Heretics by G.K. Chesterton

I’m too tired to think of a good blog post tonight, and there are no updates on TG, so please enjoy this review I recently wrote.

I challenged myself in 2024 to re-read the books that impacted me most in my 20s. Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton ranked high on that list. But I realized that to really re-read Orthodoxy, I first needed to start at the beginning of the debate, with the shots fired in Heretics. (And truly, this book is shots fired! Chesterton has no problem tackling all the big thinkers of his day and explaining Why They Are Wrong.)

It is a curious books in many respects. Published in 1905, Heretics stands at a weird crossroads halfway through the Edwardian era. WW1 is still a murky 9 years or so off. Joseph Chamberlain is the British politician garnering Chesterton’s wrath; his son will yet become Neville Chamberlain who infamously attempted to appease Hitler.

The thinkers of the day garnering Chesterton’s critique will be familiar in our English lit courses but not necessarily for their brands of philosophy. Chesterton kicks off by analyzing the public writing of Rudyard Kipling, H.G. Wells, and Bernard Shaw.

The first half of this book, where Chesterton stays (mostly) on track by focusing on other thinkers, is the most digestible and most practical. He then veers off at random points to vent about cowardly journalists, the fallacy of “young” nations, and the problem with identifying certain attributes with race. (Particularly interesting in light of Europe’s next few decades.)

As you might expect with Chesterton, no matter what his topic, he has the best one liners. A few favorites:

“Scotland continues to be educated and Calvinistic; England continues to be uneducated and happy.”

“Drink because you are happy, but never because you are miserable.”

But he also has a way of expressing big thoughts with few words, meaning it often takes a while to fully grasp what he is saying. But when you do, it sure packs a wallop. Take the following few sentences and think about modern discourse on social media:

“There is nothing really narrow about the clan; the thing which is really narrow is the clique. The men of the clan live together because they all wear the same tartan or are all descended from the same sacred cow; but in their souls, by the divine luck of things, there will always be more colors than in any tartan. But the men of the clique live together because they have the same kind of soul, and their narrowness is a narrowness of spiritual coherence and contentment, like that which exists in hell.”

This was certainly a solid start to my re-reads.

Favorite Reads of 2023 (Best of the Best!)

I read 200 books in 2023! There were quite a few good ones. But these were my top 5:

5. As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes

If any movie deserves what amounts to a 259 page love letter from the cast and crew, I suspect that movie would be The Princess Bride. It is a classic and this book won’t do anything to change your mind. While written and narrated primarily by Cary Elwes, there are frequent interjections from the directors and other actors. I highly recommend getting this one on audio if you can. I also own it as a hardcover, but hearing so many of the actors’ voices on audio was a totally different experience. They aren’t here to spill any tea, just to talk about all the fun they had making the cult classic that is this beloved movie.

4. When Books Went to War: The Stories that Helped Us Win World War II by Molly Guptill Manning

This work provides an interesting and informative look at the use of books to boost troop morale during World War II. Though only 267 pages, it encompasses quite a bit of history. Manning kicks off with Nazi book burning and the backlash within the United States, then focuses on the nationwide efforts to provide reading material to the soldiers. I originally tried this one as an audio and it didn’t really capture my fancy. But in physical form with pictures, I recommend giving it a try.

3. Basic Economics: A Citizen’s Guide to the Economy by Thomas Sowell

This book is exactly what it purports to be: a basic guide to the economy. Though originally published in 2000, it has a timeless quality because Sowell isn’t focusing on current events. He is describing the way economies and markets work in laymen’s terms. Because of the focus on theory, his arguments span beyond the advent of technological shifts like social media and online shopping. In fact, reading it, you almost feel like it could have been published today. This makes a great audio book as well as physical read. (I can’t believe it took me this long to actually finish it.)

2. Glorious Companions: Five Centuries of Anglican Spirituality by Richard H. Schmidt

Published in 2002, this book lists 29 different Anglican writers ranging from Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) to Hannah More (1745-1833) to Desmond Tutu (1931-2021). Each chapter provides a brief biography, description of the writer’s work, and collection of quotes encompassing their thoughts. While holding to a few common tenants, including the shared title of Anglican or Episcopalian, the writers have very little in common historically, politically, or socially. The collection works, however, because it illustrates just how varied Anglican thought can be. I particularly appreciated what a treasure trove of new thinkers I found within its pages.

1. Hunger of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriguez by Richard Rodríguez

In this collection of autobiographical essays, Richard Rodríguez describes his journey as a Spanish speaking child who knew only a few words of English when he entered first grade to a Ph.D. candidate in English Renaissance literature. Though only 212 pages, this book covers a wide variety of themes related to education, scholarship, and belonging. It is perhaps most famous for his criticisms of affirmative action and bilingual education. I loved it so much I read it twice this year. If you can, read it in print. The audio version, while sufficient, fails to capture the beauty of his writing style.

2023 Reading Challenge: My 5 Star Reads

I read 200 books in 2023. I gave 15 of them 5 stars. On January 2 I’ll post my top 5, but for today, I present: 10 of my favorite finds from 2023.

Love Your God with All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul by J.P. Moreland

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Not only did it make a strong argument for the role of reason in faith, it also provided several practical steps to implement that reason in worship and daily life. There were several arguments and analogies that shifted the way I viewed the role of intellect. This deserves a slow read to fully process and implement.

Stunned by Grief: Remapping Your Life When Loss Changes Everything by Judy Brizendine

This was a rough year for me when it came to losing people I love. What I particularly appreciated about the book was that it gave me a touchstone as I processed grief. Mostly it reminded me that what I was feeling was ‘normal.’ There are frequent Bible verses quoted, and if you want to know the style of the book, they are mostly from The Message. But despite veering towards touch-feely (almost prosperity gospel in one chapter), the goal is clearly to encourage people going through a difficult time. I found it very helpful.

He Said “Press”: Hearing God Through Grief by Patti McCarthy Broderick

It is hard to quantify this book. It is a memoir, a ten-week devotional, and a collection of poetry. It was written by a woman who lost her husband at a young age and published this work to encourage others going through similar struggle. The poetry is the best part. When I struggled for something to say to family members or even for comfort myself this past year, the poetry is what hit close to home. (In fact, I kind of wish this was just a volume of poetry, though I understand if the memoir portion is closer to what she felt called to write.)

A Republic, If You Can Keep It by Neil Gorsuch

This book by Justice Neil Gorsuch is part memoir, part argument for how to read the Constitution, and part collection on why the separation of powers is so important. It also contains suggestions for how the legal profession could lower the cost of legal services and general advice for law students. (This would make a great gift for a student headed to law school.) In short, it is a little dash of everything and because of that a tad scattered at times. I rounded up to 5 stars because Gorsuch writes with clear common sense and addresses many of the problems facing the legal profession today.

What’s So Great About America by Dinesh D’Souza

While some referenced current events do date the book (it was published in 2002), it is primarily an exploration of ideas. It clearly expresses the argument that America thrives because of certain principles and that is what makes America “great.” It was one of those books that left me with a framework to contemplate other books by, which I appreciate. Not a worldview changing book for me personally, but one I thought did a solid job at expressing why Americans can (and should) justifiably appreciate their country.

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

This was one of those plays that feels inadequate (perhaps vaguely sociopathic?) to say ‘I enjoyed it.’ It deals with tough topics related to race, socioeconomic status, and the American dream. But it captures human nature so beautifully that I did enjoy it. It broke my heart. But it also reminded me of the importance of hope even in the heaviest of circumstances.

Underfoot in Show Business by Helene Hanff

If you haven’t read Helene Hanff’s most famous memoir, pause for a moment and go find yourself of a copy of 84, Charing Cross Road. You’re welcome. Then return for “the rest of the story.” Hanff moved to New York with dreams of being a playwright. While those efforts never took off, her memoirs beautifully illustrate her ability to describe people, settings, and scenes. This work had my laughing out loud as she describes the theater business post-WW2. Her understanding of human nature makes her caricatures sing.

To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism by J.I. Packer (Editor)

A nice, readable catechism listing the basics of Anglican thought. Pretty solid collection on the 10 Commandments, Apostle’s Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer.

Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas by Charles Moore (Editor)

The Lenten devotional by this publisher (Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter) was one of my favorite reads of 2022. While absolutely solid, this advent devotional didn’t rate quite as high on my list. It was still really good. It contains a series of daily essays for Advent and Christmas all based around the birth of Jesus from authors ranging from Dietrich Bonhoeffer to T.S. Eliot to C.S. Lewis.

The Woman They Wanted by Shannon Harris

Shannon Harris is the ex-wife of Josh Harris, poster boy of the courtship movement. In this memoir she traces her own faith journey over the last 20 years alongside their courtship, marriage, and eventual split. It is a heartbreaking read. She experienced on a very public stage the deconstruction of her faith and marriage. I might not agree with where she has currently landed, but I appreciate her vulnerability. She could have very easily turned this into a rant about her ex-husband, but instead she looks to the broader pressure placed on them by the Christian subculture where he pastored.

Least Favorite Reads of 2023

I normally post my least favorite reads of the year last. But this time I thought, why not shake things up a bit and hold y’all in suspense for my true favorites?

Without further ado, I give you…my least favorite reads of 2023.

Spare by Prince Harry

There is a lot that could be said about this memoir—most of which I’ve already said. Bottom line: this is a really whiny books. The fragmented style, choppy chapters, and irrelevant stories all combined to leave me seriously irritated as a reader. Truly tragic things occurred to Prince Harry, but instead of processing his pain, he comes across as a spoiled princeling who did too many drugs and never learned to see a situation from anyone else’s point of view. Not worth the energy or attention.

That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back by Thomas L. Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum

Published in 2011, this work feels very dated. Friedman spends too much time proscribing what the future should or will bring. A decade of different policy decisions and a worldwide pandemic means we’re worried about different specifics, even if the same general categories exist. His analysis of the problem and any solutions depend heavily on government stepping in and providing direction for the future. After finishing this one, I can’t say I’m convinced. Books like this really do demonstrate that even so-called experts have no idea what the future will bring.

The Paid Bridesmaid by Sarah Wilson

Too embarrassed to admit you hired a wedding planner? Hire a fake bridesmaid instead! Decent idea for a rom com but far too cringe. For the same plot done much better, read The Secret Bridesmaid.

I’m Not Charlotte Lucas by Kasey Stockton

This is the story of a woman who bases her entire personality on that one scene in Pride and Prejudice where Charlotte Lucas announces to Elizabeth Bennet she’s marrying Mr. Collins. Just that scene. Nothing else. As you might imagine, turning 27 results in a life crisis. I was hopefully for something fun but it was overall cringe. Don’t let the adorable cover fool you.

Spirited by Nancy Holder

As a teenager I loved the Once Upon A Time series and Spirited was one of the few I couldn’t get through inter-library loan. I kind of understand why now. This Beauty and the Beast retelling is problematic on multiple levels. Our heroine gets kidnapped and between Stockholm syndrome and a lot of hallucinogens decides she’s found her people. The world building is downright confusing and the book desperately needs a glossary or list of characters to keep everything straight. Read Beauty Robin McKinley or A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer instead.

A Secret Princess by Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz

400 pages later and I still don’t know what the point of this book was. It attempts to remix Frances Hodgson Burnett’s three most famous books: The Secret Garden, A Little Princess, and Little Lord Fauntleroy. The end result is a historically inaccurate mess that jumps from plot point to plot point (and character to character) with little justification except that these moments existed in the original book. I appreciate what the authors were aiming to pull off with their characters but this fell really short of anything worth reading.

2023 Reading Stats

I like doing these reading stats because it feels like I get to delve into more than the “best and worst” reads of the year. Over the next few days I will share my favorite and least favorite reads. But here I get to highlight a particular few—including those I might not have otherwise listed. I hope you enjoy this snapshot into my reading this past year!

2023 Reading Stats

In 2023, I read 200 books totaling 55,478 pages. Of the 200 books, 41 were re-reads.

Average rating: 3.4 stars.

Average Book Length: 277 pages.

To Read List: Started the year at 913 books on my to-read list, ending the year at 908.

