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Book Girl
Book Girl: A Journey Through the Treasures and Transforming Power of a Reading Life | Sarah Clarkson
28 posts | 22 read | 32 to read
When you hear a riveting story, does it thrill your heart and stir your soul? Do you hunger for truth and goodness? Do you secretly relate to Belle's delight in the library in Beauty and the Beast? If so, you may be on your way to being a book girl. Books were always Sarah Clarkson's delight. Raised in the company of the lively Anne of Green Gables, the brave Pevensie children of Narnia, and the wise Austen heroines, she discovered reading early on as a daily gift, a way of encountering the world in all its wonder. But what she came to realize as an adult was just how powerfully books had shaped her as a woman to live a story within that world, to be a lifelong learner, to grasp hope in struggle, and to create and act with courage. She's convinced that books can do the same for you. Join Sarah in exploring the reading life as a gift and an adventure, one meant to enrich, broaden, and delight you in each season of your life as a woman. In Book Girl, you'll discover: how reading can strengthen your spiritual life and deepen your faith, why a journey through classic literature might be just what you need (and where to begin), how stories form your sense of identity, how Sarah's parents raised her to be a reader--and what you can do to cultivate a love of reading in the growing readers around you, and 20+ annotated book lists, including some old favorites and many new discoveries. Whether you've long considered yourself a reader or have dreams of becoming one, Book Girl will draw you into the life-giving journey of becoming a woman who reads and lives well.
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SassyBookworm
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Looks like I have a new book blanket to snuggle with 🥰

#SassyBookworm😏 #MerryChristmas #BookBlanket

Gissy 😍👌 4mo
79 likes1 comment
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JenDR
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Going through a little phase currently where I am reading about reading. Just finished Dear Fahrenheit 451 (which I loved) and am now starting this one. Only problem with reading about reading is how fast you TBR pile grows.

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Lissa00
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I‘m thinking about deleting my #netgalley account. I am so far behind and I feel like it is adding stress and obligation to my reading life. Anyone else quit the NetGalley game? And did you regret it?

rockpools I haven‘t but I understand why you might. I‘ve cut right back on challenges this year - we don‘t need stress in our reading lives (get enough of that everywhere else) - good luck, whatever you decide to do! 2y
EvieBee I did and I haven‘t regretted it. I have found that I have a little more respect for a finished copy whether I buy or borrow. Probably has more to do with no pressure to read. I hate deadlines. I should add that I do throw myself into goodreads giveaways when I really want a book and don‘t want to wait for publication. I‘ve won quite a few! (edited) 2y
Lissa00 @EvieBee This is what I was hoping to hear! I used to love having added pressure to read books that I may not otherwise read, but it‘s gotten overwhelming for sure. 2y
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Lissa00 @rockpools Thanks! I agree…who needs a hobby that causes stress. 2y
Tera66 I've been considering this myself. Actually was debating on doing it tonight. 2y
Lissa00 @Tera66 I ended up deleting my account yesterday. It is freeing to be able to just read anything and not have a list…but I‘m sure I‘ll miss requesting arcs eventually🤪 2y
Tera66 @Lissa00 I deleted mine last night too.😁 It relieved so much stress about my reading for next month. I may miss browsing upcoming books, but glad I did it.😃 2y
44 likes7 comments
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TheBiasedBibliophile
Panpan

The author pushed religion way too much. It is one thing to have a chapter about books that she believed strengthened her faith, but it is another to mention religion in practically every other sentence. If you‘re going to write a book about books that relate to your faith, then mention that in the synopsis. When she wasn‘t talking about religion, she was boasting about having gone to Oxford or recommending the same authors over and over again...

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IhoardBOOKS
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Mehso-so

While I enjoy listening and learning of other book lovers book journey a lot of the book was a focus on Christian spirituality, which I have nothing against but the lists were kinda uninspired for me as far as the books recommended by her. 🤷‍♀️

It was still fun leaning into the joy and anecdotes of learning to love books, and those moments shared at home with family.

An okay listen but if I had to hear the word Oxford one more time... 😂

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jdiehr
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Pickpick

I was worried at first because Clarkson wrote the introduction and first couple of chapters as if she were talking to someone who was brand new to reading.

But once she got into her recommendations, I started adding to my TBR list.

And the artwork was right up my alley.

