A
memoir: Growing Up Amish (audiobook), by
Ira Wagler
My public library’s supply of audiobooks has suddenly
become not so bad, which means I’ve been listening to audiobooks more often
than usual lately. This book is my second attempt at a memoir this year. (My
previous attempt to read a memoir didn’t get very far.) This book is about a
young man who…wait for it…grew up Amish. His story is about his struggle with
trying to fit in with the Amish community, and traces how he left (and
returned) and left again (and returned again) and left again (and returned
again) more times than I could count. It got to be a bit frustrating, because I
wanted him to make a decision already! At the same time, he was real and honest
with his struggle about both staying and leaving. It was clear that he cared
deeply for his family, and that he loathed the pain he caused them every time
he did leave. He also spoke honestly about the spiritual struggle he
experienced. This was the hardest part to read, because even though he was
immersed in a religious society, there was no gospel, only legalism. Finally,
finally, towards the very end of the story he hears the gospel (from someone outside
the Amish community) presented the gospel to him, and he responded eagerly.
Finally, he was able to find peace about leaving the Amish community while
still making amends with his family.
A
book about food: Food: A Love Story (audiobook),
by Jim Gaffigan
I think what made this book so funny was hearing it
being read by Jim Gaffigan. He’s just flat-out funny. This book traces his love
affair with food. It’s a light and fun read (or listen). A great listen for a
long road trip or when you’re folding the laundry.
A
book about homosexuality: Same-Sex
Marriage: A Thoughtful Approach to God’s Design for Marriage, by Sean McDowell
and John Stonestreet
This was another book I read during my participation
in the Colson Fellows program this past year. As the title suggests, it looks
at the issue of same-sex marriage through a biblical lens. What I most
appreciated about this book was that it started from the premise of what marriage
is, what marriage is for, how the bible defines marriage, and how it has been
defined by cultures around the world as being between one man and one woman.
After defining what marriage is, the case was then able to be built for why
same-sex marriage contrary to the way marriage has been designed. Throughout
the book the authors were thoughtful and compassionate towards those who have
same-sex attraction, and their focus was much more on living a homosexual
lifestyle vs having same-sex attractions. I really liked this book, and highly
recommend it.
A
Christian novel: When Jesus Wept, by
Brock and Bodie Thoene
I really like the Thoene historical fiction novels.
This book tells the story of Lazarus, from the perspective of Lazarus. Because
it’s fiction, they build out the story and add extra-biblical details and
characters, but it’s done so in a way that makes sense to the life and times of
the ancient near east. It was not a particularly “deep” novel, but it was an engaging
read nonetheless.
A
book about science: Stiff (audiobook), by
Mary Roach
Yep, another audiobook. Told you I’v been into audiobooks
this summer. This book is about death. Sounds a bit morbid, but it really wasn’t.
Mary Roach is typically a humor writer, she treats the subject of death with levity
and yet sincerity. This book takes a look at what happens to our bodies after
we die. In her research, she visits funeral homes, mortuaries, universities,
medical schools, and various research facilities that use human cadavers in
research to make life better for the living. One thing that struck me was how
those she interviewed who handle cadavers – whether researchers or medical
students – treated the bodies with great care and respect. The deceased were
not seen as just a body, but as a person. It was a curious look at what happens
to our physical bodies after we die, and even though this book is probably not
for the squeamish, I really enjoyed it.
A book by Jane
Austen: Persuasion, by (wait for it…)
Jane Austen
Boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall in love and want to get
married. Girl’s overbearing and boorish family convince girl boy isn’t good
enough for her. Girl dumps boy. Boy is heartbroken. Fast forward 10 year: Boy
has made something of himself. Boy and girl’s paths cross again. After a
prolonged interaction, the meddling of family, and various other circumstances,
boy and girl re-fall in love and get married.
In other words: Classic Austen.
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