Faith and Fiction Saturday: Ten Christian Fiction Books I'm Anticipating

Happy New Year, Everyone! Welcome to another year of Faith and Fiction Saturday, a weekly discussion of the intersection between faith and fiction. I hope to start posting the month's worth of topics in advance, but this week is an exception, I'll be on the ball by next week. Not every week will have an interactive component, but some will so I hope you will participate!

To kick the new year off, I thought we'd head back to our roots and chat up the books coming out specifically in the Christian fiction marketplace that we're looking forward to. I'd love it if you decide to share a list on your blog, or you can share in comments. It's up to you!


Paradise Valley by Dale Cramer (Bethany House, January)
Levi's Will was in no way, shape, or form you typical Amish novel so I have high hopes for this latest book set in Amish Country by Dale Cramer. Fingers crossed it's in the mail that was held for me over Christmas that I finally get to see next week!


A Heart Most Worthy by Siri Mitchell (Bethany House, March)
This needs no explanation, it's Siri Mitchell! I love everything she writes!


The Air We Breathe by Christa Parrish (Bethany House, ?)
Christa Parrish may well be one of the most beautiful writers in Christian fiction, and she's definitely earned the, "read her books as soon as I can" spot in my life. Due to some stuff going on in her personal life, this book has been delayed a few times making the anticipation all the sweeter. I don't know if it's been delayed again, but hopefully not!


The Lady of Bolton Hill by Elizabeth Camden (Bethany House, June)
I've already expressed my interest in this book, and then having a chance to interview Elizabeth Camden made me even more excited for it. I can't remember the last time I was so excited for a Christian fiction debut!


Dancing on Glass by Pamela Binnings Ewen (B&H, August)
I loved The Moon in the Mango Tree so much. I've been eagerly awaiting this book and recently Pamela told me it's the first in a trilogy! I'm so excited to read it and I'm not above begging for an ARC. Ahem.


The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick (WaterBrook Press, April)
Jane Kirkpatrick is an excellent writer of historical fiction and this book is based on true events which is very appealing to me. I suspect this will be an excellent read.


When Sparrows Fall by Meg Moseley (Multnomah, May 2011)
I think this might be another debut but check the title...very similar to one of my favorite books from 2010, so I think that the themes will be as well. It looks pretty good anyway!

And without covers...I'm also looking forward to:
A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House)
Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee (Center Street, September?)
A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman (Revell, ?)

What Christian fiction books are you looking forward to?

(tomorrow I'll share the general market books I'm looking forward to!)



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2010: The Year in Books

Picking the top books of the year can be so hard, but this year it really came easily. I had a really interesting reading year in that most of the best books I read were not published in 2010. I also read more backlist than before, including classics I should have read long before. Loving a book with all your heart is fabulous and I felt like many of the books I read this year will be added to my "favorite books of all time" list. (also of note is that a few books that may have been among the best books I read this year are not listed because I did some publicity work for the authors) If I wrote a review of the book, you can read it by clicking on the title. I include all genres, because I have no hierarchy in my reading, I can love books from all genres and for all age ranges equally. I, apparently, don't have a problem comparing apples and oranges. :)


The Sacredness of Questioning Everything by David Dark (Zondervan, 2009)
I read this most excellent book towards the beginning of the year and it has strongly influenced so much of the way I've thought about things this year. It's beyond fabulous and I really recommend it to everyone. We can all stand some questioning of what we accept as truth and some affirmation through it all even when it's painful and bruising. Dark's style is engaging and informative and he weaves many pop culture examples throughout making it a delight to read. More than anything, I hope that I always value the sacredness in asking questions and never ever rest so much in anything as truth that I'm unwilling to question it.

Wounded by Claudia Mair Burney (Cook, 2008)
Our first book for the Faith and Fiction Round Table, I was blown away by what Claudia Mair Burney got away with in Christian fiction. Wounded challenges preconceived ideas and introduces us to the reality that intimacy with Christ often means suffering that feels senseless. Rich and thought provoking, I hope this book is discovered by more and more people. One of the best books that grapples with faith, race, identity, suffering, loving God, and miracles that I've ever read.

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Simon and Schuster, 1936)
My first time to read this classic, I shortly became obsessed with it. It takes a good chunk to get into, but once you're into it, you'll be sucked into Scarlett O'Hara's life. Brilliant characterization, timeless, and entertaining, if you've seen the movie but never read the book...please do. For as much as I've always enjoyed the movie, the book is easily ten thousand times better. Absolutely epic and in my book, a must read. The fact that I often think of it months later is telling, and that I draw comparisons between GWTW storylines and characters with new storylines I encounter cements its place in my personal canon.

