Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

shauna niequist

An invitation to do it all differently: Review of Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist

I really love the way Shauna Niequist puts words together and the lessons she learns that she shares with us, her readers. And the message of her latest book, Present Over Perfect, that we can let go of our frantic lives to take hold of something more meaningful and simple, is one my heart/mind/soul needs to hear. (Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of the book in exchange for my review.) present-over-perfect

There are some writing gems in this book, like:

“The inciting incident for life change is almost always heartbreak.

And,

“It seems to me that Christians, even more than anyone else, ought to be deeply grounded, lying a courageous rhythm of rest, prayer, service, and work.”

Also,

“In season of deep transformation, silence will be your greatest guide.”

So, there are some great take-aways from this book. However, I just wasn’t excited about the format. It’s set up as a series of essays, somewhat connected to a theme, but I couldn’t get into a flow when reading. A lot of great writers and books use this collection-of-essays format, but it just didn’t work for me here. I like a book I can’t put down, and this one almost begged you to set it down and walk away. Although now that I think about it, maybe that’s the best way to read this book and let its message sink in.

Overall, I was encouraged by the book and challenged by some of the questions about how my life is lived and what I might need to say no to. It’s a good read for the fast-paced world in which we live.

A devotional like no other: Review of Savor by Shauna Niequist

A book of daily readings, however long, is not usually high on  my list of books to read and/or use in my personal time of connection with God. Devotionals, in my past experience, are often too watered-down or simplistic for my tastes. I can’t think of one I’ve read that I would recommend enthusiastically.

savorShauna Niequist changed all that with her book Savor: Living Abundantly Where You Are, As You Are, a collection of 365 devotions. (Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the Booklook Bloggers program in exchange for my review.)

This book is as beautiful on the inside as its cover is on the outside. It has a textured feel to it and is just pretty to look at. Fortunately for us, though, it’s not just a pretty face.

The daily readings are a collection of Niequist’s words, some from books she’s written previously, some new, I think, but I honestly can’t tell the difference. They are snippets of encouragement and reflection from a real-life wife and mom, writer, speaker, Christian-on-a-journey who doesn’t offer easy answers but poses challenging questions in a gentle voice.

I have been reading the book almost daily for about a month and I am still pondering questions I read weeks ago. Each day’s reading ends with a question or two that provokes not only deeper thought but sometimes action. As a result of my readings, I’ve sent cards I needed to send, encouraged someone I might have forgotten to notice, and asked myself questions I don’t know the answer to.

I’m so enthusiastic about this book I bought a copy for a gift. Rarely would I even consider giving a devotional book to someone as a gift but this book is a must-read for women at various ages and seasons of faith. At times she talks about motherhood, at times she talks about doubt and her faith journey. It is not a one-size-fits-all book because, as I’m learning, we are not one-size-fits-all women. But I think you’d be encouraged by Niequist’s words and challenged by her questions.

One challenge of reviewing a year-long devotional is that I can’t read and review the entire thing in a timely manner because I want to use it as it is intended. But from the selections I’ve read, I’ve gotten a sense of the book’s style and I am in love. I will continue to use it and reuse it in the months to come.

(Oh, and did I mention there are recipes? Shauna’s recipes are not to be missed! She wrote a whole book about food and cooking and fellowship. I keep it in my kitchen!)