I’m not even sure how to describe this book without giving it away, but it is, in a sense, memoirs of a woman losing her mom to cancer, and then becoming a mother without her mom.

This is pretty close to home for me, but the author writes about her grief openly and realistically. I wept with her; I felt the pain she felt. It inspired me to read my own journals during the time my mom was sick and died.

The style of this book (written in short “bursts” that aren’t quite chapters, and this format was so perfect for this book) helps you not get too “bogged down” on the grief that one faces daily when losing a parent or close family member. Grief is the common thread, but life goes on, and decisions still have to be made, and things still happen.

Recommended.

I’m so Thankful this book.

Dr. Youn recounts his own experience with a major jaw surgery and his own journey in med school to "discovering" plastic surgery.

I'm not much of a memoir person, but I found this book engaging and fun to read. Youn's sense of humour is lovely, and his quick mentions of his faith are certainly present, but not overbearing or out to teach some kind of moral - it's simply part of his life. I also love how he addresses the tensions of being a second generation (I think?) in his family and the varying cultural norms both in his work and at home.

My only critique was that I wish there was more about how his own journey with a bodily modification influenced his desire to become a plastic surgeon. But the book left me wanting to know more, (I thought it'd cover more than just med school, so I was surprised when I was at the end) but that's probably more of a sign of good writing.

Recommended.

Delightfully terrifying and thought-provoking - reads like a twilight zone episode that I wish had happened!

Capote compiles information about the Clutter family murders that happened in Holcomb, Texas. He writes a thorough examination of what happened, the lives of the criminals, and their journey to death row.

What was mesmerizing to me is that even though Capote is "telling" this story (rather than showing it - he's using real excerpts from interviews, this is my understanding) he still has this ability to draw you in. There are just enough details, but not too many. You're still reading a story even though parts of it are just reports.

Capote shines in the various literary symbols (the wheat, the cats, the yellow bird) along with how he makes us sympathize with the criminals, and how he in particular singles out Nancy (the girl living at home who was murdered) and Perry (the one who did most of the killing).

Not an easy book to read, but recommended.

Written in several essays geared towards pastors who are discipline artists. There are a mix of both artists/ministers and ministers who have pastored artists. My understanding is that this book was born out of a gathering of pastors and artists in Austin a few years ago (at the time of writing this review)

If you are in church leadership and are looking for a book to read specifically about discipling artists, this is the book I recommend as a fantastic starting point (and “starting point” isn’t a knock at all - this is a great resource!). While it’s not geared as much towards artists in ministry, I still recommend the read, especially the sections by Begbie, Crouch, and Taylor himself.

I wasn’t sure about Toya and her journey at first, but I love what the author did with this reverse-yet-not-reverse look at race. I appreciated how Pink depicts the landscape of the racial tension in Birmingham frankly and without apologies. This book reminded me how much I still need to listen.

Lovely coming of age story of a young girl who comes to America with her mom through her aunt’s help. We see the struggle of young Kim and her to learn English and barely survive (with basically no help from family) and Kim’s unstoppable drive to take care of her mother and make a better life for them. It seems the only one who understands her is Matt, a boy just a few years older than her...
Kwok paints so elegantly the dissonance between the people she socializes with at her private school and the “secret” life that she lives in the fabric factory. She keeps you interested in all the characters (even the ones you don’t like, you still wonder about them!) but doesn’t give everything away, which I really enjoyed. Definitely worth the read.

Great intro to Immanuel prayer - definitely short, but packed with information, whether you are leading a group, facilitating for another person, or journaling on your own. I have been doing Immanuel Prayer for awhile now, and it has significantly changed my walk with God. Recommended.