The New Way Things Work by David Macaulay

I read this to the boys. This is a really fun book (especially the mammoths!), but a little dated.

Mark's Jesus: Characterization as Narrative Christology by Elizabeth Struthers Malbon

I'm a big fan of narrative approaches to Mark, so of course I liked this.

You Can Date Boys When You Are Forty by Dave Barry

Stupid funny.

Bomb by Steve Sheinkin

This may be my favorite of all of the books I've read to my kids.

The Bible Tells Me So by Peter Enns

This is another good introduction to how to think about the Bible. I found many of his attempts at humor a little annoying, but the content is solid.

Beyond Fear and Silence: A Feminist Literary Reading of Mark by Joan L. Mitchell

I didn't find her overarching thesis compelling, but there are some interesting observations here.

Mark's Story of Jesus by Werner Kelber

Some interesting observations here, but I disagree with his take on the disciples.

Jack of Spades by Joyce Carol Oates

This was very creepy.

Review copy provided by publisher.

On Immunity by Eula Biss

Listened to this on our roadtrip. It was well-written and interesting.

Inside the O'Brians by Lisa Genova

Not perfect, but very, very compelling. Recommended.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Oral Ethos of the Early Church by Joanna Dewey

This was interesting. I suspect in ten years, it will seem like an "early effort," but performance criticism is nonetheless provocative. And her attention to female disciples was very well done.

Left Neglected by Lisa Genova

 

Decent, but heavy-handed.

The Genesis of Secrecy by Frank Kermode

This is a classic in Markan studies, but I was a little underwhelmed by it.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

Meh.

This Strange and Sacred Scripture by Matthew Richard Schlimm

This is an excellent introduction to the thorny issues raised by a serious study of the Old Testament (violence, sexism, etc.). Schlimm addresses the non-specialist in a gentle but responsible way and provides a variety of useful ways for thinking through these issues. Recommended.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

I read this to the boys. It was decent.

The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessey by Rachel Joyce

Meh.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Decent, but not deserving of all of the attention it is getting.

Religion of a Different Color by W. Paul Reeve

This was phenomenal. Phenomenal. If you are at all interested in Mormonism, you need to read this.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

I read this to the boys. I didn't like it.

Stuff by Randy Frost

Interesting.

The Misunderstood Jew by Amy-Jill Levine

This book makes a super-important argument that many Christians really need to hear: the way in which we talk about Jews and Judaisms is often harmful and often just factually wrong. That said, I did feel that she was playing a little loose sometimes: the Old Testament (a term which, incidentally, she prefers that Christians use) can't be treated as normative in first century Judaism(s)--except when it can, to show that Jesus was not unique. Similarly, the mishnah and Talmud don't describe first century Judaism(s)--except when they do. 

A Plainer Translation: Joseph Smith's Translation of the Bible by Robert J. Matthews

This is old, but excellent. Even after reading much of the newer research on the JST, I found this quite valuable. Anyone interested in the JST should read this, or at least have it around for reference.

Prayer, Power, and the Problem of Suffering: Mark 11:22-25 in the Context of Markan Theology by S. E. Dowd

I picked this up because Mark 11:22-25 doesn't get a lot of theological consideration because people are too busy considering its redaction history. And that's a shame, because it covers such important ground, especially when put into dialogue with Mark 14:36. So this was a good read.

Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper

Unique and charming.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Martian by Andy Weir

Holy cow. This is the best book I've read in a long time. (And I'm not even a space flight/sci-fi fan.) Do read this.