When I go into someone’s house or apartment for the first time, I find myself especially drawn to their bookshelves. I want to see the books that they read and the ones they have on display. I like to know which ones have mattered enough to keep, which ones are dogeared and worn, and which are on the stack to be read next.
Started out this week with Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 Volume 3: Guarded. I am a HUGE Buffy fan and have been really enjoying having the story continued in graphic novel form. There were some really amazing plot twists in this one that made it great to read. And, of course, the artwork is amazing.

Next was A Darkly Hidden Truth (The Monastery Murders) by Donna Fletcher Crow. This book was much better than the one I read last week. The character development was better, the story had less holes, etc. I loved all of the history and the way she describes the churches and scenery. The ending left a little to be desired, but I feel like this is a series that’s going to continue to improve and I think I’ll stick with it for a while.
Next up was What You Do Best in the Body of Christ: Discover Your Spiritual Gifts, Personal Style, and God-Given Passion by Bruce Bugbee. This is a book that is all about figuring out what your spiritual gifts are and how best to use them. On the whole I liked this book; I especially like the way that the author encourages people to look at the intersection of their spiritual gifts, their personal style, and their passion. I haven’t seen many books that talk about all three areas. However, I can’t recommend this book because the theology was pretty bad and some of the questions in the questionnaire point to ways that I don’t necessarily believe God acts. I just wouldn’t want to give this book to folks without doing a LOT of unpacking of it, and that, to me, makes it not worth the bother.
Lastly I read Life in God’s Presence – A Simple Approach to Prayer by A Carthusian. The Carthusian monks are one of the world’s strictest monastic orders. Anyone who writes a book or essay from their order does so anonymously. I’m fascinated by the Carthusians and was excited to read this slim volume. There were parts that were really good, but I wanted more concrete examples than I got. But still a good volume.

What are you reading these days?

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When I go into someone’s house or apartment for the first time, I find myself especially drawn to their bookshelves. I want to see the books that they read and the ones they have on display. I like to know which ones have mattered enough to keep, which ones are dogeared and worn, and which are on the stack to be read next.

I am currently on a kick of reading mystery books with clergy as the detectives so we’ve got a couple in that vein this week. I read the next in the Merrily Watkins’ series by Phil Rickman The Smile of a Ghost (Merrily Watkins Mysteries). Again these books about about a Church of England vicar who is also the Diocesan Deliverance Minister (aka exorcist). In this one there a town that seems to be haunted and no one is as they seem. Very enjoyable.

Next up in the clergy detective vein is A Very Private Grave (The Monastery Murders) by Donna Fletcher Crow. This book follows a young seminary student named Felicity and a priest named Father Antony. A monk is found murdered and it’s up to Felicity and the Father to figure out who did it and why.

I enjoyed this book but it had some serious problems. In one instance a character disappeared (with no mention) for five chapters and then suddenly reappears. There were also some moments where the characterizations were just really off and some repetitive inner monologues that got rather annoying. But the story itself was really interesting and included a lot of church history that I found fascinating. The different places they travel to are incredibly well researched and well-described. On the whole I enjoyed this one, in spite of the problems, and will probably give at least the next book in the series a try.
Then I read Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) by Reggie McNeal and Ken Blanchard. This book wasn’t stellar, but it was still pretty good. I found some of it too simplistic and some of the theology was off-putting, but there were also some really good insights. I also appreciated that the author used examples of women in leadership throughout. This book also encourages folks to really understand themselves and to get professional help from a therapist (which I find to be rare for many Christian books who frown on therapy and psychology). Definitely some good stuff in here even if I wouldn’t rate it five stars.

What are you reading these days?

*All links go to my Amazon affiliate page. If you purchase something I get a cut which helps to support this website.*

Did you miss the announcement of the new project I’m working on? Check it out!

Want posts by email and occasional extras?

When I go into someone’s house or apartment for the first time, I find myself especially drawn to their bookshelves. I want to see the books that they read and the ones they have on display. I like to know which ones have mattered enough to keep, which ones are dogeared and worn, and which are on the stack to be read next.

I’m still loving the Merrily Watkins’ series by Phil Rickman. I just finished Prayer of the Night Shepherd (Merrily Watkins 6). Again these books about about a Church of England vicar who is also the Diocesan Deliverance Minister (aka exorcist). In this book there is a twist on the backstory of Conan Doyle’s “The Hound of the Baskervilles”. Again, the perfect mix of mystery and creepy. Love it!

Next up was The Catalyst Leader: 8 Essentials for Becoming a Change Maker by Brad Lomenick. This is a brand new book about essentials of leadership. It was an easy read and I really appreciated his insight. It’s a Christian book and clearly the author is a bit more evangelical, but I appreciated how he made his insights applicable for people across the spectrum (rare for books like this) and that he included a whole bunch of women in his examples and in his leaders to look out for.

I am in a place where I am learning to cultivate my own leadership style (as well as embracing the fact that I am, indeed, a leader) and so I am finding books like this to be incredibly helpful and encouraging. I’ve been running in circles the past couple of years with people who really despise talk of leadership and so I haven’t done as much thinking and growing in this area. Books like this one are a wonderful help to counteract the lack that I’ve been feeling in my own development.

What are you reading these days?

*All links go to my Amazon affiliate page. If you purchase something I get a cut which helps to support this website.*

Did you miss the announcement of the new project I’m working on? Check it out!

Want posts by email and occasional extras?

When I go into someone’s house or apartment for the first time, I find myself especially drawn to their bookshelves. I want to see the books that they read and the ones they have on display. I like to know which ones have mattered enough to keep, which ones are dogeared and worn, and which are on the stack to be read next.
First up is Priestblock 25487: A Memoir of Dachau by Jean Bernard. This book is his reflections on the time he spent in Dachau. I hadn’t heard or read much about the priests that spent time in concentration camps and so this was a new perspective. Obviously the book is harrowing and upsetting, but there were also moments where humanity shone through even in the midst of the terror.

I would have appreciated reading more about his life before and after his time in the camp. This book really just covers the time he spent in Dachau so I feel like you don’t really get a picture of his life and how this experience changed him. But I am thankful to have read this and to know a bit more about this important event.

Then I read the next three books in the Merrily Watkins’ series by Phil Rickman: Crown of Lights (Merrily Watkins 3), The Cure of Souls (Merrily Watkins 4), and The Lamp of the Wicked. Again these books about about a Church of England vicar who is also the Diocesan Deliverance Minister (aka exorcist). I am really loving this series. Each book is an interesting mystery that is equal parts suspense and pure creepiness. I’m liking the characters more and more as the series builds. Definitely an enjoyable series.

I’ve got a bunch of other books that are in process. Hopefully I’ll be able to finish them up soon! What are you reading these days?

*All links go to my Amazon affiliate page. If you purchase something I get a cut which helps to support this website.*

Did you miss the announcement of the new project I’m working on? Check it out!

Want posts by email and occasional extras?