Back in October I attended the Allume conference and the swag bag was full of books to add to my ever-growing “to read” list. After the busyness of the holiday season settled I cleared my calendar and spent a most of my toddler naptime hours this winter curled up with a blanket, a hot cup of chai, and a book.
It’s an incredibly random assortment of women’s christian literature to YA dystopian fiction to parenting advice books and more and I’m still in the middle of a few of them but here’s a little bit of what I’ve been reading lately (*amazon affiliate links included, this mama likes to read on her kindle):
The Long Awakening by Lindsay O’Connor – This book was the best book that I read in 2013. When I was at Allume my friend Twila told me that I HAD to read it and hooked me up with a copy. I could not put it down. The author fell into a coma after giving birth and she writes about the things she saw and felt and remembers during that time. It is a gripping story and a beautiful account of hope and faith.
Desperate: Hope For The Mom Who Needs To Breathe by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson – I really enjoyed this. I feel a bit like there are a lot of articles floating around the internet that espouse catchy phrases about the mess of motherhood but very few that dig in deep and offer practical solutions to implement. I enjoyed both the honesty and the helpfulness of this book and would definitely recommend it to a mom of small children because these early years are hard but they are also awesome and do-able and it’s nice to see that reflected back in this book.
Restless: Because You Were Made For More by Jennie Allen – I have to be honest, this was not my favorite but I did really enjoy the last few chapters on how to discover your the unique talents and God-given gifts and how to use them to bless others. I would actually love for that thought to be expanded fully and wish the book had delved more into that and had dedicated more space to that topic. I do think it is worth the read just for the last third of the book.
Love & Respect in The Family by Emerson Eggerichs – I had heard good things about the Love & Respect books from friends but had never actually read any. This was a pretty easy read and I enjoyed it but I’ll likely revisit it and absorb more of it when Scarlette is older. I didn’t find much applicable for parenting a three year old.
123 Magic by Thomas W. Phelan – I read this because everyone and their brother were continually recommending it to me when I would talk with other parents about some behavior issues I was having with my toddler. I think it is worth a read and I have implemented a modified version of what the book suggests with great success here. My personal parenting approach involves a bit more conversation than the book allows for and I am still learning what motivates Scarlette because, you know, she’s three. One day she’s motivated by a chocolate chip and the next day it’s like chocolate chips are THE WORST, how dare I deign to offer her one, she never wants a chocolate chip again never, ever. So there’s that. (Also, I found myself going “That’s not what Supernanny says!” and so obviously, I am a product of my generation.)
What’s Left Of Me & Once We Were by Kat Zhang – Easily some of my favorite YA dystopian fiction reads of 2013, this series explored the idea that every person is born with two souls. It was a fascinating twist in a genre that can get a bit stale, I loved the concept and the thematic intrigue of this book.
Anomaly by Krista McGee – This is a faith-based YA dystopian fiction novel, which is something I had not come across until I read this book. I thought it could have used a little more editing to move things along but I really enjoyed the concept and I loved the cliffhanger twist at the end. It was the kind that made me gasp and thing “DID NOT SEE THAT COMING” which is always the mark of a good book for me. I currently have the sequel on my kindle awaiting the next time I can steal away for a bit because I know I’ll want to read it in one sitting.
I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella – Sophie Kinsella is my favorite chick-lit author and this book did not disappoint. In fact, I would put it right behind Can You Keep A Secret in my list of favorite books by this author. It’s a funny, light read that you definitely want to stick in your beach bag this summer. I normally read her books the day they are released and have no idea how this one fell off my radar.
The L.A. Candy Series by Lauren Conrad – Um, yeah. So I read the entire L.A. Candy series by Lauren Conrad. I realize this is probably the most embarrassing thing I’ve done yet as a thirty year old. But as an avid watcher of The Hills in my early twenties, this was so much fun to read! I’m pretty sure that this was Lauren’s way of telling what really happened on The Hills without getting sued, by changing some names and hair colors and calling it fiction.
The Fault In Our Stars by John Green – This book wrecked me. It is a heavy contender for best book of 2014 already. I stayed up until 2:30 in the morning to finish it, which is not something that I do now that I have a child who wakes up demanding breakfast and stuff y’all. I don’t want to tell you anything about it so that you have no preconceived ideas going in. I just want you to read it. It is THAT good.
What have you been reading lately? I would love some recommendations!
