May2017

DebbyMeyer

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AGenerousOrthodoxy-BrianMcLaurenIthasbecomemyfavoriteChristianbookafterMereChristianity(CSLewis)andbestnon-fictionreadoftheyear.TheNestCynthiaD’AprixSweeneyHowsiblingscometogetheroverlostexpectedinheritanceandfindrelationshipinstead.MoneyreallydoesnotbuyhappinessTheIslandoftheWorldMichaelO’BrienMyfavoritefictionbookoftheyear!WefollowJosipasCroatiafallsduringWWII,facesprison,escapes,makesanewlife,andcomesfullcircle.Greatreadforthosewholovebookswithhistory,redemptionandgrace.Powerfulbook!

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TheTroublewithGoatsandSheepJoanneCannonStoryofyouth,neighborhoods,mistakes,mysteryandgrace.CommonwealthAnnePatchettStoryofbrokenfamilies,siblingswholearntogetalongwhentheirparentscan’tandgrowingup.MissJaneBradWatsonYounggirlinearly1900’sthatisbornwithadefectandagainstallpredictionslearnstoliveafulllifeinspiteofthis.Semi-biographicaloftheauthor’saunt.

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Voracious:AHungryReaderCooksherwaythroughGreatBooksCaraNicolettiNon-fictionbookfromayoungwomanwhoisaprofessionalcook-butcherbutalsoavoraciousreader.Shereviewsherfavoritegreatbooksofliteratureandinsertsarecipethatthebookinspires.Funandeasyreadespeciallyforbibliophilesandcooks!TheChilburyLadiesChoirJenniferRyanTheladiesformanallwomen’schoirwhenthemenfromthisSEEnglandcoastaltownheadofftoWWII.Familyintrigue,warintrigue,babies(who’sisit?)andlove.Lovelyread.

CovenantWomenBooklist

ArborCovenantChurchMadisonWisconsin

CovenantWomenBooklist May2017

RuthHallblade PeterMorris

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KindredOctaviaButler(ScienceFiction)Dana,awomanfromthe20thCentury,isrepeatedlybroughtbackintimebyherslave-owningancestorwhenhislifeisendangered.Eachtimeherstaybecomeslongerandshebecomesentangledintheplantation.TheSecretWifeGillPaul

ThestoryofthefateoftheRussianroyalfamilyintheearly20thcentury.Greathistoricalfiction)

RedMountainBooWalkerStoryoffourcomplicatedpeoplelivingineasternWashington.Toldfrommultipleperspectivesandrichlanguage.

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FindingRebeccaEoinDepseyRebeccaandChristophermetas6yearolds.RebeccaistakentoAuschwitz.Christopherworksthere.(HistoricalRomance)

ThePearlthatBroketheShellNadiaHashimTwoyoungAfghanwomen,separatedbyacentury,who

disguisethemselvesasmantosurvive.Dealswithgenderequalitiesbetweenmalesandfemalesandviolenceagainstwomenintwotimeperiods.TheTroublewithGoatsandSheepJoanneCannonStoryofyouth,neighborhoods,mistakes,mysteryandgrace.

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TheWomanNextDoorYewandeOmotoso

ThestorytakesplaceinpredominantlypresentdaySouthAfricabutmovesbackandforthin

placeandtimeasthemaincharacter’sstoriesarerevealed.MarionandHortensiadonotlikeeachotherbutintheendthisisaboutfriendship.AManofGoodHopeJonnySteinbergIn1991,eightyearoldAsadisforcedtoleaveMogadishu,thecapitalofSomaliawhencivilwarcomes.Thisisastoryofapersonshornofthethingswehavecometobelievemakeushuman–possessions,family.

TheToughestPeaceCorpsJob:LettersfromSomaliaJimDouglas(1969)JimDouglasisthe

fatherofoneofmybestfriendsgrowingup.InmorerecentyearswehadtalkedaboutourexperiencesinAfrica.I’mgratefulthisbookletsmehearsomeofthem.

LindseyLundAmericanahbyChimamandaNgoziAdichie(2013)IfemeluandObinzeareyoungandinlovewhentheydepartmilitary-ruledNigeriafortheWest.IfelmuheadsforAmericawheredespiteheracademicsuccess,sheisforcedtograpplewithwhatitmeanstobeblack.ObinzaendsupinadangerousundocumentedpartofLondon.FifteenyearslatertheyreuniteinNigeria.I’llGiveyoutheSunbyJandyNelson(2014).YAnovel,whichisnotalwaysmyfavorite,butIlikedthisonealot.Fraternaltwinsandburgeoningartistsareinseparableuntilpubertyhitsandtheyfindthemselvescompetingforboys,aspotinanexclusiveartschoolandtheirparents’affections.Toldinalternatingperspectivesandtimelines,thenovelexploreshowit’sthepeopleclosesttouswhohavethepowertobothrendusutterlyandknitustogether.

