Luggage and Literature

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

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.)

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

Books Finished:

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

Borrowed from library.

This was our book club’s June pick. The story follows children who live on a riverboat with their parents during the Depression. They are stolen from their family and put into a group home orphanage. Conditions are horrible. And their lives take interesting and heartbreaking turns. It presented lots of fodder for discussion, and was generally liked by my book club.

Atonement by Ian McEwan

Already owned physical book.

This book started SLOW, and I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to read through to the end. But boy, am I glad that I finished it. I don’t want to give too much away about the ending, and I why I loved it so much. It is the story of two teenagers who have known each other since they were small children, and the younger sister who misunderstands the actions of those teenagers.

Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

After reading Girl, Wash Your Face, I started following Rachel Hollis on Instagram and listening to her podcast RISE. So when I heard about her new book, I knew that I had to read it. And Rachel Hollis narrates her own books, so I had to have the e-book. This was powerful material, and I recommend this book for all women to read.

The Huntress by Kate Quinn

Borrowed from library using Libby app. 

The story of a woman who is a Nazi war criminal, and those who hunt her, and how their lives intersect. The action lasts right up to the very end of the book, and it’s a page turner until that point. A great read, for sure.

From Beirut to Jerusalem by Thomas Friedman

Already owned physical book.

I’ve been a fan of Thomas Friedman’s books for years, and had this one in my collection of unread books. I decided now was the time to read it. Because the events of Israel’s founding were before I was born, and I was a toddler when Beirut was enmeshed in civil war, this was an enlightening look at why some of the players in the Middle East take the positions that they do, and why we can’t seem to make any progress toward peace in the region.

White Gardenia by Belinda Alexandra

Purchased physical book this year.

Following a White Russian girl, this story moves across the world and through all kinds of unimaginable circumstances. This book is incredible, and I recommend it. I’m really glad that I stumbled across it at the book sale.

Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton

Purchased physical book this year.

Pirates + heist + sea monsters + intrigue = a fantastic page-turner of a book. I picked this up at the local Friends of the Library book sale, and finished it in just a few days, because I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Drake

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

Told from the perspective of a little girl who has cerebral palsy, and is trapped in a body that doesn’t cooperate, and who can’t speak. People think that she’s mentally handicapped. Until she gets a device that enables her to communicate. And then they realize how smart and funny she is. Her life is not easy, and heartbreak happens even to her. But that makes this book even more wonderful. I recommend this book very much.

Joan of Arc: A Life Inspired by Wyatt North

Purchased Kindle e-book this year.

An interesting figure from history, I would be that most have heard of Joan of Arc, but few really know anything about her. This short little book is big on details and information, so that you finish the book knowing quite a lot about Joan of Arc, the good and the bad.

The Victory Garden by Rhys Bowen

Borrowed from Kindle Owner’s Lending Library.

Rhys Bowen is a master of historical fiction. She writes powerful stories, that are exciting and moving. This one is no exception. It follows Emily, who is raised in an upper-class English household, and meets an Australian who convinces her that she can do more than she ever imagined.

1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die

Purchased physical book this year.

While setting up for our local Friends of the Library book sale, I found this one and had to take it home with me. It is a great addition to my collection of books about books. (I received a book about the 100 great American reads earlier this year.) I just love finding out interesting tidbits about my favorite books and the most important books in literature.

 

Books In Progress:

The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan (Already owned physical book.)

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.)

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving (Borrowed from library using Libby app.)

 

Books Abandoned:

Accessory to War: The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military by Neil deGrasse Tyson and Avis Lang (Already owned Kindle e-book.)

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

Books Finished:

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

This is a series of two of a planned five stories/novels written by the author during the course of World War II. The remaining three stories were never completed, because the author was detained as a Jew and sent to Auschwitz. The manuscript was kept (but not read) by the author’s daughters, and was rediscovered in 1988. It is perhaps the earliest written fictional work about the war. The stories follow ordinary people in France trying to deal with the invasion and occupation by Germany. The writing is beautiful. And the backstory about when and how the work was written, and what else was anticipated by the author, only makes it more poignant.

Elizabeth II: Life of a Monarch: An Audible Original by Ruth Cowen

Audible Original book, so new but free.

I’m a fan of the Netflix series The Crown, and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to learn a little more about Queen Elizabeth. Her life and story are fascinating, even for an American like me. This is short, so easy to listen to without a huge investment of time, but also well done.

The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

I listened to the audiobook, which was great. This is the story of a cholera outbreak in London in the 1800s, and how a local doctor figured out and then proved what caused cholera, and the push-back from the healthcare establishment that believed that there was a different cause. Really interesting stuff.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

This book was so, so good! I couldn’t stop reading. The novel is set in the future, where death and illness do not exist. So to keep population under control, scythes have the responsibility of quotas of killings. But some of the scythes are sociopaths, and things are messy. This book was great, and I can’t wait for the next book.

The Purloined Poodle by Kevin Hearne

Purchased on Audible this year.

