5 Recent Reads

After making my way through some great books last fall, I decided to finish up the 2015 reading challenge and then allow myself the freedom to read books that didn't come off of a list that I had made for myself. I get in the mood for that kind of reading just about every winter. This winter was no different and some great books have found their way into my hands.

Here are five of my most recent reads and my most recent submission to Quick Lit with Anne:

This is my first Sayers and it was a great introduction! I've also finished "Whose Body?" and am now craving more of her detective novels. Gaudy Night is set at Oxford in 1935 and is narrated by an authoress. Don't wait to pick this one up!

Just the kind of quick mystery I needed to go along with the stack of classics that I've been reading.  Kidnapping, FBI, and a woman with Olympic figure skating in her past collide in Thin Ice to make for an enjoyable contemporary mystery. 

 My poetry pick for January. I flew through the poems and savored the letters and the biographical information. If you want to get to know Emily, Linscott's selection of Poems and Letters by Emily Dickinson is a great source.

I ended up reading this when I agreed to teach a 5th grade literature class online. Teaching my way through The Swiss Family Robinson helped me to enjoy it more than I normally would have. Apparently, it started out as Wyss' survival guide for his children. Years later, one of his sons asked Wyss if he could get it published in his father's name. Knowing that makes you "Oh!" your way through it. As the story came to a close, I was actually sad to leave the family behind.   

A breezy YA novel that is perfect winter reading. Picture a book store, New England, and a mystery that sort of involves E.B. White who happens to be my favorite author from my childhood. Frederick is a fantastic storyteller and I think you'll Absolutely Truly love this book.

What have you been reading this winter?

Summer Stack 2015

I love a good summer reading list! This summer, I've got a line up of new books that I've only discovered recently, classics I've been meaning to read for years, sequels that I've been looking forward to, and a few books that will be good for my soul to savor slowly. 

As usual, I'll add a few comments about each book after I'm finished with it.

The ones in bold are the ones I'm currently reading.

Also note that each title is a link to the goodreads profile of each book!  

FICTION:

"Once Upon A Summertime" by Melody Carlson // This was the perfect light hearted book to kick off my summer reading! I loved the fact that it was set in New York City. I enjoyed getting to know Anna and watching her figure her life out. You can read my full review here. (May 27, 2015)

"Unspoken" by Dee Henderson // I've had my eye on this book for several years. It was not typical Henderson and left me very disappointed. I was hoping for a story with a lot of suspense, but this particular book just didn't come through. If you ask me, this is one you can skip! (June 13, 2015)

"Desperate Measures" by Sandra Orchard // I'm sorry to say that this was another book that I just couldn't get into! I shared a full review here and since posting that I've read several raving reviews on the series. Maybe it is worth picking up, but from what I could tell from this particular book, Orchard's style just isn't for me. (June 19, 2015)

"Paper Daughter" by Jeanette Ingold (YA) // Ingold is one of my favorite authors! I discovered her just over three years ago and I've passed her books onto others because I love them so much! My Mom saw this one lying around and has been patiently waiting her turn to read it. The inspiration and research for this story happened simultaneously as Ingold was researching another book of hers  ("Hitch", the book that she hooked me with). I figured things out about half way through, but that didn't make the story any less enjoyable. Without giving anything away, I can say that this book contains it all. Think news room, Chinese Immigration flash backs, and a girl trying to get to the bottom of things. Ingold weaves in historical details in a way that really boosts her stories. Grab this one right up, you'll be glad you did! (June 27, 2015)

"The Bookman's Tale" by Charlie Lovett  // If it wasn't for the brief inappropriate scenes, this book would be four or five stars. I loved the literary history that builds the plot. I loved the relationship of the main character and his girlfriend up until about half way through the book. Books and writing and figuring things out take center stage and if you are quick to skip right over the bad parts, this is one of those books that will sweep you right in. I did figure out the mystery on my own which added to my enjoyment of this one! (June 21, 2015)