CovenantWomenBooklist May2017

Matthew ElreneLund JenStehleyFledderjohann

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I’mafraidthatmy2016readingwasparticularlyacademicbutIdohavetwotextsinmindthatIthinkotherswouldenjoy.Ofcourse,theybothhavetodowithmydissertationtopic.TheLastMythMatthewBarrettGrossandMelGillesThisisahighlyreadablysurveyofapocalypticbeliefstartingfromancienthistoryandcarryingintothepresent.GrossandGillesdevelopanargumentthatcurrentapocalypticfascinationstemsfromtheunsustainabilityofcapitalisticconsumption.Theseideasarerelevant,accessibleandimportant.

DigitalJesusRobHowardHoward(aCommunicationArtsprofessoratU-WMadison)hungoutinonlinecommunitiesbuiltaround

apocalypticbeliefthentrackeddownsomeoftheprimarycontributorsandorganizersandinterviewedthem.Thisisanacademicmonographthatisn’tafraidofbringinginrhetoricaltheory,butultimatelythisbookprovidesaverysympathetic,outsideperspectiveonEvangelicalChristendom’sinterestintheendoftheworld.IcanthinkoftwoIhavereallylikedthisyear.

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AsNatureMadeHimJohnColapintoAboutidenticaltwinboys,oneraisedasagirlafteratragiccircumcisionaccident.EvictedMatthewDesmond(listedunderfavorites)MeetMeHalfway:MilwaukeeStories

JenniferMoralesSetinoneofthenation’smosthighlysegregatedcities,MeetMe

Halfwaytellsstoriesofconnectionsinacommunitywithatumultuousanddividedpast.Thelasttwomakeagreatpairingtoreadtogether

_____________________________(morefromJen)TheThingsTheyCarriedTimO’Brien

Aclassicnovelthatisagroundbreakingmeditationonwar,memory,imagination,andtheredemptive

powerofstorytelling

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EveryoneBraveisForgivenChrisCleaveAnunforgettablenovelaboutthreelivesentangledduringWWII,toldwith“dazzlingprose,sharp

Englishwit,andcompassion…”HillbillyElegy:AMemoirofaFamilyandCultureinCrisisJ.D.VanceAdeeplymovingmemoir,withitsshareofhumorandvividlycolorfulfigures.Thisisthestoryofhowupwardmobilityreallyfeels.TheShepherd’sLife:ModernDispatchesfromanAncientLandscapeJamesRebanks

Weavestogetherthehumanhistoryofthefarmerswithfactualhistoryofthefarms,thespiritualpullofthelandwiththephysicaldemandsitmakes,thecrueltyandbeauty,optimism

andpragmatismofthemostbeautifulcorneroftheworld.TheUndoingProject:AFriendshipthatChangedourMindsMichaelLewisThestoryoftheworkingsofthehumanmindisexploredthroughthepersonalitiesoftwofascinatingindividualssofundamentallydifferentfromeachotherthattheyseemunlikelyfriendsorcolleagues.

CovenantWomenBooklist May2017

JaneSmiley

SomeLuckEarlyWarning

GoldenAges

Thistrilogystartsin1920inDebby,IowaandfollowstheLangtonfamilyuntil2010.Thethreevolumesinclude100chaptersandencompasses100years.

TheGuestRoomChrisBohjalianOneofmyfavoritestorytellers.ThestorybeginsinRussiaand

continuesinsuburbanNewYorkCity.Itinvolvesyounggirls,gangstersandabachelorpartygonehorriblywrong.Itishardtoputdown.

TheUndergroundRailroadColsonWhiteheadThestoryofCora,aslave,assheembarksona

journeytofreedom.HeretheUndergroundRailroadisactualrailroadfraughtwithdangersforayounggirlescapingcertaindeath.SmallGreatThingsJodiPicoultInormallydon’treadherbooksbutthiswasverycurrentandaboutracism,fearandhope.BasedonthetruestoryofalaboranddeliverynursewhowasprohibitedfromcaringforanewbornbecausethefatherrequestedthatnoAfrican-Americannursestendtohisbaby.Inthefictionalversion,Ruth(thenurse)findsherselfontrialforeventsrelatedtothesamerequestmadebyawhitesupremacistfather.Animportantandthought-provokingnovelaboutpowerandprejudice.

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TheOctoberKillingsWesselEbersohnEbersohnisanestablishedAfricannovelistwhocreatesengagingcharacters,grippingplotsandastoryinvolvingthecountriesviolentpast.AbigailBakulawasonlysurvivorwhenherfatherandotherblacksweremurderedinLesothowhilefightingapartheid.SheisnowalawyerinSAdepartmentofjusticeandherhelpissoughtinclearingamanwhohelpedherescape.

