top 20-ish books of 2017

This may seem like an odd post for April, seeing as how most everyone else advertised their 2017 favorites in December and January. But I've been putting a lot of time and energy into my editing business over the past few months and let this dear blog fall by the wayside. And since I haven't posted any book reviews in a while, I decided to smoosh all of my favorites from last year into one tidy list. In no particular order, here are my top books of 2017:

Fiction

Little Flower by Ted Oswald
Admittedly, though I gave it a 5/5 rating, all I wrote in my reading journal about this novel was, "Amazing, as usual." Ted Oswald is a gifted writer with a talent for making the reader feel truly present in his stories. This newest novel, set in India, is a gripping story about an elderly nun, a young prostitute, and a murdered man. How is that for attention-grabbing?

There Is a Land by Ted Oswald
Another book by Oswald, this second novel in the Libete Limye Mystery series is told from Libete's point of view but from two different points in time. Both suspenseful and poetic, it brings Haiti and the people who live there to life. (Start with Because We Are.)

Raj by Gita Mehta
Beautiful descriptive wording in this novel makes the story of India's independence interesting and accessible, in addition to the fact that it is told through the perspective of a single protagonist. I loved following Jaya's story, even though it wasn't always happy.

Breed of Giants by Joyce Stranger
This clean, romance-free horse story for adults is a beautiful tribute to Shire horses and the people who keep this draft breed alive even in modern times. (Full review here.)

Castle Waiting by Linda Medley
Even if you don't typically read graphic novels, I highly recommend this fun, unique fantasy with nods to classic fairy tales. There are two large volumes, but make sure you read the updated edition of the second volume, as the original ends rather abruptly. (Full review here.)

Bronze by B.B. Shepherd
Bronze is an engaging YA horse story with well-written descriptions and mental health themes. Though a bit cliché, I also thought it was very realistic and overall found it to be an addicting, light read. (Full review here.)

Exiles by Jaye L. Knight
This list would be woefully incomplete without Jaye L. Knight's latest book! I love the relationships in Exiles, as well as the introduction of new places and cultures (and really big trees). After a comfortably slow start, this novel is filled with lots of action and some really tense moments. If you haven't read any of the Ilyon Chronicles yet, you definitely should--it's one of my absolute favorites. (Click for reviews of books 1, 1.5, 2, and 3.)

Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver
One of Kingsolver's many excellent novels, this book contains themes of relationships, conservation, nature, science, rural communities, and church. Nothing has an easy answer, and no one is perfect--life is complex and messy. Everyone has a story. Everything is connected.

The Wee Free Men and A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett
These first two books about the young witch Tiffany Aching are so, so funny! The second novel is a little creepy, and both are surprisingly, subtly wise.

The Dragon Quartet by Marjorie B. Kellogg
This fantasy/sci-fi crossover is both entertaining and relevant. It has compelling characters, interesting cultures and landscapes, a brilliant weaving together of times and places, and settings eerily parallel to our own. And dragons, of course!

The Girl from Everywhere duology by Heidi Heilig
I love all of the characters and relationships in this wonderful mixture of cultures, myths, and history. These books contain plenty of twists and turns and poor decisions and witty conversations, and I highly recommend them.

The Crows of Beara by Julie Christine Johnson
Something of a cross between the movie Leap Year and a Barbara Kingsolver novel, this book contains beautiful Irish landscapes, refreshingly believable characters, and a poetic story. It is a narrative of both people and place, and I love it.

Blood of Dragons by Robin Hobb
This is a great conclusion to the wonderful Rain Wilds Chronicles, a fantasy quartet that I highly recommend to all dragon lovers. (Full review here. If you haven't read the first three books, start here. And then read book two. And so on.)

Nonfiction

The Freelancer's Bible by Sara Horowitz
With tips on everything from setting up your desk to paying taxes, this truly is The Freelancer's Bible. I read a library copy cover-to-cover, and now I wish I had my own copy. If you are new to freelancing, this book is definitely worth a read.

A Journey with Mark by Marek P. Zabriskie
This is an excellent book for personal study of the Gospel of Mark. Although it is meant to be read at any time of the year, I found that it works very well as a Lenten devotional.

Good and Cheap by Leanne Brown
With a subtitle of "Eat Well on $4 a Day," this cookbook includes everything from shopping tips to suggestions for oatmeal mix-ins to a crustless quiche recipe. I first discovered the free downloadable PDF version and loved it so much that I later purchased the updated paperback. The recipes are simple, practical, and customizable.

