I sort of blew off my homeschool mom book group last night. Doc got home late and I could have made it only missing the first half hour, but my heart wasn’t in it.
I’m burnt out on Christian women books. I just want to read Christian books, without the emphasis on the female. Anyone else feeling like me?
Last night, I made a good effort again with A Woman After God’s Own Heart, and I feel like I finally got something out of it, but I dread picking it up again. Scandalous, I know. Elizabeth George is one of the most prolific writers for the Christian woman today and I’ve been grumbling since page one.
So this afternoon, I’ve been wondering what my problem is, and I’ve come to the conculsion it’s not George’s book, but the whole genre in general I’m dissatisfied with.
Over the years, I’ve read my share of Christian woman/wife/mom/homeschooler books. The Shaping of the Christian Family and Let Me Be a Woman both by Elisabeth Elliot, All the Way Home by Mary Pride, Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge, Seasons of a Mother’s Heart by Sally Clarkson and You Can’t Make Me by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias, are samples from my bookshelf.
And I know I’ve read more than that. I’ve lots more Elliot books, a bunch of Dobson and other parenting books I’m not listing for sake of space. So is it any wonder this reader is throwing up her hands on how to be a better woman/wife/mom/homeschooler?
I’m not weary of reading about Christianity in general. I’ve been thinking of re-reading Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster for awhile now. I first read it in my college days years ago and I don’t remember much. Written in 1978, revised in 1988, it’s now regarded as a classic. Foster, a Quaker, writes about meditation, fasting, service and simplicity among other disciplines that should be the commom practice of the Christian’s life.
Jessica of Trivium Academy is reading it, so it would be interesting to get her perspective on it as well. I also need to dig out the study guide that goes with it.
What do you think? Are you happy with your current Christian woman book or are you like me and need a break from all-things female?
I frequently feel the same way. I think I own just about every Elizabeth George book — as I devoured them sometime back. I quit buying/reading them because I was tired of her 10 to 12 step suggestions on how to be more godly. The writing style was too predictable and as a result, eventually, not as insightful.
I thought Captivating was a fresh read after all the other books I’ve read (similar to your list). Then I re-read it and was bored by it.
I’m with you! I need a break!
I think sometimes one gets to the point where none of the self-help type Christian books are very fresh. I know for me, I read and think, “Been there, tried that. It sort of worked or it didn’t.” Sometimes in those dry times God is leading me back to Scripture and prayer, a direct relationship unmediated by other people, even wise author people.
Interesting thoughts. I loved loved loved Woman after God’s own Heart, but perhaps it is because it was one of the first of that type that I read after having a family.
I think you may have identified your problem. I read some parenting/wifing/mommying books, but I would say that I read just as many or more general nonfiction books. I recently really enjoyed my first read of Celebration of Discipline. I’m about to dig into Margin which has been highly recommended.
[...] 1. Carrie (Peter Pan)2. Jane (Found)3. Krakovianka (Sanditon)4. Laurie (Ambassador to the Penguins)5. Laura (Decider)6. Staci (The Thirteenth Tale, The Shop on Blossom Street7. MFS (On the nightstand)8. MotherReader (Not a Box)9. violet (The Brethren)10. Monica (non-fiction for Christian women)11. Brown Bear (Rules and Julia’s Kitchen) [...]
I think there’s only one message to all of them, live for Christ. Now there are some books that I want to keep in my home library for when “my” attitude and perspective takes a turn for the worse. I consider these “feel good” books, they can help you feel convicted but unless you ask for the Lord’s will and help- you’re not going to change. I’ve read my fair share and now I’m tired of them. I get it.
I want to read something that isn’t touchy feely something I have to think about, pray about–without feeling like a complete and total failure because I loath doing the laundry. LOL. Not saying that the women’s book are without substance, but the substance only goes so far. My dh calls them supermarket theology books.
: )
Jessica
Hello!
I came over today from a link at ‘It Coulda Been Worse’.
LOL, I know what you mean!
I’ve read almost everything that Elisabeth George and Elliot have written, along with Nancy Leigh Demoss, Nancy Campbell, Nancy Wilson, and Martha Peace. I guess I think I need help in those special woman/wife/mother areas.
But, after a while I did get completely burned out on them. Must be the “Law of Diminshing Returns”.
I say ditch them and get into pre-1950′s Christian books. (At least that is the path that I’m on and it has been *much* more emotionally/intellectually/spiritually satisfying.) Like, Eusebius “The History of the Church”; or Thomas Watson’s “A Body of Divinity”; of for a pre-1900′s woman’s book, try “Stepping Heavenward” by Elizabeth Prentiss. (I named my blog after the last book.)
Blessings!
~Heather
Heather, a kindred spirit, thank you.
I have that Prentiss book but it got buried, forgotten on the shelf and every great once in awhile, I’ll remind myself to read it. Maybe 2007 is the year.