My Favorite Book Read This Year: Hunger of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriguez by Richard Rodríguez

Most Disappointing Book Read This Year: Spare by Prince Harry

Best Re-Read: How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge by Clay Scroggins

Most Read Author: Georgette Heyer, probably, with 6 books

Best New-To-Me Author: John Mark Comer

Best Middle School Read: Zatanna & the House of Secrets by Matthew Cody, Yoshi Yoshitani (illustrator)

Longest Read: My Contrary Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows at 512 pages.

Shortest Read: He Is There and He Is Not Silent by Francis A. Schaeffer at 88 pages.

Most Popular Read: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (shelved by 7,063,976 people on Goodreads).

Least Popular Read: Paying Workers in a Homeschool Organization by Carol Topp (shelved by 5, including me).

A Reading Retrospect

As any reader can attest, few questions cause your brain to short circuit faster than “what’s your favorite book?”

In what genre? By what standards? In relation to what?

Starting at age 20, I have annually written an end-of-the-year book summary of my “5 star reads” from the year. (And also the 1 star reads, because those are just fun.) I find that by limiting myself to only those books I marked 5 stars (“it was amazing!”), I create a category that at least allegedly holds the best-of-the-best across genres and categories.

A few books slip through the cracks. A 4-star read might make it to 5 stars the next time I read it without making it on the end of the year 5-star-read post. (*cough* Thinking of you: How To Lead When You’re Not In Charge.)

But mostly my system works. And I’ve been doing it since 2013.

That’s 10 whole years.

To celebrate 10 years of end-of-the-year-book reviewing, I thought it would be fun to do a retrospect. Which books held up? Which ones are still my favorites? Which ones get an annual re-read?

In summary: what were the most impactful books of my 20s?

There is only one small issue with this otherwise commendable goal: I read somewhere in the ballpark of 2,109 distinct books over the last decade. And that’s after you factor out re-reads.

Even using the 5-star method to narrow down the reads, we’re still talking 216 odd “favorites.”

How on earth can I judge whether Good Profit by Charles Koch, read at age 22, impacted me more than Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance read at 25? Was Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld as incredible as I thought in 2013? Or A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians by H.G. Parry as worthy of favorite book status as I thought in 2022? I don’t know!

So, here is the plan. Instead of setting a reading goal for myself in 2024, I am going to purpose to re-read 100 books that I remember really impacting me. I want to sink my teeth into G.K. Chesterton and Dorothy L. Sayers, pick up C.S. Lewis again, and maybe try and figure out why I wrote such a glowing review of The Little Big Things by Tom Peters. (I have no memory of that book?!)

Then I will post about my findings as I go.

Even as I begin compiling the list of books to re-read, I am excited to see the different faces of Amy peeking back. I came up with this idea as a way to motivate myself to re-read some of the more philosophical or theological books on my list. But between this blog and my re-reads, I think it will also be a great way to recognize how much I’ve grown as a person.

I hope you enjoy the journey. Thanks for 10 years of indulging me as I ramble about books and life ❤

Reading Plan

“I am 8 books away from my reading goal!” LB confided to our friend and former co-worker who dropped by work today and asked how life was going.

“And I am 10 away.” I announced.

Lil smiled and asked what books we planned to finish over the next 3 weeks to hit our goals. LB admitted she didn’t particularly have a plan.

I glanced at the currently reading on my phone.

“Well on audio I have The Ink Masters Silence and Midnight’s Children (though I am unlikely to finish before January) and I have been re-reading the Lord Peter Wimsey novels and on ebook I have made a dent in The Rescuers and Fear For Miss Betony and The Woman They Wanted…

And hey, I am halfway there!

Whatcha Reading…? 10/14/23 Book Update

I decided to wander around the house and gather everything I’m “currently reading.” As you can tell, I am still making a concerted effort to get through books I already own.

A History of the Church in England by JRH Moorman (physical book, borrowed)

If you happen to look at my most recent Book Update from April, you might wonder why I am still reading this one six months later. Well, it is 485 pages. And I can’t find it on audio. Also, I’m still on chapter 3 so I’m not exactly devouring this one. I borrowed my copy, though, so I am hoping that by marking it currently reading I will finish before another six months go by.