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Sleepswithbooks
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Facebook knows me 😂

Tanisha_A 😁 4y
57 likes1 comment
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kspenmoll
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#GratefulReads #Day2 #favoritegenre
This soooo challenged me as I could not choose one favorite genre. So here is my top favorites:
📚historical fiction
📚books about books, both fiction & non-fiction.
📚memoir
📚mystery- but not thrillers (scary nightmares) both short story & novels.
📚 historical or political non-fiction.

OriginalCyn620 🙌🏼📚❤️ 4y
Nicos Hi. Newbie here. Where do you find out about the different hashtag challenges/themes ? Thanks. 4y
Linsy @Nicos Welcome!! Head over to @LitsyHappenings! 4y
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Linsy I get you!! I have many favorite genres. How could I choose?? 4y
Nicos @Linsy Great, thank you ! 4y
kspenmoll @Nicos Welcome to Litsy! @Linsy steered you right! Hope #LitsyHappenings helps you! 4y
kspenmoll @Linsy ❤️❤️ 4y
59 likes7 comments
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ValerieAndBooks
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Mehso-so

Author also has a blog. I think that‘s why the chapters often felt like a collection of blog posts (which may be the case), and many repeated recommendations of the same authors/books throughout. That‘s why I give this a so-so. Her religion/theology also (gently) colors a lot of her bookish opinions & choices, which may not be for everyone — hence maybe best as a library borrow 1st. I made note of some of her recs, so my TBR list has grown 😊.

67 likes1 stack add
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ValerieAndBooks
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Today‘s poolside reading is this one from the library. Author is far more religious than I am but I‘m curious what she has to say in this book about books.

Hollie What a lovely cover! 5y
68 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Sarah83
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Couldn't resist this cute book merch 🤩😍🤩😍 maybe I just bought some stuff for some other Littens aswell 😍🤩😍🤩 #sorrynotsorry

Gissy So cute but I don't understand the message 5y
Gissy I love the bookmark, well everything is cute! 5y
Sarah83 @Gissy how should you understand? It's German. 😁 It means 'book girl and proud of it' 😍 5y
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Gissy Well, now I can say that I know German ☺️Very pretty very cute! 5y
Sarah83 @Gissy yes. I love their design. 😍 5y
rubyslippersreads Adorable! 😍 5y
Sarah83 @rubyslippersreads I really love their collection 😍 5y
57 likes7 comments
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kaykay521
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Mehso-so

Meh, there were parts of this book I loved, especially her explanation of discernment. Just because a book has questionable content does not mean Christians should automatically stay away. The book lists were interesting, but pretty heavy on religion which was not what I was going for.

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kaykay521
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A girl who reads is a girl who learns 💗💗💗

20 likes1 stack add
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KathyWheeler
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Pickpick

This book about books comes at reading from a mindfulness and Christian perspective. The thing I really liked about it is that she proscribes nothing; instead, she says, you should only ban books from your reading if you feel they will make you stumble in your Christian faith — it‘s personal. Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings are both on her recommended reading lists. This book is probably better read than listened to because of those lists.

KathyWheeler Also, because she studies theology, there are a good number of theological books on her list. I‘m not interested in those, but I am in her other recommendations. 5y
hes7 I listened to this, too, but I‘m glad I also have the actual book, since it made my TBR grow so much. 🤦🏼‍♀️ 5y
KathyWheeler @hes7 I‘m going to buy the physical book. 5y
25 likes1 stack add3 comments
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KathyWheeler
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First day of #bookfitnesschallenge. Results:
1/ walked 3.17 miles
2/ listened to Book Girl

@wanderinglynn

wanderinglynn Way to go! 🙌🏻 5y
RadicalReader Nothing like walking and listening to audiobooks 5y
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Clwojick Woohoo! This is awesome! I love those route trackers. I used one for the first time today with my Pacer app. 💜 5y
BarbaraJean This book sounds so good! Stacking! And what a lovely coastal walk. 😊 5y
KathyWheeler @Clwojick I do too. 5y
KathyWheeler @BarbaraJean For some reason, I wasn‘t aware of the Christian perspective but I‘m liking it. 5y
BookwormAHN Nice job 👏🏻 5y
Kaye 💚. Good distance ! (edited) 5y
alisiakae Great job! Beautiful walking spot. 💜 5y
hes7 Nice job! 👏🏻 Looks like a great walk. 5y
Megabooks 👍🏻👍🏻💐🎉 5y
Caterina Great job! And beautiful pics, thanks for sharing! 5y
30 likes1 stack add13 comments
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KathyWheeler
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Listening to this tonight. I hope I like it.

