Can a book change your life? This is a question I asked in episode 88 of The Couch Podcast. In a conversation with my friend Shannan Martin, we decided that we think yes, books can change our lives. But sometimes they change our lives for a season and sometimes they change them forever. Sometimes they change our hearts but it takes a few more steps or resources or years before our lives are tangibly changed.

You can listen to that conversation and our list of 10 books (five each) that have changed our lives here or wherever you stream podcasts. It’s a great list! But if you’ve been here for long, you will not be surprised to know that my actual, entire list was WAY LONGER than our short (hour-long) conversation allowed. I couldn’t resist sharing my whole list with you here, although I’m reserving the right to revise this list as I remember even more books that have wrecked me, moved me, changed me in some way.

15 Books That Have Changed My Life (so far)

FYI, this list is in approximate chronological order. I didn’t include my friend Shannan’s book, The Ministry of Ordinary Places, but I dare you to read it and not be changed! And it doesn’t include the first books I read by Jude Deveraux, Julie Garwood, Catherine Coulter, or Danielle Steel—but it probably should, because reading those books (some well before it was appropriate for my age, whoops!) instilled in me a lifelong love of romance novels. But this list does, in fact, include quite a bit of fiction because fiction is what I love and it has certainly changed me.

• Helen Keller biography – I can’t find the exact book I read as a child, but I read it dozens of times. I loved learning the story of Helen Keller and her teacher, Annie Sullivan, and I believe this experience truly gave me more compassion for people and also motivated me to use my life to help others.
• H is for Homicide by Sue Grafton – As I mentioned on episode 86, this was the first adult mystery I read. I loved it, and I’ve read mystery series ever since then!
• Timeline by Michael Crichton – I don’t typically re-read books, but I’ve read this time travel drama several times. This book has been one that my best friend and I both love and re-read every now and then, and I’ve loved that connection. But it also opened my mind to the idea of time travel, which even now is one of my favorite “magical” things to read about!
• The Negotiator by Dee Henderson – This book is the first in a series of Christian romantic suspense, and it led me to reading a whole lot of Christian fiction. So while this may have not changed my heart or my mind about anything, it did change my reading life.
• Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson – This novel is about a woman who dramatically changes her life and how those changes affect her worldview and her heart. I might have read it before I was ready for those ideas, but it cracked open my stubborn, know-it-all heart enough to be more accepting of real-life stories I would soon hear from friends doing the same sort of thing.
• Believing God by Beth Moore – I did this Bible study with a group of friends from church when I was in my 20s. And more than anything else in my life, it grounded me in the most important tenets of my faith that simply do not change. God is who He says He is. God can do what He says He can do. I am who God says I am. I can do all things through Christ. God’s word is alive and active in me. When the world and my life overwhelms and confuses me, I still go back to these truths.
• Me, Myself & Lies: A Thought Closet Makeover by Jennifer Rothschild – I’m an Enneagram One, which means (among other things) that I have a strong inner critic. I always have, and maybe I always will, but doing this Bible study really went a long way in teaching me to quiet that voice and, at least sometimes, to speak kinder truths to myself instead.
• The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns (this one is just $1.99 on Kindle) – Before reading this book, I had no idea how rich I am. This book legit changed my life and led me to give more and care more and do more for others.
• Mad Church Disease by Anne Jackson – I read this book shortly after being part of a failed church plant. That experience was devastating and felt so isolating, and this book showed me that I wasn’t alone in being hurt by the Church in a certain way. Though I still absolutely love and believe in God’s Church, this book was a gateway to me realizing the many imperfections of the Church and all the ways we need to heal, improve, and grow.
• Harry Potter & the Sorceror’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (free on Kindle, FYI) – I was late to the Harry Potter world and read the series when my daughter was a newborn. It’s fantastic, of course, but more than just loving this story, I loved the way it reminded me of my love of fantasy (specifically in children’s books). Because I read Harry Potter, I read Percy Jackson. And because I read Percy Jackson, I read a bunch of other middle grade and young adult series about magic and space travel and time travel and superpowers. And because I read those books, I read—and continue to read—so many other young adult books that have opened my eyes and heart to so many real worlds and communities and experiences. And THAT has changed my life.
• Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist (and also Bittersweet) – Before reading Shauna Niequist’s writing, I didn’t know that you could make a book out of essays. That sounds silly, but it hadn’t occurred to me that the way I love to write could be a way to write a book.
• Rhinestone Jesus by Kristen Welch – I have known Kristen for years and have been blown away by the way God has worked and is still working through her. I have supported Mercy House Global from the very beginning, and I loved reading more of her incredible story in this book.
• 7 by Jen Hatmaker – I love all of Jen’s writing, and I think she’s not only wise but so stinking funny. This book, though, hit me straight in the heart and gave me real, tangible ways I could live differently.
• Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend – I didn’t realize I don’t have good boundaries in my life until reading this book with a couple of good friends. We’ve all three said recently that we should probably re-read it, but it absolutely changed relationships in my life in a good, healthy way.
• Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (this is the young adult adaptation I read) – I had no idea. I had no idea that things like this (a black man wrongly imprisoned for years) happened so recently, happen even now, will probably keep happening. I had no idea—but now I do.

