Luggage and Literature

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

December 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 December 2019 Reading List, my brief reviews and book recommendations for December 2019. Hopefully I’ll provide you with some inspiration for your future reading as well!

Books Finished:

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

This short story is a father’s story to his children about the reason for his delay when going out to get some milk for breakfast. It is charming and fun, and definitely did not disappoint. If you need something a little lighthearted, choose this one.

Prognosis: A Memoir of My Brain by Sarah Vallance

Borrowed through Amazon Prime Reading.

A woman is bucked off of a horse and suffers a traumatic brain injury. This is her story of coping with it, as well as the changes to her life as a result. It’s an interesting story, but is also heartbreaking and eye-opening. In reading it, I also couldn’t help but think that if she’d suffered the injury now, that the treatment would have looked much different than when she sought treatment.

The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

This is my book club’s January pick, and since it’s pretty long, I thought I’d get a jump start and read it early. The story is set in the prehistoric ice age era, which struck me as novel. I can’t remember ever reading a book, or even hearing about a book, set in this time frame before. And it follows early humans, including Neanderthals. The story is fascinating, if a bit heavy on the details at times. I enjoyed it enough that I decided to check out the second book in The Earth’s Children series.

The Valley of Horses by Jean M. Auel

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

The second book in The Earth’s Children, this book follows Ayla as she journeys on without the Neanderthals in search of the Others. I don’t know that I liked it as much as the first one, as it felt a little tedious at times. But seing Ayla grow in her independence and confidence was fun.

Following Christ: Losing Your Life for His Sake by Charles H. Spurgeon

Already owned Kindle e-book.

This book encourages Christians to move into action, and to listen to God in determining the best course of action for each of us, and the best time/place/manner for that action. It was written in the 1800s, so pieces of it would be interpreted a little differently in present time, and the language used is a bit different. But it remains a compelling book, and generally holds up well to the pasage of time.

The Coincidence Makers by Yoav Blum

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

This book is a bit of a mind bender, but in a really good way. It follows the coincidence makers, people whose job is to quite literally create the “coincidences” that lead to new thoughts or ideas or people to meet particular other people. There are also IFs, or Imaginary Friends. This book was fun at first, but more serious later on, and had a compelling narrative that tied together well in the end. Definitely recommended.

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

This is on the PBS Great American Reads list, and I decided to listen to the audiobook this month. It is well narrated, and I felt like the narrator captured Ghost’s voice well. The story is of a middle school boy trying to cope with past family trauma and navigate life. He stumbles across a track team and ends up on the team. And the ending of the book is just fantastic. I really enjoyed this book and can see how it ended up on the list, even though it was quite new when the list was put together.

The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas by Ann Voskamp

Already owned physical book.

This is my third time reading through this Advent devotional. This time around, I started right on December 1, so I didn’t need to read multiple entries to catch up, and I managed to actually make sure that I read each entry on time. This book is wonderful, and stands up well to re-reading, with the scripture passages, thoughts from the author, and questions at the end of each section. I just love this book.

 

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 (Purchased physical book this year.)

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.)

Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad by M.T. Anderson (Purchased using Audible credit.)

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

 

Books Abandoned:

Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbotham (Borrowed from library using Libby app.)

December 2018 Reading List

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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 December 2018 Reading List, my brief reviews and book recommendations for December 2018. Hopefully I’ll provide you with some inspiration for your future reading as well!

Books Finished:

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Told from the perspective of Christopher, a boy who is on the Autism Spectrum and experiences the world very different from most people, this is a very enjoyable read. At times I wanted to shake Christopher, and at times I wanted to shake the “normal” people around him. This is a wonderful book that gave me a better appreciation for those with sensory issues.

House by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker

I read this book in November, but wanted to wait to post about it until after my book club had met and discussed it, so as to not color anyone else’s opinions with my VERY strong opinions about this book. So, here goes. I HATED this book so, so much. It’s been a long time since I disliked a book as much as this one. And it surprised me how much I disliked this book, as I’ve previously read books by both Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti and didn’t feel as I do about House. This book felt to me as if it was every crappy horror movie plot device put together into a single book, without any thought for how or whether they went together, and whether the story would actually make any sense (spoiler: it doesn’t). There is a particular character who just pops into the story, without any sense of where she comes from or how she arrives there. Ugh. This was just truly awful.

Esther Perel’s Where Should We Begin?: The Arc of Love by Esther Perel

This was an Audible original pick for me. Perhaps I’m alone (although I suspect not) in being really interested in mental health/psychology topical books. And this audio experience was essentially sitting in on Perel’s therapy sessions with different couples, and then her commentary on what their issues were. It was super interesting.