"Hannah Coutler" by Wendell Berry // I've read quotes from Berry's "Hannah Coulter" and also "Jayber Crow". It turns out, this is a series and I can't wait to dig into more of them! This is the shortest book that I read in June, but the one that packed the most punch. It is the fictional story of a woman's life written by a man. The kinds of quotes you will be sure to pull from this book are pure prose, prose that is rich with the truth of everyday life that most of us miss. (June 23, 2015)

"The Beautiful and Damned" by F. Scott Fitzgerald // I was planning to get a copy of this book for my shelf from my favorite used book store. As it happened, our trip to that town got cancelled and I'm saving this book for another summer! Call me crazy, but I read my first Fitzgerald book in July so it's become a little tradition of mine to read him then. (July 19, 2015)

"The Mapmaker's Children" by Sandra McCoy // It might be too early to say this, but I'm thinking this will be one of my favorite books from this entire summer. Read it. If you need  little more convincing, read my full review here. (July 5, 2015)

"Nowhere, Carolina" by Tamara Leigh - Ended up having to swap this one for the next one in the series! Even though I can only give this book two stars (way too slow and heavy on the dueling heart throbs) the last two chapters really reached home with me. Forgiveness, trusting God (rather than trying to play God), and looking back on the good parts of the past without wishing it or tomorrow away were the lessons that Bridget needed to learn and they're the lessons that I've been learning for most of my life. This is one you can skip, but those last two chapters forced me to stew over some things that needed some attention in my own heart. (August 6, 2015)

"The Inn at Ocean's Edge" by Colleen Coble // Too much "he felt, she felt" for me! I HAD to get to the bottom of the mystery, but I skipped entire sections of this one because of the little drama going on between Claire and Luke. It turns out that I was on the right track and had nearly every element figured out on my own.  Coble's ability to really come up with a mystery that is beyond your wildest dreams is still really strong! I love the way she develops her plots and comes up with mysteries where EVERYONE is a suspect. If she would just leave attraction out of it, I'd be happy! (August 14, 2015)

"The Magic of Ordinary Days" by Ann Howard Creel // After hearing about this book for quite a while, I was excited to read it with my goodreads bookclub friends. Overall, I really enjoyed it and flew right through it! It's the perfect book for the last few days of summer and you probably won't be able to put it down. That said, it was a teensy bit shallow. Creel has a way with words that gives her writing a feeling of prose which made up for anything the plot lacked. Set in the middle of WWII, this book has a little of everything - Farm living, unwanted pregnancy, family problems, forgiveness, and a large portion of the plot centers around a Japanese internment camp. Warning: Three scenes stand out in my mind as inappropriate, especially for younger readers.  They're over in a flash, but they're there. (August 17, 2015)

"Heading Home" by Renee Riva // When I was in high school, my Mom got a review copy of Riva's book "Taking Tuscany" and passed it onto me. I LOVED that book. It was set in the summertime and it followed a girl who was leaving an island in the PNW where she spent summers with her family in order to move to Tuscany because somehow her family came to own a villa there. Everything she felt was so familiar to me even though I'd never shared her exact experiences (I wouldn't complain about heading to Italy, especially if the villa came complete with a private pool). A few years ago, I found out that there were more books in that series. Last summer I read "Saving Sailor" and promised myself that I could finish the series this summer. "Heading Home" was real and yet cheesy at the same time. I really enjoyed the book just because of the way the story finally came full circle. It gave me the closure I was hoping for and one last trip to Indian Island. (August 28, 2015)

ADDED:

"Watership Down" by Richard Adams // My brother and sister are doing a unit on literary analysis and I decided to join them! This book (which I've been meaning to read for the longest time) was the assigned reading. We all enjoyed it very much! I love reading books with other people because of the discussions that happen along the way. My brother's favorite character was Kehaar. My sister decided she really liked Blackberry and Dandelion. I was drawn straight to Fiver. Adams wove so much into this novel that really communicates the power of story. The Christian influence was interesting to trace and there were so many great quotes that I had to write down! As the BBC  said, "It's the shortest long book that I've ever read." ("All The Light We Cannot See" is a close second!) My final thoughts for you on this book are simply this: Don't wait to read this one!!! (June 15, 2015)