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell (Ballantine Books, 1997)
Having been urged to read this one for awhile, I'm so glad I did. It's a riveting, heartrending look at the weight of religious belief in the lives of the faithful and what it means to discover new land and new peoples...and what you do in that circumstance. Every second I wasn't reading this book, I desperately wanted to be. When you read as much as I do, that's a rare thing. This is a book I hope more and more people read and engage with on a deep level because I think its ideas are important and thought provoking.

Within My Heart by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House, 2010)
A beautiful and perfect romance set in the West, Within My Heart is the story of love, coming to life again and grieving the passing of the ones we love. A delightful romance that lacks angst and showcases an equal partnership between the hero and heroine, it also boasts some of the most beautiful writing I've read in a romance. I just can't recommend it enough. One of the most emotionally satisfying reads I had all year.

Resurrection in May by Lisa Samson (Thomas Nelson, 2010)
Lisa Samson celebrates in her writing the things I value, which makes her an almost perfect author for me. She writes such beautiful books and validates human life--all human life. I haven't read a more beautiful and convincing argument against the death penalty or persuasive of the value of all and every second of human life. This is a gentle novel that takes its time but one that deserves to be read and cherished. The difficult process of healing, the value of sustainable living, and the strength of community are some of the beautiful things you'll find in this novel.

Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers (St. Martin's Griffin, 2010)
A gripping account of the aftermath of her father's suicide, Fall for Anything is Eddie's story of beginning to try to cope with the loss of her father. It's compulsive reading, touching, and unflinching. A story shot through with insight into grief and the human condition.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic, 2010)
If I were forced to pick a read of the year it would be this one. From the weeks of anticipation to the consumption of the book, to the complete obsession that followed, I loved this book. It was absolutely brutal, while still tending to the fragile growth of hope. While I understand the criticism people have lodged against it, I just don't agree. I feel Mockingjay was a scathing critique of media, a study of the powerful effect war has on the people who are affected, and an examination of its devastating effect. And brilliantly, it also works on an allegorical level--we are all Katniss. I laughed, I cried, I obsessed for weeks afterwards. This trilogy has earned a place on my all time favorite books shelf.


Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick Press, 2007)
This gorgeous picture book moved me to tears. It is a perfect book for the holidays, the illustrations are lovely and the story is brimming with hope and compassion. It's definitely secured a permanent place in my collection and I will return to it year after year. Not to be missed, it's a picture that is truly for all ages.


The Disappeared by Kim Echlin (December, 2009)
A stunningly beautifully written book, The Disappeared is about love, war, and loss. It personalizes horrific world events and explores the way we carry on the memories of those lost. The writing was some of the loveliest I read all year. I would love to see more bloggers cover this one.

Other Notables: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, Fiddler's Green by A.S. Peterson, The Preacher's Bride by Jody Hedlund, Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers, Emily of Deep Valley Maud Hart Lovelace, and This Fine Life by Eva Marie Everson.

These are the books I loved reading the most this year, the books I feel have become a part of me and will endure in my memory in the years to come. Did you love any of the same books? Have I convinced you to read any of them?

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope 2011 brings you nothing but enduring joy, time with the ones you love, and of course--great books!

(Read also my year in music, TV/Movies, and Blogs)

2010: The Year in Blogs

As much as books, music, and TV affect me, I always invite blogs into my life as well. Reading a blog on a regular basis is almost an intimate thing. You invite someone to share themselves with you via the seemingly cold impersonal method of the internet. Their thoughts and views will definitely work themselves on you as long as you open yourself up to them. I had a moment in which I realized the profound way in which this is true over the holidays. I am most certainly a changed person because of reading blogs. You simply can't expect to give over moments of your day, day after day, and expect to be the same. I could go on about this, but instead, why don't I share with you some of the blogs I have especially loved reading this year?

The Rabbit Room
Always at the top of my list. There are posts on this blog I would pay to have in a book, and I hope that's a future goal of The Rabbit Room Press. But more than just another great year of essays and reviews, The Rabbit Room put together Hutchmoot, a weekend retreat of sorts where the community that has gathered around them were able to meet, talk about great works of art, and listen to great music. :) Hutchmoot was without doubt a highlight of the year, and I sincerely doubt many blogs could host a retreat that felt as full of love and gentleness as The Rabbit Room.

