Lisa Notes: What’s on your nightstand?

What’s on your nightstand?—Nov ‘11

The good news: I’m making a dent (albeit small) in my Fall 2011 Reading List.
The bad news: I keep adding more books to it. Oh well.

Here’s what I’ve been reading in November.

Just started

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
By: Donald Miller
I got hooked on Donald Miller through his Blue like Jazz. This one is about his journey with the film industry as they edit his life for a movie. And about the story that each of us are living.

The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards
By: Steven J. Lawson
I’d already decided I want to read more biographies in 2012, so when this came up for review, I grabbed it and couldn’t resist starting right away. As God would have it, this is about Edwards’ seventy resolutions, so it’s perfect reading as I head into forming my own spiritual resolutions for 2012.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
By: J. K. Rowling
I’m too deep into the series to stop now. This is the fourth book. It may be the best yet. I know these books were written for kids, but I also love a good, clean action story.

Christmas Is Not Your Birthday
By: Michael Slaughter
When I get a free book on my Kindle like this one, I start it tentatively, not knowing if it’ll be worth my time or not. I’ll know soon. It’s about (can you guess?) approaching Christmas differently.

Preparing for Jesus: Meditations on the Coming of Christ
By: Walter Wangerin Jr.
Advent begins this Sunday, November 27. Since I benefited from Walter Wangerin’s devotional for Easter—Meditations on the Suffering, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus—I’m trusting this will be the same for Advent.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking
By: Susan Cain
Because I’m an introvert myself, I like to keep up with what is discovered about us. For one thing, introvert doesn’t necessarily mean shy. (I’m reading the review copy; the official release date is January 24, 2012.)

Still reading

The Faith of Leap
By: Michael Frost, Alan Hirsch
Loving this one! It’s encouraging me to keep stepping away from routine Christianity and instead live my faith more adventurously. (Not always natural for an introvert. {smile})

Finished from October’s nightstand
What Women Fear
By: Angie Smith
My daughter Jenna and I used this as a read-aloud with (in)Courage. We laughed with Angie, watched the video, and also had good conversations together about our own fears.

Going Deep
By: Gordon MacDonald
Disappointing. It didn’t go as deep as it promised, but it did contain nuggets here and there on how to grow in your spiritual walk (i.e., becoming a deeper person).

Mindfulness
By: Ellen J. Langer
Although not written from a Christian perspective, this book can still benefit a believer looking to enhance their spiritual awareness of Jesus, others, and themselves by becoming more mindful.

The Cross of Christ
By: John Stott
Whew. This was a hard read at times, but worth it. John Stott explains how the cross is related to every aspect of our lives.

Spiritual Depression
By: Martyn Lloyd-Jones
I hated to see this book end. The richness of spiritual thought and encouragement will have me returning to it over and over. I wonder what took me so long to read it. If you’re still waiting, there’s no time like now.

* * *

What book is on your nightstand?

Comments (24)

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Mama Bear · 698 weeks ago

That's quite an impressive stack...I know what you mean about the free Kindle books but I've found a few really good ones.....let me know if this is one of those...
Mama Bear

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Lisa notes 103p · 698 weeks ago

I read more this morning in the free "Christmas Is Not Your Birthday" while I was waiting in a doctor's office. I started skimming pretty heavily, which is a bad sign. :-) No "wow" factor so far.
My recent post What’s on your nightstand?—Nov ‘11

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barbarah 65p · 698 weeks ago

I should read the one about introverts. :-) I saw the Christmas one mentioned somewhere and thought it looked interesting but forgot about it -- thanks for reminding me. I need to read Spiritual Depression again some time.
My recent post What’s On Your Nightstand: November

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Lisa notes 103p · 698 weeks ago

"Quiet" is a free review book from Edelweiss (digital only, I believe), if you want to get a copy too. So far it's impressive, but I'm not very deep into it (8%--what page is that??? aackkk).
My recent post What’s on your nightstand?—Nov ‘11

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Bluerose · 698 weeks ago

I really need to read the one for introverts. I was looking around at books last night and saw someone else saw that social phobia and being shy were two completely different issues. So, apparently I'm both. I'll be keeping a lookout on your thoughts on it! :)

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Lisa notes 103p · 698 weeks ago

It's been interesting so far to see some of the things we typically classify as introvert traits aren't necessarily so (like shyness and sensitivity). They may be associated to varying degrees, but they're not givens.

The main distinguishing trait I see so far is how you get recharged: by being WITH people, or by being alone? Me--being alone. I definitely enjoy being around people (even meeting new people), but I still need to retreat after awhile and have some alone time. Finding meaning in life takes processing time for me. That's how we introverts roll. :-) Extroverts typically prefer to keep on going and don't want to take time out to sit back and process unless they have to. (And yes, I am stereotyping now. ha.)

I'll do a review on it when I'm finished so I'll let you know more later.
My recent post What’s on your nightstand?—Nov ‘11

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hopewellslibraryoflife 30p · 698 weeks ago

Million Miles sounds interesting as does "FAITH OF LEAP".....OVERALL AN INTERESTING LIST.