"The Melody Lingers On" by Mary Higgins Clark // I sped right through this one because I just needed to get to the bottom of things! To be perfectly honest, I kept waiting for someone to sneak up and murder someone, but this was more of a "who IS involved and who isn't involved" mind game based plot. Clark is famous for leaving breadcrumbs for her readers with the intention that they will decide which ones are clues and which ones are just distractions. I figured things out just in time, but still managed to enjoy watching her tie everything together. To Clark I say, "Well done and thanks for the trips to New Jersey (especially Verona)!" (July 2, 2015)

"The Children's Story" by James Clavell // My Mom picked this up at the library on a whim. She finished it and passed it around to the rest of us! It'll take you about 15 minutes to read and it's a book that will really make you THINK. Get a copy of it as soon as you get a chance! It's basically about the power we have in the lives of children, but also, the power that adults had in our lives when we were children. (July 12, 2015)

"The Prayer Box" by Lisa Wingate // I was craving a series to plow through and I'm always craving a trip to the beach. This book has been on my to-read list since it came out. Since the third book in the series releases next month, I knew it was perfect! I really, really enjoyed it! It's set on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, it's about a woman who is starting over, and it's about the place and power of prayer. This is a fiction book that doesn't feel a bit like fiction. It's not extremely well written, but it's one of my favorite books from this season. In short, you should read it! (July 26, 2015)

"The Story Keeper" by Lisa Wingate // I almost gave up on this book, but then just before I got about 200 pages in, I couldn't it down! Goodreads says that this is the second installment in the Carolina series, but it didn't really feel like the two books were related. Wingate did mention a prayer box and sea glass in this book and it did take place in NC, but that's pretty much where the similarities stop. I was intrigued by the history of Mulungeon people and the fact that the plot was set in the mountains of North Carolina. If you're anything like me, this will leave you ready to do some researching of your own! (August 1, 2015)

"The Sea Keeper's Daugthers" by Lisa Wingate

NON-FICTION:

 

"10 Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health" by Donald S. Whitney // I read this book over the course of this morning! I expected to read it slowly, pausing for much reflection...but once I got started I just couldn't stop. You need to pick it up!

Some chapters will have you praising God for His grace in your life and others will cut you to the quick. The chapters on being governed by God's Word and sensitive to His presence were the most challenging for me. The chapter on grieving over sin is one that I'll be going back over in my mind for a while. The chapter on forgiveness really helped to straighten some things up in my mind. I have  feeling it was just the thing to prepare my heart for Packer's book. (June 28, 2015)

"Holy Is the Day" by Carolyn Weber // This book had some truly GOLDEN nuggets in it about seizing God (as opposed to seizing the day) and living in constant awareness of His presence. At that same time, there were Bible verses taken out of context and an over all feel to the book that wasn't Weber's best writing. Near the end, she shared some words from her pastor that will stay with me, "If you can worry, you can pray." I'm glad I read it for those chapters and sections that added to my summer studies, but it's not a book I can easily recommend. (July 17, 2015)

"Keep In Step With the Spirit" by JI Packer

"A Circle of Quiet" by Madeleine L'Engle // I adore this book. When I picked it up I had no idea that it would have so much to teach me about the art of writing. L'Engle is amazing at sharing and communicating. Reading this book was like joining her for a cup of coffee. So many times I had to read sections aloud to which ever member of my family was siting nearby. Buy a copy for your bookshelf and read it. You'll be back for more, for sure! (August 10, 2015)

What's on the top of your summer stack? 

What type of books do you crave during this time of year?

