Luggage and Literature

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

July 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 new this year. This is my July 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:

Frogmen: The True Story of My Journeys With Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau and the Crew of Calypso by Richard E. Hyman

Already owned physical book. July Nonfiction/Memoir Pick from 2020 Reading List.

I picked this book up a couple of years ago and was able to get around to reading it finally. It was essentially journals or a diary turned into a slightly more narrative version of the author’s time on Cousteau’s Calypso in his late teens/early twenties. Because of the subject matter, it was interesting, although not the best written book that I’ve read. But as I mentioned the topic was so interesting that I kept at it and finished it.

Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations by Thomas L. Friedman

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

Thomas Friedman is one of my favorite authors. We see eye-to-eye on some issues, and are totally opposite on others. But he always strikes me as thoughtful about the subjects that he writes about. This book is about the ‘age of accelerations’ in which everything is speeding up exponentially, and how we need to pause and reflect from time to time, as well as engage in lifelong continuing learning to keep up with life. I agreed with many of the points in this book, while finding some of his conclusions baffling. But all in all, the book made me think, so it was right in line with the other books that I’ve read by Friedman.

Break Shot: My First 21 Years by James Taylor

Audible Original book, so new but free.

James Taylor is a really interesting guy. Like, did you know that James Taylor played the cello?! Fascinating stuff. This Audible Original was about his early years. I love music biographies, so I had to have this one. It was short and did not disappoint.

Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

I am a huge fan of the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. As a child, I never thought that much about what elements were true, what were based on a true story, and what were fiction. Prairie Fires talked a lot about Laura’s view on truth vs. fiction. It also delved into Laura and Almanzo’s relationship with their daughter Rose Wilder Lane, and Rose’s own strange life. From the descriptions of Rose, I have no doubt that she was mentally ill, probably with Bipolar Disorder. The book was very interesting, with one caveat. I felt like the author had a pretty clear liberal bias, and couldn’t understand why anyone would have more conservative or libertarian viewpoints, or why anyone would want to live on the prairie or more untouched lands.

On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894 by Laura Ingalls Wilder and Rose Wilder Lane

Purchased physical book this year.

After reading Prairie Fires, I discovered that there were more Little House books that I’d never read. On the Way Home is Laura Ingalls Wilder’s journal kept on their journey from DeSmet, South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri in their own covered wagon. It was fascinating to me to read about what this journey was like for them, having traveled in the region in modern times. It is so different, and it just sparks the imagination to think about it.

West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder, San Francisco, 1915 by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and Roger Lea MacBride

Purchased physical book this year.

West from Home is a book comprised of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s letters to her husband Almanzo while visiting Rose Wilder Lane at her home in San Francisco. Laura visited Rose during the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exhibition held in San Francisco. Laura and Rose visit it several times, as well as other area attractions. Her descriptions are intricate, and make you feel as if you’re seeing and experiencing the same things. This is one of the things that I loved so much about the Little House books as a child, in that the descriptions made me feel as if I was right there too.

The Indian Child Welfare Act Handbook by Kelly Gaines-Stoner, Mark C. Tilden, and Jack F. Trope

Already owned physical book.

If you are a caseworker or attorney working in juvenile cases, this is a book that you should probably read. The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) applies to juvenile cases involving Indian children. There are a whole series of additional requirements that need to be met in these cases, and it is important to have a handle on them before one of these cases starts. I’d read both of the previous versions of this book, but wanted to refresh my memory and update my understanding, after some recent cases came out, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) adopted regulations in place of the guidelines that had been in effect for decades before.

To Siberia by Per Petterson

Already owned physical book. July Fiction Pick from 2020 Reading List.

I purchased this book at a wonderful used bookstore in Washington, D.C. called Capitol Hill Books. It was packed absolutely to the gills with books, and I spent a delightful couple of hours browsing the stacks to see what was there. I picked this one up, and thought it would fit right into my love of historical fiction, as it was described as taking placed during World War II in Scandinavia. The book largely took place before and after World War II, skipping over the characters’ experiences during the war, which was disappointing. The characters were not very likable, and the sexually tense relationship between the siblings was troubling. The writing was bleak, and although I finished the book, I didn’t really like it. Unfortunately, the book-buying experience was much more enjoyable than the book that I ended up purchasing.

Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks

Purchased on Audible this year.

Mike listened to this book before I did, and was raving about how good and unique it was. I listened to it and found it to have a really slow start. It felt like the story took a really long time to set up before any action started. But once the action got going, it was fast paced and I didn’t want to stop listening to it. Some people really didn’t like Judy Greer’s narration, but I loved it and felt like it fit the main character perfectly.

Opium and Absinthe by Lydia Kang

Kindle First book, so new but free.

This book was wonderful. It was a new look at the story of Dracula, a series of murders, a strong female protagonist with a drug problem, and other characters with mixed motives. It was really good and also different from other books I’ve read recently. Refreshing.

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

Borrowed from the library using Libby app.

I heard about this book from a friend first, and then later on the What Should I Read Next podcast. It was available on Libby, and I was between audiobooks, so I borrowed it right away. The characters are all, well, characters. They are funny and unique, and relatable. The story is fun and sucked me right in from the outset. In the middle of the book, I almost stopped listening, as the husbands are awful and sexist, and treat their wives terribly…while the wives just allow it! I was so mad, and seriously almost gave up. But my friend assured me that the story got better (even though the husbands’ behavior didn’t), so I stuck it out. I’m so glad that I did, because she was absolutely right. The wives show their strength later on, and the book struck me as almost a commentary on dysfunctional and unhealthy relationships in addition to the vampire slaying. This was great, and I’ll be looking out for more from the same author.

You Can Trust God to Write Your Story: Embracing the Mysteries of Providence by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and Robert Wolgemuth

Already owned Kindle e-book.

I have been dealing with a pretty tough and sad situation this month, and was really glad that I’d downloaded and started reading this book. It is so good to remember that God is in control even during tough times, and can bring good out of bad times.

Does God Control Everything? by R.C. Sproul

Purchased Kindle e-book this year.

I also read this book due to the really hard situation I’ve been working through this month. I wanted some books that could give me reassurance of God’s love for us and that he indeed has a plan that overarches feelings of sadness and things being out of control. Sproul is wonderful at reinforcing this message.

 

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:

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

Taste for Truth: A 30 Day Weight Loss Bible Study by Barb Ravelin (Purchased Kindle e-book this year.) My bible study is working through this book.

The Prince of the City: Giuliani, New York, and the Genius of American Life by Fred Siegel (Already owned physical book. July Legal/Business/Politics Pick from 2020 Reading List.)

Three Slices by Chuck Wendig, Kevin Hearne, and Delilah S. Dawson (Purchased Audible this year.)

The First Mrs. Rothschild by Sara Aharoni (Purchased Kindle e-book this year.)

 

Books Abandoned:

All This I Will Give to You by Delores Redondo (New but free Kindle e-book.)

Taming the Tongue: The Power of Spoken Words by Alex Uwajeh (Already owned Kindle e-book. July Devotional/Spiritual Pick from 2020 Reading List.)

June 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 new this year. This is my June 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:

Son of a Gun by Justin St. Germain

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

This memoir is the story of the author coming to terms with his mother’s murder and his childhood. His mother was a bit of a free-spirit with a penchant for terrible men, which meant that his childhood was a little strange and sad. But he has fairly good insight into the poignant situation.

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

Already owned Audible.

The movie based on this book was fantastic, and the book is too. Stevenson tells the stories of several of his clients, how they ended up incarcerated, and how they were able to get them released. Stevenson also talks in the book about the incarceration of youth, particularly life sentences for youth. As a criminal defense and juvenile law attorney, the heartbreaking subjects in this book are all too familiar to me. If they are not familiar to you, then I recommend reading the book. It’s well written, and Stevenson is just a wonderful storyteller.

Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall

Already owned physical book. June Fiction pick from 2020 Reading Plan.

This is a coming-of-age story for a little girl who comes into contact with a traumatized woman. They experience some really terrifying and sad things, but grow and become stronger for their experiences. The book was not at all what I expected from the cover, but was a great book anyway.

The Lost Colony by A.G. Riddle

Borrowed from Kindle Owners Lending Library.

The final book in the trilogy, this one takes place on the new planet that the survivors have evacuated to. But there’s a mystery there once they arrive, and things aren’t as wonderful as they seem. A satisfying ending to the series. A. G. Riddle is a fantastic writer of science fiction, and I really enjoy everything of his that I’ve read so far.

