Read in June
This year is looking more like another one for reading and less for writing. It isn’t that I don’t have a million thoughts in my head swirling around, it is just that I have no time to push them out. The photos, the edits, the thoughtful words strung together in coherent sentences – all those things take time! I try to stay off my computer and my phone when I am around my kids, so that leaves nights and small sets of intentional time here and there. This is all something I have been thinking on lately – priorities, seasons, intentionality, time. I have no answers – not really. But I have been dwelling on and memorizing this verse:
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. — Isaiah 26:3
There are so many things to clutter my mind and heart. So many things to be anxious or worried about. So many things I can want to do but not have the time to do. And instead, I want to trust the Lord. I want to stay my mind on Him and rest in the perfect peace he is able to give when my eyes are on Him. So who knows what my goals are for this blog or what next month or next year holds, my eyes are on the Lord and he is able to quiet my soul.
Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus, Become Like Him, Do As He Did by John Mark Comer
5 Stars: I really enjoyed this book and plan on rereading it at some point because there is so much in these pages. I listened to the audiobook which kept pace for me so I didn’t get caught up in trying to digest it all (hence why I will reread it again!) In some ways this book feels like a Cost of Discipleship book written for this generation. This book is in many ways the Gospel and how that should transform us. This book points out that you cannot simply say you are a Christian and continue living however you want, but in saying yes to Jesus, we are saying yes to the ways he lived. Following Jesus is a lifestyle, it requires transformation, intentionality, sacrifice, and, of course, the power of the living God. We have to follow the Rabi Jesus – doing as he did and becoming like him. I was encouraged and convicted. It was a very quick read, but gave me much to think on. As I raise little disciples in my own home, my heart is to point them to Jesus – the one worth following. And to do that, I must too live like him.
A Lesson in Propriety by Jen Turano
4.5 Stars: I don’t love the cover and don’t feel like it quite grasps the storyline (seriously I was shocked this took place in America!) but the content is gold. Honestly, it was captivating, engaging, witty, a bit overdramatic (in the best ways), and enchanting. I was rooting for Drusilla & Rhenick from the start, adored many of the characters (even some of the outlandish ones), and laughed out loud multiple times. This is a historical fiction, suspense, rom-com and I am here for it! Very excited to read the rest of the books to come in the Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies series!
From the Valley We Rise by Elizabeth Musser
4.5 Stars: Heavy! This WWII novel has a lot going on both emotionally and content wise! We follow three character storylines that feel disconnected at the beginning but all start blending and merging together. This is not one of those books to read to give your brain a break as there is SO MUCH going on! It took me awhile to get all the characters straight and envision all he worlds we were jumping into, but once I did, the story simply unfolded before my eyes! As someone who reads a lot of historical fiction, this story really focuses on a perspective I am not used to seeing in WWII novels and I even learned facts about the war I hadn’t yet known! Well written, powerful, inspirational, and challenging – this book is a must read for anyone who loves WWII fiction!
The Atlas of Untold Stories by Sara Brunsvold
4 Stars: A bookish road trip sounds like a dream but not with this crew! Haha. I found most of the characters unlikable (except for Chloe and also the dad) which was hard at times. I have a hard time when characters do/ say stupid things! However there is redemption and connection in the end. This book is SO unlike my mother and sisters that it felt cringey, but I know the relationships depicted in the book are quite often like this. I devoured the book as I needed character growth to encourage my soul! It was overall I fun read and a well written book. It totally inspired me to take a bookish road trip so I might just have to do that with my girls!!
If I Were You by Lynn Austin
4 Stars: At least I got the happy (ish) ending but this book sets up a huge gulf quickly and I wasn’t loving it. So much of the story is gold but the main premise and the dual storylines really didn’t do it for me. The “drama” / “problem” in 1950 felt out of character and unrealistic. I did however love ALL of the earlier timelines and the progression of Eve and Audrey’s friendship. I needed a good ending to not throw this book across the room, which I did get, but I was left feeling like it shouldn’t have been a problem in the first place. Oh well! Somehow, I still give it 4 stars! Haha!
Speaking of having time to do the things… I may have reached a bit too high for my book goal this year. As of today we sit at 36/80 books. I guess I am technically only 4 books behind the halfway mark (where I should be as of now, but I don’t envision a lot of “extra” reading time in my future to play catch up! You can check the status of my Goodreads report here. If you don’t already, follow me on Goodreads to see what I am reading, what I want to read, my favorite books, and every review I write! I also share all the books that I have rated 4 or 5 stars on my Amazon storefront AND here is my Monthly Book Review archives for all the books I’ve read this year and years before!! Always feel free to share recommendations with me – I am a big fan of word of mouth!