Sarah Clarkson

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.… (altro)

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.… (altro)