… an unlikely premise for such a wonderful book. Surprising, endearing, lovely – even if the probability of some of it was unlikely.
Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce
Another delightful book to listen to. All I noted for my review was, “So fun and quirky. Really enjoyed it.” I loved Miss Benson and her grand adventure to find a particular beetle across the world, and the friends she met along the way.
Honorable Mention: The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare
I really enjoyed getting to be part of Adunni’s world in Nigeria, although it was harrowing. Following her move from her village to Lagos was fascinating.
But… I felt a bit manipulated as a reader with all of the stuff she experiences in her journey. Child marriage, her friend dying by the river, all of the happenings at Big Madam’s house – how she managed to make it through all of that intact and growing and not bitter seemed a stretch. I felt a bit like the author had an agenda in her fiction – which I never like.
But I’ve highlighting the novel because the writing was engaging and I really warmed to Adunni.
I can hardly believe that I’ve been running the Woman Alive book club for 15 years! The lovely Claire Musters interviewed me about all things books, including the two I have coming out this autumn. The feature is normally reserved for subscribers, but with permission I share here. Read on!
In response to a tweet wondering should she read this book, my review from Woman Alive, August 2016. (Great decluttering exercise during lockdown!)
You may know that the Woman Alive book club has an interactive presence on Facebook. At the request of readers there, I chose a fiction and nonfiction book for us to discuss, which I would then feature in the magazine. For the novel, we read The Girl from the Train (not to be confused with the wildly popular The Girl on the Train).
I’m glad I chose the novel for our discussion, not least because it took me awhile to get into the story (I knew I had to persevere!). It recounts the life of Gretl, a German girl with some Jewish ancestry who was caught in the events of the Second World War. The story follows her and her protector Jakob through their lives in Poland and eventually South Africa, weaving in themes of identity, faith, family, racism, the relationships between Christian denominations, home and love.
As readers we appreciated the window into life in South Africa. As Kathryn Price said, “I hadn’t known about the children ‘exported’ to South Africa, and found that very interesting. We don’t often hear about white South Africans, it’s usually just the apartheid situation, and it was interesting that it felt unbalanced.” Anne Shakeshaft agreed, saying, “I had no idea that South Africans had adopted German orphans.” She found it interesting “to read of the prejudice against Germans, Jews and Communists as well as other faith denominations” and found the book enjoyable but heart-wrenching in places.
The view of identity was strong for Caroline Seal, for she supports various missionary families and has thus read about “MKs (missionary kids) or TCKs (third culture kids).” She says of Gretz, “She constantly has to hide parts of who she is … you can see how she wants people to accept her so is a bit of a chameleon doing things that will please people… TCKs are also trying to get things right in the culture they live in and in their passport culture.”
Chris Vickery anticipated the ending, wishing it would have come sooner in the sense of us seeing the life of the protagonists together. I agree – why can’t more novels examine what life looks after the romance survives the hurdles? I’d love to read what “happily ever after” looks like.
I appreciated Julia Wilson’s full review of the novel, which touches on themes of belonging, one’s roots, friendship, how stress can be rooted deep within, and symbolism such as names and fire.
I stayed up way too late last night reading. Sound familiar? I was finishing off the massive bestseller Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, which lives up to the hype. It took me awhile to get into the story, as it jumps backwards and forwards in time, but once I was in the world of the North Carolina marsh, I was hooked. I’m so looking forward to discussing it with my local book club.
What else? This year I’ve read 51 books – 20 fewer than last year, which I think was because in 2018 I was still recovering from the exertions of doing my MA in Christian spirituality the year before, and therefore reading to recuperate.
As I look over my list, I see holes in the categories of weightier
books that I want to read but haven’t yet made the time or effort to do so. A
good reminder for me to plan times into the schedule for this type of reading,
or it won’t happen.
I always enjoy recommending books to the Woman Alive book
club, which you can find here. I
recommended 16 books throughout 2019, including those by Eugene Peterson,
Shawn
Smucker, Gemma
Simmonds, Alia
Joy, Pete
Greig, and Amy Scott
Robinson. I highlighted books to help you in your Christian journey (such
as this fine
one on how to go on retreat), some good novels (I gave top marks to Brunch at the
Bittersweet Café), a few memoirs, and Lent and Advent
books. If you subscribe, you’ll also be able to read the interviews with people
such as Sharon Garlough Brown, author of the beloved “Sensible Shoes” series, and
Revd David Adam, former vicar of Holy Island.
