I’ve decided to continue putting together book recommendations on my blog occasionally, mostly because I enjoy doing it but also because I honestly believe in the value of each of the books I review. (or because I don’t have any other content for a post in the meantime haha) Enjoy! Check out my first two volumes here and here
A House In The Sky by Amanda Lindhout
Amanda Lindhout was a freelance reporter and avid traveler abducted and held hostage in Somalia for 460 days. Her book is a vivid recollection of her childhood, growing up years, and her captivity in Somalia. She writes without pity, instead giving insight into the complicated realities of global conflict. This book is passionate and compassionate, objective, but heartfelt, and incredibly inspiring.
Half A Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie
Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie brings her poignant narrative style to write about the Nigerian civil war in the late 1960s through the eyes of 5 distinct and interwoven characters. I was unprepared for how deeply emotional and gripping this story is. It’s worth reading, even just to experience the mastered way that Chimamanda Ngoize Adichie writes stories that are often left untold.
Translation Nation by Hector Tobar
This book redefines what it means to be “American” by highlighting the growing number of Spanish speaking individuals in the US and the presence of Latin American community and culture. This is a well written, and engaging book about the ways we define our identity and how it’s always changing little by little.
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
What I love about this book is the way the author looks at achievement through a new lens. Angela Duckworth maintains that success is not due to any particular genius or talent, but rather a passion for continuing on and through. Grit is a new way to look at achievement, and, if you’re curious, you can even take the Grit Scale test online here
A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans
In this book, Rachel Held Evans talks about the year she spent exploring what it literally means to be a woman according to the Bible. She brings both humor and insightful reflection to her experiment, addressing the role of women in today’s society and what a woman of faith looks like from different perspectives. I loved her open contemplation and willingness to ask challenging questions about what it truly means to be a Biblical woman, if a definition even exists.
blessings,
Rowena