I absolutely love the idea of “reclaiming quiet” and this is a beautiful book with beautiful writing. Sarah Clarkson is a talented writer. That said, the writing style is not my personal favorite, which took a star away from my rating. But I do believe many will love this book because as I said, the writing is beautiful even if it’s not what I typically prefer.

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.

Sarah’s writing is magical every time. The way she writes makes me feel like I’m listening to poetry. I loved her thoughtful and vulnerable encounter with the Lord in this book and pursuing that literal peace and quiet that we need. It’s a spiritual discipline and one I could stand to grow in!

I traveled to England this summer and unexpectedly fell in love with it. I didn't realize that seeing the places where so many beloved stories take place would stir my heart. Reading Sarah's book was like taking a long walk down an English country path.

This was such a good, tranquil, reachable explanation of what quiet is, why we need it, and how to find it, no matter who you are or what season of your life you're in. With her trademark references to the deep theology, beauty, and joy found in treasure of literature (but not too much!) Sarah walks the reader through her own journey to reclaiming quiet and shares the tools, resources and spiritual value she found along the way.

There are a lot of resources out there right now about putting down your phone and being present in life. Sarah's contribution is worthwhile because she shows us how God's heart for his children is to find a deep soul quiet that goes beyond serenity. I loved this book.

Reading this book is soul care. Reading this book for me was like nestling in an armchair in the corner of a beloved coffee shop with a blazing fire and hearing from a friend whose words are wise, encouraging, comforting and truthful. "Lord have mercy. Into Thy hands. Thee I adore." This has become my refrain after reading this digital advance copy. Thank you Sarah and publisher for making it available to me!

There are very few contemporary Christian writers whom I trust as implicitly as I do Sarah Clarkson to tackle, with beauty, grace, and real encouragement, topics that are so often the subject of banal, soul-killing platitudes and burdensome to-do lists. With Reclaiming Quiet, she has yet again gifted her reader with the kind of book that makes you feel as though you're sitting in a terribly comfortable armchair, with a warm cup of your favourite beverage, having a deep conversation with a dear friend - the kind that, even when it's hard or painful, helps you lower your shoulders from up around your ears, where they've been hovering for longer than you care to admit. Where so many others shame and chastise, Clarkson offers her reality, saying, "Here's where I've struggled. Maybe you've felt the same? Maybe what's helped me will help you, too." The invitation to quiet, not only as silence - an absence of sound, but as an inner refuge of peace and stillness that can be accessed in the midst of a raucous crowd or tempestuous season of life, is one that I'm deeply grateful for. I'll be gifting this book and recommending it to anyone who'll listen.

This is a book to read when the world is too much and you need a reminder of what is really important, the beauty and quiet that is yours if you choose and the Prince of Peace giving what the world can't.
It is upliftingly beautiful and the fact that it was written during the pandemic makes it even more poignant.
Highly recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read it in exchange for my thoughts!

This book is another masterpiece! Sarah focuses on what quiet is and what it isn’t, and the art of paying attention to the world around us. I relate so much to her experiences and am already applying these concepts to my own life—shaping cadences of quiet. She takes a concept that could be dismissed at first glance and gently causes us to reconsider the way we view this hurried modern world. As a young mother, perhaps the most encouraging aspect was how personal this book felt. This is no vague, unattainable musing on quiet. “The thing is, I don’t think quiet is about great feats so much as it is about small faithfulnesses.” Beauty leads us to quiet and quiet leads us to pay attention to beauty. Both lead us to God. Highly recommend this book!

A beautifully written, lyrical almost book. A dive into Sarah’s reality and changing of her faith as her life has changed. A consideration of what quiet before God is, how we can bring that into our lives again - even when things must be done, life is chaotic, phones are around, children make noise, life is busy. I may not agree with everything, but it’s beautiful and thought inducing and will draw most people closer to God and bring more peace to their lives. Each chapter ends with a prayer and questions for reflection.

I was (pleasantly!) surprised to discover this is a devotional book. Its 12 chapters each feature “pray” and “ponder” sections at the end. I’d been expecting more of a “regular” read, but found that this format helped me engage with the text and the Creator in more depth than I might have otherwise, and it grew on me.

