January Reading Wrap-Up

         It's that time again!  I know some of you probably couldn't care less what I'm reading each month, but after Jesus, my husband and my kiddos, there is hardly anything else I'd rather talk about than books!  So here we go!


        Book #1~  Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot

         As I mentioned previously, I made three reading goals this year:  To read 100 books, to read all of Elisabeth Elliot's books and to re-read the Anne of Green Gables Series.  So this was the first of the Elisabeth Elliot books.  It is an in depth look into "Operation Auca" and the five brave men who laid down their lives for the glory of God.  If you're not familiar with the story or these inspiring lives, please read this book!

        Book #2~ Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

         As a child I loved to read but I mostly read from specific series that I loved so I wasn't really very "well read".  Now that my girls are becoming more voracious readers I'm discovering how many children's classics I have never actually read.  This book was part of Ella and Esther's school curriculum so I read it aloud to them.  To be honest, it had me scratching my head a little.  It certainly did not strike me as a "children's book".  There was humor throughout but was almost entirely at a level over the girl's head.  In the end,  Ella said she really enjoyed it, Esther didn't enjoy it entirely, and I was left a little unsure.

          Book #3~ Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery 

         Oh dear Anne with an "E", you are one of my favorite people ever.  I know there are some literary characters that have become a little over glamorized, but Anne deserves all the glory she gets.  She's so perfectly imperfect.  I can't fathom how anyone could know her and not love her!  

         Book #4~ The Autobiography of George Muller 

           Prayer has been a major theme for me so far this year and that led me to reading this book.  I was very familiar with the life of George Muller but reading it from his own perspective was very different to me.  George Muller is famous for living his adult life in major ministry all the while never asking anyone at any time for financial support.  His aim in this was for God to be given all glory and to echo the sentiment of Abram when he said, "I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, 'I have made Abram rich.".  This book was very interesting and very inspiring.

          Book #5~ Spiritual Disciplines For the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney

          A challenging and encouraging look into Spiritual Disciplines.  Very good.  Very, very good.  If you want to be challenged in growing deeper in your relationship with the Lord I would recommend this one.

          Book #6~ Rise of Empire by Michael J. Sullivan

        Michael J. Sullivan has been my current pleasure reading.  I've had to limit myself to one per month!  Rise of Empire is the second book in the Riyria Revelations Trilogy.  I didn't quite enjoy this one as much as the first.  These books are each divided into two parts.  The first part was very dark.  Much more violent.  Part two took kind of a strange turn on a ship and some strange jungle people.  All that said, I still enjoyed it!  

        Book #7~  One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde

        I feel like I'm saying the same things over and over with Jasper Fforde.  Not only have I never read anything even remotely as creative (borderline insane), but I could never have imagined anything close to this!  This is the sixth book in this series and each one takes a completely different approach.  The main theme of this book was the fictional Thursday trying to find the missing real world Thursday, all the while trying to discover if she might be the real one after all.  These have some language and some adult references.

        Book #8~  Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot

        This book was a compilation of articles Elisabeth Elliot had written through different seasons of her life.  They covered all sorts of topics.  To be honest, there are not many Christian women authors that I really enjoy (if enjoy is the right word?).  I feel awful saying that but it's true.  Elisabeth Elliot's life and thoughts come from a place of courage and depth and absolute surrender to God's will and God's glory.  I was immensely encouraged and challenged by this book.

        Book #9~  Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham

          This was another book my girls were assigned in school so I thought I would check it out myself.  It's an older book set in post Revolutionary War America.  It's definitely an interesting look into life those days, particularly navigation aspects.  I must say it was a little dry though.  

         Book #10~  The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket

        This is the second book in A Series of Unfortunate Events.  I've never read this series before and I must say I'm still undecided if they are completely "my thing" or not.  They are dark, depressing and unfair.  That's the point of them.  In those things are where you find the humor and the endearment of the marvelous Baudelaire orphans.  Here is a sampling from the very beginning of this book.

         "The stretch of road that leads out of the city, past Hazy Harbor and into the town of Tedia, is perhaps the most unpleasant in the world.  It is called Lousy Lane.  Lousy Lane runs through fields that are a sickly gray color, in which a handful of scraggly trees produce apples so sour that one has only to look at them to feel ill.  Lousy Lane traverses the Grim River, a body of water that is nine tenths mud and that contains extremely unnerving fish, and it encircles a horseradish factory, so the entire area smells bitter and strong.

         I am sorry to tell you this story begins with the Baudelaire orphans traveling along this most displeasing road, and that from this moment on, the story only gets worse."

    Book #11~  The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Stories by Robert Louis Stevenson

        I'm hoping to get to some classics this year that I haven't read yet so this was the first one.  It was definitely as dark and as troubling as it has the reputation of being.  Very interesting, but not exactly pleasant.  The other stories included were very much of the same flavor.

         Book #12~  The Ruins of Gorlan by John A. Flanagan 

        I picked up this book because me oldest daughter is showing interest in fantasy and these had been recommended to me.  They are written for young adults and while there was nothing greatly original, they had exciting adventure.  I think Lydia will enjoy them.  

       This month had some pretty major highs and lows in the books I read, but it felt so good to get back into my books after the craziness of the holidays.  Apparently I did a little more reading than blogging!