 

If you're looking for more books that are

 perfect for summer reading:

2014 Summer Stack

Best Reads from Summer 2014

May Stack

Over the winter and spring I didn't make a single reading list for myself! Sometimes it's nice to choose one or two books at a time and see where they take you. I stayed in my comfort zone with some non-fiction, some memoir, a handful of mysteries, a bunch of historical fiction, and a few classics.

I've already started putting together my Summer Stack which led me to put together a stack just for May. It looks like I'm in the mood for more nonfiction this month! As always, I'll be sure to post my thoughts on each book after I've read it!

The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan // This book is a collection of essays that were compiled after Marina's death. There is an intro from one of her teachers, an essay that made her famous, a fiction section, and then a non fiction section. Marina's style of writing is raw, honest, unguarded, and even a little brutal. I skipped around, leaving quite a bit of her fiction and some of her non-fiction unread. 

If you're a writer, you might find this book inspiring. Know that parts of it might shock you a little bit and that some of the content is real-life at its finest. Marina didn't hold anything back. (May 3, 2015)

From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg // This YA book has become a classic among 4th Graders for multiple generations. That being said, I made it to this point in my life without even hearing of Konigsburg. This story of two kids who run away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is just about as exciting as their adventure sounds!

I enjoyed Konigsburg's style. She included details and struggles that kept me on my toes, but didn't shy away from writing up a mystery for the children to solve. My favorite thing about this book were the bits of wisdom that I'm confident are what has caused parents and teachers to put this book into the hands of their children since it was first published. (May 27, 2015)

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt // I'm nearly 400 pages into this 700+ page book and I've already made up my mind about it! Tartt wrote a strong beginning that sucked me right in. I'm really eager to find out what becomes of Theo and the famous painting. I'll be honest, there is WAY too much language in this book. It started out with a bunch of jr high age boys fumbling to use the language and then progressed to the point where I just started skipping entire chunks of the story. I'm really not sure why Tartt felt the need to drag the story out so long, but I'm going to stick this one out!  UPDATE: I ended up sticking with it for 100 or so more pages and then abandoning it.

My favorite parts are when Theo and Hobie are together in New York. The language stops and the city takes center stage. I know everyone has read this book, but I think you can safely cross it off your list without digging in. It's one of those books that's really not all that good. (May 13, 2015)

From Good to Grace by Christine Hoover // I ended up taking my time to read this book! Hoover had so many things to say. Sometimes she was a little bit repetitive for my tastes, but there were so many places where she came back around and summarized what she had been saying in one POWERFUL sentence. Those sentences kept me excited to read more!

A few times (especially in chapter 8), I wasn't sure that I agreed with what Hoover was communicating. There is a great danger in taking grace too far and forgetting obedience. I'm confident that she was not advocating that extreme, but sometimes it came across that way. Again, her summary really helped to clarify her intentions: "In other words, we must live in responsible freedom, not taking advantaging of God's grace by living for ourselves, not mocking grace through blatant sin and taking opportunities for our flesh, and not taking lightly the impact we have on others around us...Grace grants us the ability to not force ourselves onto others or to set law-imitating standards of behavior for people, because we believe God is powerful, God will act, and God will convict. Our Conqueror goes before us, and his Spirit can change hearts." p. 166-167

Overall, this book gets three stars. If you've been struggling with a gospel that is not rooted in or centered on Christ, it might be just the book you need to read. (June 26, 2015)

Death Wears A Beauty Mask and Other Stories by Mary Higgins Clark // I especially enjoyed reading "Death Wears A Beauty Mask" because I was really interested to see how she decided to finish writing it 40 years later. "Stowaway" (the first piece she ever sold) showed how much her style has changed and grown into something more mature. Anything Mary Higgins Clark is my favorite and this collection of short stories did not disappoint! (May 19, 2015)

Called by Ryan Pemberton // I'm struggling between whether to give this book 3 stars (I "liked it") and 4 stars (I "REALLY liked it"). I pretty much devoured it and couldn't stop talking about it and took the time to write out quotes from it that I wanted to remember. All of those things usually mean that a book is going to end up with 5 stars. BUT...As I moved into the last half of the book I was finding that he seemed to be repeating himself. There were even entire sentences sprinkled here and there that I had already read in a different part of the book.

