The Books That Shaped Me This Year

Celebrating One Year on Substack

My first year on Substack went by quickly. I am stunned to be at the year mark. What a beautiful journey it has been so far. I’ve met wonderful people—many of you I consider friends and hope to meet you one day. Some of you I already have. This community brought joy and friendship to my life when I needed it the most. I will be celebrating all month with “substacky” posts and links.

Today, I’d like to feature the four books that shaped me this Substack year—the books and authors who challenged me to reshape my thinking positively and inspired me to take actionable steps in my life. I present them to you in the order I read them.

#1 The Evangelical Imagination by

Karen Swallow Prior

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This should be no surprise to my frequent readers as I often quote Prior’s work in my writing—often enough that my husband teased me good-naturedly for being a “fan girl". I told him, “I’m not a fan girl, I’m thankful.” Truly I am. Not only for her incredible work in “The Evangelical Imagination” but also for her articles and Substack essays. You will continue to see me share her work. Here is an excerpt of the book review I wrote on Amazon that sums up EI's impact on my life:

“In chapter six, Prior teaches; in chapter nine, she grieves; and in chapter ten, she preaches. It was all good, but those chapters were particularly poignant for me, with an honorable mention to chapters 3 and 4—both hit. Rarely does a fiction book make me cry, and since this reads at a collegiate level, I initially doubted that this book would draw emotions out of me. I was so wrong. In some chapters, I wish I had pearls to clutch; in others, I cried because I saw myself within the pages. Prior made me care, and I am grateful and changed.”

Thanks for all your good work, Karen.

#2 Baptistland by

Christa Brown

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I discovered Christa’s work on X about a year ago when there was a lot of buzz around her book Baptistland. I was finishing seminary so I did not have time to read it, but I listened to it on Audible. With each chapter I became braver and braver. By the end of the book, I messaged her to ask for guidance on reporting abuse. She was so kind as to point me in the right direction and chitchat with me occasionally. Because she was brave, I became brave and reported two instances of abuse. I am so grateful to her. Here is an excerpt from my Substack review of Baptistland:

“Christa is a voice for those unable to speak about their abuse and for someone like myself who is trying to make sense of all that happened as a child and adult. For us, though not the same story, we recognize ourselves within the pages—the family dysfunction, the multiple abuses and harassment, the emotional deaths, the struggle to overcome, and by God’s grace—some redemption and joy.”

Christa, thank you for using your voice to bring light into dark places.

#3 The Understory by

Lore Wilbert

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The Understory is one of the most beautifully written books I’ve read. Lore’s work in the book can be described in one phrase: generous giving through written word. Lore invites the reader into her world, not to talk incessantly about herself, but to show the reader what they can learn about themselves. One of the most important things I learned in her book was how to do a breath prayer. Many sleepless nights I have finally drifted off breathing in, “I am here.” Breathing out, “And You are here with me.” Here is an excerpt from a review I wrote:

“I began to read the book with no expectations and found myself captivated only two pages in. Lore takes the reader on a journey with her through the woods and instead of looking up at snowcapped or fir green mountains, smelling flowers, or watching colorful birds; we are examining the trampled things, the seemingly dead things. Yet the dead things are actually teaming with life, new growth is springing up and Lore asks us to consider it.”

Thank you for your generosity Lore. You are a dear person.

#4 Break Blow Burn & Make by E. Lily Yu.

Break Blow Burn & Make came at the right time during my Substack journey. Yu encouraged me as a writer to write from a place of love. I was getting stuck in a writing rut, feeling darkness take over. I was fighting darkness then, and her book encouraged me to use my voice to spread truth, love, and beauty. It changed the trajectory of my writing. I don’t know how to describe this book other than ABSOLUTELY STUNNING. Here is what I said:

That is God, my friends. He is glorious. He takes my breath away again and again. He cares, loves, encourages, protects, and calls —and uses the most creative ways to do it. I’m scared, yet I know I have a God who tells me, “Fear Not.” As Yu states,

“I have to trust that God will give me what I need to complete the task at hand, whether book or life, if I but ask. I do these things in doubt, in fear, in trembling, in darkness, sometimes in bitterness and despair, But I do them.

Thank you E. Lily Yu. Your voice is needed in this world.

I’m Changed

Not only am I changed for the better (thanks Wicked) because I’ve read these books, but I am also changed for reading your words. Those of you who have newsletters, I read them and I appreciate what each of you add to my life weekly. Look out for newsletter suggestions all this week in my “extra sauce” section.

Extra Sauce

• Thank you for praying for my sleep. Things are going better. I’ve had just a little trouble this week due to some health situations. In a couple of months, I will have surgery that should help—more on that later, just know that I’m not on death’s door or anything like that. Please pray for healthy days ahead.

• On Friday I’m headed to Boston to meet with a team I’ve been doing research with at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary on Suicide Stigma in Religious Communities. I’ll be meeting up with a fellow Substacker…hmmm…who could it be?

• Here are my favorite Substack writers to read in the morning for devotions or calm reading:

  Tabitha McDuffee
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  A.J. Swoboda
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  Nijay K. Gupta
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  Janell Downing
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