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It’s been a long time since I’ve given you an update on what I’ve read (other than sharing in my weekly round-up posts), so I thought I’d do a big review of 11 books I finished recently:
1. More Than You Can Imagine
I absolutely loved reading More Than You Can Imagine! Susie’s writing style draws you in, engages, challenges you, and convicts you. I found myself underlining so much and dog-earing so many pages!
And then, I think I may have enjoyed our podcast episode together even more! Please do yourself a huge favor and go listen to it! Her burning passion for Jesus, despite really intense physical suffering and struggles, will deeply encourage you! I recommended if you could use some encouragement to strengthen your relationship with Jesus and see Him do great and mighty things in your life!
2. My Friends
This book has some really beautiful parts but also quite a bit of raw and gritty stuff in it including a lot of language. It came highly recommended to me by someone whose reviews I trust, but I’ll be honest, it was one of those books that I struggled through because it just didn’t fully engage me.
At the same time, I also couldn’t stop reading because so many parts and phrases really moved me and stuck with me. I liked A Man Called Ove by the same author a lot more, but this book was uniquely beautiful and tragic and such a good reminder that you never know what depths of pain and suffering and rejection and betrayal and heartache people have experienced.
3. Lady Tan’s Circle of Women
I have SOO many thoughts on this book. It made me frustrated. It made me grateful. It made me sad. But I also loved the stories of women caring deeply for one another, at great risk to themselves to do so sometimes.
Since it was our September book club pick, I have a very in-depth review posted here. (You can also watch the IG live I did with the author here.)
4. Take My Hand
I highly recommend Take My Hand. Not only is it a well-written story, but you will likely learn some parts of history that you’ve not heard of and that will probably rend your heart in two, but it’s such an important thing for us to understand and be aware of.
It’s not an easy story — though there are many beautiful parts in it. It also isn’t one of those novels where everything is wrapped up with a neat bow. But it’s real, it’s based upon true history, and it’s worth the read.
5. Sarah Plain & Tall
I read this book aloud to the younger kids and they really enjoyed it. It’s short and sad in parts but also really sweet and heartwarming in others. It’s a book I’ve loved for years. I want to read the rest of the books to the kids now!
6. The Girl Behind the Wall
This was a new-to-me author and was recommended by a follower. I enjoyed it and it was well-narrated. It made me think about a lot of the ramifications of the Berlin Wall and what that really meant for families on either side.
I did think it had almost too many almost-bedroom scenes (if that makes sense). There wasn’t any graphic or explicit detail, but there were a number of romantic interactions and references to intimacy. I thought that the story would have been strong without as many references in it. (I prefer clean, closed-door novels so I try to be really honest if there’s anything like that in a book!)
7. Glad You’re Here
One of my followers recommended this book and I listened to the audiobook. It was such a good listen and I’d definitely recommend it. It’s the story of how two strangers became unlikely friends and how that friendship — even though they disagreed on so much and were in such different places — ultimately ended up changing their lives in really unexpected ways.
It’s the story of deep loss, addiction, financial hardship and setback, and how someone’s love and kindness was the catalyst to a completely different life for another person. I think it’s such an important messages in this culture of such division.
8. Rooted in Wonder
Want to instill a love of nature in your kids? If so, this book is a great starting point helping you nurture your own personal faith and your kids’ faith through creation.
There are so many suggestions in the book for how to get our kids off of screens and excited about being outdoors. I also appreciated the sections on why we, as adults, adults can lose the wonder of creation in the busyness of life and how to get it back — even if life is super full. (Watch my IG live with the author here for a taste of some of the content of the book.)
9. Reimagining Church as Family
If you are looking for a resource to help churches reach out more to families that don’t fit the mold of a traditional family – such as single parent families, grandparents raising their kids, empty nesters, foster and adoptive families and more – this book tackles what it looks like to really do that.
I got to have one of the authors — JJ Jones — on the podcast to talk about this topic more in-depth and I think you will really appreciate our conversation. (Fun fact: JJ Jones is one of our pastors at our local church and we went on a mission trip together this past year so we got to know each other really well through that!)
10. This Moment Matters
This Moment Matters is packed with beautiful illustrations and words of encouragement to live a grace-filled life. It would make a great gift idea or coffee table book!
Ruth Chou Simons is such an inspiration and her words of wisdom plus such practical ideas to cultivate beauty and presence in our homes is so inspiring! And the episode I did with her for the podcast was SOO good! Listen to it here!
Psst! Did you see which book I chose for November’s Book Club Pick? I’ve been reading it and enjoying it so much! (And I got to interview the author for the podcast this week and that episode drops in two weeks!)
Also, if you didn’t get a copy of my brand-new book, check it out here!
