6 Books I Recommend – November 2024
“I read so I can live more than one life in more than one place.”
– Anne Tyler
Here are 4 nonfiction books and 2 novels I recommend from my recent reads.
[See previously recommended books here]
NONFICTION
1. Briefly Perfectly Human
Making an Authentic Life by Getting Real About the End
by Alua Arthur
We’re familiar with midwives who help bring new life into the world, but Alua Arthur serves as a midwife to the dying—she’s a death doula. But this isn’t a depressing book. It’s actually filled with life, hope, and beauty. It will encourage you to think more intentionally about end-of-life choices. I highly recommend it.
2. Lovely One: A Memoir
by Ketanji Brown Jackson
I hope you’ll read Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s memoir. She shares her story from humble beginnings as the daughter of two teachers to becoming the first Black woman on the Supreme Court. Her resilience and strength are so inspiring—it’s the kind of book that leaves you feeling uplifted and hopeful. I absolutely loved it.
3. Collateral Damage
Changing the Conversation about Firearms and Faith
by James E. Atwood
Should churches be addressing gun violence? This author—a pastor, activist, and hunter—believes they should, calling on Christians to unite in the effort to end gun violence. The book combines powerful statistics with real-life stories and spiritual reflections about how we could better care for each other.
4. Magic Words
by Jonah Berger
Words matter. Choosing the right ones at the right time can make all the difference. I love how this book explores so many ways we can alter just a few words to encourage, persuade, and communicate with greater clarity and impact.
FICTION
5. The Life Impossible
by Matt Haig
In this novel, a former student reaches out to his retired math teacher, Grace Winters, sharing his struggles with depression. Her letter in response is the bulk of the book. She tells him how she went on an unexpected journey to a Mediterranean island, where she ends up on a magical quest and uncovers some amazing secrets that make her life worth living again.
6. By Any Other Name
by Jodi Picoult
This isn’t my favorite Jodi Picoult book, but only because I’m not a fan of stories set so far in the past. Granted, this one does alternate between the 1500s and the 2000s, adding a modern storyline. Nonetheless, I still recommend it because it covers an important theme of women finding and using their voices, then and now, through the written word of plays. Plus, it left me wondering—did Shakespeare really write all his plays, or is there more to the story, as Picoult suggests through the story?
WHAT I’M READING NOW
- The Small and the Mighty
Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement
by Sharon McMahon - Star-Spangled Jesus
Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding A True Faith
by April Ajoy - The Road to Wisdom
On Truth, Science, Faith, and Trust
by Francis S. Collins - The Violent Take It by Force
The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy
by Matthew D. Taylor - Ghosts Over the Boiler
Voices from Alabama’s Death Row
by Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty - Do You Still Talk to Grandma?
When the Problematic People in Our Lives Are the Ones We Love
by Brit Barron
What good book have you read lately? Please share in the comments.
Thanks, as always, for your recommendations, Lisa. Blessings!
Sure! I love to talk books. 🙂
Hi, Lisa – Again, I haven’t yet read anything on this list but I am a huge Matt Haig fan so definitely have my eye on ‘The Life Impossible.’ Thank you for the excellent reviews!
I’m a huge Matt Haig fan also! Next on my list from Matt is “The Humans.”
Oh, I really like this list. Need a check a couple that caught my eye. thank you for sharing!
Thanks, Angie. It’s always fun to share about books we enjoy!
Actually I have ordered Collins’s new book from the library. I really respect him and his calm and expertise during COVID and strong faith in the Lord. Literally just finished his The Language of God about how science and the Bible need not be considered “adversarial” per se. Excellent. I wanted to read it first. LOVE your recommendations. Keep reading. Keep growing, Keep curious!
xo
Lynn
I’m really enjoying Collin’s book so far. In the book he talks about a podcast he was on with someone who had an opposing view about covid…and I realized I had actually heard that episode! I remember how kind the two gentlemen were with each other in trying to understand the other’s viewpoint. So now I can hear Collin’s voice in my head as I read his words. I like when that happens. 🙂 I’m glad you’re such a fellow book-lover, Lynn!