Onehandclapping
No idea how I stumbled on Julie Clawson's blog but I love it. Every post is written with care and they often stretch me and make me think. Seriously, on what other blog would you stumble across a Christian mother blogging who would say this,

"I was stuck with a preschooler who believed in Santa but not in the Bible.

Strangely enough, I was okay with that. I didn't care that the preschool constituency was against me; my daughter's conversion woke me up to what it means to convey truth to her. I realized that our understandings of truth are communally created–the truths I want my daughter to understand have to make sense within the communal narrative of her world. The truth of the Christmas story is about more than historical veracity. And the Santa story provides space for meaning as well." (emphasis mine)

And as I was writing this, I realized another reason I so love Julie's blog is that while she's not afraid to critique the church, she never becomes snarky. I admire this more than I can say, and I think it's a rare gift. I have her book and need to read it this year. I am really looking forward to learning more from her.

Read React Review
Speaking of blogs that make me think, some of my favorite book bloggers blog about books I don't really read. Jessica's Monday Morning Stepbacks are so often chock full of good thought provoking articles you almost don't need to read any other blogs for yourself. Also, she's quite a bit smarter than me and is one of the bloggers who has helped me think about feminism and who is shaping our narratives. Thanks Jessica!

Bookgazing
Jodie is really cool, let's face it. I am often confronted with thinking about things in a different way when I read her blog she shares points of view I may have not considered. I may not always agree or see things the same way, but she has a way of clearly explaining her thoughts and she is very kind. And she loves The Vampire Diaries! Woo-hoo!

Booknotes Blog--Hearts and Minds
The blog of this independent Christian bookstore is beyond compare. The suggested gift lists they published over the holiday season caused my wish list to explode...what I love about this store (and their lists) is that it's not exclusively books from Christian publishing houses. These are books of importance to people of Christian faith and quite frankly that's a way of looking at books I can agree with. Heavy on nonfiction recommendations, which is good because I need to fill my life with more nonfiction books about issues related to faith...theology and practice.

Shedding Velveteen
I met Jodi at the aforementioned Hutchmoot. She was very sweet and even drove Paul, Hannah, and I around a bit. When I got home and checked out her blog, I was amazed at how transparent she is (not because she didn't seem to be at Hutchmoot, we barely had time to chat). I've really enjoyed reading her perspectives on life, recovering from her fundamentalist background and trying to figure out if faith has a place in her life now. She's a really great writer and I always look forward to her updates.

Thoroughly Alive
Sarah Clarkson has an amazing way with words. I would be so happy if I could write even a fraction of how beautifully she writes. Her love for story is apparent, but the way she puts words together is inspiring. I hope to have a review of her book, Read for the Heart: Whole Books for Wholehearted Families up in the beginning of the year. She is also a contributer at the Rabbit Room.

Hogwarts Professor
While not a new blog for me, this is the year I started reading this one regularly, enjoying the analysis of The Hunger Games Trilogy. If you are willing to look at popular fiction a little more deeply, this is the blog for you. Also, how much love did I have for this post about the dance scene in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (part one?) I don't think this blog is for everyone, but for anyone who is willing to read books like Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games seriously and doesn't mind a Christian worldview. I really appreciate it.

So this is just a sampling of the blogs that have inspired and challenged me over the year and that I think deserve a wider audience. And if you're looking for more great blogs, my list from last year still holds true, I still love all of those bloggers (who are still blogging) and treasure every word they write.

What were your favorite blogs of the year?

(See also my year in music, and my year in TV/Movies)

Conceding Defeat

I wanted to make sure I read the following books in 2010:

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I read 3/5...The Sparrow, Peace Like a River, and Gone with the Wind. I brought along the other two on my trip this Christmas, but I've just not had any time to read. So I won't be finishing them. I hope to get to them in the next year.

I really want to finish my swap list challenge with Hannah this year, though. It's a very real and serious goal!

2010: The Year in TV and Movies

Art accompanies on the journey of life and fills in the cracks of time. Stories comfort, soothe and cause mini-revolutions in our hearts. Music weaves in and out of our celebrations and record our silent moments of reflection. We invite our artists to write the words of our hearts, and give us music to express what we cannot say with words. A calendar year is no way for me to measure the art that has defined me in a year, so my best of lists are instead the art, the stories, and the music that I discovered during the year, and that are threaded through my days of 2010.

