Welcome to an early February round up of books, articles, podcasts and music which I hope will be a blessing to you. As I sit at my kitchen table to write this (taking full advantage of the empty house), I can see the trees outside blowing madly in the ferocious wind. The window panes are flecked with raindrops, and the hum of the boiler is ever present. I can also feel my toes starting to numb with the cold creeping back into the house ( the heating has been off for approximately 30 minutes!) despite the addition of socks and fluffy slippers. I wonder how long I can hold out before running to turn the heating back on… I pray that you are warm and cosy wherever you read this. But if you are not, may this selection bring timely encouragement, and build you up in your faith.
Books
Ireland: A Novel by Frank Delaney
From the blurb; ‘One evening in 1951, an itinerant storyteller arrives unannounced and mysterious at a house in the Irish countryside. By the November fireside he begins to tell the story of this extraordinary land. One of his listeners, a nine-year-old boy, grows so entranced by the storytelling that, when the old man leaves, he devotes his life to finding him again. It is a search that uncovers both passions and mysteries, in his own life as well as the old man's, and their solving becomes the thrilling climax to this tale. But the life of this boy is more than just his story: it is also the telling of a people, the narrative of a nation, the history of Ireland in all its drama, intrigue and heroism.’
Another book club hit for me. This was actually my pick for October last year, and I finished it long after the book club meeting in late November. The novel is just under 500 pages, and I definitely underestimated how long it would take me to finish. It was worth the effort. The writing style is unique but beautiful. The plot unfolding like a mystery through legendary Irish storytelling and tales of epic journeys, battles and soul searching. I don’t think I’ve read anything quite like it before. What I will say is this- Ireland is now a top priority for me to visit. And when I get there I want to trek around the majestic landscape, then find a dark, cosy pub ( with a roaring log fire and comfy chairs), order a beverage and a hearty Irish stew, then settle in by the fireside with the locals to listen to epic stories of Ireland’s history.
Quotes from the book:
‘ Fear, however, answers to no logic: some ungifted and stupid men, who should know fear, feel none whatsoever. And some men, gifted and safe, are the most fearful of all’. Pg. 166
‘ But if it’s his stories you want- sure we all love a good story… He said to me once that a good story deepens the heart.’ Pg.274
Becoming Mrs Lewis by Patti Callahan
From the blurb; ‘ Poet, atheist, and communist, New Yorker Joy Davidman is an unconventional woman--and an unlikely partner for an English academic and theologian. And when she starts a correspondence with Narnia author C. S. Lewis, she isn't looking for love. Her own marriage crumbling, she seeks refuge in her work and guidance from a writer she admires. But in Joy's letters Lewis discovers a kindred spirit and an intellect to equal his own. Bonding over a shared love of literature and ideas, a deep connection is forged between the two. Embarking on the adventure of a lifetime, Joy travels from America to England and back again. Facing heartbreak and poverty, discovering friendship and faith, against all the odds, the couple struggle to secure a love that will endure forever.’
Grateful that my friend loaned me this book over Christmas. It was not a planned read, but it came at the right time. Some of the themes were very close to home and I went on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster as the story unfolded. I have no idea how Patti Callahan did it, but she seemed to convey C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman as though she knew them personally. As a reader I came away feeling like they were also my close friends whom I’d spent considerable time getting to know. I learned so much about their lives (such impeccable research underpins this novel), and found much writing inspiration for my personal writing journey. There were moments where I felt uncomfortable with the dynamics of their relationship, but this was gently addressed through the nuances of the story. A profoundly written and special novel about two flawed but creatively gifted individuals bound together by circumstance, their Christian faith, and their passion for writing. Highly recommended.
Quote from the book:
“Walking has always allowed me to slough off the darker parts of myself. And I’m stunned by this city’s beauty”. I sat on the edge of the fountain and motioned for her to do the same. “What’s fascinating is the way I see the world now. Its as if in believing in God I was given new eyes; the world is full of possibility and fascination. It’s no longer just nature, or just beauty- it’s revelation”. Pg.82
Podcasts
This episode on Christ’s second advent on The Magazine Podcast by Banner of Truth.
'The suddenness of the Lord’s second advent', wrote J.C. Ryle in the present piece, 'is a truth that should lead every professing Christian to great searching of heart.' This week's episode is a reading of Ryle's exposition of Matthew 25:1–13, often called the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins.
Articles
‘The sun casts a warm gaze upon the cold tombstones. They surround me, row upon row. I am deep in history, sorrow, death, and finality, and yet my heart is light. The sunshine and invigorating walk have awakened my mind and fill me with gratitude. Everything around me seems cast in the gentle glow of God’s love.’
‘The fullest revelation of God’s glory that we have is Jesus. And we know that Jesus cared about the cities and the small places. He ministered in Jerusalem and Galilee. We reflect God’s glory when we reflect Jesus’s heart for the small places.’
‘As the year drew to a close and winter encamped about me and the soul-sickness lingered, I realised something needed to change.’
‘Life is all about the balance of extremes, of the promise of reprieve. I’ve tried to explain this to friends less enthused about the cold - how much of my love of the cold is tied up in my love of blankets and books and a warm fire. How to love these things I need to first be a bit uncomfortable, a bit raw and challenged.’
‘These are tears of desperation. These are tears of being known and knowing that God is kind, always. They are tears of a long trust in the faithfulness of my God who has always done the best thing for me. And now I'm asking him for the best thing to be my healing.’
‘For Christians, the humanities do not cover neutral terrain. Christ changes everything! From the incarnation to the resurrection, reality has been redeemed, and learning has been forever transformed—see Colossians 1:15-23.’
‘For those who have trusted in Jesus, the Bible calls us to lead our hearts. In a sense, we are not supposed to say, “Heart, where are we going?” Rather, we are to say, “Heart, follow me. Don’t go that way; come this way.”
‘I think it’s a great shame that Cowper is neglected, however. His poetry is devotional, but it is not ‘preachy’; it’s deeply emotional, but it’s not ‘sentimental’; it’s simple, but not ‘simplistic’.
‘If you don’t want someone telling you how to live your life, you aren’t actually fine with Jesus. He spent much of His ministry leading people to change how they live.’
‘It is good to consider not only the past but also the future, where the significance of your life’s work, which may seem to you like only a leaf or two, will be revealed as an essential part of the Tree that God will place right in the middle of his City—the Tree of Life, no less—which will be given for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:2).’
Music
A throwback song by The Brilliance- “Yahweh”. Such timeless lyrics that resemble a prayer. Listen out for the musical crescendo towards the end, followed by the calming notes of the piano. A stunning combination.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="
title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Grace and peace to you and yours this February,
Ishah Xx
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for the recommendation, Ishah! It's an honor to be counted among so many other lovely writings!