In the spotlight are the books I read in November. Reading will slow down for me in December, but I expect to roar into the new year with renewed enthusiasm.

One Summer: America, 1927, by Bill Bryson — I’ve been enthralled by the 1920’s ever since I found my cousin’s diaries and letters written in 1927. Then I found Bryson’s book, which documents some of the significant events of that year: Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic, Babe Ruth’s 60 home runs, the sculpting of Mount Rushmore, the release of “The Jazz Singer” — the first “talkie” — to name a few. Unfortunately, my cousin didn’t make the pages of One Summer, but reading this provided a wonderful backdrop to her preserved memories.

All Things New, by John Eldredge — I listened to the author read a few chapters of this book on his podcast (Conversations with John Eldredge and the Team at Ransomed Heart) and had to read the complete book. Not many non-fiction books can make my heart race with excitement, but Eldredge’s beautiful portrayal of the future new heaven and new earth was thrilling.

Holy Roar, by Darren Whitehead and Chris Tomlin — For our one word “praise”, the Hebrew language has seven words. In this small volume, Whitehead breaks down praise into seven different ways it can be expressed. God enjoys them all. Some of Tomlin’s lyrics are included at the end of each chapter that embody the kind of praise described. I hope in heaven we get to speak Hebrew and Greek. They are such rich languages with layers of meaning and beautiful depth.