D's Books in 2018
I rediscovered the joy of reading this past year due to pregnancy and a lot of downtime with sleeping baby on my chest. Most of these were just for enjoyment (i.e. fiction) but I read a few books that really challenged my views in regards to faith.
1 // Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple I picked this book up because I read one of her other books in the past and really enjoyed her writing style as well as the story. This one was okay; I didn’t enjoy the storyline as much.
2 // Single, Gay, Christian: A Personal Journey of Faith and Sexual Identity by Gregory Coles The issue of homosexuality didn’t really confront me until my cousin came out to me when I was in my teens. Before that, I always thought of it as a black and white issue growing up with a Baptist upbringing and didn’t think much further of it. Everything is challenged when you come across a close friend or relative who identifies as gay. I had a gay best friend in high school and one in college and two other relatives have come out. I would be lying if I myself didn’t struggle with how this intertwined with my faith. I haven’t read many books on the topic truth be told, I’ve just had conversations… but I think this author does a good job of addressing both sides. It may be a bit bias because of his personal journey but he definitely makes you think of both sides.
3 // Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
4 // Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
5-7 // Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan
Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan
8 // Learning to Speak God From Scratch by Jonathan Merritt I really resonated with this book when it comes to where I’m at in my walk with God. We haven’t been to church in over a year and I often find myself cringing when people say certain ‘religious’ words. Am I backsliding? No, I wouldn’t say that I am… it’s more like a few steps backwards, a lot of steps further if you know what I mean. Anyway, Merritt goes on to talk about how Christians can and should go through three different phases when it comes to their faith… and how these ‘religious’ words can still be sacred.
9 // Like a Mother by Angela Garbes Written by a local writer, this book talks about pregnancy in a very candid and fun way and I would recommend it for EVERYONE. Pregnant or not, female or male, pro-life/pro-choice, whoever you are… this book educates you on what really happens in a woman’s body and what it’s capable of and what it loses and gains through the miraculous thing that is pregnancy. I think men should really read this.
10-15 // Harry Potter Books 1-6 by J.K. Rowling I’ve been rereading this series and watching the movies as I go along. I don’t think I’ll be able to finish #7 before the end of the year ha!
16 // Bringing Up Bébé by Pamela Druckerman