I’ve had a growing stack of books on my desk for weeks now, waiting for a chunk of time to I could share them with you. There’s something here for pretty much everyone looking for a summer read:

How to Survive A Shipwreck by Jonathan Martin.  The author digs deep and shares with beauty and candor about what he learned after (in his words) “steering my own ship onto the rocks,” failing in his marriage and leaving the church he’d founded. The book has an unusual, almost mysterious style. Scenes are sparse, and there are no details at all about what happened. We’re left to wonder about the specifics of the shipwreck, as we can only see the aftermath. This bothered me at first, but then I saw an interview where the author said that the book was not a memoir, and that helped me to stop looking for the narrative arc and simply soak in the wisdom from what the author learned. I deeply appreciate this book and recommend it to anyone who has watched helplessly as their boat came apart…or been complicit in taking an axe to the timbers.

In Twenty Years by Allison Winn Scotch. I discovered Allison’s writing years ago because we have the same agent. Since then, I have enjoyed every one of her six novels, and this  might be my favorite to date. In the midst of a compelling plot, she captures so much of the angst of getting older and balancing who you are now with who you used to be. It reminded me of a longtime favorite, Plan B by Jonathan Tropper – high praise.

Onward by Russell Moore. I never imagined I’d find this much inspiration in a book by leader of the Southern Baptist Convention. I don’t even mean that in a snarky way; only that were you to draw a Venn diagram with Southern Baptists & Vineyarders, you’d pretty much just see JESUS in the center overlap. But as it turns out, that’s enough.  This book is filled with sharp thinking, wise observations, and a keen perspective on the intersection between faith & culture. I’ve read a lot of books about navigating that space – this might be the most insightful. (Bonus: I discovered Moore’s work via his interview on the Phil Fischer podcast.)

Heart Made Whole by Christa Black. This was a miss for me – not enough clear story, too many heart metaphors. The author’s heart is an open door, a house with many rooms, a dark place waiting to be explored, a locked room she’s trying to open… I love a good image, but it’s a tool to help you say something, not a substitute for  figuring out what you’re trying to say. I also found it a little strange that she talks to her heart. It wasn’t for me, but several others have liked it, so check it out if you’re interested. (Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.)

The Pastor by Eugene Peterson. You know all those memes on “Adulting”? Eugene Peterson should be our guide. His story is poetic and yet really clear as he shares stories about the people and situations that shaped his thinking about how to be a husband, father, pastor and friend. Lots of wisdom here.