books
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On Netflix and Narnia: Three Questions and a Convicting Scene
You may have heard that Meryl Streep is in talks to potentially voice Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s new Narnia adaptation. At first I thought this was an April Fool’s joke, so I thought little of it. But when April 1st came and went without a “Gotcha!” my only reaction was grim resignation. I wish I Continue reading
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For Narnia and for Aslan: Reclaiming Running as Play
I run nearly every day, which leads many people to assume that I have always been into fitness. While I have always enjoyed a good walk or hike, it might surprise you to discover that I am not naturally athletic. My mom once jokingly described me as “an indoor cat,” and some of my earliest Continue reading
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Nostalgia & Narrative: My Review of “Sunrise on the Reaping”
As a reviewer for several Christian publishers, I regularly post my thoughts on non-fiction releases. However, I am also constantly reading fiction from a wide variety of genres. Because so many readers are talking about the latest Hunger Games prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping, I thought I’d share my thoughts below. Backstory I was a Continue reading
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Review: “The Soul in Paraphrase” by Leland Ryken
I am deep in a study of pastors who were also poets. The Soul in Paraphrase: A Treasury of Classic Devotional Poems by Leland Ryken has proven to be not only a helpful resource for this project, but a devotional source that I anticipate enjoying for years to come. About The Soul in Paraphrase takes Continue reading
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February (& Snow Day) Recommendations
It’s snowing lovely fat flakes, which always makes me want to curl up with good music, a good book, and a good snack. Whatever the weather is where you are, the following recommendations are sure to brighten up the rest of your February! This Perfect Cozy Series Snow always makes me want to reread James Continue reading
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Book Review: How Can I Make the Most of Sunday Services?
I received a copy of How Can I Make the Most of Sunday Services? by Erin Wheeler early this week. This was perfect timing, as it allowed me to read it in preparation for Sunday—which is exactly the point! (Plus, due to its brevity, it helped me get ahead on my GoodReads Challenge.) About & Continue reading
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Review: The Story of Grace
I returned from a much-needed vacation in Arizona to the best sort of mail: book mail! The first book I dove into was The Story of Grace: An Exhibition of God’s Love by 19th-century Scottish poet and pastor Horatius Bonar. This reprint of a Christian classic provided marvelous devotional reading, particularly for the beginning of Continue reading
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Every Book I Read in 2024 Reviewed in Ten Words (or Fewer)
I read a wild variety of books, from sci-fi to biography, Christian living to classic literature, memoir to investigative journalism, books on aging to books for middle-grade readers… That said, there’s probably something on this list for everyone! For a fun challenge, I decided to review every book I read in 2024 in ten or Continue reading
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Review: The Story of Katie Luther
About The Story of Katie Luther: The Nun Who Escaped to True Freedom by Gretchen Ronnevik is a brief, accessible biography of Martin Luther’s bold, resourceful, faithful wife. This book is part of Crossway’s “Lives of Faith & Grace” series, which “engages middle-grade readers (ages 8–13) with the real-life stories of Christian men and women Continue reading
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Early Christmas Gifts + Road Trip Entertainment
Happy Thanksgiving week! Since this week marks the start of the Christmas season for many of us, I wanted to share a few recommendations to get you in the holiday spirit and—for those of you who are traveling—to help pass the hours. In the spirit of early Christmas, I’d like to give you a few Continue reading
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Review: “Ecclesiastes: Finding Meaning When Life Feels Meaningless” by Lydia Brownback
Ecclesiastes: Finding Meaning When Life Feels Meaningless is part of Crossway’s Flourish Bible Study series. The series author, Lydia Brownback, is an accomplished writer and conference presenter. Accordingly, she writes like a speaker—with a friendly and clear tone. She distills biblical information into an understandable and applicable format, making this study on Ecclesiastes a great Continue reading
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Review: “What is a Healthy Church?” by Mark Dever
What is a Healthy Church? by Mark Dever was first published in 2005 and the 2024 revised edition just came out—testifying to the continuing need for books on church health and the continuing influence of this book in particular. What is a Healthy Church? is part of the IX Marks series, which identifies and exposits Continue reading
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Ryanne Molinari 