Augusta’sDaughter:LifeinNineteenthCenturySwedenInJuly1948,Carriegoeswithhergreat-grandmothertoSweden

sotheycanvisitherchildhoodhomeandlearnmoreaboutherfamily.AlthoughanovelIthinkitistruetothatera.SoundslabitliketheplacemyMormorandMorfargrewup.Notidyllic.ItalsointerestedmebecauseIcameherinNovember1948.TheWhistlerJohnGrishamThebookcentersonanelaborateconspiracyinvolvinganIndianreservation,anorganizedcrimesyndicateandacrookedjudgeskimmingasmallfortunefromthetribalcasino’smonthlyhaul.

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TheUndergroundGirlsofKabulJennyNordbergThisstorywasintheNewYorkTimesabouttenyearsago.Thentheauthortriedtofindastudyoffamilieswhohadoneoftheirdaughtersdressandactasboys.Itgivesthemachancetoaccompanymothersandsistersastheygoout.Manyofthegirlseagerlygobacktobeinggirls;othersdonot.Obviouslypubertyoftenstopsthisbutnotalways.Aninterestingchapteronthedifferencebetweensexandgender.HiddenFiguresMargaretLeeShatterly

AfterIsawthemovietwiceIdecidedtoreadthebook.Themoviewasacondensationofthebook.Itwasanexcellentaccountofthethreewomeninthemovieplussome

othersofaperiodoftwentyyears.IwasimpressedbythedesiresofthefamiliestoeducatetheirgirlsandthenofthegirlsastheysacrificedfamilylifetodotheworktheyhadstudiedtodoandIwonderedifIwouldhavehadthecourageandstrengthtopursueacareerunderthesedifficulties.HomegoingYaaGyasiThenovelstartsandendsinAfricawherepeoplearecapturedandsenthereasslavesandendswiththereturnofsomeyearslater.

AnnBrittKeillor

CovenantWomenBooklist May2017

TheWinterSeaSusanneKearsleyInthespringof1708,aninvadingJacobitefleetofFrenchandScottishsoldiersnearlysucceededinlandingtheexiledjamesStewartinScotlandtoreclaimhiscrown.NowCarrieMcClellandhopestoturnthatstoryintohernextbest-sellingnovel.SettingherselfintheshadowofSlainsCastle,shecreatesaheroinenamedforoneofherownancestorsandstartstowrite.Butwhenshediscoversthenovelismorefactthanfiction.Carriewondersifshemaybedealingwithancestralmemory,makinghertheonlylivingpersonwhoknowsthetruth–theultimatebetrayal-thathappenedallthoseyearsago,andtheknowledgecomesveryclosetodestroyingher.ThisisafascinatingreadthatIcouldhardlyputdowneventhoughthesubjectmatterisnotusuallymy“cupoftea”,

IletYouGoClareMackintoshOnarainyafternoon,amother’slifeisshatteredashersonslipsfromhergripandrunsintothestreet.ILetYouGofollowsJennaGrayasshemovestoaramshacklecottageontheremoteWelshcoast,tryingtoescapethememoryofthecaraccidentthatplaysagainandagaininhermindanddesperatetohealfromthelossotherchildandtherestofherpainfulpast.Atthesametime,thenoveltracksthepairofBristolpoliceinvestigatorstryingtogettothebottomofthishitandrun.Astheychasedownonehopelessleadafteranother,theyfindthemselvesasdrawntoeachotherastheyaretothefrustrating,twist-filledcasebeforethem.NotonlyisthisagoodstorybutIfeltthathowitdealtwithrecoveringself-esteemwasfascinating.Itcontainssomegraphicdetailofabusebutfrommycareerexperience,itisatruerepresentationofthesituationsinwhichtoomanywomenfindthemselves.

JanGietzel

HannahLundAttachmentsRainbowRowell

BethandJenniferworkinanewsroomandtradeemailsabouttheirlives,despitethefactthattheyknowtheirworkemailsare

monitored.Lincolnisinchargeofmonitoring.Ratherthanturningthemin,hefindsthementertaining.I’llGivetheSunJandyNelson(SeeLindsey’sbooks)AmericanahNgoziAdichie(SeeLindsey’sbooks)AsNatureMadeHimJohnColapinto(SeeElrene’sbooks)AlltheBrightPlacesJenniferNiven

Thisisastoryofagirlsavedbytheboywhocouldn’tsavehimself.Itisabookaboutteenagersdealingwithdeathandfindingeachotherinthemidstof

theirpain.SomecomparetoFaultoftheStars.

DebMcGillBeingMortalAtulGawande(underpastfavorites)Sometimeshardtoreadbutwonderfullywrittenandthoughtful.