Walden and Other Writings by Henry David Thoreau
I cannot even begin to tell how much I love this book. It is soul food, brain food, a brutal critique of humanity and beautiful portrait of simplicity with stunning descriptions that lend themselves well to being read aloud.

The Subversive Copyeditor by Carol Fisher Saller
A great resource for beginning copy editors, this little book is informative yet doused with wit. Although mostly about professional relationships, it also contains some tips on technique as well as a helpful section in the back that points to additional useful resources.

Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis
This book provides a fascinating, inspiring, remarkably relateable look into C.S. Lewis's youth, from his childhood in Belfast, Ireland, to his studies at Oxford. It's a book to savor. If you're a fan of Lewis, this is definitely a must-read.

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
This is a wonderful overview of Pakistan's recent history as well as a compelling story of Malala Yousafzai's incredible experience.

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In all, 2017 was an excellent reading year. I could have added a few more books to this list, and I did combine two books into one entry several times. So really, my top books of last year make up about half of what I read, since my grand total was 51 books. Hopefully 2018 will be just as good . . . I'm off to a decent start!

Have you read many good books yet this year? Share your favorites below!

a few Irish (and British) books for St. Patrick's Day

In previous years, I attempted to shed some light on the real person behind the very green, often raucous holiday called St. Patrick's Day (here and here). However, I have finally read enough Irish books to compile a small list of recommended St. Patrick's Day reads. So here you go:

Patrick: Son of Ireland | Stephen R. Lawhead
I'll start with the obvious choice. Although Lawhead's writing style tends to be a little dark for my taste, I enjoyed this informative work of historical fiction about the life of spoiled, wealthy Succat Morgannwg and his journey to become Saint Patrick.

Only the River Runs Free | Bodie & Brock Thoene
Another historical novel, Only the River Runs Free contains vividly painted characters that help bring a story involving the tension between Irish Catholics and Protestants to life. It also makes a good Christmas read, being set on Christmas eve in 1941. I wrote a brief review of it two years ago.

The Shadow Things | Jennifer Freitag
Here is where I cheat a bit, as this novel is actually set in southern Britain. My reasoning is this: St. Patrick was born in Britain, and this novel had a similar feel to Patrick. This beautiful novel has a riveting plot and very well-written characters. And, to quote my full review, "The introduction of a loving God provides a beautifully stark contrast to the fear-motivated paganism, which, while I can say nothing to the historical accuracy, was explained well."

Surprised by Joy | C.S. Lewis
This book provides a fascinating, inspiring, remarkably relateable look into C.S. Lewis's youth, from his childhood in Belfast, Ireland, to his studies at Oxford. It's a book to savor. If you're a fan of Lewis, this is definitely a must-read.

The Princes of Ireland | Edward Rutherfurd
At 778 pages, this epic novel may seem daunting, but don't let its wonderfully massive size scare you away (actually, that's partially what drew me to it!). The Princes of Ireland paints a beautiful, sweeping image of ancient Ireland through well-written stories encompassing major events and popular legends. Far from dry and dense, it will suck you into its pages.

The Crows of Beara | Julie Christine Johnson
If contemporary fiction is more your style, this one's for you. Something of a cross between the movie Leap Year and a Barbara Kingsolver novel, this book contains beautiful Irish landscapes, refreshingly believable characters, and a poetic story. It is a narrative of both people and place, and I highly recommend it.

(almost) success! {bookshelf love}

I almost completed my reading challenge before Christmas! I gave myself 14 weeks to read these 10 books, from September 19 to December 25, and I read nine of them--which, honestly, is more than I had expected to finish. Unfortunately, I've only written one review so far, so all titles except The Unexpected Dragon link to Goodreads.

Airs Beneath the Moon by Toby Bishop
The Unexpected Dragon by Mary Brown
Falling from Horses by Molly Gloss
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

City of Dragons by Robin Hobb

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

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Did you participate in any reading challenges in 2016? How did you do? What are your reading goals this year?

around the world {book haul}

Funny how I plan to read books already on my shelves, and somehow end up with a stack of new ones. . . . Three of these were gifts (one to my husband), and one was an impulse buy. The three that are mine each take place in a different country, so I look forward to adding them to my Reading the World list!

