Hello hello, fellow book friends!
We just got home from our snowbirding in Florida, and somewhere between seaside reading and coffeeshop stops, I started collecting bookshelf photos like souvenirs. :)
So today’s Bookshelf note is a little mix of everything:
a historic Bible reading chair in Charlotte,
a bookpage wall in Orlando,
a simple audio Bible rhythm that’s been anchoring my days,
some brain science to justify your reading habit,
a handful of spring reads…
and of course—a book giveaway!
Let’s dive in.
This historical novel follows four generations of women in an Italian Jewish family tasked with harvesting sea silk—a rare textile now outlawed due to environmental concerns.
When I wasn’t staying up too late reading this book, I found myself googling byssus (did you know it’s mentioned in priestly garments in the Bible?) and came away fascinated by how trades—and wounds—are passed down through generations.
The writing is slow and hauntingly beautiful. I found myself grieving the ways a mother’s pain can echo into her daughters’ lives, and also cheering for the strong marriages and friendships woven into the story.
It does cover heavy themes (infertility, antisemitism, abuse, PTSD) handled with care, but I wouldn’t hand it to a teen. Still, it’s one I keep thinking about and will be recommending in real life often.
One of our readers here recommended this book last month—I love when that happens! A Christian marine biologist shares stories from her deep sea dives and her journey with Jesus, and the result is a kind of open-mouthed awe at God’s creation.
One of my favorite threads in the book is that science doesn’t have to compete with faith: it can actually deepen our wonder. I’m not quite finished with this one, but happy to keep listening as we unpack the camper this week.
I’m a few years late to this bookstagram darling, but the audiobook kept me company on our Florida seaside trip, and Marcellus the Giant Pacific Octopus is my new favorite non-human book character!
He’s witty, insightful, and slightly judgmental in the most entertaining way.
The mystery was a bit predictable, and I didn’t love the younger protagonist, but 70-year-old Tova, paired with Marcellus, made it worth it.
Also, reading this alongside the marine biology book above had me wondering: how many of God’s intelligent creatures are watching us like, “what in God’s good earth are humans doing?” lol
My editor recommended this one, and wow—a map that opens secret doorways into hidden cities? It immediately captured my imagination.
I tore through this in 72 hours. I loved the shifting perspectives, the unraveling friendships, and the layered mystery. Some twists were predictable, but still satisfying. (And the guy I thought would be a villain for 50% of the book totally was a softie. Whoops.)
Also, now I desperately want to go back to the New York Public Library and wander the maps division like I belong there. (Time for another roadtrip?)
Our family readaloud this month was Treasure Island: the pirate classic performed by the Colonial Radio Theatre. (Check your library for the free audiobook.)
The kids weren’t into it at first… but we did as we always do—pausing every chapter or so to narrate and clarify the stakes—and by the end of the story, they were as invested in young Jim and Long John Silver’s story as I was:
Will they find the treasure?
Will they survive?
Can you ever really trust a pirate?
Next up: The Wind in the Willows, a much gentler follow-up as we settle home.
Reading this month: I’m finishing Redeeming Eden (easily one of my top reads for 2026), and I’ve picked up a few others:
God’s Homecoming: The Forgotten Promise of Future Renewal – Biblical Theology from Genesis to Revelation on the New Creation (N.T. Wright)
The Retirement Plan (Sue Hincenbergs)
The Lifegiving Parent: Giving Your Child a Life Worth Living for Christ (Clay & Sally Clarkson)
Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art (Madeleine L’Engle)
I’ll report back next month with reading notes.
📚 What are you reading right now? Share with us in the comments below and enter to win this month’s bundle of books from my very own shelves.
I love when science gives us permission to keep doing something we already enjoy. Like this:
Reading for just six minutes a day can reduce stress by up to 68%. (source)
(Yes, I’m absolutely using this next time I pick up a novel instead of folding laundry. It’s for my health, hunny!)
Researchers have also found that whether you’re reading a physical book or listening to an audiobook, your brain is still actively engaging with the story—just through slightly different pathways.
Honestly, this applies to listening to the Bible too.
When I speak at conferences around the country, I encourage women to listen to the audioBible during the ordinary moments of their day—while putting on makeup, washing dishes, or driving to work. Let God’s Word wash over you and baptize your imagination with His Story.
Some days, that kind of listening has anchored me more than a perfectly checked-off reading plan ever could.
I’ve especially loved using the Dwell Bible App—it lets me choose the narrator, add background music, and follow along with a reading plan. They even have short daily audio devotionals for kids, which we sometimes play around the breakfast table (a small rhythm that’s become really meaningful for our family).
If you’ve been wanting an easy way to get Scripture into your day, you can try Dwell free for 7 days here.
And if you’ve ever felt guilty for “just listening”… you can go ahead and release that.
Brain science has now shown us that (God’s) Story is still shaping you.
Okay, your turn!
Do you ever stop to admire a beautiful or quirky bookshelf?
No?
Okay… just me then.
Well, I’ve been saving a few favorites from our travels, and I’m so excited to share them with you:
Have you spotted a fun bookshelf lately? Or have one in your home you’d want to share? Email me at hello@onethingalone.com—I’d love to feature it in a future Bookshelf Note.
As always, it’s a joy to share these bookish moments with you.
And as you turn pages this week, I hope you’re reminded: we’re not just reading stories—we’re being shaped by the greatest Storyteller of all, who is still writing yours.
Cheering you on, one page at a time,
💛 Asheritah
P.S. I’m giving away a bundle of books from my own shelves this month. 📚
To enter, just comment below and tell me what you’re reading right now. I’ll choose a winner next week!
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