Told from the perspective of Oberon, the Irish Wolfhound, this is a mystery that Oberon and his human druid Atticus solve together. The mystery revolves around dogs being stolen, and the cops don’t have any leads. It was an enjoyable listen.

The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding by Jennifer Robson

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

The fictional story of two women who worked for a dressmaker in England and created the wedding dress for Queen Elizabeth, this novel was wonderful. The characters created were relatable and complex. And the descriptions of their work on the dress match up with actual images of the gown. As with everything else written by Jennifer Robson, this was fantastic.

Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

I’m steadily working my way through all of the audiobooks available on Libby by Neil Gaiman, as he narrates his own works. This is a Norse mythological story, where a little boy named Odd helps the Norse gods defeat the frost giants. It was sweet and exciting, and as wonderful as everything else that Gaiman writes.

Whiskey in a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

I thought this would be a great book, since I’m a fan of Reese Witherspoon, but I didn’t really care for this book. I was expecting it to be a memoir. But instead, it included recipes, decorating tips, and party tips. It wasn’t for me.

Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

This book was so good, especially as an audiobook read by the author. Leah Remini talks about her career as an actor, but also about her time in the church of scientology and the difficult process of leaving it. It was so, so interesting, and was well written. I recommend this book.

The Light Over London by Julia Kelly

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

A dual perspective novel, this book follows one woman in the present day who works for an antique dealer and discovers an old diary and photos, and one woman who is from a wealth family at the outset of World War II and falls for a pilot and changes her entire life to serve as a gunner girl during the war. The story of two fierce female protagonists, it is a book that one wants to keep reading in order to find out what happens to them next, and to see how the stories tie together.

Wonder by RJ Palacio

Borrowed from library.

My book club’s pick for May, I really wasn’t that excited to read this, and did not expect to lie it. But the book was much better than I expected, and I actually enjoyed the story. I read the whole thing in a day, while riding in the car. The changing perspectives was nice; I think that it perhaps would have become stale had it been told from a single perspective. Overall the members of my book club all enjoyed it, and it sparked good discussion about kindness, things that we all regret doing, love, and obligations.

The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur: The Woman Whose Goodness Changed Her Husband from Atheist to Priest by Elisabeth Leseur

Already owned Kindle e-book.

I heard about this book on a podcast awhile back, and just got around to reading it. The book includes several journals, prayer journals, and goal lists of the author. It was sort of interesting to read, but it wasn’t an easy read, and isn’t the type of spiritual read where I saw a lot that can impact my own life. Some of it was a struggle for me too, because the author is Catholic and there are differences between what she believed she needed to do (and why) and what I (as a Lutheran) believe.

Lazarus Awakening: Finding Your Place in the Heart of God by Joanna Weaver

Purchased Kindle e-book this year.

My bible study group was reading this book, but abandoned it, as it wasn’t a good fit for our needs. I continued reading it on my own, and am glad that I did so. Weaver has some great insights about Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and their community, and how our own lives are like theirs. I thought this was a great book to read individually.

Bringing Columbia Home: The Untold Story of a Lost Space Shuttle and Her Crew by Michael Leinbach and Jonathan Ward

Purchased Kindle e-book this year, during a sale on science books.

I purchased this during a sale on science books earlier this year, and left this one for last, as I thought it might be difficult subject matter. Although the topic is a sad one, the book is really fast paced and exciting to read, as it goes through the aftermath of the Columbia disaster sequentially. I remembered the Columbia disaster, but did not recall the months of activity afterwards while the debris was cleaned up and decontaminated. I thought this book was fantastic, and would recommend it.

The Great American Read: The Book of Books: Explore America’s 100 Best-Loved Novels

Won physical book in a library drawing.

This book contains the essays about the 100 books in PBS’s The Great American Read, as well as photos of the authors and key editions of the books, and essays about bookish topics. I’ve really enjoyed going through it and reading about those that I’ve already read, and counting up how many I’ve completed (46 so far). Many of the others have made their way onto my TBR list.

What the Wind Knowsby Amy Harmon

Kindle First book, so new but free.

This book was refreshing and I loved it! It follows Anne as her grandfather dies and she travels to Ireland to spread his ashes. She and her grandfather are especially close, as her parents died when she was young and her grandfather raised her. But something really unusual happens when she visits Ireland, and Anne is able to learn more about her grandfather and her family than she ever expected. I don’t really want to say anymore, because I don’t want to ruin the surprise. Just trust me on this and read this one.

 

Books In Progress:

The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan (Already owned physical book.)

From Beirut to Jerusalem by Thomas Friedman (Already owned physical book.)

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

Accessory to War: The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military by Neil deGrasse Tyson and Avis Lang (Already owned Kindle e-book.)

Atonement by Ian McEwan (Already owned physical book.)

 

Books Abandoned:

How Emotions Are Made by Lisa Feldman Barrett (Borrowed through Amazon Prime Reading.)

A Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson (Kindle First book, so new but free.)

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