Three Books Read

127. This is Getting Old by Susan Moon
Moon is just a little bit farther down the road of life than I am, so it helps me a lot to see what’s ahead for me. It’s not a pretty world, the sixties. Falls, for example, are already a problem for me. I’ve already taken several spills in my fifties, all of them embarrassing but, so far, not life-altering. Moon has a whole chapter on falls which might seem tedious to a twenty-something, but is amazing insight to me at fifty-three. Moon also talks about her difficulties with depression and loneliness and caring for her elderly mother during her mother’s last days and all of these are lovely.

128. A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
I read A Year in Provence while I was in Provence. Perfect mesh of book and environment for reading. Mind you, I read this book when it first came out, but this reread was not in any way tedious as rereads (for me) can be. Little stories of life in a new spot, centered on the changes in the seasons, were delightful.

129. Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
Why is it that even the best nonfiction books always have terrible titles? “Celebration of Discipline?” Who decided to call this wonderful book by such a banal name?

Foster explores the various approaches to Christian spiritual growth (Okay, face it, that little sentence makes this book sound as awful as the title….Why is so difficult to put words to experiences so close to our heart?) Let me just stop talking about the book and suggest that if you are interested in growing spiritually, you give this book a look-see. I found it very thoughtful yet practical.