King Rat by James Clavell

This is my book club’s pick for January, and I read it early so that I could pass the copy on to someone else to read. I felt like this book started a little slow, mainly because of the need to set the scene and the main characters in the book. The book is set in a POW camp in Asia during World War II, a setting that I know very little about, and which I was glad to read a bit about. Once the scene was set, the book picked up and I was drawn into the story. It wasn’t at all what I was expecting; and after finishing the book, I’ve thought a lot about it. I’m looking forward to discussing it with my book club.

The Art of Peeling an Orange by Victoria Avilan

2018 PopSugar Challenge: a book with a fruit or vegetable in the title

Another book this month that I wasn’t impressed with. It started fine, but then just turned totally bizarre. This is the story of an artist whose fiance leaves her at the altar for a superstar. Then the fiance dies and the artist meets with the superstar. They fall in love, and there are just a ton of super graphic lesbian sex scenes. Their relationship is really dysfunctional, as were the superstar’s relationships with the dead fiance and other previous boyfriends/girlfriends. There is a sort of supernatural element to the book that came out of left field and is just odd. I thought I’d like the book, because it’s a retelling of a Greek myth, but it was just not good.

The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher

This book is exactly in my wheelhouse of historical fictional novels based on real people and real events. I loved getting the story of the beginnings of World War II from a woman living in London and with Kathleen Kennedy’s unique life experiences and contacts. But knowing how Kathleen Kennedy’s life ended made the story a little bittersweet. It was well written, and clearly well researched. I enjoyed it.

Alexander’s Bridge by Willa Sibert Cather

2018 PopSugar Challenge: a book by a local author

I had forgotten how much I enjoy Cather’s writing, so I am glad to have ended the reading challenge with a local author book. Cather is from Red Cloud, Nebraska, which isn’t terribly far from where I live.

This book is the story of a man and his two loves, and his career as a bridge builder. That sounds sort of weird, but the book is well-crafted and makes sense. It is fairly short, but packs everything in without feeling rushed. I enjoyed this book.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

I read the entire book in an evening, in part because it is not even 300 pages, and in part because the story was so engaging that I couldn’t put it down. The novel is based on the true story of a Jewish Slovakian man who was held at Auschwitz during the Holocaust and held the role of tattooist, where he had a small amount of freedom that he used to obtain food and medicine for other prisoners. It’s so good, even with difficult subject matter, and I definitely recommend this book.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

2018 PopSugar Challenge:a book that is also a stage play or musical

I enjoy classic adventure stories. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Around the World in 80 Days, and Journey to the Center of the Earth were all fantastic. This book fits right into the same category, as well as being a pirate story. It was great, and was shorter than I’d expected, so it didn’t take long to read.

I Won’t Be Home For Christmas by Amanda Prowse

My sister-in-law recommended Amanda Prowse to me, and I set about downloading and reading her books straight away. This is a delightful romantic comedy set in Bristol, England and in New Zealand. I’ll definitely be reading more by Prowse in the future.

Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be by Rachel Hollis

This is a fantastic book, and wonderful as an audiobook. I found the writing to be relatable and easy to understand, without it feeling like the author was talking down to you. There were a few chapters that don’t really apply to my life (i.e. parenting), but the rest was so good that I didn’t mind.

Christmas Eve, 1914 by Charles Olivier

This is a dramatic audio play set in the trenches of World War I. It was surprisingly moving, and a great listen especially while I was doing some Christmas baking.

Jingle Bell Pop by John Seabrook

Another Amazon Original, this was about Christmas music over the decades, why certain songs are so popular, and why we may not see another pop Christmas song as big as Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas.

Never Stop Walking: A Memoir of Finding Home Across the World by Christina Rickardsson

This is the memoir of a girl who grew up in the favelas of Brazil and was then adopted into a family in Sweden. It’s an incredible story, and fairly well told. At times there were sort of strange phrases that I attributed more to the book being a translation, but they didn’t take away from her incredible story of finding home in two very different parts of the world.

Gather ‘Round the Sound: Holiday Stories from Beloved Authors and Great Performers Across the Globe

This was an Amazon audio production that I didn’t get to last year. It’s a series of different kinds of shorts about Christmas. I enjoyed it, especially as an audio listen while baking.

The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas by Ann Voskamp

This is a re-read for me, which doesn’t happen all that often. But I hadn’t read this book since 2015, and only remembered that I loved it the first time around. It is beautiful, as Voskamp’s writing always is. Looking back at my initial post about the book, I picked it up because of the beautiful cover art, and the book includes wonderful illustrations inside too. I loved it, and likely will read it again for Advent in a few years. If you liked One Thousand Gifts, then you’re sure to love this book as well.