Glorious Companions: Five Centuries of Anglican Spirituality by Richard H. Schmidt (physical book, owned)

This book consists of 29 biographies of different Anglican thinkers. It begins with a brief summary of the individual’s life, their impact on Anglican thought, and then a few quotes from the individual’s biography. It is fairly brief but so far I am finding it much more practical than I expected. It reminds me a bit of Eric Metaxas’s 7 Biographies.

Luther and the Reformation by R.C. Sproul (physical book, owned)

My Grandma sent me this biography of Martin Luther (almost more a pamphlet than a book) from Ligonier Ministries. It is so far a nice highlight of Luther’s impact on the reformation.

Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers by Christian Smith and Melina Lundquist Denton (physical book, owned)

This is a very academic study of the spirituality of American teenagers published in 2005. Almost 20 years later, calling it ‘dated’ might be an understatement. Consider this: most teenagers today were not born when this was published. While this might have described the spiritual lives of my peers when I was in high school, I don’t think most people would find that true today.

Ginger: My Story by Ginger Rogers (physical book, owned)

After reading Fred Astaire’s memoir last year, I was thrilled when I stumbled upon Ginger’s memoir. Unfortunately, so far this one is proving even more boring than Astaire’s. At least by the time she wrote this one (1990’s), she didn’t expect people to recognize the names of the Vaudeville greats. But she also isn’t spilling any tea.

The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths (physical book, library)

Every time I see the cover of this book, I’m convinced this is a fantasy novel. It is not. It is a mystery/thriller and not a great idea for bedtime reading. The book is written in first person present which usually drives me crazy but works.

Busman’s Honeymoon by Dorothy L. Sayers (physical book, owned)

This is a re-read for me. I read it in 2015 and somehow never went back. It is proving even more marvelous than I remembered—though also even more impenetrable. You need a class in French and Latin to get through any of Sayer’s mysteries, but this book in particular flows with literary allusions and phrases without translations.

The Sibyl in Her Grave by Sarah Caudwell (physical book, owned)

I don’t remember how I stumbled onto Caudwell’s mysteries but I am so glad I did. Sadly, she only wrote four and this is the last one. I’m savoring it. This series centers on a British professor of Medieval Law and his former students as they solve murders, fall in love, and battle Inland Revenue. (Basically, the IRS.) Like all her books so far, I’m finding this one entertaining, chock full of literary references, and more risqué than I expect.

Seven Daughters and Seven Sons by Barbara Cohen (physical copy, owned)

I LOVED this book in high school but unlike some of my favorite Sonlight reads, haven’t gone back as an adult. I’m still in Part 1 so it might be too soon to say if it holds up but so far I’m enjoying it. Part of my motivation in re-reading it now was to give it an actual review on Goodreads, so depending how that goes I might share on here.

The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene (physical copy, library)

Our book club read for this month! And oof, does this one pack an emotional punch. I’m not familiar with Graham Greene (though apparently this book has been on my to-read list for a while, so I must have heard of him at some point.) This story follows a Catholic priest in a a poor, remote section of southern Mexico in 1938 where religion has been outlawed. Conscience of his own failures, he nonetheless wrestles with whether it is better to flee to safety, give himself up, or continue in his parish.

If you made it to the end of this post, congratulations! There are like…seven more books I didn’t add on here but I’m trying to keep this post semi-reasonable. My housemates have made it very clear they think reading all these books at the same time is utter nonsense. Perhaps it is. But it keeps me happy and my brain engaged so I’ll keep at it.

2023 Reading Challenge

Today I finished reading 123 books in 2023!

I can’t remember the last time it took me this long to reach such a low reading goal. In 2020 I hit 223 books by July.

But I guess this is a good thing because it means I’m doing other things than reading?

The To Read List

I currently have 968 books on my to read list.

I currently own…a lot of books. Probably close to 968.

I have not read all the books I own. I have not even read half of the books I own. (I keep buying more.)

Well, as I was looking at my to-read list and deciding that I should probably try and get it down to 900 again, it occurred to me that I have a built in library at my fingertips for just this problem. I started organizing my books but then ended up getting bored and just grabbing books I remembered were on my to-read list.

I was able to pull 69 books and I bought one at the thrift store, pushing me up to 70. They are all currently stacked on my desk and will hopefully guilt me into reading them all before I buy more. At least we hope so.

Do you tend to read the books you buy?