What I've Been Reading Lately
It's been a little while since I've done one of these posts. I'm always looking for good book recommendations so here are my thoughts on some of the books I've read the past few months in case anyone else is too!
The Sound of Gravel By Ruth Wariner:
5/5 Stars
I don't remember where I heard about this book and when I saw it on a display at the library I remembered it and checked it out. I had no idea what it was about but I remembered that I wanted to read it. It is a memoir from a woman who grew up in a polygamous sect in Mexico. That is usually not the type of book I would read but I did anyways and I ended up really liking it. The only thing was I read it on Christmas Eve. It is such a sad, sad book, definitely not what you want to read on Christmas Eve! But the book was really well written and a total page turner, I finished it in one day because I just couldn't put it down, I had to know what happened to her! Even though the story was sad I really loved the overall themes of the book. Forgiveness, love for your family, and selflessness.
The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines
5/5 Stars
Okay so everyone has probably already heard of this one, but I waited forever to get it on hold at the library and it did not disappoint, I have only watched a few episodes of Fixer Upper but I liked them so I wanted to read the book too, I really like the emphasis they put on God's hand in their life, especially following promptings even if it seems crazy. I also love how they are such a great example of a good marriage in this crazy world we live in. Both of those things really come through in the book which is why it is 5/5 from me. It is a quick read too. After I finished I had Leland read it and he really liked it too!
Little Women By Louisa May Allcott
4/5 Stars
I have made an informal goal for myself to read more classics and I thought this one would be a great place to start. I had maybe read a kids version of it in elementary school but I didn't remember anything. I started it before we moved, then I had to return my copy to the library, A few days ago I saw they had the ebook for free on the kindle app, so I downloaded that and was able to read it on my phone whenever nursing Adele or rocking her to sleep. Needless to say I finished the second half much quicker! I didn't give it five stars because it was very long, and pretty slow in some parts. I did really like the moral lessons throughout the story, and the chapter about 1800s baby sleep training was on point. ;)
The Importance of Being Little by Erika Christakis
3/5 Stars
I had read a review of this book on a blog a while ago and I wanted to read it for a long time. Our old library didn't have it so I gave up, until we moved here and our new library happened to have it. In full disclosure I didn't actually get to finish it before I had to return it to the library. It is very dense and reads somewhat like a textbook so it took me a long time to get through it, I read almost all of it though and I loved what I read. The book discusses how preschoolers really learn as opposed to what traditional American preschools have them do. This book was really helpful to me as we have decided to keep Esther out of traditional preschool for the time being. The book discusses how children primarily learn through play and through relationships. Really this book helped me to see that it is okay if your kid can't do addition at age 4. Playing outside, imaginative play and socializing with adults and children alike really grows their brains in ways you can't see until they are older. A lot of the things we do for preschoolers is more for us anyways (soccer teams at age three, rote memorization of colors and shapes etc) because those things don't actually help them learn. The book is very pro preschool but aimed at helping parents and teachers learn what actually helps kids the most. Anyways I will probably do a full post about preschool later, but this book was very validating to the things I had already planned to do.
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrow of Ava Lavander by Leslye Walton
2/5 Stars
This book definitely was strange, that much was for sure. I did like the family history aspect of it, and parts were cute, but overall it was just too weird. (It is about a girl who is born with wings). Also every time I was reading this, Esther would say "Mama, you're reading your book about feathers?"
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
3.5/5 Stars
This is a story about a childless couple living in Alaska who find a little "snow girl". I really liked this book as a whole. It had good themes about family and marriage and an interesting plot. It was a little boring at parts, but overall it was a good winter read.
Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse:
3/5 stars
This is a book about a German girl living in Germany during WW2. She eventually joins the resistance and helps to hide and transport Jews. This book was very captivating and I enjoyed how unpredictable it was. That being said, I feel like the world war two books have really been done a lot, so it doesn't really stand out to me as the greatest book ever or anything.
