January Reads & Reviews in 2024

As the month is coming to a close, it’s time to discuss a few reads I dove into this last month, some controversial, so I hope you will stick in for my reviews. It expands the mind to read something unusual, and different doesn’t it? Wouldn’t life be boring if we only surrounded ourselves with people who thought or mimicked their thoughts to be exactly like ours?

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

I have a been a fan of Barb for quite some time, loving all her books, this one was a bit unusual to her previous books I’ve read, but I found myself sucked in nonetheless. The cover is fabulous, it really is, the name is strange, but until you’ve read it you would think that it’s something about demons, but I assure you it isn’t. Well I guess in a way, the struggle of addiction, and our foster care system some would say in fact it possibly does have something to do with demons. 

Truly a must read, but I will tell you, you have to be in the mood for a dark read like Demon Copperhead, as you follow the struggles of a young boy, with a childhood unfortunately too many are faced with when raised by parents addicted to drugs. It’s a story of a young boy, so broken, but an over comer. Following his struggles growing up in poverty is truly heart wrenching, but I found myself rooting for him throughout the entire story. 

To be honest my heart honestly was grieved for the children in foster care as I read it. Although a fictional story, there is an underlying reality to the struggles he endured. Demon Copperhead details a generation of lost boys, struggling in poverty, and the foster system. Clawing their way out of the hole they were placed in by those that should have been protecting them. 

It truly is a read that I thought of long after I’d finished.

Let’s just get on with a controversial one, but in fact an excellent read. 

The War on Men: Why Society Hates Them and Why We Need Them by Owen Strachan

I assure you this one will ruffle some feathers, but feather ruffling aside it’s really a fascinating read. Owen is an excellent author with an ability to make even the most avid reader feel inadequate in their knowledge. I’d encourage you to pick it up, even it’s something that seems so against your viewpoint, I think it helps to understand all the different viewpoints in order for us to grow in our knowledge. 

In a society where gender lines are skewed this is a book that defines male gender roles from a Biblical perspective, not in a condemning way, but in a way that expands the mind and gives you a viewpoint to consider that may be different than one you’ve been taught. He is a well educated author, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Both descriptive and prescriptive, acknowledging that masculinity in itself isn’t toxic, but in fact, a good design, as is the design of women.

Not a fairly popular opinion in society, but an excellent read nonetheless, regardless if you agree or disagree, it is written with an educated voice that many of today’s authors lack.

A.D. 30 by Ted Dekker

I recently chatted a little about this in another blog post, but didn’t give my thorough review. I found myself enthralled from the very beginning, a fictional story, that was not only engaging and kept me turning the pages, but helped me grow in my own faith walk. I love that the author used the actual words of Jesus throughout the entire story. My kids love Ted Dekker, but I’ve never read any of his stories until A.D. 30 and found that he is an excellent story teller and a good author. Able to captivate his audience with ease. 

The story follows a woman named Maviah, and the struggles as an outcast daughter of a powerful sheikh. You see a frightened, broken woman find her strength, and save herself, and her people. Drawing on strength bigger than herself. I won’t go too in to detail here, you have to read it for yourself. I loved everything about the camels, the desert terrain, the struggle to find herself, one of my favorite reads keeping you turning pages until the end. I have yet to read the sequel, but will add it to my list of reads.

Just Do Something A Liberating Approach To Finding God’s Will by Kevin DeYoung

I hate to admit my millennial status, but I am one, if not in my character, by definition and my age. Either way I loved this quick read, and a funny but true take on us millennial Christians, waiting for the dew on the fleece, visions, magic 8 Bible readings, you name it. It was encouraging to take a step of faith without all the signs and wonders. But I guess isn’t that what faith is, the hope in the unseen?

If you are struggling with a decision, waiting on some miraculous sign to take the next step, or even struggling to understand your own faith walk. I encourage you Kevin DeYoung has the ability to engage the reader with truth, some humor, and if you are a millennial some conviction.

I’ve recently been studying Judges in the Bible, and found myself honed in on Gideon, this book tied in all my thoughts about Gideon, his struggle to trust, and his ultimate trust and faith.

Anyways, it’s a great read even if you aren’t a Christian, it encourages us to make decisions. Not wait on the sidelines, we are a generation of weighing all our options, overloaded with so many varieties of options, it makes decision making a struggle at times. The author describes “stuck in a frustrated state of paralyzed indecision, waiting…waiting…waiting for clear, direct, unmistakable direction.” I don’t think this is only a difficulty for Christians, but for people from all walks of life and religions. No matter your religious affiliation or lack thereof I encourage you to read it!

I love to read all the things, and hope you feel encouraged to give one of these books a read. If so let me know!

Happy Reading!

Danielle