This is my 1000th post here on i blog 4 books!
It seems only fitting that this post should feature the best book I've read this year.
A Little Salty to Cut the Sweetby Sophie Hudson
Christian Non-Fiction / Family / Humor
Available June 2013
Tyndale House
224 pages
Buy a copy
Read an excerpt
About the Book
There’s nothing quite like family—for good or bad. But in a world where we sometimes know more about the Kardashians than we do the people sleeping right down the hall, it’s easy to forget that walking through life with our family offers all sorts of joy wrapped up in the seemingly mundane. There’s even a little bit of sacred sitting smack-dab in the middle of the ordinary. And since time’s-a-wastin’, we need to be careful that we don’t take our people—and their stories—for granted. Whether it’s a marathon bacon-frying session, a road trip gone hysterically wrong, or a mother-in-law who makes every trip to the grocery store an adventure, author Sophie Hudson reminds us how important it is to slow down and treasure the day-to-day encounters with the people we love the most.
Written in the same witty style as Sophie’s BooMama blog, A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet is a cheerful, funny, and tender account of Sophie’s very Southern family. It’s a look into the real lives of real people—and a real, loving God right in the middle of it all.
My Thoughts
If you've been reading here for long, you know I don't read a lot of non-fiction. And I rarely—if ever—post a review of the few I do read. However, I couldn't keep my excitement about this book to myself. It would be a disservice to you, my faithful readers, and the public at large.
A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet by Sophie Hudson is hands down the best book I've read this year. RUN to the store and get yourself a copy. NOW. Don't even read the rest of this review. Just buy a copy for yourself … and maybe one for your mama and your grandmama and your best friend too.
Sophie has an incredible talent for weaving stories of her very southern family together with nuggets of spiritual truths. Some of the stories are quite poignant. (Reader Tip #1: Have a box of tissues on hand for the first two chapters.) Others are happy tears streaming down your face, wet your pants funny. (Reader Tip #2: Particularly for chapter 7, it would be in everyone's best interests to "go potty" prior to reading. I am not lying to you when I tell you I nearly wet my pants—and thus the bed—while reading this chapter very late one night. Additionally, my dear husband thought I was having a seizure because of the spasms I was having while trying to laugh silently so as not to wake him up. Needless to say, he woke up anyway.) But each story shines a light on the legacy of faith that Sophie and her husband are so blessed to have. Plus, Sophie tells these stories in such a way where her family seems to leap right off the pages, becoming more than just "characters" in a book (which of course they are, since they're real people and all).
By the end of the book, I literally could.not.put.it.down. I read the last two chapters on the way to church one night and sat in the car in the parking lot to finish the last few pages. (Pastor, I apologize for coming in late to service that night. This book was just so good!) (Reader Tip #3: Clear your calendar when you pick up this book. Your spouse, children, dog, pastor, and friends will thank you for it.)
Sophie's reflections about the treasures she has in her family made me reflect on my own family. There were moments while reading where I found myself imagining my mom or grandmother doing or saying the exact same thing. (Southerners are really all alike, you know.) Southern born and bred, I have a new appreciation for the way we sit around after dinner and tell stories—some of which I've heard at least half a million times.
Every year it seems that one book stands out as a book that must be read by all. And it inevitably ends up under every Christmas tree we visit because I can't stand the thought of everyone I know not getting to read this book. For 2013, I feel certain that A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet will be that book (unless I can't wait until December to share it). (And for any relatives or in-real-life friends who may be reading this, act surprised when you open your Christmas gift this year!)
A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet reminds Southerners of the joys of being Southern and is a great introduction to the best parts of the South for those who may not have the privilege of living here—faith, family, and lots of laughs.
(And apparently, I've now adopted Sophie's habit of writing with lots of parenthesis … at least for this review anyway!) [5 stars]
I read this book for the pure pleasure of reading. I was not requested to provide a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
If you've been reading here for long, you know I don't read a lot of non-fiction. And I rarely—if ever—post a review of the few I do read. However, I couldn't keep my excitement about this book to myself. It would be a disservice to you, my faithful readers, and the public at large.
A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet by Sophie Hudson is hands down the best book I've read this year. RUN to the store and get yourself a copy. NOW. Don't even read the rest of this review. Just buy a copy for yourself … and maybe one for your mama and your grandmama and your best friend too.
Sophie has an incredible talent for weaving stories of her very southern family together with nuggets of spiritual truths. Some of the stories are quite poignant. (Reader Tip #1: Have a box of tissues on hand for the first two chapters.) Others are happy tears streaming down your face, wet your pants funny. (Reader Tip #2: Particularly for chapter 7, it would be in everyone's best interests to "go potty" prior to reading. I am not lying to you when I tell you I nearly wet my pants—and thus the bed—while reading this chapter very late one night. Additionally, my dear husband thought I was having a seizure because of the spasms I was having while trying to laugh silently so as not to wake him up. Needless to say, he woke up anyway.) But each story shines a light on the legacy of faith that Sophie and her husband are so blessed to have. Plus, Sophie tells these stories in such a way where her family seems to leap right off the pages, becoming more than just "characters" in a book (which of course they are, since they're real people and all).
By the end of the book, I literally could.not.put.it.down. I read the last two chapters on the way to church one night and sat in the car in the parking lot to finish the last few pages. (Pastor, I apologize for coming in late to service that night. This book was just so good!) (Reader Tip #3: Clear your calendar when you pick up this book. Your spouse, children, dog, pastor, and friends will thank you for it.)
Sophie's reflections about the treasures she has in her family made me reflect on my own family. There were moments while reading where I found myself imagining my mom or grandmother doing or saying the exact same thing. (Southerners are really all alike, you know.) Southern born and bred, I have a new appreciation for the way we sit around after dinner and tell stories—some of which I've heard at least half a million times.
Every year it seems that one book stands out as a book that must be read by all. And it inevitably ends up under every Christmas tree we visit because I can't stand the thought of everyone I know not getting to read this book. For 2013, I feel certain that A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet will be that book (unless I can't wait until December to share it). (And for any relatives or in-real-life friends who may be reading this, act surprised when you open your Christmas gift this year!)
A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet reminds Southerners of the joys of being Southern and is a great introduction to the best parts of the South for those who may not have the privilege of living here—faith, family, and lots of laughs.
(And apparently, I've now adopted Sophie's habit of writing with lots of parenthesis … at least for this review anyway!) [5 stars]
I read this book for the pure pleasure of reading. I was not requested to provide a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the Author
With an urge to document the hilarity of family life, Sophie Hudson began writing her blog in November 2005. Since then she has seen her blog readership grow beyond what she would have thought possible. Sophie hopes that through her stories, women find encouragement and hope in the everyday, joy-filled moments of life. In addition to her blog, BooMama.net, Sophie writes on a regular basis for HomeLife magazine and is a regular contributor to the Pioneer Woman's blog. She also serves as co-emcee for LifeWay's annual dotMOM event and participates in Compassion International's blogger initiative. Sophie lives with her husband and son in Birmingham, Alabama.
Sophie Hudson Online
LOVE this review! Definitely one for my to-buy list!
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