I will do you one better...I'll give you TWO books I love.
FICTION: Zora & Nicky: A Novel in Black and White by Claudia Mair Burney
This novel speaks to me in a number of different ways. The title characters are two sides of the same coin; both are struggling with faith and the burden of being adult PKs (aka Preacher's Kids). Their desire to shed pretension and posturing in coming before God lead them to a community of believers where they find one another. I dig it because its real in a lot of different ways. You can feel the struggle of being who your family and church community want/expect you to be contend with who you desire to be before God and humanity. Themes include interracial relationship and its ugly cousin bigotry, sexuality, community building and getting stripped before God. I'm currently rereading this gem and appreciate it now as much as when I purchased it.
NONFICTION: Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide
by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
I don't know if any book I have ever read has made me feel as broken or as inspired as Half the Sky. A dear friend recommended this read one night while we sat awake speaking of her grad school thesis, honor killings and my interest in the Peace Corps (all three had a Jordanian focus). This book was part of her required reading and she felt led to get me a copy. She spoke so highly of the text that I beat her to the punch and brought it myself. I swear I spent my time alternating between crying and praying as I read. Kristoff and WuDunn have produced a work that dually lit a match under my bum and reminded me of my privilege. The text shows how education and empowerment can be used to overcome the reality that trafficking, forced sexual labor, gender based violence and other atrocities create.
This book is particularly meaningful to me as it helped me refocus on what I want to do with my time and giftings.
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