book notes: june

Love Idol by Jennifer Dukes Lee

"Since Jesus has already won, we are free to fail. Since Jesus was a somebody, we can be nobodies. " Though Lee is quoting another author in that moment of the book, that message is, in a nutshell, what her book is about. Lee points the reader to God’s approval rather than the world’s – a reminder I needed, as a chronic perfectionist. This book reminded me of another book I read earlier this year-- Grace for the Good Girl by Emily P. Freeman. Love Idol, however hit closer to home for me—while Grace for the Good Girl was focused more on women who people please to fit in, Love Idol is focused on women who are perfectionists, strive for accomplishment, want to stand out. The root sin is the same, but the personality type is different. So, I highly recommend this book if you are one of those latter types, like me.

Time and Materials by Robert Hass
I’ve never been a huge Robert Hass reader, but I’ve enjoyed this book fairly well. The poems are lyric mostly, and the longer poems were my favorites. The collection was a best-of for those years rather than a cohesive book, so I did miss some of that interplay between poems that you'd find in other collections.

Scrap Iron by Mark J. Brewin
my favorite poems in this book were the ones about his father, a blue-collar worker. They were relatable and loving but clear-sighted. more on the narrative side than the lyric, i enjoyed being enveloped in this worker's world, though from the outside a bit since most of his narratives of the hard work are of watching his father. his work reminded me of Philip Levine, who i also like.

I Quit Sugar by Sarah Wilson
I asked to review this book because I thought it was an eight-week program on quitting desserts, but this book takes it much further than that—no fruit! I don’t think it’s a good idea to not eat fruit, so I decided not to try the sugar-detox or the recipes (much to my husband’s joy!). 

BUT, that said, I think the book would work well with paleo or a gluten-free diet, and I have a friend who I think would like it. the pictures and graphic design are eye-catching and the book is easy to read—laid out in a magazine style. (you can read chapter one here: Read Chapter One)

the author keeps in mind the most difficult aspects of going sugar-free -- handling kid's meals, breakfast, and snacks--and tailors her book and recipes around that. 

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is pursuing a healthy, clean-eating lifestyle or has special dietary needs. As for me and my house, we will continue to gobble strawberries and blueberries and apples faster than the grow.

(I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review )