I won’t laboriously go through the full list of over fifty that I read, but instead point to a few from several categories:
4 books for which I gave commendations,
2 books published by Christian publishers that I didn’t highlight in the Woman Alive book club but which are worth your time,
2 general-market memoirs, and
5 general-market novels that I gave top marks.
As I look over the stars I awarded, see only two books
receiving 5-out-of-5 stars and only one novel that I dismissed with just 1
star. Scroll to the bottom to see which one that was and disagree with me if
you’d like!
Four books I loved commending
Remember Me by Sharon Garlough Brown. The sequel to Sharon’s latest, Shades of Light (see below), which explores mental health, spiritual formation, and Vincent Van Gogh. I loved being able to see the Van Gogh exhibition at the Tate in London this summer with Sharon and her family; a huge privilege. We were the first to enter that day, and she shot to the end of the exhibition, with me trailing behind her. What an inspired move – we had whole rooms to ourselves for the first forty-five minutes or so.
About this book I said: I’ve already read Remember Me more than once, and as with all of Sharon Brown’s novels, I’ll savor it again. Through her true-to-life characters and powerful story she interweaves themes of suffering, lament, and mental health with beauty, hope, and resurrection. When I finished it, my faith in our living, loving God was strengthened and renewed.
Image of the Invisible by Amy Scott Robinson. You’ve already heard me rave about Amy’s Advent book! Here’s my endorsement:
What a stunning gift this book is! Open it day by day as you ponder the God who reveals himself as a burning bush, weaver, gardener, shepherd, king, and, of course, baby. Amy Robinson helps us to unwrap the images of the invisible, the God who became flesh. Her book is a masterpiece of metaphor, a creative unlocking of what we might have missed. Through her creative, thought-provoking, deep and winsome writing, she leads us to the God who makes himself known.
Walking Back to Happiness by Penelope Swithinbank. A memoir with a difference. Here is my endorsement:
I unknowingly finished Walking Back to Happiness on Penelope and Kim’s forty-second wedding anniversary. That’s fitting, for as she so movingly recounts, their great walk across France helped them journey back to a loving and fruitful partnership. Poignant and constructive, it’s one to enjoy and ponder – perhaps from the comfort of your home!
Face to Face by Jen Baker. Jen’s faith never fails to inspire me. Here’s my blurb for her latest:
How can we see God face to face? Jen Baker looks to the
story of Moses, and how he, with all of his faults and foibles, was led into
the presence of God and became a world changer. With deep vulnerability Jen
shares stories of how she too encounters the living Lord. You’ll find her a
trustworthy and inspiring guide, one who models radical faith.
Two books by Christian publishers
Shades of Light by Sharon Garlough Brown. I loved Sharon’s “Sensible Shoes” series of novels that bring to life the spiritual disciplines, and looked forward to reading her new book in a new series. I was surprised but heartened by her addressing mental-health issues through a modern-day character’s engagement with Vincent Van Gogh. I believe this story will touch many deeply.
Here’s Sharon in her own words, from an excerpt from an interview with her that I organized for Woman Alive, the July issue:
People close to me have been deeply impacted by depression and anxiety,
and I’m concerned that we in the church haven’t done a great job in caring for
them with compassion. I know too many
people who have been wounded by the message, “If you just had more faith,” or
“If you just read more Scripture,” or “If you just trusted Jesus more, then you
shouldn’t struggle with mental illness. Don’t you know anxiety is a sin?” Mental
illness is already isolating, and to layer guilt and shame on top of it only
exacerbates the pain.
My prayer is
that the afflicted will be comforted through Wren’s story and that they will
feel as if they have been seen, known, and heard. But it’s not just the
mentally ill who are suffering. It’s also those who love them. I hope the
co-sufferers—the ones who long to help, support, or “fix” and who feel helpless
and discouraged—will also be comforted by the story of Wren’s mother, Jamie.
And I hope the church is challenged to help break the stigma and offer love and
advocacy in tangible, life-giving ways.
The Butterfly Train by Sue Mills. Sue’s book has been out for a few years, but it’s not dated. I gobbled it up in one sitting, gripped by the story. I’ve met the lovely Sue in her capacity as a worship leader, and as I started to read I could hardly believe that this was her story. Her path as a teenager is not something I would have guessed, for God has transformed her utterly. One to read for an example of how God brings true change and release. I think you will find it inspiring.
