Ignorant Historian

I think that the official title is something like “dying to read” or something, but I can’t really say that. Most of these are already out…but they are sequels I want to read.

And there are only 6. I couldn’t find any more. I enjoy series because they’re less work, but I don’t follow too many active series. It’s usually more enjoyable to read them all in a row!

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

I currently have this audiobook checked out from the library, so I’ll be listening to it this week. I listened to the first one on

The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood

I don’t know that this is a true “sequel,” but I do know I need to read Oryx and Crake first. But I haven’t…

Painting by Numbers (Shades of Gray book 2) by Jasper Fforde

Apparently this isn’t expected until 2013…boo. It’s probably the one on this list that I’m most looking forward to.

Insurgent (Divergent book 2) by Veronica Roth

Probably the book I’m most looking forward to in 2012.

Crossed by Ally Condie

Coming in November. Probably won’t get my hands on it for a couple months after that, though.

The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson

It’s been a while since I read The Adoration of Jenna Fox, but I remember really liking it. I’m going to get my hands on this soon, I think.

In the past I’ve listed out the books I’ve wanted to read for a season…and completely failed to read them. I get excited to make these kinds of lists, even if I don’t follow them that closely. Hey, at least I’ve read half of the titles on my long-time to-be-read list!

So these are 10 books I want to read this fall:

1. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

I saw this book on several other Top Ten Tuesday lists that I’ve got to get to it. Thankfully, my library has it on ebook, so I can read it on my trip to Seattle next month. I’ve got to collect as many books for my Nook for that trip as I can!

2. In Christ Alone by Sinclair Ferguson

This is a book that has been on my TBR shelf for a while. I’ve heard great things about it…time to crack it open. I need to be reminded of the gospel.

3. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

If I put this on the list, that means I’ll actually get to it? Last year, I had a library copy of Oryx and Crake sitting on my cedar chest for half a year. Finally, I just had to take it back and start my library TBR pile over. I haven’t re-requested it from the library yet, but I do want to read it soon. After I read Forbidden, Ender in Exile, and a few more books… Hmm, perhaps that’s my problem!

4. The Cross of Christ by John Stott

I’ve always heard good things about John Stott and this book in particular. I think I picked it up at the used book store some time ago. Since his recent death, I’ve come across tributes to him that have made me want to pick this up even more.

5. Kids from Nowhere by George Guthridge

I don’t remember where I heard about this one, but I have it on my shelf and do want to read it. Plus, I’m in the mood for a book written about a colder place than Raleigh in August.

6. There Are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in The Other America by Alex Kotlowitz

This is my SIL’s, so I should definitely get to this fall, before I see her again. We’re both such bibliophiles and have some of the same interests in books, so we’re constantly sharing books back and forth.

7. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

This book has come up recently in two book discussions: the discussion on The Canticle of Liebowitz and some other book that I can’t remember what it was. Anyway, that encouraged me to read it. It certainly seems my cup of tea.

8. Little Bee by Chris Cleave

I don’t know much about it, but I’ve heard good things.

9. Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman

I don’t know where I heard of this one (why do I never keep track of such things?), but I’m looking forward to reading it. I enjoy reading books about people from different cultures interacting with one another.

10. Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis

My desire to read C.S. Lewis has recently increased. This one is next, and I should be getting it soon. Though I didn’t put it on the list, I hope to re-read his Space Trilogy, too.

So what other books should I read this fall?

Since this blog isn’t exclusively a book blog, I don’t review every book I read. I try only to review those that I have something to really say about, those that I would recommend, or those I would warn against.

So, there are some legitimate good books that don’t get reviewed. Here are ten that are definitely recommended.

1. Divergent by Veronica Roth

I mentioned Divergent last week as a book I’d love mine compared to. It’s an interesting take on the dystopian genre.

2. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

I just read this for a book club. About half of the club liked it, the others couldn’t stand it. But, as an intellectual novel, it’s definitely up my alley. Loved it.

3. Prodigal God by Tim Keller

I read this in one sitting. A lot of good stuff in a compact format.

4. Diamond Ruby by Joseph Wallace

I listened to Diamond Ruby for a review for Audiofile. I really enjoyed it and was glad to be exposed to it. Reminds me of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn a bit.

5. When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka

I originally read this for my college thesis class on the Japanese experience in World War II, but re-read it for a book club. Very well-written and I think it provides a good—but ugly—picture of the internment camps in the US.

6. My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay

I think this handles doubt in a teen much better than Small Town Sinners. The story is more interesting, too.

7. The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding

It’s been a few years since I’ve read this, but it is still one of my all-time favorite classics.

8. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

I think I haven’t officially reviewed Ender’s Game though I’ve probably talked about the series a few times. I love them…

9. East of Eden by John Steinbeck

For someone who swore off Steinbeck after reading Grapes of Wrath in high school (I’ve always been all-or-nothing and highly opinionated), I was surprised that I liked East of Eden enough to re-read it. Makes for a good listen, too.

You won’t get me to read Grapes of Wrath again, though.

10. Life of Pi by Yann Martel

I did not review this as I’ve seen many reviews. But if you’re one of the people who held out on reading Life of Pi (like I was), stop it.

Find more Top Ten Tuesdays here.

This week is a bit of a free-for-all for Top Ten Tuesday. I’ve decided to come up with a list of books that I’d love for people to positively compare my upcoming novel with.

I know I haven’t talked about my writing in a while, but there’s a reason for that. I took 4 months off from it! But for the last couple of weeks, I’ve dived back in. I have some major editing to do before it’s ready for self-publishing, which I’m still planning on doing. You’ll be hearing more about it when the time gets closer, but I’m looking to have it available around Christmas.

I’ll be submitting it to a few publishers as well, just to see if it can fly. To be honest, I’m not sure it can. I’m happy with what I’ve written, but to be honest, I don’t think it’s up to my book-snob standards.

But neither is Twilight, and look at how well it did.

Not that I want my book compared to Twilight.

On the other hand, I’d love for people to compare my book—in some small way—to one of these books. All of them have had some positive influence on my writing.

1. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Obviously, I don’t really think that anyone would compare my writing to a classic author. This is a dream list, alright? But I think that just as some of Marianne is in me, part of Marianne is in my protagonist.

2. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

While my book is set in a much different time (2102), I’d love for my character to look at the world in similar ways that Francie does. I think this comparison would be quite the stretch, though. I think this is one of the best coming-of-age stories out there.

3. Divergent by Veronica Roth

I only read this debut novel a week ago, but I loved it. Though her name (both first and last)  is eerily similar to mine, she’s a great writer and has a story to tell. While my book stays just this side of dystopian, I’ve gained a lot of inspiration from dystopian books, and try to read any I can get my hands on. I wish my debut novel would be even remotely as strong as this one.

4. 1984 by George Orwell

1984 encouraged me to truly imagine the future for the first time. My 2102 doesn’t look much like Orwell’s 1984, but I think that there’s bound to be some similarities, since I’ve read 1984 many times.

5. Tomorrow, When the World Began by John Marsden

I hope I get in the head of a teenage girl as well as Marsden does. Seems like I’d have a chance as I’ve at least been a teenage girl…

6. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Speaking of getting in a teenage girl’s head, Wintergirls does just that.

7. Ender’s Game series by Orson Scott Card

Just like my book flirts with dystopian, it flirts with the science fiction genre. I don’t know, perhaps just because it’s set in the future it’s considered science fiction. I’ve never been entirely clear on that one.

Anyway…I appreciate this series in particular because it’s about way more than just cool technology and aliens. And I want my novel to be like that too (though there are no aliens in mine).

8. Space Trilogy by C. S. Lewis

If there was one storytelling I wanted to emulate, it’d be C. S. Lewis. I love how faith plays a large portion of his novels, but it’s not in a way that is likely to offend non-believers.

9. Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde

A great new take on the dystopian genre in Fforde’s quirky style. I wanna be quirky. (Okay, I am quirky, but I want my writing to be quirky, too.)

10. Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

This is a book that has always stuck with me. Upon re-reading, I realized why. It’s not just the idea of spying on people and taking notes…it’s the emotions of the personal interactions.

This month, the Faith and Fiction Roundtable and briefly discussed the recently released Small Town Sinners. It is the story of a teenage girl and her struggle with what it real and true as she participates in her church’s “hell house.”

If you’ve never heard of the concept, a hell house is an outreach that attempts to draw in audiences—often young people—to a haunted house type production that presents the afterlife consequences of poor choices. The point, to put it bluntly, is to scare people towards Christ. For the record, I’ve never been to, participated in, or endorsed a hell house, and seriously doubt I ever will. They might be a great tool to move the emotions of the attendees, but I don’t think they’re necessarily a great tool to really get to their hearts, though God can use any means to draw someone to Him.

Lacey, the main character, is a pastor’s daughter and is very enthusiastic about the hell house, desiring to play the part of “abortion girl,” the girl who chooses to abort her baby in a bloody and dramatic scene. Other scenes in the hell house also play towards typical right-wing-decried sins like gay marriage.

