Love your emphasis on paying attention. I've been thinking about that a lot throughout the past year (what diverts my attention + how to refocus on present things). It makes sense that reading would be so helpful here.
I've recently been reading A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (after having started it a year ago 😏). It's so good. I knew it was when I first started it, but it takes some intentional brain power to enjoy, and I got lazy with it. But seriously, the man can *work* a metaphor. Drive that baby through a sentence, a paragraph, or a whole stinkin' chapter. His descriptions are so vivid, too. Worth the effort to read.
I am doing a lot of recovering from growing up in a cult so most of my reading (which was a very short list. 2021 took all it could from me) was in the interests of theology and reintroducing me to the gospel.
The book I loved that saved / changed my life was the unsaved Christian by dean inserra. It really really felt like a personal letter from Jesus to my weary soul.
“Reintroducing me to the gospel”. That is beautiful, Karis. And courageous. And that book sounds like such a gift. I’m grateful you were able to read something that spoke so tenderly to you.
Thank you so much ❤️❤️❤️ It’s got that weathered look to it, too. Right now I’m reading one of Betty whites memoirs and it’s such a light and fun read. She was really remarkable.
My goal was to read 15 books in 2021, but the load of college graduation, beginning a Master's program, a full time job, and navigating so much change only brought that number to 9. But, I would say that the books I read this year have been some of the most formational. The Wisdom of Your Body by Hillary McBride and Redeeming Heartache by Cathy Loerzel and Dan Allender were my top books. I'm really looking forward to reading your new book!
A masters program will take all the reading energy right away! Ha. I remember that well. I think my own masters program was where I decided I needed to read fiction every night. It just can be too much to read clinical info in depth every day! I’ve been wanting to read both of those books. They need to be on my list for 2022, for sure!
And thank you! Going to share the preorder info, title, and cover very soon!
I read very little last year. it was a hard year for sure. interestingly, i started reading This To Shall Last when my father in law got diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer… and then I stopped reading it mid way through once my father in law died. i haven’t picked it up for a few months. but recently, I got Covid Pneumonia and was hospitalized for a week… i’m in a slow recovery phase right now and started re reading THIS TO SHALL LAST. and it’s been as refreshing as when i was reading it earlier this year. I would say it’s been like a cool glass a water on a hot day.
Jared, I am so sorry for the grief this past year held for you. And goodness, I am grateful my first book has kept you company during some of the hard moments. Thank you for sharing that. It means a lot to me.
I recently quit social media because I found myself so overwhelmed and distracted, having plenty that needs my attention in real life, but I have missed certain authors posts and I would be thrilled to read more of yours here! I loved Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad powerful story of her journey with cancer & survivorship, and Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison Warren.
Well, that makes me even more excited to cultivate this space this year! I like the idea of showing up here with some more depth than I get to on Instagram etc. So, thank you for the encouragement! I just bought Prayer in the Night and Between Two Kingdoms looks so good!
I can relate to this - being buried in a book at the tail end of Christmas. I have reclaimed my sense of wonder in reading this season and as a result, my writing is flowing more easily too. I hope that this will last through the whole year.
Yes! My enjoyment of writing is directly correlated to my enjoyment of reading. When I’m feeling uninspired or tired, I know I need to return to stories and sharp sentences to come back to life myself.
2021 was the year I rediscovered my love of fiction. I think I read more fiction last year than in the rest of my entire adult life combined. CRAZY and awesome. My favorites were Liu Cixin's Three-Body Problem series (I like sci-fi now??) and The Stand by Stephen King. Loved reading these recommendations and just put The Weight of Memory on hold at my library!
UM I love sci-fi but haven’t read much of it in the last year! So I’m grateful for that rec! And, kind of ridiculously, I’ve only read King’s On Writing (which is fabulous). I’m highly sensitive, so I’m not sure King’s horror components will sit well with my nighttime need for good dreams. But maybe?
I think you will love The Weight of Memory. It’s strange and beautiful and haunting.
Thanks for sharing these! Such great quotes to ponder before we get to the real deal! I’m learning a lot about the connection between grief and love so those two were particularly moving to me.
Gentle and Lowly and Stumbling Toward Wholeness were my faves. :)
Fave read of 2021: the Island of Sea Women by Lisa See. Based on real villages on Jeju, the women are the main breadwinners , fishing by diving without a wetsuit or anything, which is dangerous but the community of women is so good. It is about female friendship over the decades through real difficulties. There are some very horrific parts, but it's not one of those relentlessly grim books without hope.
Thank you for investing the time and energy into articulating your fondness for these books. This is a gift.
For me, Curt Thompson’s The Soul Desire was remarkable impactful read this fall. Curt’s genius is his brilliant ability to convince my head to listen to my body, which is no easy feat as I have nearly 40 years of using my head to get out of my body. I won’t ever be the same after journeying through this book. I had moments where I set the book down and wept for my younger self. It was deeply healing, inviting me to long for goodness and beauty more than I ever had hoped for.