The Hundred Secret Senses
by Amy Tan

I don't know much about this book other than that it's about a Chinese-American family and involves both countries. My mother-in-law gave it to me when I saw her in Texas for a wedding a few weeks ago, having already read and enjoyed it herself. It's perfect shape and well-loved look makes me want to pick it up and start reading immediately!

Island of the World
by Michael D. O'Brien

The sheer size of this massive hardcover, plus an intriguing title and beautiful cover, led me to pick it up in a thrift store and refuse to leave without it. Island of the World centers around the life of a boy who grows up during World War II, and the summary promises a novel just as beautiful and haunting as the cover (which, by the way, was created by the author . . .).

Blessed by Thunder
by Flor Fernandez Barrios

While in Texas, we "happened upon" a used bookshop, and my mother-in-law offered to buy each of us--my husband, his brother, and myself--a two dollar book from the sale racks on the sidewalk. I chose this Cuban memoir, about a woman who grew up under the rule of Fidel Castro.

Rogue Lawyer
by John Grisham

This is obviously my husband's choice from the used bookshop, and I have no idea what it's about, nor any intention of reading it. So why did I include it in the stack? Good question. . . .

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From the Editor's Desk {Tip of the Week}

don't dangle participles!

Incorrect: While editing the manuscript, the doorbell rang and interrupted her.

The doorbell certainly wasn't editing the manuscript, so this should be rewritten to make clear that the "her" mentioned at the end of the sentence was doing the editing.

Correct: While she was editing the manuscript, the doorbell rang and interrupted her.

Also correct: While editing the manuscript, she was interrupted by the doorbell ringing.

Need an editor? Check out www.serenaedits.com.

I offer copyediting and proofreading services for everything from blogs to books!

*******

horses and city folk {mini reviews}

The God of Animals
by Aryn Kyle

This gritty, character-driven, captivating coming-of-age story is the perfect book to truly lose yourself in—and yet somehow I found myself within it. The people are real, the land is real, the struggles are real. Only on a few occasions did a detail stick out to remind me that I was reading fiction. Alice is a wonderfully observant, likable protagonist, but she also acts like the twelve-year-old that she is, which I find refreshing in the face of the many too-mature youth in novels.

And despite the fact that Alice fears the creatures her father raises, the author's knowledge of horses shines through. She clearly knows how it feels to ride a horse—to compete on a horse—and she's masterfully captured that in words.

There was, unfortunately, quite a bit of crude language, but it fit the personality of the characters who used it, so I tried not to dwell on it as a negative aspect. Otherwise, the book is fairly clean.

4/5 leaves

Mud Season
by Ellen Stimson

Although full of hilarity, this memoir also elicited quite a few incredulous facepalms from me. The beginning is a love story of Ellen (and family) and Vermont—this is what hooked me, as it is beautifully written and I related very well. As the story moved along, I appreciated Ellen's ability to laugh at herself and to recognize that her family was a group of outsiders/city folk/“yuppies” moving into a rural area with deep roots.

I understood and laughed at (often out loud) many of her unfortunate incidents, but a lot of them left me shaking my head and wondering just what in the world they were thinking. Some of the humor even felt a bit forced, with repeated phrases like, “Well, of course I did!”

Though the book over all left me with some mixed feelings, the “After Words”—a collection of mouth-watering recipes—not only made me (very) hungry, but also was fun to read.

3/5 leaves

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From the Editor's Desk {Tip of the Week}
Dialogue Tags: Commas and Capitalization

Punctuating dialogue tags can be tricky. As a general rule, separate tags from dialogue with a comma. If the tag follows, begin it with a lowercase letter (even if the quote ends with a question mark or exclamation point). You should almost always begin a quote with a capital letter.

Tricky spots: Action phrases like “he sighed” or “she laughed” should be treated as separate sentences.

“I can't believe it.” She sighed.
“What?” asked James.
Looking up, she replied, “He forgot again.”

a soul in type {book review}

The Map of Enough by Molly Caro May

Molly and her fiancé Chris suddenly move to 107 acres in Montana, land her family owns but rarely visits, with the idea of staying for only a year. Surrounded by tall grass, deep woods, and the presence of predators, the young couple starts the challenging and often messy process of building a traditional Mongolian yurt from scratch. They finally finish just on the cusp of winter, in a below-zero degree snowstorm. For Molly it is her first real home, yet a nomadic one, this one concession meant to be dissembled and moved at will.