I loved the stories about CS Lewis (I learned some pretty hilarious stories about his wife Joy and her shotgun as well as Lewis's sense of humor when it came to teasing Americans about their useless ways of saying things) and the ways that BEING in Oxford made a difference in Pemberton's life. I was challenged right along with Pemberton as I read about his struggle to realize that being called by God always means being called to truly follow Christ. If you pick up the book you'll most likely have the same thoughts that I had, but that won't change the fact that you're glad you read it! (June 3, 2015)

What's on your reading list this month?

What's the last book that you finished and LOVED?

Book Talk

It's been a while since we've talked about what we're reading! I look forward to winter reading pretty much all year long. I haven't done very much reading so far this winter, but here in the PNW we are pretty much guaranteed to have at least two more months of winter (and maybe even more).

Today I'm linking up with Anne and we'll be talking about two light reads, one mystery, and a book that will get you thinking! 


"Lizzy and Jane" by Katherine Reay // This was the book club pick for the month of January. I finished it on my flight from Atlanta to Salt Lake City after reading in short spurts during my vacation. It's an easy, light read, but it didn't really suck me in like I thought it would. It's probably not one I'd recommend, but I am going to give Reay another chance! 

"Think" by John Piper // This is a book that will definitely get you thinking. If you're not familiar with John Piper, you should definitely look him up! This book centers around the idea that as Christians we are to be serious about both thinking and feeling as we seek to love God and one another. I'm taking my time with this book and I think you'll love it! 

"The Doorbell Rang" by Rex Stout // My Mom is really great about going to the library and finding some obscure author that has been forgotten. Last winter she came across this book and introduced us both to the excellence that is a Rex Stout mystery! Since then, she has picked up a handful of his books at used book sales and flew through each one of them. My friend Shauna and I are currently reading this book together (well, she actually finished her copy already). I'll definitely be back for more! 

"While We Were Watching Downton Abbey" by Wendy Wax // This was on the recently added list on my mail order library. It sounded interesting, so I picked it up. It is sort of interesting, but it's got too much drama for me. I can't recommend this book and I won't be picking up any more of Wax's books in the future. 

Before you sign off, I'd like to invite you to join my Good Reads book club! We read and discuss one book each month. Click HERE to sign up. Voting for February's book is scheduled to begin tomorrow!

What have you been reading? 

 

Fall Reading List

I started making my fall reading list earlier this spring. Slowly but surely, it's been filling up with titles that I'm really looking forward to. I noticed that my historical fiction avoiding self didn't pick one single piece of contemporary fiction this fall. Here is my list of possibilities.

I'll add a few comments about each book after I'm finished with it. 

The titles in bold will be ones that I'm currently reading. 

Also note that each title is a link to the goodreads profile of each book! 

Fiction

"The House Girl" Tara Conklin //  I couldn't get enough of this novel! The story flashes between NYC in 2004 and Virginia in the mid-1800's. The times weave together perfectly. You learn what really matters and enjoy digging up history with the Lina (the "modern" woman) and you are reminded of the horrors of the past and the hope the Underground Railroad offered with Josephine (the woman from the past). If you're looking for a good novel that takes a bit of time to read, this is a book for you! (September 10, 2014)

"The Alchemy of Murder" Carol McCleary // I decided to check this book out from the library after seeing it on my friend Shauna's goodreads page this summer. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that it was set around Jack the Ripper and more specifically a detective posing as a prostitute. The cover looks great, the jacket made it sound wonderful, but I just didn't make it very far before I realized that this was NOT a book for me. (September 13, 2014)

"The Small Rain" Madeleine L'Engle // I absolutely loved this book! Before I started I knew that it L'Engle's first novel, but I had ZERO expectations. I assumed that I would probably hate it. I didn't! It was first published in 1945 and is set in New York City. You'll follow a young pianist named Katherine as she deals with growing up in the world of the theatre. I read a 1984 edition that included a note from L'Engle that I found especially helpful.  (November 10, 2014)

"The Devil in the White City" Erik Larson // I started this book, but I decided that it was a little too much for me. The fact that it's based on true crimes started getting to me!

