I've given Goodreads my best attempt. I've given a journal page my best attempt. All attempts to keep track of my reading have failed.
Usually when that happens it means I'm at my capacity for introducing new habits and if I want to get something done I'm going to have to anchor it to something I'm already doing. Well isn't it handy I have blog.
So I figured I might pop in on here every few weeks and share what I've been reading lately, and maybe you could share back? Because I love having an overflowing To Be Read List.
So without further ado..
Lonesome Dove. I was super reluctant to start this one because I really didn't think a Western would appeal to me. But in real life, if Anne Bogel raves about it enough, I'm going to read it no matter how far out of my comfort zone.
I'm so glad I did. The story itself is beautiful and it moves at a stunningly slow pace for being action packed so the result is that the characters come to life and by the end you feel completely invested. But none of that was my favorite part. My favorite part was the setting, namely: that much of this book was set where I live. With cactus, rattlesnakes, and dry creek beds. I loved that I related to this book in that way, because outside of a western? That won't happen for me.
The Knowledge of the Holy. I'm following Sarah MacKenzie's advice in Teaching from Rest this year and giving myself a literary mentor. So, of course, I picked Tozer. After several books that were dense and fathoms deep (that I loved), this book has been a bit of a breather. Each short, but still theologically thick, chapter focuses on a different attribute of God. It could almost read like a devotional if you were looking for something like that.
The War that Saved My Life & The War I Finally Won. If you follow my Instagram stories you already heard me rave about this book. I'm pretty sure it was written as a Middle Grade novel and in that sense it's an easy and inspiring read.
But again, that's not what I loved best about it. I actually think this is a must read if you have ever associated on any level with a child who has suffered trauma. It's written from the perspective of a young girl who has been through some pretty serious stuff and I think the author did beyond an amazing job of capturing what happens inside a traumatized brain that is trying to heal. I bawled through every single Christmas scene because they were so shockingly familiar.
The Vanderbeekers of 141 St. Another quick and light Middle Grade read that I adored. The plot is adorable, the kids are adorable, and it has some great exploratory themes about family, place, and the complexity of human understanding weaved throughout it. Not to mention, I've noticed that, just like my kids, I'm always drawn to stories about big families.
The Road Back to You. I got so dang tired of every podcast I loved talking about the Enneagram and feeling lost that I finally just bought a book on it. I couldn't have chosen better. This book is a gospel centered book, and because of that perspective it avoids the trap of self-centered navel gazing. Here was the hook for me: "This is helpful information so long as you don't waste you time trying to accomplish any of it apart from the transformative power of God's grace."
A Gentleman in Moscow. Saved my favorite for last. In fact, I just started reading this for the second time. I flew through it the first time, but it was so interesting and though provoking that I am reading it again, slower this time. The most interesting thing about it is again the setting, it doesn't change. Not really. Which leaves you lots of time to explore Russia during the communist revolution from one single vantage point over the course of almost a lifetime. You can bet this won't be the last time you hear about this book from me.