Quick Lit: What I've Been Reading Lately

I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy for this month's quick lit, where I share short and sweet reviews of a few books I've read in the past month. You can also find me over at Goodreads if you are interested in other books I've read or reviewed.

"Different:  The Story of an Outside-the-Box Kid and the Mom Who Loved Him" by Sally and Nathan Clarkson. Sally Clarkson has been a wonderful parenting mentor for me through her books and podcast. Her latest treasure, written with her youngest son, Nathan, shares the story of Nathan's growing up from the perspective of child and parent. From the beginning, Nathan was a "different" child; he didn't quite fit into everything that society said he should.With each one telling the story from their own points of view, it helps illuminate the struggles felt both as a child and as a parent. It's a wonderful book that shouldn't be missed out on, regardless of whether you have an out-of-the-box child or not.

"Notes From a Blue Bike:  The Art of Living Intentionally in a Chaotic World" by Tsh Oxenreider. Part memoir, part manifesto of living a simpler life, Tsh skillfully shares personal stories that highlight her family's journey to living a counter-cultural lifestyle. I loved the stories that she shared. Motivating and thought-provoking, I found myself drawn in by her passion for the subject. Having lived overseas, she brings a unique perspective to the table that many people have never experienced or may never get to experience. Drawing heavily on their life in Turkey, she illustrates how their life there was a springboard to living life with more intention upon their return to the United States. This book is a great jumping off point for people to put some thought into what your goals are, how you want to live, what your priorities are, and how you want to raise your kids. She is quick to reiterate that each family needs to evaluate and make decisions based on what is best for your particular family, your particular season. It is never easy to live counter-culturally, particularly in a culture like the U.S. But with a bit of thought and some creativity, it is possible to make even small changes. While Tsh writes out of her life as a mom of young kids, this book is not geared specifically for moms of young kids. There is a lot of great information in there for people of all ages, men or women, regardless of life stage. I would highly recommend this book!

"Organized Simplicity:  The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living" by Tsh Oxenreider. Divided into two sections, Tsh spends the first part of the book discussing what simple living looks like and how to practically live it out in our daily lives. The second half is a practical, hands-on section that has the reader go room by room in your home, cleaning and decluttering--essentially quieting your space and bringing it more in line with your vision of home for your family and particular needs. There is a lot of great advice in this book and it helped cement decluttering concepts that I've been working to implement in our home.


"Dark Matter" by Blake Crouch. This book was a bit out of my normal genres, but I found it absolutely fascinating. This novel tells the story of Jason Dessen, a physics professor in Chicago. He is kidnapped, knocked unconscious, and awakens in a world he doesn't recognize. What follows is his fight to get back to his life with his wife and son. I can't say too much else without spoilers, so just read this book!