Sarah ClarksonRezensionen

A rare work where the author talks about her struggle with OCD in a Christian context.

I liked that Clarkson referenced her faith in this book in a very natural way. She didn't just state "my faith is important to me and influences my reading, and vice-versa," but truly integrated her faith into the book's text. (This book is by a Christian, published by a Christian company, and it shows. I liked this, but there will undoubtedly be those who don't.)

I also appreciated that she touches on the importance of discernment in our reading but, while I realize she was trying to avoid playing judge and laying down specific dos and do nots, this particular section seemed vague and evasive. At the least, I wish she would have recommended another book or two that goes more in-depth on just this topic, since this is a book full of recommendations! But she doesn't.

I initially liked that she included some reading lists from friends/family, as I was thinking this would offer more variety in the books mentioned, but as it turns out, her friends all seem to read the same kinds of books - lots and lots of classics. Clarkson just doesn't seem to have a huge variety of books here. I loved all the lists and descriptions, don't get me wrong. (I have added a good 20 to my reading list already!) But they are mainly classic literature, or classic niche (Christian, writing, etc.) nonfiction.

And just a couple more complaints:

The writing is a little too adjective-filled for my taste and there's a certain amount of repetition which makes the book longer than it needs to be.

Clarkson kept repeating things like, "A book girl knows xyz," or "A woman who reads has learned how to fill-in-the-blank: hope, love, think deeply, etc.." I just can't get behind this sort of positive thinking. Reading is a wonderful thing, but it isn't Jesus. It doesn't really change a person in and of itself. And there are plenty of people who don't (or even can't) read, and they can still mature and think deep thoughts and love Jesus more than anything! I wish she hadn't resorted to this cheap-and-easy appeal to her readers. (Because I think anyone reading this book already loves reading and likely already thinks quite highly of herself for reading!)

However, even though after reading through this all, it sounds (even to myself) as if I didn't like the book, I did! There were various descriptions of classics that made me want to actually read them, even if they sounded completely boring before, and I've been even more inspired to spend my time reading good books instead of the ones that just sort-of pique my interest.

Thank you to Sarah Clarkson, Tyndale House Publishers, Tyndale Momentum, and NetGalley for allowing me the extreme pleasure of access to an advanced reader copy of “Book Girl: A Journey through the Treasures and Transforming Power of a Reading Life” for an honest review.

I have been a reader all my life. Long before I was teaching English, or earning my Masters or Bachelor's (calling all of my literature, narrative arc, and language studies my "candy classes"), I was a little girl receiving from my mother the exact number of books I was old per month at a book store, and the pre-teen who received literary magazines in the mail monthly, and the girl who snuck her mother's books from the bookshelf the moment they were declared "too adult for you right now" (which has, of course, gone on to my encourage children to read everything and anything ever put on a Banned Book List).

All of which is to say, in every page of this book I heard the story of a kindred spirit. Someone born on the wings of the written word, who'd been nursed to it, and found such solace and sublimity in the written word, in reading, in being a reader, and in encouraging a love of others to find the same within themselves. I love the lengthy lists and in-depth answer that Clarkson's goes about using for how to bring people into this life, with brass tack easy instructions.

While it is a little more Christian leaning than I like, it's still incredibly easy to navigate, to bypass those sections unless you need them, and I've still made entire lists from this books of books to acquire, including a hardcover copy of this one.

I've been reading these types of books like crazy lately. Book Girl was fairly good, with some definite must reads mentioned though I believe it to be perfect for those who aren't already serious readers or just becoming serious rather than life long bookworms such as myself. With that said it was still something I enjoyed reading and I did come away with a couple recommendations.

Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson is a Christian non-fiction book. It is part memoir of her growing up loving books and the positive effect it has had on her life and partly her sharing this passion by looking at the different benefits and offering recommendations for specific areas of life (primarily directed toward other women).

I gave this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. I really liked it. I love the memoir aspect of the book and this unique look into Clarkson’s life and the books that touched her and changed her and how she grew as a reader and person through what she read. It is wonderful to see another kindred spirit and share her joy and experiences.
I also appreciated how she shared her recommendation lists with the stories around her first encounters with them and/or how they affected her or what they taught her. Having those short lists of recommendations for each area of her life (interspersed within all the chapters) was helpful in bringing what she had to say into greater clarity. I much preferred it to having a giant list at the end of the book.

I would recommend this to all girls who love books, as a source of kinship to other bookish girls and a resource to further book recommendations.

A list of books they read together or separately.

