My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout

I kept expecting this to do something that it just didn't do. There are some interesting strands here, but it doesn't hold together.

Review copy provided by publisher.

If Walls Could Talk: An Intimate History of the Home by Lucy Worsley

This was really interesting.

Sistering by Jennifer Quist

This was quirky. I can't decide if I liked it. It was just . . . uneven. Some aspects were phenomenal but some plot points totally didn't work.

The Messiah of Peace by Thomas Boomershine

This was solid. Some great insights.

Dietland by Sarai Walker

Some great elements here, but it just didn't come together. Pity.

How God Became King by N. T. Wright

I like Wright, but this didn't do much for me.

Planted: Belief and Belonging in an Age of Doubt by Patrick Mason

This is a very good exploration of faith and doubt. I would almost say that it is geared more toward those in a position to help folks who are agonizing than geared toward the agonizers themselves. 

I do need to express one concern: the vision of the church expressed here is substantively different than that you hear from some church members and leaders. I do worry about the growing gap between the two. There's no doubt that I prefer Mason's vision, however.

Review copy provided by publisher.

This Is Your Life, Harriett Chance! by Jonathan Evison

This didn't do anything for me.

The Theological Intentions of Mark's Literary Devices by Dean B. Deppe

I loved this, because looking at the theological functions of literary devices is pretty much my favorite thing.

Mark 8-16 by Joel Marcus

This was probably my favorite of all of the commentaries because of his close attention to biblical allusions.

Binding the Strong Man by Ched Myers

You know, I think a Marxist reading of Mark works rather well.

Mark 9-16 by Robert H. Gundry

What I liked about this was how curmudgeonly it was: very rarely do commenters engage other scholars to disagree with them the way that Gundry does. I also appreciated his close attention to grammar and syntax.

Sowing the Gospel by Mary Ann Tolbert

Tolbert was on my thesis cmte., so I have fond feelings for her approach to Mark. This is a solid commentary.

Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett

I enjoyed this. Very suspenseful.

Women in Mark's Gospel by Susan Miller

This is very good.

Mark by C. S. Mann

I can't recommend this. I read it mostly to be contrarian, but he doesn't assume Markan priority and it is just completely unpersuasive.

Reopening the Word: Reading Mark as Theology in the Context of Early Judaism by Marie Noonan Sabin

In general, this was disappointing, although the treatment of the ending of Mark was very good.

The Gospel of Mark by R. T. France

This is an excellent commentary.

Mark 8:27-16:20 by Craig A. Evans

This is a very good commentary. 

Hearing Mark: A Listener's Guide by Elizabeth Struthers Malbon

This is a great commentary if you want something really, really gentle. It's short and easy.