Reading List—2025
Peering into 2025's Reading and Research Log
Fear not, readers, I have several regular Keesling’s Corner posts in the queue being edited as well.
Greetings!
… I know, I know. It is February—and halfway through February at that. The time has come and passed to post a 2025 reading log. Alas alack, I apologize, and I persevere!
Below I note the fiction and biblical studies books I read. Additionally, I decided I would share a bit about the research projects I undertook in doctoral seminars. For the sake of transparency, I have not included the books I read portions of, specific chapters from edited volumes, journal articles, or things of that nature. Honestly, I read a lot more in biblical studies this year than last year, so the list is deceptive. For example, one of the courses I took focused on analyzing as much scholarship on Deuteronomy as possible within the confines of the semester. So, I read many journals and scanned many books, chapters, and the like. I decided not to include those books here simply because the nature of syntopical reading. Perhaps including a view into my research projects will tip the hat in showing some of those features. If you are one of the few people interested in learning more about the Deuteronomy scholarship portion, feel free to send me a message (or email). I am more than happy to discuss :)
Furthermore, similar to last year, I put in bold my favorites from both sections. In addition, I included a brief bullet point on why I chose to bold the ones that I did. While last year was definitely the “Year of Brandon Sanderson” when it comes to the fiction works I dove into, this year was the “Year of Wendell Berry.” And, I must confess, I’m still wandering through the Berry fields (ha!). I am currently reading That Distant Land and listening to A Place in Time. I definitely recommend venturing into Berry’s work. If you would like to read more from a Substacker’s perspective, check out Drew’s post here and Haden’s post here.
On to the reading log we go!
Fiction:
The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkein
Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkein
Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson
Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry
Nathan Coulter by Wendell Berry
A Place on Earth by Wendell Berry
Simply put: this book made me cry. Berry spins a tale immensely thought-provoking and emotion-stirring. This is true for all his works, but A Place on Earth particularly stands out to me. Hannah Coulter, for example, has several moments that made me stop and stare outside for a bit whereas Nathan Coulter whisked up several laughing fits within me. A Place on Earth, from start to finish, captivated my attention, and I hope it does for you too.
The Memory of Old Jack by Wendell Berry
Remembering by Wendell Berry
A World Lost by Wendell Berry
Andy Catlett by Wendell Berry
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
What more can I say that has not already been written about this phenomenal work? Austen’s narrative threads are enticing and the wit captivating. If you have only ever watched the movies, do yourself a favor and read the book as well. You won’t regret it. If you have yet to watch one of the movie renditions, read the book, or see a play version… at least give the audiobook a try ;)
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Short, endearing, shocking. It had been so long since I last read this that I had forgotten the ending. Alas, what an ending. Another tear-jerker on my reading log. You could read this in a solid weekend easily. Steinbeck does not disappoint.
Biblical Studies: (A few of which have book review links. Check ‘em out!)
The Ten Commandments by Patrick Miller (Book review here)
Loving God and Neighbor by George Van Pelt Campbell and Derek Van Pelt Campbell (Book review here)
Mere Christian Hermeneutics by Kevin Vanhoozer
To prime the pump, here’s the thesis: “The goal of the present book is to think about biblical interpretation in the Bible’s own theological terms. This leads me to privilege what I call the economy of light, namely, the way the God who in himself is the Father of lights (Jas 1:17) communicates his light to the world in Christ (John 8:12) into our hearts (2 Cor 4:6), by the illumination of the Spirit.” (p. xx)
The Moral Vision of the New Testament by Richard Hays
Old Testament Ethics and the People of God by Christopher J. H. Wright
Here’s a glimpse into Wright’s work: “The worldview of Israel as expressed in their beliefs, stories and worship. It is only within this matrix of assumptions that Old Testament ethics makes sense. And it is only as we connect this worldview with its development in the New Testament, when the first followers of Jesus made sense of him in the light of their scriptures (what we call the Old Testament), that we can validly appropriate the ethics of the Old Testament into Christian ethics.” (p. 19)
The Widening of God’s Mercy by Christopher Hays and Richard Hays (Comparative review here)
Grace in the End by J. Gordon McConville
Here’s a glimpse into McConville’s phenomenal book on Deuteronomy: “History, then, has no meaning apart from this powerful, personal, and gracious God. This picture calls forth worship and trust. Yet this ‘salvation-history’ is neither determinism nor a recipe for quietistic admiration. It is a call as well as promise.” (p. 160)
Now Choose Life by J. Gary Millar
Holy War in Ancient Israel by Gerhard von Rad
The Composition of the Pentateuch by Joel S. Baden
Validity in Interpretation by E. D. Hirsch Jr.
Introducing Biblical Hermeneutics by Craig G. Bartholomew
Scripture as Communication by Jeannine K. Brown
From Paradise to the Promised Land by T. Desmond Alexander
Exodus in the EEC Series by Eugene Carpenter
Research Projects
2025 saw several research projects. Two stand out among the rest:
In a Biblical Ethics seminar, I focused my research on Deuteronomy’s instruction of warfare and Paul’s ethic instructed in Romans 12. I compared the ethics instructed and argued for coherence. Certainly, Paul and Moses stand on different sides of the cross. The various layers of context matter. However, as I say in the conclusion of the paper, “Like the Israelites in the desert and the Christians in Rome, the modern believer ought not take vengeance into his own hands. Love and compassion for one’s neighbor—as encompassing all people, not just those within one’s camp—has, is, and always will be of paramount concern.” This paper is forthcoming in a journal, so more information will be shareable soon! :)
In a seminar on the Pentateuch as Narrative—centered around Exodus in this particular occurrence—I analyzed the opening of the Exodus narrative. I focused my attention on the midwives’ narrative. In the paper, I contend that the text is best understood as interpreting the midwives as ethnically Egyptian women who midwife the Israelite women. Here’s a conclusive statement I make at the end: “Midwifery in Egypt becomes the imagery to which Israel should recall and embody. It is the faithfulness of a few Egyptian women that stand in the spotlight of the biblical narrative to remind the nation of Israel away from the fear of man and into the humble obedient fear of the God of all creation.” I am pursuing publication of this paper as well, but there is no news quite yet. Prayers appreciated!
I have been doing this for the past couple of years. Here are the past ones, in case that tickles your fancy!
What did you think of that Exodus commentary by Carpenter?