So, a year and a half ago.
My bad.
Life is organized chaos lately, and no one better judge me for having little-to-no-time to read let alone WRITE about what I'm reading with a toddler always just around the corner getting into the dog food and one on deck about to make his appearance in ten weeks. Seriously.
But since I value this, I'm going to continue my reading updates. Starting with this year's. So, here goes!
We listened to this on Audible while moving cross-country, and it was the perfect way to spend the time. Cary Elwes (aka Westley) narrated, and other cast members contributed, so listening is the way to take this one in. If you're a fan of The Princess Bride at all, you're missing out if you don't pick this up ASAP. Fun anecdotes and tender moments shared by the cast and director reminded me just how special the film is, why it's such a success, and just how truly quotable and endearing it will always be to my family and me. Love love love.
The Weight of Glory, by CS Lewis
And now for something completely different....
This collection of Lewis's essays and memorable lectures to various organizations, of which The Weight of Glory is most famous, is not exactly light reading. He addresses important topics, though, that are as relevant now as they were then in the midst of the WWII and post-war England. Jack once again succeeds to simultaneously crush with his brilliance (half of his arguments go about ten feet over my head?) and encourage with his still-grounded understanding of Christianity. He's a genius, but he knows all knowledge is nothing if the hope of Christ is not communicated.
Doxology and Theology: How the Gospel Forms the Worship Leader, by Matt Boswell
I read this in a day. What a thorough discussion of worship that is equally relevant to the layperson as the worship leader, in my opinion. In it, a number of worship leaders and pastors communicate various aspects of worship in the church, but I was overwhelmingly encouraged that the majority of them made it a point to comment that while excellence is desirable, excellence in worship is not an end in itself. It's all in vain if we miss the gospel and the God who requires our praise. Yes. This is what I want to see in our churches. True gospel worship. Read this book.
Can you tell I was on a worship kick for a bit there? This one was good, but definitely for more of an average churchgoer. And in that respect, it was spot on. I liked the way Cosper walked through major events of the Bible and how each event corresponded with a new revelation of who God is and what worship should be. A great biblical overview for students, in particular, I thought. The rest of it was sort of blah to me, after having just read Doxology and Theology, which had a lot more weight and meat to its teaching. Still would recommend.
Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe, by Bill Bryson
Don't get me wrong... I love Bryson. I've rents' house while Daph and I visited them for a week, just as a bit of light reading. I've read at least five of his books, and they're all engaging and a fun read. This one was no less. But Neither Here nor There is also the first of his that I've read that's not about language, or Shakespeare, or something other than his own personal life. As interesting as his meanderings through Europe are, it was sort of like turning on a travel show with a narrator whose voice you like who throws in a few cuss words and mildly naughty anecdotes to show he's authentic, and just having that on in the background while you do other stuff around the house. That may be the best comparison I've ever come up with. So I came away from this book feeling a bit meh toward it. Not bad, but won't pick up again.
A History of the World in 6 Glasses, by Tom Standage
The idea of this book is far better than its actualization. In a nutshell, Tom Standage walks the reader through history, detailing the development of six different beverages that at one stage or another influenced culture in an enduring way. First, beer in ancient Mesopotamia. Then, wine in Italy and Greece. Spirits in America. Coffee in the Middle East to Britain to America. Tea in China, India, and Britain. And finally, Coca-Cola in America and worldwide. It could have been such a fascinating read, had Standage's writing style been more engaging than a (albeit thoroughly researched) senior thesis. It ought to have been more lively, as a whole. To his credit, things started picking up toward the middle, with the development of liquors and the importance of coffee in coffeehouses and the advancements that came about through the discussions that occurred over those beverages. That is what I wanted in every chapter. If you have any interest in world history, delicious beverages, and the social influences of pub- or coffeehouse-culture, you may want to pick this up.
Walking with Wesley: A Ninety-Day Devotional, by Nick Harrison
Devotionals are not really my thing, but I picked this one up because Kevin left it on our counter, and I want to know more about the man who founded and inspired the denomination we're now a part of. I was looking for a bit of an overview of John Wesley's life, and maybe a bit more about his personal beliefs of salvation and living in the power of Christ. I found those things in this book, but Nick Harrison seems to have an earnest sort of infatuation with the man Wesley, and I just couldn't get past it. I mean, I realize that the purpose of the devotional was to be encouraged by his life and challenged by his convictions, but he's still a man. He had faults. We can't put him on a pedestal like that, Nick Harrison. For the next book I read on Wesley, I'd like to read about his struggles, about times he was humbled, times he stumbled and needed correction, and how he responded to that. Do we have record of that? That's what I want - stories of real human beings with active relationships with God that can be touch-and-go and shaky at times. That's what's encouraging to me: when people choose God when the going gets rough and it hurts to be faithful, not these saints with no recorded flaws and perfect responses to every person with a question. That's real life. Give me a real person's story. Please and thank you.
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