Author: Andrew B McGowan

2015 in Review (& End of Year and Statistics Surveys)

Posted December 31, 2015 in Life, Reading / 10 Comments

Big Things That Happened in 2015

  • I mentioned the school talent show in which the teachers sang Yellow Submarine.
  • I worked at a Catholic summer camp for the summer and had a blast. I wrote about it and shared some pictures.
  • I survived over a week of blinding smoke due to forest fires. It was insane. I talked about that here.
  • I had my very first ever Blogversary which was exciting.

Analysis of Books I Read in 2015

This was the very first year that I ever kept track of the books that I read. My stats have amazed me.

  • I read 141 books.
  • Almost all of the books I read this year were 4 or 5 stars. I must be pretty good at choosing books I know I’ll enjoy.
  • Over two-thirds of the books I read this year were from the library or books I own.
  • Over half of the books I read this year were hard copied (Paperback or Hardcover) while over a quarter were ebooks. Audiobooks made up the rest.
  • About a quarter of the books I read this year were debuts.

I made some pretty nifty looking pie charts in Excel (you can just pretend they are totally awesome).

2015 formats2015 covers2015 star ratings2015 debuts2015 source

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January 2015 Monthly Wrap-Up

Posted January 31, 2015 in Reading / 2 Comments

The first month of 2015 is completed. That just sounds crazy. I am finally remembering to write 2015, at least most of the time.

Things that Happened in January

  • My sister was home from college over break.
  • We took my sister back to college and I was able to visit a WalMart and a bookstore and more than a two lane road!
  • Montana Winter Fair started Friday and ends Sunday. The best thing about this is the library used book sale. Paperbacks for 25-50¢ and hardcovers for $1. It is amazing… when they have books I want to read rather than just westerns and such.

Books I Read in January

The Web by Megan ChanceThe Lightning Thief by Rick RiordanThe One by Kiera Cass
Ancient Christian Worship by Andrew B McGowanLoved As I Am by Miriam James HeidlandA Book of Uncommon Prayer by Brian DoyleAtlantia by Ally Condie
My Sisters the Saints by Colleen Carroll CampbellThe Fellowship of the Ring by J R R TolkienPoison Study by Maria V Snyder.
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Review: Ancient Christian Worship

Posted January 22, 2015 in Reading, Review / 0 Comments

Review: Ancient Christian WorshipAncient Christian Worship by Andrew B McGowan
Publisher: Baker Academic (2014)
eARC (320 pages)
Via: NetGalley
Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2015 Alphabet Soup, Read 2015

Synopsis

This introduction to the origins of Christian worship illuminates the importance of ancient Christian worship practices for contemporary Christianity. Andrew McGowan, a leading scholar of early Christian liturgy, takes a fresh approach to understanding how Christians came to worship in the distinctive forms still familiar today. Deftly and expertly processing the bewildering complexity of the ancient sources into lucid, fluent exposition, he sets aside common misperceptions to explore the roots of Christian ritual practices–including the Eucharist, baptism, communal prayer, preaching, Scripture reading, and music–in their earliest recoverable settings. Students of Christian worship and theology as well as pastors and church leaders will value this work.

Find the book: Goodreads, Amazon, Book Depository

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December 2014 Monthly Wrap-Up

Posted December 31, 2014 in Faith, Reading / 2 Comments

Since it is the end of another month, I have decided to do a monthly wrap-up post. Behold, my month in bulleted lists.

Things that Happened in December

Books I Read in December

the elitesnowthe miracle of lourdesmockingjay
time's edgean introduction to the vocation of consecrated virginity lived in the worldchastity is for lovers
esther: royal beautythe case for Christmassplinteredblood of a stone
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