Recent Reads: When Women Were Birds by Terry Tempest Williams

When Women Were Birds

What the book's about: When Women Were Birds is about finding your voice. Rather than simply write an instructional book, Williams teaches her readers how to find their voice by sharing the story of how she found hers. To do this, Williams recounts stories that illustrate her relationship with her mother. In particular, she focuses on how the discovery of her mother's journals taught her about voice. 

Why I read this book: I read this book as part of an online writing class I'm currently taking, Story 101, taught by Elora Rameriz.

My favorite quotes from the book:

- "To withhold words is power. But to share our words with others openly an honestly is also power."

- "Word by word, the language of women so often begins with a whisper." 

- "In times of war, survival depends on listening to the suffering." 

- "Finding one's voice is a process of finding one's passion."

- "In a voiced community, we all flourish." 

Thumbs up or thumbs down? Thumbs up. 

Who I'd recommend this book for: This book will resonate with those who enjoy memoir and in particular, with those interested in learning more about the craft of writing or exploring environmentalism and faith.

Jen Bradbury on Youth Ministry

Jen serves as the Minister of Youth and Family at Atonement Lutheran Church in Barrington, Illinois. A veteran youth worker, Jen holds an MA in Youth Ministry Leadership from Huntington University. Jen is the author of The Jesus Gap: What Teens Actually Believe about Jesus (The Youth Cartel), The Real Jesus (The Youth Cartel), Unleashing the Hidden Potential of Your Student Leaders (Abingdon), and A Mission That Matters (Abingdon). Her writing has also appeared in YouthWorker Journal, Immerse, and The Christian Century. Jen is also the Assistant Director of Arbor Research Group where she has led many national studies. When not doing ministry or research, she and her husband, Doug, and daughter, Hope, can be found traveling and enjoying life together.

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A Mission That Matters: How To Do Short-Term Missions Without Long-Term Harm

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Unleashing the Hidden Potential of your Student Leaders

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The Real Jesus

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The Jesus Gap

What Teens Actually Believe About Jesus

Based on National Research

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