I picked this up thinking it was going to be a memoir-ish book on books and reading, and it's not not that, but it wasn't what I was expecting either. Clarkson is an evangelical Christian, and Book Girl is very specifically written with that lens and takes on the project of recommending books for Christian women to read at different life stages or for particular purposes. I almost DNFed when I clocked this (evangelical Christianity is the brand of organized religion I have the biggest problem with, always), but I do like to read about people with different perspectives and world views, so I carried on. Her book recommendations are largely good and agreeable, but also not *terribly* surprising or enlightening (Tolkien, check. C.S. Lewis, check. Jane Austen, check. Elizabeth Goudge, check. Also, the books discussed were largely (not entirely, but largely), written by authors who are white and straight.), and she communicates very well why she liked each book, what she got out of it, and why she thinks others will get something out of it as well. I did get very tired of the gendered language (and the gendered project--why are these books for girls? what does it mean for a book to be for a girl? are they then not for boys? (this seems not to be the case, since she mentions her husband having read many of them.) if they are for both boys and girls, what are girls supposed to be getting from them that is specific to their gender? why are we gendering reading, Sarah?) and the way creationism was baked into her very sentences. (We are made for xy and z, for instance.) By the end, despite finding the book engaging and Clarkson's lists sometimes compelling, I have to confess I had a bad taste in my mouth. Like whatever pleasantness there was in this book was maybe covering up some attitudes I would find very unpleasant and painful.½

The author pushed religion way too much. It is one thing to have a chapter about books that she believed strengthened her faith, but it is another to mention religion in practically every other sentence. If you’re going to write a book about books that relate to your faith, then mention that in the synopsis. When she wasn’t talking about religion, she was boasting about having gone to Oxford or recommending the same authors over and over again... very disappointing.

Book Girl is an excellent book for jogging the memory. It brought to mind many of the great books I'd read that had somehow slipped my memory. It also introduced me to a couple of authors I hadn't read, which I've now listed for perusal. Thank goodness for books. Where would we be without them?

This is a lovely book about books. Clarkson shares her heart so poignantly about her love of books and the way the written word has helped shape her life. She include many book lists containing her favorites from different seasons and spanning multiple genres. I found myself concluding a chapter and immediately adding several books to my TBR list. A true treasure that I will return to time and again!

In a society that has increasingly moved from in-person connection to online social media as a way to connect, we as a society have largely lost the true meaning and way of friendship. Despite our perceived connections, studies have shown that we are lonelier than ever. This new release from the Sally, Sarah, and Joy Clarkson is a breath of fresh air and encouragement for women everywhere. They encourage us by sharing their stories and experiences with cultivating community and investing in the women in our lives.

I truly appreciated the different perspectives that each woman brought to this book. Sally brings with her years of life and ministry experience. Sarah is a wife and new mom navigating life in England. Joy is a young, single PhD student studying in Scotland. They share about times of loneliness and how they overcame it, stepping out and choosing to initiate community and friendship even when it may have seemed hard, and choosing to cultivate characteristics in their own lives that will help them be a better friend. Loaded with wisdom, insight, and encouragement, this is a wonderful book to read through with a friend or a women's group.

"With this book, we wish to pass on a vision for the power that friendship between women can generate and also to sketch some practical wisdom for cultivating these relationships. If nothing else, we hope to set your imagination free and to paint a picture of what richness and delight and depth friendship can hold." (p. xxv)

(I’ve received this complimentary book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for a review. A positive review was not required and the views expressed in my review are strictly my own.)

Do you struggle with loneliness? Do you need more female friendships in your life? Do you want to strengthen the friendships you already have? If you answered any of the above questions with a “yes,” then “Girls’ Club: Cultivating Lasting Friendship in a Lonely World” by Sarah, Sally & Joy Clarkson, is for you. Even if you didn’t answer “yes,” this is a great resource and you should check it out!

“Girls’ Club: Cultivating Lasting Friendship in a Lonely World” by Sarah, Sally & Joy Clarkson is written by a mother and her two daughters. I like how different sections of the book are told from a different person’s point of view. I also love the relatable stories from their lives on friendship that they share throughout.

The authors address the issue of loneliness in today’s world. Ultimately, Christ heals us of our fundamental loneliness and answers the question, “Am I loveable?” The Clarksons gave so many practical tips on how to be a good friend, how to make friends and how to strengthen friendships. I found myself putting the book down multiple times to text or call my friends and apply what I had read. This book is such a wonderful resource that I highly recommend!

Content: This is a clean read.

Rating: I give this book 4 stars.

Genre: Christian non-fiction.

I want to thank Tyndale House Publishers and Sarah, Sally & Joy Clarkson for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.

I don’t review a lot of non-fiction books on my blog, but when I saw there was a book about books, the reading life and bookworms, I knew I needed to read and share it! This book is not only a wonderful read, but an amazing resource, filled with book lists for different seasons of a reader’s life!

In Book Girl: A Journey Through the Treasures and Transforming Power of a Reading Life by Sarah Clarkson, Clarkson begins each section with a little essay of her own, and then proceeds to give us some book lists that correspond with the essay. I learned a lot from Ms. Clarkson’s essays and found them very relatable. Ms. Clarkson argues that reading shapes who we are and it’s the lens through which we view the world. She talks of stories helping us to understand things better in real life; they help show us what is good and give us hope to fight and cope with the evil in the world. Ultimately, she says that our lives are a story as a part of the Kingdom of God. I couldn’t agree more with her arguments for how important reading and stories are!

