By Brooke Luby
Thanks to author Shauna Niequist, Wrecked is offering three, free signed copies of her book Cold Tangerines. Just answer the question at the bottom of this post to enter, and we’ll randomly pick three winners in a week. Find out more at the end of this review:
When I first picked up Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist, I have to admit that I was a little skeptical. I was sort of expecting a “Chicken soup for the soul” flavored book, overly emotional and slightly cheesy.
At first I was a little annoyed at some of the inane “girly” details she would talk about, but as I delved into the book, it took me by surprise.
Shauna’s vulnerable essays of the bits and pieces of her life made me feel like we were sitting in a coffee shop as she shared her story with me. Her words drew me in and took me on a journey with her, zooming in on certain moments that would normally seem mundane, but brought out different insight.
As I reached the end of Cold Tangerines, I felt like we could be close friends. I felt like she had given me a priceless gift — a reminder that life itself is a gift and worthy of being celebrated.
I recommend this book to anyone who is longing for a deeper sense of simplicity in enjoying everyday life — it’s not just for women, either. Her style is Donald Miller-like with its “rambling” memoir style, but somehow there’s a different, more hopeful (and obviously, more feminine) flavor. Niequist’s perspective is wise, yet child-like, and her writing will capture you with its simple beauty, as an excerpt from her chapter “Waiting,” shows:
…I choose to believe that there is nothing more sacred or profound than this day. I choose to believe that there may be a thousand big moments embedded in this day, waiting to be discovered like tiny shards of gold.
It is rare for a Christian author to take you into such truth without a hint of being preachy. In her day-to-day struggles with her body image, in her relationships with her church and family, in the welcoming of her son into the world, Shauna invites you into the deepest depths of her life. She reminds you to stop and see the beauty and wonder of life. Woven throughout the book is a colorful streamer proclaiming that celebration of the little things in life brings a real joy, and a strength to overcome the difficult times. I laughed out loud at moments and was moved to tears at others.
In the chapter, “Needle and Thread,” (titled after a Sleeping At Last song) Shauna poetically states:
Art slips past our brains and straight into our bellies. It weaves itself into our thoughts and feelings and the open spaces in our souls, and it allows us to live more and say more and feel more.
I had that feeling as I was reading this book, cracks in my souls were indeed opening up and I could see the light coming in, illuminating the beauty that is already all around me. I walked away from reading Cold Tangerines feeling hopeful, refreshed and a little bit lighter.
****
To buy the book, click the following link to Amazon: Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life. To find out more about Shauna Niequist and to read a free chapter of Cold Tangerines, visit: Shaunaiequist.com.
Also, if you liked this, check out our video interview with Shauna Niequist.
“What’s one way that you celebrate the extraordinary nature of everyday life?”
Brooke lives in the middle of nowhere in east Texas, trying to live, understand, and write about Grace. She makes great pasta salad. Check out her blog.