I am currently reading The Hiding Place
Up next on my list to read is The Chemist by Stephanie Meyer. Did you know she wrote another book? I am not willing to pay $16 for it and our library doesn't even have it so I will probably be waiting a while. Does anyone have it that wants to let me borrow it?! Or do you have any other book recs for me while I wait?? Comment! 👇👇👇
The Sound of Gravel By Ruth Wariner:
5/5 Stars
I don't remember where I heard about this book and when I saw it on a display at the library I remembered it and checked it out. I had no idea what it was about but I remembered that I wanted to read it. It is a memoir from a woman who grew up in a polygamous sect in Mexico. That is usually not the type of book I would read but I did anyways and I ended up really liking it. The only thing was I read it on Christmas Eve. It is such a sad, sad book, definitely not what you want to read on Christmas Eve! But the book was really well written and a total page turner, I finished it in one day because I just couldn't put it down, I had to know what happened to her! Even though the story was sad I really loved the overall themes of the book. Forgiveness, love for your family, and selflessness.
The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines
5/5 Stars
Okay so everyone has probably already heard of this one, but I waited forever to get it on hold at the library and it did not disappoint, I have only watched a few episodes of Fixer Upper but I liked them so I wanted to read the book too, I really like the emphasis they put on God's hand in their life, especially following promptings even if it seems crazy. I also love how they are such a great example of a good marriage in this crazy world we live in. Both of those things really come through in the book which is why it is 5/5 from me. It is a quick read too. After I finished I had Leland read it and he really liked it too!
Little Women By Louisa May Allcott
4/5 Stars
I have made an informal goal for myself to read more classics and I thought this one would be a great place to start. I had maybe read a kids version of it in elementary school but I didn't remember anything. I started it before we moved, then I had to return my copy to the library, A few days ago I saw they had the ebook for free on the kindle app, so I downloaded that and was able to read it on my phone whenever nursing Adele or rocking her to sleep. Needless to say I finished the second half much quicker! I didn't give it five stars because it was very long, and pretty slow in some parts. I did really like the moral lessons throughout the story, and the chapter about 1800s baby sleep training was on point. ;)
The Importance of Being Little by Erika Christakis
3/5 Stars
I had read a review of this book on a blog a while ago and I wanted to read it for a long time. Our old library didn't have it so I gave up, until we moved here and our new library happened to have it. In full disclosure I didn't actually get to finish it before I had to return it to the library. It is very dense and reads somewhat like a textbook so it took me a long time to get through it, I read almost all of it though and I loved what I read. The book discusses how preschoolers really learn as opposed to what traditional American preschools have them do. This book was really helpful to me as we have decided to keep Esther out of traditional preschool for the time being. The book discusses how children primarily learn through play and through relationships. Really this book helped me to see that it is okay if your kid can't do addition at age 4. Playing outside, imaginative play and socializing with adults and children alike really grows their brains in ways you can't see until they are older. A lot of the things we do for preschoolers is more for us anyways (soccer teams at age three, rote memorization of colors and shapes etc) because those things don't actually help them learn. The book is very pro preschool but aimed at helping parents and teachers learn what actually helps kids the most. Anyways I will probably do a full post about preschool later, but this book was very validating to the things I had already planned to do.
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrow of Ava Lavander by Leslye Walton
2/5 Stars
This book definitely was strange, that much was for sure. I did like the family history aspect of it, and parts were cute, but overall it was just too weird. (It is about a girl who is born with wings). Also every time I was reading this, Esther would say "Mama, you're reading your book about feathers?"
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
3.5/5 Stars
This is a story about a childless couple living in Alaska who find a little "snow girl". I really liked this book as a whole. It had good themes about family and marriage and an interesting plot. It was a little boring at parts, but overall it was a good winter read.
Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse:
3/5 stars
This is a book about a German girl living in Germany during WW2. She eventually joins the resistance and helps to hide and transport Jews. This book was very captivating and I enjoyed how unpredictable it was. That being said, I feel like the world war two books have really been done a lot, so it doesn't really stand out to me as the greatest book ever or anything.
I am currently reading The Hiding Place
Up next on my list to read is The Chemist by Stephanie Meyer. Did you know she wrote another book? I am not willing to pay $16 for it and our library doesn't even have it so I will probably be waiting a while. Does anyone have it that wants to let me borrow it?! Or do you have any other book recs for me while I wait?? Comment! 👇👇👇
I would recommend a book but I don't think you'd go for the books I like.
ReplyDeleteHa well Leland is always looking for good books to read too :)
DeleteOkay, well, I would recommend the Stormlight Archive and the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson. And a fun sci-fi fantasy comedy series is the Magic 2.0 Series by Scott Meyer. It's kind of juvenile but I thought it was pretty fun.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome to look at our library and "check some out". :-)
ReplyDelete