notes from a bookworm
On this snow day, it seems as though time is passing much
slower than it would be if I were at school with my sweet kiddos. I woke up and
hopped out of bed, eager to run downstairs and take pictures of the rare snow
before it melted. I listened to Christmas music as I made dinner and prayed for a snow day. Last night I squealed with delight when I found out I didn’t
have to wake up while it was still dark to go in to work. The Lord truly does
answer prayers! :)
All of that is quite beside the point of this post. One of
my goals on the 25 things in my 25th year was to read a book a
month. While I have not read a book a month, I’ve already surpassed my goal by
reading more than 12 books. The perks of being a teacher- summers off with time
to read for pleasure. I have always been a voracious reader. My childhood was
spent getting to know characters in various books as though they were my own
friends. Lauren, my younger and more rambunctious sister, could barely be kept
indoors or in one spot for more than ten minutes, while I read for hours, holed
up in my room. Books offered me solace and a way to travel through time. My
childhood tastes were mostly rooted in fiction, but as an adult, I have come to
love non-fiction. In particular, the world of memoirs has afforded me a way to
relate to others without ever having known them. If you have been reading this
blog from the beginning, you know that I absolutely love the words of Shauna
Niequist.
Here’s a quick review of the top five books I’ve read so far
in my 25th year (in no particular order):
1.
The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks (I had to include a fiction, book, ok? Don’t
judge me.)
I absolutely love Nicholas Sparks, and I’m
not ashamed to admit it. This book was different from his others in that it
focused on a couple already married, but his way of weaving a story always
draws me in. Plus this book was somewhat of a sequel to The Notebook; the male protagonist is Noah and Allie's son-in-law. The ending was a shocker, and a happy one at that. And yes, I
cried. Duh.
Ree Drummond is amazing. I have followed
her Pioneer Woman blog for years now and am a huge fan of her zest for life and
delicious recipes. Reading the story of how she met her husband and went from
city girl to country wife and mother cracked me up. Lots of laughter. And yes,
tears.
Y’all. This book wrecked me. As in I sobbed
through much of it. These were good tears, though, in that Jennie’s words
challenged and convicted me. This book speaks to the fears we allow to hold us
back from truly living as Christ commanded us. I’m still digesting and praying
through how to apply what I gleaned from this one. A similar book I just
finished is Freefall to Fly: A Breathtaking Journey Toward a Life of Meaning by Rebekah Lyons. This one had me in tears, too. It is amazing how we can allow our fears to hold us back from living the life that God has for us. I think my greatest fear is that I would be consumed by those fears. Both of these books were a glimpse into what it looks like to fight past your fears and trust in an almighty God.
This. book. is. hilarious. I read it on the
Kindle app on my phone on the way back home from a funeral because I needed a
laugh. My family was reduced to hearing me read aloud quotes from the book to
them all way home. Melanie is a friend of the Pioneer Woman, and she writes so
honestly. Her words bring so much comfort, because while reading, you think, “Wow,
someone else does that, too?” This book chronicles her journey into the unknowns
of motherhood. Definitely one I would recommend to my young mom friends or to anyone
who just wants to appreciate their own mother more. :) I love teaching, but one of the blessings is that those 20 kiddos go home each day and I am not responsible for them 24/7/365!
Another one that is currently wrecking me, as I am not finished reading
it yet. A few months ago, my uncle asked me what I missed most about Mexico. Seeing
as how barely a day goes by without me thinking about Mexico, my answer came
readily. I miss the simplicity of my life in Mexico. I had no car. I walked to
work. My house was small but just enough for me. All of my possessions didn’t
suffocate me. Of course I wanted more, but when I thought about my life, I was
deeply grateful and knew that the Lord had given me just enough for a reason. Fast
forward to now, and it is incredibly difficult to be grateful and satisfied
when surrounded by a culture who cries out for more,more, more- and we want it
now, now, now. This book is amazing-laugh out loud funny on one page and then
tears of conviction and brokenness the next. There is definitely more to come
from all that I’ve gleaned thus far.
So there you have it, friends. I guess I cheated and gave you a review of six books. :) What have you read lately that has been inspiring or entertaining to you?