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

Books Finished:

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

This book is quite long, and had some slow-moving spots, so it took me a long, long time to read it. I found the section where Ms. Brittain talks about her nursing career during World War I and of the correspondence with her brother and fiance most interesting.

Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t by Simon Sinek

This book examines various leaders and teams in efforts to examine what the differences are between the successful and less so. I found some of the information quite illustrating, but some of it was oversimplified. And other portions appeared to be downright insulting of those who think or act differently than the author. I’m not sad that I read this, but I’m not certain that I’d recommend it to others.

The Winter Station by Jody Shields

This book is the story of a Russian doctor living in Manchuria with his Chinese wife during an epidemic. I expected the novel to be quite different from how it actually turned out to be, based on the book description. It wasn’t as gripping or fast-paced or engaging as I expected. But I listened to the book in its entirety.

The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester

This was a great book, and I flew through reading it. Essentially it’s the story of the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary, the history of English dictionaries, and the story of two men who were instrumental in creating it. Not so spoiler alert, one of them was locked up in an insane asylum. I recommend this fairly short, but very interesting book.

Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews

2018 PopSugar Challenge: a book that was being read by a stranger in a public place

Although I’d previously seen the movie (and it is one of the most violent that I’ve probably ever seen), I wanted to read the book. This book was so riveting that I flew threw it in about a week and a half. I can’t wait until my Libby hold on the second book in the series comes due, so that I can find out what happens in the second installment.

Hexed by Kevin Hearne

Hammered by Kevin Hearne

Hexed and Hammered are books two and three of the Iron Druid Chronicles. I really liked both of them as well. If you check out book one (Hounded) and like it, you’re bound to like these as well.

The Virtue of Selfishness by Ayn Rand

2018 PopSugar Challenge: a book about a problem facing society today

Having read both The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, I wanted to read more about the theories behind both books. Ayn Rand’s theories are intriguing to me, as I see quite a lot of sense in them. But I don’t agree with all of them, as I don’t think that they completely comply with the tenants of Christianity and Christ’s teachings.

Feeding the Dragon by Sharon Washington

2018 PopSugar Challenge: a book by an author of a different ethnicity than you

This book was an Audible Original, and I so enjoyed listening to it. The book is the story of a girl who grows up living in a library. Her voice, the narrative nature of the story, and the topic were incredibly engaging. I recommend it.

The Coming Storm by Michael Lewis

2018 PopSugar Challenge: a book with a weather element in the title

An Audible Original, I picked this out based solely on the author. Michael Lewis previously wrote The Big Short, which I thought was fantastic. This book looked at the intersection of NASA, the National Weather Service, and politics. I mostly liked it, but there was a liberal bias to the book that I found to be distracting.

The Whistler by John Grisham

After reading a couple of Grisham novels lately that weren’t to my taste, I was very happy to find another that I loved. This book follows Lacy, an attorney working in the Florida Board of Judicial Conduct. She receives a tip about a judge who is completely corrupt and involved with a mafia in the panhandle of Florida. Murder, bribes, and legal thrills abound. This book is page turner, and I finished it in just a few days.

The Soul Winner: How to Lead Sinners to the Saviour by Charles H. Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon was a prominent and well-known preacher in the 1800s. This book is his guide to those who are interested in a career in ministry, as well as for those who want to see people go to Heaven. Some parts of it are quite dated, not applicable in the modern world. But much of it contains excellent information and tips to help people save souls.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

2018 PopSugar Challenge: a book about or set on Halloween

This was my book club’s pick. Although I’ve read the entire series twice before, I was really excited to talk with everyone about this book. If you’ve not read it before, what are you waiting for? It’s so fantastic. And many in our book club who’d been reluctant were mesmerized by the story.

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

Books Abandoned:

None.