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The Freedom of a Lower Reading Goal
Last year, I intentionally set my GoodReads goal lower than the year before. Admittedly, I still ended up reading 76 books, but having a lower goal led to more discerning, attentive, and formative reading—both of dense classics and the occasional “brain candy” book. If you’re looking to read better—not just more—this year, consider keeping your Continue reading
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Reading Roundup: My Favorite Books from 2023
I set a GoodReads goal of reading 60 books this year. Admittedly, I chose this number because I knew I could hit it and wanted that victory. Thanks to unexpectedly starting school again, I ended up reading 82 books (and counting). My reading habits are eclectic, to say the least. From sci-fi to Christian living, Continue reading
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Reawaken Hymns Livestream
Yesterday, I participated in a livestream on the fruit of the Spirit in musical worship Nathan Drake of Reawaken Hymns. It was a wonderful time full of insight and humor. You can watch the complete livestream at the following link: Reawaken Hymns Livestream Continue reading
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2022 Reading Roundup
I read 55 books this year. Here are a few of my favorites: 1. Historical Fiction: Andersonville by MacKinlay Kantor I’ve been wanting to read this Civil War epic since high school, but was determined to find a vintage copy in a used bookstore. Finally, my hunt was rewarded. The Book Cellar in Grand Haven, Continue reading
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Reader’s Slump: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatments
There is no greater affliction in the bookish life than the reader’s slump. This nonfatal but distressing issue is frequently caused by excellent books. For instance, one patient succumbed to reader’s slump after binge-reading Eric Metaxes’ biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Because of the brilliance of this book, the patient was unable to find any other Continue reading
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2022 Reading List
This weekend, I had the privilege of attending the Maranatha Christian Writers’ Conference. Perhaps the most invigorating part of this experience was swapping book recommendations. This inspired me to update my abandoned GoodReads account. This year has been a good one for reading and writing. I’ve finished my first draft of Fruitful Worship and, in Continue reading
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Golf: In Memoriam
Whenever I tell someone that I studied in St. Andrew’s, they immediately ask whether I golfed while there. (If the person in question is a man, he will generally make vague golf motions and look at me quizzically.) Sadly, I have to explain that I did not take up golf until this summer—two months after Continue reading
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Befriending Dante: A Reflection on Readership
Although I have always been bookish in about every sense of the word, I went through a “rebellious” phase in high school when my AP Literature class was required to read Dante’s Inferno. I was adamantly against it and now, as I reread it for the fourth or fifth time, I can explain away this opposition as Continue reading
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Dear Mr. Dickens: An Open Letter
My dear Mr. Dickens, I hope you are well and not at all rolling over in your grave. (It is, after all, nearing Christmas and renditions of your famous holiday tale are promenading before audiences who are mostly wondering whether they actually turned off the oven or whether the turkey they pretend to like is Continue reading
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Non-Writing Writer
I was inspired this morning as I walked to practice piano for an upcoming recital… this would have been great, had I been inspired to practice. Rather, I was inspired to set the opening of Wordsworth’s The Prelude to music. My roommate (bless her) stopped me just in time: “Ryanne, if you write a melody and Continue reading
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Dystopian Reality
Dystopian novels have been “in” for several years now. The Hunger Games and Divergent were the most popular reads of my high school days. Brave New World, 1984, and Anthem were on the AP reading lists. I continue to devour Ray Bradbury’s work. However, we forget the purpose of dystopian fiction, which is to warn and protect us from creating such futures in reality. Continue reading
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To the Books on my Shelf: A Sonnet
Too often, I find myself staring in admiration at my bookshelves. The ornate covers of collectables, the crackled pages of old favorites, the bright illustrations of new editions… *sigh of delight* To my abashment (isn’t that a lovely word for a not-so-lovely feeling?), I own and admire many books I have yet to actually Continue reading
Recent Posts
- The Freedom of a Lower Reading Goal
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Ryanne Molinari 