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#74. CHRISTMAS AND THE SAINTS by Hertha Pauli
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

I’ve had Christmas and the Saints on my shelf for awhile and Advent 2019 seemed like the perfect time to read it!  A series of stories that all seem to connect together, I’d describe it as history with some legend mixed in.  I enjoyed it!
(This was also my 1956 pick for the 20th Century Reading Challenge.)

#75. HERCULE POIROT’S CHRISTMAS by Agatha Christie
My Rating: ★★★★☆

Another great book by Agatha Christie!  I’m so glad I started reading her work this year.

#76. STORY OF A SOUL by St. Therese of Lisieux
My Rating: ★★★★☆

Jesus has no need of books or teachers to instruct souls; He teaches without the noise of words.  Never have I heard Him speak, but I feel that He is within me at each moment; He is guiding and inspiring me with what I must say and do.  I find just when I need them certain lights which I had not seen until then, and it isn’t most frequently during my hours of prayer that these are most abundant but rather in the midst of my daily occupations. (p.179)

Saint Therese is my confirmation saint and I’ve read sections of this book throughout the years.  This was the first time I’ve ever read it cover to cover!  There are parts of Therese that are exactly like me and parts of her that are so different, but I really appreciate her viewpoint.  Lots of think and pray about – I have much to do in my spiritual life.

#77. STORIES OF PADRE PIO by Madame Katharina Tangari
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Human sorrow, left to itself without any assistance, can be fatal.  Let us not pretend that those who suffer are supermen of endurance.  It would also be a mistake if we, in our own physical and psychological, material and spiritual well being, were to say to those who happen to be suffering: “Suffering is a grace!  Rejoice that you have the privilege of being able to suffer.”  Oh, let us never say these or similar things to people who are suffering.  As for this talk about the preciousness of suffering, only God can communicate it to the human heart without wounding it!  Instead, we must, to the best of our ability, give help and assistance both materially and spiritually, to ease the pains and soften the sufferings of those who are wrapped up or indeed overwhelmed in their own miseries, so that they may find a way out, support, alleviation and, above all, so that a ray of hope may re-enter their hearts and rekindle their faith and trust in God’s providence and mercy. (p.135-136)

Stories of Padre Pio wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be.  I assumed the book would be a collection of stories about Padre Pio, but it’s mostly about how his influence and prayers changed the lives of others.  Still an interesting read, but now I’m on the lookout for a more biographical version.

#78. ROCK NEEDS RIVER: A MEMOIR ABOUT A VERY OPEN ADOPTION by Vanessa McGrady
My Rating: ★★☆☆☆

I recently took a look at the unread books on my Kindle and it turns out I have almost thirty!  Most of these are the free ones I get to choose each month as a perk from Amazon Prime.  Rock Needs River was one of those books and it was…just okay.  The description sounded very interesting to me, but the execution left much to be desired.

#79. BEFORE THE FALL by Noah Hawley
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

This book has me so conflicted!  Before the Fall was suspenseful and interesting enough to keep me turning the pages, but I had this nagging feeling that there was some sort of political spin that was said without being said.  That probably makes absolutely no sense, hah!  It had its share of language and vulgarity, but the portrayal of modern news bias (which I would add happens on both sides of the dial) and the obsession with unrelated personal details in pursuit of “the story” is something I’ll definitely be pondering in the weeks ahead.

#80. WHAT MADE MADDY RUN: THE SECRET STRUGGLES AND TRAGIC DEATH OF AN ALL-AMERICAN TEEN by Kate Fagan
My Rating: ★★★★☆

One of the trickiest parts of social media is recognizing that everyone is doing the same thing you’re doing: presenting their best self.  Everyone is now a brand, and all of digital life is a fashion magazine.  While it’s easy to understand intrinsically that your presence on social media is only one small sliver of your full story, it’s more difficult to apply that logic to everyone else…Comparing your everyday existence to someone else’s highlight reel is dangerous for both of you. (p.140)

What Made Maddy Run is such a heartbreaking yet important book and I’m glad I read it.  Not only to remember a young girl who was so much like myself, but also to learn more about the struggles of today’s college students in the age of social media and enhanced pressure for performance.  The book alternates between Maddy’s story and the author’s reflections on her own college experience, which seemed mostly to be filler.  (You know how I feel about books that should have stayed an article, but were streeeeeetched into a 300 page book…)   Even so, the story is powerful and the statistics were staggering.  There is so much work to do in the area of mental health.

