First of all, I would like to say that this woman, Anne Bogel, is just delightful in terms of writing style. The chapters of this book, and her first book, are well written, easy to understand, and long enough to feel that you chewed on a great concept, but short enough that you are not going to be upset at the length of the chapter. This would be a great summer read when you are not in the mood for a full blown narrative.
There are 21 chapters in this little gem. My favorite chapters were entitled "The Books Next Door", "Bookworm Problems", and "Again, For the First Time".
I find that book reviews with quotes from the book give a sense of whether it's good or not. Here are a few from "Again, For the First Time".
"I've found that a good books not only holds up to repeated visits, but improves each time we return to it" (118). I immediately thought of lectio divina when I read this. The stories that I read in the Bible are even better when I have returned to them to revisit the character and how their story is wrapped up in God's story.
"Great books keep surprising me with new things" (119). We return to great books to revisit and relearn, but often we just see new concepts or ideas that bless us.
"When we revisit a book we've read before, we see how life has woken us up to understand passage that previously went over our heads. The book itself highlights the gap between who I am and who I used to be" (122). I loved then when I first read it, and I love it now. I am changed and I get to see it! A reflective moment at its best.
"A reader's character is her fate - and I'm determined to remain open to new experiences in the same old (new) books, to see the ways I've changed and how those books have too" (123). Openness is a great key to life, not just reading. Experiences can be different depending on our stage in life. The way I view books now is different from before. They are treasures that tell stories that reflect how I have changed, how my thinking has changed, and how we all fit into God's redemptive plan for humanity. We really need to stay open to that last one.
This is a delightful and easy read! Download it or pick it up at your bookstore!
There are 21 chapters in this little gem. My favorite chapters were entitled "The Books Next Door", "Bookworm Problems", and "Again, For the First Time".
I find that book reviews with quotes from the book give a sense of whether it's good or not. Here are a few from "Again, For the First Time".
"I've found that a good books not only holds up to repeated visits, but improves each time we return to it" (118). I immediately thought of lectio divina when I read this. The stories that I read in the Bible are even better when I have returned to them to revisit the character and how their story is wrapped up in God's story.
"Great books keep surprising me with new things" (119). We return to great books to revisit and relearn, but often we just see new concepts or ideas that bless us.
"When we revisit a book we've read before, we see how life has woken us up to understand passage that previously went over our heads. The book itself highlights the gap between who I am and who I used to be" (122). I loved then when I first read it, and I love it now. I am changed and I get to see it! A reflective moment at its best.
"A reader's character is her fate - and I'm determined to remain open to new experiences in the same old (new) books, to see the ways I've changed and how those books have too" (123). Openness is a great key to life, not just reading. Experiences can be different depending on our stage in life. The way I view books now is different from before. They are treasures that tell stories that reflect how I have changed, how my thinking has changed, and how we all fit into God's redemptive plan for humanity. We really need to stay open to that last one.
This is a delightful and easy read! Download it or pick it up at your bookstore!
RSS Feed