The Year of Living Biblically

The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible

Written by A.J. Jacobs

To be fair, this was one of my bigger expositions to the Bible. Not being a Christian, I don't know much. I'd read A.J. Jacob's other book and really enjoyed it, so I figured I should give this one a try. A.J. Jacobs was also raised without the Bible as an influence on his life, so this was a pretty new journey for him. As the title says, he decides to take a year to live his life according to the Bible, from the small to the big commandments, from the tedious to the utterly bizarre, he does it all. I learned so much from this book. Jacobs expresses a sentiment about religion that I think many of us struggle with in one way or other: "Don't be so caught up in the regulations that you forget about the big things, like compassion and respect for life." I learned about the extremes some people can take religion to, whether it be for their own selfish reasons, or for social altruism (red-letter Christians). I also thought it was amusing to see Kevin Roose make cameo appearances in this book. In the end, the book proves to be very thought-provoking, leading the reader to consider the role religion and spirituality plays in their own lives.

Rating: 5/5

I got this book from...:Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Once Was Lost

currently reading: The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner
want to read: Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins

Once Was Lost
written by Sara Zarr



I was really glad to see a religious YA book, but not at all religious in the traditional sense. There is nothing preachy about this novel. It's a beautiful story about a girl struggling to find her sense of place in her religious community, trying to figure out how to juggle a life, religious and otherwise, while having to be the preacher's daughter required to appear with a sort of socially preconceived demeanor. It's laughable to think that teenagers don't struggle with religion. The teenage years are when kids grow up and begin to really think for themselves, and begin their own religious journeys as opposed to the ones their parents simply brought them into. I'm really glad that Sara Zarr wrote such an open, honest book about how a teenager deals with those questions and developing that religious identity. She does so in a fully nonjudgmental way, in a way that all readers of all religious/spiritual beliefs will both enjoy and relate to, no matter what. Other than that, the book is typically Sara Zarr style, beautiful writing, honest dialogue that teenagers, real teenagers, can easily picture, and an ending that's not so much about happiness as it is about the promise for future hope.

Rating: 5/5

Want to read more on Sara Zarr's personal religious views? Here's one of my favorite essays, written by her during the YA for Obama campaign in 2008, where many prominent YA authors came together to show their support for then presidential candidate, Barack Obama. I strongly recommend reading it, even if you're not a Democrat. The views expressed are beautifully open-minded and really touching.

I got this book from...:Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University

The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University
written by Kevin Roose



I'm quite certain that if anyone was to ever ask me what the scariest book I've ever read was, this will be my answer. The ideas contained inside this book are not for the faint-hearted (or maybe, the liberal-minded). The book is one surprise after another, terrifying ones for the most part. First shock--at the time of his experience at Liberty, Kevin Roose was only 19 years old. That takes guts. The idea of an evangelical university is scary enough to think about, but actually reading about what goes on behind the scenes is mind-numbing. It is difficult to believe that this stuff is real. Liberty University is a training ground for ignorance and misjudgment. While some of the material is presented by Roose in a comical way, it's a grave mistake to take this book lightly. Shallow friendships with his classmates make sense. Deeper connections do not. It was reassuring to learn that there are some Democrats and closeted gays attending Liberty, but they are still in a great minority position. I have so much that I morally cannot condone that goes on in this book, and you probably don't want to hear that ranting, but suffice to say, this was a highly frightening but very eye-opening book for me. It was interesting to see Roose's thoughts and beliefs evolve throughout the book, although I was very glad he didn't end up converting or anything. It's an amazing concept behind the experiment, and definitely worth the read if you're ever interested in the horrifying world of evangelical Christianity.

Rating: 4.5/5