Category Archives: books
Holiness by John Webster
I quoted this book recently, and would be remiss if I didn’t give it a mini-review now that I’ve finished it. If you enjoy theology, this is a must read. The topic of holiness is addressed systematically in a way … Continue reading
From Fear to Freedom by Rose Marie Miller
From Fear to Freedom is an account of one woman’s realization over many years of how she was living in a way that contradicted what she thought she believed about God and the world. I had a hard time connecting … Continue reading
Life is a Miracle by Wendell Berry
Wendell Berry is a prophet for our time, and this is a great introduction to his non-fiction. Life is a Miracle describes how lack of connection to the community, over-specialization and lack of dialogue between the disciplines hurts everyday people, … Continue reading
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Things that are terrifying or filled with sadness are not necessarily without beauty. The Book Thief is a story that exemplifies that principle. The characters are real and complex and the plot is captivating. But more than that, it’s a … Continue reading
Mini-Book Reviews
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera Perfectly postmodern and European, Kundera did an excellent job of breaking all the rules of novel writing. Philosophizing for pages at a time, addressing the readers directly, making the main characters more … Continue reading
Goodreads Quandry or On Criticism
The way goodreads labels their five star system is * i didn’t like it ** it was okay *** liked it **** really liked it ***** it was amazing It’s simple and intuitive, but it leaves much to be desired. … Continue reading
The Collapse of Distinction
The Collapse of Distinction by Scot McKain was one of the two business books I read last year. The first was geared towards photography and focused on making yourself stand out, but in a community-building, “everyone can win” way. Then … Continue reading
Reading Goals
This year, I want to be really faithful to posting my thoughts on books on my goodreads account and here on this blog. I also want to read more than I have been. It’s hard with work but it really … Continue reading
Filed under books
Books Read in 2009
My annual January 1st post, where I archive my books read in the previous year. To amuse myself, I categorize them in a new way every year. with (and for) children Mr. Popper’s Penguins | Atwater The Penderwicks | Birdsall … Continue reading
Filed under books
Same Kind of Different as Me
We all experience poverty. Our poverty may not all be monetary, but we experience loss and lack. This story captures one man’s discovery of his own poverty, after growing up working class and accumulating wealth through good luck and a … Continue reading
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The Help has been THE book of the year, and I didn’t want to let 2009 pass by without reading it. If you’re one of the few who hasn’t heard of it, it’s set in the civil rights era in … Continue reading
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
With its Latin-speaking father, spunky children and old-fashioned adventures, this book feels as if it could have been written 50 years ago. It’s literary and insightful, and treats the subjects with dignity, something children will recognize and delight in. I … Continue reading



