Luggage and Literature

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. - St. Augustine

March 2020 Reading List

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This year, I’m participating in the Unread Shelf Challenge 2020 with a goal to read 75 books that I already own. Each month, I’ll read one fiction, one nonfiction/memoir, one law/business/politics, and one devotional/spiritual book. Quarterly, I’ll be reading one book of classic literature. I’ll be listing where each book came from, whether from my existing collection, I borrowed the book, or purchased the book this year. This is my March 2020 Reading List, which includes my trip to Egypt, which includes the books that I’ve finished, the books in progress and ongoing, and the books that I’ve abandoned.

Books Finished:

Miracles Happen by Mary Kay Ash

Already owned physical book. Legal/Business/Politics pick for 2020 Reading Plan (swapped March and August books).

I decided to switch some books around because the one that I’d originally picked for March was quite long and not something that I had time to read this month (since it was a physical book and I was traveling for half the month). I’ve used Mary Kay products since I was old enough to need facial cleansers and moisturizers. The woman who created the brand, Mary Kay Ash, is fascinating, and as a result this has been on my TBR list for such a long time. The book details how she started the company, and her philosophy of business. An interesting and not terribly long book.

I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti: A Memoir of Good Food and Bad Boyfriends by Giulia Melucci

Already owned physical book. March Nonfiction/Memoir pick for 2020 Reading Plan.

This is part memoir on love and loss, and part cookbook. It was a quick and enjoyable read about the author’s experiences, even though I had a hard time relating to or understanding some of them. I didn’t try any of the recipes, although some of them looked quite tasty, and not difficult to make.

The Pandemic Century: One Hundred Years of Panic, Hysteria, and Hubris by Mark Honigsbaum

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

I’d had this on hold on my Libby app for a while, and my hold came up right as coronavirus was really starting to spread worldwide. The timing was sort of strange. This book goes through several epidemics or pandemics in the last 100 years or so. Learning about how each of these pandemics spread, how they were investigated, and how the cause of the pandemic was discovered was enlightening. I think that when you learn about something, some of the fear of it goes away, so I recommend this book as a primer to understanding some of the basics of pandemics in recent history.

When Women Ruled the World: Six Queens of Egypt by Kara Cooney

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

I picked this book as a primer to the history of Egypt. It examined the queens (and sometimes female kings) of ancient Egypt, how they rose to power and what happened after their reign. The author tried to draw some parallels to leaders in the modern era, which I didn’t always agree with and didn’t find useful. I picked the book due to the advertised subject matter, and didn’t really want to read the author’s thoughts on the American political system. So I skimmed through those sections to get back to the main topic at hand, which was fascinating.

Orphan 8 by Kim van Alkenmade

Already owned physical book. Fiction pick for 2020 Reading Plan.

This novel tells the story of a Jewish orphan who is experimented on in her orphanage in New York. The story is told from the timeline of her youth, and from her adulthood. It was not entirely what I expected, and not my favorite book. But it was kept me engaged to the end, and the plot did payoff at the end.

The Book of M by Peng Shepherd

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

This novel is dystopian fiction. People lose their shadows, and then slowly lose their memories. The story is told from the perspectives of a few different characters, some of whom have lost their shadows and some who have not. The book is fairly long, but does keep moving along. And after a little while, it becomes clear that the players are marching toward a common goal and it’s just a question of how things will turn out.

Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

I really liked this book. It follows three sisters, their mother, and their grandmother through the summer of 1969 and the changes in their lives and the broader world during this time. I really loved this story, and found the characters so relatable. I recommend this book.

One of Ours by Willa Cather

Already owned Kindle e-book.

Cather regularly referred to this novel as ‘Clyde’ in her letters, and after reading what she said about the novel, I wanted to read it. Willa Cather is a masterful writer, and I really love everything of hers that I’ve read so far. This novel is no exception. It takes place before and during World War I, and follows a young man trying to find his way in the world and to a future.

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

The stories of a grandmother during her youth in Cuba prior to and during the revolution, and her granddaughter returning to the country after her grandmother’s death. This novel includes love, hate, fear, politics, and love of country. I liked this book.

The Toll by Neal Shusterman

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

This is the third and final book in the Scythe series,a book about a future where death has been conquered and a nearly omniscient computer system runs the world. Scythes are tasked with ending lives. This series is fantastic, and I found this final book to be a solid ending. I was engaged in the story and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next.

