What I’m Reading
I’ve had a few folks reach out of late to ask what I’m reading these days. Truth be told, in recent years I haven’t had nearly as much time to read as I wish, and that has only been more true while leading my congregation through this present crisis. But…. I have been trying to carve out a little more time for books, especially reading a bit at the end of the day if only to clear my head. And so I thought I’d share three books I’ve enjoyed immensely, one fiction, one non-fiction, and one theological (though not necessarily in that order 😀).
You’ve likely seen one or more of the memes that describe the significantly greater amount of time many of us are spending with our pets during the pandemic… from our pet’s point of view! Given that reality, I will say with confidence that if you’ve ever had a dog in your life, or are in any way, shape or form a dog-lover, this book is for you.
Andy Root’s The Grace of Dogs is my theological book recommendation this week, but it is definitely not your usual book on theology. It is a remarkable investigation into the special relationship humans have enjoyed with dogs since… well, since both essentially evolved together over the centuries to form a remarkable and singular cross-species relationship. Root does an admirable job of combining keen investigative research and theological introspection with a deeply personal account of his and his family’s relationships to their dogs.
In fact, what makes Root’s book so special is that it straddles three genres that rarely keep company with each other:
- Science journalism – think Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point or Charle’s Duhigg’s The Power of Habit.
- Animal-human narrative – think Marly and Me or The Art of Racing in the Rain.
- Accessible theological meditation – think Rachel Held Evan’s Inspired or Barbara Brown Taylor’s An Altar in the World.
Root’s investigation of the role dogs have played across human history, their unique place in the world as the only species that prefers another species (us!) to their own, and the possibility of their sharing with us a spiritual dimension and future makes for exceptional reading. Perhaps the perfect diversion while quarantining with, and hoping to understand, our canine partners.
(Full disclosure: Andy is one of my best friends and occasional running partner, which only means I am even more glad to share his work with you!)
Even since my kids entered their tween years and I started exploring young adult fiction I knew they’d soon be reading, I’ve been hooked. Whether it’s the action-adventure of Suzanne Collin’s The Hunger Games or the more personal story of surmounting personal challenges like John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, I absolutely love the way YAL (the “L” deservingly stands for “literature,” even if it’s not always treated that way!) explores questions of identity and coming of age.
Recently, I learned that the spouse of a good friend reviews YAL for a major publisher and so asked what she thought was the best book in this genre she’d read. Her recommendation, I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, was absolutely and delightfully new to me. And it delivered.
With intricate and clever plotting, careful and compassionate character development, and a fearlessness in both voice and theme, it is a marvelous read. It is told through the voices of two twins, Jude and Noah, as they together weather loss, triumph, disappointment, and betrayal. The early years of the story are told from the vantage point of Noah, the later years from Jude’s point of view, and it will have you piecing together various aspects of both timeline and character as you race toward an immensely satisfying – which is not the same as happy! – ending.
This book, however, is not for the faint of heart. Nelson explores topics as diverse, timely, and painful as sexual assault, sexual orientation and identity, and infidelity with equal measures of candor and care, and she does not shy away from, shall we say, colorful language.
After not being sure of this book for the first full chapter, I quickly found myself immersed in what proved to be, indeed, one of the best YA books I’ve read. I look forward to reading her previous book, The Sky is Everywhere, soon.
Dryer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style
This is unabashedly a book for people who love words. (That includes, by the way, those who love to write and those who love to read!)
Benjamin Dreyer has been the chief copy editor at Random House for years. His immensely readable – well, it better be readable! – and seriously entertaining take on the English language will enrich the writing and reading of anyone who loves words. Dreyer brings a life-time of experience – and a treasure trove of stories and immense good humor – to help us think better about writing and, for those who enjoy putting pen to paper (or, more likely, to push the keys of their laptop) to write with greater style and clarity.
Like all the greatest artists, Dryer not only knows the rules of English grammar, but he knows which ones really are rules (and which are fads of convention) as well as when and how to break even the most sacrosanct of rules to achieve one’s desired end.
I should confess that I am including Dryer’s book even though I am not yet finished with it, as I have been enjoying savoring his short chapters and have not felt the pressure to read it straight through the way I would a novel. But what I can say so far is that while, up to this point, my go-to reference on style has always been Strunk and White’s classic Elements, there may just be a new contender on my bookshelf.
Well, that’s it for now, three books I’ve enjoyed (or am enjoying) reading. If you’ve found books you’re in love with, whether something new or an old favorite, feel free to share them in the comments. Thank you… and happy reading!
What I’m reading this spring: “The Time is Now: A Call to Uncommon Courage” by Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB, of Erie, PA. (full disclosure: I’ve served Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Erie since October 2004).
This is just a comment about our dog, after reading your comments on “The Grace of Dogs.” Lucy is almost eleven years old now. She is a black lab/chow. In the middle of the night she let out a howl. She had never done that before! When I went over to check on my dad the next day, I found that he had died. (He lived in his own home and I went over there every other day to assist him.) The night after he died, Lucy laid on her back with her head up close to me so that I could touch her. She had never done that before. She knew that I was so very sad and needed her to be close to me. This was in January of 2012. The only other time she has howled like that was the night before our brother-in-law died in November of 2017! We have had other friends die, but she never howled for them. She knew my dad and our brother-in-law very well. I must get this book! I’m sure that I will love it! Thanks for sharing, as always!