CovenantWomenBooklist May2017

ErikaHanson

TheGirlwithSevenNames:aNorthKoreanDefector’sStoryHyeonseoLee(biography)Thisbookisdividedintoparts–describing

herlifeinNorthKorea,thenherlifeinChina(adecade),escapetoSouthKorea,andfinallytheorderalofgettinghermotherandbrotheroutofNorthKorea.TheRosieProjectGraemeSimsionAsociallychallengedmansearchesfortheperfectwife.Funny,touchingandhardtoputdown.

DarkMatterBlakeCrouch(Sciencefiction)“Fantasticallyterrifying”Aquantumphysicistisabductedintoaworldinwhich

histheoryhasbecomeafullrealizedtechnologyforinter-dimensionaltransfer.TheWayofKings(TheStormlightArchive#1)BrandonSanderson(ScienceFiction)(Thisbookwasreallyreallylong-1006pages,75chapters)Sandersonknowshowtotellagoodstory,andhe’screatedanothervividandfantasticworldinTheWayofKings

NewJimCrowBeingMortalEvictedAManCalledOveAlltheLightWeCannotSeePopulation485(MichaelPerry)JustMercyEverythingINeverToldYouMyNameisLucyBartonCloseyourEyes,HoldHandsThePoisonwoodBibleTheBoysintheBoat

SusanCorradoShadowoftheWind

CarlosLuisZafonIreadthisbookaspartofawomen’sbookclubwithsomewomenfromanearby

CovenantChurch.Theylikedit;Ididnot.Butitwasinteresting

PreviousFavoritesJoyceBoggess

IloveBritishMysteriesandnovelsbasedonfact.TheHouseatRivertonKateMorton(2006)AgorgeousdebutnovelsetinEnglandbetweenthewars.Itisthestoryofanaristocraticfamily,ahouse,amysteriousdeath,andawayoflistthatvanishedforever.AndOnlytoDeceiveTashaAlexanderEmilyis“newly”widowed.Shediscoversthatherlatehusbandwasafardifferentmanfromtheoneshemarried.IalsoreadthePoisonwoodBibleforthefirsttimethisyear.Excellentbook.============================MorefromSusanInowamreadingMiracleGirl(AndrewRoe)Ihaven’tfinishedyetbutwouldrecommendit.Hereisthedustjacketquote“incisiveandinsightful.Anovelaboutwhatitmeanstobehuman;tobelostorbroken,alittleoralot,andtoseekconnectionandhopeandmaybeeventranscendenceintheworldaroundus.

CovenantWomenBooklist May2017

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JanisHansonPilgrim’sWilderness:TheTrueStoryofFaithandMadnessontheAlaskaFrontierTomKizzia

IntotheWildmeetsHelterKelterinthisrivetingtruestoryofamoderndayhomesteadingfamilyinthedeepestreachesoftheAlaskanwildernessandofthechillingsecretsofitsmaniacalspellbindingpatriarch.WhenPapaPilgrimappearedintheAlaskafrontieroutpostofMcCarthywithhiswifeandfifteenchildrenintow,hisnewneighborshadlittleideaofthetroubletocome.

TheSharperYourKnife,theLessyouCry:LoveLaughterandTearsattheWorld’sMostFamousCookingSchoolKathleenFlinnIn2003,KathleenFlinn,athirty-sixyearoldAmericanlivingandworkinginLondon,returnedfromvacationtofindthathercorporatejobhadbeeneliminated.Ignoringhermother’sadvicetogetanotherjobimmediately,FlinninsteadclearedhersavingsandmovedtoParistopursueadream-adiplomafromthefamedLeCordonBleu.FlinninterweavesmorethantwodozenrecipeswithauniquelookinsideLeCordonBleuamidbattleswithdemandingchefs,competitiveclassmates,andher“wretchedlyinadequate:French.

OntheRun:FugitiveLifeinanAmericanCityAliceGoffmanGoffmanspentsixyearsinonePhiladelphianeighborhooddocumentingtheharrowingstoriesthatrevealtheperniciouseffectsofpervasivepolicinginthewaroncrime.

WhatSheKnewGillyMacmillanMcMillanexploresamother’ssearchforhermissingson,weavingatautpsychologicalthrillerasgrippingandskillfulasTheGirlontheTrainandtheGuiltyOne.Asdesperatelypiecestogetherthethreadbareclues,Rachelrealizesthatnothingisquiteassheimaginedittobe,notevenherownjudgment.Andthegreatestdangersmaylienotintheanonymousstrangersofeveryparent’snightmares,butbehindthefamiliarsmilesofthoseshetrustsmost.

