It’s been awhile since we’ve talked books!  Here are a handful of my latest reads:


ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE // We read this huge historical novel for our Inspired Readers Book Club and I’m so glad we did.  While I found the story haunting and sad (what WWII story isn’t?), there’s a reason why it’s a Pulitzer Prize winner: the writing is amazing.


JOHN PAUL THE GREAT: REMEMBERING A SPIRITUAL FATHER // I have a special love for JPII and was anxious to read another perspective on his life.  I appreciated the balanced commentary of both his strengths and weaknesses, as well as the author’s personal reflections.  Lots to think and ponder.  I underlined quite a bit.


SECOND STREET STATION // I had high hopes for this Victorian mystery, but finished feeling disappointed.  The protagonist is a strong, no-nonsense young woman who dreams of becoming a detective and gets an opportunity to solve a crime.  The book felt a bit “girl power!” to me, which is fine, but I had more of an issue with the unnecessary sex scenes.  The author is a television writer and that’s exactly what the book felt like to me: a TV show or movie.  I’d pass on this one.  (I received this book free from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review, but obviously all opinions are mine.)


THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER // We are big fans of Dave Ramsey around here, but I had never actually read his book!  I listened to it on Audible last month and I definitely recommend it if you need the boost to continue working toward a debt-free life.  We’re more inspired than ever!


THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS // I just finished this page-turner last weekend.  From the cover: “Doctors took her cells without asking.  Those cells never died.  They launched a medical revolution and a multimillion-dollar industry.  More than twenty years later, her children found out.  Their lives would never be the same.”  One part memoir and one part science book, I found this book so thought-provoking on many different levels.  

My current rotation: THE HARDEST PEACE, BEYOND THE BIRDS AND THE BEES and COME, LORD JESUS.

What are the best books you read this year?  I’m making my list for 2016 and am always looking for recommendations!

Even if you haven’t read this blog for very long, you probably can tell that I love goals.  They excite and energize me and the practice of setting them monthly has really changed my life for the better.  So you can imagine my excitement when I was given the opportunity to read and review Gretchen Rubin’s latest book, Better than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives!


The premise of the book is that we can create and then use habits to ignite positive change in our everyday lives.  Rubin believes that we have the ability to modify less desirable behaviors (like eating junk food, not exercising, clutter, etc) and then turn them into actions that become as rote and routine as brushing your teeth. 


In order to know which strategies will best work to accomplish that goal, Rubin starts with the descriptions of what she considers four main tendencies: Upholder, Questioner, Obliger and Rebel.  (You can find out where you fit by taking the quiz here.)  Just as many people learn differently, we also use different strategies when it comes to habit building.  (So what may work for me as an Upholder might not for you as a Rebel.)  Rubin believes that this self-knowledge can be the key to being more successful in the habits we wish to create.


The book is packed full of strategies and anecdotes, but here are just a few things I found thought-provoking:


+ I really enjoyed the section on distinctions, which helped me discover things about myself that I’ve never really taken the time to address.  For example, it turns out that I am a Lark. I don’t mind waking up around 6:00 and I tend to do my best, most focused work in that early morning time frame.  My other distinctions: I’m an underbuyer (I call myself cheap, but underbuyer sounds better), a simplicity lover (I’m always decluttering), a finisher (I will keep a tube of toothpaste until I get every.last.drop) and am promotion-focused (hello gold stars!).  


+ When it comes to dieting or eating healthier, are you an Abstainer or a Moderator?  I was surprised to realize that I’m an Abstainer.  As Rubin writes, “…if I try to be moderate, I exhaust myself debating: How much can I have?  Does this time ‘count’? If I had it yesterday, can I have it today?”  This played itself out in real time during my Whole30 this summer.  While the idea sounds extreme and miserable, I actually found freedom in knowing exactly what I could and couldn’t eat.  I didn’t have to mentally debate whether I should have one or two pieces of bread – I just couldn’t have bread.    
  
+ I was really inspired by the section about starting.  The takeaway: just start.  Not tomorrow and not when the time is right.  Today is just as good a time as ever to begin.  I tend to like neat beginnings, like goals that start on January 1st or beginning something new only on Mondays, so this was tricky for me.  I put it in practice by starting T25 on a Tuesday and launching my 100 Little Things project in the middle of summer.  

I enjoyed Better Than Before and I think I have gained a greater understanding of myself, both in strengths and weaknesses. 


Have you read this one?  What did you think?

Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple
This was such a unique, fun read!  The book is set up unlike anything I’ve ever read – a series of flashbacks, emails, and other documents all woven together to tell an interesting (and sometimes funny!) story.  It was definitely a page turner; I wanted to figure out where Bernadette disappeared to!  Perfect for summer, I’d recommend as a fast beach read.