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#67. THE BORROWERS by Mary Norton
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Our school read aloud for October.

#68. UNOFFENDABLE by Brant Hansen
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Yes, the world is broken.  But don’t be offended by it.  Instead, thank God that He’s intervened in it, and He’s going to restore it to everything it was meant to be.  His kingdom is breaking through, bit by bit.  Recognize it, and wonder at it. (p.40)

Unoffendable takes an interesting look at anger, especially in the age of social media.  I think some of his reasoning was a little too simplistic, but as whole, we can agree that it’s universally beneficial to allow others to have differing opinions without feeling disgust/offense.  This is one of those books that would have made a great article, but loses its effect when it’s draaaaaagged out into 200 pages.

#69. THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD by John le Carré
My Rating: ★★☆☆☆

He knew what it was then that Liz had given him; the thing that he would have to go back and find if ever he got home to England: it was the caring about the little things – the faith in ordinary life; the simplicity that made you break up a bit of bread into a paper bag, walk down to the beach, and throw it to the gulls. (p.91)

The Spy Who Came In From the Cold has so many great reviews…so I’m thinking I maybe just didn’t understand it?  Well written but not what I was expecting.  (This was also my 1963 pick for my 20th Century Reading Challenge.)

#70. THE A.B.C. MURDERS by Agatha Christie
My Rating: ★★★★☆

I really, really liked this one!  Agatha Christie had such a gift for writing about crime, but without all the gore.  This story line was interesting and had a twist at the end that I never saw coming.  So good.


#71. WOMAN ON THE EDGE by Samantha M. Bailey
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Woman on the Edge was an intense psychological thriller with a harrowing premise: What if a woman on the subway platform hands you her baby, then jumps in front of a train?  The first half of the book was strong and I couldn’t tear myself away.  Unfortunately, I found the second half to be too far-fetched and the ending a little too neat.
(And thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.  Woman on the Edge will officially be released on March 3, 2020!)

#72. SIMPLY TUESDAY by Emily P. Freeman
My Rating: ★★★★☆

If they don’t know who you are, then you have been given the gift of obscurity.  Let this not be offensive.  Let this be a relief.
When I celebrate my smallness and receive the gift of obscurity, I am free.  I have hope.  I can give generously.  I can be who I am rather than either who you think I am or who I want you to think I am.  When I resist smallness it’s because I’m afraid it means invisibility. (p.104)

May we be sensitive to the ways our words land in the hearts of others.  May we be quick to turn to you when the words of others land heavy in ours.  Show us the people you ask us to love and give us the courage to be loved in return. (p.130)

My first thought as I started reading Simply Tuesday: Emily Freeman, you’re preaching to the choir.  A lot of what I write about here on my blog follows her idea of small moment living.  She had many good points and even a few that spoke right to my heart and got me all choked up.  My only critique is that it was a little repetitive, but otherwise a really good book.

#73. FELICITY CARROL AND THE PERILOUS PURSUIT by Patricia Marcantonio
My Rating: ★★☆☆☆


I signed up to read and review a book from Netgalley before realizing that it was a sequel!  I quickly found a copy of the first novel to get up to speed.  Felicity Carrol and the Perilous Pursuit is about a feisty independent young woman in Victorian times who investigates the murder of her beloved mentor and friend.  There’s something about the way that it is written that really bugs me, although I can’t put my finger on it yet.  Maybe with book #2.

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#60. THE MAN IN THE BROWN SUIT by Agatha Christie
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

My fourth Agatha Christie novel of the year!  This one was about an independent young woman, eager for adventure, who investigates an accidental death that she witnesses.  A page turner like the rest of Christie’s novels, but this one seemed to have a lot of names.  I was often flipping back and forth through the book to keep it all straight.  Not necessarily a bad thing – I just may be getting old, hah!  Solid three stars.  (This was also my 1924 pick for the 20th Century Reading Challenge.)

#61. WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON by Grace Lin
My Rating: ★★★★★

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon was our school read aloud for September into October.  We loved it!

#62. THE LIKENESS by Tana French
My Rating: ★★★★☆

This is the second book in the Dublin Murder Squad series and it didn’t disappoint!  Lots of twists and turns and many that I didn’t predict.  There were a few pieces to the puzzle that just didn’t add up if you think too much about it – like accents – but if you just read it at face value for the entertainment, it was great.  I’m anxious to get the next one in the series.

