Category Archives: reviews

Kathleen Norris’ little book about “laundry, liturgy and ‘women’s work'” is a must read for anyone who struggles to see the value in repetitive tasks. Quotidian is a word from the Latin meaning daily or ordinary, and in our society where we feel measured by our output, these everyday things like laundry, cooking and dishes can be very discouraging to those who do them day in and day out. It might also be a good read for a spouse who has trouble understanding exactly what their partner does day in and day out. The author is not a stay-at-home mother, so homemakers who work in or outside the home, with or without children, will all relate to her insights. It’s a work that is short and very readable, having been delivered as a lecture series, but also thought provoking and deep. I expect that I will be coming back to it again in years to come, for encouragement and insight to sustain me in my daily work. (9.5/10)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first in a trilogy of crime novels written by Stieg Larsson. Originally published in Swedish, it was an international best seller long before I ever heard of it. I am not typically a fan of modern crime novels, but some rave ratings on goodreads persuaded me to give this one a try.

From the first chapters, I was hooked, even though the novel starts slowly and develops over time. I suppose what pulled me in is how well written and translated it is and the dynamic and interesting characters. The mystery itself intrigued me, a classic “locked-room format in an island setting” as the protagonist, journalist Mikael Blomkvist, describes.

The titular character is a hacker turned private investigator who gives the novel a certain edge. She’s likely a woman with Asperger’s Syndrome, but in spite of her difficulties connecting with people, she is extremely sympathetic to readers, and forms an instant bond with Blomkvist that is genuine and believable.

The original title was Men Who Hated Women, and there is a fair amount of misogyny and some descriptions of violence, particularly against women. I didn’t find them gratuitous or excessive, but be forewarned. Eagerly anticipating the next two installments, I am also sad that Larsson died so young without being able to give readers even more to look forward to. (8/10)

I quoted this book recently, and would be remiss if I didn’t give it a mini-review now that I’ve finished it. If you enjoy theology, this is a must read. The topic of holiness is addressed systematically in a way that applies to all of life. It’s thought-provoking, but readable, not dry in the least. As it was originally delivered a a lecture series, it’s more easily understood than many other theological works of its calibre. I was engaged by every page. The short chapters and many sub-chapters make it easy to pick up and put down if you don’t have hours to devote to reading daily. (9.5/10)

From Fear to Freedom is an account of one woman’s realization over many years of how she was living in a way that contradicted what she thought she believed about God and the world. I had a hard time connecting to this book in some ways, but I think it may be a good thing. The message that was so life changing for Rose Marie, her paradigm shift from an orphan to a daughter mentality, is one that I have been taught well for many years, due in part to her family’s influence.

I’d recommend this book to someone coming out of a more legalistic tradition, or that struggles to believe that they are loved by God. (6/10)

Wendell Berry is a prophet for our time, and this is a great introduction to his non-fiction. Life is a Miracle describes how lack of connection to the community, over-specialization and lack of dialogue between the disciplines hurts everyday people, the land, and more. In his novels and essays, membership is a recurring theme. In Life is a Miracle, Berry asserts that true leadership is impossible without membership. The disconnect between leaders and policy-makers and the people they influence would be greatly diminished if there was membership as a basis for leadership instead of professionalism (career politicians, etc.) Though the book is structured as a response to another book, I did not feel like I needed to have read it to appreciate Life is a Miracle. (8.5/10)

Things that are terrifying or filled with sadness are not necessarily without beauty. The Book Thief is a story that exemplifies that principle. The characters are real and complex and the plot is captivating. But more than that, it’s a book that shows the humanity of different individuals, while not shying away from the brutality of others.

Using Death as the narrator adds another dimension to the novel. Nothing is new to Death, and yet he is moved and intrigued by this story and shares it with us, showing us the complexity of humanity.

