I read 61 books last year and set a reading goal of 80 for 2016. 80 books, y'all! I originally set it at 60 again, but realized I actually wanted to read more but also wanted to set the bar lower because I already know 60 is doable. I don't want to be that girl in any area of my life, even the small parts. So 80 it is. And January was a big reading month.
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| 5 stars |
I snagged this book for free through BookBub and wasn't sure what to expect, but I was captivated by Harry Clifton's story from the beginning. Harry is from a poor family: he never knew his father and is supported by his uncle Stan who works at the docks and his mother who works as a waitress. He has a beautiful voice and, through several mentors and lots of hard work, earns a choral scholarship to a highly regarded boarding school. He quickly becomes friends with Giles Barrington, of the wealthy Barrington Shipyard family, and Deakins, a scholar. During Harry's school time and into his adulthood, he searches for the real reason his father died. His quest for the truth confronts him with some very difficult personal decisions. Who is his real father? Can he marry Emma, the love of his life? The unexpected ending to this beautifully written novel only leaves you wanting more. I can't wait to read the rest of the Clifton Chronicles and can only hope Jeffrey Archer has continued to write completely spell-bounding tales of Harry Clifton. (And that the rest of my 2016 reading is as entertaining!)
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| 4 stars |
I use the OverDrive app on my phone to check out free audiobooks from my local library and was thrilled when Big Magic, which I'd had on hold for over a month, was finally released to me. Elizabeth Gilbert captures the heart of what it means to live creatively by tapping into your interests, curiosity, and ideas no matter your circumstance or age and following wherever they lead. She boldly states that we are all created to create. She writes specifically about not wanting to burden her creativity with meeting her financial needs, which I thought particularly interesting. (She didn't quit her day job until after Eat, Pray, Love.) She also hilariously and truthfully writes that everything sucks some of the time and challenges her reader to find something they love so much that the parts that suck are still worthwhile. Big Magic is written from a spiritual perspective, although not gospel centered. I read this book while also praying for discernment. And I'm so glad I did. Definitely a good read.
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| 2 stars |
It's no secret that I love to read about history - historical fiction, autobiographies, biographies, etc - and was eager to read Killing Reagan. I loved learning about Ronald Reagan's career as an actor, appearing in over 50 movies before transitioning to television, a new and controversial technology at the time for movie actors. He was president of the Screen Actors Guild, married two times, a Democrat before he converted to the Republican party, etc. However, while filled with interesting information, it also paints Reagan and his wife Nancy in a rather unfavorable light. O'Reilly and Dugard assert that the assassination attempt on Reagan's life by John Hinckley Jr. hastened Reagan's early onset Alzheimer's. They claim Reagan was easily confused and therefore easily manipulated by his wife in presidential matters. While Killing Reagan was more well-written than Lincoln's Last Days, there was enough conjecture - and out-right error - to recommend that you pass in favor of more credible biographies.
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| 5 stars |
This was another book I found on BookBub ($1.99). At any given point, I'm usually reading a few books, some of while are very introspective and thought-provoking - and a good story always balances me out. I got lost in the story of Gil Malloy, a disgraced journalist for Daily News, who is caught up in the connection of three modern-day murders, a Kennedy half-dollar found at each murder scene. Malloy is also put into contact with Lee Harvey Oswald Jr., the illegitimate and secret son of assassin Lee Harvey Oswald. The more he dives into each story, determined to redeem himself as an investigative reporter, the more he believes the present-day murders and the assassination of JFK in 1963 are connected. His determination to find the truth soon finds him unemployed and searching for where he went wrong. He quickly learns the information he's unearthed not only ended his career, but may potentially end his life. I absolutely loved every page of this book.
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| 3 stars |
The Candidate's Daughter is another book I found for free using BookBub. Six-year old Holly McClain is kidnapped by Kelsey Money, her controlling boyfriend Matt, and Matt's strung out brother. While Kelsey hopes to return Holly safely home after the ransom has been received, she quickly discovers Matt and his brother have a very different plan and promises herself and Holly that she'll keep Holly safe, no matter what. Elizabeth McClain, struggling with postpartum depression, and Richard McClain, a self-absorbed politician, have distanced themselves from each other and from their daughter Holly since birth. Now realizing her terrible mistake, Elizabeth stops at nothing to find her daughter and bring her home safely. The Candidate's Daughter is the first book in the Elizabeth McClain Thriller series, but I doubt I'll read the rest of them. It was a good story, but I don't think these characters are worth investing more time in.
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| 3 stars |
This was another free book I found through BookBub. At only 115 pages, it was a quick read. Secretary of State, Jayne Whitticker, is in London negotiating peace talks with three warring African nations when her granddaughter, Rachel, goes missing. Special Agent Ingrid Skyberg, in London to lead an FBI training conference, is summoned to help. With no back-up, very few leads, and only a few hours, she must find Rachel before the peace talks are completed and her grandmother discovers she's missing. Although it was a bit predictable, this series might be worth finishing.
