what i read : may 2015

Before we get into the book reviews, I want to mention that my blog has a brand new Facebook page! I’m pretty excited about it. I plan to use it to share links to all kinds of interesting or awesome things, as well as behind-the-scenes tidbits and discussion questions. I’d be thrilled if you go check it out – I think you’ll (literally) like it!

Now onto the books – my reading has picked up again, hooray! I definitely go through phases with it and right now I’m in a good one. The above photo are some of the books I have on deck. Here’s what I read last month:

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty – I continue to love how Liane Moriarty writes such smart, funny, and insightful books about serious subjects – this one tackles domestic violence and bullying – while keeping them fun. This one has maybe a little too much character introspection for me, but I still thought it was so good. (audio, 4 stars)

Tisha: The Story of a Young Teacher in the Alaska Wilderness by Robert Specht – this was for my postal book club, and it’s an example of why I love book clubs so much. I had never heard of it and probably never would have and I definitely would have missed a gem! It’s the true story of a 19-year-old who goes to teach on the Alaskan frontier in the late 1800’s. It has adventure, conflict over race relations, romance, and a strong, brave, heroine. Loved it. (4 stars)

Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin – I found this study on habits extremely practical and helpful. Her advice to first and foremost “know yourself” is so wise, and she offers a lot of discussion about how to do that. There is tons of practical advice included but at the same time, her writing is engaging and full of anecdotes that make it easy to read and easy to understand. I do want to note that I identify with Gretchen as an “upholder” (although not as extreme as her) in that it is relatively easy for me to form habits and I get more pleasure out of it than most people, so maybe that’s why the book resonated so much with me. But after reading this I feel motivated and capable to tackle some areas of my life that need to get back on track. (5 stars)

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman – this was for book club, and per my new policy I listened to it on audio. I gave it four stars because the writing was beautiful and the story was unforgettable and I felt it deeply. Too deeply! I am not sure if I could say I enjoyed it because it was hard and I felt physical anxiety over it at times. So, I’d recommend it, but not for everyone. (audio, 4 stars)

Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood: Practical Parenting From Birth to Six Years by Jim Fay and Charles Fay – I super love the ideas in this book and I’m tempted to give it five stars except I haven’t fully tested the method out yet. There are a bunch of different ideas to try in different situations and the authors recommend not trying them all at once but focusing on one things at a time. It was hard for me, after reading this, to make changes slowly but I agree that it’s necessary. We have a spirited child and I’m curious to see how it will work on her. I suspect it will work well, but we might meet with more resistance initially. Some cheesy stuff and claims that are perhaps overstated, but I’m on board. (4 stars)

Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent by Beth Moore – this was the Bible study workbook that I just finished. I’ve mentioned before that Beth Moore is my favorite, and I’m currently working through all of her published studies. This one was pretty good, all about getting you to the next level in your worship, definitely a solid study although not my absolute favorite of hers. (4 stars)

Reading challenge:

This year I’m participating in Modern Mrs. Darcy’s reading challenge. I added a couple to the list this month and here’s where I stand:

• a book you’ve been meaning to read – The Magicians by Lev Grossman (January)
• a book published this year – Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin
• a book in a genre you don’t typically read –
• a book from your childhood –
• a book your mom loves –
• a book that was originally written in a different language –
• a book “everyone” has read but you – The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
• a book you chose because of the cover –
• a book by a favorite author –
• a book recommended by someone with great taste – Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (February)
• a book you should have read in high school –
• a book that’s currently on the best seller list – The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (March)