Two general-market memoirs
Hard Pushed by Leah Hazard. What a wonderful memoir by a midwife, a mixture of her early days in the profession along with her reflections after working for a few years. Her care for the patient comes across clearly in her engaging stories. Gritty and heartbreaking at times, but without the gratuitous language of This is Going to Hurt. I hope her book will do as well as Adam Kay’s, but fear it won’t – after all, will as many men read about women having babies as a book of memories by a male junior doctor?
I highly recommend this account, which makes me all the more
grateful for the NHS but alarmed for its future.
All That Remains by Sue Black. A fascinating look at death – and life – from the point of view of a forensic anthropologist. Sue Black shares from her career in examining the human body after death in order to help the living. She’s been involved in major crises, such as that in Kosovo, trying to identify those who died in horrific conditions.
Some of the chapters had me gripped, and I learned a lot,
but some of the chapters I skimmed through or skipped, as the detail seemed too
great. I did persevere to the end though and appreciated her views on death. We
need to talk about death more in our culture, and her voice is an important one
to add to the discussion.
Five general-market novels
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. When I was visiting my parents in St. Paul, Minnesota, over the summer, I read an interview with the author about his latest book. Sufficiently intrigued by this Minnesota author, I thereafter bought a copy of this novel of this, his first foray into literary fiction, which has won awards. It didn’t disappoint. What a haunting, lyrical, and ultimately redemptive story. One to savor and ponder.
I’m glad I didn’t know any of the major plotlines, as I
enjoyed the freshness of reading without too much guessing ahead (although at
the end I did). Which is why I’m not saying much about it here.
I’m currently now two-thirds of the way through listening to
This Tender Land, the novel he was interviewed about over the summer. I
was fascinated by the note at the beginning by the author. He relayed how stifled
he’d been by trying to write a novel after the praise for Ordinary Grace. He
wrote the book he thought he should write and submitted it to the publisher.
But he never could get rid of the niggling sense that it wasn’t right, so he
pulled that novel out of publication. With the pressure off, he then was able
to write This Tender Land, which is equally gorgeous, lyrical, and
thought provoking.
Flight of the Maidens by Jane Gardam. An enjoyable read while I was in Paris. I really enjoyed the snapshot into the lives of three young women after the Second World War in England. The book takes place at a pivotal time in their lives, the last summer before they go to university. The novel has themes of friendship, identity, loss, and hope. Beautiful!
A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier. I’ve read many of Tracey Chevalier’s books, and so approached her new one with the expectation for good writing backed up by strong historical research. This one didn’t disappoint.
I warmed to Violet, the late-thirties protagonist between
the wars whose family and future was decimated by World War I, with her older
brother and fiancé both killed in action and a surviving mother marked by
bitterness. Violet escapes her mother’s oppressive house in Southampton to go
work in Winchester as a typist, where she starts to build her life. Her faith
rocked by all of the loss, she starts to find solace in Winchester Cathedral.
And community in the broderers, those who craft the kneelers and other
needlepoint articles.
The novel focuses on the broderers and bellringers, two
parts of the Cathedral community which are often overlooked. I enjoyed how the
author brought these art-creators to life, but sometimes I skimmed through the
longer descriptions.
As I neared the end of the book, I wondered how Chevalier
would tie up the relationships. I guessed the main action of the ending, which
sadly seemed predictable from a modern novelist. Still, a book I would
recommend.
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata. One of the joys of being part of a local book club is how it introduces one to books you’d probably not come across otherwise. This is one of those. It’s a quirky novel translated from the Japanese. I felt intrigued by the protagonist, Keiko, who feels most at home at her job in a convenience store. One to enjoy for its different look at life.
My Name is Leon by Kit de Waal. A sweet and poignant story of a ten-year-old boy who is put into care, written from his point of view, which adds to the sadness of the situation. But ultimately heartening.
And the one to which I gave only one star? Scoop by Evelyn Waugh. I wanted to like it, but I just couldn’t.
Enjoyed this and want some more recommendations from previous years? Here’s my list for 2018, 2017 (warning – long!), 2016 (8 great reads), and 2015 (another long list, including some I commissioned).
