What we are reading

OUR RUNNING LIST...

NON- FICTION

FICTION

BOOK REVIEWS:

Jane Eyre

Ignore the creepy cover they show here. I was in Switzerland years ago, I needed a change in reading. The goal: find inexpensive, intelligent, fiction in English. Even though I can be picky on literature. I came upon Jane Eyre, and only decided to pick up after being coaxed into it and seeing it was less than 5 dollars. There is a reason this is a classic! I was hooked. Well developed characters woven into a plot that will leave you turning the page. Great read, worth every penny.

No Future without Forgiveness

After decades of apartheid in South Africa, the nation was bracing for all out civil war. Desmond Tutu explains how South African leaders took initiative, deciding not to brush atrocities against humanity under the rug. Led by the belief that “The truth hurts but silence kills,” they set out to run years of the Truth and Reconciliation commission. At times gory yet heartbreakingly honest, it teaches about the validating the pain that has happened to a person and a nation, and working towards forgiveness. Tutu deals with concepts of forgiveness, reconciliation, and justice. If you want to better understand global issues of injustice, read this.

Financial Peace

Everyone is anxious about the economy these days. If there was one book we would recommend for you or to give to anyone you know, its Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace. Its simple, no complicated wording, practical, Biblical, common sense advice on money. Marysol read it in high school and then we both re-read it for our premarital counseling. We would say it set up our marriage for less disagreements and a clear plan to handle our money. This is one of our favorite gifts to give. We teach about money and include alot of his principles. We couldn’t speak higher of it if we wrote it ourselves!

To Own a Dragon

Donald Miller reflects on growing up without a father and does so in a refreshing way. He doesn't assume a victim mentality but doesn't undermine the profound effect his fatherless childhood had on his adulthood. Somehow he can be vulnerable and hilarious without making light of his pain or others like him. Its divided up into short chapters and is a quick read. I will give this heads up: read the introduction first... especially if you are a woman reading the book. Just a heads up, but I won’t say more.

Boy in the Striped Pajamas

We can’t tell you what this book is about. The back cover wont tell you much either. If you find it online, and there is a preview, force yourself to look away. The point of the book is to start with no understanding at all. Nothing. Its written from a 9 year old boy’s perspective (although not written for children). If you know what’s going to happen, you ruin the powerful process of discovery author is sending you on. The point is to be naive. The ending will stay with you for a while to come… (if you end up reading it, email us, we would love to chat about it!)

Kite Runner

I had no idea this was a best seller or that there was a movie. I tend to shy away from an over-exposed book like that unless I have to read it to be informed. But sometimes a book is so good, you realize its more than its marketing. Someone lent me Kite Runner, and I read it in 2 days. I couldn’t put it down. It's the story of 2 Afghan boys set against the backdrop of ever-changing Afghanistan. It is a powerful story of seemingly small but devastating choices. His follow up: Thousand Splendid Suns is also fantastic. I don’t know which was better. Both worthy reads.

Wild Swans

It is the true story of 3 generations of Chinese women, showing you their personal lives and giving an education on 1900’s Chinese history in the process. But without feeling like a textbook. It starts with the grandmother who becomes a warload’s concubine and unravels from there. I got this book for my honeymoon to read by the beach. I started to read bits & pieces to De Wet and before we knew it, we were reading it out loud to each other. All 500+ pages! He couldn’t put it down either. Ah, the life of the honeymooner! Now we just take turns with a book that big. The random bits of day to day communism would often leave us in discussion for days. Great book to get lost in.

Poisonwood Bible

A 1960’s family from the South moves to the Congo as missionaries. Their daughters wonder if there will be a Piggly Wiggly when they get there. You don’t have to be a Southerner or a missionary to get hooked. Although, I am both and appreciated all the nuances. This book makes my top 10 lifetime books. You  simply can not put it down or believe where the author takes you. Read over the Holidays, I went through great-book-withdrawal for a while after. My only disclaimer: this book is “how-not-to-be-a-missionary”. I whole heartedly disagree with their approach, but that’s what makes for such a compelling story.