32 likes1 stack add
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Sward7

New pen pal style book club. 12 members- each picks a book and journals thoughts, questions, quotes, etc. At end of each month, all members mail book and journal to next person. 12 books, 12 journals, and 12 new pen pals. We have four groups of 12 already created and started. Need three more members to finalize 5th group. Interested?
#penpalbookclub

the_book_hoarder Hi, I'm interested in joining, but I need to know if it's US only, because I'm from India. 5y
Sward7 Yes, we have an international group. Send me an email and I‘ll reply with all the details 5y
coffeewithbooks Is this going on? 4y
9 likes3 comments
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MaggieCarr
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Mehso-so

This one won't be for everyone. Sarah's views are faith-filled and her parallels to what she reads and her years of theology drive the book. Literally the only other book I can compare it to is Ozma's The Reading Promise. It's like a one sided book recommendation list based on her upbringing and time at Oxford.

Traci1 Hmmm. I have this one on hold on Libby. I'm about 6 weeks out. Based on your review I may cancel the hold. 5y
44 likes1 comment
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scripturient
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Bailedbailed

I‘m giving up. This is a perfect example of what happens when the synopsis on the back doesn‘t fully say what the book is actually about. What I expected: a memoir/ode to reading. What I got: something that is so laden with religious undertones that it feels like scripture. I‘m totally fine when people are religious BUT does every 2nd sentence in a book about books have to include the words holy spirit, grace, faith, or gift of God? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Tamra 😑 I don‘t enjoy that either. 5y
saresmoore Blurg. That‘s misleading. 5y
Lola I bought this in a bundle that included Anne Bogel‘s I‘d Rather Be Reading and the book I‘ll tag here. All are published by Baker, which is a Christian publisher. I was concerned about this one and the one I‘m tagging in the comment. Anne‘s is the most secular of the three. Not hopeful now about 5y
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tracey38 That's disappointing. 5y
Weaponxgirl I did the same thing with this. Thought it looked good then got a little way in and went nope not for me. 5y
JamieArc Glad for the heads up! 5y
Brooke_H Oooohhh, thank you! That doesn‘t sound like it‘s for me. 5y
GA_Bookworm07 Sounds awesome 5y
Blaire Yes, thank you for the heads up. Wouldn‘t be for me. 5y
117 likes1 stack add9 comments
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SheReadsAndWrites
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Ok #littens These are the best candles ever. They are all based on books so they are a must have for book lovers like us. 🤓❤️ These showed up on my doorstep today and it's rainy and so perfect to light them and READ! https://www.frostbeardstudio.com
#booklove #candles #rainyday

Redwritinghood Totally agree! I have the two on the right also. 5y
Clare-Dragonfly I love the cheeky names! 5y
SheReadsAndWrites The names are my favorite... @Clare-Dragonfly 5y
SheReadsAndWrites Aren't they wonderful! 🥰 @Redwritinghood 5y
32 likes4 comments
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scripturient
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Started Book Girl this morning and though Clarkson sometimes sounds a bit too spiritual for my taste, I really like it so far.

kspenmoll Thanks; have read the Gaiman & have the one you are reading now. Maybe up for me soon! 5y
phatsallylee Book girl sounds interesting. I will keep an eye out for your final review. 5y
tracey38 I have not heard of Book Girl but it sounds interesting! 5y
126 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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BibliophileLibrarian
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BibliophileLibrarian
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So this in at the beginning of the book and I just LOVE this picture because it represents all of us. My dream is to have a grand library where I have to climb a ladder to reach for a beloved friend.

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BibliophileLibrarian
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I have become fascinated by the Reading life, in general. Why do some of us love to read while others shy away from reading? Book One of this journey is Book Girl.

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BookofWords
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Books about books, what more could I ask for???
Reading is my escape. My dream is to have a library in my house! 🤓 📖 📚

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Pam.Kokomo
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Pickpick

A book about books, and by the lovely Sarah Clarkson. Can‘t get any better than this.

8 likes3 stack adds