I saw a ridiculous number of movies this year...sadly not many of them are worth mentioning. However it's been a great year for the TV I watched and of course, we said good-bye to the greatest show that ever was. :) This is a look back on what I watched this year...not necessarily released in 2010.

MOVIES

The Kids Are All Right
I loved this when I first saw it, but read quite a bit of criticism of it afterwards. I disagree with the criticism and we can talk about that if you'd like. But ultimately I found this a funny, touching story about love and family and marriage and one that gave me a moment of insight.


Toy Story 3
Likely my favorite movie of the year, I can't think of something more satisfying that I watched all year. Funny and touching, with a load of inspiration it's story telling at its finest. And seriously, the addition of Totoro to the toys pretty much made my year. Like many others, I cried at the end...this film celebrates the changing purpose in our lives and also grieves the loss of childhood. It is many things. I adore Pixar and hope they show a little more love to the females in the future!


Catfish
I saw this movie shortly after The Social Network and had no idea what it was about. I was surprised and glad to discover it was a documentary about a Facebook friendship and nothing was as it seemed. The best way to see this movie is to go in rather blind, but it was definitely thought provoking for me.

TV

LOST (ABC)
The sixth season kept us guessing as to the nature of the sideways world, but the ending left many fans cold. Not this one. I loved it without reservation, I found it emotionally satisfying and I was glad not every question was answered in explicit terms, allowing viewers to infer their own conclusions. I don't know if I'll ever love another show like I loved this one, epic in so many ways. Great characters, great relationships, great scenery, great music, great acting. LOVE.

DAMAGES (FX)
I found the second season a bit slow while well plotted, but this third season was back in form. I loved the storyline and was kept guessing as to how the final events all played out. I found it layered and rich, though dark, and I was so glad that DirecTV rescued it for two more (shortened seasons)

THE WALKING DEAD (AMC)
I became very excited for this show at Comic-Con and was thrilled with how much I loved it. I love stories of survival in the aftermath of an apocalypse and zombie stories add a dimension of tragedy and urgency. While only six episodes long, I became very invested in these characters and their relationships and their fate. Apocalyptic stories always explore the depths of our ability to feel compassion and also our ability to feel despair. Highly recommended.

THE CLOSER (TNT)
I have loved this show every year and this season was no exception. I know of no other crime drama with such a strength of characterization, writing, a light touch of humor and at times it's even full of nail biting suspense. I loved this season as Brenda was confronted with being on the short list for a promotion she wasn't sure she wanted, and the pressure she felt to pursue this job. She is quite simply one of the best female characters we have on TV..my only regret is she is so often the only main one on this show.

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES (CW)
This show got off to a slow start but once it got going it became appointment TV for me. I love this show that is everything a fun vampire show should be. While I do think they burn through story rather quickly, I've been delighted with the progression of the story lines, the writers ability to make me care about characters I found boring at first, and their fearlessness in offing characters. The hour always flies by. I love it.

RUBICON (AMC)
Oh we barely knew you. Rubicon was not a show for the faint of heart...if ever there was a slow burn show, it was this one. Every line spoken perfectly in place, every shifty gaze increasing the tension. There were no gorgeous people on this show...it was very much a show about dysfunctional analysts, the office scenes often felt like they could be real, and yet the last few episodes paid off majorly. So sad to know this won't be coming back.

DVD and NETFLIX STREAMING

BREAKING BAD (AMC)
I've only watched the first two seasons, so please don't spoil me on the third. It took me awhile to warm up to this show, at times I watched in sick fascination, it took awhile for me to realize that I did actually care about the characters. The second season ended in a rather brilliant and unexpected way. For me, the amount you're able to gain from watching a show like this depends on how much of yourself you're willing to find in the story and characters. Set aside your judgment..and well....you might be surprised. For those who don't know what it's about..well the short of it is that a man discovers he's dying from cancer and decides to cook meth to provide for his family before he goes. But oh there's so much secret keeping and deciding what's best for everyone to go around! It's a study in how things never go as planned.

SURVIVORS (BBC)
Loosely based on the original series by way of a book based on the series, this updated version is utterly compelling. Only 12 episodes long (and yes it ends on a delicious cliffhanger we'll never see the resolution to) 99% of the world's population has been wiped out by a flu virus. Now only the immune survive in the world left over. What would a world like that look like? What sort of obstacles would the people face? A small group of people band together and form a new family and many of these issues are explored. By the time you reach Season 2 you will feel deeply invested in the fates of these characters.

