That's a wrap
I like seeing the ebbs and flows of what I have enjoyed consuming / what has shaped me each year. Perhaps I’ll retroactively share my lists from previous years at some point. For now, I hope you enjoy my top goodies of 2023. They are categorized as: books and everything else.
top books
fiction
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. A 30-year friendship that explores what love looks like especially in suffering and loss, and how gaming offers redemptive possibilities. I cannot get over this book.
Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes. A refreshing take on the Greek mythology of the tragic Medusa and gods too powerful, too abusive, and too petty, as told from the perspective of the women in the story.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. A fast-paced, humorous, and light-hearted sci-fi about an astronaut who awakes with amnesia in a spaceship and must figure out how to save humankind from total destruction.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. A charming friendship between a giant pacific octopus and the aquarium’s elderly custodian woman, both who have lost and loved more than meets the eye.
non-fiction
The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming by Henri Nouwen. It’s like reading Nouwen’s journal entries—so pure are his reflections as he unfolds the depth of God’s love for us through Rembrandt’s painting. He contends with: what is belonging? What, really, is Home?
Good and Beautiful and Kind: Becoming Whole in a Fractured World by Rich Villodas. I thoroughly enjoyed his first book a few years ago. A snippet from this one:
When spiritual vitality is measured by sin-avoidance, we deceive ourselves into thinking that we are following Jesus faithfully. But following Jesus is to be measured by love—love for God expressed in love for neighbor.
The Sabbath: Its Meaning for Modern Man by Rabbi Abraham Heschel. I’ve been slowly practicing how to stop, rest, contemplate, and delight. Who best to learn about shabbat than from the Jewish community.
Non-Toxic Masculinity: Recovering Healthy Male Sexuality by Zachary Wagner. A vulnerable reflection of his journey, while also looking back at the harmful affects of purity culture (how it's a form of prosperity gospel), and looking forward to a vision for men (pointing to God as Father).
Open to the Spirit: God in Us, God with Us, God Transforming Us by Scot McKnight. Pretty much everything God's been experientially teaching me lately. What an incredible ride it’s been.
Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brene Brown. Most of us can probably name only 3 emotions: happy, mad, sad. Brene walks us through 87.
Nearly finished and so far is everything I hoped it would be: The Meaning of Singleness: Retrieving an Eschatological Vision for the Contemporary Church by Danielle Treweek. Don’t be too scared of the subtitle! Marriage is good. Singleness is good. This book will help us understand better why.
And my top 3 memoirs.
comfort reads
Sometimes I just need the coziness of familiarity. Yet still spicing it up with these renditions:
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling narrated by Stephen Fry
Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austin narrated by Phoebe Reads a Mystery
Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis narrated by Kenneth Branaugh & co
illustrative
Drawn Together by Minh Le. A young Asian American boy spends the day with his grandfather. They bridge their language barrier through art and imagination.
Marcy's Journal: A Guide to Amphibia by Matt Braly. I have already made my love of this show known. Themes of friendship, growth, forgiveness & reconciliation, change, and sacrificial love—all in an unassuming cartoon about three 13-year-olds who are magically transported to a land of talking frogs (and newts and toads).
Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang. I love reading this to my 14-month-old nephew. We learn from Jim Panzee that sometimes it’s okay to not being okay.
Wherever You Go, I Want You to Know by Melissa Kruger. Another nephew book that is like a fun prayerful benediction.
Spy x Family by Tatsuya Endo. My first manga. If my nephew was a girl, he very likely would have been named Anya.
Little Red by Bethan Woollvin. A visually striking and hysterical take on Red Riding Hood.
bible translations
We are spoilt for choice as English speakers. I’m grateful. Two versions that give me fresh perspective:
First Nations Version by Terry M. Wildman. Here is John 3:16:
The Great Spirit loves this world of human beings so deeply he gave us his Son—the only Son who fully represents him. All who trust in him and his way will not come to a bad end, but will have the life of the world to come that never fades—full of beauty and harmony. Creator did not send his Son to decide against the people of this world, but to set them free from the worthless ways of the world.
The Message Version by Eugene Peterson. Particularly listening to entire books in one sitting, like James or Isaiah.
top everything else
songs
Soul’s Anthem (It Is Well) by Tori Kelly
Godly Love by Sam Ock
Breathe by Maverick City
Happy in Jesus by Hey, Barnabas!
Ancient of Days by CityAlight
no-skip albums on repeat
Endless Praise by Charity Gayle
Seven by Brooke Ligertwood
live performances
Psychobitch written by (my dear friend!) Amanda Chong. I sent this text to a few friends who had seen the play before I did as a summation of my experience:
me at psychobitch: 🤣😭🤣😭🤣😭😭😭😭💛💛💛💛
We need more incredible women like Amanda who are skillful in their craft of storytelling (and also so winsomely weave in the gospel!) The heart of the play: you are worthy to be fully known and fully loved.
Frozen: The Musical by Jennifer Lee. Not knowing what to expect, my friend and I bought the absolute cheapest of nosebleed seats. It was still spectacular—the production to the nuanced scenes that filled what I always felt like were missing gaps in the movie.
podcasts / talks
I’ve already mentioned the profoundness of The Witch Trials.
Tim Keller’s 1991 sermon series on marriage (plus a few talks in later years that contain a fuller understanding of singleness and sexuality).
Jackie Hill Perry’s sermon on Hannah—her heartache and honest wrestling with God shows us what the Christian life is all about.
movies & tv
Spiderman: Across the Universe directed by Joaquim Dos Santos. A feast for the senses. The animation shows, not tells. That scene of reconciliation between Gwen Stacey and her dad? Out of this world.
Barbie directed by Greta Gerwig. Sheer cotton-candy delight. Yet the main question Gerwig asks us is existentially: what does it mean to be human?
Elemental directed by Peter Sohn. Beautiful take on inter-generational immigrant family dynamics. I feel seen. (Side note: I generally think romcoms are cringe at best and detrimental at worst, but I 100% ship Ember and Wade as a healthy couple relationship!)
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel (Season 5) created by Amy Sherman-Palladino. I have adored this show over its run. Wardrobe, writing, pacing, humor, set design, everything. It asks of its characters: what is worth living for?
gaming
I am a niche gamer. I either play socially with my siblings. Or I play 2-D hand-drawn platform-combat-adventure side-scrolling metroidvanias. With an atmospheric soundtrack. And adorable NPCs. Both games explore the theme of sacrificial love.
Hollow Knight by Team Cherry. Rewarding. The perfect game.
Ori (1 and 2) by Moon Studios. Gorgeous. Endearing story.
Thank you for reading! What did you nerd out over this year?
love,
reb