books

i haven't talked books in a while. hmmm. you know how i love books. i think for a clip i was on a little book break from "serious" or involved novels. sometimes you just need a little light reading. in my non-heavy book reading season, dave would take the kids to the library and bring back books he thought i'd enjoy, which was really fun for me because when i pick, i tend to be drawn towards certain types of books. he brought home vanished by joseph finder and michael crichton's state of fear, which were two books i really enjoyed and read quickly. i live for suspense :) also, the "hero" in vanished was kinda cool, and "state of fear" is like this manifesto on global warming wrapped up in thriller of a story (i mean, it's crichton, so...). a fascinating book. really. especially if you're a little bit of conspiracy theorist like me :) and while i'm talking about the late great MC, has anyone read pirate latitudes...and liked it?? i need to know.

after that i read fireproof, which was that movie with doogie howser, i mean, kirk cameron adapted into a book by eric wilson. it was abook my mother-in-law sent me because she knows i'm hopelessly romantic and a total sucker for lovey dovey relationship stories. it was a good little story. realistic, i thought, which made it easier to enjoy.

i'm also in and out of boundaries with kids, by cloud/townsend. i think it's a good resource for parents, and i think boundaries are an important element of child rearing.

my best friend lee and i are reading the red tent by anita diamant together right now and i have to say, it's one of the most compelling and interesting books i've read in a long long time. if you haven't already, you should read it. it's well researched, and for me, put personalities and lives to names in the Bible that can become so familiar. i think i may really love historical fiction, and actually, it was suggested to me in one of my last book posts, so thanks!

i want to know what YOU are reading.
what should go on my list next??

books i need to have: also:

i forgot one of the most important ones!

outliers by malcolm gladwell. everything gladwell writes is fascinating and well researched. and he has a great sense of humor. i really enjoy reading his books. check out the link, it's an interview with gladwell discussing outliers. SO good.

books i need to have:

i need a new book. i'm just not into the ones i have sitting on the bookshelves right now. here is my list of books i want to read:

Jesus Wants to Save Christians: A Manifesto for the Church in Exile by rob bell. of course.

The Hurried Child by david elkind. an oldie, but a goodie. i think it's so important to let kids be kids, let toddlers be toddlers...you know? i'm not trying to teach elias how to add and subtract at 3. this concept is so important to me. it's not a race, and it's not a contest. it's a child.

The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical by shane claiborne. heard about it. don't know if it's any good. has anyone read this one?

The Kite Runner by khaled hosseini. gave it as a gift, heard it was excellent, want to read it myself.

The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life In God by dallas willard. again, a recommendation- has anyone read this one?

unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity... and Why It Matters by david kinnaman. saw this in b&n and it was really interesting. didn't buy it. wanted to, though.

has anyone read any good books lately? i need some inspiration!

here is a suggestion for you:

The Power of Play: Learning What Comes Naturally by david elkind. for all you moms or teachers out there. this book is AWESOME. dave and i each read it in one day and had such fascinating discussions on education, how kids play and learn, and much more.

go. read it.

top 10 reasons why i am madly in love with rob bell

okay, "madly in love" is an overstatement. but rob bell is bomb. here's why:

1. he's written two of the most interesting books i've ever read: velvet elvis: repainting the christian faith and sex god. if you have not read them, i repeat, go to amazon, find them, place them in your shopping cart and immediately order them. with express shipping. now.

2. he wears stylish eyeglasses. what? he does. i love when men are stylish. it's so unexpected :)

3. he's read malcolm gladwell's book, blink. this book is written by one of the staff writers at the new yorker and it's about decision making through the lens of neuroscience and psychology. it's fascinating. he also wrote a book called the tipping point, which is about trends and social behaviors. again: fascinating.

4. he's read sheldon vanauken's a severe mercy. which is easily one of my most favorite books ever. and who the heck has ever heard of it? but he footnotes it. glorious!

5. he's relevant. need i say more? i'm so over christian writers writing garbage about "how to be the best pastor's wife" and crap like that that i'd rather burn to keep warm than spend time reading.

6. he says in a footnote to go read everything donald miller has ever written. i couldn't agree more. donald miller is a genius.

7. he makes jokes and they make me laugh. and i LOVE to laugh. ask my husband- it's the thing i love most in this life, besides him and the Big Man.

8. his nooma videos rock. go buy them all at http://www.nooma.com/ and start a bible study. ready? go.

9. he reads n.t. wright. hello?! have you ever read n.t. wright? yeah, it's no joke, people. get your hands on some of that action and see how quickly you can wade through it.

10. he's unpretentious about how smart he is. and he is clearly well read and researched. especially in jewish tradition and culture, which is so so integral to understanding the context of the bible. you read and you learn without realizing the weight of the theology he's just put into your brain. it's amazing. AMAZING.

i'm noticing half of the reasons i heart rob bell are because of books we both have read and share a love for. maybe i ought to start my own book club.

forget oprah, people. join the hot mama book club! (right lee?) ;)