Through the help of a cute and mysterious boy with bitterness of his own toward the church, Lacey comes to doubt the church’s response to sin among its own. Actually, her doubt seems to be the theme of the book, and it’s an issue that’s not resolved.

Yes, that bugged me.

I think doubt it healthy. I wouldn’t want any of the children and young adults I work with at church to take what their parents, the pastors, or I have said to them without examining and considering it. I don’t want them to become mini-me’s…I want them to become strong followers of Christ of their own, and that doesn’t come from blindly believing what you’ve been told.

However, I do think there are answers in life. Some questions won’t be answered in this life, and we have to be okay with that. But I do think God has given us many answers and a great perspective with which to interpret the unknowns. I’m currently reading the book of Job, a book which is great to study when wondering the big questions of life.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Small Town Sinners for discussion purposes.

Other Faith and Fiction Roundtable Participants:

Amy
Brooks
Carrie
Florinda
Hannah
Heather
Jennifer
Julie
Liz
Nicole
Sheila
Sherry
Thomas
Tina

I’ve mentioned this book twice in the past month. Love to Eat, Hate to Eat is the book that I preferred over the still-good Made to Crave, and is the other book I chose to read based on my desires to really address my food and laziness idols.

Because that’s really what my issues were with diet and exercise. Idols. Or actually they’re only one idol, the idol of pleasure. An idol that I frequently serve when I’m making small decisions, like what to eat or what to do.

Elyse Fitzpatrick does an excellent job of biblically addressing eating issues, no matter what those are for you. Perhaps you struggle like me with overeating. Or perhaps you “hate to eat,” and struggle with anorexic or bulimic tendencies. Whichever is the case for you, Fitzpatrick accurately identifies the root causes of both as matters of sinful hearts.

I’m in the process of memorizing the 12 questions and the corresponding verses found in the book and here. I’ve also posted them on my fridge, so I have no excuse. I may always struggle with these idols, but I’m willing to put in the long-term effort to address them.

While the fruits of the fight shouldn’t be my goal, I’ve already reaped the benefits, feeling better than I have in a long time. My clothes are starting to fall off me, and I can comfortably fit in clothes that once were too tight. Presumably losing weight makes me more attractive to my future husband. My doctor lit up when I visited her last week for a follow-up appointment (I was down about 20 pounds from the last time I visited her). While I was once well on my way towards diabetes and other weight-related issues, I’m now heading in the other direction.

I’m sorry I don’t have more to say other than “read it!” I can’t say anything more than to say that this book (excepting the Holy Spirit and God’s Word) has done the most to help down the right path. And really, that’s a lot to say.

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is top 10 trends in books I’d like to see more or less of. I’ll try to do 5 of each.

5 Trends I’d Like to See Less of

1. Vampires/werewolves/other paranormal nonsense

This has been a very annoying trend for me. Some people seem to love anything with one of these creatures in it, but as far as I can tell, 99% or more of these books are pure junk.  I’ve only read the first two Twilight books (you can only say “no” so many times, apparently) and one other book that I would never have read if I realized it was paranormal. I’ll be glad to see this trend go by the wayside…can it please be soon?

2. Racy scenes (especially in Young Adult books)

Way, way, way too many books have unnecessary sex scenes (and really, what is “necessary?”). There is a way to delicately indicate a sexual encounter without being graphic.

3. Books with little/no lasting importance

It’s one thing if the book is so grounded in our current culture that it will seem dated in 10 or 20 years. But it’s quite another thing if the themes of the book are of no importance today, let alone in the future.

4. Alternative punctuation/grammar/formatting

When I read The Road a few years ago, I thought I’d lose my mind. I’m fine with you pushing my ideas of “normal” through your book, but don’t do it through the format itself. It’s lazy.

5. “Historical” books that don’t read like they’re from that time period

Perhaps reading classics has ruined me for historical fiction. But when I pick up a historical fiction book, I feel like they spend way too much time talking about the given time period. Plus, I usually don’t see any reasons why the story needs to be placed in that time period, but it seems to be chosen because it will gather more readers.

5 Trends I’d Like to See More of

1. Multicultural books

I know there are more out there than I have read, so part of this is just continuing to expand my reading. But I also would like to see more books written by minorities and those from other cultures make it “big.”

2. More ebooks at reasonable prices

More importantly, I want to see libraries picking up more and more ebooks. There are still some books I want to read in flesh, but by and large, I enjoy when I’m able to read a book on my Nook.