#63. TODAY WILL BE DIFFERENT by Maria Semple
My Rating: ★★☆☆☆

I read and enjoyed Where’d You Go, Bernadette a few years ago, so when I saw Today Will Be Different at the thrift store, I snatched it up.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t nearly as good.  I didn’t care for the protagonist, the story was all over the place, and the Catholic/religion jabs were a little overkill.  Just okay for me.
Fun fact: I found a boarding ticket tucked into the pages, so I’m assuming Elizabeth from Richmond didn’t care for the book either, ha!

#64. MRS. MIKE by Benedict and Nancy Freedman
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

“You’ll see, you’ll come to understand.  These big things, these terrible things, are not the important ones.  If they were, how could one go on living?  No, it is the small, little things that make up a day, that bring fullness and happiness to a life.  Your Sergeant coming home, a good dinner, your little Mary laughing, the smell of the woods – oh, so many things, you know them yourself.” (p.158)

I can add Mrs. Mike to my growing collection of frontier literature!  This one is about a Mounty, his wife, and the challenges they face in the Canadian wilderness.  I enjoyed it but wished there was more character development for the main characters.  Solid three stars.  (This was also my 1947 pick for the 20th Century Reading Challenge.)

#65. THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

How do I begin to describe The Book Thief?  Even at over 500 pages, this very unique book about Nazi Germany seemed to be a fast read.  There are parts that I know I’ll be thinking about for some time.  I liked it.


#66. NEVER HAVE I EVER by Joshilyn Jackson
My Rating: ★★☆☆☆

People say, I don’t know how she lives with herself, but every single one of them was living with their own worst thing, just fine. No one walks around holding their ugliest sin in the palm of their hand, staring at it. Our hurts are heavy, and we let them sink. Every day they drift lower, settling in murky places where the light can’t reach. All I had to do was wait. (24%)

Never Have I Ever is a suspense thriller about secrets and blackmail and it was nothing like I thought it was going to be.  I flew through the book in days and there were a few twists that I never saw coming!  However, there are enough sensitive/inappropriate pieces in it to make me wary of blindly recommending it to anyone.  Just okay for me.

#54. ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE by Gail Honeyman
My Rating: ★★★★☆

These days, loneliness is the new cancer—a shameful, embarrassing thing, brought upon yourself in some obscure way. A fearful, incurable thing, so horrifying that you dare not mention it; other people don’t want to hear the word spoken aloud for fear that they might too be afflicted, or that it might tempt fate into visiting a similar horror upon them. (69%)

When you took a moment to see what was around you, noticed all the little things, it made you feel . . . lighter. (81%)

I don’t even know how to describe this book.  It was a character driven novel with a quirky, yet somehow endearing, protagonist.  It was odd and funny and surprisingly heavy and sad too.  A roller coaster of emotions in one book!  I enjoyed it. 

#55. O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

For the first time, perhaps, since that land emerged from the waters of geologic ages, a human face was set toward it with love and yearning. It seemed beautiful to her, rich and strong and glorious. Her eyes drank in the breadth of it, until her tears blinded her. Then the Genius of the Divide, the great, free spirit which breathes across it, must have bent lower than it ever bent to a human will before. The history of every country begins in the heart of a man or a woman. (25%)

We come and go, but the land is always here. And the people who love it and understand it are the people who own it—for a little while. (92%)

O Pioneers! is a beautifully written pioneer story.  I love the way Cather describes the land.  My only critique was that the last section of the book felt completely different from the rest, and not necessarily in a good way.  All in all, a three star read for me.  (This was also my 1913 pick for the 20th Century Reading Challenge.)

#56. THE INCORRIGIBLE CHILDREN OF ASHTON PLACE: THE MYSTERIOUS HOWLING by Maryrose Wood
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

The Mysterious Howling was our first read aloud of the school year.  Clever and witty with a cliff-hanger ending.  The kids were begging me to buy book number two!  Three and a half stars.

#57. ASK AGAIN, YES by Mary Beth Keane
My Rating: ★★★★☆

“The thing is, Peter, grown-ups don’t know what they’re doing any better than kids do. That’s the truth.” (39%)

I heard about this fairly new release from another reader and was lucky not to have to wait long on the library hold list.  A fictional piece about the complicated lives of two families, this book was not particularly uplifting.  But!  Even so, I was quickly invested in these families and had to know how they all turned out.  A very interesting look at mental health and grief and the ripple effect of one’s actions.  I’d recommend it if you’re in the mood for a more somber novel with lots to think about.

#58. I CAN’T MAKE THIS UP: LIFE LESSONS by Kevin Hart
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Life is a story. It’s full of chapters. And the beauty of life is that not only do you get to choose how you interpret each chapter, but your interpretation writes the next chapter. It determines whether it’s comedy or tragedy, fairy tale or horror story, rags-to-riches or riches-to-rags. You can’t control the events that happen to you, but you can control your interpretation of them. So why not choose the story that serves your life the best? (2%)

Logically, no other response to the ups and downs of life makes sense besides gratitude. You are already in your experience. So you can either resent and resist it, and make it that much less enjoyable, or you can accept it and find something positive in it. (12%)

There is so much that is greater than us, whatever you believe. So while we get to choose the roads we take, we don’t get to know where they lead. Acceptance, then, is knowing that when your plan fails, or your road dead ends, it means a bigger plan is at work. And I’d rather be part of a big plan than a small one. (33%)

I’m always hesitant to read a book written by someone famous because generally, I think they just aren’t that good.  But in an effort to shake things up, I picked up this one by comedian Kevin Hart and it was actually better than I expected.  A little too vulgar to recommend and about 100 pages too long, but otherwise an interesting read.

#59. READING WITH PATRICK: A TEACHER, A STUDENT, AND A LIFE-CHANGING FRIENDSHIP by Michelle Kuo
My Rating: ★★★☆☆


…to know a person as a student is to know him always as a student: to sense deeply his striving and in his striving to sense your own.  It is to watch, and then have difficulty forgetting, a student wrench himself into shape, like a character from Ovid, his body twisting and contorting, from one creature to another, submitting, finally, to the task of a full transformation.  Why?  Because he trusts you; because he prefers the feel of this newer self; because he hopes you will help make this change last. (p.270-271)


Reading with Patrick is a memoir that tackles quite a few issues, including education, poverty, and racism.  It was equal parts inspiring and heartbreaking and thought-provoking.  Solid three stars.

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#48. THE DREAMERS by Karen Thompson Walker 

My Rating: ★★★☆☆

How to describe this book?!  The Dreamers is about an outbreak in a small college town that causes deep sleep and vivid dreams.  It’s not quite apocalyptic, maybe almost sci-fi?  This would make a good book club selection – lots to talk about and interpret.

#49. THE 15:17 TO PARIS: THE TRUE STORY OF A TERRORIST, A TRAIN, AND THREE AMERICAN HEROES by Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, Spencer Stone, and Jeffrey E. Stern
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Great story of American heroism, but the way the book is laid out ruined it for me!  The flashing backwards and forwards in time was awkward and confusing.  This sounds very Type-A of me, but I would have enjoyed it so much more if the timeline had been written in chronological order.  I also felt like they tried to make a small news article into a 200 page book and it felt forced.  2.5 stars, rounded up.

#50. SEVEN WORDS OF JESUS AND MARY: LESSONS ON CANA AND CALVARY by Fulton Sheen
My Rating:  ★★★★☆

The reason most of us are what we are, mediocre Christians – “up” one day, “down” the next – is simply because we refuse to let God work on us.  As crude marble, we rebel against the hand of the sculptor, as unvarnished canvas, we shrink from the oils and tints of the Heavenly Artists…We always make the fatal mistake of thinking that it is what we do that matters, when really what matters is what we let God do to us.” (p.32)

#41. THE MITFORD MURDERS by Jessica Fellowes
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

I would describe The Mitford Murders as a cozy mystery with a hint of Downton Abbey.  I thought it was about 100 pages too long, but if you like your mysteries as more of a slow burn, this is the book for you. (Also available at Book Outlet here.)

#42. MARY LINCOLN’S FLANNEL PAJAMAS AND OTHER STORIES FROM THE FIRST LADIES’ CLOSET by Feather Schwartz Foster
My Rating: ★★★★☆

Mary Lincoln’s Flannel Pajamas was a random library find, but I’m so glad I picked it up!  It’s filled with little stories centered around clothing worn by the First Ladies, from Martha Washington to Mamie Eisenhower.  I love reading about the personalities of these famous individuals, so this was right up my alley.  The perfect compliment to Upstairs at the White House.

