Second Look

Second Look

By Second Presbyterian ChurchReligion & SpiritualityChristianity
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Second Look episodes

  • Page Turners: Book Talk from Our Library - Summer 2026 (Ep. 39)
    Also available to listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

    Fiction
    The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
    Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
    The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand
    The Favorites by Layne Fargo
    Heartwood by Amity Gaige
    Before I Forget by Tory Henwood Hoen
    All the World Can Hold by Jung Yun
    Emily of Deep Valley by Maud Hart Lovelace
    The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge
    The Overstay by Richard Powers
    North Woods by Daniel Mason
    The Other Bennett Sister by Janice Hadlow
    The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower
    What You Are Looking for Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama
    No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister
    The Girl from Montana by Grace Livingston Hill
    Jubilee by Margaret Walker
    Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven
    Kissing the Sky by Lisa Patton

    Suspense
    Everyone Is Lying to You Jo Piazza
    Best Offer Wins by Merisa Kashino
    Strangers in the Car by C. M. Ewan
    Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
    The Windsor Knot by S. J. Bennett
    Agatha Christie books

    Rom Com
    Fake Skating by Lynn Painter
    One and Only by Maureen Goo 
    In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams
    Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman
    Charm City Rocks by Matthew Norman
    Love Haters by Katherine Center
    First Time Caller by B. K. Borison
    One Golden Summer Carley Fortune
    Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

    Magical Realism
    I Know How This Ends by Holly Smale
    The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison

    Big Feelings
    Home of the American Circus by Allie Larkin
    Gracie Harris Is Under Construction by Kate Hash
    Heart the Lover by Lily King

    Good for a Laugh
    Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson
    Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett
    The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

    Non-Fiction
    A Walk in the Park by Kevin Fedarko
    These Precious Days by Ann Patchett
    Unruly by David Mitchell
    I Remember Nothing by Nora Ephron
    A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst
    L’Appart by David Leibovitz
    Open by Andre Agassi
    Becoming Elisabeth Elliot by Ellen Vaughn
    84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

    Christian Living
    Joyful Outsiders by Patrick Keith Miller
    Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop
    Waiting Isn’t a Waste by Mark Vroegop
    A Heart Aflame for God by Matthew Bingham
    Everyday Spiritual Habits by Hanna Seymour

    Younger Readers
    The Thief Series by Megan Whalen Turner
    Regarding the Fountain by Kate Klise
    Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor by Ally Carter
    The Unlikely Intrusion of Adams Klein by John Greco
    The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye

    Looking forward to reading:
    Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune
    The Keeper by Tana French
    The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
    Look What You Made Me Do by John Lanchester
    When You Loved Me by Beatrice Williams
    The Midnight Train by Matt Haig
    Land by Maggie O’Farrell
    1 hr 7 min
  • Page Turners: Book Talk from Our Library – Summer 2025 (Ep 38)

    On this episode of Second Look, our Growing Place Library staff member, Merrill Skipworth, along with 2PC members, Jennifer Wilson and Lacey Moody, sit down for the seventh annual book talk! The list below features books recommended and mentioned in this episode. 

    Also available to listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

    General Fiction: 
    Colton Gentry’s Third Act by Jeff Zentner
    Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jiminez
    The Wedding People by Alison Espach
    The Love Haters by Katherine Center
    Tilt by Emma Pattee
    How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley
    The Second Ending by Michelle Hoffman
    The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
    How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
    The Favorites by Layne Fargo 

    Historical Fiction:
    I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon
    The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
    Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams
    Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams

    Classics:
    Emma by Jane Austen
    The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet
    The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn by Mark TwainJames by Percival Everett
    Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

    Rom Com:
    The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
    Is She Really Going Out with Him? By Sophie Cousens 

    Quiet Literature:
    Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark
    The Hand that First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell
    This Is Happiness by Niall Williams
    Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach
    Good Material by Dolly Alderton
    Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O’Farrell 

    Young Adult:
    Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner
    The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

    Light-Hearted Mystery:
    Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano
    The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
    The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter
    We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

    Mystery:
    The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
    All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
    Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

    Non-Fiction/Memoir:
    Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir by Ina Garten
    What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci
    All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley
    Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect by Will Guidara
    The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
    The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl
    Ordinary Time: Lessons Learned While Staying Put by Annie B. Jones
    Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green
    To Light Their Way: A Collection of Prayers and Liturgies for Parents by Kayla Craig
    Parenting Without Panic in an LGBT-Affirming World by Rachel Gilson
    Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren 

