Lit by Tony Reinke

I’m now about halfway through Part 2 of Reinke’s ‘Lit’, and really enjoying getting stuck into the practical side of how to read books well. In some ways it feels like going back to school! It’s been many years since I consciously thought about my own disposition as a reader. But this takes it to a deeper level, rather than the purely academic: how can I derive more spiritual benefit from what I’m reading?

Chapters 7 & 8 have particularly challenged me to make more deliberate choices about what I read, to examine the reasons for my choices, and to be prepared to say no if those reasons don’t stand up to thorough questioning. In response to this, I also feel like I need to bring my commitment to non-fiction up to a level with my novel reading. And to be more studious in that, so that what I learn can have a practical effect in my life.

Reinke’s commitment to reading books that build into his professional life was also impressive, and I agree with him that Christians ought to stand out in the workplace, not just for their Christian character, but for excellence. This accords with Paul’s instruction: ‘Whatever you do, work with all your heart, as though you are working for the Lord, not men.’ (Col 3:23) And yet this is a sticky issue…it’s also meant to be abundantly clear that we order our priorities differently from the world – we are not workaholics, striving to get ahead out of greed or selfish ambition. For those who are tempted towards the idolatry of careerism, I think it would be wise to lean towards Christian books and other kinds of reading that don’t feed into our areas of struggle.

I love what Reinke said about stopping if we think a book isn’t going to be worth our time. I’ve always had a thing about finishing a book once I’ve started. There’s only been a handful of books that I‘ve put down and always felt vaguely guilty about! But now I feel released from that! I have always been a devoted reader of fiction but in recent years I’ve concentrated on contemporary literature. Now I’ve been challenged by Reinke to go back to the classics. He particularly emphasised Fyodor Dostoevsky as the finest Christian novelist, and I’ve only read The Idiot, so now I feel I need to go back and have another go at Crime and Punishment – could take a while! I’ve also tried to read some of Flannery O’Conner’s short stories but then shelved them, so I’m now inspired to have another try.

The idea of re-reading books is also quite new to me. I can count on one hand the books I’ve read twice, but Reinke’s opinion that multiple re-readings of classic books is beneficial has forced me to concede that I should revisit many of the great pieces of literature and plumb the depths of their wisdom and beauty afresh. The advice about having three books on the go at once so that we can choose the most appropriate times to read different material is gold. I discovered many years ago that, while we feel busy and time-poor, in reality there are plenty of times when we find ourselves waiting around, looking at Facebook on our phones or reading magazines to kill time. So now I always take a book with me to the doctor’s surgery and the hairdresser, so that I can fill my head with something beneficial instead of banal!

I still have a few more chapters to read – life has been unexpectedly busy of late – and am very much looking forward to what Reinke has to say about raising readers. My own children are excellent readers of fiction and do well in literacy at school. I think I’ve succeeded in passing on a love of literature. But growing into the kind of reader that Reinke is describing involves more than that. I’m keen to think about how to help them to prioritise Scripture first, to read it independently and with discipline, to self-reflect as they read, to make deliberate, discerning choices, and to read everything through a biblical worldview. It’s really about character as much as it’s about reading ability, I think.

I hope you’ve found ‘Lit’ to be as edifying as I have, and that it will have a profound effect on your future pathway into words, language, stories and truth. All glory to Jesus – and happy reading!   

Meet Kristen Butchatsky

I am a wife to Pete, a mum of three girls, and a music teacher. I am a long-time member of the wonderful church family St Aidan’s Anglican in Hurstville Grove, having come to Christ through a youth group ministry at age 14. I love singing, reading (obviously!!), walking my dog, Ned and going to see plays, movies and musical theatre.