We spent thirteen days of July in Tennessee visiting friends and family, which meant we spent a lot of time in the car, which means that I got to read a lot! I have expressed my love of reading while at the beach, but I now have also found a love of reading while on a boat. We spent a week at the lake, and I loved reading as we drove around and as the kids swam in the lake. It was so much fun and relaxing!
Books I read:
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets – I liked the first one better than this one. I am wondering how long it will take me to get through all of the books. Cayden's reading this one now, and I have the third one on my shelf, but it isn't a series that I'm dying to read. I feel like it should be, but right now I'm just reading them so that I can talk about the books with Cayden. Will I eventually love them like so many people do? If you have read them all, what is your favorite?
Let's All Be Brave by Annie Downs -Annie did a great job of talking about what so many of us women want – BRAVERY. She admits that she's not the bravest person that you will ever meet, but that she has consistently seen God work in her life and allow her to be brave in all that he has taken her through. She also weaves in stories of friends and how they have shown bravery in their own lives. This book was fun to read and encouraged me as I step out into the unknown this Fall with some new things in my life. Sidenote: Annie will be on The Happy Hour next month!
See I read this book on the boat – how fun!!
Girls Like Us by Rachel Lloyd – This is the one book that I'm going to say everyone should read from my reading list this year. So, go ahead and get ahead of the game and get it now to read. It was one of the best books that I have ever read. Not only was it super informative, but it was also so heartfelt. The book is a memoir (my favorite type to read), and although Rachel spends a lot of time telling her story, because it's a memoir, she also weaves in stories of hundreds of other girls that she has known and/or helped as they have been trafficked and get help. Rachel herself was trafficked and that led her to start an organization in NYC that helps women that are being sexually exploited. Please go get this book now and read it this year. Please.
Forever Mom by Mary Ostyn – This book doesn't come out until November, but I had the chance to read it early and I'm so glad I did. Mary tells the stories of adopting her children and also provides valuable information about what it looks like in those first few weeks, months, years of bringing home your child. She shares all the adoption stuff that I know now that I so wish I knew before we adopted and then when we brought our kids home. If you are thinking about adoption, this is a great book for you to add to your reading list this Fall.
Enough: Ten Things We Should Be Telling Our Teenage Girls by Kate Conner – One of my biggest fears in life is raising teenagers. Teenage girls to be exact. In this book Kate talks about so many wonderful things that we should be instilling into our daughters as we raise them. I appreciated the way everything she wrote about was also centered on teaching our daughters that they are ENOUGH because of Jesus. Gosh, I still struggle with believing that truth.
Giveaway:
I would love to hear what you read this month! I have a copy of ENOUGH to give away to one of you readers and all you need to do to enter is leave me a comment with what you read this month, or last month if you didn't read anything this month, or the month before if you didn't read anything the pat two months. You get the idea! Good luck and I can't wait to fill up my Goodreads account with all your ideas!
Giveaway ends Sunday at midnight (CST)
“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”
Ten books total. Best ones were The Boys in the Boat and The Invention of Wings.
I’ve been reading so much this summer, thanks to your book list. Here are a few I have read that did not come from any list, just suggestions from friends. Many are about social injustice which I didn’t realize till now.
Same kind of Different As Me- Ron Hall and Denver Moore
This book is the story of a homeless man in the Dallas area. Uplifting story made me cry.
Redeeming Love- Francine Rivers
A story that takes place during the gold rush. The story is about a prostitute who has trouble accepting gods love.
Dying to Cross (the worst immigrant tragedy)- Jorge Ramos
This is a story that takes place in Harlingen, TX. It was a hard read, because it was heartbreaking.
Tulia- Nate Blakeslee
About Race, Cocaine, and corruption in a small town. I spent summers in Tulia with my grandmother oblivious to what was going on in this town.
If I Stay- Gayle Forman
Teen novel, but I loved it from beginning to end
I just read Don’t Waste Your Life by Piper and According to Plan by Graeme Goldsworthy. I sooo want to read Enough!!! 🙂 eeek!
I’m (still) reading Clash of Kings. I finished The Tangible Kingdom and it rocked my world.
HP is really just kids lit until the 4th book. But DONT you dare give up because at that point they get more and more amazing. Reading the whole series is some of the best possible use of anyone’s time, but unfortunately you kinda have to plow through the first three to get there!
My fave from this last month is Hope Runs – I am currently reading “A Siege of Bitterns. I am excited to read Annie’s book and Enough! I loved all the Harry Potter books, but they did get a bit dark there at the end..
My recent reads:
“Dad is Fat” by Jim Gaffigan – awesome, quick read, and hilarious!
“Jesus the Fool” by Michael Frost – interesting but not terribly well-written
“The Hole in Our Gospel” by Richard Stearns – amazing, but I loved his “Unfinished” even more
Oh, and I’m almost done with Myquillin Smith’s “The Nesting Place”, which is making me want to redecorate all the things
I’ve read several books recently: Bossy pants by Tina Fey, The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd, and the Vacationers by Emma Straub.
I just finished reading The Goldfinch (today!) and have been reading through Restless this month
Love, love Rhinestone Jesus by Kristen Welch! Inspiring, convicting, insightful. Enough sounds wonderful for me and my daughter! Thanks for the opportunity!
Thanks to recommendation reading “Wild”
Flesh by Hugh Halter and Girls With Swords by Lisa Bevere
“Counseling the Hard Cases” by Stuart Scott
Sacred Search by Gary Thomas. Hands down the best book I have read for single, dating, or engaged folks.
I’ve been reading Kisses from Katie with our ladies book group and also I’m still reading The Dirty Life, which I love!
I am currently reading Keep Your Love On by Danny Silk. Love him! I really want to read Girls Like Us, but I can relate to what you said on the podcast about not having an area of my brain that can process it, so I’m a little scared! It’s on my radar though.
I read “What Alice Forgot” by Liane Moriarty. It’s a novel, but it did make me think about how our relationship with our spouse can change with the pressures of family and everyday life. I can relate to Alice when she asks her kids, “Are you always this exhausting?”
I am a slow reader, but I am currently working on Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker and Restless by Jennie Allen.
‘give them grace’ is rocking me.
I have 4 kids, 3 of whom are teenage daughters so this sounds like a must read for me! A book I just finished is Sinner’s Creed by Scott Stapp. It’s a memoir by the lead singer of the band Creed. Nothing too deep, but I enjoyed it.
I second the recommendation of ‘Dad is Fat’! 🙂
I read Francine River’s book, Bridge to Haven and I really liked it.
I have been reading Where the River Runs by Kelly Minter. It is beautifully written. I also loved Makeover and Out of the Spin Cycle by Jen Hatmaker. She is always hilarious!
I’m reading that too, and LOVE out of the spin cycle!
This means I need to read it!
Both great books Tasha!
I just (finally) finished Love Does while we were at the beach and absolutely loved it. It got better and better with each chapter. Such an encouraging, interesting and hilarious read.
I’m now half way though Rhinestone Jesus and love it so far!
CONGRATS Angela you have won a copy of ENOUGH!
I just started reading Half the Sky!