These book reports are some of my favorite blog posts. . .I love telling you about what I’m reading, but I’ve also found some great books because of your recommendations. This is the stack of books I’ve plowed through in the last few months:
Three Cups of Tea:
I found this book inspirational and eye-opening but in all honesty, I struggled through parts of it. I think the details became a drudgery. . .I wanted more story and less details! But still a good read that was worth my time.
The Kite Runner:
In my last list of books I featured A Thousand Splendid Suns and I think I loved that book as much as I have ever loved a book. This book is by the same author and I loved it just as much as the other one. This was a hard one to get through because of the emotions that it evoked in me, yet I found myself thinking about the story throughout my day and wondering what would happen next. I highly recommend this book and consider it one of the best works of fiction I’ve ever read.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas:
I just finished this one this week. I kept hearing about this book and it finally made its way to the top of my reading list. I was surprised to find it in the Young Adult section of the library. The book is written in a younger format, but the story is very good with a surprise ending (I won’t reveal any of the story line itself. . .this is one of those books where it really is best to let the story unfold without any pre-conceived ideas).
The Confession:
My dad gave me this one for Christmas (he knows me well!). My entire house fell apart while I sat with my nose in this book. I couldn’t put it down! I have read every single Grisham novel and honestly, this is my favorite. So, so good.
Left to Tell:
This book recalls the horrors of the Rwandan Holocaust. It was gut-wrenching to read, but, again, I feel like it’s an important book and one that is worth the emotional energy.
Not for Sale:
Sigh. I don’t even know what to say about this other than it stoked my hatred for the injustices being done to human beings around the globe. Slavery is a horrible thing. I must also say I had to take a break from reading this book about halfway through after I had a nightmare one night that sex traffickers broke into my house and stole my youngest daughter from my bed. I woke up yelling and my heart was pounding and Conrad had to settle me down and convince me I had been dreaming. That’s when I decided to give it a rest for a few days before picking it back up and finishing it. Despite that awful nightmare, I highly recommend this book and I encourage you to read it (actually, I beg you to read it) and be informed about slavery around the world.
The Pastor’s Wives Cookbook:
I’ve mentioned before that when I find myself in a cooking rut, I pull out a cookbook and force myself to cook out of it for a few weeks, trying new recipes and expanding my repertoire. My friend, Julie, gave me this cookbook several years ago and I’ve found several recipes worth repeating, plus I love that all the recipes are from fellow pastor’s wives.
5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Daughter:
I wrote an entire blog post about this book a while ago and just last week I pulled this book off the shelf again. I reread the first chapter and was reminded once again about the importance of teaching my daughters about God’s definition of beauty before they believe the lies of our culture. If you have a daughter, this is a must read.
Radical:
Finally, I am reading this one. And by reading, I mean “reading.” That is to say, this book is challenging me more than I want to be challenged and it’s making me think more than I care to think and it’s causing me to evaluate my life whether I feel like it or not (I don’t). I keep reading a paragraph then putting it down again. At this rate it will take me a year to get through this book but I guess there’s nothing wrong with that. Boo for books that make me think too hard and take me out of my comfort zone! But I need it, I really do, which is exactly why I’ll keep reading this book.
That’s the list for this time. What’s in your stack of books?
Thanks for the book recommendations!! My stack of to-read books (literal and in my head) is already sooooo high!!
I do want to talk to you about Cambodia sometime. I feel like I’ve just been slammed with so much stuff lately. Trying to figure out how to calm down/simplify my life.
You seriously need to subscribe to People magazine so you can read some real literature.
i just read three book in three days. the Hunger Games trilogy.
Have you ever read Daisy Chain? It’s a 3 book series… it was in the youth section at our library but an excellent read!