December Book Report

Realistically, I know that there are people out there that “aren’t readers.”  I’ve heard of these people.  I gave birth to one of those people, but I still don’t quite get those people.  In books, we get to enter new worlds.  We get to experience adventures and new and different things.  We get to learn more about ourselves and others.  It’s just too grand to ignore.

For the past several years, my life hasn’t been conducive to the type of reading that I wish I could do.  I’ve always been a quick reader.  Previously, I read fiction almost exclusively and I could burn through some quick YA reads at a breakneck pace.  For the last several years, I’ve been reading almost all non-fiction and those are much slower.

I realized that focusing on one or the other (fiction or nonfiction) doesn’t give a well-rounded outlook or education.  For a true breadth of knowledge, you must read broadly and widely.  

So, I am hoping to give myself quite a lofty goal this year.  No more of this 12 or 24 books a year and then failing at even that.  This year my goal – inspired by my awesome, amazing friend who read 100 books this year – is to read 50 books.  I know to many this seems paltry.  However, for me, this seems almost impossible.  Which is why I’m making it a challenge.

The other big thing is that I’ve already started.  I just couldn’t wait.  So, um, we’ll call it the liturgical year book challenge, since I already started at the beginning of December.

So, as we start the New Year, I’m trying something different.  Normally, I write out a detailed list of books I plan to read.  Instead, monthly I’m just going to give a little recap and how I”m doing on my challenge.  I’m hoping to keep up on Good Reads, too.

Here is my list for December:

1. Poets & Saints by Jamie George

 

This book caught my attention when the album came out and I realized that there was a book that went with it.  Its a super quick read and give some fun and superficial details on several authors and saints.  If you already know about those covered, you probably won’t learn any new details.  But it is interspersed with devotional thoughts and anecdotal details from George & company’s trip through Europe to research this book and study.

 

 

2. Bride(zilla) of Christ by Ted Kluck & Ronnie Martin

 

I started this book a while back.  It was good and I enjoyed it but I don’t think I really understood what they were talking about.  Due to circumstances, I had to put the book down.  During the hiatus, I had several experiences that allowed me to grasp Ted & Ronnie’s words about hurt in the church.  Being a devoted listener to Kluck, Martin, and Barnabas Piper on the Happy Rant podcast, I was expecting to read a lot more jokey sarcasm on the pages.  What I found was heartfelt and honest recollection and advice for dealing with intense hurts that come from the most unlikely of places – the church.

 

3. The Curious Christian by Barnabas Piper*

 

A book from the last third of the Happy Rant (seriously, you need to be listening to this!).  I’ve read other books from Piper and this one is probably the best yet.  In Help My Unbelief, Piper talked about the mystery of God.  In this book, he explains why it’s necessary to explore that mystery and so many others.  The need for curiosity in life.  It also helped me to understand that my natural, lifelong curiosity isn’t a liability, but a strength.  I cannot recommend this book enough.

 

 

4. Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick*

 

I wish I could say that this is a heartwarming tale of how Kendrick overcame some great obstacle or a modern parable about not giving up to reach your dreams.  It isn’t (and there’s quite a bit of language).  However, it is a hilarious account of her life and her rise to fame.  There aren’t any huge revelations, but it is amazing to hear how her steady perseverance worked out.  Also, the truth of the fact that while she was nominated for an Oscar, Twilight money was keeping her rent paid and her lights on.  (Seriously, the language gets pretty bad in some parts, but I still highly recommend listening to the audiobook read by the author.  It really feels like a self absorbed friend telling you all about her life.)

 

5.  Whose Body? By Dorothy Sayers*

 

I’ve heard so much about Sayers’ writing, but I’ve never thought much about it.  Then Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane were mentioned in a couple other books and podcasts and my interests were piqued.  And I’m hooked.  I’ve loved Sherlock Holmes and other mysteries.  I will be continuing on with this series.  I’ve already got the next one on hold at the library.

 

 

 

6. Four and Twenty Blackbirds by Agatha Christie*

 

Since Dorothy Sayers was such a hit, I decided to continue in the detective vein.  I thought about reading Poirot in order, but it wasn’t available so I decided to listen to this short story as an interlude.  It was good, but couldn’t really hold up after Peter Wimsey.

 

 

 

 

That’s it for December.  I’m blessed that in my new job, I’m able to listen to audiobooks, so I’m hoping that this will help me to stay on track.  Audiobooks will be marked with an asterisk.  I still don’t know how I feel about listing audiobooks as “books read,” but this list will reflect both.

What are you reading in 2018?