By Ann Boyd, Andrea Bridges, Karen Hice Guzmán, Jasmine Obeyesekere Fernando and Caroline Triscik
One of the great pleasures of the summer is reading in a hammock in the shade. Or at the edge of the ocean with your toes in the tide. Or in the back seat on a road trip. Or in the airport, when your flight is delayed (well, maybe not a pleasure). Here’s a peek at what’s in the WAP team’s book stack for the summer.
A History of Christianity in Asia Vol 1: Beginnings to 1500 by Samuel Moffett
A fascinating account of the mostly forgotten reality that Christianity spread and thrived in the East long before the era of western colonization. There is also an accompanying second volume that covers the years 1500-1900.
Letters to a Diminished Church: Passionate Arguments for the Relevance of Christian Doctrine by Dorothy Sayers
In this collection of Sayers’ essays (some of which were read by WAP book club), I loved seeing a learned woman in a period inhospitable to female learning powerfully discussing theology and work/public life. Her detective fiction — especially the Lord Peter Wimsey mystery stories — are also delightful and gives us a glimpse of a Christian writer at her craft.
The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction by Justin Whitmel Earley (IVP 2019)
Would love to read this in community with my church small group and explore voluntarily trying this out together.
from Karen’s shelf
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson
Peterson’s gift with the English language + his understanding of life in Christ for the long haul + his pastor’s heart = an encouraging and helpful read that I do annually.
Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren
Tish helps us see, experience, and know God in the everyday activities of life.
The Book of Delights: Essays by Ross Gay
(On the lighter side…) Ross Gay — poet, author, and professor at Indiana University — sets out to document small delights each day for a year and invites us to join with him in looking for beauty and joy in the mundane.
A Human Being Died That Night: A South African Woman Confronts the Legacy of Apartheid by Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela
(On the heavy-ish side…) In the midst of conducting interviews with Eugene de Kock the imprisoned commanding officer of state-sanctioned death squads, Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, a black South African psychologist, wrestles with her own internal responses to the hate crimes de Kock and others committed under apartheid. Gobodo-Madikiezela offers a glimpse into her personal reflections of these interviews, as well as her thoughts on forgiveness.
Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson
Shout is in some ways a follow up to her best-selling young adult novel Speak from nearly 20 years ago. Shout is Laurie Halse Anderson's memoir written entirely in poetry, sharing the story of her childhood and the finding of her voice.
from Ann’s shelf
Three books I’m reading while recovering from pneumonia —
A Curious Beginning (Veronica Speedwell #1) by Deanne Raybourne
Veronica Speedwell’s sense of adventure and capability is just the kind of inspiration I need to get off the couch while my lungs learn to breathe properly again. I’m hoping I’ll be fully on the mend by the time I finish all four of the volumes currently in print.
The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions by Emily Freeman
I’m crazy about Emily Freeman’s podcast by the same title and looking forward to delving more deeply into her thoughtful lessons about life and faith. Her refrain to “do the next right thing” got me through the worst of my feverish days.
Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin
A long convalescence makes itself evident in layers of clutter around one’s home. Looking around our house, a person might think I’ve been recovering for two years — and in some ways that’s true. I can tell that part of my recuperation will require some clear-eyed decluttering, and Gretchen Rubin’s short book is just the accompaniment I need for these times.
from Andrea’s shelf
Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L’Engle
This is a beautiful book about following God as a creator of art, whether the written word or a watercolor. It’s been a number of years since I read it, and I’m ready to pull it off the shelf.
The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker
Parker dives deep into the specifics of creating meaningful meetings — whether parties or mergers or run of the mill team brainstorms.
And I'm thinking about trying Louise Penny mysteries — has anyone else read them? They keep popping up as recommended reading.