I quit social media last month in anticipation of the election—my own first step in reclaiming quiet—and this read was a blessed insertion into my newly found free time. I’m planning to revisit the book in January/after the holidays to start the new year off right. (Ironically, another politically fueled time as a new president will be sworn in that month—so I’ll need another go-round and pointer back to Christ, who raises up and brings low every authority.)

Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Clarkson is a kindred spirit and loves J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis as much as I do—and references them quite a bit throughout the read. She and I are both introverts, as well; that being said, this book is a fantastic read for both introverts and extroverts: both camps will find exceptional value in it. Reclaiming quiet is for everyone, and this is a great place to start.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

If you long to find the quiet to meet with God, if you are lost in the cacophony of voices and noise all around, I recommend this book. Sarah Clarkson drops clues and hints on how to journey from the wilderness of noise into a place of rest in God. Whether you are single, a young mother, or nearing retirement, these words are for you. A book to read and reread.

Sarah Clarkson writes, “At the heart of recollection is a return to the knowledge of our origins, of God as Maker and Keeper of the whole of our being...Such quiet reminds us that we are not responsible for our own flourishing." This beautiful quote sums up the message of Reclaiming Quiet, which is so beautifully written to encourage those who are busy to embrace a slower pace of heart. Despite the busyness of the world around us, our soul cries out to God for quiet, and we are given grace to rely on Him more fully. The book is truly such a wonderful reminder that our faith is not about perfect discipline, but a total giving up of ourselves to the One who makes us whole and helps us in our weakness. I have already underlined and annotated so many lines; each page is rich. Give yourself the gift of this book as an invitation to enter into quiet and reflection and peace.

Reclaiming Quiet is the most meaningful non-fiction book I have read in a long time! Its practical yet lovingly written words offer a bit of a challenge to reclaim your quiet while promising reward of a peaceful mind. I have accomplished this quiet by addressing some areas in my own life that weren't structured as they need to be.

Each chapter ends with questions and a prayer which are so heartfelt and guide you to honestly assess your thoughts and feelings. I received an eARC of the book, but I can't wait to dig into my physical copy and highlight and write notes to my heart's content. I also plan to share a copy with each of my daughters. Highly recommended!

I'm so glad Sarah continues to be a servant of God and her family while sharing her love of beauty and creativity of the written word with us.

A beautiful, thoroughly inspiring gentle nudge to examine our inner thoughts and fears and find peace in the midst of quiet. Sarah does not shy away from hard realities, such as admitting to ourselves that we avoid quiet for fear of what we will find in our hearts, and offers self reflective questions to guide the reader through finding quiet in different stages of life. Wonderfully spoken!

Reading this book reminded me of watching a beautiful sunrise. I felt myself slowly exhale as I read her words. Her thoughts will linger with me. Thank you for bringing this important and inspiring book to the world. I highly recommend

This was a retreat, a timely, cozy, challenging and yet edifying retreat. Sarah spoke into life what so many feel with practical tips and stories to aid her readers. It reads similar to sitting with an old friend.

This is a beautiful and thoughtful book. I enjoyed reading every page of this lovely book. I have read Sarah Clarkson's work before, so I knew I would like it and I was not disappointed. It has left me with some valuable things to ponder and some wonderful quotes to mark down and come back to. In our very busy and noisy age, it is worthwhile to stop and consider how to reclaim quiet in our lives and how to thrive in spite of the noise all about us.
Everyone should read this.

In Reclaiming Quiet, Sarah Clarkson invites readers on a profound journey into the heart of stillness, urging us to cultivate an interior world where we can truly listen for God’s voice. With lyrical prose and deep insight, Clarkson explores the significance of silence in our often chaotic lives, reminding us that it is in these quiet moments that we can hear the whispers of grace.
The book is rich with personal anecdotes and practical guidance on how to create a sacred space for contemplation and rest. Clarkson eloquently argues that every Christian is called to nurture this interior world, making it a place of expectant silence where we can encounter God’s Word in our darkness and be renewed.
One of the most striking aspects of Clarkson's writing is her unwavering faith in the goodness of God, which she believes can outlast any trial we may face. Her words resonate with hope and encourage readers to seek rest in a divine presence that transcends the tumult of life.
Overall, Reclaiming Quiet is a beautifully crafted invitation to embrace stillness. It’s a must-read for anyone looking to deepen their faith and find peace in the midst of a noisy world. Highly recommended!