MarkHansonAugusta’sDaughter:LifeinNineteenthCenturySwedenJudithMartin

NineteenthcenturySwedishpeasantlifewasnotalwaysthedancearoundthemidsummerpole.Thosesamepeasants

liveddailylivesintheshadowoftheall-powerfulvillagechurch,controlledbythecountlessrules,customs,andtraditionsthatgovernedeveryaspectoftheirexistence,leavingnoroomforindividualdeviations.JudiMartin’snovelprovidesavividpictureofrurallifeinmid19thcenturySweden.Someofmyfamilycamefromthislife,andinthecaseofmygreatgrandparentsonmymother’smother’ssidelivedalifeperhapsnotsodifferentinthewildsofnorthcentralMinnesotaonwhatcameadairyfarm.Thestorythatemergesisgrittywithsomebeautifulmoments.Someofthemenincludingsomeclergycomeoffverybadlyinthisstory.Asidefromthenarrativewhatissoremarkableisthedepictionofwhatlifewaslikeinopenhearth,uninsulatedhomesrelyingonwoodforheatandcooking.Thislifeandcustomsincludingthefood,homedecoration,andtoolsareimmediatelyrecognizableinmylife160yearslater.I’veevenhadbloodpudding–therealthing.Ifyoupickupthisbook,hangon.(Ann-Brittalsoreviewedthisbook)

CovenantWomenBooklist May2017

RachelWoofterUnprocessedMeganKimbleTheauthordevotesoneyearofherlifetoeatingonlyunprocessedfoods,andwritesaboutherexperienceinthenarrativestyleofamemoir.AlongtheWay,sheshareswhatshelearnsaboutthefoodindustryinAmerica,andasksmorequestionsthanshecanfindanswersfor.Itwasveryeasytoreadandpromptedalotofreflectionsinmyownkitchenandfoodlifestyle.

TriggerWarningNeilGaimanAcollectionofshortstories(mostlysciencefictionand/orfantasy).Ilikedsomemorethan

others,buttheeclecticcollectionremindedmeofthelimitlessvarietyoffictionandthatgoodliteraturedoesn’thavetobeamany-chapter-novel.AManCalledOveFredrickBackman(inFavorites)Afterareadinghiatusbroughtonbythebusynessoflife,thisbookremindedmethatIlovetoread.Abeautifulstoryofpeople,inallourquirks,livingnormallifeandcomingaroundeachotherincommunity.

AmandaPecotte

IfYouOnlyKnewKristanHigginsWedding-dressdesignedisdivorcedfromOwenyethisnewwiferemainsherbestfriend.Agoodbeachread.

TheLunarChronicles(Cinder,Scarlet,Cross,Fairest,Winter)MarissaMeyerItisamazinghoetheauthorincorporatedbitsandpartsoftheoriginalclassicfairytalesintothisdystopianseries.

HarryPotterandtheCursedChild(PartsIand2)J.K.RowlingThisistheeighthstoryintheHarryPotterseriesandthefirsttobepresentedonstage.ItwasalwaysdifficultbeingHarryPotteranditisn’tmucheasiernowthatheisanoverworkedemployeeoftheMinistryofMagic,ahusbandandfatherofthreeschool-agedchildren.

Z:ANovelofZeldaFitzgeraldTheresaAnneFowlerThisisbiographicalfictionaboutZelda,wifeofF.ScottFitzgerald.Authorsaysitisfiction,butmyresearchwasextensiveandthorough.Zisthestoryofacomplexandfascinatingwomanwhowassomuchmorethanknown.Shewasexceptionalinsomanyways,butshewasalsohuman.

OntheEdgeoftheDarkSeaofDarkness(TheWingfeatherSagaBookOne)AndrewPetersonAworldofwonderandatalechildrenofallageswillcherish.AwhimsicalfantasynovelaboutthethreeIglbysiblingswhofindamysteriousmap,andsetoffonanadventuretodiscoverfamilysecretsaboutthefathertheyneverknewandahiddentreasurethatmanyhavelongdesiredtofind.

FantasticBeastsandWheretoFindThemJKRowlingRecommendedforanyonewhoisinterestedinreadinganinformativeencyclopedia-likebook.Introducesallthedifferentmagicalbeastsandgivesyoudifferentinformationaboutthem.

CovenantWomenBooklist May2017

KrisBrown(andfriendsCherylandMaryLee)

BetweentheWorldandMeTa-NehisiCoatesSeriesofletterswrittentoson,authorconfrontsthenotionofraceinAmericaandhowithasshapedAmericanhistory.Coatesisdirectand,asusual,uncommonlyinsightfulandoriginal.Therearenowastedwords

SoLong,SeeYouTomorrowWilliamMaxwellAsomewhatautobiographicalnovel,setintheauthor’shometownofLincolnIllinois,andrecountsamurderthatoccurredin1921.Atrulyextraordinarynovel.