Pont Neuf by Max Byrd

Already owned Audible.

This is the story of a female war zone correspondent during the end of World War II. She comes into contact with Martha Gellhorn, Ernest Hemingway’s wife, as well as two different men with very different backgrounds. She is attracted to both of them, and needs to choose between them. The book was okay, but not my favorite.

Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

Veronica Roth is the author of the Divergent trilogy. I heard about this book in BookPage magazine, and thought the plot sounded interesting. The book starts out by following the ‘chosen ones’ after they’ve successfully defeated the ‘Dark One,’ but life isn’t as easy or good as it should be. And then there’s the multiverse… This book was a little long in the setup, but it was entertaining.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Purchased physical book this year.

The Night Circus has been on my radar for quite a long time, and I read it this month because my book club will be discussing it next month. Even though I’d heard about it before, I went into the experience of reading it without knowing much about the plot. I think this really is the best way to experience it, so I won’t say much more. I will say that it involves a circus, magic, unique characters, and a plot that I had to sit with and think about but didn’t see coming. I loved this book.

The Crown by Kiera Cass

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

The final entry in the Selection series, this book ties up the story of Eadlyn and how she secures her nation, her royalty, and opportunity for her people. It’s a fun YA book that moves right along, but also has some intrigue. I really enjoyed the series, even though I’m not a young adult.

The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

Emily St. John is simply a masterful writer. I think that I’d read a shopping list if she published it, that’s how good she is. The Glass House is her latest release, and I had it on hold from the library right away. This story is quiet, and slower, and more haunting than her other books, but is beautifully written. The way each of the characters’ plotlines intersect in the end, I just didn’t see it coming. I don’t think this book is probably for everyone, as it’s not light, or fluffy, or a beach read. But if you’re willing to go to a different place, it is worth the experience.

All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

A friend from my book club listed this as one of his favorite books, and I’d never heard of it before. I picked it up this month, and really enjoyed savoring it and reading it slowly. It was quite easy to read in smaller segments of time, as each of the chapters is more of an essay or short story in its own right, while fitting into the larger story in the book as a whole. The book is the story of the author’s experiences as a veterinarian at the turn of the century. It is a wonderful book, and I’m grateful that my friend told me about it.

Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life by C.S. Lewis

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

I initially thought that this book would be more of a story of C.S. Lewis’s spiritual life, but was mistaken in that belief. It is actually an autobiography of his childhood and young adult years. I was shocked at some of the topics that he covered in the book, although they were things that he actually observed and experienced. This will not be counted among my favorite of C.S. Lewis’s books, although it was interesting to learn about how he came to the Christian faith.

 

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:

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

Taste for Truth: A 30 Day Weight Loss Bible Study by Barb Ravelin (Purchased Kindle e-book this year.) My bible study is working through this book.

Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations by Thomas L. Friedman (Already owned physical book. June Legal/Business/Politics pick from 2020 Reading Plan.)

 

Books Abandoned:

Waco: A Survivor’s Story by David Thibodeau (Borrowed from library using Libby app.)

May 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 new this year. This is my May 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:

Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand

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

Apparently although I don’t ride horses or really know anything about them, I enjoy reading books about them, particularly horses that race. This isn’t my first book about horse raising (American Pharoah by Joe Drape on Audible was also great!). This one was fantastic. Hillenbrand manages to give a whole lot of information about the topic, while keeping the narrative structure and keeping it interesting. I very much recommend this book.

The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry by Jon Ronson

Already owned Audible.

I don’t think that I really liked this book. I’ve read books about the topic of sociopaths/psychopaths before, and this book simultaneously felt like it was questioning whether they are real, and delving into perceived weaknesses in the field of psychology, while simultaneously diagnosing everyone the author came into contact with. I wasn’t really a fan.

Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die: Diving Experts Share the World’s Greatest Destinations by Chris Santella

Purchased physical book this year.

Mike picked this book up this year, and I enjoyed reading it, looking at the photographs of various dive sites, and planning for the eventuality of when we can go diving again. It seemed fairly comprehensive, if a little bit general.

Apollo 8: The Thrilling Story of the First Mission to the Moon by Jeffrey Kluger

Purchased this year using Audible credit.