Another Love by Amanda Prowse

Already owned Kindle e-book.

This novel was really good, but also really hard to read. It is about a woman with a family and a wonderful career, who loses everything because of her addiction to alcohol. It is beautiful and emotional and heart-wrenching. I’m so thankful that my sister-in-law turned me on to Amanda Prowse.

Spy by Daniele Steel

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

Danielle Steel writes some good books, even though she doesn’t get the credit that she probably deserves. This novel is historical fiction set during World War II. The main character comes from a British aristocratic family, and volunteers to serve. Because of her language skills, she is recruited as a spy and operative and serves throughout the war. Then after the war, she continues serving as a spy while her husband works as a diplomat. I would have liked to have had a little more action in the story, but it was still a very enjoyable book.

I Survived!: 5 Bible Characters Who Survived Disasters by Deb Brammer and Art Brammer

Already owned Kindle e-book. March Devotional/Spiritual pick for 2020 Reading Plan.

This book was okay. It had a few bible stories, and talked about how they can help us to deal with disasters in our own lives. The book repeatedly referenced another book that I hadn’t read previously, and didn’t realize that I should read before this one, so that was kind of frustrating. But the subject matter is overall good, and can be helpful to people going through hard things.

John by R.C. Sproul

Already owned Kindle e-book. February Devotional/Spiritual pick for 2020 Reading Challenge.

I’ve been working my way through this book for two weeks. It was fantastic, but I didn’t want to rush through it. The book is a commentary that goes through every story and line in the book of John. It was so illuminating, and I just savored it.

 

Books Ongoing through 2020:

Unshakeable: 365 Devotions for Finding Unwavering Strength in God’s Word by Christine Caine (Already owned physical book.) This is a daily devotional that I’ll be reading all year.

Year of Wonder: Classical Music to Enjoy Day by Day by Clemency Burton-Hill (Already owned physical book.) This book has daily readings about classical music generally, various sub-genres of classical, and a daily piece of music to find and listen to. I’ll be working through it all year.

 

Books In Progress:

Courageously Uncomfortable by Lisa J. Goins (Already owned Kindle e-book.) My bible study group is working through this book.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey (Borrowed from a friend.)

The St. Nicholas Anthology edited by Henry Steele Commager (Already owned physical book.)

The Psychopath Test by Joe Ronson

 

Books Abandoned:

None.

January 2020 Reading List

by //

This year, I’m participating in the Unread Shelf Challenge 2020 with a goal to read 75 books that I already own. Each month, I’ll read one fiction, one nonfiction/memoir, one law/business/politics, and one devotional/spiritual book. Quarterly, I’ll be reading one book of classic literature. I’ll be listing where each book came from, whether from my existing collection, I borrowed the book, or purchased the book new this year. This is my January 2020 Reading List, which includes the books that I’ve finished, the books in progress and ongoing, and the books that I’ve abandoned.

Books Finished:

The Making of a Country Lawyer by Gerry Spence

Already owned physical book. Legal/Business/Politics pick from 2020 Reading Plan.

Spence is incredibly fascinating to me. I first learned about him while attending a legal seminar in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Several attorneys at the seminar had attended Spence’s Trial Lawyers College in Wyoming and spoke very highly about him and their experience. This is a memoir/autobiography about Spence and his formative years, his relationships with his parents, and formative experiences from his law practice. I found nuggets of wisdom in this book, and really enjoyed it.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

Already owned physical book. Nonfiction/Memoir pick from 2020 Reading Plan.

I had sort of mixed feelings about this book. I generally like the idea of buying local food and supporting local farmers, as well as eating more at home. And I understand the author’s concerns and rationale. But at the same time, I live in Nebraska, a state that’s economy is largely based on industrial agriculture, including corn and soybean production and livestock. So because of where I live and what I’ve observed, I disagree with some of her concerns regarding how animals are treated in industrial ag. I’m sure that there are bad actors, but the ag producers that I know want animals to be treated humanely and care about the land that grows the crops they’re producing. Many have owned their land for generations and want it to be there for their children and grandchildren. So I found the book interesting and thought-provoking, even while I disagreed with some of her premises. Particularly interesting were the anecdotes from her family’s year of eating locally grown and produced food.