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| 4 stars |
I picked up a few Harlan Coben books at a rummage sale last year and have been looking forward to re-reading this one. Matt Hunter's life comes to a screeching halt when he kills someone while trying to break up a fight at a frat house. After serving four years of his sentence, Matt is released from prison and works hard to lead a normal, unassuming life. Fast forward nine years: Matt is married to Olivia Hunter, the love of his life, expecting his first child, and working as a paralegal. When his wife, who is away on business, starts sending him suspicious text messages, he can feel it all unraveling. Unwilling to believe his wife would be unfaithful, he is determined to find Olivia but instead finds himself as the primary suspect in a triple-homicide investigation. When he finds his wife and learns the truth about her past, they are determined to find the real killer and bring him to justice. Harlan Coben is the master of surprise endings, and this one did not disappoint.
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| 5 stars |
Find Me Unafraid is the true story of Kennedy Odede, born in Kibera, Africa's largest slum, and Jessica Posner from Denver, Colorado. Kennedy grew up poor, scavenging for food, experiencing violence, lack of opportunity, and sometimes even living on the streets, but he had a hunger for knowledge and a determination to be a light in his community. As a teenager, he bought a soccer ball for twenty cents and started SHOFCO, Shining Hope for Communities, a youth program designed to effect change in Kibera. In 2007, Jessica Posner studied abroad in Kenya, working with SHOFCO's theater group. Although she had a host family, Jessica convinced Kennedy that living with him in Kibera would give her a more authentic experience and allow her to have a better understanding of SHOFCO and why it is so necessary. Despite all odds, and with Jessica's perseverance, Kennedy is able to graduate with his Bachelor's degree, return to Kibera, and change his community, building a school for girls among other community services. Find Me Unafraid is their story of love, light, and determination to make a difference. My heart was so encouraged by their bravery. (You can learn more about SHOFCO by visiting their website.)
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| 5 stars |
If you know me at all, you know I've already professed my undying love for all things Jen Hatmaker, not because of her, but because of how God is using her to move His kingdom forward. Also, she's sarcastic and loves good food. So we're friends, obviously. Anyway...I was nervous to read 7. I just knew God would use it to seriously shed some light on my indulgent lifestyle and root out my love of stuff. I put off reading it for months and finally gave in, because January is a good time for all things new and this would definitely be new to me. And I was right. 7 is Jen's attempt to radically reduce the excess in her life in seven areas: food, clothes, possessions, media, waste, spending and stress. All in an effort to make more room for God. He teaches over and over that we are to take care of and tangibly love those who are "least" (Matthew 25). But what would our lives look like if we took that seriously? Jen sheds light on our irresponsibility and shows us that we can do better. Not coincidentally, because I'm sure God knew I needed accountability, I was invited to work through this book this year with some ladies in my area and am looking forward to (and simultaneously am so nervous for) what God will do in our lives. This is not just a book for women and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
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| 2 stars |
I started out really liking this book. Ryan Lock is head of security at the world's largest bio-tech company. When animal rights protesters convince Meditech to stop all animal testing, they think they've won a hard fought battle. But when Nicholas Van Stratten, the CEO, and Gray Stokes, the leader of the animal rights activists announce this on television, Gray is assassinated by a sniper. But this is where things start to get crazy. Because then a high-level former Meditech employee finds out his child has been kidnapped. And then it starts to look like Meditech orchestrated the whole thing. And then Ryan discovers Meditech will no longer be testing on animals, but on humans. And then he finds out the human test subjects are terrorists from the middle east and Russia. And then the test subjects escape and take Meditech employees hostage and inject the CEO and his power mongering son with a live Ebola virus for which there is only an untested and potentially fatal vaccine. And then that Russian terrorist becomes a suicide bomber who escapes into Times Square with the remaining tubes of Ebola virus that could knock out all of New York. Oh yeah, and it's New Years Eve. When I finally finished the book, it had strayed way too far from where it started and I thought to myself, what the heck just happened. While some may love the unexpected nature of the book, I was just trying to get through it.
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| 5 stars |
I was so excited when I found the second book in the Clifton Chronicles at my local library. I didn't rent the third book because I thought it would take me a week to get through, but I came down with a cold, stayed in bed for two days, and finished it off just in time to make it my 11th book in January. Whoa. Anyway, if it's even possible, I loved this book even more than the first. England has just entered WWII, and while Harry is serving time in an American prison, Giles has joined the military and quickly worked his way up to an officer. His father Hugo is still in hiding. And Emma is quickly figuring out that Harry really isn't dead and goes to America in search of him. It all sounds very soap-opera, but I promise you, it's so good (and isn't nearly as cheesy). The cliff hanger at the end of the book left me so frustrated that I didn't grab the third book from the library as well. I can't wait to get my hands on it! (Sometimes I do this thing where I find an author I really like and then proceed to read everything they've ever written. Jeffrey Archer may just be the next one.)
So there you have it! I read 11 books this month and am already at 14% of my goal!
Did you set a reading goal for the year? I'd love to hear about your reading challenge and what you're currently reading!
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