SUMMER HOURS (2008)
This French film is a surprisingly engaging look at three siblings left with their mother's estate after she passes away and how they must deal with selling off her possessions and their various reactions to her belongings and the loss of them. It's touching in the way it examines family relationships, but also our relationship to stuff. It's a film that will stick with you.

SILENT LIGHT (2007)
Not a film for light entertainment, Silent Light takes its time. Faith, family, love, and death are all explored here. This story creeps under your skin and won't let you forget it easily.

Other Notables: Inception, Winter's Bone, The Social Network, and The Gates.

What were your favorite TV shows and movies of the year?

Read about my year in music as well.

2010: The Year in Music

Art accompanies on the journey of life and fills in the cracks of time. Stories comfort, soothe and cause mini-revolutions in our hearts. Music weaves in and out of our celebrations and record our silent moments of reflection. We invite our artists to write the words of our hearts, and give us music to express what we cannot say with words. A calendar year is no way for me to measure the art that has defined me in a year, so my best of lists are instead the art, the stories, and the music that I discovered during the year, and that are threaded through my days of 2010.

The way I listen to music is this: I find an album, I find a song and then I listen to that song about a million times. Slowly I branch out and discover each song in that way. So in the end, I don't actually listen to that much different music and I spend a lot of time with what I like. Again, this is the music I loved this year, not necessarily released this year.

Mumford and Sons
Sigh No More

I cannot remember the last time listening to an album made my heart want to explode and my feet want to dance, in the way the folksy energetic Mumford and Sons do. Lyrics heavy with literary influence and spiritual openness create a point of connection for me even if the writer and myself are coming from completely different places. Sigh No More feels dramatic in the way I love drama...no land of in-between an all or nothing place. It's absolutely no wonder I love them. Many a day listening to Mumford and Sons has just made me a little bit happier and brought me outside of myself.


Arcade Fire
The Suburbs

Listening to Arcade Fire is like listening to the perfect kind of music that I love. It evokes all of the exact right feelings, nostalgia, longing, wistfulness, restlessness. I love this album, love it. I've seen more than one person refer to it's dystopic nature. Well that explains a lot. I haven't had as much time to think about the lyrics as I'd like, but I can say wholeheartedly that I love this album, and I've probably listened to Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) at least 450,000 times.


Jeremy Casella
Recovery

A friend recommended this shortly after I lost my job at the beginning of this year and wow. What resulted was pure and utter obsession for days. There's a quality to this music I can't explain, a sort of beauty that reaches me in a very unique way. In fact, I remember tweeting one morning while listening that some songs are so beautiful that I wish I could crawl inside and live there. And the title probably speaks a lot to just how perfect these songs were for me when I was feeling utterly down and uncertain (a feeling that has persisted to varying degrees throughout the year) Jeremy Casella is an artist of faith and his very honest approach to life and faith has been exactly what I've needed many times throughout this year.


Andrew Peterson
Counting Stars

I know you all knew this would be on here. Counting Stars is the latest release from Andrew Peterson. I may have mentioned him a time or two. Love this album. Counting Stars is beautiful, hopeful, and rich. Listening to an Andrew Peterson album is always like being reminded of what matters in this life, his music is gentle and inspiring without ever being saccharine or trite. His lyrics are infused with the stories of everyday life, laced with literary allusions, and beautifully point to deeper reality. I think out of all of his albums Counting Stars has the most commercial appeal and while not my favorite of his albums (that will probably always be The Far Country), I love it very much. A definite highlight of this year was the album release party that kicked off Hutchmoot this past summer.


David Bazan
Curse Your Branches

Talk about obsession! I was completely obsessed with this CD for one very intense week this year. I know that sounds strange, but the sort of emotional journey listening to this album took me on I'm not sure I've ever experienced with music before. Curse Your Branches has been described as breaking-up with God and I can't really think of a description more accurate. This is one of the most powerful and raw pieces of writing I know. And I'm not sure I know of a better chronicle of life after faith than this CD. As someone who probably has a similar family background to David Bazan, I thought his descriptions of what his leaving the faith did to his family to feel very true. ("I swung my tassle to the left side of my cap/knowing after graduation there would be no going back/and no congratulations from my faithful family/some of whom are already fasting to intercede for me") Top it all of with an obvious alcohol problem ("I need no other memory/Of the bits of me I left/When all this lethal drinking/Is to hopefully forget about you") In fact, the song "In Stitches" brilliantly characterizes why I doubt I'll ever fully lose faith in this stanza,
"I might as well admit it
Like I even have a choice
The crew have killed the captain
But they still can hear his voice
A shadow on the water
A whisper in the wind
On long walks with my daughter
Who is lately full of questions about you"
I just think that God will always be in my life, I've said before I don't know how not to believe, even when I believe, I am still, deep down, believing. I can only imagine how painful this CD was to Bazan's family. It's unflinching and the music is very catchy as well.


