'The idea of bittersweet is changing the way I live, unraveling and re-weaving the way I understand life. Bittersweet is the idea that in all things there is both something broken and something beautiful, that there is a moment of lightness on even the darkest of nights, a shadow of hope in every heartbreak, and that rejoicing is no less rich even when it contains a splinter of sadness. 'It's the practice of believing that we really do need both the bitter and the sweet, and that a life of nothing but sweetness rots both your teeth and your soul. Bitter is what makes us strong, what forces us to push through, what helps us earn the lines on our faces and the calluses on our hands. Sweet is nice enough, but bittersweet is beautiful, nuanced, full of depth and complexity. Bittersweet is courageous, gutsy, audacious, earthy.
'This is what I've come to believe about change: it's good, in the way that childbirth is good, and heartbreak is good, and failure is good. By that I mean that it's incredibly painful, exponentially more so if you fight it, and also that it has the potential to open you up, to open life up, to deliver you right into the palm of God's hand, which is where you wanted to be all long, except that you were too busy pushing and pulling your life into exactly what you thought it should be. 'I've learned the hard way that change is one of God's greatest gifts, and most useful tools. Change can push us, pull us, rebuke and remake us. It can show us who we've become, in the worst ways, and also in the best ways. I've learned that it's not something to run away from, as though we could, and that in many cases, change is a function of God's graciousness, not life's cruelty.'
Niequist, a keen observer of life with a lyrical voice, writes with the characteristic warmth and honesty of a dear friend: always engaging, sometimes challenging, but always with a kind heart. You will find Bittersweet savory reading, indeed. 'This is the work I'm doing now, and the work I invite you into: when life is sweet, say thank you, and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you, and grow.'
Starred Review In Publishers Weekly
Niequist (Cold Tangerines) returns with an often humorous and always contemplative series of personal essays on bittersweet experiences, illustrating through her own life that 'rejoicing is no less rich even when it contains a splinter of sadness.' Spiritually, the book bravely sets out to decipher the paradoxically co-dependent nature of happiness and grief. But Niequist's title should not be seen as simply a convenient theological metaphor; it is also a literary device. Impressively, many of Niequist's perfectly concocted chapters weave in culinary themes, evoking the sensory, physical experience of the bittersweet along with the spiritual sense of it. When writing of deep friendship and the loss that sometimes accompanies it, her narrative often revolves around a dinner table, a cooking club, or a farmer's market. Niequist's ability to describe the sensation of eating a peppery arugula salad punctuated with sweet blueberries is just as evocative as her ability to express the intricacies of love, loss, hope, and doubt. Readers of all faiths will find this book courageous, sincere, poetic, and profound. There's nothing bitter in this sweet treat of a spiritual memoir.
Publishers Weekly“For those of us whose lives have made some unexpected and unwelcome twists and turns, Bittersweet offers company. I love this book not only for the peeks into the ups and downs of Shauna’s life, but because she offers us hope and sweetness at every turn—even the sharpest, most bitter ones.”
Caryn Dahlstrand Rivadeneira, author of Mama’s Got a Fake I.D.“In Bittersweet, Shauna Niequist writes of seeking buoyancy in rough waters. Her stories of friendship, family, and food remind us of what matters most. These reflections guide us to live more reflective lives—to review the past with one eye on our frailty and another on God’s redemptive mercy. With refreshing honesty Shauna reminds us that God can redeem all things.”
Jeff Manion, senior teaching pastor of Ada Bible Church and author of The Land Between“Bittersweet is vulnerable and honest in a truly profound way. Shauna calls the reader to bravery and gives us permission to explore our own stories—both the beautiful and the gritty—having faith that in the end we will find ourselves closer to God and the way he created us to be. An enjoyable, inspiring, and compelling read!“
Steve Carter, teaching pastor of RockHarbor Church“Somehow Shauna Niequist sees the world differently. She reveals prolific thoughts often trapped in menial everyday circumstances. Her authenticity is disarming and her observations are truly insightful. Bittersweet helped me process and reflect on all that is painful and beautiful in my life.”
Darren Whitehead, teaching pastor of Willow Creek Community Church“Bittersweet represents an important theme resurfacing in the church today—public permission for honesty, brokenness, freedom, and healing. Shauna captures that spirit effortlessly and inspires her readers to do the same.”
Rebekah Lyons, cofounder of Q
Buy:
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble
Read:
PDF Samples: Learning to Swim | Things I Don't Do | What Might Have Been
Listen:
MP3 Samples: Sea Dreaming | Crying in the Bathroom | Your Story Must be Told
Cold Tangerines is a collection of stories that celebrate the extraordinary moments hidden in our everyday lives. It is about God, and about life, and about the thousands of daily ways in which an awareness of God changes and infuses everything. It is about spiritual life, and about all the things that we have called nonspiritual life that might be spiritual after all. It is the snapshots of a young woman making peace with herself and her life, and trying to craft a life that captures the energy and exuberance we long for in the midst of the fear and regret and envy we all carry with us. It is both a voice of challenge and song of comfort, calling us upward to the best possible life, and giving us room to breathe, to rest, to break down and break through. Cold Tangerines offers bright and varied glimpses of hope and redemption, in and among the heartbreak and boredom and broken glass.
“It would be good for all of us if Shauna Niequist would promise to write a book like Cold Tangerines every year or two for the rest of our lives. Her sensitivity would sensitize us. Her honesty would puncture our pretensions. Her spiritual insight would take us deep. Her beautiful literary style would fire our imaginations. And her love-- for life, for family, for God-- would recenter us on what matters most. Let's hope this is the first of many books from this talented new first-rate writer.”
Brian McLaren, author/speaker
“This is a book you can taste. No lights or makeup, no clichés or pretense. It is raw. It is refreshing... So real that you can hear the baby in the background as Shauna reflects on the hidden sacredness of everyday life.”
Shane Claiborne, author/activist, thesimpleway.org
“Shauna uses words to tap into the raw emotions of our humanity – joy, deep sadness, surprise, anger, jealousy, and most of all, delight. Not only do her stories open up a window into the life of this young woman, they also tap into all of our stories, reminding us of the wonder and privilege it is to walk for a time on this planet.”
Nancy Beach, author/Willow Creek Association
Buy:
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble
Read:
PDF Samples: On Waiting | A Funeral and a Wedding | Needle and Thread
Listen:
MP3 Samples: Basement | Swimming | Cold Tangerines