So, there’s my list (so far!). What’s on YOUR list?

What books have changed your life?

This post includes affiliate links. That means if you click and purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra charge to you.

The post The 15 Books That Have Changed My Life (So Far) appeared first on Mary Carver.

Welcome to a new episode of The Couch! Today I’m here with my good friend, Shannan Martin.

Shannan is a speaker and writer who found her voice in the country and her story in the city. Shannan, her jail-chaplain husband, Cory, and their kids, live as grateful neighborsin Goshen, Indiana. She’s also one of my favorite teachers who is constantly nudging me to follow God more fully and pursue Jesus and justice in real, tangible ways. But as you might remember me mentioning a few episodes back, when I recommended her Instagram account as my not-so-guilty-pleasure, she also points me to hope, tells me about the cutest things I can find at Dollar General, and shares my love for chips and queso.

And today we’re bringing all of those things to the table (or the couch, as the case may be) as we share some of the books that have changed our hearts and our lives over the years.

Of course, because this is The Couch, where rabbit trails and side notes are always welcome, we also get into quite a few TV shows, a spinach artichoke dip from ALDI, and the merits of one Will Arnett. This might just be one of my favorite episodes yet, and I know you’re going to love it too. Let’s get to it!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle
  • The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns (this one is just $1.99 on Kindle)
  • Never Change by Elizabeth Berg
  • Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist (and also Bittersweet)
  • Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker
  • Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (this is the young adult adaptation I read)
  • How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith
  • Harry Potter & the Sorceror’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (free on Kindle, FYI)
  • Abuelita Faith by Kat Armas
  • Believing God by Beth Moore

For a full list of the books that have changed my life (so far), click here.

ALSO MENTIONED:

• The Ministry of Ordinary Places by Shannan Martin
• The Very Good Gospel by Lisa Sharon Harper
• Dear White Peacemakers by Osheta Moore
• Jesus & John Wayne by Kristin Kobes Du Mez
• The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby

NOT-SO-GUILTY PLEASURES:

• Family Reunion (Netflix series)
• Spinach artichoke tzatziki dip from ALDI
• Seasonal banners on my mantel

DON’T FORGET:

• Join The Couch on Facebook! It’s so much fun!
• Find Shannan on Instagram at @shannanwrites or on Twitter at @shannanwrites. You can also sign up for her newsletter here. And, of course, you can find me on Instagram at @marycarver or at marycarver.com.

Welcome to The Couch!

This post includes affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

The post The Couch Podcast #88 – The Books That Have Changed Our Lives (with Shannan Martin) appeared first on Mary Carver.

