Faith Books: 5 Things I Loved about Book Girl

This year, I decided to create my own personalized list of slow faith books to read and I have been sharing my thoughts about them here.

Usually, I write one faith-book post each month. But this month, I'll post about one book each week, beginning today, with Book Girl, which was a delight to read...

"Do you struggle with loneliness, do you yearn for a beauty you can barely describe, do you hope for friendship, or do you just need some courage to keep fighting the small battles of the everyday? Then pull up a chair, brew a cup of tea, and join the fellowship here as we read our way back to beauty and courage, to laughter and strength, to life in its fullest grace." 
-Sarah Clarkson, Book Girl

Five Things I Love about Book Girl

First of all, I have to say that I adored the book from the moment it began. And I felt the connection to her that she seemed to want to create. Here's what I loved most...

(1) The beauty of her writing - she reminds me of authors like C.S. Lewis whose books you enjoy partly because of the way that they write them. 

(2) The idea that children can be storyformed - makes me wish I could have emphasized books even more in my own parenting, although I did create a reader just like my parents did for me.


(3) "What is it I hope to become?" - she suggests this as a final criteria for deciding whether a book is a good choice. She urges good writing and suggests avoiding anything that doesn't leave you with hope for the possibility of goodness.

That's not exactly the way she says it, but that's what it meant to me. But finally, a book should be able to help you on your journey to becoming what and who you believe you are called to become. And I love that idea!

(4) She suggests that reading can be used as part of a spiritual practice. Now, this seems obvious if what you are reading is a devotional or a book based on your religious beliefs. But what if it's fiction? Because I love to read, I love this idea that what you're reading could become part of a spiritual practice.

(5) Her encouragement that books can give us and nurture hope - books that help you understand that change toward the better is less likely to be instant magical transformation, but a gradual mending of what is broken. She tells a brief story of deciding to resist despair, and talks about books that helped her see past or around moments of sadness and grief.

If you have read the book, yourself, I'd love to know your thoughts. And if not, does it seem like one you would be interested in reading?

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Would you like to see links to all the faith book posts I've written, all in one place? Get access to my lifestyle library. It includes posts about deepening your faith, meal planning, hygge at home, perfecting your morning routine & other lifestyle topics.
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See you next time!

Love, Jeanine

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