Yurt-life gives her rare exposure to nature, to the elements, to the wildlife all around them. It also feels contrary to the modern world, and this triggers in Molly an exploration of what home means to the emergent generation. -from Goodreads

The Map of Enough is a soul in type. Its beautiful, flowing, earthy prose is almost poetic, and it's so relatable that I feel like Molly and I are the same person--like we've shared experiences. And in a sense, I suppose we have. Molly is just a step or two further down the trail. As I read the book, I felt her story--shared her thoughts and emotions--as if I'd climbed inside her skin to dwell there within the covers of the book.

Molly writes about the beauty of slowing down, of living within a round, canvas "membrane" instead of sound-muffling walls, of smelling the thawing water in the creek even before seeing that the blue ice has melted away. Her story is one of soul-searching, self-defining, and question-asking--discovering the right questions and letting go of the wrong ones. I wanted to devour and savor it all at once.

The writing style is something akin to stream-of-consciousness, easing from present to past and back again, seamlessly including internal thoughts and distant memories with the narrative. One potential stumbling block for readers is the lack of quotation marks for the sparse dialogue. Rather than annoying, however, I thought it made the text flow more like a memory, which is essentially what it is.

If I've made this sound like a complex, philosophical book, I apologize. It is not. It's a smooth, enjoyable read, and, boiled down, the story is quite common. In the process of defining herself, Molly discovered (among many other things) that she was far from the only person struggling with identity and purpose, and that we are not so different after all.

"But maybe all we really wanted, every last one of us, was to be loved."

This is the perfect book for curling up with on a cold day. It is full of humor, wisdom, and nature, and it's simply a good story! I highly recommend it.

5/5 leaves!

birthday book haul!

Confession: the top two books on this stack were bought at Barnes & Noble with a non-birthday gift card. But I did buy them on my birthday, after a special birthday dinner of burritos eaten in a park by the lake (and Ben & Jerry's ice cream cones from a serendipitously found scoop shop). Anywho, the stack:

Dragondrums (Harper Hall of Pern #3)
by Anne McCaffrey
I don't have book two, nor have I read it, but Dragondrums was the only book in this trilogy that Barnes & Noble had in stock. This is very sad, because I adored Dragonsong (book one) and was very much looking forward to Dragonsinger. I suppose I'll just have to go back another time. Oh darn.

I Am Malala
by Malala Yousafzai
Since I rarely buy new books, I often go into bookstores with a list carefully selected (read: hastily thrown together at the last minute) from my Goodreads TBR so that I have some idea of what books I might want to drag home with me. I Am Malala was not on the list I took with me to B&N, but I've been wanting to read it since it came out. No more excuses.

The Lost Art of Real Cooking
by Ken Albala and Rosanna Nafziger
This was a gift from my grandmother, whose former neighbor's daughter is the co-author. Feel free to read that sentence another three times or so until it makes sense. It's a bit unusual as far as cookbooks go, in that the recipes are written in paragraph form (no lists of ingredients), and it includes such recipes as yogurt, ghee, and beef jerky, alongside the more familiar bread, salad, and soup.

Samara's Peril (Ilyon Chronicles #3)
by Jaye L. Knight
The Ilyon Chronicles is one of my favorite Christian fantasy series, so I was really excited to receive Samara's Peril! My husband even had it signed by Jaye L. Knight, who wrote a birthday message in my favorite color (a happy coincidence, apparently). I have to wait a few weeks to read it, though, because I'm re-reading the first two books and still haven't made it through book one just yet.

Update! (6/23/16)
I just received this gem in the mail as a belated part two to the gifts from my parents:

Associated Press Stylebook 2016
Practical gifts are sometimes just as exciting as fun ones. Especially when you're a nerd. On a somewhat related note, keep your eyes open for an exciting announcement on the blog! (It'll make more sense when you see the announcement post; I promise...)

rural life {mini reviews}

I read quite a few books in the past two months, and I still haven't posted all of the reviews! So here are a few, which, coincidentally, all share the theme of farms and rural life. The first is a YA, the second adult fiction, and the third nonfiction. None of them, sadly, involve dragons, although there are horses in the second one listed, so we will forgive that novel for its lack of flying reptiles. And I like farming, so there is that, too. Enjoy!


