In January I set the goal to read 25 books this year. So far, I am ahead of where I was last year at this time.
1. The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino
This easy-read is a fictional story with religious undertones. It's a good book but not to be considered the answer to all things. (Of course, I like Jesus and He's only a minor character here).
2. Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman with Ellen Vaughn
Some people write because they like to write. Some people write because they have a story to tell. Mary Beth is the second. Choosing to See does have a mixed feeling of "I'm famous, so I wrote a book" and "I'm doing this because my counselor told me to." But she's very vulnerable with her audience and honest about her battles with depression and the horrors of losing a child. As a Steven Curtis Chapman fan, reading some of these stories was almost like hearing a retelling of my own family's stories in that parts were familiar and just as funny or sad as I remember them.
3. How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez
This novel is really hard to write about in one paragraph since I used some of its themes to write a twenty-five page thesis. Alavrez does a great job of opening up to the readers the world as seen by Dominican emigrants and their challenges in living in the United States, both cultural and familial. It's written reverse-chronologically which is interesting but not necessarily a bad thing. Definitely worth exploring.
4. Lifestories by Mark Hall with Tim Luke
Mark Hall is a youth pastor first and the lead singer of Casting Crowns second. His book, like all of their CDs, reflects this. It tells the stories behind the songs on the Casting Crowns and Lifesong CDs, but it's not a "sit back and have a story told to you" book. It's a "sit, read, reflect, and grow spiritually" book. The only thing I would have done different would have been to include the song lyrics with each corresponding chapter. I think you're supposed to read the chapter then watch the music video. I know better than to put down a book to turn on the computer...
5. Lipstick in Afghanistan by Roberta Gately
This novel tells the story of an ER nurse who moves to Afghanistan through Aide du Monde (ADM). It talks about her transition to working in an Afghanistan hospital, her struggle to get to know the culture, and her effort to build relationships with the people there. Even though parts of it broke my heart, I definitely enjoyed this book!
6. Forgotten God by Francis Chan
This is a book I'm going to have to read again I enjoyed it that much. Chan takes a look at the Holy Spirit, or the aspect of God he declares "forgotten." Really, how often do you give credit to the Spirit? Check it out! Definitely a must read!
7. Navigating the Rough Waters of Today's Publishing World by Marcia Meier
If you're clueless about today's publishing world, this book is a good resource. If you have some background knowledge in writing and publishing, this book doesn't have a lot of new information. However, it was interesting to get Meier's opinion on the situation.
8. Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah
This novel is the story of a psychiatrist who is being blamed for a teenager's shooting spree and suicide. She essentially loses her practice the same time a mysterious lost child appears in her hometown where her sister is the police chief. It's a story of questioning one's self-esteem, perseverance, and courage. I found myself in this book in several different situations. I'm not really sure what the title has to do with anything and the "strained family relationship" mentioned on the back cover isn't as strained as one would expect. I enjoyed this book but I did find parts of it to be predictable.
9. A Loss for Words by Lou Ann Walker
Lou Ann Walker is a CODA (a Child of Deaf Adults), so I picked up this autobiography to see a slightly different perspective on Deafness. Parts of the story broke my heart in how her parents (and her entire family) were treated. Parts of it I enjoyed and parts I thought droned on too long. Walker's a journalist so sometime she just wrote what happened and didn't drawn any conclusions which frustrates me as a writer.
10. Over the Edge by Brandilyn Collins
I won this book from a blog giveaway, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. I loved it! Maybe it was my pre-existing interest in Lyme disease or how well the book is written, but I devoured it in three days! It has a lot of good information about Lyme and isn't too technical while also telling a compelling story. My only real criticism would be that during the most intense moments of the story, it seemed Jannie's Lyme symptoms were ignored or forgotten. The plot line is a lot of building and then a quick ending but it wasn't necessarily bad. Of the novels on this list, I think this one was my favorite.
11. Friendships for Grown-Ups by Lisa Whelchel
This book holds hints of, "I'm famous, so I wrote a book about my life" but it also have some very helpful information regarding friendship in adulthood. One thing that I found especially useful is the resources at the end containing practical tips about being intentional with friendships and building relationships. Sometimes Whelchel went into what I would consider to be superfluous details with each relationship scenario that I felt could have been summed up with an, "Every relationship is different." But I know some people want that kind of detail and information regarding the differences in relationships.
Current Moving Bookmarks:
Too Busy Not to Pray by Bill Hybels
Grace for the Moment by Max Lucado
Saints at the River by Ron Rash
Reading Wish List:
Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado
Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur
Crazy Love by Francis Chan
Eli the Good by Silas House
I own books 2-10, so if you want to borrow them, please let me know.
