This book felt like reading a piece of my own life. I am definitely what the author calls a Book Girl, and I feel like we could be friends. I am so thankful to both of my parents for this passion. Especially my mother who modeled a love of reading for me and taught me to read at a young age. To this day, we sometimes read the same books and exchange favorites!

This is not a typical book. It is not really a memoir about the author’s life nor is it just a list of books to add to your pile. It is a bit of both of these things and so much more - a book memoir of sorts. While she is not comprehensive in her list of books (this would be pretty impossible), she is very thorough in providing a large variety of books that helped her through different seasons of life. Not only does she provide book lists and brief summaries; she also shows the reader how books can be an asset to their individual faith. She does this by sharing how they have been an asset to her own faith. I really appreciate her insight and thoughts on raising the next generation of readers.

I agree with her assessment of books, the importance of reading, and how it all relates to faith. I often felt like I was taking a walk down memory lane and remembering books I too have loved. Authors such as C.S. Lewis, L.M. Montgomery, Madeline L'Engle, Brother Lawrence, Bonhoeffer, and Austen are only a few of the authors she mentioned that played a role in who I am today.

I received a free e-copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Nevertheless, I will be ordering this book as soon as I can and adding it to my library.

This book is for you if you are a Book Girl from the time you were young or a Book Girl who fell in love with the world of reading as an adult.

This wasn't really what I expected...I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but I thought it would weave her story into the books she highlights a bit more. it was just ok for me. This book was thoughtful, but slow moving.

The title of this book drew me in before I even knew what was on the pages inside. The cover is captivating, warm and very bookish.Everything written is not for every reader and Book Girl happens to be one of those books for me.While most of the authors mentioned are notable and quite a few works are indeed worthy reads, I personally am not drawn to books of this nature at this point in my life. Although I will recommend it for those who are looking for deep introspective and literary fiction, specifically that is rooted in theology. For many readers, this will be a trusty companion with many book lists that will start you on the path of becoming a book girl. In my humble opinion, you can also find your way down that path with many other non-theological and literary fiction books not mentioned in the book. If you are looking for a breezy book about books, this may not be the place to start. Are C.S. Lewis, Wendell Berry and J.R. Tolkien's books drawing you toward the shelves, if so then Book Girl will be a great choice to add to your TBR (to be read) pile.

*Thank you to NetGalley & Tyndale House Publishers for my copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Not what I was expecting

I’ll just say up front that Book Girl is an interesting book for a beginning book girl, but is not going to include much new material for most established well-rounded readers. As an avid reader and a “book girl” for decades, reading hundreds of books a year, I was excited to read Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson. I found the writing a bit slow, but the sentiments were very close to my own heart. I loved the spiritual aspect and found myself stopping to buy recommended books that I hadn’t read yet, adding others to wish lists… I even grabbed the Kindle version of Book Girl, despite having the ARC, because I wanted it to store correctly in my collections and sync correctly across all my Kindles/Fires.

However, even after mulling it over for several days after I closed this book, I still find it very hard to write a review. While, again, Book Girl would be great for a beginning book girl, the further I read, hoping to find the “real” booklists , the more lost I was. At one point I thought of flipping through to the appendix, where surely the real booklists resided. But alas, these brief lists are all there is. Needless to say, having read most of the included books, Clarkson’s booklists seem inadequate to me, often recommending the same books that a zillion other booklists recommend, albeit with a blog-like synopsis and recollection of the book by the author. Perhaps the overlap is because one can never move far from the classics that have shaped our culture.

Adding fuel to my conflict, Clarkson recommended multiple books that she said were very hard to get into, at least one of which she had to try on three separate occasions to read before finally making it through. And, yet, are those recommendations a detriment to the book or an exercise in honesty, testifying that sometimes books that are worth reading are sometimes painful to get through? I’ve struggled through books before, set books aside for years before returning to discover the joy that is a book that expanded my horizons and lit every corner of my mind and leaving me wishing that I had read it the first time around. But I wouldn’t recommend those books to anyone who wasn’t ready to read them. Clarkson also recommended books that she had never read. Although I realize that is a personal choice, I never personally recommend books that I have not read myself.