Fight for Your Money: How to Stop Getting Ripped Off and Save a Fortune by David Bach

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

I listened to the audiobook for this one after I’d heard about David Bach on Rachel Hollis’s podcast. Most of the book didn’t have new information for me, but would be great for a young person just starting out in life. And some of the references (particularly with respect to the technology pieces) are dated. But I stuck with it, and did learn a few things that I hadn’t known before. I would recommend doing this one as a physical book or an e-book, so that skipping around between chapters would be easier

Stray: Memoir of a Runaway by Tanya Marquardt

Already owned Kindle e-book.

This memoir was really interesting, as Tanya was coming of age and running away from home during the height of the goth/punk movement, which Tanya talks about. But her story felt to me like it lacked an ending. We don’t get to find out what happens to Tanya after her teenage years, how she becomes an author, or anything like that. It was a little disappointing to me. Her story was fascinating, but felt incomplete.

Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad by M.T. Anderson

Purchased using Audible credit.

As a musician, I love books about music. This story is really incredible. During World War II, the Germans laid siege on Leningrad. The people were starving, and things were very bleak. Shostakovich and his family were evacuated, but his extended family was left behind. Shostakovich wrote his 7th Symphony about the experience and in honor of his people.

The Future of Feeling: Building Empathy in a Tech-Obsessed World by Kaitlin Ugolik Phillips

Kindle First book, so new but free.

Although it was clear that the author comes to the topic of empathy from a very different worldview from mine, I still found her exploration of the topic to be informative and interesting. I was particularly interested in her examples of how technology doesn’t just drive us apart or make us less empathetic, but how it can be used to increase empathetic feelings in people.

Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA by Amaryllis Fox

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

This book was so interesting that I read the whole thing in a day. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next, something that is unusual in a memoir. It is the author’s story of spending her 20s in the CIA as an analyst and then an operative. After reading the book, I did some googling to find a photo of the author, and stumbled across a couple of articles that outlined how she had not received approval from the CIA to publish the book beforehand, and questioning the authenticity of all elements of her story. Even with these concerns, the story is super interesting. But I do recommend reading those articles after reading the book, just to put the whole think into context.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

A fable or parable, this book is about finding your own ‘personal legend’ and then striving for it unceasingly. I’m not sure what exactly I think about the book. The story was entertaining, and not terribly long, so it’s an easy read. From what I can tell people generally either love this book, saying it changed their lives, or hated it, saying that it’s drivel. I must be in the minority in that I enjoyed the story, but don’t have strong feelings about its moral message.

The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

Dr. Zhivago, written by Boris Pasternak, cannot be published in the Soviet Union, but is his masterpiece. This is the story of Pasternak’s affair and love of Olga Ivinskaya, as well as the efforts to get it published, translated, and smuggled back into the country. The book combines a historical fiction, spy novel, love story, and drama into one. It was pretty good.

The Food of Love by Amanda Prowse

Already owned Kindle e-book.

This novel is about a girl and her family dealing with an eating disorder and the fear and fallout that go along with it. It was at times infuriating (when the mom just wanted to make excuses and enable the girl), and heart-wrenching. There’s a little twist in the book, that helped the narrative drive of the story.

Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

Borrowed from library.

Historical fiction is my jam. And when I saw this book on the shelf at the library, I had to check it out. This is a fictionalized account of Princess Grace of Monaco, her first meeting with her beloved prince, and her transformation from Hollywood movie star into true royal. This story of Princess Grace is viewed through the lens of a perfumier in the South of France who happens to meet Grace, and a photographer tasked with getting photos of Grace. And there is drama and romance in their stories as well. It’s well done and delightful to read.

John’s Story: The Last Eyewitness by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

Already owned physical book. Devotional/Spiritual pick from 2020 Reading Plan.

This is a novel based on historical accounts of John’s life, as well as John’s writings during his lifetime. It’s well-written and engaging. And it features the writings of the bible both within the novel, as well as separately at the end. I enjoyed the book.

It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered by Lysa TerKeurst

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

This is Lysa’s book written in the midst of a series of very serious health concerns and cancer, and while dealing with infidelity in her marriage. It’s brutally honest and heartbreaking and hopeful. Lysa examines God’s view of suffering, its purposes, and how it can be used to transform us. It’s a powerful book, especially for someone going through really difficult times in life.