I love Curt’s work so much. His latest is on the top of my stack for this year! Goodness, your words are making me want to read it sooner rather than later!
I have a deep fascination to see what books other people are reading and loving, so this post has me giddy! Thank you for taking the time to share these with the world.
Last year I would have to say my two favorite reads were Educated by Tara Westover, and A Burning in My Bones. In one, I saw much of my story (though more intense for sure), and in the other I felt like my soul was being mentored to be like a saint in a way.
Isn’t it fun? It’s probably why GoodReads is one of my favorite things online. I love seeing what people enjoy reading. (Though, sometimes it’s shocking!) Educated was incredible…I saw a lot of my own childhood in it too. (Of course, very different but still…) And I love your description of reading A Burning in My Bones—it really did feel like being mentored to be a saint. 😭
Love reading writer’s reading lists! Wintering by Katherine May was my top new release read. Daisy Jones and the Six was my favorite contemporary fiction. And I thoroughly loved rereading A Room with A View and Howard’s End.
This is already one of my favorite reads of all time. What a powerful teaching and reminder. Thank you for this. I’m committed to reading a lot more this year. I find myself so easily distracted and I see how unhealthy that’s becoming and the root of it. One of my favorite reads of 2021 was “love is the resistance” by Ashley Abercrombie ❤️
I’m so glad to hear this was helpful to you! Sometimes my love for reading feels a little eccentric. But I know I am most alive and loving when I am reading often and in-depth. The correlation between my attention to a story and my attention to my own story is simply too strong to not share!
Love hearing that you enjoyed Ashley’s book. I need to take a look!
It was seriously such a joy to write it. It’s probably not what anyone is expecting, but the Psalm gave me so much room to explore my own story, healing, and hope. CANNOT wait to tell you + everyone else more about it.
Virgil Wander by Leif Enger was an unexpected highlight of my reading this year. I went on to read his other books, too, because I liked his voice so much.
I also really loved reading the middle-grade book Elatsoe. It was a good adventure and the author has a gift for realistically written kids.
Love your emphasis on paying attention. I've been thinking about that a lot throughout the past year (what diverts my attention + how to refocus on present things). It makes sense that reading would be so helpful here.
I've recently been reading A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (after having started it a year ago 😏). It's so good. I knew it was when I first started it, but it takes some intentional brain power to enjoy, and I got lazy with it. But seriously, the man can *work* a metaphor. Drive that baby through a sentence, a paragraph, or a whole stinkin' chapter. His descriptions are so vivid, too. Worth the effort to read.
Impressed! You know how I feel about metaphors. Maybe this will be the year I pick that book up!
I am doing a lot of recovering from growing up in a cult so most of my reading (which was a very short list. 2021 took all it could from me) was in the interests of theology and reintroducing me to the gospel.
The book I loved that saved / changed my life was the unsaved Christian by dean inserra. It really really felt like a personal letter from Jesus to my weary soul.
“Reintroducing me to the gospel”. That is beautiful, Karis. And courageous. And that book sounds like such a gift. I’m grateful you were able to read something that spoke so tenderly to you.
Thank you so much ❤️❤️❤️ It’s got that weathered look to it, too. Right now I’m reading one of Betty whites memoirs and it’s such a light and fun read. She was really remarkable.
My goal was to read 15 books in 2021, but the load of college graduation, beginning a Master's program, a full time job, and navigating so much change only brought that number to 9. But, I would say that the books I read this year have been some of the most formational. The Wisdom of Your Body by Hillary McBride and Redeeming Heartache by Cathy Loerzel and Dan Allender were my top books. I'm really looking forward to reading your new book!
A masters program will take all the reading energy right away! Ha. I remember that well. I think my own masters program was where I decided I needed to read fiction every night. It just can be too much to read clinical info in depth every day! I’ve been wanting to read both of those books. They need to be on my list for 2022, for sure!
And thank you! Going to share the preorder info, title, and cover very soon!
I read very little last year. it was a hard year for sure. interestingly, i started reading This To Shall Last when my father in law got diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer… and then I stopped reading it mid way through once my father in law died. i haven’t picked it up for a few months. but recently, I got Covid Pneumonia and was hospitalized for a week… i’m in a slow recovery phase right now and started re reading THIS TO SHALL LAST. and it’s been as refreshing as when i was reading it earlier this year. I would say it’s been like a cool glass a water on a hot day.
Jared, I am so sorry for the grief this past year held for you. And goodness, I am grateful my first book has kept you company during some of the hard moments. Thank you for sharing that. It means a lot to me.
I recently quit social media because I found myself so overwhelmed and distracted, having plenty that needs my attention in real life, but I have missed certain authors posts and I would be thrilled to read more of yours here! I loved Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad powerful story of her journey with cancer & survivorship, and Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison Warren.
Well, that makes me even more excited to cultivate this space this year! I like the idea of showing up here with some more depth than I get to on Instagram etc. So, thank you for the encouragement! I just bought Prayer in the Night and Between Two Kingdoms looks so good!