I’ve been on a bit of a space kick lately, with a few books and movies, and the launch of the Space X Dragon. This book is about the lunar orbit mission in the 1960s, and is so fascinating. And the audiobook features excerpts from interviews. This was really good!

The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

Continuing my space kick, I learned about this book after watching the 1980s movie The Right Stuff (the book is now on my TBR list too). The movie clearly used this book as source material for the wives’ stories. So fascinating to read about how they had to act, how they rebelled against it, and just what their experiences were like. This was a pretty quick and engaging read.

Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout

Already owned physical book. May Fiction pick from 2020 Reading Plan.

Following the stories of a mother (Isabelle) and her daughter (Amy), I can’t say that I really liked either character that much. But it was a book that I felt compelled to keep reading just to see where the mother daughter stories were going, and whether the dynamic between the pair would improve.

The Siren by Kiera Cass

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

This was a take on the mythological sirens of the ocean which lured sailors to their deaths. It was completely magnetic book, which had me simultaneously attracted and repelled by the characters. I’m a fan of Cass’s books and think this is probably her best book.

The Timeless Tale of Peter Able by Natalie Grigson

Already owned Kindle e-book.

This is the second book in the Peter Able series. The books are really unique, in that the characters of books all live together in a fictional land while waiting for their authors to write more on/of them. They’re sort of funny, and have a mystery, and are just really light fun reading.

The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway

Purchased Kindle e-book this year.

As a cellist myself, the title of this book had me hooked. This novel is a fictionalized account of several individuals living in Sarajevo during the 1990s war and their encounters with a cellist who plays in a city square to honor those killed by a shelling while waiting in a bread line. The book is sort of gutting, but at the same time just beautiful. I loved this boook so much.

The Lola Quartet by Emily St. John Mandel

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

This novel follows four characters, members of a high school jazz quartet after they leave school and part ways. Their lives intersect many years later when life hasn’t gone well for many of them. The tone of this book is somewhat melancholy, and I found myself getting angry with the characters bad choices. But the book is wonderful, and masterfully written.

Winter World by A.G. Riddle

Borrowed from Kindle Owners Lending Library.

The Solar War by A.G. Riddle

Borrowed from Kindle Owners Lending Library.

A.G. Riddle’s books are so fast-paced and exciting, that I just can’t help but tear through them as fast as I can turn the pages. This has held true for all of his books for me. This series takes place in a current day where the Earth is getting colder, lots colder, and scientists are trying to figure out why. The protagonists are an astronaut on the International Space Station and a brilliant man in prison.

Follow: A Simple and Profound Call to Live Like Jesus by Floyd McClung

Already owned Kindle e-book. May Devotional/Spiritual pick from 2020 Reading Plan.

This book is about being disciples of and creating disciples for Jesus. The book had some practical tips, but also felt to me a little like a guilt trip. From the other reviews of the book that I’ve read on Amazon and Goodreads, I may be the only one who felt that way, but it was true for me. Not my favorite devotional/spiritual book that I’ve read, but not bad.

Red Letter Challenge – A 40 Day Life Changing Experience by Zach Zehnder

Received as gift this year (from church).

My church all decided to read this book this year. I’m a little behind the curve in getting it finished, due to our trip to Egypt earlier in the year. This book was fantastic, with really practical ways of serving Jesus and transforming ourselves and our churches.

Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World by Eric Mataxas

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

I’m a Lutheran, and have often wondered about the creator of Protestantism. Martin Luther was a fascinating, and very human man. He studied the word and thought deeply about what it says, and how church teachings lined up it or not. He corrected some errors in church teachings, but was also a flawed man who later in life said some pretty horrible things. But this book was very interesting, even considering how long it is.

 

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:

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

Taste for Truth: A 30 Day Weight Loss Bible Study by Barb Ravelin (Purchased Kindle e-book this year.) My bible study is working through this book.

Pont Neuf by Max Byrd (Already owned Audible.)

 

Books Abandoned:

Mother and Son: The Respect Effect by Emerson Eggerichs (Already owned physical book. May Legal/Business/Politics pick from 2020 Reading Plan.)

Villetteby Charlotte Bronte (Already owned physical book. Quarterly classic from 2020 Reading Plan.)

Wow, No Thank You. by Samantha Irby (Borrowed from library using Libby.)

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