I Deserve a Donut (And Other Lies That Make You Eat) by Barb Raveling

Already owned Kindle e-book.

This book has a series of different reasons why we eat, as well as different things to think about, and various bible verses to ponder to help stop eating for reasons other than hunger and nutrition.

 

Books Ongoing through 2020:

Unshakeable: 365 Devotions for Finding Unwavering Strength in God’s Word by Christine Caine (Already owned physical book.) This is a daily devotional that I’ll be reading all year.

Year of Wonder: Classical Music to Enjoy Day by Day by Clemency Burton-Hill (Already owned physical book.) This book has daily readings about classical music generally, various subgenres of classical, and a daily piece of music to find and listen to. I’ll be working through it all year.

 

Books In Progress:

Courageously Uncomfortable by Lisa J. Goins (Already owned Kindle e-book.) My bible study group is working through this book.

The Selected Letters of Willa Cather by Willa Cather, Andrew Jewell, and Janis Stout (Already owned physical book.)

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey (Borrowed from a friend.)

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien (Already owned Audible.)

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young: The Wild, Definitive Saga of Rock’s Greatest Supergroup by David Browne (Borrowed from library.)

The St. Nicholas Anthology edited by Henry Steele Commager (Already owned physical book.)

The Story of a Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux (Already owned Kindle e-book.)

The Girl from the Metropol Hotel: Growing up in Communist Russia by Ludmilla Petrushevskaya (Purchased using Audible credit.)

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie (Audible Original book, so new but free.)

 

Books Abandoned:

Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World by Maryanne Wolf (Borrowed from library.)

Normal Is Just a Setting on Your Dryer by Patsy Clairmont (Already owned physical book.)

Tipperary by Frank Delaney (Already owned physical book. Fiction pick from 2020 Reading Plan.)

January 2019 Reading List

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Every month I try to read at least one book from the following categories: nonfiction, devotional, and fiction. In 2019 I’m not participating in a formal reading challenge, but rather The Unread Shelf Project 2019, a challenge to read books that I already own. So I’ll be listing where each book came from this year instead of listing a particular challenge category. This is my January 2019 Reading List, my brief reviews and book recommendations for January 2019. Hopefully I’ll provide you with some inspiration for your future reading as well!

Books Finished:

A Little Love by Amanda Prowse

Already owned Kindle e-book.

My sister-in-law tipped me off to Amanda Prowse over Christmas, and there was a sale on her books (only $0.99 each!), so I picked up a few in December. This was a sweet book about a woman who owns a bakery in London and has made it up from her modest start. There is love, loss, betrayal, and redemption. It’s a very lovely book.

The House by the River by Lena Manta

Already owned Kindle e-book.

This book started really slowly for me, and I almost put it down. But I decided to read a little further, and was hooked by the story. The book starts from the perspective of the mother, and then switches to the perspectives of each of her daughters. I think that my initial ambivalence about the book was just due to a translation/language issue. What I mean by that is that the beginning portion is quite repetitive, which may be something that is common in Greek writing (I don’t know, I’m guessing). I stuck with it, and enjoyed it. But it probably won’t be among my favorites books of the year.

The Jesus Cow by Michael Perry

Borrowed from a friend.

This was a delightful book that I’d been waiting a few months to borrow. I really enjoyed the story (a calf is born on Christmas Eve and has the face of Jesus on his side), and found the characters to be quirky, fun, and also relatable. I wasn’t sure that the ending was going to satisfy me, but it delivered. A great book!

A Different Kind of Happiness: Discovering the Joy That Comes from Sacrificial Love by Dr. Larry Crabb

Already owned physical book.

This book was a slow read, only a chapter per day. It is a tough read that requires a lot of concentration while reading, and then a lot of thought afterwards. The author covers topics including what joy and happiness really mean, what Jesus really wants for us, and how to be brave enough to follow Jesus truly. I’m glad that I read it, although it was not an easy read. 

Flawed Convictions: “Shaken Baby Syndrome” and the Inertia of Injustice by Deborah Tuerkheimer

Already owned Kindle e-book.

