Berntsen Library Blog

Our Favorite Books of 2021!

The annual roundup of favorite reads from our library staff is here! Take a look at some of the titles we read during 2021.

Titles:

Five Things Theologians Wish Biblical Scholars Knew, by Hans Boersma 

Five Things Biblical Scholars Wish Theologians Knew, by Scot McKnight

Genre: theology and biblical studies

Reader: Greg Rosauer

Why Greg loved the books:

These twin books represent an ongoing conversation amongst Christian theologians and biblical scholars. The distinction between theologians and biblical scholars is often not clear to those outside these areas of study. Indeed, there is a lot of overlap, but theology and biblical studies are usually considered distinct disciplines in modern academia. To oversimplify the distinction, biblical scholars are generally more concerned with the historical understanding of biblical texts, whereas theologians are more concerned with philosophical questions about God. Of course, in Christianity studying Scripture and thinking about God are inseparable activities. Both McKnight and Boersma are committed Christians that approach Scripture with faith in Christ. But how should Christian faith function in our interpretation of Scripture? Should we read Scripture like any other book? Or should we read it theologically? McKnight’s main concern is to let Scripture speak for itself and that entails a historical and inductive approach. Biblical scholars generally don’t want to let dogma determine the meaning of biblical texts. Yet as a committed Christian, Mcknight allows a measure of theology to inform interpretation. Boersma, on the other hand, advocates a thoroughly theological approach to Scripture. That is, understanding Scripture is not mainly about arriving at the historical meaning of the human author’s intention, but about knowing God in Christ. In practice, this means that there is a divine authorial intent which authorizes reading Scripture christologically (i.e., about Christ [see Luke 24:44]).  

Despite their differences, both authors share similar concerns about the nature and understanding of Scripture. The theological emphasis of Boersma, however, is especially needed in evangelical circles today. While evangelicals in the reformation tradition rightly prize knowing Scripture, there is—in my opinion—a tendency to turn the Bible into the object of devotion, rather than using it as the means to knowing God. As Boersma puts it, “A single-minded emphasis on authorial intent shifts the focus from Scripture’s spiritual telos to its historical point of origin. In doing so, it runs the real risk of bibliolatry: the substitution of a book for God in Christ.” This is an important point for me. Often evangelical biblical scholars emphasize history and story in such a way that centers the Bible as “the word of God,” while eschewing the eternal Word behind the historical. In doing so, we run the risk of confining God to history where to know him means mastery of a text and not an encounter with the living Christ.

Title: A Winter's Promise, by Christelle Dabos

Genre: Fantasy

Reader: Lindsey Brooks

Why Lindsey loved the book:

A Winter's Promise was originally written and published in French and has been translated into English by Hildegarde Serle. This whimsical fantasy story is studded with striking characters, unique settings, and at-times absurd plot developments. The main character, Ophelia, is thrust into a brutal new world away from her family and asked to risk everything for a man she doesn't love, let alone even like. Political intrigue, mistaken identity, magical illusions, and a fair dose of Shakespearean hijinks ensue. I found that the setting, plot, and characters of this book were constantly catching me off guard. The fantastical setting mixed with the menagerie of characters made for an "anything goes" mood that felt different from most fantasy books I have read. I was often reminded of the book (and movie rendition) of Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. I could definitely see this book being made into a Studio Ghibli movie! Is it a romance? An adventure? A mystery? A coming-of-age story? A political drama? I would say yes to all of them, at times! Despite the often chaotic plot, I did come to really care about the characters and what happened to them. I really appreciated the growth and development that Ophelia goes through from the beginning of the story to the end. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy stories, unique world building, tropes turned on their head, and a good Pride and Prejudice type love story (though you may need to read book two...and three...to see the culmination!).

In an unprecedented shift from her usual approach to books, Becky has actually read a book and written this review.

Title: Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir

Genre: Science Fiction

Reader: Becky Schleicher

Why Becky loved the book:

Ryland Grace wakes up in a spaceship light years from Earth. The problem is he doesn't remember who he is or what he's supposed to do. But whatever it is, it must be important, or he wouldn't have been sent on this mission with two other astronauts. Unfortunately, neither of them survived the journey, so he is all alone. And he is Earth's last hope for survival.

While the flashback format of the book made it a little harder to track at first, it definitely gives the book the depth you want to connect to the main character. The science fiction genre isn't always a first pick for me, but I found that most of the nerdy science stuff was mentally accessible and made sense in many ways. I don't know if books in this genre usually have "heart-warming" endings, but I would say this one does and so it could appeal to a broad spectrum of readers. It's an easy quick read that was very entertaining.

Title: A Fine and Private Place, by Peter S. Beagle

Genre: Magical Realism

Reader: Lindsey Brooks

Why Lindsey loved the book:

One of the reasons I decided to read this book was that the author was only 19 years old when he wrote it! I was astounded at the depth of story and fine writing craft represented in the book, regardless of the age of the writer. A Fine and Private Place is a story about three people, two of whom are dead. The story begins at a funeral, but it is still filled with beauty, hope, and even romance. All three characters have to learn how to move on, though they are headed towards very different destinations. The magical realism genre is one of my favorites, because it places you in very familiar settings and asks you to accept unfamiliar happenings as normal. For example, that a living man, a talking crow, and two ghosts can be friends in a world where there are normal things like staplers, grocery stores, and electric bills. Why can the living man see and talk to the ghosts when no one else can? How does he survive living in the graveyard? These are questions that are only vaguely answered, as the point of the story is to transcend the normal logic and order of our every-day world even while taking place in it. I was pulled along easily by the story of the man and the two ghosts, even though the setting stayed mostly the same and there was nothing very close to what I would call action. I wanted to know where they would end up, how they would grow and change, and I was not disappointed. This is a gentle, quiet, beautiful story that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys magical realism, memoir, or even fantasy. 

Title: Enter a Murderer, by Ngaio Marsh

Genre: Mystery

Reader: Nate Farley

Why Nate loved the book:

Marsh is a writer in the style of Agatha Christie except that her stories all have either a theatrical or artistic connection, and occasionally are set in New Zealand. Her primary investigator is Sir Roderick Alleyn (Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard) who gently works himself into his cases in a way that endears characters and the reader to him. I recommend these books to Mystery lovers because each plot is complicated enough to keep the reader thinking but engaging and contemporary in plot twists and dialog to be believable in the detective fiction style. It was amazing to discover these “who-done-it" gems from the past.