"A Severed Wasp" Madeleine L'Engle // I didn't even touch this one! I enjoyed "The Small Rain" so much that I am saving this for later because I don't want the story to end just yet. There were 40 years between the two books and if L'Engle had to wait that long, I think I need to wait at least a little while!

Added:

"Deceived" Irene Hannon //  I love a good mystery! If you are a fan of Mary Higgins Clark or Dee Henderson or mysteries in general, you'll probably really enjoy Hannon's style. This particular book is more of a HOW did they do it and less of a whodunnit which was refreshing to me. I found myself enjoying the writing and not really trying to hurry up and solve the mystery. You can read my full review HERE. (September 21, 2014)

"Call Me Zelda" Erika Robuck // I got into a Fitzgerald mood this fall. This fictional biography was very well written and appears to have given a very fair sketch of the life of Zelda Fitzgerald. It inspired me to pick up a collection of her own writings and to consider her as I read her husband's work. Her story is nothing fairytale or dreamy...but it's reality and I truly enjoyed it. (September 29, 2014)

"Save Me the Waltz" Zelda Fitzgerald // I ended up sending this back to the library before I finished it...I'm going to keep my eye out for a copy of my own at used book sales! (November 3, 2014)

"The Christmas Cat" by Melody Carlson // You can read my full review of this book HERE! (November 8, 2014)

"Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore" by Robin Sloan 

Non-Fiction

"The Wonder-Working God" Jared C. Wilson // Although this book did not live up to my expectations, it wasn't all bad. You can read my full review by clicking HERE. (September 21, 2014)

"The Evangelistic Zeal of George Whitefield" Steven Lawson // This is an EXCELLENT book! Whitefield is one of my favorite "Georges" from history past and I never tire of hearing of his walk with God, his influence in the world, and the stories of God's faithfulness to him in his ministry.

Pick it up, be inspired, and learn about more about one of God's greatest tools. (September 10, 2014)

"An Autobiography" Agatha Christie // This book reads like a history of days gone by. Christie fans and Downton fans will like it because it's a very real person's account of what life was actually like in the first half of the 1900's. I especially enjoyed hearing about how and why Christie wrote what she did. (October 28, 2014)

"Dispatches from the Front" Tim Keesee // This is one of those books that is made up of a collection of journal entries. It's the kind of book that I pick up and put down, never reading it all at once or all the way through. I checked it out from the library, read portions of it, and returned it. I'm looking forward to coming back to it again and again. The stories of God at work in and through Keese and the people he has found himself working among are refreshing and inspiring. This is a great, yet unique book! (October 4, 2014)

"By Searching" Isobel Kuhn // I'm putting this book on my list of all time favorites! This is an autobiography of sorts. Kuhn writes about what it was like to be a young woman in the 1920's. She writes about the years she spent questioning her faith, the years she spent questioning God's plan for her life, and touches on the years that came after those two difficult seasons. Trust me, this is one you MUST read. (October 15, 2014)

"My Life in France" Julia Child // I learned so much about Julia from this book...Memories, travel stories, cooking tricks, and the little things that end up forgotten were all very interesting to me! I really enjoyed it. It was amazing to hear about HOW Julia became Julia Child. You'll enjoy reading about her, food, cooking, France, and life in the 1940's-70's! (November 17, 2014)

Added:

