alltheradreads's Reviews (1.9k)

I've heard about Wendell Berry from a fellow friend and writer, and when I stumbled upon this little collection of poems at the bookstore a few days ago, I couldn't resist. I absolutely loved it-- his simple yet intricate words struck deep chords in me as he tackled topics I feel strongly about with such an elegance. I cannot wait to read more from him.

If you like watching the Bachelor/Bachelorette shows, this is a SUPER fast and easy read and it definitely made me like Emily more than I did before. She tells her story of love, the shows, and faith, but it's nothing super deep (I never really pegged her as a super deep person, to be honest) or really surprising either. It's a light, breezy memoir, and I did learn more about the behind-the-scenes elements of the show, which was probably interesting part of this book.

I really enjoyed this one. My faith journey is drastically different than Bessey's in practically every way, but the honest way she shares how she has come to embrace all the wildly different and often opposite elements of her faith and practices is refreshing. It made me feel more at peace with my own faith (like what it looks like to be somebody who craves silence and times of reflection in worship but also wishes my church danced and clapped and moved a little more). If you've ever felt like you've outgrown your faith or you don't know what it looks like or you aren't sure how to define it or you just don't know what it all means, this book will surely speak to you and make you feel less alone and more at home in the mess of it all.

This book is super short and sweet, and in that, there wasn't a whole lot of meat to it. (FOOD PUNS BECAUSE THIS BOOK IS ABOUT FOOD/TABLES HAHAHA.) I'm a huge fan of gathering around the table (growing up, my family ate dinner together every night that I can remember, and it instilled a deep love in me) and have seen how fruitful it is for community, so this book just reinforced that even though it didn't blow me away.

This book... so good. I've heard (and been wrecked by) the whole point of this story in that both brothers are lost, even though only one ventures far away, but this book just went so much deeper than that. As somebody who genuinely loves and appreciates art, I couldn't get enough of all the meaning Nouwen pulled out of the Rembrandt painting. I always felt like the older son was more me (always been the homebody, the rule-follower, the "good one") but the way Nouwen described the lostness of both brothers and the ultimate goal to move toward the welcoming, loving, forgiving father for the lost ones in our own lives hit me hard and will stay with me, I'm certain.

This book is heartbreaking in the story of the sudden loss of little Lenya, and it feels almost wrong to give such a vulnerable story less than all the stars, but I just didn't love Lusko's writing style or the arrogance I sensed in him around his church and his role as a pastor. The storyline of finding power in the midst of pain, though? Rich stuff that I can't even begin to imagine.

I am a huge Mary Oliver fan. This new book of poems was delightful and made for such a sweet late night poetry binge. A must-read.