I didn’t really plan this but March ended up being a men of faith month for me. I started with a beautiful story that challenges the readers to simply believe in God, my second read was long anticipated and did not disappoint and lastly something close to home, from home 🇿🇦. 

Let’s get to it.

Life of Pi- Yann Martel ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Adventure, philosophy, drama

Where do I start with this one… I’m quite sure that most of us are familiar with this story be it the movie or the book. My first encounter was with the movie and whoa was that good! I fall just as easily in love with great films as I do with great books. So having watched the movie I was curious about the book. And well… the message is fantastic, the story is captivating and the writing makes you squirm or gasp in all the right places. But I couldn’t help but feel like this could’ve easily passed as a prescribed book in high school. I’m not saying those books are bad but they were the stories that we were forced to deep-dive into. Why did this character use that word? Why was the time of day significant to this moment? What was the author trying to convey in this passage? What I’m getting at is, it felt a bit laborious at times. 

📖 A young boy from India learns about faith through a number of different religions while growing up surrounded by wild animals from a zoo that his family owns. Upon a decision to move to Canada they pack up their belongings and zoo animals to embark on the journey by ship. Somehow the ship sinks leaving the boy stranded on a life boat with an unlikely assortment of animals, the most significant of which is an adult bengal tiger. The boy spends many months at sea where his faith is tested, his heart is broken, his strength is pushed to limits, his mind is challenged and his will to live is constantly at odds with his endurance. 

 

Do The New You- Steven Furtick ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Self-help, Christian literature 

Lemme just start by saying I am bias. 

Steven Furtick is the pastor of Elevation Church which has been my home church for the past 6 years. I knew I was gonna love this book before I even started it. Reading this felt like reading his sermon notes and I absolutely loved it. This man is just so knowledgable about the word of God and how to apply it practically to our lives in order to become the most wonderful versions of ourselves that God already knowns we can be. And he does it in such a way that you don’t feel put down or disappointed by the version you are now but encouraged to make simple choices again and again to be your God designed self. 

📖 With the backing of an in-depth biblical understanding and education Steven Furtick walks us though 6 mind-sets that we can shift into to live in the God aligned version of who we truly are. Society and life often send us astray from what we known and believe to be our true way of being, but simple changes in our thought patterns can pivot us toward more fulfilling lives. 

 

Rise- Siya Kolisi ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Memoir, Autobiography 

Again, I am bias. 

The prologue alone brought tears to my eyes. This book was exceptionally special to me because being an expat meant celebrating my countries victories from a distance and nobody celebrates like Mzansi! Reading this evoked all the emotions I felt the days building up to and including the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final, but hearing the challenges that our captain endured along the way made it that much more emotionally charged. As a South African rugby is part of our culture and the Springboks, well…they’re the greatest team in the world 🏆. So why wouldn’t you wanna read this book?

📖 Siya Kolisi tells us of his journey from a boy who grew up in a township near the west coast to the man who lead the Springboks to victory during the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Becoming a Springbok is already enough of a challenge but being the first black captain was revolutionary. We learn about what being a sportsman means to him, the life that lead to hoisting the trophy and how rugby impacts our country in numerous ways. 

 

So that’s it. I didn’t manage 4 this month because work got the better of me but I’ll try my best to get back to 4 reads for next month. In fact, I’ve already got them stacked and waiting for me.

 

Be sure sure to come back soon.