5 Books for May 2025

5 Books...

📚 Book club read: Orlando by Virginia Woolf. According to the internet, this is Virginia Woolf's “most unusual creation, a fantastical biography as well as a funny, exuberant romp through history that examines the true nature of sexuality.” I've just started it, and you can consider me intrigued... Learn more and join us: theyearofbelonging.com

📚 In the middle of reading: The Madonna Secret by Sophie Strand. I was recently in a group of newer friends and someone asked what we were all reading. I confessed that I’m reading a book that is peak me, which is this book. It’s an imaginative (fiction) retelling of the relationship between Mary Magdalene and Jesus. I’m into it, and it’s also REALLY LONG. I’m like, a third of the way through and my Kindle is telling me I still have 8 hours left. So the jury is out but ask me about it again in a couple weeks to see if I recommend it!

📚 Just finished: Sandwich: A Novel by Catherine Newman, which truly was a snack; a super quick read for me. Surprisingly enjoyable read about a menopausal woman caught between caring for her young adult children and aging parents, with a lot of humor and a wonderful dose of poignancy. Pick it up for a beach vacation, for sure.

📚 Seasonal read: Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit | Are you familiar with her work? She feels like the type of person that I should have read by now, and in all honesty, I’ve had this audiobook on my Libby app for a bit and haven’t started it. Will this be the time that I actually do?

📚 Timely recommendation: Faith Unleavened: The Wilderness Between Trayvon Martin & George Floyd by Tamice Spencer-Helms | This is timely for me because I finally got to meet Tamice in person at the Post Evangelical Collective gathering last week. I feel so connected to and inspired by Tamice’s work, and they are working on their next book, so the time is now to catch up on their debut. I just bought it on Kindle, who wants to read with me?

What are you reading? Have you read any of these? I'd love to hear back from you; just hit reply!