#43. THE PERFECT NANNY by Leila Slimani
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

This is a suspense thriller that I’ve seen around the internet and was a little scared to read.  The story opens with the horrific description of two children killed by their nanny, then travels back in time to describe the events that led up to that day.  As far as readability, it was great and I flew through it in less than 24 hours.  But the book never explained the motive of the crime and I hated the ending.  Balancing out all of those conflicting feelings with three stars.  (Also available at Book Outlet here.)

#44. ENDER’S GAME by Orson Scott Card
My Rating: ★★☆☆☆

This was my 1985 pick for the 20th Century Book Challenge.  Science fiction is definitely leaving my comfort zone!  I wanted to like Ender’s Game – I really did – but I just could not get into it.  The book felt repetitive and I had a hard time visualizing all of the science fiction-y things.  It’s probably a great story if you’re into this kind of thing, but just okay for me.  (Also available at Book Outlet here.)

#45. GIRL FROM THE TREE HOUSE by Gudrun Frerichs
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

The woven cloth, no matter how large or how small, will withstand most threats.  I like the metaphor.  Weaving is symbolic of the parts of the Tribe coming together.  Each thread is distinguishable and beautiful, but together, they turn into a sensational piece of art, a strikingly beautiful symphony. (57%)

I wonder who among the hundreds of people rushing in and out of gates, hauling their luggage around, is suffering human tragedies and hardships, just like me.  There must be many, and yet, we are sailing past each other like ships in the night, going about our lives and putting a smile on our face, as if nothing is the matter. (94%)

Girl From the Tree House is a psychological thriller about a woman living with multiple personalities or Dissociative Identity Disorder.  It was fascinating.  While it’s a fictional account, you still really get a sense of what it feels like with so many voices vying for attention and control of the body.  I had a little trouble with the pacing, but otherwise it was a really good and interesting read.  (And thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.)

#46. FIVE LITTLE PIGS by Agatha Christie
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

I like the Hercule Poirot mysteries because they are so methodical – just the way my brain works!  Five Little Pigs was no exception.  This is my third Agatha Christie book and probably the one I liked the least, but still a solid three stars.  (This was also my 1943 pick for the 20th Century Book Challenge.)

#47. VALENCIA AND VALENTINE by Suzy Krause
My Rating: ★★★★☆

Maybe the simple act of being alive doesn’t seem all that important until it stops feeling involuntary and starts feeling like something you have to work at. She doesn’t just live anymore; she accomplishes living. After all, she could do something fantastic in the morning, but if she doesn’t live through the afternoon to tell anyone about it, the fantastic thing won’t matter at all. Better to live through the whole day, even if you don’t get much else done. So she gives herself a very tiny little bit of wiggle room and grace on the visiting and cleaning, but she is strict about the living and hasn’t yet missed a single day. (4%)


Looking back, I’m not sure what I found so distasteful about the idea of “just existing,” as though existing were not an incredible miracle in and of itself. Falling in love, swimming in hotel pools, jumping on trampolines, eating good food. When I was young, none of that was enough. What I wouldn’t give now to be able to jump on a trampoline without all my bones crashing together and disintegrating inside me like pieces of chalk. (24%)


Beauty is on a different plane than happy and sad or easy and hard; I’m sure you know that. A song can be sad and beautiful at the same time. Life too. (98%)

Valencia and Valentine is a book that was quirky and not at all what I expected, but I really liked it!  The chapters alternate between two characters: a lonely elderly woman and a soon-to-be 35 year old woman with crippling anxiety and OCD.  It’s a tricky book to explain and was at points sad, funny and even a little confusing.  3.5 stars rounded up.

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#27. THE LYING GAME by Ruth Ware
My Rating: ★★☆☆☆

A lie. I’d almost forgotten how they feel on my tongue, slick and sickening.

I enjoyed Ruth Ware’s The Woman in Cabin 10 last year, so decided to give The Lying Game a shot.  And…it was okay.  It’s categorized as psychological thriller, but that may be generous.  Long meandering plot with a lackluster twist.

#28. AMERICAN RADICAL: INSIDE THE WORLD OF AN UNDERCOVER MUSLIM FBI AGENT by Tamer Elnoury
My Rating: ★★★★☆

How do we defeat an enemy who is willing to die for a cause that they believe in?  That is the question I ask every one of my students at the FBI undercover school before I start my lesson on radical Islam.  Over the years, I have heard many different answers, but never the correct one: education.  In order to defeat your enemy, you must first understand them. (p.342)

I had a feeling I would like American Radical just from the description and I was right.  I blew through it in days!  So much respect for undercover agents who have to do this type of work to keep us safe.  (Also available at Book Outlet here.)