Planning to watch the new Wonder Years? Can’t wait to see Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell in a drama? Already hooked on The Big Leap? We’ve got book recommendations based on your favorite new fall shows, so get ready to watch your TBR list grow!

Welcome to a new episode of The Couch! Today I’m back with my good friend and good friend of the show, Amy Clark. Amy is a blogger and the founder of MomAdvice.com, which happens to be a place I write articles for on occasion. She’s also a book genius and the host of The Book Gang podcast and the Mom Advice Book Club, which yes, is a Facebook group but is really so much more. It’s one of my favorite online communities, full of book nerds just like you and me. You might remember Amy from a few past episodes, including episode #15 where she recommended books to read based on our favorite TV shows. She’s back to do that again today, and I can’t wait for you to hear her picks!

Of course, because this is The Couch, where rabbit trails and side notes are always welcome, we also get into making dates with ourselves, candles, and alcohol-free wine. All right, get ready to watch your book stacks grow! It’s time to get started.

Want even more book matchmaking? I’m on Amy’s podcast too, where she gives book recommendations based on my favorite shows (so far) of 2021. Head over to listen to that next!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Ordinary Joe (Mondays on NBC)
  • The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano
  • The Two Lives of Lydia Bird
• The Big Leap (Mondays on FOX)
  • One to Watch
• Wonder Years (Wednesdays on NBC)
  • The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones
  • Nothing More Dangerous
• One of Us is Lying (Oct. 7 on Peacock)
  • In My Dreams, I Hold a Knife
  • Ace of Spades
• Dopesick (Oct. 13 on Hulu)
  • Empire of Pain
  • Do No Harm
  • John Oliver’s video series about opioids
• The Shrink Next Door (Nov. 12 on Apple TV+)
  • Goodnight Beautiful
• Mayor of Kingstown (Nov. 14 on Paramount+)
  • Darktown
  • A Good Family

NOT-SO-GUILTY PLEASURES:

• Fre Wine from Sutter Homes (alcohol-free)
• Candles from Big Gay Candle Co.

DON’T FORGET:

• Join The Couch on Facebook! It’s so much fun!
• Find Amy on her website and her new podcast, MomAdvice Book Gang. And, of course, you can find me on Instagram at @marycarver or at marycarver.com.

Welcome to The Couch!

This post includes affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

The post The Couch Podcast #87 – 12 Book Recommendations Based on Your New Favorite TV Shows appeared first on Mary Carver.

Why do we love mysteries so much? Why is fiction so important? And who are our favorite female detectives?

Today I’m talking all of that and more with my friend, Patricia Raybon. Patricia is an award-winning Colorado author and novelist who writes about faith and mystery, and she’s also on the (in)courage writing team with me. And, as you’ll hear in this episode, she has a lot to share with us about writing in general and mysteries in particular.

That’s right. We’re talking about mysteries this week—specifically ones solved by female detectives. It’s a fun one, friends! And, because this is The Couch, where rabbit trails and side notes are always welcome, we also get into Netflix binges, romance novels, and nineties music. So, get ready, because we’re starting now!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Nancy Drew
• Her Royal Spyness series by Rhys Bowen
• Kinsey Millhone series by Sue Grafton
• The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith
• Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich
• Miss Marple Mysteries by Agatha Christie
• Miss Fortune Mysteries by Jana DeLeon
• Blanche White Mysteries by Barbara Neely
• Charlotte Holmes series by Brittany Cavallaro
• American Girl History Mysteries
• Hannah Swensen Mysteries by Joanna Fluke

ALSO MENTIONED:

• The Ravenous Brain
• Story by Robert McKee
• Save the Cat
• James Scott Bell
• Why We’re Addicted to Mysteries (Salon.com)

NOT-SO-GUILTY PLEASURES:

• Bridgerton on Netflix
• The Bridgerton books by Julia Quinn
• Nineties music (don’t sleep on this playlist!)