Let Me In Soundtrack
Michael Giacchino

Responsible for the gorgeous musical landscape of LOST, I love almost everything Giacchino composes (and was thrilled to see him this past spring at a LOST concert and later at Comic-Con talking about music and story. <3) What I love about this soundtrack is just how haunting it is. It is the perfect fall music, I kid you not. I listened to it non-stop for a month. Also, I think it added quite a bit to the movie, casting just the right emotional tone and atmosphere. Recommended! (along with all of the LOST soundtracks)



A gorgeous two CD set, a love letter to poetry is exactly that..poems set to music. It's absolutely delightful--different poetry styles and different musical styles are represented here. While focused on motherhood or childhood, this collection is really for everyone.

So...that's the music that was significant to me this year. What music saw you through 2010?

A Few Mini-Reviews

There are still a few books I'd like to share with you before the year ends! I want to start off the new year with as clean a slate as possible, so here goes:


Love is the Higher Law by David Levithan
I enjoyed this YA book for its reflections on 9/11 as seen through the eyes of three New York teenagers. Some passages felt so right and true. The book gives space to each teenager and checks in with them on 9/11 and at a few points afterwards. I think it serves a great purpose in recording authentic feelings in the aftermath for people who never knew a pre-9/11 world. (bought at the 2009 Baltimore Book Festival)

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller.
Compulsively readable, this memoir is about how to tell a better story with your life. I could relate to the desire to tell a more interesting story with my life and loved the way that working on writing a movie actually inspired Miller to make his life more interesting. It felt like a shot of inspiration for the soul. I'll definitely be keeping it in mind as 2011 kicks into high gear. This book was shortlisted for the inaugural INSPY awards in creative non-fiction. (bought)

Evolving in Monkey Town by Rachel Held Evans
A long time reader of Rachel's blog, I was eager to read her memoir. She explains how she came from a fundamentalist environment, where she saw glimpses of how she might eventually question certain things and then she ended up doubting her faith. This is the story of a journey, how she came to realize that faith is strong enough to survive doubt and that it can adapt and evolve. Written compassionately and honestly, this is a book I must admit I hope many people read. Winner of the inaugural 2010 INSPY awards. (received from publisher for review)


The Perfect Love Song by Patti Callahan Henry
We interviewed Patti Callahan Henry for The Underground Literary Society and she was so super fabulous and so much fun I felt nervous to read this book. I needn't have worried! While the story is admittedly predictable, the voice of the narrator is so utterly charming and rings with so much truth that I just enjoyed every second of this delightful Christmas romance. Not too heavy on the Christmas, though! (received from publisher for review)

Unbridled Holiday Cheer with Jane Bradley

When Unbridled Books invited me to be a part of Unbridled Holiday Cheer, I jumped at the chance. When they sent me this piece by Jane Bradley I knew they knew me and my blog well! I can't wait for Jane's book to come out, You Believers, and in the meantime, enjoy her answer and recipes!

Which author, dead or alive, would I invite to my holiday dinner?

Of course I would risk being carved a Christmas turkey with the lady’s sharp tongue that can shred any stance with a few flicks of wit. And she could be dangerous with her way of leaving characters stunned and bleeding out before they know what hit them, but I’d take my chance with the Mississippi Queen of cynicism toward humanity who maintains a steady faith in the divine: Flannery O’Connor.

As an undergraduate I once wrote a paper on her tendency to kill off characters who live by, or think through, clichés. As a kid, when I came to understand language and how it revealed the character of people all around me, I always got the feeling that my nosy neighbors and dull teachers who babbled in clichés were dumb at best, mean at worst, and I wanted nothing but to get away from them. I was delighted when I grew up and discovered that you could silence them forever if you put them in a story.

O’Connor has the analytical thinking style made popular by the Jesuits—it can take apart any statement to see how it works—or fails. Then again, her searing, rational brain defends the divine and upholds the mystery of things of this world. I quote: “when fiction is made according to its nature, it should reinforce our sense of the supernatural by grounding it in concrete observable reality.”

