Commons Staff Picks: Books!
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Commons Staff Picks: Books!
Books! Books! Books are great. I (Bobbi) asked the staff team to offer you some reading recommendations for the summer, and they happily obliged.
We hope you find something new here and enjoy getting to know those who serve you through books they love.
You can click through to Amazon to see the books, but even better, check with a local bookstore to see if they have what you're looking for (or will order it for you).
Happy reading!
ALEXANDRA
You Could Make This Place Beautiful - Maggie Smith
Not *that* Maggie Smith, the other one. This is a memoir, but it’s also poetry. Those two things combined give us someone's reckoning with divorce and grief and motherhood, but also give us a beautiful way to approach the world. A really lovely read.
Demon Copperhead - Barbara Kingsolver
A modern retelling of Dickens’ David Copperfield set in Appalachia during the opioid crisis. Incredible prose, empathetic story, this was one of my favourite reads of 2022.
ASHLEY
Born a Crime - Trevor Noah
This memoir is about the unique upbringing of comedian Trevor Noah. It sheds light on his struggle growing up as a biracial kid in apartheid South Africa all while giving the reader a laugh-out-loud experience. The audiobook is also incredible, as Trevor does amazing accents and switches out in different dialects.
Elephant and Piggie books - Mo Willems
My kids adore this series. They can’t wait for a new book to come out, and they all learned to read with this series. It’s laugh-out-loud but also encourages kids to share their true feelings at an early age.
BOBBI
The Bandit Queens - Pironi Shroff
Please stick with me here. This novel is about an Indian woman everyone assumes killed her husband, and now other women in her community want her to help them kill their husbands. It's about misunderstandings and exercising power even when it's structurally withheld. Ultimately though, it's about friendship and forgiveness.
The Power of Writing it Down - Allison Fallon
I really think everyone could use a journaling prompt from this book called "The Infinity Prompt." When I have a bad day, get stuck in conflict, or can't put my finger on what's bothering me, I dig up some notes I made from The Power of Writing it Down. Without fail, in under 30 minutes, I write my way to insights. Also, chapter two is titled "But I'm Not a Writer: Why everyone stands to benefit from a personal writing practice." So yes, this book is for you.
JEREMY
The Overstory - Richard Powers
This is a book about trees. At least that’s the central conceit. Really, it weaves the lives of diverse characters around the central, towering theme of trees and the way they link us together. It’s a profound look at our relationships with each other and with nature. I just read it again for the second time this spring.
A Field Guide to Christian Nonviolence - David Cramer and Myles Werntz
This book does an excellent job of walking through the history of Christian nonviolence, including many of the different starting points and theological reasoning behind this approach to life. It’s challenging. But it forced me to think through some of my core commitments as part of following the way of Jesus. And maybe some of their shortcomings.
KALIE
Devotions - Mary Oliver
When I hike, I like to read a Mary Oliver poem at the top of a mountain. I haul her Devotions book up with me on my hikes. If you’ve read Mary Oliver before, consider rereading her. If you’ve never read Mary Oliver, her poems are full of observations about the natural world and what it means to be human.
SCOTT
Run Toward The Danger - Sarah Polley
I'm recommending this memoir because Bobbi recommended it to me, and she was not wrong. Polley's experiences warrant a trigger warning or two, but you will not regret getting through to the final chapter (I'm still thinking about it).
The Fifth Season - N. K. Jemisin
Book one in a brilliant fantasy trilogy. I know it's not new, but Jemisin won the Hugo three years in a row for these books (2016-2018), which is just to say that if you pick this one up, you will read all of them. Note: Consider the audiobooks if you're road tripping this summer, because the reader, Robin Miles, is incredible.
YELENA
How to Keep House while Drowning - KC Davis
A quick read or listen for women feeling overwhelmed by motherhood and all the demands that come with it. In addition to tips and strategies, Davis helpfully reframes chores as care tasks and the work of keeping house as the care you offer to your tomorrow self.
The Last Chairlift - John Irving
I discovered Irving about eight years ago and have been a fan ever since. This book contains family mysteries, ghosts, skiing, humour, the most lovable characters, and eight decades of sexual politics. It is his last long novel. And although it tends to wander a bit and is mostly character-driven, it is worth reading.
Reading isn't really your thing?
Consider catching up on some
CommonsPodcasts this summer here.
Be sure to follow CommonsChurch Podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts.
