Books I read in September and October
One of my goals for 2020 is to read 45 books this year. That equals 3.75 books per month. Some months might have two books, others five, others four or one or whatever. But either way I’m confident in my goal and excited to share what I read. Here’s what I read in September and October:
Following Jesus by Henri Nouwen -- This little book is packed with wisdom beyond measure. Nouwen so expertly and succinctly outlines what “following Jesus” really looks like. He breaks it down into six chapters, outlining Jesus’ invitation to us, the call on our lives, His challenge for us, the cost it will be, the reward we receive, and the promise He gives us. It will be, no doubt, a book I reference and return to throughout my life, as I read encouraging reminders that, “I will never taste joy in my life if I keep ignoring my pain.” Or, “You can be where you are. You don’t have to be anywhere else. You can be fully present to the moment and trust that even in the midst of your pain, in the midst of your struggle, something of God is at work in you and wants to reveal itself to you.”
Rating: 4.5/5
Pages: 144
Genre: Non-Fiction - ReligionWe Were Liars by E. Lockhart -- I read this book on our honeymoon and I so desperately wanted it to be good. But, it just really wasn’t. It was full of selfish characters and a serious let-down of a finale. Do not recommend it. Also animals dying might just be the thing that pushes me over the line?
Rating: 2/ 5
Pages: 242
Genre: Fiction - YADark Places by Gillian Flynn -- Also read this on our honeymoon and let me tell you - it was good. The finale was a little confusing and if it wasn’t because of that I may have rated it higher but half of it was predictable and then the part that was a shocker was honestly so anticlimactic but…. Flynn is still brilliant at describing horrific things and to that, I will always give her credit. If true crime is your vibe and you can stomach some pretty horrible descriptions, read it and we can discuss the end because I have many thoughts!
Rating: 3/ 5
Pages: 349
Genre: Fiction - ThrillerThe Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking -- I read four books on our honeymoon and this was one of them, but, I got to read this one out loud to Adrian while we cooked, etc. This little book does exactly what the title says: introduces you to the concept of Hygge and what it means to the Danish culture. Wiking is a researcher at the Happiness Research Institute so mixed into this primer on Danish culture is also fascinating research about happiness. We loved this book because it affirmed all these desires within us to live more simply, slowly, and intentionally with those around us and many of the concepts, we are applying to our lives and our family culture. Those families that do umpteenth things and are high achievers? Not us. Those families that do nothing and just watch TV all day? Also not us. The families that create meaningful moments of still while balancing hard work in appropriate times? That’s who we want to be. We want to work well out of our rest and create space for true community and belonging. Hygge is so much more than candles and cozies and we want to embody that daily.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Pages: 289
Genre: Non-FictionSurfacing by Margaret Atwood -- this was the last book read on the honeymoon and let me tell you: Atwood can write. She’s an excellent writer. So much so, that even if I have NO idea what’s going on plot wise - at a deeper level - I’m still hooked because she spins words in a lovely way. Surfacing was weird (like at a base level) but the themes expressed not only helped explain Atwood as a human better, but also felt relevant and timely.
Rating: 3
Pages: 244
Genre: FictionReady to Rise by Jo Saxton - Read this one with a fantastic book club over the late summer/early fall. Let me just start by saying, I am so blessed to be in community with amazing women that encourage and inspire each other to be who God has called them to be. I am so thankful to be surrounded by women who bring each other up instead of falling into catty comparisons! It is such a blessing. And so was this book. Jo Saxton is wise and Ready to Rise is all about walking in your gifting. It’s like what I wanted Rachel Hollis’ books to be but they weren’t. Saxton uses sound theology and Biblical encouragement to inspire women to be whoever God has called them to be and she affirms all the callings. God calling you to be a stay-at-home mom? Your voice is heard in this book. God calling you to be a BA business woman? Your voice is also heard. God calling you to teach at church or run an online thrift-store or do missions overseas? You’re also heard. So often, it can feel like women discredit themselves or compete with one another rather than acknowledge their giftings and help one another grow. Saxton dispels all those lies and encourages readers to do the work to become who God has created them to be, because the world needs us. “Let’s show up anywhere we can serve and bring the renewal and human flourishing as we follow a God who is making all things new. “Let’s keep showing up, even when it’s hard and costly and the path is uncertain. The time is now.”
Rating: 4
Pages: 244
Genre: Non-Fiction - ReligionEmotionally Healthy Woman by Geri Scazzero - I think in some ways I wanted this to be better than it was? Like I had heard such good things that I expected it to be brilliant and it was just good. I think the issue was - I had already read Emotionally Healthy Spirituality and done a lot of the hard work Scazzero talks about when I went through the Genesis process a few years ago. So while it wasn’t life changing for me, I highly recommend this book to women. Scazzero touches on eight things women need to “quit” in order to live the life, God has called them to live. The eight things are, being afraid of what others think, lying, dying to the wrong things, denying anger, sadness, and fear, blaming, overfunctioning, faulty thinking, and living someone else’s life. If you’ve never heard of boundaries or rules of life or any other healthy living practices, I’d say this is an incredibly helpful primer into those concepts. The Scazzero’s have done their work, learned a lot of things the hard way, and share their wisdom with so much grace and love. They truly do want to see people thriving and I think this book does a great job of exposing some pretty common stumbling blocks for women (and men).
Rating: 3.5/5
Pages: 215
Genre: Non-Fiction - ReligionEverything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng -- is Celeste Ng my favorite current author? Maybe? Probably not? But boy do I enjoy her books. She describes the complexities and nuances of family relationships (especially mothers and daughters) with brilliance. I read Little Fires way back when with my OG book club and picked up Everything I Never Told You at Savers a few months back. I don’t want to give spoilers but I really recommend this one. Ng touches on feminism and motherhood, racism and belonging, mistakes and forgiveness but ultimately this book is about family with a slight mystery thrown in there but not really. It’s more the impetus that gets the story rolling.
