Tag Archives: Understanding God

Real Sex by Lauren Winner

American Literature

Synopsis: An exploration of the meaning of chastity in the 21st century. Review: Real Sex is an excellent companion piece to Anna Broadway’s Sexless in the City. Winner offers a larger cultural and historical context for Broadway’s desire to live chastely, and has some ideas about why Broadway expresses some disappointment in the way she has been taught by the church to think about sex. Winner’s analysis is thoughtful and well-researched, and is worth reading even by those who don’t hold the same beliefs in…

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The Shaming of the Strong by Sarah Williams

Canadian Literature 3 Comments

Synopsis: Told their unborn child has birth defects that will likely lead to stillbirth, a couple decide to see the pregnancy through to term. Review: I am a sucker for stories like those found in The Shaming of the Strong. When I was pregnant with Superfast Baby I thought a lot about what I would do if I found out that something was wrong, and I hoped that I would be strong enough to make the choice that Sarah Williams made, however painful it might…

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Sexless in the City by Anna Broadway

American Literature 2 Comments

Synopsis: The misadventures of a hapless twenty-something woman whose greatest fear is that she will die a virgin, and whose second greatest fear is that she’ll have sex before marriage. Review: I’ll let you know up front that there’s no way that I can be objective about Sexless in the City, because Anna Broadway met the woman who bought her book in my very living room. (Yes, I am Blogyenta, formerly known as Girlfriend #6.) Reading Anna’s book was like sitting down to have a…

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Alas, and did my Savior bleed

On Reading

Today is Good Friday. Our church doesn’t own its building, so we won’t be going to a service tonight. Instead, we’ll be watching Acts 3&4 of When the Levees Broke. While watching the first half last night I had to keep my eyes on my knitting to keep from dissolving in tears every five minutes. It’s shocking to see so many people suffering so greatly, under a baking hot sun with help so frustratingly unavailable. Why those people couldn’t have gotten food and water dropped…

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The Wife (Kristin Lavransdatter II) by Sigrid Undset

Norwegian Literature 1 Comment

Synopsis: Now married to her beloved Erlend Niklausson, Kristin takes up her new life as the mistress of Husaby, fearful that the child that grows inside her will expose her secret shame and cause her father to reject her. Review: I didn’t think it was going to be possible for Undset to outdo her achievement The Wreath, book I of her Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy set in Norway in the 14th century. I feared that marriage wouldn’t suit Kristin, that her vitality and inner fire would…

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Harold Bloom’s Five Books vs. Mine

On Reading

In Newsweek this week, literary critic Harold Bloom offers his list of the five books he’d take to the desert island with him. Touchstone Magazine’s blog has some intriguing commentary, and some fun lists in the comments. I will not be bringing the 2nd of 3 books I read tonight for work, because it was by-the-numbers chick lit. The five books I’d bring to the stupid desert island are:

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