Well it’s officially September. It’s raining this morning, most people I know are back to school, the air is starting to change just a little here in North Idaho, and the hours are definitely getting shorter.
Summer is coming to a close.
This was one of the best Summers I’ve had in years. I rode my bike to work almost every day, I made kombucha, I slept in, I got to go backpacking, boating, hiking, and camping. And best of all, I got to spend hours READING!!
Typically during the school year I don’t have a lot of free time to read, (or free time in general haha) so I definitely made sure to take full advantage of my open schedule this Summer. Although I would have loved to devour even more books, below you’ll find the ones I read as well as a short review in case you might be interested in checking one of them out.
Book 1. Millennial Money.
This book, lent to me by my brother, was written as a wake up call to my generation warning us that in the future, we won’t be able to rely on social security and pensions for our retirement. The best plan of action is to start saving and investing now. This easy to read and easy to understand book definitely motivated me to start thinking about my future retirement, even if it does feel far away. The author uses engaging illustrations, visual graphs and current economic trends and projections to clarify his arguments. It’s a book armed with strategy for those interested in stepping foot into the investing world.
Book 2. Devotedly.
I received this newly published book for my birthday and was so excited I think I started reading it that night! Jim and Elisabeth Elliot are well known for their incredible faith and fortitude in the Christian community and although Jim was murdered so young and Elisabeth has passed away, their stories are still making an impact today. This book is written by their daughter, who compiled letters and journal entries from her parents in a chronological format to tell their love story. It’s a story of extraordinary faith, perseverance, patience and hope. And yet what equally surprised me is that it’s a story about two humans. When you read from someones personal journal, you definitely get a peek into their most raw and real thoughts and emotions. Jim and Elisabeth Elliot weren’t heroes of the faith because they were Jim and Elisabeth Elliot, but because they had Christ in them. They owed everything to him, including the beauty and success of their relationship. It’d be an encouraging book for anyone, regardless of whether you are in a relationship or not. Also the original letters and entries are photocopied into the book, which makes for really fun visual as you’re reading.
Book 3. Defying Jihad.
I read this book in two days. Needless to say, it was a page-turner. It’s the story of Esther Ahmad, a previous Muslim who was so devoutly committed to Allah she had volunteered to become a suicide bomber. Just two nights before she was supposed to leave, however, she had a dream that would change her life. Esther met Jesus. Defying Jihad follows Esther’s miraculous conversion to Christianity and the extreme consequences that she suffers because of it. It’s an incredible account of the courage, intellect and power that the Holy Spirit gives us when we surrender our lives to him. I literally wanted to jump up and down and cheer when it was over! Our God is an awesome God!
Book 4. The Island of Dr. Moreau.
Ok, I’m not going to lie. This was probably one of the creepiest books I’ve ever read. Published in 1896, it’s an equal parts science fiction, suspense, mystery and thriller. It follows the character Edward Prendick, an Englishman who finds himself shipwrecked, rescued and brought to the Island of Dr. Moreau. This Doctor is a strange man, with furry ears and a secretive, sinister nature. But what is even stranger is what Edward finds on this island- beastly creatures so human-like its disturbing and frightening. Edward faces many different ethical dilemmas throughout the book as he tries to uncover the nature and mystery behind the island, and what to do to save it, and himself. (Also just a tip: Maybe don’t read this one alone at night.)
Book 5. One Hundred Days of Sunlight.
The thing that drew me to this book, was originally not the book itself, but the author, Abbie Emmons. Abbie is a young woman my age who is enthusiastic about writing and has such a sweet, positive outlook on life. I follow her blog and instagram to get insight and motivation when it comes to the writing process. Naturally then, when I found out she was writing a book I just had to read it! Its a young adult novel about Tessa, a girl who goes blind for 100 days after being involved in a car accident and the friendship she forms with Weston, a boy with no legs. Weston thinks he can help Tessa because he knows how she feels, but there’s a catch- no one can tell Tessa about his disability. This book made me laugh and cry. It is honest and painful and beautiful and I’m so proud of Abbie for what an amazing work she’s created!
Book 6. Unashamed.
This book was an unexpected gem. I hate to say this, but honestly the only reason I got it was because it was $1 at the thrift store and I wanted to bring a book camping that I didn’t care about getting dirty or wet. To be fair, I have listened to some of Lecraes music and I thought learning more about him might be interesting, but HOLY COW!!! This mans story is definitely more than interesting. It’s inspiring, it’s convicting, it’s motivating… For those of you who don’t know, Lecrae is a talented rap and hip-hop artist with an incredible faith and balanced perspective when it comes to art and Christianity. What I didn’t know is the deep darkness and pain he has walked through in his life. The title is sort of misleading in a sense. He wrote unashamed not to show that he was unashamed of his faith in Christ, which is what we as Christians generally think when we see that word, but that he was unashamed of his past, because God had saved him from it and turned him into a new creation. This man has so much wisdom and compassion because of what he’s gone through and even if you never listen to his music, I would highly recommend this book.
Book 7. When God Writes your Life Story.
This is book is a sequel of sorts to Eric and Leslie Ludy’s popular book, When God Writes your Love Story, which talks about surrendering your ideas and pursuits of romance to God and trusting him to satisfy your dreams and desires. This book is centered around that same idea, but instead of only talking about one aspect of your life, it centers around your whole life. It struggles with the age old questions, “Who am I?” and “What am I here for?” Honestly at times I had to put this book down and pray over some of the concepts because there are hard, hard truths written in these pages. Believing in Jesus costs us nothing, but truly following him costs us everything from removing distractions, shaking off our “settler” mentality, disciplining our bodies, minds and souls and developing Godly habits. Its a book I will definitely keep on my shelf and re-read because the truths and challenges in it are timeless and so important to remind yourself of.
And there you have it!!!
The seven books I laughed over, cried over, and struggled through this Summer. If you’re interested in checking any of these out, I included links to them on amazon, or if you know me I may consider lending you one (if you’re especially nice to them of course haha). Reading is such a healthy habit for both your mind and soul, and even though it will be a textbook under my nose for the most part, I definitely will continue reading throughout the rest of the year.
I hope you enjoyed this post, I hope you have a beautiful day and I hope more than anything my words inspired you to sit somewhere cozy, even for just a couple minutes today and get lost in the pages of a good book!
