What I’m Reading: August 2017

How has summer reading almost come to an end? I can’t believe we’re halfway through August! This past month, I reactivated my library card and decided to make reading a priority again. It’s such a stress reliever for me, and what I learned this month is that having a book always available for even the brief breaks in the day can really add up! As always, I’m linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy and other readers across the web!

Read this Month

The Antelope in the Living Room: The Real Story of Two People Sharing One Life by Melanie Shankle – I loved the previous book by Melanie I read – Nobody’s Cuter than You – which was a celebration of friendship, and this second read was similar. Funny, relatable, and a lovely reflection on the marriage realationship, both its high and lows. (4/5)

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – A fascinating novel about the life of a Nigerian woman after she immigrates to America. This was an eye-opening read on immigration, people of color, and cultures colliding. I appreciated the insight the author provided, and found the characters intriguing. I wasn’t a fan of the ending though, but that could just be personal preference. (3.5/5)

Above All Things by Deborah Raney – A sweet Christian couple is expecting their first child when the husband finds out he has a child that he never knew about. The situation is further complicated by this child being bi-racial. Raney explores the marriage relationship, the nuances of racism, the love of a father, and the ultimate grace and love of our Savior in this thought provoking read. I enjoyed the story, but felt this difficult subject was tied up a little too perfectly in the end. (3/5)

The Dry by Jane Harper – I heard so much about this suspense novel, and it did not disappoint! I couldn’t put this story about an alleged double murder/suicide down. The whole time I kept analyzing the characters, trying to figure out the twist — and I never did. A warning – some of the descriptions of the crime scene/flashbacks are graphic — but they are a small percentage of the book. (4/5)

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Bachman – A quirky older gentleman loses his wife and decides life isn’t worth living any longer — but his neighbors have a different opinion. This is the story of a sweet marriage, tragic losses, and a lesson in how love and friendship can be forged in the most unlikely of situations. To me, it reminded me of a more realistic, in depth Up (the movie), and I enjoyed it immensely. (4/5)

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid – My first Taylor Jenkins Reid novel, and I must admit, I’m still thinking about this one. Although I didn’t agree with most of the decisions the main characters made or their philosophies about life, the thought Reid makes you ponder in this novel is about the millions of tiny decisions we make every day. What if we had chosen to stay at that gathering longer? What if that truck ran the red light? What if you married the first person you ever dated? How much does each decision we make matter? Reid follows one young woman through two different scenerios, pondering the question – what if she made this choice? Or how about this one? A thought-provoking read. (3.5/5)

Sick Girl by Amy Silverstein – This book probably deserves it own post because I have so.many.feelings. As a nurse who worked with transplant patients for most of my career, Amy Silverstein’s story, a woman who needed a heart transplant at the young age of twenty-four, resonated. With beautiful, gut wrenching prose, Amy invites the reader into her intimate health journey, with all its trials and triumphs. It was difficult to read some of her portrayals of unfeeling, sterile health care professionals, as I pray that was never how my patients felt; however, I think her story is an invaluable resource to challenge each of us, health care providers or not, to remember we never know another person’s life unless we are actually living in it. Such a good book. (4/5)

I Know His Name by Wendy Blight – We did this book in a women’s Bible study group over the summer. I enjoyed learning more about the names of God; however, the group did find this book a bit hard to follow at times.

Currently Reading

Allie and Bea by Catherine Ryan Hyde – Just started this one, but I’m looking forward to another story about unlikely friendships and the power they have to change us.

The Sweetness of Forgetting by Kirsten Harmel – This is a book I picked for the beautiful cover, and I’m so glad I did. I’m loving it! At first this appears like a sweet story about a family bakery and one woman’s quest to save it; however, it turns into a story about family secrets long buried yet crucial to the family moving forward.

Don’t Kill the Birthday Girl: Tales from an Allergic Life by Sandra Beasley – Because of my own allergy issues (gluten free due to Celiac disease), I’ve been looking forward to reading this book for a while (that title – love it!). I’ve barely started this one, but her list of allergies is SO long that I cannot even imagine the lengths she must go to in order to survive in a world that revolves around food!

North of Normal by Cea Sunrise Person – I was told this book was similar to The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (which I loved), but this has been hard to read so far. Simply because it is hard to wrap your mind around the fact that  Person is telling a true story about what it was like spending her childhood in the wilderness of Canada with her unusual, extremely unconventional family.

Stopped Reading

None so far!

Bought this Month

Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard – Recommended to me by a trusted friend as an allegorical tale like Pilgrim’s Progress, but with more of an emotional aspect. I’m excited to start this one!

Up Next

Finally reactivated my Dallas library card, so I’m looking forward to reading these books during my school break! 🙂 Which one should I start with??

***

What have you been reading lately? I would love to hear in the comments!

***

All book reviews on the site: READ

What I’m Reading Posts:

January 2016

February 2016

March 2016

April 2016

May 2016

June 2016

July 2016

August 2016

September 2016

October 2016

November 2016

December 2016

January 2017

February 2017

March 2017

April 2017

May 2017

June & July 2017

—>This is a link-up with Modern Mrs. Darcy – find more great books to add to your TBR list by reading other bloggers’ posts here <—