3 New Books That Will Make You Smile

It's good to smile. And it's good to laugh.

And our faith is FUNNY. It inspires smiles in a lot of ways, and these three books made me smile (and, in one case, laugh out loud A LOT). Enjoy!

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Saint: Why I Should Be Canonized Right Away, by Lino Rulli (Servant Books, 2013)

I'm a BIG fan of this book. Not only did I laugh out loud in ways both embarrassing and obnoxious, but I also stopped to consider some truths of my faith.

Like the fact that we are ALL supposed to be aiming for sainthood, not just talking about it. Not making excuses about why we can't. Not giving in to pressure that we won't ever make it. Not settling for purgatory.

From the publisher:

If you've been waiting for a saint that cries like a schoolgirl, was once an aspiring rapper, is a really good kisser, and rode an elephant in the circus...then your prayers have been answered!

Lino Rulli is hilarious, brutally honest, and ready for his canonization.Saint picks up where Sinner left off. Lino's stories of triumph and failure suggest that you might not be as big a sinner as you think. And that, with God's grace, you might just become a saint.

Tweet Inspiration: Faith in 140 Characters (or Less), by Mark Hart (Servant Books, 2013)

This is essentially a book of quotes, though the quotes are in 140 characters or less, Twitter-style. That appealed to me, as did the varied insights, wisdom, and humor they contained. It was both a snapshot and a light. It made me smile more than once (more than twice) and even made me chuckle out loud a time or three. I really enjoyed it and will be sharing it. Highly recommended.

From the publisher:

There are lots of ways to spread joy to others, and social media is a creative way to do it. Tweet Inspiration is a compact treasury of inspiration, with a good dose of humor, gathered from Mark Hart's extensive collection of tweets on faith and life in general. Scattered throughout the book are call-out boxes with Mark's expanded thoughts and insights on various topics.

Whether you have an active faith that needs to be strengthened, or are seeking to establish contact with God for the first time, you will find something here to help you find the God who is already seeking you.

Get ready to be surprised, inspired, and challenged—in 140 characters or less! #Youwillbeblessed.

a.k.a. Genius, by Marilee Haynes (middle grade fiction, Pauline Books & Media, 2013)

The thing about middle-grade fiction is that it's really fast to read. Don't let that fool you into thinking this has nothing to say, though.

The writing and editing in this book are top-of-the-line, and the message in it is one that I need to hear, and I'm a littttttttle older than the preteen audience this is written for.

Haven't you ever battled loneliness and misunderstanding? And hey, how about those fragrant little fumes that sometimes escape from your nether regions? (Nope, I don't know ANYTHING about that. NOT. A. THING.)

The story's believable, the characters lovable, and the overall package good. Now that I'm done with it, I'll be sneaking it onto my eight-year-old's shelves so she can enjoy it too.

From the publisher:

Thirteen-year-old Gabe Carpenter is just like any other middle-school boy at St. Jude Academy...well, except for the fact that based on his scores on some seventh grade test, he is considered a "genius" and is placed in an enrichment class with other gifted students. But he sure doesn't seem like a genius-after all, he can't even open his own locker and his brain stops functioning when Becca, his sister's best friend, comes around.

As if these problems aren't enough to deal with, he is convinced that one of his arms is longer than the other, he has yet to grow a mustache, and his second best friend is mad at him. Even worse, his nervousness causes some pretty embarrassing bodily functions. And at home, his dad expects him to be some kind of basketball star athlete instead of a science nerd who predicts the weather.

Join Gabe as he navigates the trying times of middle-school, wonders what it means to have brains, and learns what it truly means to be himself.

Be sure to check out our Book Notes archive. 

Copyright 2013, Sarah Reinhard