I think part of the book seems as if Clarkson is not sure of her audience, but then again, she aims different chapters at different times in a reader’s life. On one hand, Clarkson writes as if to beginning readers who have no idea what it means to be a book girl. On the other hand, she recommends books that no beginning book girl would want to read, such as The Divine Comedy, although to be honest, it’s listed under book to read if you ever have the time.

Overall, I would recommend Book Girl for relative newbies who want to expand their reading life. I’m at a disadvantage in analyzing this book, as I am not the intended audience, having decades of being an avid book-crazy geek behind me. I would not recommend Book Girl for like-minded established book geeks except to use as a resource to share with others. Considering it from the viewpoint of a newly minted book girl, though, I am still giving this book five stars.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from the publisher through NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

Not compelling enough to make the reader care about the author's experiences. Did not hold my interest.

I have always been an avid reader. I always scored high in speed and comprehension reading class. My grandmother called me "my little library mouse", yes, in English they say "book worm", when I saw the title and the cover of this book, I remembered this and smiled. I'm still the same Granny ... I'll call her just to tell her that. She will smile.

Sally Clarkson has been through the years, a sweet intervention in my life.

I met Sarah Clarkson through her and I hope one day, when I am in Colorado, I can see both, embrace them in person and thank them. I dream that there is a ministry like theirs in Spanish ... sighs. I'd love to do so.

I am very happy that Sarah was able to write this book. They have a gift with very special words, a beauty to communicate that is peculiar gift in her family.

AS I write this, I have an 8-year-old girl, who I see reading here and there... and think about everything that happens in her brain and heart. I pray that she can live many stories and write others, that she can enjoy the life of the mind and develop a taste for good reading. I think that was the biggest contribution of this, to think about them, mother and daughter and see that people grow, dreams materialize and you can see them tangibly in many libraries and in honest comments like mine.

Thank you for this advanced copy for review, it was a pleasure to read it. I am very encouraged to continue giving my children the enthusiasm to read, learn and grow through their readings.
Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson
A Journey through the Treasures and Transforming Power of a Reading Life

Description:
"When you hear a riveting story, does it thrill your heart and stir your soul? Do you hunger for truth and goodness? Do you secretly relate to Belle’s delight in the library in Beauty and the Beast?

If so, you may be on your way to being a book girl.

Books were always Sarah Clarkson’s delight. Raised in the company of the lively Anne of Green Gables, the brave Pevensie children of Narnia, and the wise Austen heroines, she discovered reading early on as a daily gift, a way of encountering the world in all its wonder. But what she came to realize as an adult was just how powerfully books had shaped her as a woman to live a story within that world, to be a lifelong learner, to grasp hope in struggle, and to create and act with courage.

She’s convinced that books can do the same for you.

Join Sarah in exploring the reading life as a gift and an adventure, one meant to enrich, broaden, and delight you in each season of your life as a woman. In Book Girl, you’ll discover:how reading can strengthen your spiritual life and deepen your faith,why a journey through classic literature might be just what you need (and where to begin),how stories form your sense of identity,how Sarah’s parents raised her to be a reader—and what you can do to cultivate a love of reading in the growing readers around you, and 20+ annotated book lists, including some old favorites and many new discoveries. Whether you’ve long considered yourself a reader or have dreams of becoming one, Book Girl will draw you into the life-giving journey of becoming a woman who reads and lives well." #BookGirl #NetGalley #IReallyLikeToReadALot

I really enjoyed reading through this short book. It validates my love of spending my time reading. It gives a whole lot of different book lists. Some I found useful and others less than exciting. She had a wide range of topics and I agreed with many of her recommendations but some of her lists just don't appeal and as she said at the first of the book, you can take them or leave them. I did add a whole lot of new books to my "to read" list as a result of her lists so that is always fun for a bibliophile.

