5 Books I Recommend – May 2025
“Here’s to books, the cheapest vacation you can buy.”
– Charlaine Harris
Here are 4 nonfiction books and 1 novel that I’m recommending from my recent reads.
[See previously recommended books here]
NONFICTION
1. The Glass Castle
by Jeannette Walls
This memoir is a fascinating read for many reasons. But one of my favorites is because Walls shares story after story of her traumatic upbringing through the innocent eyes of her younger self—often unaware of just how much danger or neglect she was experiencing. As an adult reading this book, I wanted to snatch her away from her parents and get her to safety, but instead I had to watch it unfold as she eventually came to an awareness of what was happening.
I’m always amazed when people start with tragic childhoods to become functional adults, using their gifts and lessons to better the world. This book was adapted into a movie in 2017, but I haven’t seen it. You?
2. How to End Christian Nationalism
by Amanda Tyler
The title might be too ambitious, but Tyler does deliver a game plan to end Christian nationalism, a practical eight-step guide rooted in faith, civic engagement, and justice. Still, the task feels daunting, but by taking it in small chunks, Tyler equips readers with tools to recognize and resist this form of ideology in their communities and conversations. I’ll give a more full review next week.
3. The Forgive for Good Recovery Workbook
by Fred Luskin and Lyndon Harris
This past year I’ve been devouring Fred Luskin’s work on forgiveness. [Luskin’s Forgive for Love was one of my favorite books I read in 2024 and I’m already rereading Forgive for Good because I gained so much from it.] His unique framework has been a game changer for me—helping shift my mindset from victimhood to one of empowerment and compassion.
So I was thrilled to see this workbook become available by Luskin and Lyndon Harris (who I heard speak last year in a small group at Wild Goose!). It builds on Luskin’s core ideas of forgiveness, specifically focusing on those recovering from substance use. Even though I’m not the target audience, I still find the tools and insights are deeply applicable to anyone trying to heal from emotional pain, regardless of its origin.
4. A Moment for Me
52 Simple Mindfulness Practices to Slow Down, Relieve Stress, and Nourish the Spirit
by Catherine Polan Orzech
This is the kind of book you could slowly savor over a year—one short mindfulness ritual per week—but even skimming through it quickly (as I did) and trying a few of the practices was calming. It’s designed for real life, not for someone living hidden away as a monk, so it would be a good starting point for someone wanting to live more mindfully in their everyday world.
FICTION
5. Parable of the Sower (Earthseed, #1)
by Octavia E. Butler
Somehow I’d never read this classic novel from 1993, but I’m glad I finally did (and I want to read book 2 soon!). Despite the title, it’s not a retelling of the biblical parable. It’s about a climate-ravaged world where Lauren, a young girl with hyperempathy, has to navigate the collapse of society. (It felt cringy to discover it is set in 2024, the horrible “future.”)
Butler gives you a lot to think about regarding your faith as you read how Lauren develops her own belief system. Very thought-provoking book. And painfully relevant.
WHAT I’M READING NOW
- Big Dumb Eyes
Stories from a Simpler Mind
by Nate Bargatze - Looking for Alaska
by John Green - Faith
Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience
by Sharon Salzberg - Reset
How to Change What’s Not Working
by Dan Heath - There Are Rivers in the Sky
by Elif Shafak - You Don’t Need to Forgive
Trauma Recovery on Your Own Terms
by Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC - Thirst
by Mary Oliver
What good book have you read lately? Please share in the comments.
I haven’t read “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls in years. I remember enjoying the read. I’m going to add it to my re-read pile.
Nice post, Lisa.
I somehow missed The Glass Castle years ago. I read it last month for a new book club my local bookstore has begun! This month we’re reading Beloved, which is also a book I’d never read. Yay for book clubs. 🙂
Thanks again as ever for these reviews, Lisa. Blessings!
Sure, Martha. I love to talk (and write!) about books. 🙂
I LOVED The Glass Castle; both in book and movie form. I remember being both fascinated and horrified by all that she went through and I think I only managed to keep going knowing that in the end she was going to be okay.
I wonder if I can find The Glass Castle out there somewhere to stream… At our book club meeting, some people talked about seeing the movie too.
i see you will be reading Thirst. Made me want to dig out my Mary Oliver poems to enjoy this month too.
I’m stretching myself with the poetry book, Jean. I am typically NOT a poetry reader, but I want to be. ha. I appreciate the beauty of Mary Oliver’s intentional word choices and that forces me to slow down while I’m reading, not something that comes naturally but something I want to improve upon.
I always get such great book recommendations here, Lisa. I am off to check these books out further right now!
Good! I hope you find a book that suits you well, Donna. My own to-read list always grows when I hear what others are reading. 🙂
I don’t always remember what I’ve read, but The Glass Castle has stuck with me for years! What an impactful read. I didn’t see the movie. There is no way it could have compared to the book!
How did I miss this book in my past? Interesting that you’ve already read it too, Wendy. I understand why it stuck with you!
These are all new to me but several look like I will add them to my list to read. I have read several books recently that you might find of interest. In the novel department would be Code Name Edelweiss by Stephanie Lensem and The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry (one of my favorite authors). Non-ficton would be Laughter and Lament by Steve Brown and Home by Eliza Fitzpatrick. Currently I am reading John Eldredge’s recent release Experience Jesus. Really. Hope you are doing well. Miss connecting with you.