See You in a Hundred Years by Logan Ward
This book is about a couple’s challenge to spend an entire year living like it was 1900.  If it didn’t exist 100 years ago, they went without.  That includes everything from electricity to the internet to indoor plumbing!  Although I read some critical reviews, I still found the premise intriguing.  It reinforced my desire to live in a farmhouse in the country, although I’d like to keep all my modern conveniences, hah!


A Fifty Year Silence by Miranda Richmond Mouillot
I’ve been struggling to put into words how I feel after reading this book.  Essentially, it’s a memoir about a granddaughter discovering her family history and how it coincided with World War II.  It is a story about relationships, the good and the bad, and how life events can alter even the most well-intentioned.  It was an interesting read and I finished it quickly.  As the eternal optimist, I wanted a happy ending, which it couldn’t deliver.  But life isn’t always sunshine and roses, right?     
(I received this book from Blogging for Books, but all opinions are my own.)

What are you reading this summer?  I always love recommendations!

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
How do I describe this book without giving too much away?  It is about a teenage girl who witnesses a shocking event and then lives with the secret until adulthood.  Fast forward to present day and with her mother close to death, she is determined to figure out the reasons behind that day.  There were lots of twists and turns to keep the 480 page book moving.  And the ENDING!  I never saw it coming.  So good.

The Boxcar Children #1 by Gertrude Chandler Warner
I recently found my old set from childhood and thought M would enjoy them like I had.  I was right, he loves them!  He begged me to read them again too so obviously, I started with number one.  Let’s just say, reading these as an adult is way different than reading as a kid.  Back then, I thought these books were awesome…now?  Meh.  

Everyday Sacrament by Laura Kelly Fanucci
I won this book in a giveaway.  It’s filled with small stories that connect parenting to the seven sacraments.  Laura’s message is that God is always present, even in the messiness of motherhood.  The book is a short read, but I found the content thought-provoking and wise.  It’s a great choice if you’re feeling burnt out as a mother and need a reminder that you are doing great work! 

It Was Me All Along by Andie Mitchell
I received this book from Blogging for Books to review, which was timely since I had recently come across Mitchell’s TED talk in January.  She lost incredible amounts of weight and this book follows the process, as well as how she established a healthy relationship with food.  While I felt like some parts were a bit wordy and a few others totally off-topic, the message of the book still resonated with me.  I am six months postpartum, dealing with my own weight loss issues (albeit minor in comparison), and this book really made me look at my own relationship with food.  Do I see food as fuel for my body?  Do I use food as stress-relief or to self-soothe when I’ve had a hard day with the kids?  Thought provoking.        

What have you been reading lately?  Any good ones I should I to the list?

When I was a little girl, I was a voracious reader.  My nose was always in a book and I remember thinking that it would be so cool if I could read every book in the children’s section of the library.  (Clearly, this was the beginning of my love for goals, albeit a bit unattainable!)  


The January is for Learning Challenge has awakened that love for books again.  At the beginning, I had to “force” myself to sit down and read.  I had so many distractions: my phone, the computer, TV…they all seemed easier and more attractive.  But I fought through and the habit has remained.  I’m excited to see how many books I can get through in 2015.


Here are the four I read in January:    

The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
I first heard about this book from Anna…I think she posted on Instagram?  She was a fan and I liked it a lot too.  The main advice is that you should work ON your business, not just IN it.  He makes the case that you cannot build a successful business around something you are skilled at.  If you only want to be a worker, you should continue working for someone else!  In order to be successful on your own, you need the bigger picture component as well.  Gerber lays out a clear road map for creating systems within your company and I will definitely be incorporating a few of the ideas into Big White Farmhouse soon.

Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat
This was an assigned family read aloud for M’s school and we all enjoyed it!  It is about a boy who adopts two owls and each chapter describes an adventure.  The writing is funny, the chapters are just long enough for the reader (you won’t go hoarse trying to finish!) and my boys wanted an owl for our house by the end.  

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
How do I even begin to describe this book?  It is about the friendship of two women, one a teenager and the other elderly, who have lived difficult lives.  I was sucked in from the first few pages, my heart breaking as their stories of the past unfolded.  I hesitate to call it “good” because how can foster care and child neglect be good?  It’s definitely a moving story and I recommend it.  

Joy to the World by Scott Hahn
I received this book from Blogging for Books for review and could not wait to read it!  Scott Hahn can always be counted on to explain Catholic theology in a simple, understandable way and Joy to the World was no exception.  In this book, he encourages the readers to look closely at the different parts of the Christmas story (the town of Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph, the angels, etc.) and then weaves the story back together.  It was like looking at Christmas with brand new eyes!  This book would be a wonderful choice for Advent next year.


What books have you been reading?  Share in the comments!  I’m always looking for new recommendations!