Hello my book loving friends! I hope March is meeting you with some spring weather. We have had some 70 degree days and they have been fantastic!
A few fun reading facts about me:
- My favorite place to read is in our recliner by our sliding doors and big windows. I love the sunlight that pours in!
- My favorite thing to drink while reading is coffee or flavored sparkling water like Bubbly or Aha.
- My favorite time to read is during nap time and right before bed.
Your turn! Leave a comment answering where your favorite place to read is, what you love to drink while reading, and your favorite times to read! Bonus, add your favorite read so far this year! I have had so many, but I think the Waves of Mercy and Legacy of Mercy (see review below) are at the top!
Topic: Stephen Kings memoir on writing
Who it may interest: Writers wanting to learn the craft from other writers
Helpfulness: The first half of the book was his life. It was interesting to read about his life weaved in with writing, but I personally found it a bit hard to follow, and not super meaningful to me. The second half of the book was his thoughts and experiences on the actual writing process. I found the second half helpful and thought provoking. I pulled out some great nuggets that I made notes on and will remember as I grow in my writing. I also found it helpful that at the end he shared a sample of his writing—a first draft and edited second draft. It was beneficial to see an example of what he was talking about through the book!
Ease of reading: Like I said the first half was hard for me to follow or get interested in, the second half was much easier for me to read.
Main takeaway: Any writer can be a good writer if he’s competent. Put the right tools in your writing tool box and you can do this!
Extra thoughts: There is strong language used throughout book and his writing interests/morals are much different than mine but I still found his writing principles helpful.
Blessed are the Misfits by Brant Hansen.
Topic: Finding peace in being different.
Who it may interest: Those who feel different and wonder if that different is bad, am I flawed? Those who have told themselves just be better, pray more, read the Bible more, pull on your bootstraps harder….all to find out you still feel flawed and different and wonder what’s wrong with you.
Helpfulness: I very much resonated with the most all of the book but my favorite chapters were: Blessed are the Melancholy and Depressed and Blessed are the Unnoticed. It was a reassurance to me in thoughts and conclusions I’ve come to on these topics too. He told stories that had me laughing..in understanding, in sadness. He put his feelings of different on the page in a way that I both deeply understood and felt his pain but also in a hilarious way. I would say this book is more of a sharing stories that paint a powerful picture than a how to book. Often those are the most helpful for me.
Ease of reading: Easy. Hansen tells a lot of stories that are both easy to read and understand.
Main takeaway: Just because something makes sense to the majority doesn’t mean it’s what’s true. Cultural norms (church and secular) are not the gauge for value. Jesus was very counter cultural. He loved people and wasn’t turned away by outcasts, low social status, or the sick. It’s easy to rank people but the Bible says not to do that. It’s easy to say we need to treat everyone equally but alot harder to do. If you’ve ever felt ranked lower, awkward, different…just because society says that doesn’t mean it’s true. Hansen’s book helped me see this truth in a much more real light. It helped me take more steps in the direction of believing different isn’t bad… like my husband reminds me of often!
Extra thoughts: I really loved and resonated with this book. It will be in my top favorite reads of the year and I will revisit it often. When I first read the introvert chapter I instantly felt guilty because I live in the country, and it was actually a fear of mine that moving to the country meant I was being selfish. But I think the whole point of the chapter is to love people despite being clunky in our conversations and our desire to socialize much…we still need to keep trying anyway. Don’t pull away from people, love them even though it doesn’t come natural. I think that’s the main point, not where we should live 🤗.
Her Daughters Dream by Francine Rivers
Topic: Mother Daughter relations, leaving a legacy of faith, misunderstandings and healing, the power of prayer.
Who it may interest: Those who loved the first book in the series and want to know how it ends 🙂
Story: This book is the second part of Marta’s Legacy. It picks up where Her Mothers Hope left off. Marta comes to help take care of the family and develops a deep relationship with Carolyn. It walks through Carolyn’s life then moves to her daughter Dawns life. Toward the end all three point of views come together (Grandma, Daughter, Granddaughter). It’s a beautiful story of mother daughter relationships, how rifts can be made and the process of overcoming them.
Ease of reading: Easy
Main takeaway: It’s really easy for me to fall into parenting based on fear or give in to my kids because I want them to be happy or understand me. I walked away from this book with this realization I need to do what’s right for my kids based on the Spirits leading and leave the results in Gods hands. I have to remember to see my motherhood through eyes of grace, not condemnation. To grow in maturity through the Spirit without condemning myself for my mistakes.
Extra thoughts: There were things that the character Dawn experienced, ways that God worked in her life in similar ways that He’s worked in mine. That was cool to resonate that way with the book.
Topic: The struggle with faith amongst tragedy.
Who it may interest: Historical fiction lovers who also love a good page turner.
Story: This was hard to put down, the author painted scenes in a way I felt I was there and I loved the characters. This story is of two women, one recording her past and another trying to figure out her past. It’s a story of the hardships of living in Holland in the 1800s then emigrating to America and the challenges of starting from scratch. It weaves in elements of belonging, purpose, and searching out Gods will. The author weaves in many true historically accurate tragedies that both blew my mind and created an even deeper gratitude for the life I live.
Ease of reading: Easy
Main takeaway: God works all things out for good even if we can’t see it in the moment. He’s patient with our anger and faithful in growing our hearts. Gods ways are always better than ours.
Extra thoughts: This is the first book in a two book series so the story wasn’t resolved at the end. The next book is Legacy of Mercy.
Legacy of Mercy by Lynn Austin
Topic: Learning to trust Gods ways and His timing through the bad and good. Relying on Him—a blending of our actions and His sovereignty. Bridging the gap between the wealthy and working class of Chicago in the late 1800’s.
Who it may interest: Historical fiction fans who want to dive into the culture of the wealthy in Chicago and immigrants in Holland, Michigan.
Story: This book had me tearing up multiple times. The way the author writes really resonated with me. She combines history, deep questions, wrestling through pain and experiencing beauty in an amazing way. This story continues where Waves of Mercy left off with some really cool added characters. This is a story of hurt, love, wealth, lower class, hard circumstances, and a deep desire to follow God and shine his truth, mercy, and love.
Ease of reading: Easy
Main takeaway: God is still weaving our lives together even when we don’t see how, when it doesn’t make sense, and when it hurts. We need to bring hidden things to light and grieve our losses to heal instead of hide them. Working through the pain in our life is a process, it takes time and that’s okay.
Extra thoughts: This may be one of my favorite reads this year. The characters, setting, and lessons were very real to me.
I love to read. I just read Martas story. Francine Rivers is a favorite author. I love to read outside and since I’m in AZ I can do it more often than you.
Francine is a favorite of mine too!! Yes, when the weather is nice here I love reading outside too 🙂