This Book Review will look at two books I have recently read about hospitality. The Gospel Comes with a House Key had been on my TBR (to be read) list for a long time. I had heard wonderful things about it, and actually heard Rosaria Butterfield speak at an online conference a couple of years ago. Holy Hygge was a recent find, I think on Instagram. I listened to both of them as audiobooks. Both books have some great content and challenged me to make my home a place where friends, family and strangers are welcomed and loved. I recently moved into a new house and want to be purposeful about creating a lifestyle of hospitality.
If you're here for the short version, of the two books I connected more with Holy Hygge and would highly recommend it.
If you've got 4 more minutes here is the more detailed review:
The Gospel Comes with a House Key made me feel a little bit like I had to lay down and BE the doormat to my home. I'm sure that is not the intent of the book, but the author seems to have super human energy and not a selfish bone in her body. She makes soup and homemade bread for 50 people at the drop of a hat and basically has an open door policy for the whole neighborhood (including the cats and dogs)! My personality just doesn't operate that way! To be fair, I do think I could grow in flexibility and putting other's needs before my own. I am drawn to that lifestyle and do believe the author's actions are Christ-like. I admire Mrs. Butterfield and appreciate the way the book challenged me in some areas, but I'm not completely all in on "radical hospitality" the way it is portrayed in the book. I'm not sure it's sustainable for me.
On the other hand, Holy Hygge was like a warm hug of encouragement. (pun intended) Basically, hygge (pronounced hoog-uh) is a Danish lifestyle that promotes a feeling of coziness and contentment evoked by simple comforts, as being wrapped in a blanket, having good conversations and enjoying food. The author, Jamie Erickson, blends hygge with Christian hospitality, encouraging a home where warmth, love and grace are at the center. She talks about serving others with compassion and love alongside living in gratitude, all with glorifying God as the starting point. Some ways in which this book was different than the first is that the author admits to not being perfect, seems more relatable, as well as emphasizing the need for rest. She spent quite a bit of time discussing Sabbath rest and the need to protect our homes (and ourselves) from overuse. Listening to this audiobook as I unpacked in my new home I also appreciated the practical suggestions on how to create a hygge home. I am drawn to the coziness of warm blankets, mugs of tea, books and good conversation. One of my favorite quotes from the book is "Encouragement is more than just giving a compliment. It is the passing on of courage." I am an encourager and I love the imagery of passing on courage to others who are fearful, uncertain or just having a bad day. I want my home to be a place where weary souls are welcomed, comforted, and filled up with courage before going back out to face the world!
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