#29. THE LAST ROMANTICS by Tara Conklin
My Rating: ★★☆☆☆

#30. BE BRAVE IN THE SCARED by Mary Lenaburg

#31. AND THEN THERE WERE NONE by Agatha Christie
My Rating: ★★★★★

“From now on, it is our task to suspect each and everyone amongst us. Forewarned is forearmed. Take no risks and be alert to danger. That is all.” 

Oh my goodness.  Agatha Christie totally fooled me with this one. I’m pretty good at figuring out “whodunit” in these types of mystery books, but I was so wrong with And Then There Were None! What a crazy psycho-thriller of a book.

#32. MWF SEEKING BFF: MY YEARLONG SEARCH FOR A NEW BEST FRIEND by Rachel Bertsche
My Rating: ★★☆☆☆

“Psychologists have long described four major types of friendships,” she wrote. “1) The acquaintance, someone you’d chat with on the street or at a local café, who gives you a sense of belonging; 2) the casual friend, a ‘grab lunch’ pal who often serves a specific purpose, such as a tennis or running partner; 3) the close buddy, an intimate, trustworthy comrade you can say anything to; and 4) the lifer, who’s as deep and forever as family.” Frankel’s research found that women should have 3 to 5 lifers, 5 to 12 close friends, 10 to 50 casuals, and 10 to 100 acquaintances. (3%)

Teenagers spend nearly 33 percent of their time with friends, but that number drops to less than 10 percent for adults. When we do have time for friends, most people would rather spend it with already-established BFFs than having to be “on” with a possible new one. Because when we’re not busy, we’re tired. (23%)

I’ve had MWF Seeking BFF on my Goodreads TBR since 2012, so when I stumbled on it at the library, I snatched it up.  The idea had a lot of promise, but fell short in execution.  Her blanket statements about women and friendship had me scratching my head, mostly because I am the complete opposite of what she describes.  (I think temperament plays a much bigger role than she believes.)  A few interesting parts, but could have definitely been 100 pages shorter.  Just okay for me, although I am inspired to join a local book club now.

#33. THE WIZARD OF OZ by L. Frank Baum
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

“But how about my courage?” asked the Lion anxiously.
“You have plenty of courage, I am sure,” answered Oz.  “All you need is confidence in yourself.  There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger.  True courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty.” (p.140)

I know this story but have never read the book before!  Now I’m anxious to watch the movie again.  (Also available at Book Outlet – in a gorgeous hardcover! – here.)

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#20. THE LOUDER SONG: LISTENING FOR HOPE IN THE MIDST OF LAMENT by Aubrey Sampson
My Rating: ★★★★☆

Sometimes, it’s only in looking back that we see clearly.  As I look back now, even in this horrible circumstance, I can see God’s hand of love touching everything. (p.57)

Even though you suffer from this awful thing – no matter how truly terrible it may be – and even though you may not be able to surface for air right now, God has not changed.  Who you are to him has not changed.  He is utterly faithful, and you are utterly loved.  Not because you are healthy or strong or happy, or because you never get angry, or because you handle this thing you face with grace.  But simply and profoundly because you are the object of God’s fixed delight and affection.  Even when you hit walls, even at your messiest, you are his beautiful one. (p.75)

This is how I’ll finally arrive at that elusive place called acceptance – by watching for, noting, gathering instances of hope and joy in one hand, even while wrestling with my darkest hours in the other.  This truth rings loudly in my heart: Good and bad can exist at once.  It’s okay to admit that both things are true.  My situation is hard and God has been good to me. (p.102)

I heard about The Louder Song, a book published in February, from Instagram and since I’m working through my own issues while walking alongside others in hard situations, I snatched it up.  This book comes from an Evangelical standpoint and while it’s not a perfect fit for me theologically, I really liked it.

