I’ve got a creative itch.
All week long you’ve been reading book reviews by some of my favorite (in)courage lovies, and by now I thought you might be a little book review twitchy. And, like I said, I’ve got a creative itch, and when you take that into account along with our DaySpring bosses giving us free reign to “be creative if you like”…
I decided to take ’em up on it. They have no idea what I’m capable of, do they?
Well, I’m feeling inspired and a little sassy, and to change things up a bit, I’m offering you the first ever…
Haiku Book Review
If all goes according to my burst of writerly inspiration, I’ll offer 17 dynamite-in-small-package syllables for each book--reasons why you should consider adding it to your library— along with a quote or two from the author and why I’ve included the title in my limited selection. “Playing favorites” was nearly impossible, but all of these challenged, inspired and changed me as a result of my reading.
: : : : : :
For Women Only
by Shaunti Feldhahn
Questions and answers
Inside mind & heart of man
Secret truths revealed
Notable quotes:
“I discovered that there were many things I thought I understood about men–but really didn’t.”
“The more we understand the men in our lives, the better we can support and love them in the way they need to be loved.”
Two cents:
This is an easy, marriage-maturing read; don’t mistake “easy” for anything less than important. Feldhahn raises questions through a survey format answered by husbands, and the result is eye-opening. I read this on trip with my husband, asking him the same questions posed in the book and giving him the freedom to answer honestly without judgment or over-reaction. A healthy exercise I’d encourage every couple to try, you’ll discover you don’t know everything about your spouse!
The Irresistible Revolution
by Shane Claiborne
Hands and feet of Christ
Compassionate empathy
Reject status quo
Notable quotes:
“Ordinary does not mean normal, and I lament the dreadful seduction which has resulted in Christians becoming so normal.”
“We can admire and worship Jesus without doing what he did. We can applaud what he preached and stood for without caring about the same things. We can adore his cross without taking up ours. I had come to see that the great tragedy in the church is not that rich Christians do not care about the poor but that rich Christians do not know the poor.”
Two cents: Fortuitous timing had me reading this on the way to our family’s only trip to Disney World a few years ago; I cannot imagine a starker contrast between rich and poor, wretched excess and poverty. Claiborne leads The Simple Way and lives the simple way, and in his writing I am challenged by my lack of conviction to do the same. He makes me see through new eyes the plight of the poor and challenges me to do something about it. The Irresistible Revolution will prick your heart and cultivate new love for Jesus and people.
Life Together
by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Deep calling to deep
Living in community
Other-dependent
Notable quotes:
“The more genuine and the deeper our community becomes, the more will everything else between us recede, the more clearly and purely will Jesus Christ and his work become the one and only thing that is vital between us.”
“Christian community is like the Christian’s sanctification. It is a gift of God which we cannot claim.”
“Christian brotherhood is not an ideal which we must realize; it is rather a reality created by God in Christ in which we may participate. The more clearly we learn to recognize that the ground and strength and promise of all our fellowship is in Jesus Christ alone, the more serenely shall we think of our fellowship and pray and hope for it.”
Two cents: Only 122 pages, this was a difficult book for me to read; I can’t imagine tackling The Cost of Discipleship, almost three times as long. Bonhoeffer unravels the beauty of living in community and his chapter on Confession and Communion blew me away. His characterization of confession to the body and what that means, coupled with subsequent forgiveness and its ramifications, will leave you shaking your head in “Ah ha!” I’d buy it for that chapter alone, but the entire book will challenge and inspire you. You’ll need to chew on it s l o w l y.
Waking the Dead
by John Eldredge
You’re in a battle
A tug-of-war of the heart
Fight! (or Satan wins)
Notable quotes:
“[Satan’s] plan from the beginning was to assault the heart…. Make them so busy, they ignore the heart. Wound them so deeply, they don’t want a heart. Twist their theology, so they despise the heart. Take away their courage. De story their creativity. Make intimacy with God impossible for them….Of course you heart would be the object of a great and fierce battle. It is your most precious possession.”
“The story of your life is the story of the long and brutal assault on our heart by the one who knows what you could be and fears it.”
Two cents: I’ll be honest: I’m not a big John Eldredge fan. Though I know many loved “Wild at Heart” I got to a point I was rolling my eyes reading it (yes, I know, it was written for men). But I picked up this book because of the title–it was during one of the lowest points in my life–and I could NOT put it down. I truly believe God used the second quote featured above to do a transforming work in my life, to alter my perception of the work of the Enemy and to understand my heart so much better. The perfect book to read if you’re struggling with defeat and pain in relationships.
Don’t Waste Your Life
by John Piper
Time is precious gift
Lived for God’s glory or self
Wisdom chooses well
Notable quotes:
“The thought of coming to my old age and saying through tears, ‘I’ve wasted it! I’ve wasted it!’ was a fearful and horrible thought to me.”
“Therefore, at the heart of the meaning of work is creativity. If you are God, your work is to create out of nothing. If you are not God, but like God–that is, if you are human–your work is to take what God as made and shape it and use it to make him look great.”
Two cents: John Piper books wear me out; I have difficulty tracking with him a lot of the time. But, his words challenge and inspire me to focus on Christ and live in a way to bring glory to God not to self (It hurts to think how miserably I fail). This is one of his shorter works, and it’s a battle cry to make your life count in the context of the Kingdom. When he illustrates the wasted life, oh…my…I want no part of that!
Love and Respect
by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
The Crazy Cycle:
Marriage spins out of control!
It makes so much sense!
Notable quotes:
“Without love, she reacts without respect. Without respect, he reacts without love–ad nauseam.”
