I hope you see something interesting!
June 2018 books!
I love to see what other people are reading. Each of these six were so different, but I enjoyed them all.
1.) Love Does by Bob Goff: Goff is a fabulous storyteller; I highly recommend his books. He has led such an interesting life. Each chapter is a nonfiction essay regarding different things he has done in his life. They are uplifting, spiritual, and full of loving others and serving them well. Reading this book will leave you wanting to pursue the things that you are passionate about.
2.) The Bookshop at Water's End by Patti Callahan Henry: Henry writes some good southern fiction. This was my first book by her. It includes themes of mother/daughter angst, romance, and what to do when life does not turn out the way you hoped.
3.) The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North: Harry August is one of a group of people who continually relive life. Each life is different as is each death. There is a great deal of mystery, intrigue, and darkness. I will note that there is a disturbing torture scene during on of his lives that I wish I had not read. However, I must brag on this book for a second because the premise intrigued my husband enough for him to listen to the audiobook while I read it. Big deal!
4.) Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave: This was a book club pick for the month of June. It is set in England during WWII, and loosely based off of love letters written between his grandparents during the war. I have to admit that this story was not exactly what I was expecting, but I still wanted to know what would happen next. It is a great pick for any other historical fiction fans out there.
5.) If You Only Knew by Jamie Ivey: This is a memoir by one of my favorite podcasters Jamie Ivey. She hosts a podcast called The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey where she interviews men and women about their lives and how Jesus has changed them from the inside out. Jamie's memoir deals with being a worship leader's wife and the insecurity she felt for years due to her past before she was saved. She wants you to know that your story matters. You have something to say. And confessing our sin rather than keeping it in the dark leads to healing and the lessening of shame.
6.) Educated by Tara Westover: There has been so much buzz over this book, and for good reason. Her memoir is tragic, hopeful, and it immediately drew me into her life. Westover grew up in a Mormon survivalist home where she suffered abuse, neglect, was not educated, and was seen as less than due to being female. Many of the stories she recounts in this book are heartbreaking. Note--those with a weaker stomach should beware of the descriptions regarding her father's burns. Westover is not religious, but only God could have brought her out of her family home and given her such success in life. The end of the book left me feeling somewhat sad for her. Naturally, she still struggles a great deal with her upbringing, but I also got the sense that she was not at peace, not satisfied, not happy. I wish I could tell her that God can give her the closure and peace she may not even realize she is searching for in life.
What have you been reading lately?