DON’T FORGET:

• Join The Couch on Facebook! It’s so much fun!
• Find Patricia on her website and order her new book, All That Is Secret, today! And, of course, you can find me on Instagram at @marycarver or at marycarver.com. 

Welcome to The Couch!

This post includes affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

The post The Couch Podcast #86 – Writing, the Importance of Fiction, and Female Detectives (with Patricia Raybon) appeared first on Mary Carver.

Welcome to this BONUS episode of The Couch. Today I’m here with my good friends and friends of the show, Tasha Jun and Michelle Reyes.

Tasha is biracial Korean American storyteller, and Michelle is a second-generation Indian American author, speaker, and activist. And, like me, they are both wives, moms, writers for the (in)courage website, and big fans of Marvel movies. But though we share quite a few things in common, they do bring a different perspective to our conversation about Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. I’m grateful for their insight, and I know you’re going to love this episode. Let’s get right to it!

QUESTIONS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Why does it matter that the MCU has an Asian superhero? 
• In what ways does the movie Shang-Chi challenge Asian stereotypes?
• Why is it important/what difference did it make to not only have Asian/Asian Americans as actors, but also as the writer and director of the film?
• What (if anything) did the movie teach us or reveal to us about God?
• What (if anything) did the movie teach us or reveal to us about people and/or ourselves?

ARTICLES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Shang-Chi and the Mothering Heart of God by Tasha Jun
• Communal Heroism in Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings by Dr. Michelle Ami Reyes

DON’T FORGET:

• Join The Couch on Facebook! It’s so much fun!
• Find Tasha on Instagram at @tashajunb or on her website, and find Michelle on Instagram at @michelleamireyes, on Twitter at @drmichellereyes, or on her website. And you can find me on Instagram at @marycarver or at marycarver.com.

Welcome to The Couch!

This post includes affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

The post The Couch Podcast #85: Why is Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings Such a Big Deal? (with Tasha Jun & Michelle Reyes) appeared first on Mary Carver.

Welcome to a new episode of The Couch. Today I’m back with my good friend and good friend of the show, Jenny Rapson!

Jenny is a writer, a shampoo slinger, and as she won’t let me forget, a true crime aficionado. In this episode we’ve been talking about making for, well, a long time, Jenny is going to do her best to convince me to give the true crime genre a try. So if you’re like me and you’ve been reluctant or resistant to diving into all the true crime podcasts, books, and TV series out there, this episode just might be for you. Who knows? Maybe we’ll become true crime’s biggest fans! … Maybe.

Of course, because this is The Couch, where rabbit trails and side notes are always welcome, we also lose our minds a little bit that we have the same not-so-guilty pleasure. All right. This is a fun one, friends. Let’s get started!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• The Girl on the Volkswagen Floor
• Serial
• Crime Junkie
• Criminology
• Accused
• Park Predators
• Obsessed with Disappeared
• True Crime Obsessed
• My Favorite Murder
• If I Can’t Have You
• I’ll Be Gone in the Dark
• The Devil in the White City
• Cold Justice
• It Couldn’t Happen Here

NOT-SO-GUILTY PLEASURES:

• Only Murders in the Building on Hulu

DON’T FORGET:

• Join The Couch on Facebook! It’s so much fun!
• Find Jenny on Twitter and her website. And you can find me on Instagram at @marycarver or at marycarver.com.

Welcome to The Couch!

This post includes affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

The post The Couch Podcast #84: True Crime for Beginners with Jenny Rapson appeared first on Mary Carver.

Welcome to a new episode of The Couch. Today I’m here again with my good friend and friend of the show, Alana Dawson.

Alana is wife and mom, as well as host of The Podcasting Party podcast and a brilliant podcast coach (no, I’m not biased at all). She has held my hand and patted my back throughout my own podcasting journey, and she’s also one of my favorite people to talk to about pop culture and raising girls (and sometimes, pop culture specifically for our girls).

