Sketches of Home by Suzanne Clark

I bought Sketches of Home last year from one of Canon Press’ $1, 2, 3 sales just because it was so cheap, and I am glad I did. The book is a compilation of journal entries over the course of 20 years, the first one from her honeymoon. She describes in beautiful prose little snapshots of her life as a Christian wife and mother of three.

The life she describes isn’t really spectacular in any way. Instead, she picks out little things that happen in the course of ordinary life and sees God’s love and mercy in those moments. As I read, I was inspired to reflect more deeply on the simple things of my everyday life in the home.

The writing of this book was very different than my usual theological reads or my recent endeavors into the world of novels. Her poetic style made me want to try my hand again at creative writing, something I haven’t done since high school (and only when it was assigned). It was very fun to read, and it made me want to read other artsy books, too.

Here is one entry called “Soft Boy”:

I love your hands, cloud puffs, pillows. Soft or not, the hands are bossy, going for my hair, nose, ribbon on my blouse – anything they desire the hands grab, to go of course into the mouth with its voracious gums.

There are also your cheeks, soft as dumplings, dimpling when you laugh. I love you laugh, proceeding first form the eyes, then spreading to your mouth in a grin that seems as big as you are – and on to the belly that shakes as you laugh, fat puppy’s belly, plush toy, marshmallow boy, my Stephen.