3. More books written for adults read by teens

The opposite has definitely been a trend (and one that I’ve definitely taken a part of). But I’d also like to see teens reach outside of their age-specific genre to expand their horizons. Young adult books are great, but they often are much easier to chew. Teens should be challenged, and challenge themselves. Classics are a great way to go.

4. Well-written books with Christian themes

Note I’m not saying that these have to be “Christian” fiction, nor do they necessarily have to be written by Christians. But I want to see more books with themes like sacrifice, self-denial, and purpose.

5. Well-written characters

I think a well-written, round character can take a mediocre plot really far. I wish I could write like this, too.

Last week’s Top Ten Tuesday was about books that should be required reading for teens. I actually think my list for that one and this one would be very similar. I think books are a great way to introduce hard topics to teens and provide a starting point for discussion.

So these are some of the best books that tackle tough issues:

1. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

I only read Speak after the controversy last year. But I think that Speak delicately approaches the topic of rape in a teen-friendly, non-graphic way.

2. In the Name of God by Paula Jolin

In the Name of God puts you in the head of a suicide-bomber. Helps you to consider what might be the motives of someone taking such extreme actions.

3. Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez

Return to Sender puts a human face to illegal immigration.

4. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Excellently written and provides a jumping off point to discuss anorexia and other eating disorders.

5. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

If someone was only going to read one book about World War II and/or the Holocaust, I’d want it to be this one. Doesn’t romanticize or sensationalize the time like many books do, but provides a real account of living—truly living—through the Holocaust.

6. From Beirut to Jerusalem by Thomas Friedman

The best book I’ve ever read on the Middle East. There’s a ton I still don’t understand about the dynamics of the volatile region, but this book went a long way in removing my ignorance.

7. The Autobiography of Frederick Douglass

The best book I’ve ever read about American slavery. I have a lot to learn from Frederick Douglass.

8. Green Like God by Jonathan Merritt

What in the world should Christians think about the “green” movement? This book helped to start me on my current path of seeking to use and waste less.

9. The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde

Perhaps a strange pick for this list, but I think it fits. In a culture that promotes seeking pleasure, this novel provides a graphic description of the consequences of such life-long pursuit.

10. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

Also an interesting pick, as the controversy is more about the book than anything. I think there are major flaws in Rand’s philosophy—any society based on greed is doomed to fail—yet I still think that she has some good points about our current political situation. And I wish I could write like Ayn Rand.

I mentioned last week that this was one of the books I read when I’ve started rethinking my diet and exercise.

For a very long time I’ve been ruled by my desire for food. This is a continuing struggle, a minute-by-minute struggle. I don’t understand it’s power over me, other than that I’ve let it have that power.

In Made to Crave, Lysa Terkeurst makes the valid point that we’re made to desire, to crave. We were designed to desire God, but we seek to fulfill our desires through other means, and for me, that often means food.

I really wish that food was something you could quit. But, since you can’t, I have to figure out what moderation means.

I definitely recommend this book. I think that this was a good approach to overeating issues. There is a book that I like even better on this issue, but I’ll save that review for next week. For a more in-depth review of Made to Crave, check out Carrie’s review.

A few years ago I read the biography of Adoniram Judson (To the Golden Shore by Courtney Anderson) and was really encouraged by it. Since then, I had wanted to read more about his first wife, Ann.

My Heart in His Hands is the story of Ann Judson, among the first group of missionaries to head out from America. Within two weeks of marrying Adoniram, they boarded a boat to India, with the assumption of never returning. They didn’t know where they were going or who they might work with when they got there.

Ann had a great life in early America. She could have lived a very happy, ordinary life here, but God grabbed her heart. I’ve considered international missions, but when I think about it, it’s with things like email and planes. The costs were much higher 200 years ago.

Ann’s life in Burma, where they ended up, was hard. They had to learn the language the hard way, point and naming objects with their tutors. English-speaking people came and went in their lives; most of the time they were alone among foreigners. Tropical diseases and unhelpful medical treatment made it physically difficult as well.

But eventually, they saw the fruit of their labor, and Burmans were coming to Christ. But things weren’t all getting easier—when war came between Britain and Burma, the Burmese government took Adoniram and the other foreign men hostage, chaining them in the filthiest of conditions.

Ann’s actions during this two-year period were the most encouraging to me. She fought day after day, trying to convince every official she could to get better conditions for her husband if not release. She did so pregnant, too, later carrying her young daughter with her as she continued to fight diligently.

And it was her dedication first to her God and then to her husband that lead to her early death. As I read that her final word of pain was in Burmese, I bawled. I haven’t cried that hard at a book in a long time.

I strongly recommend this biography.