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lydiajlong's reviews
156 reviews
The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
“‘Maybe the point isn’t always to make things last,’ he says. ‘Maybe it’s just to make them count.’”
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This was a fun, quick read! There were a couple of moments that felt deeper and meaningful with some themes of family life and reconciling difficult relationships. Overall just a fun story of a musician and her father taking an Alaskan cruise together!
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This was a fun, quick read! There were a couple of moments that felt deeper and meaningful with some themes of family life and reconciling difficult relationships. Overall just a fun story of a musician and her father taking an Alaskan cruise together!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
“A man who confesses his sins in the presence of a brother knows that he is no longer alone with himself; he experiences the presence of God in the reality of the other person.”
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This was a quick and informative read. Bonhoeffer gives us some challenging ideas to think through and implement in our daily lives. He gives a cohesive look at community and togetherness but also touches on spiritual disciplines in our private lives.
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I would definitely recommend this book to someone who wants to understand more of how to live in deeper community with other believers!
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This was a quick and informative read. Bonhoeffer gives us some challenging ideas to think through and implement in our daily lives. He gives a cohesive look at community and togetherness but also touches on spiritual disciplines in our private lives.
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I would definitely recommend this book to someone who wants to understand more of how to live in deeper community with other believers!
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
This was a super interesting read. I was expecting it to stick with personal habits and how to successfully change your own habits. This is a much broader look at habits though! Duhigg takes you through the habits behind shopping and marketing, social change movements, organizations and companies, and the psychology and physiology of habits. This is a super helpful look at habits and features some amazing stories that will inspire you to evaluate your own habits.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
“Turning away, I continued to drift downtown, with no very clear idea where I was going or why, and as I walked I had the oddly appealing sensation that I was undoing myself, unwinding myself thread by thread, rags and tatters falling away from me in the very act of crossing Thirty-Second Street and flowing along amongst the rush-hour pedestrians and rolling along from the next moment to the next.”
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This was the first fiction book I have read in a LONG time. And I love that I committed to this 700+ page adventure. Donna Tartt puts so many hard emotions and complex ideas in so many beautiful words and descriptions. You really fall for some of these characters, their faults and vices. I loved the larger discussion of life, meaning, and right and wrong. Appreciated this read and the journey Donna took us all on.
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tw: I’d warn my younger friends of cursing, drug use, sexual content, violence, and references to death and grieving — chat with your guardian before picking this book up!
•
This was the first fiction book I have read in a LONG time. And I love that I committed to this 700+ page adventure. Donna Tartt puts so many hard emotions and complex ideas in so many beautiful words and descriptions. You really fall for some of these characters, their faults and vices. I loved the larger discussion of life, meaning, and right and wrong. Appreciated this read and the journey Donna took us all on.
•
tw: I’d warn my younger friends of cursing, drug use, sexual content, violence, and references to death and grieving — chat with your guardian before picking this book up!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Addiction, Alcohol, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Infidelity, Murder, and Cursing
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Vomit
Get Your Life Back: Everyday Practices for a World Gone Mad by John Eldredge
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5
"We can't stand at a distance from our own soul and ask Christ to 'go in there and deal with it'. This isn't hostage negotiation; we don't hide a block away and hope God takes care of business. This is your own soul we're talking about; the door opens from the inside...we open the door to our soul from the inside."
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This book is such a helpful resource for reclaiming the life you actually want to be living. This world is so distracting and disorienting and John Eldredge gives you practical steps to living a fulfilling and meaningful life. He sprinkles in beautiful stories of adventures and helpful examples from his own life. I love the writing style and simple steps he gives. Great book! Keeping on my bookshelf to return to when life feels too much!
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This book is such a helpful resource for reclaiming the life you actually want to be living. This world is so distracting and disorienting and John Eldredge gives you practical steps to living a fulfilling and meaningful life. He sprinkles in beautiful stories of adventures and helpful examples from his own life. I love the writing style and simple steps he gives. Great book! Keeping on my bookshelf to return to when life feels too much!
The Resilient Pastor: Leading Your Church in a Rapidly Changing World by Glenn Packiam, Glenn Packiam, David Kinnaman, David Kinnaman
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
“Jesus is the head of his church. The Holy Spirit is at work — in us and through us. God is making you faithful and helping you become a resilient pastor.”
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This was such an encouraging read that I would recommend to any pastor, minister, church staffer. So much has changed drastically these past few years and it’s important for you to spend the time to think through it, process it, and find healthy rhythms moving forward. This book will help you do just that!
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This was such an encouraging read that I would recommend to any pastor, minister, church staffer. So much has changed drastically these past few years and it’s important for you to spend the time to think through it, process it, and find healthy rhythms moving forward. This book will help you do just that!
Find Your People: Building Deep Community in a Lonely World by Jennie Allen
challenging
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
“Christ followers enter human relationships full of hope and full of confidence to love others, regardless of the treatment they receive in return.”
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I love how Jennie Allen writes about the importance this book. If you’re just looking for a book to help you find some friends so you can have Sunday brunch, this is not the book for you. This is serious work, important work for the Kingdom of Heaven. Jennie will help you understand why friendship matters and she’ll help give you some tools to start right where you’re at. The one thing she doesn’t address is people with accessibility issues, chronic pain, etc. You may need to get creative or look to digital/online tools to help you get started.
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I love how Jennie Allen writes about the importance this book. If you’re just looking for a book to help you find some friends so you can have Sunday brunch, this is not the book for you. This is serious work, important work for the Kingdom of Heaven. Jennie will help you understand why friendship matters and she’ll help give you some tools to start right where you’re at. The one thing she doesn’t address is people with accessibility issues, chronic pain, etc. You may need to get creative or look to digital/online tools to help you get started.
The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
“I discovered that we can’t manage time, and that the key to success isn’t in all the things we do but in the handful of things we do well. I learned that success comes down to this: being appropriate in the moments of your life.”
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I found this book to be super impactful in my work and productivity. The premise just makes sense and is so wise. I sometimes have trouble breaking something down from the question, “What’s the one thing you can do this week such that by doing it everything else would be easier or unnecessary?” but I’m thinking it’s something you grow in and will get better at breaking things down as you go. Regardless, this is a great book if you just need a little guidance gaining focus in your life.
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I found this book to be super impactful in my work and productivity. The premise just makes sense and is so wise. I sometimes have trouble breaking something down from the question, “What’s the one thing you can do this week such that by doing it everything else would be easier or unnecessary?” but I’m thinking it’s something you grow in and will get better at breaking things down as you go. Regardless, this is a great book if you just need a little guidance gaining focus in your life.
100 Days to Brave: Devotions for Unlocking Your Most Courageous Self by Annie F. Downs
challenging
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
I think this would be a great devotional for someone in their early 20s or just graduating high school. The action points, reflections, and stories are all great. Just feels like it would resonate more with younger women!
Keeping the Sabbath Wholly: Ceasing, Resting, Embracing, Feasting by Marva J. Dawn
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
“The movement from one climax of the Sabbath to the next enables us to set our minds on things above … without becoming so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good. The Sabbath focus … does not remove us from the world; it simply gives us a larger perspective for plunging into its needs and sufferings more deeply.“ Page 200
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This book was helpful for shaping my habit and discipline of Sabbath. I highly encourage this for anyone new to the idea of Sabbath. Marva gives us such a meaningful look at the aspects of Sabbath and how to practically live this out in our modern lives.
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This book was helpful for shaping my habit and discipline of Sabbath. I highly encourage this for anyone new to the idea of Sabbath. Marva gives us such a meaningful look at the aspects of Sabbath and how to practically live this out in our modern lives.