“When you love or respect unconditionally, you are following God and His will for you. Ultimately, your spouse and your marriage have nothing to do with it. You are simply demonstrating your obedience and trust….”
Two cents: This is one of the best books you’re going to find to explain conflict in marriage and to help you resolve it; I wish every couple I know would read it early in marriage and then practice many of the principles suggested. For my husband, Eggerichs gave word and voice to some of his unexpressed frustration, and the results were marriage improving. I especially liked Parts 1 & 2; and though I don’t agree with everything stated in the book (at times when Eggerichs was speaking to wives I sensed a tinge 0f condescension) the good far outweighs the bad.
The Tales of Three Trees
A traditional folktale retold by Angela Elwell Hunt
Sometimes dreams come true
But maybe not like you thought
They’re even better
Two cents: This is one of my favorite children’s books, sweet, succinct, and easy to understand even for the very young. It’s one of the few books I never tired of reading aloud to my babies. Given to us as a gift, I’ve bought copies through the years to share with others. This is a necessary addition to every children’s library; young ones will see how their hopes and dreams can flourish and turn out better than imagined in surrender to Christ. I love it.
other MUST-READS I wanted to include but didn’t (and now I’m wondering why…):
- The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer
- Radical, David Platt
- Night, Elie Wiesel
- The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis
And somehow I missed that these weren’t required to be Christian books; had a realized that, at a minimum I would have included my #1 favorite book of all time: To Kill a Mockingbird!!!
Your turn: If you’ve read any of my selections, how’d I do with the Haiku Review? Hit or miss? And if you haven’t, are you considering reading any now? And do share your favorite books! Brownie points if you write a haiku review!!
Affiliate links are included for all my book selections; proceeds from any purchases will fund books for Bloom Book Club readers who need a little help purchasing Club reads. I love that :).
by Robin Dance, whose blog, PENSIEVE, is named after a literary device created in a children’s popular book series :).
Leave a Comment
I love your creative take on a book review. (I adore Haiku.) I’ve read many of the ones you listed. This “John Piper books wear me out” made me laugh out loud! I think I’m going to have to buy Waking the Dead for my son. Thanks!
Thank you, SG :). And have you ever READ a John Piper book? I felt like I should’ve been awarded a divinity degree when I finished “Desiring God” :). I can’t imagine anyone taking time to read “Waking the Dead” not being inspired in *some* capacity upon finishing it….
I love your haikus! Honestly, I’ve just been skimming the other book reviews, but you pulled me into your post. 🙂
I agree with you about Waking the Dead. I was about as far from an Eldredge fan as possible, but a mentor had me read Waking the Dead a few years ago when I was at a crisis point over some personal issues, and I think it’s fair to say the book really did transform me. I needed to hear the message and God sent me that book. Now I need to check out some of the others on your list that I’m less familiar with.
Elizabeth,
Thank you for your kind words :). I wondered how people would take a review done this way, so I’m thankful it resonated with a few special friends :).
You sound just like me about WTD; I was in a VERY bad spot when I picked it up; and although it messed with my head, it made SO MUCH SENSE and actually breathed healing into a wounded heart.
I must know… where did you find that gorgeous mug?
Kate, I actually picked that up at Barnes and Nobles YEARS ago, but it’s definitely my favorite mug to date. 🙂
This is so neat. I like haikus and have written some too!
Thank you, Brianne :). I thought it would be a piece of cake to write ’em, but getting into this I realized in order to “capture” the book, I had to work at it. For me, it was fun AND satisfying :).
Love the creativity in your haiku’s! I’ve read a few of these and they are very good. And a few I haven’t read and sound very interesting. Thank you so much for sharing quick, informative synopsis’ for each one! 🙂
Christin, that was my goal–quick, informative synopsis…it would’ve taken me three pages to explain, so thanks for your concise explanation :).
I’m impressed! Very ambitious, but you pulled it off. thanks Robin!!
Jesse!!! Your comment made me smile big enough to illuminate Manhattan!! 🙂
To Kill a Mockingbird isn’t a Christian book? Seriously?
Scout and Gem and Dill
Watch as Atticus tries
To turn a town against hate.
(what are the rules of Haiku again?)
And my current so favorite is The Wheel on the School:
The boys and Lina
Turn a town around
Saving storks and each other.
Oh, it’s such a sweet and funny and dear and true book. Great read aloud! Of course a Newberry, but who knew it would be so funny?
Daddy reads Watership Down to us each summer, another ripe for Christians book.
Downs are up where sight
Can save and birds, mice, rabbits
Together fight through.
Rich characters, and even the bad guy is not without his good qualities, making our daughter spin a sequel in which he finds redemption.
Enough for now, and you just started me off late night on a Friday. Shabbat Shalom!
Oh, Beth…YOU KNOCKED IT OUTTA THE BALLPARK! I ***love*** that you joined in!! And in just a few words, you’ve piqued MY curiosity about reading others. Merci, merci!!
xo
I think you pretty much nailed For Women Only and Love & Respect – two of the best relationship books I’ve ever read! And I couldn’t help laughing about the John Piper books – I never made it through Desiring God at all! lol
I love the Haiku. Great job. Great books!
you are amazing!! have no idea how you managed this fabulous post! love the Haiku’s – your’ quite the herald!
I’ve added the bonhoeffer book to my list – if you could see my list, though…SERIOUSLY. it’s ridonkulous. My hubs has put a book buying quietus on me until I finish some I’m currently woring on.
One for you to hunt donw and enjoy – A severe Mercy by Vanauken. HE’s a contemporary of CS lewis, american and incredible writer. You will {HEART} it!