Bookworm

I always have a yearly goal to read one month a book. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I fail (it usually depends on whether or not I had a baby in that calendar year). Along with my reading goal, I planned to blog twice a year about the past six months’ books. However, I’ve finally realized I can never keep track of what I’ve read, and I should give up on such grand organizational schemes. I constantly text one of my best friends (a voracious reader who recommends much of what I read) and ask her “Do you remember what I’ve read this year?” She usually remembers better than I can. But to save her from another one of those texts, I am just going to share a brief list of some of the books I’ve read in the past year and half. I think (hope!) I’ve read more than this, but here are reviews for a few books that stick out in my mind.

The Rosie Project and The Rosie Effect – These are definitely worth reading. And in a strange turn of events, I actually liked the sequel even more than the first. The second book is more focused on the main character, Don, rather than his love interest, and he is hilarious. I would shake with laughter in bed while reading these and then read random sections out loud to Micah, so he could understand the hilarity.

The Good Girl – A thriller about a kidnapping/murder gone wrong. I read it fairly quickly, which is always a sign that a book is good.

Station Eleven – This is one of those dark, melancholy stories with bittersweet moments throughout. If you are in to post-apocalyptic literature, this one is for you. The author wove the stories of multiple different characters together brilliantly, so even though the story is sad, the narrative is worth the read.

Flowers for Algernon – A modern classic I had never read. So sad, so good. Extra interesting if you are into science, brain development, or psychology, but also appreciate a good novel.

Bird By Bird – Loved reading Anne Lamott’s classic book on writing (especially since I was working on my dissertation at the time). If you are a writer of any sort, this book is uplifting and practical.

Don’t Make Me Count to Three – I finally buckled down and read my first parenting book (other than Babywise, which I love). I thought this book was practical and Biblical. Some of the stories about her own children (now grown up) were kind of cheesy, but once I got past that issue, I found her instruction to be very wise. She spent time explaining why we discipline in certain ways according to Scripture and how to probe your child’s heart to uncover their sin in order to share the Gospel in every disciplining moment.

Allegiant – So I finally finished the Divergent series. This is one of those trilogies that goes downhill with each book (I thought Hunger Games was the same way). The first book is the best, but you are so tied to the characters and the overarching storyline, you keep reading the series even though the follow-up books are pretty mediocre. I will say, I actually liked the ending on this one though.

Next up: The Martian and All the Light We Cannot See