This book took me a long time to read, because I kept getting so angry that I had to stop reading it. And when there were stories of convictions and cases from Nebraska, and involving one particular child abuse doctor in Omaha (who I find to be reprehensible with respect to her willful ignoring of changing science and new literature, and her willingness to see people go to prison based solely on her ignorant testimony), I almost quit the book. I have had a case involving shaken baby syndrome/abusive head trauma, and lost on the basis of just the kind of outdated science that this book is all about. What made me continue reading was the simple fact that I’m likely to have another shaken baby syndrome/abusive head trauma case in my career, and I need to be aware of the changing science and legal response to these cases. This is a tough book to read, but one that attorneys in particular, but really all people need to read.

The Boy on the Bus by Deborah Schupack

Already owned physical book.

A boy arrives at home, and he looks like the mother’s son, but a healthier and more perfect version. He’s sort of her son, but sort of not. Shouldn’t a mother, of all people, know her own child? This book made me wonder, over and over while reading the entire book, what was going on. Is she crazy? Is there something supernatural going on? Was her son actually kidnapped and replaced with a look-alike? Or was your first inclination, that she really is just crazy and disengaged from her own family the correct one? You’ll have to read it and decide for yourself. But the book is fairly short and won’t take you long to read.

The Brave Ones: A Memoir of Hope, Pride and Military Service by Michael J. Macleod

Already owned Kindle e-book.

I really wanted to love this book, as I’ve read some other military memoirs that were so compelling. But I didn’t. The stories didn’t seem to have any theme or common element to tie them all together. This was not for me.

The Snow Gypsy by Lindsay Jayne Ashford

Kindle First book, so new but free.

This novel follows a woman veterinarian at the close of World War II. She is a Jew from England and goes to Spain looking for her missing brother. She forms relationships with Gypsies, and their stories and lives are more entwined than she ever imagines.

Good Behavior by Blake Crouch

Borrowed through Amazon Prime Reading.

This book is actually a series of short stories written by Blake Crouch and that were transformed into a television show. It also includes essays by the author about what changed from the short story versions to the TV episodes, and why. The version that I have is also a Kindle In Motion book, so there were also photos and GIFs included. It really made me want to watch the TV show. 

Power Moves: Lessons from Davos by Adam Grant

Audible Original book, so new but free.

In this Audible original, Adam Grant interviews attendees at Davos. They talk about what power is, and what it means for our society. This was really interesting, and was easy to listen to, like a podcast.

Hunted by Kevin Hearne

Purchased using Audible credit.

Book six of the Iron Druid Chronicles, this one was sort of slower moving, since the main characters spend much of it on the run. But the run is studded with periods of action. By the end of the book, Hearne has managed to restore some equilibrium in the story that has been missing through the past few books. But don’t worry, there’s a twist at the end that means that the next book is going to be pretty exciting too.

Hilda Hopkins, Murder, She Knit by Vivienne Fagan

New but free on Kindle.

I heard about this book series on the podcast, What Should I Read Next. The premise, an old woman knitting serial killer, who uses her knitted items to kill people, was so absurd I had to check it out. The book was weird and a page turner. But the main character, Hilda, is a sociopath and not terribly likable. So I probably won’t be reading the rest of the series.

The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerger

Purchased Kindle e-book this year, using gift card received for Christmas.

Between this book having been on my to-be-read list for years, a Kindle sale, and a gift card, this was the right time to purchase this book and finally read it. And the timing was just so right. I’ve been thinking lately about what the next stages of my business, my law practice, look like, and how to get it to where I want it to be. This book helped to clarify my thinking about what is working in my business, what isn’t, and why. 

The Dutch Wife by Ellen Keith

Purchased Kindle e-book this year, using gift card received for Christmas.

I first spotted this book on an end cap at Target, and the cover caught my eye. It’s really a beautiful cover. But the premise of the book, a Dutch woman is in the resistance during World War II, and ends up captured by the Nazis. She is put into the concentration camps, and given a shocking choice. What will she choose to do? And what will that mean for the rest of her life, or what remains of it? This book is so good, and so thought-provoking.

 

Books in Progress:

Twelve Women of the Bible by Lysa TerKeurst (Already owned Kindle e-book.) My bible study is working through this book and the associated videos.

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky (Borrowed from library using Libby app.)

Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry (Already owned physical book and Audible.)

 

Books Abandoned:

None.

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