May books!

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

A short list this month because I spent so much time on the road. I always think of travels as times to read more, not less, but I forget this doesn't really work when you are the responsible adult driving, and not the kid hanging out in the backseat with nothing to do but read.

 

1. Teaching True Love to a Sex-At-Thirteen Generation, Eric & Leslie Ludy

    I've heard about the Ludy's for years and thought it was time I read something of theirs. This one is billed as being for parents teaching a true and healthy view of sex, romance, and godliness to their children, but I found plenty of convicting and encouragings myself. I would definitely reread this if I someday have children. However. There's something about this book and almost all the others like it (Joshua Harris, John and Staci Eldridge, etc.) that I've read that rubs me the wrong way. It makes me squirm uncomfortably in the same way reading Lori Wick does. I don't even want to get in to the reasons why this might be - I'm not completely sure, and I don't want to offend anyone while I'm trying to figure it out. :)

 

2. Authentic Beauty, Leslie Ludy

    See above!

 

3. Heist Society, Ally Carter   

    After hearing this described as the "female version of Ocean's 11" I had high hopes - too high. I think if I had gone into with fewer expectations I would have enjoyed it more. It was fine for what it was, but I'd hoped for a little more depth and details, a little more of the dash and romance of crime.

 

4. Notes From the Tilt-a-Whirl: wide-eyed wonder at God's spoken world, N. D. Wilson

    I loved this book so much. I can see how others could have quite different reactions, but I loved the unorthodox, almost chaotic style: it reflects the world we live in, God's world, a world that is like like a tilt-a-whirl you can't get off, but can find beauty and joyfully wild abandon in anyway, at least if you'll only open your eyes and see.

 

5. This Book is Overdue: how librarians and cybrarians can save us all, Marilyn Johnson

    I liked this book solely because I am a librarian, and I like reading about libraries and books and people who work in and with them. Other than that draw, the book is poorly organized, disjointed, and wanders rather pointlessly.

 

6. Odd Thomas, Dean Koontz

    I'd always heard that Koontz was a readalike for Stephen King (and he is), and since Stephen King creeps me out, I had also avoided Koontz. Actually, let me rephrase. Nothing so strong as "avoided" - I had never even given a thought to reading him at all. That changed because of reading the graphic novel prequel to Odd Thomas last month, where I discovered that ... Dean Koontz has a sense of humor! This book is still suspenseful, but somehow the humor saved it from being creepy or gruesome to me (I won't vouch for your experience, however.)

 

But OH, I flipped ahead to the end and found out about Stormy, and it made me so mad and sad! The best part of the whole book was Stormy and Odd's sweet, odd relationship, so ... I'm not sure how the rest of the books will be?

 



 

7. A Sweet and Bitter Providence, John Piper

    First time I've ever read Piper. I liked it! He has a pleasant way of writing, and of course it didn't hurt that the book of Ruth is one of my favorites.

Comments

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

Wow, did anyone not read Heist Society this month?

Haha.. sorry, I had to edit. I was distracted when I first left the comment.

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

I was noticing that too! I guess since it just came out ...

[main-hoon-emily.livejournal.com]

I loved Heist Society but I was just a little disappointed by parts of it. The heist itself was underwhelming, I thought. It's a fun idea but could have been better -- which is exactly what I thought about Ally Carter's spy school series, too.

If you ever do figure out what it is about Christian dating books (and Lori Wick!) that you don't like, I'd love to see a post about it.

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

Fun fact: Ally Carter lives about ten minutes from my house. :)

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

Ditto this about Lori Wick, etc.!

[bellawilfer.livejournal.com]

I want to see that post about Christian dating books too!

[everydayjoy.livejournal.com]

I'm still trying to work out what it is for me. I haven't experienced this with Josh Harris, and I LOVE Elisabeth Elliot (someone mentioned her somewhere else in the same breath as the Ludys and I was like, NOOOO!), but there's definitely something about the Ludys' and Eldredges' books that is just... weird. It's like I agree with everything they say and yet don't. I think much of it is because their faith experience is so different to anything I've ever experienced and, while when I was younger I wanted it to be how they portray, it just hasn't worked like that, in spite of my most zealous efforts.

Also, after reading them (and I'm seriously not knocking them as I'm reading a book by Leslie Ludy right now), I kind of feel like I have eaten too many pink cupcakes.

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

You and Lizzi just helped me solidify why they rub me the wrong way, so THANK YOU! :D It's a combination of the sugary-sweetness (not that I don't believe Jesus should be the Prince of my heart, but seriously, I do not need my relationship with my SAVIOR described as if it was a romantic relationship) and the cliched "Christianese lingo", as Lizzi put it. And fluff ... yes. For instance, I hated how Staci Eldridge's Captivated relied so much more on pop culture references to make her points than Scripture!

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

PS: I admire Elisabeth Elliot a LOT and I grew up listening to her radio show, but I've never read her books (except the one about Jim's life and death, sniff.) I have about three of them waiting to be read, so we'll see. I'm predisposed to like her works, though. :)

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

You and Danielle just helped me figure out why - or at least part of why - they rub me the wrong way... Hurray! And thank you. :D It's a combination of the sugary-sweetness (not that I don't believe Jesus should be the Prince of my heart, but seriously, I do not need my relationship with my SAVIOR described as if it was a romantic relationship) and the cliched "Christianese lingo", as you put it. And fluff ... yes. For instance, I hated how Staci Eldridge's Captivated relied so much more on pop culture references to make her points than Scripture!

And yes, this is basically the same comment I just left Danielle. :)

[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean about the squirmy feelings. :\

[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

Yeah that is pretty funny!

[mattiescottage.livejournal.com]

. . . . seriously, I do not need my relationship with my SAVIOR described as if it was a romantic relationship. . . .

Hmmm. I am not familiar enough with the authors/works you cite to fully respond to this. I have read some that do this and understand that it depends a lot on context and balance--the limits of what is suggested.

However, I must testify that I grew up thinking that a romantic relationship was going to fulfill in my life what is really the Lord's role, not some human's. I also think that a lot of romance in fiction and movies set up romance as something that fills the natural longing in our heart that is supposed to be for the Lord. So, it was a big turning point--and a great peace in my life--when I could start to look to the Lord to fill those needs.

In other words, maybe it isn't that we are supposed to have a "romantic relationship" with the Lord, but rather that many things that we have often come to associate with a romantic relationship really belong to Him?

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, Mattie, I thought I'd replied to this already! Didn't mean to ignore you. :)

I guess all I really have to say is that your last line sums it up rather well, I think. :) I don't deny that Christ fulfills over and above anything one might try to find in a romantic relationship, but I do get a little uncomfortable when I hear Christians describing Jesus as if he was their ... boyfriend!

[mattiescottage.livejournal.com]

I do get a little uncomfortable when I hear Christians describing Jesus as if he was their ... boyfriend!

Agreed.

(However, they probably don't mean it quite in the romantic context you may presume.)

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

Most likely not. :) I hope!