"Cold Tangerines" Shauna Niequist // I think I'm the last person on the internet to read something of Niequest's! This collection of essays was beautifully written. I read the first eight of them all in one night because I just couldn't stop. My favorite piece was titled "Swimming" and close seconds were: "On Waiting", "Island", "French Class", "These Are the Days", "Pennies", "The Hook", and of course, "Cold Tangerines". I haven't completely finished this book, but I'm putting it down for now. Like "Lessons From the Front" (above), I want to come back to it later. If you've read Niequist, you know that she writes short pieces that have everyone nodding their head saying, "Yes! Me too!!!". If you haven't, you will and you'll want to stop and think and listen and maybe even write a short essay of your own. (October 14, 2014)

If you're looking for more book recommendations, check out these posts:

Summer Stack 2014

2013's Top Reads

What You Can Accomplish in 90 Hours

Best Reads From the Summer of 2014

One of my favorite things to do that is basically cheap or free is to read. I'll give just about any genre a chance, but I am known to choose my books by the season and the cover.

Discovering new authors is always great and sharing them with my friends is always my next step, so I thought I'd share a little "best of" list with you!

"Women of the Word" by Jen Wilkin * * * * *

Aside from John Piper's book "Don't Waste Your Life", this one is the most influential book that I have ever read. It has CHANGED the way I study the Bible. After reading this book in June I started a study of 1 Peter using the step-by-step methods that Wilkin laid out and it has been one of the richest studies I've ever done in my life. I want everyone I know to read "Women of the Word"!

If you long to know more of God's Word or if you've known that your Bible study time could be richer, get this book. Actually, if you are still alive on this earth, get this book.

I'm serious. It's THAT helpful!

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"Navigating Early" by Clare Vanderpool (YA) * * * *

It was a Wednesday evening and I was filling in at the library with my Mom. Whenever it gets slow, I like to step away from the counter and look around. I look in my favorite areas and then I move on to the other areas that I don't tend to browse when I stop in to get books for myself. "Navigating Early" was on display in the young adult section and it caught my eye.

After reading the jacket I almost put it back thinking it sounded pretty "out there". Then I remembered that I'm an adult and I don't HAVE to finish every book I start. So, I checked it out and I was so glad I did.

This was one of those novels that left me sad to be finished with it. It wasn't action packed. It didn't have a mystery. There was no "love interest" as my brother likes to call that. It was just a story about two boys (one whose name happens to be "Early") who were facing the struggles of growing up and found themselves embracing a very unlikely friendship.

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"Summer of the Gypsy Moths" by Sara Pennypacker (YA) * * *

This was another book that I chose because of the cover and also because of the setting. I grew to love Great Aunt Louise and found the "drama" that the two girls who live with her found themselves having to deal with.

This book is funny and heartwarming and so bizarre that it was just perfect.

The very plot of this book is probably unlike any other book you will ever read. Somehow, Pennypacker makes it work. I'm eager to read more of her stories!

"To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee * * * * *

It was just time that I read this classic. If you haven't read it yet, I'd invite you to put it on your list for this fall!

I always assumed that this book was about the black man who was wrongfully accused and given a sentence that was not his to bear. It turns out that this book was about so much more than that. I loved following Scout around and getting to really know Boo.

The world has changed so much and yet this book reminded me that some things always stay the same.

"Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein (YA) * * * *

This was by far the most "entertaining" book from my summer stack. I read it in one day because I had the time and I needed to get to the bottom of the game.

Mr. Lemoncello is like so many quirky old men that we have all known. He is the star of this novel and yet it is Grabenstein's genius that keeps you eager to solve the puzzle for yourself. It's the perfect book for any lazy day.

"One Thing" by Sam Storms   * * * *

This book will feed your soul. It will show you the importance of looking for the glory of God, but it will also define it for you and show you how to keep yourself gazing upon it.

You might devour "One Thing" or you might take it in in chunks like I did. However you read this one, be sure to have a pen ready to mark down the sentences that stop you in your tracks.

What were some books that you enjoyed this summer? 

Are you awaiting the release of anything new by a favorite author?