Cold Tangerines (by Shauna Niequist)

(Amazon UK link)

I have very much liked the other books I read by Shauna Niequist; the only one I was missing was ‘Cold Tangerines’. I managed to find it second-hand in August, and have just finished reading it. It’s written in short chapters, each one no more than five or six pages, so over the past couple of weeks I’ve read one or two sections each morning, as a kind of devotional.

From the chronological point of view, I’ve read the author’s books in the wrong order. This is her first book, and charts parts of her life when she hoped to be pregnant and when she finally gave birth to her son Henry. I knew everything would be all right because I’ve read later books in which Henry’s a little boy. But it didn’t particularly matter, as each book - and each chapter of each book - is complete in itself and can be read as a stand-alone.

As with the other books, there were times when I was forcibly reminded how different the author’s lifestyle and culture is from mine. She ponders what to have for breakfast, but then instead of opening the fridge or cutting up some fruit, she goes to a restaurant. Other than on rare occasions when travelling, I have only eaten breakfast out once - when we had an unexpected power cut and I didn’t want to open the fridge.

Shauna Niequist also lives in a culture where appearances seem to matter; there’s a chapter about shame, about friends seeing messy basements or grungy under-sink cupboards. She uses make-up, she has more clothes than she knows what to do with, she even has a therapist whom she mentions almost in passing. These are reminders that this is a foreign book, and that I have much to be thankful for in having grown up in a much more relaxed, accepting culture.

And yet… there’s so much more in this book, which charts incidents in the author’s life in an honest, open and surprisingly endearing way. She tells her stories in ways that make them come alive, acknowledging her weaknesses and failings, but picking herself up and learning from the experiences. She is eager to make the world a better place, to celebrate family and friends and new acquaintances, and while her open, extraverted personality is far removed from mine, I could relate to many of the things she said.

There are morals - or at least points - to all the stories, spiritual messages, or reminders to be thankful, or insights into how God moves and works. And they could have been cringeworthy, along the lines of someone standing up to ‘explain’ a drama or a painting. But they’re not. The points are made in a way that’s not preachy or condescending, as part of the stories, conclusions to the anecdotes, and they’re all expressed in a personal way so that a reader can take them to heart, or pass them by or ignore them if they’re not relevant.

Towards the end of the book there’s a chapter about the crucial importance of creativity, of making music, or art, or writing, or whatever each person has a passion for. In a world climate where the arts are being overlooked, seen as inferior to engineering or technology, it’s a welcome reminder. God is a creator, and we are made in his image.

Despite the odd irritations, I found this book engaging, thought-provoking, and ultimately very encouraging and inspiring. I don’t envy the author her busy lifestyle but I love the way she writes, as if having a conversation, and yet in a highly readable style. What she says is not profound; it's not even new. But the way she says it sparks all kinds of chords, and I'm so pleased I've finally read this book.

Definitely recommended; the ethos and underlying themes are Christian, but this could be of interest to anyone who wants to explore what it means to be more honest, more open, and more in tune with the world around us. Even in the midst of a pandemic which could not have been foreseen thirteen years ago when this book was published.

Review copyright 2020 Sue's Book Reviews