Frontier by Can Xue
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I just didn't care for this book. It had some magical moments, but overall it seemed a lot of nothing. Not sure on what her reputation rests? I wanted to read her since she is often predicted to win a Nobel.

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Reading Genesis by Marilynne Robinson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Eh.

There are some good books on Genesis written by non-specialists, particularly Karen Armstrong's and Harold Bloom's. But I didn't get much from this one.

But upon finishing I do appreciate the general point she seems to be making, that in scholarly discussions of the book what is often missed is the note of grace that permeates story after story. Even if often that note of grace is only relative to the context.

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Christianity in Blue: How the Bible, History, Philosophy, and Theology Shape Progressive Identity by David A Kaden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A really good, quick intro to progessive theology.

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Abundant Lives by Amanda Udis-Kessler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I highly recommend this new book from our denomination's publishing house (Pilgrim Press). It's a quick read that is very thoughtful and good. It presents a clear, comprehensive vision of the good life as envisioned from our theological perspective. I kept wishing I had written the book, or something very like it. I'll have to figure out how and when to develop this into either a sermon series or a class or some combination of both.

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A Darkly Radiant Vision: The Black Social Gospel in the Shadow of MLK by Gary Dorrien
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A good book to finish on the eve of Juneteenth.

The three volume journey through the Black Social Gospel has been deeply informative and inspiring. I've learned a lot and identified other books that I need to read.

This particular volume focused on the era after the assassination of Dr. King. First he covers Andy Young and Jesse Jackson in their efforts to live into Dr. King's vision through their political activities. Then he dives into detail discussing Black theology in its various forms--liberationist, womanist, liberal, feminist. Dorrien gives thorough presentations on various thinkers and major works. Then he discusses the celebration and challenge of the Obama years for the Black Social Gospel, including the relationship between Obama and Jeremiah Wright. Finally, he brings the topic into the current moment, with the impacts of Black Lives Matter and the prominence of Traci Blackmon, William Barber, and Raphael Warnock, with Warnock largely representing the drawing together of the political and theological efforts post-King.

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Christianity as a Way of Life: A Systematic Theology by Kevin W. Hector
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

At times I wondered why he felt the need to give such an extensive argument for some point. Some times the understanding being developed was more traditional than I currently am. Some times it felt like aspects that should be left to metaphor and imagination were being over-analyzed. And then, some parts were profound, innovative, practical, preachable.

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Galore by Michael Crummey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Grateful for the church member who recommended this book (after I preached on Jonah last summer). What a fun use of magical realism to explore two centuries in a fishing village on the Newfoundland coast. So many memorable characters and enjoyable stories.

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The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia by Ursula K. Le Guin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Not only is LeGuin one of our greatest writers, she was a profound thinker. Part of the genius of this story is the way it explores and comments upon various human socio-political arrangements and the flaws that creep into any system, but in a way that's not even remotely didactic and always in service to character and plot.

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God Is a Black Woman by Christena Cleveland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fascinating and creative exploration of the Sacred Black Feminine.

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Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really liked the book and would have given it a higher ranking, except the final chapter was just awful and really soured the whole reading experience.

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