#21. HEARTLAND: A MEMOIR OF WORKING HARD AND BEING BROKE IN THE RICHEST COUNTRY ON EARTH by Sarah Smarsh
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Our bodies were born into hard labor.  To people who Grandma Betty would say “never had to lift a finger,” that might sound like something to be pitied.  But there was a beautiful efficiency to it – form in constant physical function with little energy left over.  In some ways, I feel enriched rather than diminished for having lived it. (p.44)

Rating memoirs is hard because I hate judging another person’s story.  That said, this one was just so-so for me.  My biggest beef was with the way Heartland is written: the writing is directed to her imaginary (unconceived) baby and it’s a unique choice that I didn’t really care for.  You’d be reading stories about her family or a handful of sociological facts and then she’d suddenly address “you” (meaning the unborn child), which was a little weird and definitely jarred the story as a whole.  2.5 stars, rounded up. (Also available at Book Outlet here.)

#22. LIFE OF CHRIST by Fulton J. Sheen
My Rating: ★★★★★

He will not allow us to pick and choose among His words, discarding the hard ones, and accepting the ones that please our fancy.  We need a Christ Who will restore moral indignation, Who will make us hate evil with a passionate intensity, and love goodness to a point where we can drink death like water. (p.21)

The moment He showed Himself before men as the Son of God, He would draw down upon Himself their hatred, for evil can tolerate mediocrity, but not supreme goodness. (p.78)

As the physical Body of Christ had external wounds, bruises, and scars, and yet the inner structure was left untouched, so there seemed to be a foretelling that though His Mystical Body, the Church, would have its moral wounds and scars of scandals and disloyalties, nevertheless, not a bone of its body would ever be broken. (p.399)

Mankind is naturally disposed to believe that anything religious must be striking and powerful enough to overwhelm the imagination.  Yet this incident on the road to Emmaus revealed that the most powerful truths often appear in the commonplace and trivial incidents of life, such as meeting a fellow traveler on a road.  Christ veiled His Presence in the most ordinary roadway of life.  Knowledge of Him came as they walked with Him; and the knowledge was that of glory that came through defeat. (p.415)

This book.  I think I can confidently say that this is the best religious book that I have ever read.

#23. I WILL ALWAYS WRITE BACK: HOW ONE LETTER CHANGED TWO LIVES by Caitlin Alifirenka & Martin Ganda
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

The cascade of water was so vast and mighty, I thought, the angels were not only clapping – they were giving a standing and stomping ovation for a spectacle only God could have created. (p.345)

I Will Always Write Back was a quick read about two penpals (a middle-class girl from Pennsylvania and a boy from the slums of Zimbabwe) and how that relationship changed both of their lives.  The writing was quite simple for even a YA book and I enjoyed Martin’s side of the story much more than Caitlin’s, but overall, a heartwarming story.  Solid three stars.  (Also available at Book Outlet here.)

#24. THE WIFE BETWEEN US by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

When you read this book, you will make many assumptions.
You will assume you are reading about a jealous ex-wife.
You will assume she is obsessed with her replacement – a beautiful, younger woman who is about to marry the man they both love. 
You will assume you know the anatomy of this tangled love triangle.
Assume nothing. 

I can’t remember exactly where I heard about The Wife Between Us, but I’ve been on the waiting list at the library for it since last fall.  Super quick read, but as thrillers go, this one was just okay.  2.5 stars, rounded up.  (Also available at Book Outlet here.)

#25. OLIVE KITTERIDGE by Elizabeth Strout
My Rating: ★★☆☆☆

What young people didn’t know, she thought, lying down beside this man, his hand on her shoulder, her arm; oh, what young people did not know. They did not know that lumpy, aged, and wrinkled bodies were as needy as their own young, firm ones, that love was not to be tossed away carelessly . . . No, if love was available, one chose it, or didn’t chose it. And if her platter had been full with the goodness of Henry and she had found it burdensome, had flicked it off crumbs at a time, it was because she had not know what one should know: that day after day was unconsciously squandered. (p.270)

Olive Kitteridge, on paper, sounded like something I would typically love to read: short stories about a crotchety old woman who lives on the coast of Maine.  Unfortunately, it was a big flop for me.  I found it to be so incredibly depressing!  On the plus side, the writing is beautiful, which I assume is why it won a Pulitzer Prize.  After looking at the reviews, I think this is a book where you either love it or hate it, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.  (Also available at Book Outlet here.)

#26. MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS by Agatha Christie

My Rating: ★★★★☆


The impossible could not have happened, therefore the impossible must be possible in spite of appearances.


Murder on the Orient Express was my first Agatha Christie novel and it did not disappoint!  So so good.  Looking forward to reading more of her work soon.  (Also available at Book Outlet here.)