I can relate to this - being buried in a book at the tail end of Christmas. I have reclaimed my sense of wonder in reading this season and as a result, my writing is flowing more easily too. I hope that this will last through the whole year.
Yes! My enjoyment of writing is directly correlated to my enjoyment of reading. When I’m feeling uninspired or tired, I know I need to return to stories and sharp sentences to come back to life myself.
Loved Live No Lies by John Mark Comer, Beloved by Toni Morrison, and The Winding Path of Transformation by Jeff Tacklind!
I loved JMC’s previous book! What struck you or encouraged you about this one?
And I think this is the year I need to read some Toni Morrison!
2021 was the year I rediscovered my love of fiction. I think I read more fiction last year than in the rest of my entire adult life combined. CRAZY and awesome. My favorites were Liu Cixin's Three-Body Problem series (I like sci-fi now??) and The Stand by Stephen King. Loved reading these recommendations and just put The Weight of Memory on hold at my library!
UM I love sci-fi but haven’t read much of it in the last year! So I’m grateful for that rec! And, kind of ridiculously, I’ve only read King’s On Writing (which is fabulous). I’m highly sensitive, so I’m not sure King’s horror components will sit well with my nighttime need for good dreams. But maybe?
I think you will love The Weight of Memory. It’s strange and beautiful and haunting.
Thanks for sharing these! Such great quotes to ponder before we get to the real deal! I’m learning a lot about the connection between grief and love so those two were particularly moving to me.
Gentle and Lowly and Stumbling Toward Wholeness were my faves. :)
That intersection is where I am spending so much of my time too! You will prob love both of those books. 🙏🏼
Fave read of 2021: the Island of Sea Women by Lisa See. Based on real villages on Jeju, the women are the main breadwinners , fishing by diving without a wetsuit or anything, which is dangerous but the community of women is so good. It is about female friendship over the decades through real difficulties. There are some very horrific parts, but it's not one of those relentlessly grim books without hope.
That sounds wild and beautiful!
Thank you for investing the time and energy into articulating your fondness for these books. This is a gift.
For me, Curt Thompson’s The Soul Desire was remarkable impactful read this fall. Curt’s genius is his brilliant ability to convince my head to listen to my body, which is no easy feat as I have nearly 40 years of using my head to get out of my body. I won’t ever be the same after journeying through this book. I had moments where I set the book down and wept for my younger self. It was deeply healing, inviting me to long for goodness and beauty more than I ever had hoped for.
I love Curt’s work so much. His latest is on the top of my stack for this year! Goodness, your words are making me want to read it sooner rather than later!
I have a deep fascination to see what books other people are reading and loving, so this post has me giddy! Thank you for taking the time to share these with the world.
Last year I would have to say my two favorite reads were Educated by Tara Westover, and A Burning in My Bones. In one, I saw much of my story (though more intense for sure), and in the other I felt like my soul was being mentored to be like a saint in a way.
Isn’t it fun? It’s probably why GoodReads is one of my favorite things online. I love seeing what people enjoy reading. (Though, sometimes it’s shocking!) Educated was incredible…I saw a lot of my own childhood in it too. (Of course, very different but still…) And I love your description of reading A Burning in My Bones—it really did feel like being mentored to be a saint. 😭
Love reading writer’s reading lists! Wintering by Katherine May was my top new release read. Daisy Jones and the Six was my favorite contemporary fiction. And I thoroughly loved rereading A Room with A View and Howard’s End.
I am reading Wintering (slowly) right now! It’s lovely. And I agree—it’s especially fun to see what fellow writers have been reading.
This is already one of my favorite reads of all time. What a powerful teaching and reminder. Thank you for this. I’m committed to reading a lot more this year. I find myself so easily distracted and I see how unhealthy that’s becoming and the root of it. One of my favorite reads of 2021 was “love is the resistance” by Ashley Abercrombie ❤️
I’m so glad to hear this was helpful to you! Sometimes my love for reading feels a little eccentric. But I know I am most alive and loving when I am reading often and in-depth. The correlation between my attention to a story and my attention to my own story is simply too strong to not share!
Love hearing that you enjoyed Ashley’s book. I need to take a look!
*gasps* "a creative meditation on Psalm 23"
It was seriously such a joy to write it. It’s probably not what anyone is expecting, but the Psalm gave me so much room to explore my own story, healing, and hope. CANNOT wait to tell you + everyone else more about it.
Virgil Wander by Leif Enger was an unexpected highlight of my reading this year. I went on to read his other books, too, because I liked his voice so much.
I also really loved reading the middle-grade book Elatsoe. It was a good adventure and the author has a gift for realistically written kids.
Okay, I LOVED Peace Like a River. (Virgil Wander, I remember liking slightly less.)Leif Enger’s writing is incredible.
Adding Elatsoe to my GoodReads! I love middle grade fiction.