I invited Prayer Bench friends on the facebook page to offer suggestions for summertime reading. Here are their recommendations:

From a Sunday Morning small group study. Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans — Trying to envision how to “pass along” the value of faith to a new generation who sees the world differently than does/did mine.

The Very Marrow of our Bones by Christine Higdon. It is a captivating novel dealing with loss, secrets, social issues, love, family relationships, interesting character developments…and lots more. I could hardly put it down.

Feeding My Mother by Jann Arden and God, Improv and the Art of Living by MaryAnn McKibben Dana

Just finished The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende. A story of the incarceration of Japanese people during the 2nd world war and the love that endured during it.

Things to do When It’s Raining by Marissa Stapley; funny, insightful, easy, but also deep; plays along the St Lawrence river.

Sea Music by Sara MacDonald; gentle and wise dealing with the family consequences of a holocaust survivor. On my list to read: anything Carol Shields, because she was a first generation feminist and wrote very well.

Barbara Brown Taylor, an excellent author — Leaving Church, A Memoir of Faith

Just finished reading Jodi Picoult latest book called Small Great  Things!. It is the most profound book I have read in years and I am a avid reader!

A Religion of One’s Own by Thomas Moore. I’m not finished yet, but enjoying what I’ve read so far immensely.

A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler, a story of relationships within a family, both positive & negative. A beautiful novel.

Forgiveness by Mark Sakamoto is this year’s Canada Reads winner. It is a fabulous read.

Reading two books by Robert Capon


Preparing for the Earth Gratitude Series 
Here are three books I’m reading in preparation for autumn email retreat series called EARTH GRATITUDE. Make it your summer reading. Your reading will enhance your retreat but it is not necessary to read any of the books to benefit from the retreat series.

Diane Bulter Bass, Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks.

Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants.

Mary Oliver, Devotions, The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver.