Books, Books, Books
by Anonymous
I don't have a television at home this year and I find myself crawling into bed earlier each night with a book. There's plenty assigned and plenty more I would love to have time for, so I dabble and dawdle my way through until I start to yawn.
I keep a stack right next to my bed on the windowsill. Some are my favorites and I just like having them around. Others are assigned for classes and part of my daily to-do list. A few recommendations creep in from family or friends. Whether I get to them or not, they belong so I can at least look like I read novels and fiction like "normal people".
Tonight I had a date with a required reading - Kathleen Norris' Dakota. Every semester I seem to have a class that assigns a novel or memoir I thoroughly enjoy. My Exercises in Biblical Theology class will be discussing five pleasure reads on Friday in small groups. We each chose one from this lovely list:
- Heidi Neumark's Breathing Space: A Spiritual Journey in the South Bronx
- Kathleen Norris' Dakota
- Richard Lischer's Open Secrets
- Marilynne Robinson's Gilead
- Barbara Brown Taylor's Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith
I spent twenty minutes sitting on the bookstore floor trying to choose last month.
I've mentioned Dakota in "non-seminary" conversations this week and connected with three people who shared thoughtful memories from reading it years ago. It is a good break from textbooks and a different type of classroom discussion.
*Yawn* That's my cue. It's back atop the stack for tonight.
posted by Anonymous at 11:22 PM
2 Comments:
Gilead is a hauntingly beautiful book - well worth your time. (As is Dakota - just wanted to add a comment) I'm not sure yet how I felt about Leaving Church: it seemed self-indulgent and prophetic all at once. Maybe you'll just need to read it and find out for yourself.
I'd read Gilead and Breathing Spaces, so it was time for something new from the list. I also enjoyed Gilead and am glad to see it among course books! Thanks for your comment.
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