I was given this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting look at how reading forms a person, shaping and challenging them with every book they choose to pick up. Like the author, I have a mother who fostered my love of reading from an early age, teaching me to read before kindergarten, and working to always provide books for me even when it wasn't easy. However, my books were for entertainment. Did some of them have teachable moments and lead me to delve into my Christian faith more deeply? Yes, but she chooses books based on what ones will do that, I feel. I found this book interested, though, and have added quiet a few books to my to-read list based on this book and look forward to rereading more with an eye toward stretching my faith.

Because I am, after all, a Book Girl.

I picked “Book Girl” because I always love book recommendations, but this didn’t feel like a book—it felt like sitting down with a wise friend, talking about books, faith, the need for imagination, and our shared love of C.S. Lewis.

I love this book so intensely, I’m honestly having a hard time reviewing it. Please just read it and we can talk for hours about it!!

Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson is a mixture of personal recollections and commentary by looking at books by theme. Its Christian viewpoint is subtle, and would be an appropriate recommendation for Christians who want to explore great and classic literature from a religious viewpoint but not go in-depth. As a librarian and a I'd reader, it was a quick read as I was able to skim books I had already read. There is something for everyone as I am planning to read The Awakening of Miss Prim and discover Wendall Berry's Port William.

This book is to specific in scope to be appropriate for my public library. The descriptions says it can "strengthen your spiritual life" but I didn't realize it is specifically a Christian book. Personally, I am a bibliophile and a Christian, but this book did not hold my attention. The cover is lovely though!

I really enjoyed this book. Sarah has a great vision for why reading is so important for each stage in our children's and our lives. 

Sarah lists of books that she recommends for different reading genre. She includes a description of each book which I found to be really helpful. I usually read through books pretty fast but this book is more one to have so you can keep coming back to it. Sarah made me want to go to to the nearest library and start working on her various list. 

I recommend this book if you are looking for inspiration for reading, if you love to read, and/or if you want some great book ideas.

Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson's synopsis sounded right up my alley. I define myself as an avid bookworm. I mean, who else besides bookworms finish 200 books every year. It is a lot of books, but I love reading. So the description sounded just like me. I really couldn't wait to get my hands on the book. Right away, the book filled me with good feelings as it appeared to be describing me as someone who discovered reading at a young age. I remember traveling to the library every week and coming home with at least ten books. Then the fun part was deciding what to read when I returned home. Then Clarkson started to create chapters with lists of books to appeal to a certain audience, such as, imagination stories or women power stories. I think eighty percent of the book appeals to an audience that doesn't read a lot and couldn't recommend books but wants to jump into the book life but doesn't nowhere to start. As she started listing the different books in different genres, I skimmed through the list by reading the titles. Not that many appealed to me or I already read them. A side note . . . why does everyone recommend Jane Austen for everything? I can't stand her books. She bored me to tears. No action. Just heads bopping around. Doing nothing. But I did like that she recommend Tolkien, Lewis, and Rowling. Some of my favorite writers.

Overall, Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson is, I believe, a book for people who want to incorporate more reading into their life. Not for me since I do a lot of reading already. Her lists can introduce readers to some new authors they have never heard of.

I received a complimentary copy of Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

With text about the joys and benefits of reading sprinkled throughout the book, this is a book that is a list of other books (and a synopsis of each) to read. They are categorized by theme....books that taught life lessons, books that helped overcome difficult times, books about being a girl, etc. I found that, while the author and I are both avid readers, we have extraordinarily different reading tastes. There was little in the lists that I (a) haven't read and (b) actually enjoyed. But that's ok! Someone else may absolutely adore these lists and gravitate right toward the books in them. There is a nice section at the end about must-read books for young and teen girls.

I really liked this book & it always made me want to go curl up with my daughter & read to her. It had great suggestions of new to me books that I look forward to reading

This was really a lovely (if long-winded) ode to the reading life. There were lots of one-liners that resonated with my reader-ly heart, but sometimes my attention waned in the longer chapters. The book lists were a nice component - some were full of books I knew and loved, which gave me confidence in the author's good taste and lead me to be more curious about books that I hadn't heard of before. A fairly quick, breezy read that felt like a nice love letter to a favourite past time.