Rating 4
Pages: 292
Genre: FictionThe Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas - Villodas is also from New Life Fellowship - the church the Scazzeros started. He’s actually the lead pastor now. So naturally his book touches on a lot of the same concepts that the Scazzeros write about. In his book he touches on five areas that Christians need to re-examine in order to live, as he describes it, a “deeply formed life.” The areas are rest, racial reconciliation, interior examination, sexual wholeness, and mission. Because I’ve already done a lot of reading and study around rest, interior examination, and sexual wholeness - those chapters were less impactful to me. But again, if you’ve never ready anything on those topics - a great primer. However, his chapters on racial reconciliation and mission were brilliant. Especially his chapter on reconciliation. Because, yes, a lot of it was race specific, but some of it wasn’t. Reconciliation is a challenging topic, I think. Because it requires humility and vulnerability. Also he quotes George Eldon Ladd so big points from this Trilogy student. But seriously, for the two chapters on reconciliation alone, I recommend this book. “Reconciliation in community will always cost us something.” Ugh. So true. So hard. So needed.
Rating: 3.5
Pages: 272
Genre: Non-Fiction - ReligionOver the Top by Jonathan Van Ness - I’m not like a huge JVN girl, that’s my friend Abby. Tan France is my absolute favorite member of the “other Fab 5” but I love hearing people’s stories and I love Abby. So when I found Karamo’s book AND JVN’s at Savers the other day I knew I had to get both (because I wanted to read Karamo’s) and give her Over the Top. For some context, Abby drunk cried about how much she loved JVN at her bachelorette party a few years ago… so finding it in pristine condition was perfect. But because I like people’s stories - I wanted to read it first. Don’t judge. And you know what, I enjoyed it. I think it’s SO important to learn about people’s lives who are vastly different than you because it gives you empathy and in Over the Top, my heart was broken several times over the hardship Jonathan Van Ness has endured in his life due to the discrimination and lack of resources, community, and acceptance for those in the LGBTQ+ community. Is it the best written book? No. But did it open my heart up to a community that I am less familiar with and help me love them better? Yes. And because of that I’d say it’s worth the read. Also, he loves Russian literature just like my new brother-in-law and that made my day.
Rating: 3/ 5
Pages: 266
Genre: Non-Fiction - MemoirThe Gifts of Imperfection by Dr. Brené Brown - I love Brené Brown. I think she’s brilliant and wise and I absolutely LOVE her research and her books. And honestly, this one might have been my favorite of her books because it spoke to things that I believe to be SO important: vulnerability and authenticity. I’m not saying I’m the best at practicing these things - because I’m not. But I can tell you, I want to practice them fully. I believe that being vulnerable and authentic is the ONLY way to live a free life. I believe that for so many reasons and it literally affects every part of my life - even my photography. For example, I HATE overly posed photos. It’s why I could never really be a fashion photographer - there is no real joy. When photographers praise people for knowing their angles, I cringe. Because knowing your angles doesn’t always equate a photo that represents you! Sometimes you laugh so hard your eyes disappear and you cover your face because you’ve snorted. Love isn’t the cover of Nicholas Sparks novel, it’s those in between moments of pure adoration on your face or those simple touches that no one really notices and I digress…. This is about books, not photography. Suffice to say the theme of this book hit me hard. And I loved it. Definitely recommend it. So much to digest and put into practice.
Rating: 5/5
Pages: 208
Genre: Non-Fiction - PsychologyMake Something Good Today by Erin and Ben Napier -- I think memoirs are my new favorite genre of book because they’re just people telling their story and I think that’s beautiful and important and while biographies and autobiographies are cool, they feel so much more fact based, and less about heart. And well, we know Becca loves herself some heart. Which was perfect, because Erin and Ben Napier (of HGTV’s Home Town) are oozing with heart and this memoir was full of it. Side tangent for a hot second: unlike a lot of home reno shows, the purpose behind Home Town is literally the restoration of their town of Laurel, MS. They believe in honoring the old and bringing new life to what was seemingly dead. It’s like the most Gospel themed home renovation show you could ever watch and their book echoes those themes. As someone who owns a fixer upper, believes that God does restore and redeem ALL the things, and who embraces the brokenness and allows God to heal it to make something new, their whole “brand” if you will is right up my alley. The Napiers are kindred spirits and their memoir was beautiful and hopeful and perfect for a newlywed to read. I was inspired, moved to tears, and enjoyed every second! Thanks Mama B for this one! It was a fantastic bridal shower gift!
Rating: 4.5/5
Pages: 240 pages
Genre: Non-Fiction - MemoirCompanions in the Darkness by Diana Gruver -- this one was personal. As in, I know the author. She’s a friend. But despite knowing the author, I can say with 100% unbias that this was one of the best books I read in 2020. The book is about seven figures in Church history who struggled with depression and doubt, including Martin Luther (the OG) and Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Teresa, and Spurgeon. Diana also weaves in her own story and helps destigmatize depression and doubt within Western Christian Culture. She calls out some really unhelpful lies and offers so much encouragement, hope, and wisdom. She’s also incredibly gracious and compassionate in her writing and it was a huge gift to read. Technically it’s not out yet but if you or someone you know has struggled with depression, I would recommend you preorder this book. As someone who has walked this path, reading the stories of others like me, especially big names in Church history, brought a lot of healing to my story that I didn’t know I needed. Beautifully written and really personally relevant.
Rating: 5/5
Pages: TBD
Genre: Non-Fiction - Religion.