Giveaway Inside!
Dear readers,
It’s week two of the Brighter Winter Reading Challenge! We hope that you’re enjoying your books so far.
Booklore Responses
Thank you to everyone who interacted with our posts and shared responses to the booklore questions. For those who may not follow the comments section, here is some of the conversation:
For the challenge to read about a woman you admire, who did you pick and why?
“I'm reading Invincible Louisa by Cornelia Meigs. Its about Louisa May Alcott. I love her books with Little Women being my favorite!” - Regina
“I will be reading Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose. I've wanted to read it ever since I listened to part of her testimony on YouTube where she talked so matter of fact about her incredible experiences!” - Kianna
“I decided to read A Chance to Die by Elisabeth Elliot. I've always found Amy Carmichael inspiring and have read several of her books about her mission work, and so it's been fun (and challenging) to read a biography about her.” - Jody
“I chose Elisabeth Elliott and am reading The Savage My Kinsman. I've listened to her radio program for many years and was so encouraged by her simple application of God's Word. I see this even clearer now in why she would live with the people who killed her husband.” - Hannah
What was your top read of 2024?
“The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis was one of my favorite reads in 2024. I hadn’t read it for over 10 years and it was so fun to sit down and reread it. As an adult I understand so much more of the allegory he wove into a book that’s really a very simple story for children.” - Sidney
“This Homeward Ache by Amy Baik Lee so poignantly and beautifully described my longing for a place I’ve never seen, and how to live well in this life with that ache. Definitely one of the best books I’ve ever read and my top nonfiction read for 2024.” - Rebekah
“Anna Karenina was one of my top ten. You view the world in a whole different way after reading this one. Highly recommend!” - Heidi
“As always, every time I read it, Lord of the Rings has to be my top book of all time. The stirring descriptions, the courage and faithfulness of simple people, and the determination to not simply stand by and let evil triumph, but against all odds and personal struggles, to do what is hard and right, always touches my heart. In 2024 I read it for the 8th time, and familiarity does not diminish the wonder and delight I find in it!” - Andrea
“The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron was absolutely gripping. My 17-year-old daughter recommended it to me and I've been recommending it far and wide ever since I read it! It's based on a real person's experiences in WWII Poland--a young, single woman and her little sister sheltered Jews in their home. My favorite non-fiction this year was The Problem of Pain by Philip Yancey and Dr. Paul Brand. One of my favorite books ever.” - Tabitha
“Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell was my most-recent favourite of 2024. There is lots of information and tidbits to mull over.” - Judy
Giveaway Winner
We’re hosting several giveaways throughout the program. Everyone who signed up by December 31 is automatically registered. The winner of our very first 2025 Brighter Winter giveaway is . . .Karolyn Fisher!
Last week we introduced you to Lilias Trotter. We are thrilled to be giving away a copy of one of her beautiful books! Karolyn Fisher wins a copy of A Way of Seeing: The Inward and Outward Vision of Lilias Trotter for her own library. Congratulations, Karolyn!
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions if you need anything, or send us an email. See you next week!
The Brighter Winter Team
I read The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting Up a Generation for Failure by Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt. It was very insightful in understanding from a very sociological perspective how our society got to be how it is today. While not written from a Christian perspective, it has very good points to make and helpful for parents who are raising children in a very unhealthy social environment and how we can be "counter-cultural" families. Jonathan Haidt is also the author of the very popular The Anxious Generation which I also plan to read for the challenge to get the "book written by the same author!"
I read Sacrifice or Penalty by Keith Crider, and though I agree in the main with his refutation of the penal substitutionary theory of atonement, I was surprised by how much I disagreed with.
I would love to see some of my women friends venture less guiltily into doctrinal reading. A book on a controversial subject which I recommend would be "All You Want to Know About Hell" by Steve Gregg. This came to me recommended by an older Anabaptist woman in a horse-and-buggy church. I love Gregg's balanced views--I appreciate how he doesn't throw his support behind any one theory, but thoroughly explores the various ways that Christians have looked at this aspect of eschatology down through the centuries, and perhaps especially today in this increasingly volatile area of speculation. Nor does he get as cynical toward other camps as some writers like David Bentley Hart or others. Even when we find much to disagree with, it is good to know the reasoning behind how others view their beliefs, as it can go a long way toward seeing them as humans.