Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge.
Every woman who is even the slightest bit intrigued with Jesus Christ needs to pick up this book. While reading this book, I found myself highlighting pages at a time and sharing many passages with my friends as I was completely in awe of the Lord’s love for us.
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
The Art of Racing in the Rain was heartfelt, tear-jerking, and eminently real. Told from the perspective of a dog who was there through it all, this story pulls tightly on your heart strings. Through race tracks, late nights, and long drives, Denny and his dog Enzo show you what it looks like to move forward when everything and everyone is pushing you backwards, or in better words, what it looks like to race in the rain.
…But racing in the rain is also about the mind! It’s about owning one’s own body. About believing that one’s car is merely an extension of one’s body. About believing that the track is an extension of the car, and the rain is an extension of the track, and the sky is an extension of the rain. It’s about believing that you are not you; you are everything. And everything is you.
The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart
I completely fell in love with this book. There wasn’t a stone left unturned; every detail falls into place in the most unexpected ways. The characters were remarkably real, and while they were vastly different, they fit together in the quirkiest of ways. Not only did I feel as if I knew these characters, but I also felt known by them. Trenton Lee Stewart, I thank you for this message. It was beautifully written, and one I needed to hear.
From the boat the shoals were invisible–as was almost everything else beneath the water’s surface. The ocean was the greatest secret keeper of all. Some of its secrets, like the hidden shoals, could be discovered, but most would never be known. Thousands upon thousands might be revealed, yet there would always be more that remained hidden. The ocean was probably the most mysterious thing in the world, Reuben thought, except for a person.
Crossing the Mangrove by Maryse Condé
This book had a slow start, but once it got going, it turned out to be very interesting. I might have appreciated it more if I knew more of the history and culture of Guadeloupe, but it was still enjoyable. The characters were sometimes difficult to keep track of, but nonetheless developed and connected. I was so surprised at the end of the book when I read that the translator and the original author were married! I thought that was super neat.
I knew his mind was wandering in regions I could never reach.
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom
There were many quotable moments in this book that were lovely, and that all by itself might have made it worth the read. I was hooked from the beginning when music was personified and acted as the narrator to the story, but after that I found that there were a lot of unnecessary details throughout the book. A great concept, but there wasn’t enough valuable substance to it.
Everyone joins a band in this life. You are born into your first one…As life goes on, you will join other bands…Maybe you will dress the same, or laugh at your own private vocabulary. Maybe you will flop on couches backstage, or share a boardroom table, or crowd around a gallery inside a ship. But in each band you join, you will play a distinct part, and it will affect you as much as you affect it.
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
I was really excited about this book after reading the back cover, but it just wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be. The way it was written was confusing and it didn’t flow very well at all. The story itself moved noticeably slow, and it didn’t do a good job of initially explaining what the book was actually about. This book had great potential, but was ultimately a let down.
Reached by Ally Condie
Even though I think the author could’ve taken some of the concepts in this series further, it was intriguing and kept my attention. It was an easy read, and I would definitely recommend it to someone who loves science-fiction/dystopian novels, even though the series was not as complex as some of the competitors in its genre.
Ellie Proctor 