I personally have such a passion for Story. Ms. Clarkson talks all about the exact reason why my blog is named Faery Tales Are Real, arguing for the importance of fairy tales and how they point us to the greatest Story of Christianity. I love how she found connections between fairy tales and Biblical narrative. I just felt through reading this book that I had found a kindred spirit, as the author talks about Anne from Anne of Green Gables and how she loves the Lord of the Rings (can I get an Amen). The Lord of the Rings helped strengthen her faith when she was younger, in the same way that it did for me.

I highly recommend this book to any person who loves reading, no matter what stage of the reading journey they are in. It is an excellent resource to have on hand (the book lists are amazing)!

Content: This is a clean read. The only content is: mentions rape when describing To Kill a Mockingbird; word damn is used.

Rating: I give this book 5 stars!

Genre: Christian non-fiction

I want to thank Tyndale Momentum, Tyndale House Publishers and Sarah Clarkson for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.

I have had the privelege of reading and excerpt of this book, and I can't wait for it to come out. (as I write this, Book Girl has not yet been released.) I absolutely tore through the first four chapters, and have already added several titles to my "to read" list based on Sarah's recommendations. She writes so beautifully about the joys of reading, and how books shape us, both as children and adults. This book is a treasure that will continue to show its value on your shelf for years as you explore the titles recommended in these pages!

The title of this book drew me in before I even knew what was on the pages inside. The cover is captivating, warm and very bookish.Everything written is not for every reader and Book Girl happens to be one of those books for me.While most of the authors mentioned are notable and quite a few works are indeed worthy reads, I personally am not drawn to books of this nature at this point in my life. Although I will recommend it for those who are looking for deep introspective and literary fiction, specifically that is rooted in theology. For many readers, this will be a trusty companion with many book lists that will start you on the path of becoming a book girl. In my humble opinion, you can also find your way down that path with many other non-theological and literary fiction books not mentioned in the book. If you are looking for a breezy book about books, this may not be the place to start. Are C.S. Lewis, Wendell Berry and J.R. Tolkien's books drawing you toward the shelves, if so then Book Girl will be a great choice to add to your TBR (to be read) pile.

*Thank you to NetGalley & Tyndale House Publishers for my copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*

In the introduction of Book Girl, Sarah Clarkson states that this book “celebrates not just the gifts of the reading life, but also the rich life of the reading woman (pg. xv).” It's a broad statement that covers the next 200+ pages and it delivers on the promise. Repeatedly, Sarah shows through her personal story as well as research and careful observations, what a gift that reading is. There's a strong emphasis on reading to children and passing on the joy of reading.

Book Girl has ten chapters, most of which have two or three sections. Each section pertains to a general idea or topic and often begins with an introduction including personal examples or research. The reading lists cover many topics including: books about reading, biographies, girlhood classics, spiritual classics, poetry, books about the arts, and much more. There are over twenty reading lists. Each book title listed includes at least a brief description of the book, and often, considerably more, but no spoilers.

As soon as I saw Book Girl, I was immediately interested. The cover is as classy as the content inside. This book was pure joy for me to read because I love books and I love being introduced to new books. Sarah's writing style was lovely, likely influenced by the amazing writers she has been reading all her life! Sarah shared much of her personal life and it felt like she was a friend by the time I was a few chapters in. I have read only a handful of the books on her lists, but I felt that I could trust her judgment to point me in the right direction of a good book.

In the first chapter of Book Girl, Sarah states that she lists what she loves (pg 3). She unabashedly proclaims her love of C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, Wendell Berry, and the Anne of Green Gables series. While her lists are written from a mindset of “this is what I love” instead of “this is what might interest my audience”, I found her book descriptions helpful and it was easy to determine if a book she recommended might be a good fit for me. To that end, I've already purchased two books that she recommended when I happened upon them at my local used book store.

I loved Book Girl and I recommend it to all women, especially Christians. There is a definite Christian worldview. I am not sure if the book would be enjoyable to non-Christians as Sarah discusses her faith frequently. However, the topics cover a wide range of books, many of which are classic books that are not expressly Christian, but from which a Christian may derive a spiritual truth.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"In an era when many women struggle with feelings of isolation and deep loneliness, Girls' Club calls us to embrace the delight and joy that can be found in life-giving female friendships--relationships that not only offer emotional affirmation and acceptance, but also inspire, educate, and stretch us to live out our God-given potential. Girls' Club is a book of stories and encouragement based on the experiences of the authors: a middle-aged mom, her newly married oldest daughter, and her youngest daughter, a single woman in graduate school. While there are many books on women's friendships that tout the message of "meeting each other in the mess," Girls' Club will speak to the value and satisfaction found through friendships in which women not only support each other emotionally but also encourage each other to become more excellent women. Girls' Club will encourage women to take the initiative to seek out other women with whom to share life and to be blessed with the gift of deep friendship" Publisher's Blurb