First of all, my favorite novel of the last few months has been Bee Season by Myla Goldberg. Check it out.
Second of all: I'm currently working on a book review for one of my Wheaton summer classes. The book is Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald. It is a book to be approached skeptically. MacDonald has 35 years of pastoring experience in New England, and his book has impressive endorsements. However, the book is a well-packaged national bestseller ?updated for the 21st century? with a study guide included, and I tend to be wary of savvy marketing techniques. The inner flap of the book cover promises that the book will lead you to ?true success ? a peace-filled, ordered inner world.? Having seen too many well-marketed books promising three simple steps to victory in one area or another of life, I always - and I think, justifiably - approach such books skeptically.
However, I've been really wonderfully surprised by this book. MacDonald talks about the basics, but in a way that is both refreshingly graceful and disciplined. It's a convicting book. I recommend it (to everyone, that is, except people like my Mom, who already has everything in it mastered. You don't need to bother with it :-)).