Sarah Clarkson’s “Reclaiming Quiet” is an astounding journey of discovery into the heart and soul of finding quiet. Through poignant and personal
Illustration, Sarah reveals how desperately we need to carve out quiet in the midst of every day chaos.
Her writing is lyrical and lovely, helping the reader to see all that she shares in a way that draws us into a closer walk with our Creator.. It is not a “How To” book with steps to accomplish, but a path into the presence of the God who is there..
“Quiet echoes with eternity; it thrums with the music of the world we’ve always secretly desired but have only just begun to imagine.”
I highly recommend this lovely book.

Lately, I have been craving quiet. Maybe it is because the world seems extra loud these days, or there seems to be a lot of chaotic things happening all around. Thankfully, my little area is peaceful, but it does still seem loud at times. So when I saw this new book, Reclaiming Quiet – Cultivating a Life of Holy Attention by Sarah Clarkson being released, I knew I needed to read it. Also, because I have been a big fan of her mom’s books for years, Sally Clarkson. Therefore, I knew it would be encouraging for my heart! AND that is was!! This will need to be a reread for me, one to get in hard copy.

So if you too feel like you need more quiet or feeling the pull of distractions our world has to offer, then let this book be a balm to your heart. Sarah has been pursuing and studying what it means to be and have quiet in her life for the last few years, and this is how this book came to be about. Dealing with her own personal struggles of moving, raising a family, dealing with illnesses, being a preacher’s wife… Through this, she began to see the patterns of her own daily life and things that she needed to change. She learns and reminds us how to choose quiet in the ordinary days of busy and distracted lives.

At the end of each chapter, she shares a prayer and some points to ponder on deeper. Such as: “Is quiet something you miss? If so, why? And what influence or presence makes it most difficult to find?”

Here are a few of my highlights from reading:

I believe our greatest loss is spiritual because our disquiet leads us to a certain kind of life; it shapes the whole of the way we interact with each other and the world around us. We become driven by a sense of urgency, stresses and distracted from the moment we wake to the moment we sleep.
Quiet is the space from which we pray and worship, the condition of our learning our creativity, our literal “in” sight.
We can not live like the tireless machines and sleepless screens by which so much of our lives are now enabled and measured.
Satan has always been against limit and always works to make us think it is a form of diving withholding.
We need to attend in the inmost place of our hearts, where God speaks. We need to listen and live from the inside.
Quiet does not remove those things from us; it offers the space in which we may give voice to them so that they do not destroy us, so that the alternate voice of God’s kindness may turn the besieged cities of our lives in “the rock of refuge” David found in his own wild distress.
In quiet, we learn to watch and wait for God’s help as it sets up camp in the very heart of our darkness.

For the past few years, I've been asking how to be an idealistic deep feeler, an Anne-of-Green-Gables in this often grievous world, while maintaining courage for the long haul. Because I greatly appreciated Sarah's book This Beautiful Truth, and because I'm already discovering the sustaining practice of wonder, I anticipated this book so much that I preordered a copy and joined the launch team. As I read, the word "nourishing" came to mind. Somehow Sarah's words bring a sense of quiet, like a growing bubble of peace inside.

She talks about making friends with silence and dark through the big nighttime world she remembers from her rural childhood, in a way that reminds me of CS Lewis's Ransom trilogy, specifically how he transmits the medieval idea of the heavens as friendly and beautiful, not cold and sterile space. Similarly, she humanizes our exploration, our determined but hopeful pursuit of quiet.

While recognizing how much we can shrink away from silence, as giving space to fear, grief, and any ugly voices in our minds, Sarah presents a practice of embracing small pockets of interior quiet in a way that is homey and simple, like sitting down at the kitchen table with a friend. She speaks practically, because she seeks quiet while mothering four small children, and she reminds us that on the other side of the fear, the noise, and the challenges, is life both deep and rich, because to be still, however briefly, can be to meet with Jesus, who is our life.