One of my goals for 2020 is to read 45 books this year. That equals 3.75 books per month. Some months might have two books, others five, others four or one or whatever. But either way I’m confident in my goal and excited to share what I read. Here’s what I read in January:

1. Rhythms of Rest by Shelly Miller is a book about the Sabbath. It’s an encouragement and guide for people who are done with the constant striving. It’s full of anecdotes about different ways to be intentional about rest while also weaving Miller’s own story of how God spoke to her and her husband about moving to London from South Carolina. I read this book as a follow-up to John Mark Comer’s The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry because I wanted to read more about Sabbath and rest and I’ve always believed that if an author recommends someone else’s work - you should listen! It’s also always wise to read around a subject - especially one you might struggle with and get alternative perspectives. Miller’s book while not as punchy as Comer’s is full of depth and wisdom and ultimately grace. I think a few of my takeaways are:

• Rest is whatever brings joy and peace and closer to the heart of God. So if for me - that means reorganizing my spice cabinet because God imbued me with a deep love for organization - that is okay. Rest isn’t a one-size fits all thing and that freedom was vital for me.

• Sabbath isn’t about law-keeping - it’s the realization of the fact that time set-apart for God is vital for our lives and it’s fun. Who doesn’t want to spend time with the creator of the universe who also happens to love us immensely?

• Sabbath isn’t about us - it’s about Him and glorifying Him with our lives and if that means interrupting our work-obsessed hurry culture with “wasting time” then that is what we do. It will not be easy at first but like all sacrifices we make - God is faithful to us even when we give Him our time.

While slower to read - I do recommend this book for anyone who got swept into the importance of Comer’s book or anyone who feels exhausted and needs an alternative perspective to life than the one culture is throwing at us.

Rating: 4/5
Pages: 193
Genre: Christian

2. The Murmur of Bees by Sofía Segovia was one of the loveliest books I’ve ever listened to. Segovia writes lyrically and with such imagination. The plot follows a Mexican family through a few generations, focusing on one generation particularly and their godson with a special connection to bees. It’s a fantastic blend of historical fiction, touching on the Spanish Influenza and Mexican Revolution intertwined with magical realism which I learned is common in Latin American literature. I found it to be incredibly delightful, especially with how Segovia writes and am excited to read similar books in the future. If you like tight, short, easy-to-follow plots that could turn into a movie - this is not the book for you, but if you enjoy wordsmiths and creativity and slow steady pacing - check this book out! It’s not for everyone but certainly worth your time.

Rating: 3.5/5
Audio Length: 14 hours and 20 minutes
Genre: Historical Fiction

3. Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple was absolutely delightful. The plot itself was quirky, interesting and thoroughly ridiculous. This is a read-in-a-day kind of book and for all extensive purposes that’s mostly what I did. I read it en route to Berlin and had only a few pages left at the airport when we headed back home. It’s also heartwarming and thoughtful - placing themes of familial love and the bond between mother and daughter against the backdrop of Seattle school politics, adventures to Antarctica and the Russian mob! The style was a slight deviation from the norm and told through prior conversations, emails, etc. with minimal narration and while it’s not completely outside the box, it was a fun change from other novels.

It also had a brilliant line:

“I felt so alone in this world, and so loved at the same time.”

Which wasn’t directly related to the plot but really explained how I’ve felt at church, etc. in the presence of God while also being surrounded by people who maybe don’t understand my current situation. I think for me, it’s common to feel so alone (even surrounded by friends and family) but then also acknowledging that I am loved, not only by them but also the creator of the universe. I’ve been pondering that line ever since.

Rating: 4/5
Pages: 330
Genre: Fiction

So there you have it! January 2020’s reads!

What have you been reading?