BecomingNicole:TheTransformationofanAmericanFamilyAmyEllisNuttAninspiringtruestoryofatransgendergirl,heridenticaltwinbrother,andanordinaryAmericanfamily’sextraordinaryjourneytounderstand,nurtureandcelebratetheuniquenessinusall.Authorspentfouryearsresearchingthisbook.

HomegoingYaaGyaseAnepicnovelineverysenseoftheword.Stunning,unforgettableaccountoffamily,historyandracism.Sevengenerationsand300yearsinAfricaandAmerica.

TaleofDuelingNeurosurgeonsSamKeanKeanexploresthevagariesandinconsistenciesofthehumanbrainviadivertingstoriesthatchroniclemedicalsciencesfitsandstarts.Compulsivelyreadable,wickedscientificfun.

Everybody’sFoolRichardRussoRussoreturnstoNorthBathandthecharacterswhomadeNobody’sFoolsobeloved.Filledwithhumor,heart,hardtimesandpeopleyoucan’thelpbutlove.

WhenBreathBecomesAirPaulKalanthiApowerfullookatastageIVlungcancerdiagnosisthroughtheeyesofaneurosurgeon.WhenKalanithiisgivenhisdiagnosis,heisforcedtoseethisdiseaseandtheprocessofbeingsickasapatientratherthanadoctor.Theresultofhisexperienceisnotjustalookatwhatlivingisandhowitworksfromascientificperspective,buttheinsandoutsofwhat

makeslifematter.TheInvisibleBridgeJulieOrringerEvenifthisweren’therfirstnovel,Orringer’sbookwouldbeamarvelousachievement.Setin1930’sBudapest,justasayoungHungarianJew,AndrasLevidepartsforarchitectureschoolinParis.Historicalfiction,atruelovestory.

CovenantWomenBooklist May2017

WeweretheLuckyOnesGeorgiaHunterThisbookisaboutafamilyofPolishJewswhowereseparatedduringWorldWarIIandwhatbecomesofthem.Itisaboutresilience,thestrengthofthehumanspirit,familyandlove.

TheCuriousCharmsofArthurPepperPhaedraPatrickAfterhiswife’sdeath,ArthurPepperstoppedlivinguntilhefoundagoldcharmbracelethe’sneverseenbeforetuckedinsideoneofhershoes.Whileunravelinghiswife’spast,Arthurrealizesthatisoutwardjourneyisalsoajourneywithin.Thisisasweetstorywithanalmostmagicaldenouement,asanewlywholeArthuremerges.

TheGirlwithnoNameDineyCostloeThirteenyearoldLisaescapedfromNaziGermanyontheKindertransport.ShearrivedinLondon,unabletospeakawordofEnglish.Shewasadoptedbyachildlesscouple.WhentheBlitzblowshernewhomeapart,shewakesupinthehospitalwithnomemoryofwhosheisorwhereshecamefrom.

TheBirthofthePillJonathanEigThefascinatingstoryofthebeginningsofthebirthcontrolpill.Fourpeoplewhowereinstrumentalarefeatured(MargaretSanger(feminist),KatherineMcCormick(philanthropist),GregoryPincus(scientist)andJohnRock(Catholicphysician).Agrippingsocial,culturalandscientifichistory)

GodHelptheChildToniMorrisonThisisthefirstMorrisonnovelsetincontemporarytimes.Storyisaboutthedevastatingconsequencesofalight-skinnedmotherwhorejectsherdarkskinnedchild.Thelessonsfromthisbookshowthatthesinsofothersneednotdefineyouandthatwhatisdonetochildrenindeedmatters.Buthowchildrencanovercomeseeminglyinsurmountableobstaclesmattersevenmore.

TheMare MaryGaitskillThetimelessstoryofagirlandahorseisjoinedwithatimelystoryofpeoplefromdifferentracesandclassestryingtomeetoneanotherhonestly.Raw,heartstirringandoriginal.

VinegarGirlAnneTylerThisbookispartoftheHogarthShakespeareProjectwherefamousauthorswriteacontemporaryspin-offofaShakespeareannovel.TylertacklesacontemporaryversionofTamingoftheShrew.“Shakespearewouldbepleased”(NYT)

CovenantWomenBooklist May2017

IntheUnlikelyEvent:aNovelJudyBlumeThreeplanescrashinasmalltowninNewJerseyoverthecourseofjusttwoshortmonths.ThisactuallyhappenedinElizabethNewJerseyintheearly1950swhenJudyBlumewasayounggirl.Blumetravelsbacktothattimeandtellsthemoreintimatestorieswithinthelargerone.Throughthevariouscharactersthatinhabitthismultigenerationalnovel,Blumebeseechesustonotbeafraid.Lifeismadeupofunlikelyeventsandtheyaren’tallbad.

