What We're Loving This Summer
What we're reading, enjoying, and can't stop talking about this summer
When you make something—a meal, a garden, a story, a song–you’re not just being creative. You’re being human in the deepest sense. Tolkien called it subcreation: we make because we are made in the image of a Maker.
This means your imaginative work isn’t a distraction from your spiritual life. It is your spiritual life (or part of it anyway!). The question isn’t whether you’ll subcreate—you already are. The question is whether you’ll do it consciously, as an act of participation in what God is making.
So where do we start? And how can God develop us in doing it better? This season takes a practical approach to the question: how can we cultivate our ability to join God in bringing beauty, truth, and goodness into the world?
With those questions in mind, here are the things we are loving this summer!
What We’re Reading This Summer
Brian Brown:
Just finished Malcolm Guite’s Galahad and the Grail—hurry up and read it or you’ll be the last one left!
Adam R. Nettesheim’s new book, 13 Short Stories of Longing, which I recommend for both adults and kids!
Sarah Howell:
The Mother Artist: Portraits of Ambition, Limitation, and Creativity by Catherine Ricketts This book has been a deep wellspring for conversation, lately. The book is a wonderful, easy, and inspiring read. It opens up rich conversations about the “generative ties between caregiving and creative practice.” If you want to deep dive more into these ideas, I can’t stop talking about Leah Libresco Sargeant’s book, The Dignity of Dependence, which explores similar questions from another angle.
Caroline Williams:
I have back issues of Plough magazine and Anthony Horowitz’s whip-smart mystery novels in my bag this summer. Anthony is the award-winning TV and film writer who created Foyle’s War and adapted Midsomer Murders, and he’s a master of satire and self-deprecating humor. As a novelist, he uses elements of metafiction to poke fun at whodunits, while still weaving a maze of clues and puzzles to solve.
What We Can’t Stop Talking About:
Brian
Brian: Our summer reading group! We had so much fun last summer and I love the book choice this year (and having Amy Baik Lee as a co-host)!
Sarah
My latest soapbox is that generative work in subcreating doesn’t have to be a time-intensive craft. It doesn’t have to take all of your time to be important or meaningful! And I’m going to just say it—scrapbooks are generative work! I’ve been loving my cheater scrapbooking project. I don’t have time for the full process but still want something artful, and tangible photos for my kids to thumb through. They love pictures and it brings us all so much joy and life! So why not just buy a 12x12 album and fill it with pre-made 4x6 (the most financially sustainable option for printing) photo album pages, so there is no need to glue or tape? Throw in paper mementos, letters, or cards, jot some memories on a 4x6 card and pop it in a slot if you want to, and call it a day!
Subcreation doesn’t have to be hard in order to make it meaningful.
Caroline
Project Hail Mary. If you haven’t seen the movie, it’s perfect for a family or neighborhood movie night. (Bonus points if you host under the stars. The New York Times has tips on DIY’ing the tech side of an outdoor movie night here.) It’s a hopeful, friendship-based story, and if you’re unsure about space or science movies, I have a feeling you’ll be pleasantly surprised. The book is excellent, too!
What We’re Enjoying This Summer:
Brian
Brian: Gin and tonics on the back porch. (2oz gin, 3-4oz good tonic water like Q or Fever Tree, squeeze of lime, served in a tumbler over ice. GO!)
Sarah
Sarah: Going to the park, sitting on a bench, and blowing bubbles. Really, try it. Having kids present not required. . .
Caroline
Hosting more often! Lately that looks like Saturday morning donuts and coffee on the screened porch (pajamas encouraged) and potluck dinner parties that end with low-stakes board games like this one. We also have our PowerPoint party coming up soon, when all guests wear ridiculous wigs, adopt personas, and present to the group on a topic of choice. Summer is the season for creative reasons to gather—and for tried-and-true playlists.
Which items on this list stand out to you? How are you using your creativity this summer? Do you have your own recommendations? Let’s continue the conversation in the comments below!