Welcome to Dennis' Pile of Books

If you were to walk into my office, either at the church or at my house, one thing you would most likely notice many, many books. I have piles of books everywhere so it seems. I love books and surround myself with them wherever I am (at work, on vacation, in the bathroom... you get the picture). So welcome to my pile of books!

On one of my other blogs (Immersed in Mystery) I have a running list of books I have recently read, and ones I am currently reading. In the past few months I began writing short comments after each book title, these were sort of like mini-book reviews, really mini. I thought that rather than lose these comments in the future (I only keep 10 titles on the list at any one time) I would create a blog dedicated to the books I have read.

Having this blog dedicated to the books I have read will also allow me to expand on my comments, perhaps even expanding into a full book review on occasion. Each book will have its own entry, and after the initial 10 entries future books will be noted in this blog when I finish them (in other words the date of the blog entry will indicate the date I finished that book). Mostly this blog is for my own benefit (to help remember all I've read), but I also like to share good books with others. Occasionally I feel the need to warn people about a disappointing book - our free time is scarce enough as it is, no use wasting it on a book that isn't worth the time or effort.

I welcome other comments on these books, it is always interesting to hear how others react to a book I've read - so feel free to leave comments on this blog. And I'm always open to book suggestions from others, I've encountered some great books because of other people's suggestions. Enjoy browsing through my pile of books.

Monday, July 14, 2014

Scattering Seeds: Cultivating Church Vitality

by Stephen Chapin Garner with Jerry Thornell

The pastor of a thriving United Church of Christ parish in Massachusetts sets forth how that congregation's unique blend of liberal and evangelical emphases make for a vibrant ministry.
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Shining Star: Braving the Elements of Earth, Wind and Fire

by Philip Bailey
 
An inside look into one of my favourite bands of all time, and one of my favourite singers (that distinctive falsetto that soared above the groove of EWF songs).  This band paved the way for many African-American artists and this book shows how this happened.
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Bonhoeffer for Armchair Theologians

by Stephen R. Haynes and Lori Brandt Hale
 
The first book I read totally on my iPhone!  A decent introduction to the person and theological thought of the 20th Century's best known Christian martyrs.
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The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of the Native People in North America

by Thomas King
 
Dis-heartening, embarrassing, enlightening, important and entertaining - a book of significance for our current reality, by recounting the past 5 centuries of interaction between native Americans and Caucasians.
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The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin

by Mash Gessen
 
An eye-opening account of the man who has created a new Russia which is very much like the old.  A tale of power - especially the power of limiting information.
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