Her vision as a writer and as a woman of deep faith, steadily informs me, and keeps me believing in and loving a world of random cruelty. I wouldn’t be the writer, or woman, I am without her influence.

While my holiday dinner guest of choice is quite Southern, my favorite holiday recipe definitely is not. I started out making this dinner for Easter, but it’s so good good, I decided that I wanted it for Christmas too. Hey the holidays are connected: birth, rebirth, and that matter of sacrifice, so of course my meal requires the sacrifice of a lamb. But it begins quite vegetarian with the appetizer:

Gouda Saganaki Over Roasted Peppers and Onions

8 ounce piece of gouda cheese, room temperature
1 cup flour for dredging
1 cup beaten egg for dredging
½ red pepper, julienne cut
½ yellow pepper, julienne cut
½ green pepper, julienne cut
½ sweet onion, julliene cut
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
1 bageutte torn or cut in slices
2 Tablespoons Bacardi 151 rum—must be a flammable liquor, (optional)
½ lemon (optional)

Lay peppers and onion on a sheet pan, Season with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil, toss. Place under broiler until browned and roasted. ( I keep checking and tossing the veges for thorough, even roasting. ) Keep them warm. I keep mine in a cast iron skillet in the warm oven and then serve them in the skillet as the recipe calls for the veges to be served in a preheated cast iron skillet, under the cheese in the saganaki.

Dredge the gouda in beaten egg and flour. Fry in 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium sauté pan until both sides are golden and the cheese is soft. You don’t want to do this too quickly or at too high a temperature. You want to allow time run the center of the cheese to soften—the edges will start to melt quite a bit.

On the preheated pan/or platter, lay down a bed of roasted vegetables, pour the run over top and light the fire. (This can be intense, so be careful. I do this at my patio table outside at Easter, and carefully on the table inside for Christmas.) Let the flame burn a few seconds and extinguish with half the squeezed lemon.
Serve with baguette.

This is a spectacular appetizer—I actually make it quite often.



Pistachio-Crusted Rack of Lamb with Prosciutto and Balsamic Rosemary Reduction Sauce

The Lamb
½ cup unsalted pistachios
1 tablespoon chopped thyme
1 teaspoon chopped, fresh rosemary
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
1 ½ to 2 pound rack of lamb, frenched
6 oz. thinly sliced prosciutto

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a food processor, finely cop the pistachios, thyme, rosemary. Add olive oil and process to a paste.

Coat lamb with half of the pistachio paste. Wrap the prosciutto slices around the lamb, between the bones, leaving bones exposed. (This requires a few toothpicks.) Spread the remaining pistachio paste over the prosciutto and set the rack in a small roasting pan. Roast the rack for about 40 minutes until an instant read thermometer inserted at the center of the meat registers 130 degrees or medium rare. Transfer lamb to cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve with Balsamic Rosemary Reduction and carve.

Balsamic Rosemary Reduction Sauce

1 ½ teaspoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons minced shallots

1 teaspoon garlic, minced
1 cup balsamic vinegar
1 large or 2 small rosemary springs
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt (I use ½)
½ teaspoon black pepper

Set a small pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once oil is hot, add shallots to the pan and sweat until translucent (about a minute). Add garlic to the pan and sweat for 30 seconds. Pour in balsamic vinegar and bring to a boil. Add the rosemary sprigs and allow balsamic to boil gently and reduce until about only ¼ cup remains, about ten minutes. Season with salt and pepper and swirl butter into pan. Strain the sauce before drizzling over the lamb.

I serve this with garlic smashed potatoes and a salad including pine nuts and pomegranate seeds. Quite festive.

Jane Bradley is the author of two acclaimed story collections and a novella. Her first full-length novel, You Believers, will be published by Unbridled Books this Spring.

Merry Christmas!! (and a few last reviews)

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all of my beloved readers who celebrate. I hope this Christmas is a time of joy and delight in the ones you love and who love you. I hope you find everything your heart desires under your tree, and that you indulge in the goodies of the season. Mostly I hope that hope itself is a resident in your hearts and homes.

To all, including those who don't celebrate the winter holidays in some form, I hope that goodness, love, and joy decorate your steps as we bring this year to a close.

I'll be back on Monday to share with you a look at the year as I experienced it through blogs, music, movies, TV, and of course books. For now, here a couple more reviews of Christmas children's books to enjoy in these final days of the season.


