Spring Reading Recap

Reading Black Books Turns One and My Spring Reading list

Today marks one year that Reading Black Books has been out in the world! I'm grateful to all who have read and shared the book, especially the teachers who have used it in their classes and the readers who have read the great texts I discussed.

Here’s the proof of the latter:

One way you can help your boy: If you've read the book, please drop a review on Amazon and Goodreads. Help this little book find its readers!

Spring Reading Recap

The Dragonbone Chair, Tad Williams (Daw, 1988)
This is the first volume of the much acclaimed Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series. Many fantasy classics are built on world-building and plotting but are weak and wobbly when it comes to the quality of prose. (Looking at you, Wheel of Time series.) A few chapters into The Dragonbone Chair, I turned to wifey and said, “I think this guy can write.” I’m splitting the book between Audible sessions and bedtime reading.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, W. Ross Hastings (Baker Academic, 2022)
The subtitle of this book is “Exploring Its Theological Significance and Ongoing Relevance.” (The “It” being the Resurrection.) What does the Resurrection mean for creation, salvation, mission, and vocation? Hastings draws from a deep well of theological and biblical sources to give clear, wise, and encouraging—and often thrilling—answers. Wade into this book by whatever chapters catch your eye or by whatever topic you’re preaching and teaching next.

Air & Light & Time and Space: How Successful Academics Write, Helen Sword (Harvard University Press, 2017)
Even for the most successful wordsmiths, writing is joy and torture, pain and delight, a source of paralyzing dread and soaring pride. Sword surveys writers and shares the wealth. The main insight is to build your BASE in writing — Behavioral Habits (writing consistently, etc.), Artisanal Habits (developing your craft, etc.), Social Habits (support and feedback, etc.), and Emotional Habits (finding ways to take pleasure in writing, etc.) in whatever ways work for your temperament.

One Piece, Vol. 25, Eiichiro Oda (Viz Media, 2010)
A book with pictures! Some of the most compelling storytelling and worldbuilding is found in Japanese manga. One Piece is one of the top 4 anime/manga in the world, and its writer has been telling this story for 20 years. Here’s the simple gist: the young protagonist wants to be the greatest pirate of all-time and find the treasure of legend, but has eaten a fruit that grants him an elastic body…but makes him unable to swim. I’m enjoying One Piece’s sincere fixation on loyalty, friendship, and determination.

The Lord’s Prayer, Wesley Hill (Lexham, 2019)
One of my favorite writers tackles the prayer at the center of the church’s life. Fr. Hill’s book is mercifully short, wonderfully rich, and beautifully Christocentric — and its full of great art. Our church is reading this over the summer. The Lexham Christian Essential series is worth your attention.

Reading for the Love of God: How to Read as a Spiritual Practice, Jessica Hooten Wilson (Brazos, 2023)
I was genuinely honored to endorse this book, which will no doubt be a great gift to the church by reshaping how we read all texts. I’ve already started re-reading chapters. Read and gift this book to your people.

Doxology: The Praise of God in Worship, Doctrine, and Life, Geoffrey Wainwright (Oxford University Press, 1984)
Doxology is systematic theology from and in the perspective of worship. Theological thinking and language is the language of reflection upon the primary experience of worship. Therefore theological talk is needs to be in reference to the worship of the church, and this book shows why and how. Worthy of a slow and careful read.

What are you enjoying and reading this Spring?

Peace,
Claude