A Short Reading List
Currently: Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin ($12.23 at Amazon)
I’m only about half-way through it, but am thoroughly enjoying this book. It covers everything you need to know as a worship leader, whether you’re new to it or not. From proper attitude, the purpose of music in worship, picking songs, working with the pastor, serving the congregation, etc. – the book covers all the basics.
I’ve been really encouraged reading it, but also challenged and humbled because there are aspects to worship leading that I very much need to work on.
Overall, a great book for anyone in worship ministry.
Finished: Twilight by Stephanie Meyers ($5.50 at Amazon)
Now that I’ve read it, I understand why 15-year olds across the country were obsessed with this book and its main character, Edward Cullen. He’s charming, intelligent, and beautiful – even if he does want to drink your blood and kill you. But I don’t understand how this is a bestseller?! The story is captivating to some degree, but the writing is just plain awful! I really struggled to get through the first few chapters because I was annoyed from reading it.
Once I got used to the crappy style and found a rhythm, it was easy to get through. When I finished it, I was just thankful it was done. And I have ZERO desire to read the remaining three books in the “saga.”
Coming up next:
- more worship books
- Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
- Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (embarrassed that I own this but haven’t finished it)
- your suggestions?
I’m not suggesting anything cos you haven’t read my last suggestions
what were your last suggestions??
Twilight was really hard for me to read too, because the terrible writing impeded whatever coherent plot and characterization there was in the book. Most of my friends sped through the entire series in 3-4 days, but it took me that long just to get into the first one…and even then, I skimmed a few chapters, and definitely skipped over whole chunks. Maybe it’s because I’m an aesthete, but I can’t get into “a good story” if I can’t get into the writing style…maybe that’s why I couldn’t finish Lord of the Rings either :’( not that JRR Tolkein should be compared to Smeyer or vice versa, but his writing style was too clunky for me to enjoy.
As far as recs go…DEFINITELY read Unaccustomed Earth, and if you haven’t already, Interpreter of Maladies. And because it’s brilliant, and I recommend it to everyone, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz! Also the short stories of Flannery O’Connor.