    Middle Grade:
    Bad Badger: A Love Story by Maryrose Wood
    The Next Great Jane by K.L. Going
    The Elephant in the Room by Holly Goldberg Sloan
    The Book Scavenger Series by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
    The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place Series by Maryrose Wood 

    Check Out From Our Library:
    Books:
    Skymar Series by Pepper Basham
    The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh
    Timeless Series by Gabrielle Meyer
    The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson
    Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson
    Murphy Shepherd Series by Charles Martin
    The Extraordinary Death of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold
    Authors:
    Courtney Walsh
    Pepper Basham
    Gabrielle Meyer
    Melissa Ferguson

    New Books We Are Excited About:
    Steeped in Stories by Mitali Perkins
    Tim Keller on the Christian Life by Matt Smethurst
    Trembling Faith by Taylor Turkington
    Joyful Outsdiers by Patrick Miller
    Faithful Exiles by Ivan Mesa
    What Do I Say When…? by Andrew Walker and Christian Walker

    1 hr 10 min
  • Equipping the Saints: Exploring Jesus' Humanity with Peter Williams (Ep. 37)

    In this episode, we explore how Christians can respond to claims that Christianity is “anti-intellectual.” The trustworthiness of the Gospels and the “surprising genius” found in the teaching of Jesus in the Gospels show that any such claims are unwarranted. This episode is intended to equip you to have confidence in the scriptures and in how to respond to skepticisms and challenges that come your way.

    Listen in as Josh Preston, George Robertson, and special guest Dr. Peter Williams, Bible Researcher and CEO of Tyndale House Cambridge (the world’s foremost evangelical bible research institute) discuss ideas from two of Dr. Williams' most recent books: The Surprising Genius of Jesus and Can We Trust the Gospels?

    41 min
  • Equipping the Saints: Living within God's Story (Ep. 36)

    In the fourth episode of our Equipping the Saints series, titled “Living within God’s Story,” we’ll hear from Pastor Josh Preston and special guest Dr. Chris Wright as they step back to look at the bigger story of Scripture and help us see how doing so can shape and transform what we believe about politics. Dr. Wright is the Global Ambassador for Langham Partnership and Honorary Curate at All Souls Church in London as well as the author of"Here Are Your Gods" and "The Mission of God’s People".

    Books: Here Are Your Gods, The Mission of God’s People
    Website: langham.org
    Podcast: On Mission with Chris Wright

    55 min
  • Page Turners: Book Talk from Our Library – Summer 2024 (Ep. 35)

    On this episode of Second Look, our Growing Place Library staff member, Merrill Skipworth, along with 2PC members, Jennifer Wilson and Lacey Moody, sit down for the sixth annual book talk! The list below features books recommended and mentioned in this episode.

    Middle Grade:
    Clara Poole and the Long Way Round by Taylor Tyng
    21 Balloons by William Pene de Bois
    Wish Tree by Katherine Applegate
    Key Player by Kelly Yang (Series) 
    Hummingbird by Natalie Lloyd
    The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt 

    Young Adult Fiction:
    American Royals by Katharine McGee (Series)
    The Royal We by Heather Cocks
    Pride by Ibi Zoboi
    The Do Over by Lynn Painter
    Unequal Affections by Lara S. Ormiston 

    Rom-Com:
    Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
    Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson
    Moorewood Family Rules by HelenKay Dimon
    The Good Part by Sophie Cousens 

    Memoir:
    Finding Me by Viola Davis
    How to Stay Married by Harrison Scott Key
    All My Knotted-Up Life by Beth Moore
    Taste by Stanley Tucci
    You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin 

    Non-fiction:
    The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
    Good Apple by Elizabeth Passarella 

    Historical Fiction: 
    The Women by Kristen Hannah
    Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
    The Dictionary of Lost Words by Philippa Williams
    The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell
    Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 

    Science Fiction:
    The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis

    General Fiction: 
    Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
    Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale
    How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz
    Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
    Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford
    Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
    Summer Stage by Meg Mitchell Moore
    Charm City Rocks by Matthew Norman
    Talking at Night by Claire Daverley
    The Last Love Note by Emma Grey

    Thriller/Mystery:
    Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
    The Fury by Alex Michaelides
    The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett
    Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
    Going Zero by Anthony McCarten 

    Spiritual Growth:
    Mostly What God Does by Savannah Guthrie
    Real by Catherine Parks
    Made to Belong by David Kim
    Made for People by Justin Whittle Earley

    See Christian Book Recommendations from Staff

    0 min
  • Equipping the Saints: Faithfully Following Jesus in an Election Year (Ep. 32)

    In the second episode of our Equipping the Saints series, titled “Faithfully Following Jesus in an Election Year,” we’ll hear from Pastor Josh Preston and Senior Pastor George Robertson where they will discuss what it looks like to have a biblical mindset going into election season. Listen in for a conversation about the difficulties and importance of seeking justice, mercy, and faithfulness in the political enterprise of our country.

