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 May 2015.

Books Finished:

The Prince and the Singularity – A Circular Tale by Pedro Barrento

This book is strange and wonderful all at the same time. The concept, which I don’t know that I can describe without giving away plot points, is brilliant and fresh. I recommend this book, but will advise my Christian friends that the story line is a bit startling and seems at first blush to be making fun of Christianity. However, after reading the entire book, I don’t believe this to actually be the case, and think the story ultimately redeems itself.

Believing God by Beth Moore

I started this book right after my bible study finished Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman. I for some reason just had a terribly hard time connecting with the lessons in Idleman’s book, and rather than finding ways to make changes in my life, I simply felt guilt for not being more like this in his Not A Fan stories. I don’t dislike his book, but feel that perhaps I just don’t connect with his lesson or manner of explaining things. Beth Moore seems to have the same main theme in Believing God as in Not A Fan, but somehow it reaches past my block and I seem to understand better and can find ways of making steps forward in my faith journey.

Anne of Ingleside by Lucy Maud Montgomery

This book follows Anne when she is in her 30s and a mother to several children, but is also told from the perspective of her son Jem at times, as well. It is a sweet story, which I really enjoyed, especially after the last couple of books, which I wasn’t as fond of.

You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One) by Jeff Goins

For several months I’ve been unsuccessfully searching for a book that would help me to get into a writing groove, as I tend to write several blog posts at a time, but then not touch my writing for a spell. This book was what I was searching for. Goins uses some tough love to force wannabe writers into actually writing, every day, if they want to be real life writers. This is essentially what I need to do, as blog posts tend to come together in stages. Moreover, he talks about branding as a key step in ensuring that readers actually find and remember your writing. Good food for thought, and I’m glad I found his book.

Night Road by Kristin Hannah

A friend recommended this book to me, and I’m so glad that she did. I loved the story, which is surprising considering it has a few legal pieces to it (and as a practicing attorney, these typically but the heck out of me when they’re not accurate). It is reminiscent of Jodi Picoult, but ends on a more hopeful note than some of Picoult’s books.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig

This book follows a man and his son on a motorcycle trip across the country. While traveling, the narrator tells of the scenery and people encountered on the journey. But in addition, the narrator also provides a Chautauqua or lesson on philosophy, and this makes up the bulk of the book.

In the interest of full disclosure, I didn’t read this entire book this month. I started it while on our trip to Bonaire, but have been slugging through it since then. Do you ever read books that you know are good and worthwhile, but that you struggle with and struggle to get through? Yeah, this book was like that for me. Worth it to read, but difficult to get through.

How to Start a Successful Blog in One Hour by Steve Scott

If you are brand new to blogging, and are trying to learn the absolute basics, this short book is a good starting place. If you’ve already got a site set up and are looking for tips to improve it, this is probably not the book for you. It’s quite short, so I found it to be a good read to ensure I’ve got all of the basics of my blog in place.

Three Daughters by Consuelo Saah Baehr

Three Daughters spans the generations of Christian women living in Palestine through the first decades of the twentieth century. It is a fascinating look at different cultural practices, but is a story about primarily the women, which is refreshing. It is quite a long story, but is well worth the time to read all the way through. I never was bored with the story, as there were twists and turns in the plot, just as in life. I loved it.

How to Work for Yourself: 100 Ways to Make the Time, Energy and Priorities to Start a Business, Book or Blog by Bryan Cohen

This book had a few useful tips in it. It was good enough for me to listen to it (my super old school Kindle has text-to-speech) while driving back and forth for work.

Maude by Donna Foley Mabry

This is a mostly nonfiction story (with some parts fictionalized to make the story flow) written by Donna Foley Mabry about her grandmother Maude. It is a riveting story spanning the first five decades of the twentieth century and this strong woman’s often tragic life. I borrowed this book for the Kindle Owners Lending Library, and am glad that I did. This book would be one that I would purchase just to have in my library. I read this book after finishing Three Daughters, and both books are about women’s lives and struggles. I recommend both of them.

 

Books Abandoned:

None.