In 2021 I am attempting to read 65 books. It’s my loftiest goal yet and while I am happy to report I am on track, I am wary that this goal may sometimes feel like work and that’s not okay. So, I am publicly announcing that even if I don’t hit 65 books, that’s okay. Because the real goal is to feed my soul through one of my favorite activities, reading. This year is also a little different because my husband is joining me! His goal is different because he’s not a reader but we’re both pushing ourselves to grow in 2021 and so he’s aiming to read 12 books in addition to his constant re-reading (listening) of Harry Potter on audio while he works. Here are my April reads.

Wilder Girls by Rory Power
Rating: 3/5
Genre: Fiction, Young-Adult
Review: This book isn’t necessarily what I expected but it was captivating and timely. It was also an enjoyable alternative perspective to The Lord of the Flies, as we see young girls in a similar situation (albeit, slightly differently) and chronicle how they move through that world. The book is about a boarding school for girls on an island off the coast of Maine which gets hit with an unknown pandemic. It talks about the power of friendship and also gave a nuanced perspective on right vs. wrong. Interesting but not life-changing but I don’t think that’s the point anyways.

The Great Sex Rescue by Sheila Wray Gregoire, Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach, and Joanna Sawatsky.
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Nonfiction, Christian
Review: This book was so excellent, so important, and 100% deserving of its own blog post (which will happen). It graciously addresses so many unhelpful, harmful, and incorrect teachings about sex and marriage that are prevalent in the evangelical world. I’m so thankful for the work these ladies are doing and for the gentleness and humility in which they approach these sensitive topics. So good. 10/10 recommend.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Rating: 3.5/5
Genre: Fiction, Fantasyish — more like Historical Fiction
Review: People love this book and I don’t get it. Some have lauded it as “one of the best fantasy novels I’ve ever read” and I have to disagree. It comes nowhere close to Tolkien. At all. And I think the issue is, I was expecting Fantasy not Historical Fiction. She’s also less Austen and more Dickens and if you know me, I hate Charles Dickens. While I desperately wanted to love this book, ultimately it was longer than necessary, pretentious, and offered no unique perspective on the world. If you have the time to read an 800+ page, well-written, but not particularly unique, book with mildly interesting characters and meticulously researched historical facts — go for this book. But if you’d rather read books that challenge your perspective, give you empathy for those different than you, or sweep you up into a compelling epic — don’t read this book.

Until Unity by Francis Chan
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Non-Fiction, Christian
Review: Do I think this book should be required reading for all Christians? Yes. Does it deserve it’s own blog post? Also, yes. Chan excellently and graciously (as per usual), outlines a pathway and vision for a unified big “C” Church and urges all of us to repent and pursue that vision. 10/10 recommend. His overarching argument is that until the Church is unified, our witness is compromised, since the Bible tells us that the world will know we are his by our love for one another. (John 13:35). And yet, despite that command — Christians are more disunited than ever, both on the micro and macro level. One his most compelling quotes for me was this, “When love is shallow, all it takes is something as trivial as a disagreement to divide us.” And I love this because I’ve seen it’s truth both personally but also corporately in church and throughout the history of Church. One of my biggest heartaches currently comes from a shallow love that was easily divided over disagreement and the unwillingness to forgive and work through challenges. I’ve also seen splintering in my own church body over the use of masks or pursuing racial justice. Throughout history, the Church split many times over disagreements regarding baptism and a whole host of other things. Again, this book deserves its own post, maybe many, because it’s so rich. Please read because it’s relevant in almost any area.

Adrian:

Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis
Rating: 3/5
Genre: Fiction, Science
Review: I felt like he spent too much time world-building so the point of the book was lost. There was a larger story you could see, though, and that was good and interesting. As far as Lewis allegories go, The Chronicles of Narnia is still miles better. I think he did a good job putting you in the position of the main character and feeling all the things he was feeling which is good. Also interesting to read ideas about space from the 1960s or whenever he wrote this compared to Artemis which was written in the 2010s. Would recommend. It’s short. Most people can read it quicker than I did and I’m planning on finishing the series.