Everything I Read in March

I set a goal of reading at least 50 Libby pages each day this month. I did, and I still didn't make it through very many books. In fact, I think I may have made it through less books! My monthly book tally was definitely not helped by the fact that I chose to read very long books, and books that were often hard to digest, which meant I did not want to read any more after 50 pages. Oh well, as readers might know by now, I am just going to say, "Que sera, sera!"

12) Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering by Timothy Keller—Another tome, but a helpful one, the first part of this book covers philosophies of suffering; the second theologies of suffering; and the third, how to walk through suffering. Keller is truly a scholar, and it shows in this book. While I had trouble making it through some of the thicker passages, this book did encourage me to look at God as my highest good, and draw closer to Him, rather than try to ascertain reasons for suffering. God is God, and I am not. God can use all things for His good and His glory, even our suffering, and we must trust Him in that. As Keller writes, “[God] gives us what we would have asked for if we had known everything He knows.” This is hard, but true truth, as suffering also is.

13) Work Pause Thrive: How to Pause for Parenthood Without Killing Your Career by Lisen Stromberg — I got excited when I saw this book, because I thought it might validate the important role of caregivers and parents in society. It did, some, and then it took a turn. The author, Lisen Stromberg, worked in tech, took a pause with her high-risk pregnancies, and then came back to work as a very successful journalist, and now consultant. Stromberg does validate the importance of caregivers and parents. She advocates for the value of family. The end of the book takes kind of a political turn, however, and seems to infer that women should work outside the home. Yes, I come from a Christian complementarian view of the family, but I just don't agree. I would like to read more about the impact of involved, integrated families, and how work could fit into that, rather than why work is a necessity for women, or parents in general. This book isn't it, and it's long, so maybe pause before reading it.

14) Life Reimagined: The Science, Art, and Opportunity of Midlife by Barbara Bradley Hagerty—Part research, part social experiment, this book chronicles the adventures of NPR newswriter Barbara Bradley Hagerty as she explores the idea of what a midlife crisis really is, and whether or not such a thing even exists. In doing so, Hagerty learns about herself and shares valuable lessons about generativity, and the practice of it after the prime of life. After exploring topics like memory, marriage, purpose, and altruism, she ultimately concludes that generativity is like a muscle, and the more a person practices it, the more likely they are to find meaning in life. (They are also more likely to eat well, exercise, have better memory, tend to their relationships, and no surprise, live longer.) Thought I am not yet to the technical “midlife” phase, I found this book helpful.

15) The Common Thread-Mothers and Daughters: The Bond We Never Outgrow by Martha Manning—The mother-daughter relationship is a special one at that. I hoped that this book would explore the psychology of this important relationship. Instead, it read more like a literature review of mother-daughter relationships. The author explores and encourages empathy for mothers and daughters alike, but that is the greatest thing I got from this book. Hard pass on this one if readers want something sweet or informative. Although this book is about a common interest, it falls far below my threshold for recommending as a common read.

16) Spiritual Misfit: A Memoir of Uneasy Faith by Michelle DeRusha—Raised Catholic, turned agnostic/atheist, and returned to faith as a questioning convert, DeRusha is in many ways not like me, but in many ways, her words resonate with the every woman. She wrestles with questions, with trying to control God. She confronts her humanity and imperfections. She describes God's natural world beautifully, and notes her struggles to accept the fright of it. This is an honest, easy-to-read memoir with some points that really hit home. If we really think of it, we're all misfits in God's kingdom, redeemed by a great Savior who loves us, uneasy faith and all.

17) Loving My Actual Life: An Experiment in Relishing What’s Right in Front of Me by Alexandra Kuykendall—I had fun reading this book! Part Gretchen Rubin type experiment, part memoir, part action plan, this is a diary of the author’s attempt to make more of the life she has. She writes with humor, with honesty, and with a depth that prompts some deeper thought. With questions at the end of each chapter, this could be a great book for personal, or even group exploration of what God has given each person now, not yesterday or tomorrow, but right now, to do.