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Lisa notes 103p · 698 weeks ago

Million Miles is definitely the easiest to read. Short chapters; mini-stories; a little plot.
My recent post What’s on your nightstand?—Nov ‘11

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Monica · 698 weeks ago

I love your list! They all look so interesting! I've had The Cross for Christ on my TBR list but haven't searched it out yet... I have so many on my stand already.

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Lisa notes 103p · 698 weeks ago

I know what you mean, Monica. I have WAY too many books on my TBR list. I only read The Cross of Christ when I did because Tim Challies chose it for the Reading Classics Together group, and I try to read along with them each time. It pushes me.
My recent post What’s on your nightstand?—Nov ‘11

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sjbraun 47p · 698 weeks ago

My goodness, lots of reading here! Maybe I should try Harry Potter again ... I read the first book and just wasn't into it. My girls do agree that each book gets better ... I must grab the introvert book, since I'm an introvert as well (maybe many of us big readers are ????). Totally agree that introvert doesn't necessarily = shy; for me at least, it means I'm most energized when I'm alone. After big gatherings, I have to decompress and get alone for awhile. I'm already trying to (mentally) gear up for the big groups of people I'll face at Thanksgiving :) Have a happy one!

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Lisa notes 103p · 698 weeks ago

That's how I felt about Harry Potter. The first one was okay, but not compelling. So I read the second just to make sure. It was a little better. Then I was told the third would be the do or die book for me, so I read it. It's the one that got me. :-)

My Thanksgiving events this year are going to be smaller than normal, so it's just the frequency of events that I have to ramp up for. :-) May you have a blessed Thanksgiving too.
My recent post What’s on your nightstand?—Nov ‘11

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Missional Mama · 698 weeks ago

I am in the middle of What Women Fear and taking the videos slower as I lacked time this past month, but I like the book. I will push Spiritual Depression up on the list, you make me want to read it now.

Looks like a good list as always. Have you read the Hunger Games?
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Lisa notes 103p · 698 weeks ago

With "What Women Fear," we also went slower than the pace at inCourage. Just today we finished watching the last video. I think you'd appreciate Spiritual Depression; I had to read it a little more carefully than some of the more "modern" books, but it was worth it.

The Hunger Games--I read a sample on my Kindle but that's it. Maybe after I finish the Potter series I'll start in on this one.
My recent post What’s on your nightstand?—Nov ‘11

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Cassandra · 698 weeks ago

What a great and varied list. Christmas Is Not Your Birthday sounds really interesting. The Cross of Christ sounds like an awesome read, one that would be worth the effort being put into it.

Happy reading!
My recent post What's on My Nightstand? Nothing but nonfiction!

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Lisa notes · 698 weeks ago

I'd definitely recommend The Cross of Christ. The Christmas book? Not yet... Maybe it'll get better as I go? Enjoy your nonfiction.
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Jennifer, Snapshot · 698 weeks ago

Goblet of Fire is my very favorite too. I thought that when I read it, and it's sort of remained so, although 5 was really good (but sort of slow to start). And I'm sure that you'll read 7 before I do -- No, no --- THAT'S my new goal -- to read it before you do (no matter that I started the series 4 or more years before you did).
My recent post What's on My Nightstand, November

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Lisa notes · 698 weeks ago

Ha. So the challenge is on for book 7. :-) I'm slow going in book 4 so your odds of winning are really high right now. I hope to read some over the holidays.
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faith · 698 weeks ago

interesting list! i really enjoy reading about Edwards as does my husband....that book looks good! and the one about preparing for Jesus is one I just saw advertised online! In my book basket (near my nightstand!) I have the 3rd book in the Millennium series waiting for me, I"m in the middle of Save Me (EXCELLENT book!), I have The Centaur by John Updike waiting, and the latest issue of In Touch devotional Magazine by Stanley...I can't WAIT To get started on that (this weekend while I"m away) i am craving some good, deep Word time :)

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Lisa notes · 698 weeks ago

The Edwards book is fairly short, and it has been an interesting read. Even though I've heard about Jonathan Edwards, I really didn't know much about him. And even this isn't very biographical but more related to his resolutions. But still inspiring.

Sounds like your stack is deep too. :-) Happy reading.
My recent post Thankful for Christmas chaos?

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Lisa · 698 weeks ago

I'm reading The Well, by Mark Hall; Grace for the Good Girl, by Emily Freeman; and One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp.

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Lisa notes · 698 weeks ago

I've read One Thousand Gifts (loved it!) but would love to read the other two. You'll have to let me know what you think about them. I've got "Grace for the Good Girl" high on my list.
My recent post Thankful for Christmas chaos?

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floyd · 698 weeks ago

I only have a clock, my water bottle, and my knife on my night stand... But I do have a few books I'm trying finish. One of them is Jason's E-book, it's good stuff.
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Lisa notes · 698 weeks ago

This made me smile. :-) Sounds like my husband's nightstand, except add in the TV remote control.

I didn't know Jason had an e-book...I'll have to wander over to his place and check it out...
My recent post Thankful for Christmas chaos?