Sage Summer Book and Movie Recommendations

We may read and watch movies all year long, but there’s something about long summer days that holds an invitation to slow down and savor a great story or spend some time pondering a soul-stretching idea. My own reading habits tend to mirror the school year: more serious nonfiction books from September to May, and page-turner fiction during the summer. (Once a student, always a student, even with graying hair!)

I know I often make reading and viewing choices based on a recommendation from a trusted friend. With that in mind, this month we’re devoting this entire issue to media picks from a diverse, thoughtful group of Sage women – our contributors. You can make this list better by leaving a comment to share what you’re reading or watching right now.

William Shakespeare said, “Summer’s lease hath all too short a date.” May this summer find you savoring some of the goodness of this brief season in the company of a good book or movie.

With gratitude to God for you, Sage friends,

Michelle Van Loon for the Sage Forum Team

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Sage reads

The Full Catastrophe: All I Ever Wanted, Everything I Feared by Casey Mulligan Walsh. I admire the author’s courage in writing her story of loss—father and mother in childhood then her brother and those who cared for her—and the choices she made based on fear and need for family. She eventually finds her way professionally, but it is only after the death of her eldest son that she finds her true self and chooses love. A story of wounds and wounding, faith and hope. (Carole Duff)

The Mighty Red: A Novel by Louise Erdrich. Kismet, the protagonist, marries Gary even though she doesn’t want to, but through her, Gary and his family are healed. The story is set in North Dakota and Kismet’s mother, Crystal, drives sugar beets to the processing plant every night and Gary and his family plant sugar beets too. The novel makes a statement on farming and our food. (Judy Allen)

Harvest of Rubies and Harvest of Gold by Tessa Afshar: These historical Christian novels take place in the time of Nehemiah. I loved the way the author brought the time period alive and illuminated the character's spiritual growth. The first novel starts out a little slow, but a few chapters in, I couldn't put it down. (Sharla Fritz)

You are a Theologian: An Invitation to Know and Love God Well by Jen Wilkin and J.T. English covers some central Christian beliefs in an accessible and engaging way. I applaud a book that encourages believers to think of themselves as theologians. (Rachel Campbell)

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See. This well-researched novel reimagines the story of an upper-caste female doctor who lived in 15th century China. See weaves an earthy, compelling tale about a time, place, and culture with which I was unfamiliar. (Michelle Van Loon)

Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and the Myth of the Blessed Life by Amanda Held Opelt. Sometimes it’s hard to find blessings in work, marriage, parenting, community, church no matter how “good” we are. But bringing our suffering to light will draw us closer to God and guide us toward hope. A highly recommended read – I took many notes! (Carole Duff)

The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson. A revealing non-fiction book about the year before the Civil War broke out, the political gamesmanship, attitudes of the south toward the north, and random mistakes that contributed to the opening shots and the taking of Fort Sumter. (Judy Allen)

The Longevity Imperative: How to Build a Healthier and More Productive Society to Support Our Longer Lives by Andrew J. Scott. “The longer we maintain our health, our productivity and our sense of engagement the more options we have when we get older and the more we value longer lives. And it is not just our later lives that get better. With the prospect of more years ahead, we can do things differently today. We can rethink the way we live our whole life.” (Page 9) That sums it up. (Judy Allen)

The Anti-Greed Gospel by Malcolm Foley. Incredibly timely book. A great deal of why we find ourselves in this incredibly disturbing place as a country is due to greed—and the justification of greed—by those in the church. Lots of underlining as I read through this work. (Dorothy Greco)

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle. As an atheist, I didn’t read this classic as a child—I didn't even know the book existed—but it’s never too late to revisit one’s youth through the eyes of a master storyteller. L’Engle takes her readers on a “Wizard of Oz” type journey, weaving believable characters and fantastic plot into a spiritual tale about the fight between good and evil, light and dark. Christians know how it will end. A young adult classic. (Carole Duff)

Thunder Dog: The Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and Trust at Ground Zero by Michael Hingson and Susy Flory: The true story of a man born blind and his guide dog as they escape the burning World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Even though the tale may sound tragic, it highlights hope. It shows how the rare trust in the relationship between a man and his guide dog can inspire our faith in God. (Sharla Fritz)

A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko. Kevin and Pete McBride undertook a dangerous hike through the Grand Canyon "off the couch." The didn’t make it, but they learned, thanks to several kind and knowledgeable hikers who instructed, coached, and hiked with them the second time. Entertaining and good information about indigenous people who lived in the Grand Canyon hundreds of years ago and who still would if not for white people moving them out. (Judy Allen)

A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende. This book is easily one of my favorite reads of all time. Beautifully told historic fiction starting during the Spanish Civil War (1938) and carrying through 1994. (Dorothy Greco)

The Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner’s Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven by Amy-Jill Levine. Levine is a Jewish New Testament scholar (!) who combines great respect for Jesus with historical and cultural insight and a good dash of humor to help her Christian readers discover new riches in a familiar text. You may not agree with every one of Levine’s conclusions, but her readable work will definitely make you think. (Michelle Van Loon)

Holiness Here: Searching for God in the Ordinary Events of Everyday Life by Karen Stiller. Stiller describes holiness as simply moving closer to Christ. Holiness always seemed to be unreachable, way beyond me, and it probably is, but we can move closer to Jesus, which makes us more holy. (Judy Allen)

Living the Resurrection: The Risen Christ in Everyday Life by Eugene H. Peterson. Wonderful reflections about work and Sabbath, coming to the table for meals together, and community. Relationships in Him. What makes us Christians. Highly recommended. (Carole Duff) [Editor’s note: contributor Judy Allen also included this book on her list of recommendations!]:

Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond. Desmond's thesis is that poverty persists in America because "the rest of us benefit from it." It's a devastating and convicting book. If you care about social justice issues and how out of control capitalism damages the soul of our country, give this a read. (Dorothy Greco)

Sage Flicks

Recipes for Love and Murder (Acorn): A recipe columnist teams up with a young journalist to solve murders in South Africa. You'll find beauty in the scenery and the food while being intrigued with the who-done-it plots. (Sharla Fritz)

The Quilters (Netflix): This short documentary profiles a group of men in a Missouri maximum security prison who create beautiful custom quilts for kids in the foster care system. The documentary doesn’t offer an unrealistic tidy ending to the stories of the quilters featured in the film, but it offers something more profound – the opportunity to wrap a foster child they’ll never meet in a one-of-a-kind gift of love. (Michelle Van Loon)

Nonnas. (Netflix): Light, enjoyable flick, not without its emotionally manipulative moments. Best watched with an Italian. My husband is 100% Italian and his family has owned restaurants since he was a child. There were tears. (Dorothy Greco)

Fool Me Once (Netflix) is a tense and brooding 8-part adaptation of a Harlan Coben novel with some scenes filmed in the streets around where I live in the UK. Michelle Keegan’s powerful performance as the chief protagonist Maya Stern is supported by a talented cast. (Rachel Campbell)

C.B. Strike (Max): My husband and I liked this detective series. C.B. Strike is a struggling private detective--struggling not only in his business but because of his disability. He lost part of a leg in war combat. The characters are well-developed and the plots keep you guessing. There is some bad language, but not as much as some shows in this genre. (Sharla Fritz)

Miss Austen (PBS Passport) I found this short 4-part series very moving. The story is told from Cassandra, Jane's older sister's, perspective. I'm very much looking forward to seeing The Salt Path and Prime Minister so if any of you have watched these, please share if you liked them. (Dorothy Greco)

Somebody Feed Phil (Netflix): Phil Rosenthal, the creator of the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, is back with season 8 of his big-hearted food and travel show. This season, Phil and friends explore Amsterdam, the Basque region of Spain, Boston, Tblilsi (Georgia), Sydney & Adelaide, Vegas, Manilla, and Guaenstemala. It is a delight to watch him explore the world and make new friends. (Michelle Van Loon)

Harry Wild (Acorn): A retired literature professor teams up with a struggling high school kid to solve crimes. There's a hint of humor in the midst of the mysteries. (Sharla Fritz)

Written by Sage Forum contributors

Why not add these to your “to read” stack?

Wisdom Builds Her House by Carole Duff. This moving, redemptive memoir explores the way in which our family stories shape us. Watch for information about a companion journal to the book coming soon!

Divine Directions: How God Guides Your Path by Sharla Fritz. Perfect for group study, Sharla weaves the study of Biblical journeys with relatable contemporary experiences to help readers discern God’s next step in their lives.

Downsizing: Letting Go of Evangelicalism’s Nonessentials by Michelle Van Loon. This book explores a number of different streams that have been a part of Evangelicalism during the last 50 years, and asks the question of legacy of the movement: What needs to be left behind, and what is of enduring value. Preorder now to get your copy when it releases August 19th.

For the Love of Women: Uprooting and Healing Mysogyny in America by Dorothy Greco. From the book’s Amazon page: “Misogyny is not confined to the director's couch in Hollywood or certain old-boy networks. It's everywhere. And misogyny is neither morally neutral nor random. It's pernicious and calculated.” Dorothy offers a well-researched exploration of the topic. Preorder today - the book releases October 28th.

Photos by Liana Mikah, Seven Shooter, CrowN on Unsplash

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