The Book Thief is the best contemporary young adult book I’ve read. I know some people feel it was wrongly marketed that way, but I think it fits the audience well, while not writing down to them. The voice and style are distinct enough to make it feel special, while the subject matter and characters are real enough to tell a great deal of truth about the human condition. It will be interesting to watch and see if it finds a place in school literature curricula. (9.5/10)

The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
Perfectly postmodern and European, Kundera did an excellent job of breaking all the rules of novel writing. Philosophizing for pages at a time, addressing the readers directly, making the main characters more than a little frustrating, the emphasis is that rules are meant to be broken. Yet, the medium fits his message well, and as a novel dealing with love and place, communism and liberalism, it soars. Some readers will be offended by the gratuitous sex and deeply flawed characters, it is certainly a book not everyone will “like” even if they appreciate it. (4/5)

Meet the Austins by Madeline L’Engle
If I could, I’d rate this 3.5 stars. I enjoyed it, and appreciated how real and ordinary the protagonist Vicky is portrayed as being. However, I found it a little slow at times, and more preachy / transparent than I remember the Murry family books being. All of the books about the Austins are on my to-read list this year and I am looking forward to seeing the family develop more over subsequent books. (3.5/5)

We all experience poverty. Our poverty may not all be monetary, but we experience loss and lack. This story captures one man’s discovery of his own poverty, after growing up working class and accumulating wealth through good luck and a savvy eye for art. It’s also a story about dignity and friendship and worth, a story that will move readers to consider the way they look at the people they encounter from day-to-day.

This is not a how-to book, not a duplicable way to fight poverty or homelessness. In many ways, the Halls break the “rules” of ministry to the poor. It was interesting to read the book considering some of those ideas. It took cancer and helplessness for Denver to bring some equity to the relationship through his prayer and steadfastness to the Halls. Denver continued to doubt the validity of their relationship for a long time. Readers are sure to understand that this friendship has been a lot of work for both parties involved.

As my friend Krys aptly put, the story carries this book far more than the writing. Both voices can be tedious and difficult, but the fact that the story is true helped me to press on through. (6.5/10, interact on goodreads.)

The Help has been THE book of the year, and I didn’t want to let 2009 pass by without reading it.

If you’re one of the few who hasn’t heard of it, it’s set in the civil rights era in Jackson, Mississippi and tells the stories of three women: one white, young and privileged, and two older black housemaids. Capturing some of the major perspectives of the time while weaving in the personal journeys of the three narrators, it is with good reason that Stockett’s first novel has been a smashing success. Once I got into the rhythm of the voices, I literally couldn’t put it down.

In the tradition of all good writers, but particularly Southern writers, Stockett is a very capable and engrossing storyteller, and readers are easily attached to the characters. Though some of the story feels like it feeds on stereotypes, I appreciated the depth of such touches as the most vitriolic segregationist being a sweet and tender mother, more attached to her children than many of the other Junior League types. The women of this time were anything but simple, and Stockett is sure to help readers to understand that.

I borrowed this copy but I will be acquiring my own as it well deserves a place in our family library. (9.5/10, interact on goodreads)

With its Latin-speaking father, spunky children and old-fashioned adventures, this book feels as if it could have been written 50 years ago. It’s literary and insightful, and treats the subjects with dignity, something children will recognize and delight in. I would highly recommend it for any family bookshelf, though parents ought to know that there is some unrequited pining by one of the sisters and some other topics that may be confusing to very young readers, though not wholly inappropriate. Considering this is Birdsall’s first novel, I am delighted to see what else she churns out. There’s another Penderwick novel written, and three more planned, and I can’t wait to see what adventures Rosalind, Skye, Jane and Batty get into! (8/10, interact on goodreads.)

Midnight’s Children is the sort of novel that defies an easy explanation. It’s magical, but I wouldn’t classify it as a fantasy. Though set in India and certainly an Indian novel, it was written in English and is very approachable to readers of different cultures. It’s a long book, and dense, but not especially difficult read.

The book follows a character born at the exact moment of India’s independence, and traces the rich history of that region along with the narrator’s own story (and that of his family.) Written in the first person, the narrator evokes everything from humor to heartbreak. The novel’s characters weave a rich tapestry that shows some of the diversity of the region at that time.

As an subjective telling of history, the novel unfolds in a circular pattern, accustoming readers to ideas more slowly and also repeating symbolic elements. On the one hand, it worked well, but when it felt repetitive I was reminded of the length and got a bit impatient. Overall, I would recommend this book widely, and consider it the sort of contemporary novel that may stand the test of time. (8.5/10 | interact on goodreads)