Bettyville:aMemoirGeorgeHodgmanAculturedgaymanleavesNYCtocareforhisagingmotherinParisMissouri.Examinesthewarmyetfraughtrelationshipbetweenmotherandsonwithprofoundinsightandunderstanding.Apoignantcautionarytaleaboutthedangersofleavingdifficultthingsunsaid.

LaRoseLouiseErdrichAmangoesdeerhuntingandaccidentallyshootsandkillshisneighbor’sson;soconsumedbyguiltandsorrow,themanandhiswifegivetheirsonLaRosetothedistraughtneighbortoraise.Acomplextaleoflove,family,obligation.Movesamonggenerationsanderasarrivingatapresentdayconclusionthatisbothmodernandrootedinindigenousculture.

HiddenFigures:TheAmericanDramandtheUntoldStoryoftheBlackWomenMathematicianswhoHelpedWintheSpaceRaceMargotLeeShetterly(alsoinAnn-BrittKeillor)StartinginWWIIandmovingthroughtotheColdWar,theCivilRightsMovement,andtheSpaceRace,HiddenFiguresfollowstheinterwovenaccountsofDorothyVaughan,MaryJackson,KatherineJohnsonandChristineDarden,fourAfricanAmericanwomenwhoparticipatedinsomeofNASA’sgreatestsuccesses.Itchroniclestheircareersovernearlythreedecadesastheyfacedchallenges,forgedalliances,andusedtheirintellecttochangetheirownlivesandtheircountry’sfuture.HiddenFigures:YoungReader’sEditionGreatbookforyoungwomenthinkingaboutSTEMeducationandcareers.

CovenantWomenBooklist May2017

LowellNordling

Quiet:ThepowerofIntrovertsinaWorldthatCan’tStopTalkingSusanCainCainexploresintroversionthroughpsychologicalresearcholdandnew,personalexperiences,andevenbrainchemistry,inanengagingandhighreadablefashion.Bydelvingintointroversion,Cainalsoseekstofindwaysforintrovertsandextrovertstobetterunderstandoneanother-andforintrovertstounderstandtheirowncontradictions,suchastheabilitytoactlikeextrovertsincertainsituations.

DestinyoftheRepublic:ATaleofMadness,MedicineandtheMurderofaPresidentCandiceMillardThefascinatingstoryofoneofthemostextraordinarymeneverelectedPresident,Garfield,hisextreme“humble’beginnings,toawunderkindscholar,toreluctantPresidentelectedtotakeonnation’scorruptpoliticalestablishment.

AlexanderHamilton’sAmericaRichardBrookheiserAfascinatingstudywhichcomparesideasofearlyleadersandconceptsoftheroleofgovernment.Threemodesof“rights”Fundamentalism–honoringsomecode(Hamilton).PurePhilosophy–consultownfeelingsandnature(Jefferson).Dismissrightsaltogether(Burr)

TheGreaterJourney:AmericansinParisDavidMcCulloughManyAmericanswenttoParisaroundtheturntothe19thcentury,forexperience,learning,toaddtoaresumeorjustforfun.SomepeoplecoveredbyMcCulloughwereSamuelMorse,FennimoreCooper,OliverWendellHolmes,GideonWelles.Itisinterestingtoseethemindifferentlightsandinfieldsotherthanwhichweareaccustomedtoseeingthem.

BillionDollarSpyDavidE.HoffmanCIAcasesofficersinMoscowworkedonespionage.AstoryofIntelligenceinRussiaduringthetimeofKhrushchev.Twoconceptsstruckme:MostAmericansinRussiawereinvolvedinespionageanduntilTolkachev,theBillionDollarSpy,wedidn’tknowhowstrong/weaktheSovietmilitarywas.Sowhatdroveourarmsrace?Suspicions?

TheEnvoy:RaoulWallenbergAlexKershawConvolutedstoryofhowtoattuneforillegaldealingsofWallenbergIndustriesduringthewar.Itwassuggestedoneofthemvolunteerforsomeatoningworkduringthewar.Raoulwentontoeworkvaliantly,heroically,andfatally–tofreeJewishprisonersinGermanyandtomakelifeeasierformanyothers.HisobservationtoaRedCrossworker:“Lawsnolongerexisthere,anythinghappens….Realitydoesn’tmatteranylonger,illusiondoes.”Ascaryobservationinanysociety~

TheOregonTrail:ANewAmericanJourneyRinkerBuckTheauthor’sfatherexposedfamilytorustictrailridesonvacations.AsgrownmentwobrothersdecidedtotakethetripontheOregonTrail.Theydesignedandbuiltatypicalwagonandwithmulessetoutonarealadventure.Wegetgoodinsightintowhatpoliticalmotives,andfinancialgaindroveManifestDestiny,greatstrugglesanddangers,thesemoderntravelersexperienced,friendshipstheydeveloped,andinsightsgained.History,danger,personalities,goodadventure.Greatstory!