Holding Up the Earth
by Dianne E. Gray

This beautiful novel weaves together seamlessly the lives of five girls, belonging to very different generations, tied together by a farm and, more specifically, a meadow. Some of the gripping, emotional stories are told through letters or journals, which sometimes felt unrealistically detailed. But those details do add much-appreciated color. Hope, the main character, is very relatable, as are the other four girls, for that matter.

4/5 leaves

Riding Lessons
by Sara Gruen

I found the premise of this novel interesting -- a horse book with family issues and a dash of romance -- but for almost the entire novel, Annemarie, the main character, acts like an insufferable child. There are no moments (until the end) where she behaves like an adult, which makes her very difficult to relate to. All of her decisions were rash and irrational. By the end, though, she seems a decent human being, and I almost want to read the next book -- mostly to follow the supporting characters (Dan, Eva, Mutti...).

2/5 leaves

The Hills is Lonely
by Lillian Beckwith

This is a hilarious portrait of a small, quaint, Scottish island village in all of its quirkiness. I wonder how many of the stories really are true, and to what extent -- they were all just so funny! Unfortunately, the author seemed to lack much respect for the people who live in the village, as they're all portrayed as being rather backwards. And I could have done with a dose of seriousness now and again as well as some form of a plot.

3/5 leaves

*******

Have you ever continued a series simply to follow the supporting characters? And what do you think -- does nonfiction require a plot?

bookshelf love update {mini reviews}

Miraculously, in five weeks, I have read eight-and-a-half books (currently working on Valley of Dreams). I didn't think I'd come anywhere close to finishing this entire stack by March 22! And yet here I am, reading more than twice as many books as I usually do. In any case, here's the list, followed by a few more reviews down below. Links in the list go to my review (if I've written one) or to Goodreads.

The Hills is Lonely by Lillian Beckwith

The Art of Losing Yourself by Katie Ganshert

Holding Up the Earth by Dianne E. Gray

Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen

Flying Changes by Sara Gruen

Grace at Low Tide by Beth Webb Hart

Blessed are the Meek by Zofia Kossak-Szczucka

Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce
Wolf Speaker by Tamora Pierce

Valley of Dreams by Lauraine Snelling
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

Refuge by Terry Tempest Williams

If you'd like to join me in the Bookshelf Love reading challenge, jump on over to the introductory post. And in case you missed it, you can view more details about my personal Bookshelf Love challenge here.

Blessed are the Meek
by Zofia Kossak

The famous novel about St. Francis of Assisi by Polish historical novelist Zofia Kossak-Szczucka, known for her WWII resistance work. (from Goodreads)





The subtitle, "A Novel about St. Francis of Assisi," as well as the description copied above, are rather misleading. While the beginning and end of this novel are about Francis, the middle half is all politics and crusade, and one can read pages and pages without coming across the name "Francis." Also, the frequent ellipses in the dialogue made for choppy reading. If you're looking for a novel about the Fifth Crusade, you may enjoy this book. If you're looking for a novel about St. Francis, well, you might want to look elsewhere.

2/5 leaves

Refuge
by Terry Tempest Williams

In the spring of 1983 Terry Tempest Williams learned that her mother was dying of cancer. That same spring, Great Salt Lake began to rise to record heights, threatening the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and with it the herons, owls, and snowy egrets that Williams, a poet and naturalist, had come to gauge her life by. ... As it interweaves these narratives of dying and accommodation, Refuge transforms tragedy into a document of renewal and spiritual grace. (from the back cover)




This is a soul masquerading as a book. It is messy, but it is also beautiful. Refuge reads like a journal, with vignette after vignette of the lake, the refuge, birds, Williams' mother... It is choppy yet poetic, simultaneously intimate and detached. At first, I couldn't decide if I liked it or not, but as I continued  reading I began to fit the pieces into the whole, and I stopped often to jot down quotes in my notebook. I want to share them all with you, but this one will have to do. Read the book and discover the rest for yourself. You won't regret it.

"In my young mind, it had something to do with the magic of birds, how they bridge cultures and continents with their wings, how they mediate between heaven and earth." (p. 18)

5/5 leaves!

living symbols of peace and hope {Unbowed by Wangari Maathai}

Hugely charismatic, humble, and possessed of preternatural luminosity of spirit, Wangari Maathai, the winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize and a single mother of three, recounts her extraordinary life as a political activist, feminist, and environmentalist in Kenya. (from the inside flap)








Wangari Maathai has been a familiar name to me since I read it in a magazine article perhaps 10 years ago -- sometime during high school. I drank in every word about her organization, The Green Belt Movement, how she was doing the very thing I dreamed of -- planting trees to heal not only the earth, but the people who live here, too. And so, when I finally snatched up her memoir at the library, I expected a grand tale of planting trees across Kenya.