    32 min
  • Page Turners: Book Talk from Our Library – Summer 2023 (Ep. 31)

    On this episode of Second Look, our Growing Place Library staff members, Jennifer Wilson and Merrill Skipworth, along with 2PC member and avid reader, Lacey Moody, sit down for the fifth annual book talk! The list below features books recommended and mentioned in this episode as well as links to the Instagram accounts for the Library and Lacey Moody.

    Fiction

    Authentically Izzy- Pepper Basham

    Carrie Soto is Back- Taylor Jenkins Reid

    Cartographers- Peng Shepherd

    Daisy Jones and the Six- Taylor Jenkins Reid (audiobook is excellent)

    Flight- Lynn Steger Strong

    Hello Beautiful- Ann Napolitano

    Lessons in Chemistry- Bonnie Garmus

    Lord Peter Mysteries- Dorothy Sayers

    Nora Goes Off Script-  Annabel Monaghan

    Remarkably Bright Creatures- Shelby Van Pelt

    Signal Fires- Dani Shapiro

    The Exiles- Christina Baker Cline

    The Golden Spoon- Jessa Maxwell

    The Record Keeper-Charles Martin (Book 3 of Murphy Shepherd Trilogy)

    The Red Notebook-  Antoine Laurain

    The River- Peter Heller

    The White Lady- Jacqueline Winspear                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

    Thursday Murder Club Series- Richard Osman

    Tobacco Wives- Adele Myers 

    Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow- Gabrielle Zevin



    Non-fiction

    A Meal With Jesus- Tim Chester

    Becoming Duchess Goldblatt- Anonymous

    Confronting Christianity- Rebecca McLaughlin

    Find Your People- Jennie Allen

    Good Apple- Elizabeth Passarella

    Gospelbound- Collin Hansen and Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra

    Habits of the Household- Justin Whitmel Earley

    It Was an Ugly Couch Anyway- Elizabeth Passarella

    Joyful-  Ingrid Fetell Lee 

    Left on Tenth- Delia Ephron

    Made to Belong- David Kim

    One More Croissant for the Road- Felicity Cloake

    Redemption Accomplished and Applied- John Murray

    Secular Creed- Rebecca McLaughlin

    Surprised by Oxford- Carolyn Weber

    Taste- Stanley Tucci

    The Anthropocene Reviewed- John Green

    This is Where You Belong- Melody Warnick

    When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough- Taylor Schumann



    Middle Grade

    Serpent Slayer and the Scroll of Riddles- Champ Thornton

    The Dragon and The Stone- Kathryn Butler

    The Secret Lake-  Karen Inglis

    The Shoe Books (Ballet Shoes, Theatre Shoes…)- Noel Streatfeild 

    The Westing Game- Ellen Raskin

    Tuesdays at the Castle, series- Jessica Day George

    Wolves of Willoughby Chase- Joan Aiken

    Other Books and Authors Mentioned…

    Chanel Cleeton- Perez Family Series

    Drowning- T. J. Newman

    Falling- T.J. Newman

    Habits of Grace- David Mathis

    Happy Place- Emily Henry

    Jesus Through the Eyes of Women- Rebecca McLaughlin

    Mhairi McFarlane, author

    My Life in France- Julia Child

    Paris by the Book- Liam Callanan

    52 min
  • Equipping the Saints: Finding Courage While Seeking Peace (Ep. 30)

    Today we’ll hear a roundtable discussion from Pastor Josh Preston, Director of Shepherding resources Laurin Maddux, and Senior Pastor George Robertson where they discuss the tension of seeking the peace and prosperity of a city that is sometimes dangerous. Listen in for an honest conversation about loving our neighbors in turbulent times.

    42 min

About Second Look

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Second Look is a forum to learn more about the ministries, members, and mission of Second Presbyterian Church.