My parents bought a Kindle they're going to let me take to China, so I need to make a list of what I want to read on the plane.
What have you been reading lately? What should I check out?
<>< Katie
Showing posts with label recommendation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recommendation. Show all posts
Monday, June 6, 2011
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Reading My Summer Away
Of course, now it looks like I'm just copying Keith. I'm not. It's time to give an update on what I've been reading lately.
Native Son by Richard Wright
My adivsor has this habit where almost every day in class he says, "Every English major should read this book" and then lists a book or two (or ten or twelve). Well, Native Son is a book I believe all people must read. The historical fiction book takes a look at the enslavement of Bigger Thomas in Chicago in the early to mid-1990s. It looks at the social constraints, personal choices, and repercussions Bigger faces being a black man in a white-dominated society. Definitely a must read but not for young audiences.
Serena by Ron Rash
This is a dark book with bizarre injuries and a lot of murders. I don't normally like those kinds of books, but I liked this one. I will admit I am a little biased, but this fictional novel about forestry in NC/TN in the 1920s and 1930s is just starting to become popular and I want to be the first to tell you about it. Serena is a malicious woman who has literally burned her past and looks forward in life, aiming for complete domination of the lumber industry, worldwide. She's will to do anything she can to get there. I'd venture to say she and her counter-part, Galloway, are sub-human. She and her husband Pemberton eventually become the sole owners of Boston Lumber Company. The darkness and pacing Rash has written in this novel will keep you reading all the way through the end and vital coda. Read it!
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Hosseini exposes readers to a world many of us know little about: Afghanistan from the 1970s to the present. He follows Mariam and Laila through a variety of different situations, most of them unpleasant, as the government changed incessantly. I got lost in this book, the womens' struggles, and the culture differences. Due to the horrific experiences the characters had, I cannot call this a "great book" but it is definitely worth your time.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Apparently I was on a historical fiction kick. This book looks at race relations in Mississippi in the early 1900s. It raises a lot of questions. Can a white woman accurately represent/ write from the point of view of two black women (and a white woman)? I would be willing to say yes. Is Miss Skeeter just another white woman trying to make a buck off of a blacks? I would say no. Read the book, look at the culture, and see how (if) things have changed.
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
Another historical fiction book that takes a look at life in the Dominican Republic in the 1950s and 1960s, under the reign of Trujillo. The Dominican author wrote the novel in English (with periodic Spanish words thrown in) to enlighten the English speaking world to the horrors Dominicans faced under Trujillo and to glorify some of their national heroines, the Butterflies. These three sisters fought against Trujillo and the novel talks about their plight, fight, jail time, and death. Switching points of view between the three Butterflies and the fourth sister, the novel provides several different glimspes and thus opinions on these challenging times. Another book not for young audiences but definitely worth your time.
The Shack by William Paul Young
Another book I'm a little biased about. It was written just for Young's kids in order to attempt to explain how his brain works. No one would publish it, so his friends started a garage publishing business and boom. I think it shows God in a way He (She?) has never been shown before. It may not be the answer to everything, but a lot of the things Young writes are Biblically accurate. Be prepared to cry, laugh, think, and ponder. Also be prepared to read it all the way to the end.
Redefining Beautiful by Jenna Lucado with Max Lucado
I stopped reading this book halfway through. Not because it was bad or anything but because I didn't fit the target audience, but my sister did. This book is aimed at preteen and teenage girls in order to help them realize that they are beautiful, inside and out. Since I didn't read it all the way through, I don't know if it was clean or not, but I'd say it's worth the of teenage girls (and maybe their parents).
Invisible I by Stella Lennon
Part of The Amanda Project, another young adult literature book. This one is radically changing the way people look at literature. Each book in the series is written by a different author and told from a different character's perspective. Readers also get the opportunity to write their own endings to the story through the interactive website. Great for younger readers and (as far as I can remember) clean.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I was worried about this book simply because I'd read a review and expected it to be graphic. Then I remembered I watch House and read Harry Potter, I could probably handle it. It wasn't as graphic as it could have been, which I respect Collins for since it's a young adult book and therefore her target audience doesn't need to be exposed to nastiness. However, I don't like the way Collins ended it, but the book is part of a series. Personally, I would have made it a single book and been done with it. I did find parts predictable, but there were unanticpated twists, too. If you like young adult fiction (or are a young adult), I'd read it. There is some kissing and a romantic relationship, but it's mostly clean.
The Wednesday Letters by Jason Wright
This tells a very sweet, romantic story about a husband's love for his wife. It also promotes the importance of forgiveness and family. As a writer, I'm not really sure who the protagonist of this novel is, but I did enjoy the third person omniscent POV. Laura absolutely LOVED this book. It's an easy read, too.
