Culture Making, Andy Crouch
I’d heard about this book for several months before it came out, and was totally fascinated by Crouch’s views on culture, the creation story, and the way that humans are called to be culture makers. He mentions Niebuhr’s categories of Christ in culture (which I remember studying in Janine’s Bible class in Oxford), but most of his stuff is pretty original.
I was particularly struck by his repeated assertion that the only way to change culture is to make more of it. He doesn’t mean we should mindlessly create useless stuff, or frantically churn out “Christian” cultural artifacts in a desperate attempt to replace “worldly” ones. Rather, he’s an advocate for thoughtful, dedicated craftsmanship and conversation in all areas of culture. His website, well-designed and thought-provoking, is definitely worth a look.
Still Life with Chickens, Catherine Goldhammer
I found this at a bargain price on Amazon when I was ordering a few other books, and read it on my lunch breaks over a week or so. Hilarious, and oddly moving. Goldhammer and her daughter, in the middle of a divorce and a move, buy six baby chicks – and quickly discover there’s more to owning poultry than they ever imagined. I cracked up at her first attempts to build a coop and smiled at the moments of peace sprinkled throughout.
Acedia & Me: A Marriage, Monks, and a Writer’s Life, Kathleen Norris
I’ve been a fan of Norris’s work since I discovered The Cloister Walk in college. I own all her nonfiction books and highly recommend them. Acedia & Me resonated deeply with me for several reasons. She begins by giving a broad, thoughtful definition/history of acedia, and explores the ways it bedevils anyone whose work requires solitude and self-motivation, which mine (and hers) certainly does. Along the way she gives an intimate portrait of her marriage, relevant to me since I’ve just embarked on that journey, and she writes with her typical frankness, humor and lyricism. I adore her (and am SO excited that she’s coming to ACU for Summit in September!). Definitely worth reading.
Princess Academy, Shannon Hale
I’ve read most of Shannon’s books and loved them – the Bayern books, Austenland and Book of a Thousand Days are all fascinating and well-written. (Can’t wait for Forest Born and The Actor and the Housewife, later this year.) Princess Academy won the Newbery Award a few years back, but I’d never read it before. I loved the story of spunky Miri and her fellow villagers, the beautifully drawn tensions of young love, the relationships between the girls at the academy, and the complexity of even the characters I didn’t like at first. Bravo.
Audrey: Her Real Story, Alexander Walker
I was totally captivated and saddened, at various points, by the story of Audrey’s life. I’ve loved My Fair Lady since I was a child, and have seen and enjoyed Sabrina, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Funny Face and Roman Holiday – but this book made me want to watch Charade and several others I haven’t seen, and to re-watch the old favourites again. The author truly loved his subject, but was balanced in his discussion of the light and dark parts of her story.
I’m still working on Words in Air and, of course Monte Cristo, but I made progress on both this month (particularly Words in Air). Anne and May’s new novel is my first May read, and several others are, as always, in the queue. (So many books, so little time…)
cakes, tea and dreams 
Culture Making – underlined AGAIN on my to-read list
Acedia and Me – fascinated with this concept; the book is sitting on my desk right now taunting me until I finish papers this week!
Katie, you must watch Charade! It is so cheeky and fun, and Cary Grant is perfect in it.
And try TWO FOR THE ROAD, with Audrey and Albert Finney.