In this episode, we are once again tackling all of your most pressing pop culture questions in volume five of our “Ask the Couch” series. I took questions from so many of you and, with Alana’s help, tried to answer them the best I could. We had so much fun talking, and I know you’re going to love this conversation.

And, of course, because this is The Couch, where rabbit trails and side notes are always welcome, we also get into chips and queso, getting our nails done, a fun new show on Netflix, and an Instagram account we love following. Okay, friends, let’s get started!

QUESTIONS ASKED IN THIS EPISODE:

• What book, movie, or TV show has been loved by multiple generations?
• If you could only choose one streaming service, which one would it be?
• What’s a good, light book to read right now?
•  What are some good, new-ish science fiction books to get my dad?
• When watching Marvel movies in chronological order, do we have to include the Marvel TV shows?
• What is your earliest pop culture memory?
• What’s your favorite musical album from your senior year of high school?
• Which film adaptation of Pride & Prejudice do you like better?
• Whhhyyyyy did they cancel Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and how are we supposed to go on without it?
• How long do you stay with a series that everyone loves, but you can’t get into?
• Who should Rory have chosen?
• What’s a good Netflix show to watch with my 10-year-old daughter?
• What’s coming next on The Couch?

NOT-SO-GUILTY PLEASURES:

• Manicures (If you want to try Olive & June, click here for 20% off a mani system.)
• Motel Makeover on Netflix
• Shannan Martin on Instagram (@shannanwrites)

DON’T FORGET:

• Join The Couch on Facebook! It’s so much fun!
• Find Alana on Instagram at @alanapdawson or on The Podcasting Party. And you can find me on Instagram at @marycarver or at marycarver.com.

Welcome to The Couch!

This post includes affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

The post The Couch Podcast #83: Ask the Couch, vol. 5, with Alana Dawson appeared first on Mary Carver.

Welcome to a new episode of The Couch. Today I’m here with my good friend and friend of the show, Dawn Camp. Dawn is a writer, photographer, wife, mom, and huge movie buff. And we have been waiting for this episode for soooo long!

This week, Dawn and I are taking a look at some of the biggest movies scheduled for release this fall—something we haven’t been able to do for quite a while! As a matter of fact, the last time we brought you a movie preview episode was, well, February 2020. Obviously those predictions did not all come true!

Similarly, you’re going to hear us talk about the new Top Gun movie annnnnd, between recording this episode and releasing it, Paramount decided to postpone this movie once again. So, take a listen to our conversation about upcoming movies but do know that, like has become the norm, things may change. Still, this is a fun episode all about movies, and I know you’re going to love it.

And, of course, because this is The Couch, where rabbit trails and side notes are always welcome, we also get into our latest binge watches, a passionate defense of a beloved show, selling old books, and a story about one of the most unexpected things I saw at my old house. All right, I’m glad you’re here, friends. Let’s get started!

MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
• Language Lessons
• Queenpins
• The Card Counter
• Dear Evan Hansen
• No Time to Die
• Eternals
• Ghostbusters: After Life
• Top Gun: Maverick
• Encanto
• West Side Story
• Spider-Man: No Way Home
• Sing 2

NOT-SO-GUILTY PLEASURES:

• The Mentalist
• Ted Lasso, season two

DON’T FORGET:

• Join The Couch on Facebook! It’s so much fun!
• Find Dawn on Instagram at @dawncamp or on her website, and check out her books: My Essential Oil Companion: A Guided Journal Featuring 50 Key Essential Oils and It All Began in a Garden: A Practical Guide to God’s Gift of Essential Oils. And you can find me on Instagram at @marycarver or at marycarver.com.

Welcome to The Couch!

This post includes affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

The post The Couch Podcast #82: Fall Movie Preview (with Dawn Camp) appeared first on Mary Carver.

