Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

books

A ‘forgotten’ genocide and faith that withstands: Review of Intended for Evil by Less Sillars

What I know about Cambodia probably wouldn’t even fill a single page of a notebook. But some of my favorite things are made there by women earning a fair wage and people I care about care about Cambodia and its people and travel there to make the world a little better.

So, this book caught my attention because of its focus on the tragic period of Cambodia’s history when millions of people were killed in a genocide that doesn’t seem to get a lot of attention. Intended For Evil is the story of one man’s survival of these events and how his faith in God sustained him through it. (Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from the publisher, which in no way affects my opinion.)

That’s oversimplifying it, though. Radha Manickam has as much doubt as faith as he watches family members die and the life he knew is destroyed. He wonders how God can permit such evil, why he’s allowed to survive in the midst of so much death, and what hope he could possibly have for the future. This is no sappy God-is-in-control cliche but a realistic account of what it means to follow God wherever you find yourself.

Besides Radha’s personal experiences, the book is full of historical and political background, which at times felt a bit difficult to wade through. But for someone with zero knowledge of this time period, it’s helpful background and context.

The events in this book may have happened decades ago, but it’s relevant to world events today. What happened in Cambodia in the 1970s is happening in other parts of the world today, and someday we’ll read survivors’ stories of those atrocities.

If we’re not going to forget history, we need books like this one.

 

 

The ones I can’t forget: Best books of 2016

Once upon a time, I gave you regular updates about the best books I’ve been reading. This year, I have failed at that task, but since it’s the end of the year, I’ll try to make up for it and tell you about the books I can’t forget. They follow, in no particular order except to be separated by non-fiction and fiction.

Non-fiction

The Road Back to You by Ian Cron and Suzanne Stabille. If you haven’t caught on to my obsession with the Enneagram yet, well, you’re probably not missing anything. Except a changed life. Okay, I know that’s probably overselling it, but this book is one of the few books I’ve read in my life that helps me understand me. If you’re into personality studies or self-reflection, put this one at the top of your list.

City of Thorns by Ben Rawlence. If you’ve also missed my passion for refugee advocacy and awareness, then I have to wonder if you’re reading my blog at all! This book takes a look at nine people who live in the world’s largest refugee camp in Kenya. How they got there, what life is like there, what their future could be. Because few of us have the chance to go to a refugee camp and see for ourselves, I recommend this book to further your knowledge of one aspect of the refugee crisis

Four Seasons in Rome by Anthony Doerr. Doerr is known more for his haunting, beautiful fiction, but this book is about a year his family spent living in Rome, and I loved it. He talks about trying to write the work of fiction that so many people have praised and how difficult it was, which is a peek behind the curtain that always inspires me as a writer. 

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond. Like City of Thorns, this book is a journalistic endeavor featuring eight families in Milwaukee’s poorest neighborhoods. In storytelling fashion, Desmond chronicles the challenges of finding secure housing in urban settings and how the lack of secure housing impacts other areas of a person’s life. One of the families featured is also a landlord, which I felt lent a balance to the book as well. I am only somewhat aware of the housing challenges in my city, so I was grateful for the recommendation from a friend about this book. Eye opening and unforgettable. Read my full review here.

Fiction

The Confessions of X by Suzanne M. Wolfe. I did not love this book immediately, but by the end, I was enthralled by it. It is the fictional account of St. Augustine’s mysterious lover (before he was a saint).  It is so different from most novels I’ve read that I had to include it on this list. If you’re a fan of historical fiction that isn’t typical, give this one a try.

The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell. I’m not overly emotional when I read books or watch movies, so when a book evokes tears or gasps from me, it is memorable, and this one did both. This is fiction that will leave you not necessarily with a feel good attitude or a happily ever after sigh but it will inspire you to believe that hope can co-exist with tragedy. This one is set in Louisiana both before and after Hurricane Katrina, which is the backdrop for some more personal storms for the characters. I repeat: if you like endings that are only 100 percent feel-good happy, move on. You can read my full review here.

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I know that’s a lopsided list, but I read a lot of great non-fiction this year. My fiction habits changed a bit early in the year. Either way, it’s always difficult for me to choose favorites at the end of the year. If you’re also an avid reader and you want to see everything I read this year, check out my Goodreads profile. You can see what I’ve been up to reading-wise.

And as a disclaimer, this post contains affiliate links for Amazon, so if you’re shopping for one of these books, clicking the title will take you straight to Amazon, and I’ll get a tiny portion of your purchase for referring you there.

What are the most memorable books you’ve read this year?