Comments on: Books I’m reading – June 2015

By: LisaNotes

LisaNotes — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 14:10:10 +0000

In reply to Deanna. I think you would really like Unoffendable, Deanna, because your train of thought here goes right along with the book. And yes, how we respond to our own circles of friends and family are of utmost important. If we can't hold it together with the ones we love the most and work around, how much good can we really do elsewhere? Love is always the best motivation. I'm not there yet, but I want to be.

By: Deanna

Deanna — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 10:10:43 +0000

Great list of books, there are many that caught my eye.
The Westing Game does sound like a good summer read with my kids.
Unoffendable sounds very good. The idea of inciting anger or hanging onto it for action has always troubled me. I think that we can take offense and take action but it’s how we respect no to the offense….in anger, and anger that provokes actions not based out of love…that is not good. I admit, I have troubles with anger. It may not be on the level of a social justice movement, but I believe that our own daily interactions with our own community (family, friends, coworkers, neighbors,etc) are hugely important if not more so than a movement. In other words, if I am not properly responding to an offense, or expressing my anger correctly then I am doing wrong, and not living justly. Does that make sense?. This book sounds like a book that could empower me further as a complement to what the scriptures are greatly teaching me (lately).
True Community really caught my eye. The description speaks to a place that I am now residing- wanting to enrich other people’s lives, and responding well towards other believers.
again, great list of books.

By: LisaNotes

LisaNotes — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 14:00:52 +0000

In reply to Jean Wise.

I’m very much a library book reader too. That way, if that the book isn’t very good, I’ve wasted no money anyway. My Bright Abyss sounds intriguing.

That’s great that you’re reading more and skimming less. I’m encouraging myself to the opposite this year just to get rid of some books on my shelf that I’ve had forever. I can’t seem to let go of them without at least skimming them, but some of them aren’t worth reading. A real accomplishment would be if I could just release them without even having to skim! ha. Maybe one day.

By: Jean Wise

Jean Wise — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 22:29:11 +0000

Great list as usual and I love how you revisit or read for the first time older classic books too. Your reading level is amazing. I AM reading more and less skimming this year – that was one habit I really wanted to work on this year. I just finished My Bright Abyss by Christian Wiman. More like a collection of spiritual exploring essays. He had/has cancer and began seeking more about what he really believes. I am not sure if he ever really lets go and falls in love with Jesus – he stays a lot in his head and blocks his heart in my opinion. sort of sad. But does write some interesting mind expanding things. I wouldn’t buy it but I got it from our library. Happy weekend, Lisa

By: LisaNotes

LisaNotes — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 19:48:25 +0000

In reply to Beth@Weaving. Unoffendable has definitely been a great book for me. It's showing me things about myself that I don't like to see, but that I need to see.

By: Beth@Weaving

Beth@Weaving — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 07:14:34 +0000

Unoffendable sounds like a great read. I’m going to have to look for that.

One day I’m going to tackle Anna Karenina!

By: LisaNotes

LisaNotes — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 23:03:50 +0000

In reply to Susan.

Yes, we do have very similar tastes. I’ve noticed that too, Susan. Makes it fun to look at your reading list. 🙂

Oh no, long forays into the Russian revolution? That’s the kind of material I was hoping wouldn’t be in AK. ha. Might do some skimming when it comes to that… I do hope to watch a movie version of it too when I finish the book (well, IF I finish the book).

By: LisaNotes

LisaNotes — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 23:01:10 +0000

In reply to Dolly@Soulstops.

The Whole-Brain Child sounds like a serious tome! 🙂 I wonder if I’ll return to reading books like that when I have grandkids. Now that my kids are (almost) grown, I’ve laid aside certain categories of reading.

I hope I’ll get through Anna Karenina. It is VERY slow going. I’m reading it on my Kindle and my goal is 1% a day, which means it’ll take me at least 100 days, because there are often days I can’t get to it at all. Oh well. There’s no rush, right? And I can always stop too. ha.

By: LisaNotes

LisaNotes — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 22:59:01 +0000

In reply to Carrie, Reading to Know.

You’re right that none of us can remain unoffendable. (Chuckling at your f-i-l comment.) Anger is an emotion that we’re all going to experience. I think one of the main points of the book is whether or not we think we’re justified in holding on to anger instead of feeling it then letting it go. Hansen makes some really good points about that. I’ll write a review when I’m finished but I’m sure it won’t do it justice, so I do hope you’ll read it for yourself if you get a chance. He writes very conversationally so it’s been fun and easy to read. You’ll probably find you agree with him more than you expect to.

By: LisaNotes

LisaNotes — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 22:56:20 +0000

In reply to Joyufl. Agreed---Frankenstein was nothing like the movies I'd seen, thankfully! ha. I have been intimidated by Anna through the years as well, but I have a niece who reads many classics and she recommended this one highly. And it's actually quite easy to follow. I still check out SparkNotes though from time to time to make sure I'm grasping it all. My TBR list is so long that I only look at the tail end of it these days. ha.