CovenantWomenBooklist

May2017

PaulKentMostofmyfavoritesthisyearcamefrompriorArborlists,especiallyAlltheLightWeCannotSee,BeingMortal,

OneSecondAfter,DeadWakeandElonMusk.Asfornewbooks,herearetwoofmyfavorites.ThePresident’sClubNancyGibbsandMichaelDuffyThisisafascinatingreviewoftherelationshipsbetweencurrentandpastpresidentsfromTrumanthroughObama.ThisbookprovidesinsightsastohowdisgracedoratleastunpopularPresidentshaveusedtheirpost-PresidentialyearstoburnishtheirreputationsinserviceofsubsequentPresidentsandhowcurrentPresidentsusedtheformerPresidentstoaccomplishthingstheywerenotabletododirectly.ThepersonalinterrelationshipsaremuchmoremultifacetedthanIhadexpected.ButperhapsmostinterestingaresomestartlingrevelationsofthebehindthesciencesworkofformerPresidentsincludingsomerealbombshellsregardingRichardNixon.ThePassageofPower:TheYearsofLyndonJohnsonRobertCaro

ThisisthefourthintheexhaustivebiographyofJohnsonbyCaro.WhileIconfesstohavenotreadthepriorvolumes,thisonewasexceptional.ItprovidesenoughofthebackgroundofJohnson’searlieryearsforcontextbutfocusesonhistimeasVice-PresidentandthetransitiontoPresident.Havinglivedthroughthattimeandreadaboutit(andofcourseseenmoviessuchasthemostrecentJackie-bio-pic)IthoughtIhadanideaaboutthemanandthetimes.Wrong.JohnsonisatonceamorebrilliantandmoreflawedcharacterandthetimesarefarmorecomplicatedthanIhadappreciated.Thebiographypaintswithbothperspectiveanddetailtomakethe700-pagevolumeapageturner.

AmandaFledderjohannOntheRun:FugitiveLifeinanAmericanCityAliceGoffman(SeeJanis’section)

BetweentheWorldandMeTa-NehisiCoatesWrittenasaseriesofletterstohisteenagedson,Coates’newmemoirwalksusthroughthecourseofhislife,fromthetoughneighborhoodsofBaltimoreinhisyouth,toHowardUniversity.ThoughtfulandinfluentialwritingonraceinAmerica.(AlsoinKris’section)

BadFeminist:EssaysRoxaneGayAcollectionofessaysspanningpolitics,criticism,andfeminismfromoneofthemost-watchedyoungculturalobserversofhergeneration.Graytakesusthroughthejourneyofherevolutionasawomanwhilealsotakingreadersonaridethroughcultureofthelastfewyearsonthestateoffeminismtoday.

KarenandSuePecotteBecauseofBethlehemMaxLucadoThisbookretellsthestoryofChristmasinafreshway.HelooksatthemanyaspectsofChristmasanhowwecangainanewperspectivebylookingatwhatGoddidanddoesinourliveseachChristmas.Withchapterscalled,GodhasaFace”,WorshipworksWonders,andGodGuidestheWise,MaxLucadoleadsusthroughtheChristmasmessage.ThereisalsoanAdventdevotionalguideinthebook.

ItHappenedinWisconsinMichaelBieThesearetruetalesofthingsthathappenedinWisconsinthatwemightnothavelearnedinWisconsinHistoryclass.ThereisastoryaboutwhenJohnKennedycametoWisconsin,astoryaboutprohibitionandWisconsin,astoryaboutthePeshtigofireandseverallittleknownfactsaboutourstate.TheauthorhasbeenwritingaboutWisconsinfortwodecadesandlivesinVerona.

GoingforWisconsinGoldJessieGarciaThisbooktellsthestoriesofthoseinourstatewhohavegonetotheOlympics.Somehavegonemanytimesandsomehavewonmedals.Iwassurprisedatthenumberofathletesofathletes.AttheendofthebookthereisalistofWisconsinOlympians(currentuptothe2014SochiOlympics

SomeFolksFeeltheRainOthersJustGetWetJamesMoore

Whatdoesitmean?Itmeansthatsomefolksarevividlyawareofwhat’sgoingonaroundthem;theyaretunedin,sensitive,receptive,responsive.Butsadlymanypeopletodaydon’tcelebrate,theyjustcope.MooreexploresthereasonswhysomepeopleareabletoseeourtimeonearthasagraciousgiftfromGodratherthananagonizingendurancetest.

Moviesthatwehaveenjoyed

TheShack:Thisisanupliftingandintriguingadaptionofthebookbythesamename.

HiddenFiguresThestoryofthecalculatorsofNASAbeforewehadcomputers.These“calculators”werewomen,mainlyblackwomen,whoweregeniuses.Thismovietellsthestoryandhardshipstheyencounteredasthework.Thisis