Welcome to a new episode of The Couch. Today I’m here with my friend and friend of the show, Rebekah Hoffer. Rebekah is a blogger, podcast, wife, and mom—and as you might remember from episode #64, a big fan of romance novels. You might recognize Rebekah from Instagram, where she shares book reviews and tips for living frugal and green, or the Sorta Awesome podcast, which is where I first met her. Which fits because the conversation you’re going to hear today is truly awesome.

This week, we’re talking about tropes (or cliches, if you insist) often found in romance novels—and our favorite examples of each one. Basically I thought, “How can I get Rebekah back on the podcast? What angle can we find to talk about romance novels again? Aha!”

And, of course, because this is The Couch, where rabbit trails and side notes are always welcome, we also get into stovetop popcorn, various fall-themed drinks (and the stress of ordering coffee at Starbucks), and alien books that may or may not be directly related to our topic. It’s a super-sized episode full of all the book recommendations you didn’t ask for but totally want, and I think you’re going to like it. I’m glad you’re here, friends. Let’s get started!

MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

• Popular romance tropes
• All the recommendations – Get our entire list, plus the ones we cut for time, here!

NOT-SO-GUILTY PLEASURES:

• Stovetop popcorn from Free Day Popcorn
• Iced Apple Crisp Macchiato from Starbucks

DON’T FORGET:

• Join The Couch on Facebook! It’s so much fun!
• Find Rebekah on Instagram at @simplyrebekah, on her website, or on the Sorta Awesome podcast. And you can find me on Instagram at @marycarver or at marycarver.com.

Welcome to The Couch!

This post includes affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

The post The Couch Podcast #81: Themes & Tropes We Love in Romance Novels with Rebekah Hoffer appeared first on Mary Carver.

Welcome to a new episode of The Couch! Today I’m here with my good friend and good friend of the show, Amanda White. As you know from at least 10 other episodes, Amanda is a blogger and the author of Truth in the Tinsel, an Advent experience for families. Also one of my oldest internet friends and favorite people in general.

This week, we’re talking about something unexpected to anyone who knows us and our deep, abiding love of fiction—memoirs. We’re talking about memoirs! What they are (how they’re different than autobiographies or collections of essays or maybe they aren’t?), which ones we’ve read and loved, and the ones we hope to read soon. And because we’re friends for real but don’t always agree on all the things, we talk about some books that come from differing perspectives and what that means for us as readers, friends, and people.

And, of course, because this is The Couch, where rabbit trails and side notes are always welcome, we also get into rewatching favorite shows with our kids, frozen breakfast sandwiches, and the art of stand-up comedy. Among other things. It’s a good talk, and I think you’re going to like it. I’m glad you’re here, friends. Let’s get started!

MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

• The Diary of Anne Frank
• The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
• Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi
• Through the Storm by Lynne Spears
• Open Book by Jessica Simpson
• Bossypants by Tina Fey
• Paris Letters by Janice MacLeod
• Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist
• Gay Girl Good God by Jackie Hill Perry
• Here For It by R. Eric Thomas
• Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
• My Wynter Season by Jonathan Pitts
• Choose Joy by Sara Frankl and Mary Carver – only $1.99 on Kindle!
• Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
• Becoming by Michelle Obama
• Sweet Like Jasmine by Bonnie Gray

NOT-SO-GUILTY PLEASURES:

• Chuck (watch for free on Prime)
• Frozen breakfast sandwiches
• Also, Once Upon a Time 

DON’T FORGET:

• Join The Couch on Facebook! It’s so much fun!
• Find Amanda on Goodreads, Instagram, or at ohamanda.com. And you can find me on Instagram at @marycarver or at marycarver.com.

Welcome to The Couch!

This post includes affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

The post The Couch Podcast #80: Inspiring and Enlightening Memoirs with Amanda White appeared first on Mary Carver.