Every month I try to read at least one book from the following categories: nonfiction, devotional, and fiction. And this year I’m participating in the 2018 PopSugar Reading Challenge, so I’m also going to be listing which category my books fulfill. If you want to join in on the fun, you can check out the list of categories here! This is my August 2018 Reading List, my brief reviews and book recommendations for August 2018. Hopefully I’ll provide you with some inspiration for your future reading as well!

Books Finished:

In the Gap by Wilfredo de Jesus

This book uses a different bible story in each chapter to demonstrate the different reasons and ways that we can ‘stand in the gap’ and meet the needs that God demonstrates are for us to fill. The chapters are a reasonable length to read in a single sitting. I am glad that I read this book.

Life by Keith Richards and James Fox

Keith Richards has lived a fascinating, and at times completely ridiculous, life. I’m quite a fan of rock biographies, so this was a necessary read for me. It started strong, dragged a bit in the middle, and the picked back up toward the end. I listened to this on Audible and found the narration strange. It is read by two different narrators–Johnny Depp and Joe Hurley. Apparently the reason that it is not a single consistent narrator throughout is due to Johnny Depp’s filming schedule. I found the narrator switches to be distracting, and would have preferred that the entirety of the book is narrated by Joe Hurley. Nonetheless, this was still an enjoyable read.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

I adored this book. It is simply a perfectly written book, especially with respect to how the end of the story relates back to the very beginning. I identified strongly with Francie, the narrator and main character, and therefore cared deeply what happened to her. If you’ve not read this before, do so as soon as possible.

Seeing What Is Sacred: Becoming More Spiritually Sensitive to the Everyday Moments of Life by Ken Gire

My mother-in-law recommended this book to me, and I started reading it at the same time as I was immersed in research regarding reflective practice. This book is very much about how we need to slow down in life and to spend more time in reflection about the goodness of God in our lives. It was an excellent reminder exactly at a time when I needed it. And that God found a way to make clear that my reflective practice work has a broader purpose is simply amazing to me.

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson

My book club read this for our August pick. It is a slow starter, but that was my experience reading Dead Wake by Erik Larson as well. It simply takes some time to set up the stories and the characters, so I think this is inevitable. But sticking with it and reading through to the end was certainly worth the initial effort. Setting the stories of the architects of the world’s fair along side the stories of a serial killer and his victims was chilling but incredibly effective. A wonderful book.

M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman

A series of short stories by the master, Neil Gaiman, this book was wonderful, especially on audiobook narrated by the author. It includes The Case of the Four and Twenty Blackbirds, Troll Bridge, Don’t Ask Jack, How to Sell the Ponti Bridge, October in the Chair, Chivalry, The Price, How to Talk to Girls at Parties, Sunbird, The Witch’s Headstone, and Instructions.

Hotel Sacher by Rodica Doehnert

Set in Vienna and Berlin before and during World War I, the novel follows two couples, a little girl, Love, and Death. It reminded me a bit of The Book Thief, and was well written but not as good as The Book Thief in my opinion. I enjoyed it.

Heartburn by Nora Ephron

I listened to this contemporary novel as an audiobook. It was a novel written from the perspective of a jilted wife going through a separation and divorce. It was snarky and humorous, but not quite what I was expecting or hoping for.

American Pharoah: The Untold Story of the Triple Crown Winner’s Legendary Rise by Joe Drape

The story of American Pharoah, the horse that won the 2015 Triple Crown, as well as his owner, jockey, and trainer. Although I’m not a huge fan of horse racing, this book was fast-paced and interesting. If you have even a passing interest in horse racing or a good animal story, then you likely won’t be disappointed with this one.

The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough

I’d never heard of the Johnstown flood before finding this book by David McCullough at the Friends of the Library book sale. The book was interesting and fairly well to the point. The flood was so tragic, and it’s shocking that we didn’t learn about it in history class.

Books in Progress:

Twelve Women of the Bible by Lysa TerKeurst (My bible study just started working through this book and the associated videos)

Testament of Youth: An Autobiographical Study Of The Years 1900-1925 by Vera Brittain

Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t by Simon Sinek (My overdrive checkout expired on this, so I’m waiting for my new hold to come up on it so that I can finish it.)

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

The Winter Station by Jody Shields

Books Abandoned:

None.