I greatly respect him. Sadly, he’s been demonized, which is wrongheaded and terribly sad. He’s a fine Christian and brilliant scientist (think genome project). What would we do without bibliophiles, Lisa? What would *authors* do?!
Lisa, Btw, Collins and Renee Flemings, brilliant met star, forged efforts to pen a fascinating book on the power of music to help w/ brain plasticity and healing. It was a heavy tome, and I had so many books in my stack; so I ret’d it to the library. But I thought their collaboration was intriguing. You love music, so maybe you’ll tackle it.
Lisa, your book recommendations are always great! ???? Thank you for sharing them with us at The Crazy Little Lovebirds link party #62.
P.S. I forget that when I try to insert a smiley face, it puts question marks instead. Haha.
Have a great weekend!
I’ve tried to figure out why my blog won’t accept the smiley face emoji! ha. But I know when I see the series of question marks that it is really a smile. 🙂
Lisa, hi. Lovely One is on my request list at the library and I’m looking forward to sitting down with her story. Memoirs still are my favorite books to pick up, but historical fiction is right up there, too. I always love a peek at what’s on your shelves, friend.
I think you’ll enjoy Lovely One, too, Linda! (Btw, I haven’t received any of your posts lately…unless you’re on a break. I need to go make sure there’s not a disconnect somewhere.)
I’d like to
Harvee https://bookdilettante.blogspot.com/2024/11/wearing-dog-sunday-salon.htmlread Magic Words. I find I use the same words over and over again.
I’m trying to remember to make some of the word switches that he suggests in the book, like “don’t” instead of “can’t,” and “could” instead of “should.” Not easy to break old habits though.
Thanks for sharing all your recommendations! I have been looking for some good books to unwind after work. I am on my feet all day painting kitchen cabinets so I love to relax with a good book in the evenings. I think I am going to try The Life Impossible next. You made it sound so interesting!
“The Life Impossible” is a great book to unwind with. Hope you enjoy it too!
Good recommendations. I’d like to read Lovely One although I have a lot TBR at the moment and am working my way through two huge books for a prize that’s announced at the beginning on December!!
I totally understand. I am working my way through The God of the Woods right now from the library, so I have to prioritize it right now. 🙂
I am fascinated by the work and thoughts behind death doulas.
Me, too, Joanne! This book and topic are so intriguing. I’m now following the author on Instagram to learn more about her work.
That is an interesting selection! I’ve actually just finished By Any Other Name and absolutely loved it. To me, it was next level compared to her previous books.
Popping over from Book Worms Monthly.
I could tell that By Any Other Name had to have been a heavily researched book! I learned a lot about Shakespeare along the way that I didn’t know earlier. 🙂 Glad you liked the book too. I’ve yet to read a Jodi Picoult book that I haven’t enjoyed at some level anyway.
Thanks for sharing your reads on link parties, where I found you. Funny – I just listened to a podcast featuring Alua Arthur – she is wise beyond her years and I now want to read her book.
Matt Haig’s novel is at the top of my TBR – I love his books – and while I’m not normally a Picoult fan, I’ve read a lot about her theories re Shakespeare… Thanks for linking up.
Magic Words stood out for me, Lisa. I will be looking for it to read and put into practice. Our words and how we use them are so important and sometimes we just don’t think before we speak. I’ve also read a couple of Matt Haig books but not the one you have mentioned. Thanks for sharing and linking up with us at #WOYBS? and have a lovely weekend. Sue L xx
Thanks Lisa, I think I’ll look for the Matt Haig one you review here. It’s great having your post for #WOYBS. Have a great weekend.
I can always count on you to have some thought-provoking titles in your recommendations, Lisa. I have added Lovely One to my TBR pile. It is interesting to see the slow, but hopefully resounding ways Christians are standing up to the Christian Nationalists. I think the Christian Nationalists forgot to read Jesus’s teachings.
These are great reads Lisa. Some of these will be going on my list. I’ve heard of a few of these and will have a look at them further.
Thanks bunches for sharing your reads and recommendations with Sweet Tea & Friends this month sweet friend.