Santa's Last Present by Marie-Aude Murail and Elvire Murail, illustrated by Quentin Blake
This small book is the story of Julian who no longer really believes in Santa but decides to manipulate the system to get an expensive video game system from his parents. However, he discovers a mysterious present under his tree that soon becomes his favorite and restores his faith in Santa. This book is somewhat charming and the illustrations are lovely colored sketches. The text is complex and better suited to older readers.

To Whom The Angel Spoke by Terry Kay and illustrated by Eileen Blyth is a retelling of when the angels came and told the shepherds about the birth of Jesus. This unique story focuses on how everyone is different and thus the way they retell the story is also different. While I liked the message, some elements came across as kind of strange, such as calling the angel, the wind voice. Even so, it's worth a read.

Both of these books are published by Peachtree Publishers (who generously sent them to me) and available now!

Merry Christmas!

4 Christmas Albums I Love

It wouldn't be the Christmas season without at least one post on the fabulous music this time of year brings...I thought I would highlight a few of my favorite Christmas albums and let you know how you can find some music for these last days of the season for yourself.


By far one of my favorite Christmas albums, I could easily listen to Sarah McLachlan sing just about anything. But what has made this a stand-out album from the first season I fell in love with it, is her unique ability to capture both the sadness of Christmas with the wonder. "Wintersong", her original song written for her mother so eloquently expresses the grief that haunts every Christmas after you lose someone dear. Sarah's voice holds so much emotion and her rendition of River is also haunting and sad. Really, this one is practically perfect in every way.


Listening to Behold the Lamb of God for the first time every season is an event. This is Andrew Peterson's Christmas album, which has also been a show on the road for over ten years now. It tells the story of Christmas in context of the entire story of redemption, beginning in the Old Testament. One of my favorite original Christmas songs, "Labor of Love" imagines how alone Mary must have felt, how hard it all was. This show has been put on by Andrew's community of artists each year and every time I listen to it, I know it's something special. To quote from Jason Gray's post yesterday,

It occurred to me toward the end of the tour how inspired the flow of the evening was–how the first part with our stories of hope, grace, and all that we long for in the face of all of our shame, fear, and doubt asks the questions that God answers so completely and kindly with the mystery and beauty of the Incarnation, God with us, breaking into the run down tenement hall of our humanity to take us to the home that we’ve never seen but that we know is real if only because of our homesickness.

The shame of our sin, the struggles we’ve known, the fear of death are all answered by: Emmanuel. “Gather round, ye children, come and listen to the old old story…”

The last night of the tour, Todd Bragg (drummer, tour manager extraordinaire, and one of the kindest people I’ve had the pleasure of working with) prayed over our last dinner together before the show. “Lord, we thank you that we get to tell this story…” his voice cracking with emotion, halting as we waited in pregnant silence, the words we all waited on gathering weight and depth. “It’s a good one.”

Amen.

(Jason Gray at the Rabbit Room) If that doesn't convince you this album is worth checking out, I don't know what will.



Christmas by Andy Gullahorn and Jill Phillips just came out this year and is the Christmas album I probably listened to most this season. It's understated, no over the top music, just a nice selection of carols, a few original songs, and a humorous rendition of "Baby, It's Cold Outside." I felt like I was discovering some new songs all over again and the original song by Jason Gray and Andy Guallahorn, "I'll Find a Way" is one of the loveliest most mysterious Christmas songs I've heard. I was moved to tears and wonder listening to Jill Phillips sing "Some Children See Him." I highly recommend this one as a lovely addition to your Christmas collection.


I have long been a fan of Jane Siberry and her Christmas CD, Child, is one of my favorite of her recordings. While not particularly religious herself, Jane dug up a bunch of old carols for a live Christmas show and breathed new life into them. The result is a wonderful collection of Christmas music, some slightly irreverent stories and the usual offbeat poetry and music one expects from Jane Siberry. The songs were recorded live with special guests and are full of energy and brimming with different feelings about the season. I adore it, and simply can't say enough good things about it. And I love the energetic live version of "An Angel Stepped Down."

Looking for Some New Christmas Music?
Amazon has had some great free holiday samplers in their mp3 store. I highly recommend these as a way to add some variety to your Christmas music! They've also been offering a new mp3 Christmas song a day for download.

Thanks to Jodi for pointing out that Jane Siberry is offering both Child and another Christmas recording for free download! Don't miss out!