Thanks for sharing your recommendations, too, Pam! I miss our time together, too. I hope you’re doing well, friend!
I had trouble with the portrayal of “faith” in The Parable of the Sower because it was so artificial and made-up, though it did give people something to hope for, much needed in their bleak situation. I’m interested to know what Sharon Salzburg’s “Faith” might have to say about the topic.
Butler’s book was unquestionably thought-provoking — and prescient about the direction of the future. I hope we can find a different way out.
I was glad that Butler did have one of the characters address the issue that Lauren was making up this belief as she went along. Of course Lauren thought she was just observing and coming to conclusions as she went along, so there’s that. It’s definitely something to consider about faith, whether it’s an original belief system or one that is passed down from someone else who might have originally thought it up or something completely genuine. Lots to ponder. And I’m also in agreement with you that I surely hope we can find a different way out than what was presented in the book. Quite depressing if that’s what’s ahead.
I have read The Glass Castle and had a similar response as yours. I haven’t watched the movie but would like to. I have read a few books where the authors came out of very traumatic childhoods to lead healthy (eventually), successful lives..it really made me see how much we have power to change the trajectory of our lives. I haven’t heard of any of the others. The parable one sounds interesting. Do you think it could be used for the 52 BC prompt with climate change?
Yes, books like The Glass Castle remind me that we do have more power than we think to rise up from bad circumstances. As I was reading it, it reminded me somewhat of the more current book Educated by Tara Westover. It’s amazing what she overcame too.
And also yes, I do think that Parable of the Sower could easily fit into the climate change category. It was quite distressing to read how they had to pay for water from commercial water stations due to the lack of potable water (among other things).
Thank you for your book recommendations, Lisa. I’ll check them out further. I’ve read Looking for Alaska and enjoyed it. #weekendcoffeeshare
I’m glad you enjoyed Looking for Alaska too! I finished it this week. It left me with a few questions, but sometimes good books do that. 🙂
Parable of the Sower is one of my all time favorites, as hard as it is to get through, especially *now. Talents is equally good!
I have There Are Rivers in the Sky on my shelf and need to pick it up as soon as I’m done with my current read. I hope you’re enjoying it!
Oh, I’m excited to hear you say that Talents is equally good! I do want to read it sooner rather than later (before I forget too much about Sower, ha). Thanks for sharing this with me, Melissa! I am enjoying There Are Rivers in the Sky – I really didn’t know anything about it going in, so it’s all been a surprise. 🙂
I haven’t been reading non-fiction lately but these do sound good! I’m reading mysteries and lighter topics at the moment, but hope to add in some variety if things settle down again with my mom.
I think it’s healthy when we alter our reading choices due to life’s circumstances like you are doing! I need to add in some lighter things to my stack as well.
I’ve added The Glass Castle to my TBR list. Parable of Sower is already on it.
Yay! I hope you’ll enjoy these. They both have difficult sections in them about life. But also redeeming things.
I haven’t read any of these.. thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome. I’m always happy to share good books. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Wall’s book. Tyler’s book sounds interesting – especially for these times. Thank you for sharing such thoughtful books. Butler’s book is on my library list to be read soon. I’ve enjoyed her books in the past.
Wall’s book was made into a movie, but I haven’t seen it yet. I’ve heard it’s good. I think this was only the second book I’ve read from Octavia Butler (the first I read was Kindred).
I read The Glass Castle years ago but didn’t realise it had been made into a film. Not sure I would want to watch it! I am better reading dark subjects than I am at watching them.
Have a great week!
I completely agree with you, Marg! I don’t like watching those hard things either. We had this same conversation at book club last Sunday about Toni Morrison’s Beloved. It was also made into a movie, but after reading the book, I don’t think I could bear seeing the atrocities played out on film. It was bad enough in my imagination.
Intriguing assortment of books. The one about Christian Nationalism really caught my eye. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
The Christian Nationalism book was quite enlightening. I share a more full review about it tomorrow. It took me awhile to gather my thoughts enough to put into a post.
A great group of books. Interesting how 2024 is the year set in the climate book. I like the sound of A Moment for Me.
Yeah, it was a disturbing surprise to see that 2024 was the year chosen for Parable of the Sower. And here we are. I suppose I should be thankful that it’s not that bad yet.
It looks like you had a wonderful month of reading.
It was an interesting stack of books for sure! Several of the books were quite heavy so I need to find something lighter to blend in with next month’s books. ha.
“How to End Christian Nationalism” sounds so interesting. I have heard of “Glass Castle” and I’ve seen in many reading blogs and I’m sure it’s in my never-ending TBR list.
I totally relate to that “never-ending TBR list.” It’s a little disturbing to know that I’ll never have enough years left to read all the books on my list right now, not to mention how many more I’ll continue to add! 🙂
Some interesting reads there (and I’m impressed by how many books you’re currently reading!). I read The Glass Castle many years ago and it was very moving and shocking. I’ve seen the film too, which was a pretty good adaptation.
Popping over from Book Worms Monthly.
Hi, Lisa – You always find such interesting reads. I greatly appreciate your reviews because I always want to know about every book that you’ve shared. Once again, so many books, never enough time! <3
Hi Lisa, I always look forward to your book reviews and this month didn’t disappoint. I’ve not heard of any of your recommendations but perhaps I will start with ‘A Moment for Me’. I’ve been so busy lately I think this book is just what I need. Thanks for joining us for WOYBS? Happy Reading. x