Books Completed This Week:
- Where Wolves Don’t Die by Anton Treuer
- The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
- An American Sunrise by Joy Harjo
Three books, three five-star reads! Let’s dive into this week’s highlights.
1. Where Wolves Don’t Die by Anton Treuer (★★★★★)
This was my first encounter with Anton Treuer’s work, and I didn’t know what to expect. I was drawn to this book after reflecting on my recent experience with two Ojibwe teens in our church’s youth ministry. One of them shared her hesitation about being involved in what her grandfather called “the white man’s religion.” This sparked my desire to better understand Ojibwe culture and the concepts of intergenerational trauma and “blood memory.”
Treuer, an Ojibwe scholar and cultural advocate, has dedicated his career to preserving the Ojibwe language and sharing his people’s stories. This gripping tale is heartfelt, inspiring, and beautifully written. I won’t spoil anything, but I highly recommend it to anyone who loves fiction. This book has left such a mark that I’ve added all of Treuer’s works to my reading list for the year.
2. The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (★★★★★)
This long-awaited read has been on my Goodreads “want to read” list for years. Bonhoeffer’s life story, including his potential involvement in plots to overthrow Hitler, is fascinating. A German Lutheran theologian, his writings continue to challenge and inspire Christians across denominations.
While I expected to find points of disagreement, juxtaposing my American Pentecostal perspective with his German Lutheran context offered more alignment than conflict. His thorough exploration of opposing theological viewpoints was occasionally hard to follow—at times, it was unclear whether he was advocating for a position or playing devil’s advocate. Even so, this was an incredible read. I initially rated it four stars but quickly revised it to five. This book is essential reading for the modern Christian.
3. An American Sunrise by Joy Harjo (★★★★★)
This was my introduction to Joy Harjo, the first Native American Poet Laureate of the United States. Her work was beautiful and heartbreaking, offering an accessible blend of poetic prose and verse that even those who “don’t read poetry” could appreciate.
I’ve often heard critiques of non-rhyming poetry, but Harjo’s work challenges such narrow definitions of poetry. Her poignant reflections on Native American history and identity moved me deeply. As someone currently working with Native American youth in my church, this book provided additional insights into some of the common experiences of Native peoples in the United States and Canada. This is one book among many that has helped to build my empathy and a better understanding of their perspectives. Harjo’s prose is a reminder of the power of storytelling to bridge gaps and build connections across cultures.
Looking Ahead
This week’s reads have been transformative. These books enriched my understanding and experience of faith, culture, art, and history. I can’t wait to see what next week brings. I’m expecting another book of poetry, another Anton Treuer book, a graphic novel, a collection of short stories, and who knows what else.
Final Notes
The book links at the beginning of this blog post will take you to Bookshop.org where you can choose a local bookstore to purchase from. Please support authors by buying from them directly or through a local bookstore when possible. If you have any books to recommend, please let me know!
If you missed week one (and a half) of this series, read it here.