Folks, this is not a book about trees. This is a book about an incredible woman who, when she saw a problem, immediately began looking for a solution. And pursued it. Over and over and over again. It is a story of Kenya, of women, of politics... and if that sounds boring to you, I promise, it's not. I shy away from the words "politics" and "memoir," especially when paired together. But this book is not dry. It is rich. Rich with words painting images telling the story of one of the most incredible women to ever walk this earth. And it is written in such a way as to capture the mind and emotions so that even those who balk at memoirs may be swept up in the journey.

You know that question used in ice breakers and writing prompts: if you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? I never had an answer. Because sharing a meal with a stranger -- and a famous one, at that -- sounds incredibly daunting to this introvert. But the more I read of Unbowed, the more I wanted to meet Wangari Maathai, to hear her tell more of her story, to simply hear her voice and see her eyes light up with a smile, to shake the hand that planted trees in both hope and stubborn rebellion.

And yes, there are also trees in this book. Lots of them, in fact.

"Trees are living symbols of peace and hope. A tree has roots in the soil yet reaches to the sky. It tells us that in order to aspire we need to be grounded, and that no matter how high we go it is from our roots that we draw sustenance. It is a reminder to all of us who have had success that we cannot forget where we came from."

If the name Wangari Maathai means nothing to you, look it up. Even if you do not read Unbowed (which you should!), at the very least, do an internet search. Read an article, read two, be inspired.

5/5 leaves!

horses and dragons and... poems by C.S. Lewis? {book haul!}

Another pilgrimage to Powell's City of Books occurred last week (aka we were visiting my in-laws in Portland), so of course I came home with a stack! And if you notice a lot of Wyoming-themed photos in the next several weeks, it's because we also spent a few days in the Tetons and Yellowstone the week before. I just couldn't not take 300 photos in such a beautiful setting! Anywho, the books:

  

The Dragon Keeper (Rain Wilds Chronicles #1)
by Robin Hobb
Dragons. Dragons dragons dragons dragons dragons. And a refreshingly simple cover that immediately captured my attention (I judge books by their covers. I try not to do the same with humans).




The Dragon Quartet, Volume 1 (Dragon Quartet #1-2)
by Marjorie B. Kellogg
More dragons! I actually bought this book because of the two-page introduction, which I read on a whim. Besides the fact that she rewrote history (and the present, and the future) with dragons in the world, Marjorie B. Kellogg apparently included her concerns for social justice and environmental responsibility in this series.




Airs and Graces (Horsemistress Saga #2)
by Toby Bishop
I actually bought this book at a local used bookshop (not in Portland). It's about winged horses--or, if you're me, "dragon horses"--and I only discovered after I got home that it's book two in a series. Maybe the library has book one...




Breed of Giants
by Joyce Stranger
I love Shire horses (they're enormous), so I was super excited to find this seemingly obscure 1960's novel in the afore-mentioned bookshop.





Poems
by C.S. Lewis, edited by Walter Hooper
C.S. LEWIS WROTE POETRY. I'd all but convinced myself this book didn't actually exist, and then I found it nestled in among C.S. Lewis' more famous works on a bottom shelf in Powell's. It took great self-control to not jump up and down in the middle of the store.



Beauty
by John O'Donohue
During a sermon by a guest speaker on Matthew 6:25-34 ("Do Not Worry") last summer, I decided for some odd reason that I absolutely had to know the preacher's favorite book, and believe it or not, as I was thinking this and how sad it was that I probably wouldn't have the courage to ask, he held up this book and very highly recommended it to us all. So I bought it.




Seraphina (Seraphina #1)
by Rachel Hartman
Oh look, more dragons! I have read so many good things about this book, so I finally hunted it down and snatched up a copy for myself. But my husband is reading it first, which, I'm ashamed to say, bothers me. I guess I'm a little jealous...

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Do you turn green when someone else reads your precious, brand-new book before you? What beautiful places have you travelled to recently? And I'm especially curious whether you knew that C.S. Lewis wrote poetry!