What have you all been reading lately? My bookshelf is getting empty and I see a trip to Barnes & Noble in the near future. Anything I must read?
Back to the books!
<>< Katie
Native Son by Richard Wright
My adivsor has this habit where almost every day in class he says, "Every English major should read this book" and then lists a book or two (or ten or twelve). Well, Native Son is a book I believe all people must read. The historical fiction book takes a look at the enslavement of Bigger Thomas in Chicago in the early to mid-1990s. It looks at the social constraints, personal choices, and repercussions Bigger faces being a black man in a white-dominated society. Definitely a must read but not for young audiences.
Serena by Ron Rash
This is a dark book with bizarre injuries and a lot of murders. I don't normally like those kinds of books, but I liked this one. I will admit I am a little biased, but this fictional novel about forestry in NC/TN in the 1920s and 1930s is just starting to become popular and I want to be the first to tell you about it. Serena is a malicious woman who has literally burned her past and looks forward in life, aiming for complete domination of the lumber industry, worldwide. She's will to do anything she can to get there. I'd venture to say she and her counter-part, Galloway, are sub-human. She and her husband Pemberton eventually become the sole owners of Boston Lumber Company. The darkness and pacing Rash has written in this novel will keep you reading all the way through the end and vital coda. Read it!
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Hosseini exposes readers to a world many of us know little about: Afghanistan from the 1970s to the present. He follows Mariam and Laila through a variety of different situations, most of them unpleasant, as the government changed incessantly. I got lost in this book, the womens' struggles, and the culture differences. Due to the horrific experiences the characters had, I cannot call this a "great book" but it is definitely worth your time.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Apparently I was on a historical fiction kick. This book looks at race relations in Mississippi in the early 1900s. It raises a lot of questions. Can a white woman accurately represent/ write from the point of view of two black women (and a white woman)? I would be willing to say yes. Is Miss Skeeter just another white woman trying to make a buck off of a blacks? I would say no. Read the book, look at the culture, and see how (if) things have changed.
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
Another historical fiction book that takes a look at life in the Dominican Republic in the 1950s and 1960s, under the reign of Trujillo. The Dominican author wrote the novel in English (with periodic Spanish words thrown in) to enlighten the English speaking world to the horrors Dominicans faced under Trujillo and to glorify some of their national heroines, the Butterflies. These three sisters fought against Trujillo and the novel talks about their plight, fight, jail time, and death. Switching points of view between the three Butterflies and the fourth sister, the novel provides several different glimspes and thus opinions on these challenging times. Another book not for young audiences but definitely worth your time.
The Shack by William Paul Young
Another book I'm a little biased about. It was written just for Young's kids in order to attempt to explain how his brain works. No one would publish it, so his friends started a garage publishing business and boom. I think it shows God in a way He (She?) has never been shown before. It may not be the answer to everything, but a lot of the things Young writes are Biblically accurate. Be prepared to cry, laugh, think, and ponder. Also be prepared to read it all the way to the end.
Redefining Beautiful by Jenna Lucado with Max Lucado
I stopped reading this book halfway through. Not because it was bad or anything but because I didn't fit the target audience, but my sister did. This book is aimed at preteen and teenage girls in order to help them realize that they are beautiful, inside and out. Since I didn't read it all the way through, I don't know if it was clean or not, but I'd say it's worth the of teenage girls (and maybe their parents).
Invisible I by Stella Lennon
Part of The Amanda Project, another young adult literature book. This one is radically changing the way people look at literature. Each book in the series is written by a different author and told from a different character's perspective. Readers also get the opportunity to write their own endings to the story through the interactive website. Great for younger readers and (as far as I can remember) clean.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I was worried about this book simply because I'd read a review and expected it to be graphic. Then I remembered I watch House and read Harry Potter, I could probably handle it. It wasn't as graphic as it could have been, which I respect Collins for since it's a young adult book and therefore her target audience doesn't need to be exposed to nastiness. However, I don't like the way Collins ended it, but the book is part of a series. Personally, I would have made it a single book and been done with it. I did find parts predictable, but there were unanticpated twists, too. If you like young adult fiction (or are a young adult), I'd read it. There is some kissing and a romantic relationship, but it's mostly clean.
The Wednesday Letters by Jason Wright
This tells a very sweet, romantic story about a husband's love for his wife. It also promotes the importance of forgiveness and family. As a writer, I'm not really sure who the protagonist of this novel is, but I did enjoy the third person omniscent POV. Laura absolutely LOVED this book. It's an easy read, too.
What have you all been reading lately? My bookshelf is getting empty and I see a trip to Barnes & Noble in the near future. Anything I must read?
Back to the books!
<>< Katie
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