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.
"Wild in the Hollow" by Amber C. Haines. Haines shares poetically and candidly about her brokenness and her longing for home. Her writing is gut-wrenching and honest. I really appreciated reading her journey through her trials, failings, and eventually finding a place to call home. There was something in her writing that really seemed to connect on a soul level. This book was a true gift to read!
"The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin. While pondering the idea of happiness, Rubin decided to take a year to improve her happiness level. Tackling one area per month, she covered things like meditation, clutter, exercise, and marriage. The idea behind the project was an interesting one, but I found myself getting bored and eager for the end. I didn't find a whole lot of eye-opening insights, but there were some good refreshers about ways to infuse more happiness into my own life.
"The Forgotten Garden" by Kate Morton. I've really been on a Kate Morton kick ever since I read "The Secret Keeper" last summer. This was another brilliant offering by her. In this novel, a young girl is abandoned on a ship to Australia in 1913. She is adopted by the dockmaster and told the truth about her adoption on her 21st birthday. She is then set on a journey to discover the truth about her early years, which is carried on by her granddaughter. I loved this story and am eager to pick up another one by Morton.
"Desperate" by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson. This was a re-read for me and I loved it just as much the second time through. Mae and Clarkson tag team the writing.
Mae, a mom of three young children, writes out of her current experience; Clarkson, a mom of four grown children, writes from the years of experience she has garnered. There
are 14 chapters, each one addressing a different aspect of motherhood.
Topics include sin, selfishness, housework, purpose, and needing a
mentor. It
is a wonderful book to go through on your own, or for a group to go
through, or even for a couple of women to read through. There is much to
discuss and process and all of it is good, solid material. "Desperate"
is a must-read for every mom!
"Teaching From Rest" by Sarah Mackenzie. I have become a fan of Mackenzie's through her work on the Read Aloud Revival. My kids attend our local public school, but I am exploring the possibility of homeschooling my kids at some point down the road. This book has been a great resource for mulling over what it would mean to me and my family to adopt homeschooling. I've appreciated her insights and advice. This is a great resource for homeschooling families and those who are exploring the future possibilities.
"The Sweetness of Forgetting" by Kristin Harmel. In this stirring novel, Hope McKenna-Smith moves back home to Cape Cod following her divorce in order to take over the running of her family bakery. Her French-born grandmother suffers from Alzheimer's disease, but manages to share a mysterious secret in a moment of clarity. With very little to go on, Hope embarks on a journey to find out the truth about her grandmother's past and her family origins. This is a beautiful story with plenty of twists and turns.
"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!