 

Books in Progress:

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

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

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky

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

A Little Love by Amanda Prowse

The House by the River by Lena Manta

 

Books Abandoned:

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo

2018 PopSugar Challenge: nordic noir

What I Read (December 2015)

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Every month I try to read at least one book from the following categories: nonfiction, devotional, and fiction. Non-fiction ensures that I’m always learning something new. Devotionals ensure that I’m keying into my faith. And fiction books are just so enjoyable to read! This is What I Read in December 2015.

Books Finished:

Loyal To A Degree by Horst Christian


Last month I read, Children To A Degree, which was so good! I’d put the rest of the series on my Kindle wish list; and they are part of the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, so I was able to borrow this book this month. I loved it just as much as the previous entry in the series. They have serious and violent subject matter, World War II in Nazi Germany, but follow the lives of children. So the series is an interesting take for a couple of reasons.

Notre Dame Vs. the Klan: How the Fighting Irish Defeated the Ku Klux Klan by Todd Tucker


This book starts and ends strong, but is a little slow going in the middle, as the author sets up background information on all of the major players. It appears to be well-researched, and takes up a historical event that I was unfamiliar with. And it’s even more interesting, since it’s told from the perspective of a Notre Dame alum from well after this event took place.

The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas by Ann Voskamp

This book is best started on December 1, as each entry is dated,  I started it a couple of days late, because I discovered it in a Christian bookstore after December 1.  It is beautiful, as Voskamp’s writing always is. I picked it up because of the beautiful cover art, and the book includes wonderful illustrations inside too. I loved it, and will read it again next Advent season for sure. If you liked One Thousand Gifts, then you’re sure to love this book as well.

The Story Girl by Lucy Maud Montgomery


Told by a little boy who is spending time living at his father’s family farm while his father is working oversees. Much like the early Anne books, the story follows his childhood friends and adventures. This one differs slightly in that it is told by the boy later in life as an adult and reflecting back on those days. If you enjoyed the early Anne books, this will be a great read for you.

Adoption: What Joseph of Nazareth Can Teach Us about This Countercultural Choice by Russell D. Moore


This little book(let) is about Joseph’s decision to adopt Jesus, and what that would have meant for him in his day. But in addition, the book makes the argument that we as Christians need to do more to adopt and love those whom are unwanted and unloved, whether they be orphans, the poor, etc. And indeed, how different our world would be if kids could grow up in loving Christian homes, which certainly could happen if our churches were more encouraging of adoption. Since I work as an attorney in child welfare as my ‘day job,’ I work with kids who have been abused and neglected every day. It’s incredibly sad when kids don’t have anywhere to turn or anyone to love them. And there is a shortage, both here in Nebraska and nationally, of foster and adoptive homes. And the Christian church could change this.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (Christmas Series Book 1)


A Christmas classic, you can’t go wrong reading or rereading this story during the holiday season. This year I learned that Dickens actually wrote a series of Christmas books, so I’ve challenged myself to read them all. I think this still ranks up there as my favorite, but The Cricket on the Hearth is probably a very close second.

The Chimes by Charles Dickens (Christmas Series Book 2)


This story follows Trotty and his daughter. One evening Trotty follows the chiming of the bells and climbs the bell tower, only to wake up and find that he died nine years before. In the same vein as What a Wonderful Life, Trotty watches how life has gone on without him, and the despair of his loved ones’ lives. However, the despair is not lasting, as there is a twist at the end.

The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens (Christmas Series Book 3)


This sweet little story mixes love of home and love of family to create a lesser known classic. As in A Christmas Carol, spirits are used to help characters to find the right path forward. A sweet little story with endearing characters. I enjoyed it very much.

The Battle of Life by Charles Dickens (Christmas Series Book 4)

This story follows two sisters, as well as a young man that they both love, Alfred.  Alfred goes away on a journey, and when he returns at Christmas time, the sister to whom he is engaged has apparently run off with another man. The plot is reminiscent of Jane Austen, and was an enjoyable little read.

The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain by Charles Dickens (Christmas Series Book 5)

In the final installment of Dickens’s Christmas book series, a man comes into contact with a ghost, and makes a bargain whereby he essentially has no feelings. But in exchange, he passes this along to all those that he comes into contact with. The story then follows the discontent that he sows with everyone he meets, and his ultimate conclusion that he no longer wants this curse. As in A Christmas Carol, he again comes into contact with the ghost, who gives him a way out. A nice little story, but it was harder to follow than the others, and is probably my least favorite of the five books.

 

Books Abandoned:

None.

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