I don’t know about you, but I am a total bookworm! I can’t seem to get through books fast enough! I have read some real gems this summer so I thought I would recap what I spent the past few months sucked into!
Synopsis: “Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost. And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?” – Goodreads
My thoughts: This book had quite a lot of hype around it, which tends to leave me skeptical. On the other hand, I am a huge lover of anything tense, climactic, and any sort of mystery, so I thought I would give it a whirl! Well winner winner chicken dinner, the hype was right on with this one! I picked it up at Target to read on our trip to Empire and I am glad I did! It only took me a day to finish! The story gives you just enough to stay interested but leaves just enough out that you can’t guess the ending! I had about four different theories of how the book was going to end, and not a single one of them was right! That definitely adds brownie points for me!
All the Light We Cannot See
Synopsis: “Marie-Laure lives with her father in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where he works as the master of its thousands of locks. When she is six, Marie-Laure goes blind and her father builds a perfect miniature of their neighborhood so she can memorize it by touch and navigate her way home. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great-uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them, they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel. In a mining town in Germany, the orphan Werner grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments, a talent that wins him a place at a brutal academy for Hitler Youth, then a special assignment to track the resistance. More and more aware of the human cost of his intelligence, Werner travels through the heart of the war and, finally, into Saint-Malo, where his story and Marie-Laure’s converge.” – Goodreads
My thoughts: I don’t quite have words to describe how I feel about this book. It is one of (if not THE) the most beautifully written things I have ever laid my eyes on. It had me entranced from the very first page and I fell more and more in love with it as I read on. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!! I honestly believe this is a piece of art that everyone should read! Side note: can I just read page 40 and 41 over and over and over again?
Creative Confidence
Synopsis: “Too often, companies and individuals assume that creativity and innovation are the domain of the “creative types.” But two of the leading experts in innovation, design, and creativity on the planet show us that each and every one of us is creative. In an incredibly entertaining and inspiring narrative that draws on countless stories from their work at IDEO, the Stanford d.school, and with many of the world’s top companies, David and Tom Kelley identify the principles and strategies that will allow us to tap into our creative potential in our work lives, and in our personal lives, and allow us to innovate in terms of how we approach and solve problems. It is a book that will help each of us be more productive and successful in our lives and in our careers.” – Goodreads
My Thoughts: If you have talked to me at all in the last 6 months, you’ve probably heard me mention David Kelley or this book. SO. GOOD. I have always been a rather “crafty/creative” person but never considered myself “artsy” let alone someone who could create as a career! My senior year of high school I had an art teacher that truly helped me gain creative confidence and showed me the truth about creativity. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you love, or what you do, creativity is a crucial part of everyday life, and every single person is capable of it! David and Tom Kelley have this down pat! The way they treat innovative thinking is genius. If you’re not convinced that you should read this book, watch David’s TED talk and see for yourself!
Satisfied
Synopsis: “The Counter-Cultural Move from Accumulation to Abundance. Why is it so hard to find the contented, satisfied life? What deep hungers drive our purchasing habits, accumulation, and consumer lifestyle? Satisfied is for those drowning in debt, but also those getting farther and farther ahead financially. It is for those who have forgotten who they are and mistakenly equate their self-worth with their net worth. It is for those who are crippled by comparison. It is for those with full closets and empty souls. Satisfied provides an inspiring and transformative vision for living a deeply contented life in our consumer-driven culture.” – Goodreads
My Thoughts: So I may be biased because Jeff Manion is my Paster, but in my opinion this is a must read! It is a fast read and put in a way that makes the teaching easy to absorb, along with practical steps to implementing into your everyday life. I think this topic is crucial and something people should be talking about more!
In the Presence of my Enemies
Synopsis: “Soon after September 11, the news media stepped up its coverage of the plight of Martin and Gracia Burnham, the missionary couple captured and held hostage in the Philippine jungle by terrorists with ties to Osama Bin Laden. After a year of captivity, and a violent rescue that resulted in Martin’s death, the world watched Gracia Burnham return home in June 2002 with a bullet wound in the leg and amazing composure. In this riveting personal account, Burnham tells the real story behind the news about their harrowing ordeal, about how it affected their relationship with each other and with God, about the terrorists who held them, about the actions of the U.S. and Philippine governments, and about how they were affected by the prayers of thousands of Christians throughout the world.”– Goodreads
My thoughts: Oh goodness, this book. This story is absolutely crazy! I read this in a day as well. This book is so much more impactful! The Burnhams are people to greatly admire. Their story is such an amazing testament to the power of the Lord. I do not know how they had the strength to get through, but their story is incredible and definitely worth the read!
Now you tell me!
What have you been reading and loving lately? What should I read next?
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