Book recommendations for thinking Christians

My frustration with The West Wing and this long, drawn-out, attempted swan song of a season is up again today, after an episode about Election Day that did not reveal the results of the election! And although next week promises the "Moment of Truth" about who the next president will be, I am growing more suspicious of a conspiracy to delay the climax of the past TWO SEASONS of campaigning - and since I'm bitter and angry about the political situation and current administration in real life, the show is not living up to its one-time function of providing a lovely alternate reality where smart, witty, attractive Democrats rule the free world.

All of which is to say, I have actually been trying to reduce my TV-watching as one of my Lenten disciplines, which means I've been doing more reading lately. And I thought I'd share some of my recommendations with all 4 of you who read this space. :)

Novels:
Leaving Eden, by Ann Chamberlin. Fascinating mythological/anthropological/fictional account of the primeval couple, told by the Na'amah, daughter of Adam's first wife, Lilith. Offers a thoughtful glimpse into the world of matriarchal hunter-gatherers as they shifted to agriculture and a patriarchal worldview.

Father Melancholy's Daughter, by Gail Godwin. I read the sequel, Evensong, last year, and finally got around to reading the story of Margaret Gower's early life as the precocious daughter of an Episcopal priest who suffers from depression. Her mother's sudden departure from their life, and Margaret's journey to an identity that incorporates but transcends her parents' struggles, are told with careful reflection and an appreciation for both spiritual formation and psychological growth.

Spiritual Growth/Devotion

A Clearing Season: Reflections for Lent, by Sarah Parsons. Whether you have tried observing some form of spiritual discipline during Lent without success, or never understood the point to begin with, this is a wonderful guide to some intentional inner work that is both practical in its specificity and powerful in its insights.

Incandescence: 365 Readings with Women Mystics, compiled and translated by Carmen Acevedo Butcher. Beautiful imagery and fresh phrasing make this collection of brief daily readings both accessible and captivating.

Coming soon: more book recommendations on Theology, Church, and Culture.