7 Books I Recommend—August 2022
“Who is each one of us, if not a combinatoria of experiences, information, books we have read…. Each life is an encyclopedia a library.
– Italo Calvino
Here are 7 books I recommend from what I finished reading in August.
[See previously recommended books here]
NONFICTION
1. WayMaker
Finding the Way to the Life You’ve Always Dreamed Of
by Ann Voskamp
With her trademark poetic prose, Ann tells the story of her marriage in its early years and how they decided on one more child. With the backdrop of God guiding the way, she lays her soul bare, admitting her faults, her weaknesses, as well as her faith. Even in the few spots where I differ in theology with Ann, I still draw inspiration from her beliefs and her honesty.
2. I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet
Discovering New Ways of Living When the Old Ways Stop Working
by Shauna Niequist
Likewise, Shauna also shares a rough spot in her life in her latest book. She writes about her move to New York, her struggle with her family’s disgrace, and her new path of deepening her faith through uncertainty. I highly recommend.
3. Disarming Scripture
Cherry-Picking Liberals, Violence-Loving Conservatives, and Why We All Need to Learn to Read the Bible Like Jesus Did
by Derek Flood
I’m always looking for books willing to challenge my blind spots regarding scripture and faith. This book shows examples in the Bible where Jesus (and Paul) shook up the current fundamentals of their day through a different interpretation of the Hebrew scriptures. We’re reminded that questioning our former beliefs can be an important part of a growing faith.
(This is a free Kindle Unlimited book, if you’re interested. I’ve been chasing these down while I have my free 3-month Kindle Unlimited subscription.)
4. Someday Is Today
22 Simple, Actionable Ways to Propel Your Creative Life
by Matthew Dicks
Another 5-star book from Matthew Dicks (see Storyworthy too!). This is a very practical guide to accomplish the things you want to. Matthew stresses the importance of capturing stray minutes, of being a chicken not a pig, of choosing our own finish lines, etc. You’ll be entertained as you’re guided and educated.
5. Grief Is Love
Living with Loss
by Marisa Rene Lee
After the loss of her mother, a pregnancy, and a cousin, Marisa offers her wisdom on grief: Let it be. She learned to stop running from her emotions, and instead let them run their course. Her book gives beautiful permission to view grief as proof of our love for the one we’ve lost.
FICTION
6. Sins of the Tribe
by Mark. A. Salter
In this novel Wally is thrilled to join the Bastille University Tribe football team. But as the plot unfolds, he sees behind the curtain of tribalism that often surrounds college sports. As a college football fan myself, I appreciate the plot line as well as the moral implications hidden in this story.
[Read my review of Sins of the Tribe: “How Loyal Are You to Your Sports Team?”]
7. Apples Never Fall
by Liane Moriarty
Where has the mother gone? After Joy Delaney disappears one day, her husband Stan and four grown children are left to analyze what went wrong. Liane Moriarty never fails to tell an intriguing story with interesting plot twists. Very good book.
READING NOW
- Share Your Stuff. I’ll Go First.
10 Questions to Take Your Friendships to the Next Level
by Laura Tremaine - Immortal Diamond
The Search for Our True Self
by Richard Rohr - The Downstairs Neighbor
by Helen Cooper - Why We Did It
by Tim Miller - Beating Guns
Hope for People Who Are Weary of Violence
by Shane Claiborne, Michael Martin - Reading Like a Writer
A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them
by Francine Prose - How We Live Is How We Die
by Pema Chödrön
What good book are YOU reading this month? Please share in the comments.
Thank you for sharing these books, Lisa! I think I will now get Shauna’s book, for sure. I just finished Apples Never Fall. It was my first book I read by the author. I almost abandoned it 3/4’s the way through, but glad I kept going.
Shauna’s book sounds interesting to me, too, Lisa. I always appreciate your recommendation.
Blessings!
Interesting set of books, Lisa! I don’t know any of them, but I do recognise one you’re currently reading, Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose. I really enjoyed that one and hope you do too!
Glad to hear you liked Reading Like a Writer. That can motivate me to keep going. 🙂 So far it is good, but I haven’t gotten very far into it. I downloaded it free via Kindle Unlimited so I’ve got no money invested in it if I choose to stop reading it. lol.
I enjoyed Apple Never Fall but did feel the last couple of chapters were a bit drawn out and unnecessary. I really like most of Moriarty’s book though.
I really liked Share Your Stuff.
I keep hearing about Ann Voskamp’s newest and wondering if I need another round of her story…?
Always appreciate your thoughts on books!
I haven’t read Ann Voskamp’s blog in a long while, so I wasn’t up to date with the latest parts of her story. This book caught me up on a lot I had missed. She did go back and forth between the early days of her marriage and now, but most of it was new to me. 🙂
Lisa, very grateful always for your book recommendations & reviews! I’m adding to that book list I promised for you, but hope to send it soon. I have S. N.’s Bread & Wine–excellent, and this sounds worthy too. Thank you!!! not just for being a reader and writer but a share-er! Not a word, huh, but you still do it very well! 🙂
xo
Lynn
Love your list as usual with some overlaps onto my reading but some new ones too, You have some heavy reading upcoming. Rohr for example. I don’t think I ever go all the way through Immortal Diamond. looking forward to your comments on that deep reading. Thanks for sharing your list and your insights.
Somehow I missed reading Immortal Diamond in my journey through Richard Rohr’s books. I’m actually reading it alongside a course I’m taking through the Center for Action and Contemplation. I paid for the course (and the book), so it’s extra motivation to read it carefully. 🙂
Lisa, as always, I appreciate reading your recommendations!
Apples Never Fall is on my tbr!!
Genesis @ Whispering Chapters
Lisa, thank you for your book recommendation. I did read Waymaker and loved it. I am now reading Feelings and Faith by Brian S. Borgman.
I appreciate your reading recommendations, Lisa! I have two recommendations for you: Jesus’ Silent Years: Exploring Facts the Gospels Do Not Tell Us by William Justice & Yesterday Framed in Today by Isabella Alden (pseudonym Pansy). I think you will find them interesting.
Thanks for sharing your recommendations too, Lisa! I love getting recommendations. Those titles sound very interesting so I’ll look them up.
Looks like you had a good reading August and are starting on a good September. I like the sound of Grief is Love. It might be a difficult read, but one that would be helpful. Have a good September!
You always find some interesting titles!
Really got into both Shauna’s and Marisa’s stories. They hit home in all the ways that I needed.
I’m always impressed how many books you’ve got going at once, friend. So inspiring. But I’m still sticking with one, maybe two at a time. I think I’ve put down more than I’ve finished this year.
No surprise!
Have a great September reading month.
Thanks for sharing your list, Lisa. I’m about three-fourths of the way through “Waymaker” … I’ve enjoyed many parts of it but have also found myself saying, “Give yourself grace, Ann” a lot. 🙂 “Someday is Today” sounds like it would be be a helpful read for me about now too …
I really like a Pema Chödrön book, I have one from NG, might be that one, will have to look.
I’ve been really curious about Shauna Niequist’s new book. Glad to know it’s good.
I’m thoroughly enjoying I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet. Taking it slow because I don’t want it to be over. Thanks for sharing your list of recommendations.