Book Talk

Notice this is not a book review. Because I am not finished with any books, though I am slap in the middle of about 4 or 5 of them. For the record? That's about 2 or 3 too many, especially considering the week I've had. Bless. I am staying awake about 4 paragraphs at a time, so reading isn't going very well. But all of the books I am reading are so amazing, I want to share with you what's going on, even though I'm not finished.

The first book, Crazy Love by Francis Chan, was a gift from the youth group for being a sponsor on the trip this summer. They gave one to all adult sponsors for trips and all sponsors who helped at camp. And, since everyone knows that any book given as a gift -- especially a gift in bulk -- was bought from Lifeway's bargain bin (not that I can't spend a dime or two at Lifeway's bargain bin) I didn't have grand expectations for the book. I threw it in my bag just because we were leaving for Colorado the next day and I didn't have a book going.

Man, oh man. It will change your life. I'm a little better than half-way through, trying to soak it all up. Very highly recommend it.

Next is a book that we will be reading together at church -- about equipping parents of 5th-12th graders, Revolutionary Parenting by George Barna. I don't know if you're familiar with any of Barna's work/ research, but he does extensive research on church, faith, religion, etc. I'm always very fascinated by his studies, and he presents his findings in very easy-to-understand ways.

I confess that this is the book that I pick up, read two paragraphs, and fall asleep. Part of it is that I'm still in the introduction, and part of it is that I either pick it up early morning or late at night and nothing would keep me awake. I think this book will have valuable lessons for all of us. I will keep you posted.

Yes, the first two books were either recommended or given by our rockin' youth dude, Ricky Pruitt. Don't go getting the big head, Ricky, but I may like your book recommendations...

Last book. Very tough to read. I never in a million years would have picked this up on my own, but I am doing a writing project that requires me to understand a little bit more about the genocide in Rwanda. Susan recommended that I read Left to Tell by Immaculee' Ilibagiza. Again, I'm about half-way through. It's awful. How can we (humans) have the capacity for so much hate? So much violence? And so much resiliency to overcome it? It is just baffling.

So... what about you? Anybody reading anything great? Got a book I need to put on my Shelfari? I'm back in (reading) action!