Here are four books that I’ve read lately that you might enjoy!
- Pumpkin Heads by Rainbow Rowell:
Deja and Josiah have worked at the Pumpkin Patch all through high school every Halloween but tonight is their last night because they’re finally high school seniors and are leaving for college the next year. Deja decides that their last night will go out with a bang and shenanigans commence!
Every year when Goodreads does their annual “best of” lists of all the different genres, I go through the nominees of genres I didn’t get to check out during that year and pick something that stands out to me. I didn’t read any graphic novels last year so I decided to pick this one out, since it had high ratings and I had read the author before. I read this in maybe 30 minutes, it’s quick but I didn’t enjoy it. Maybe it’s just for middle grade but one of the best books I read last year was middle grade (The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley) and I loved it. I think a good book is a good book regardless of grade level. Anyway, gave this one 2 stars.
2. Miracles and Other Reasonable Things: A Story of Unlearning and Relearning God By Sarah Bessey:
“I find God most in that wild tang, in the sparse and open space, in the unresolved colors, even in the doubt and the uncelebrated places of our lives often neglected by theologians and philosophers. Perhaps that’s why I keep wrestling with this story of God, with the unresolved Jesus, with the wind and fire and water of the Spirit; there’s an edge to the story, more than we acknowledge at times.”
Bessey was raised in the prosperity gospel movement. She grew up believing that if we just obeyed God and were true Christians then we’d get untold prosperity and blessings and her life seemed to prove that. Bessey was a popular author, sought after speaker, married to the man of her dreams with four kids. Everything in her life seemed to shout out the goodness of the Lord then she got into a car crash on the highway that wasn’t her fault and her faith came crashing down.
Bessey tells a poignant story of her road to recovery, finding out her body was never going to be the same again, meeting the Pope in Rome, criticisms of the Catholic Church, and encountering the Lord in the last place she expected. In a world of strong faiths and never wavering, it feels refreshing to see one of the Christian faith’s leading authors be so vulnerable and honest about her doubts. I really recommend this one for people like me who aren’t sure anymore, for people who have always been sure and everyone in between. Really enjoying reading this one. Gave it 4 stars on Goodreads.
3. Renegades by Marissa Meyer:
“One cannot be brave who has no fear.”
This is the first book in the Renegade series. The Renegades are a syndicate of people with extraordinary powers who came into power at a time when humans needed them the most. They are revered by everyone except the villains they overthrew. Nova grew up with the villains, her allegiance is to them, so when she infiltrates the renegades in order to learn their secrets, she ends up with more than she bargained for. This is a YA fantasy novel.
I quite enjoyed this one even though it got annoying at some point. It’s so ridiculous that Nova believes the things she does even when the truth is staring her in the face. I also really liked the complexity Meyer gave the characters in this book, it was never heroes are all good and villains are all bad. I gave this one 3 stars. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series especially now that I know all three books are finally out!
4. Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris:
“All of us take pride and pleasure in the fact that we are unique, but I’m afraid that when all is said and done the police are right: it all comes down to fingerprints.”
I’ve finally listened to every single thing Sedaris has ever written. I have only read one of Sedaris’ book physically and that was “Me Talk Pretty One Day” and I even later listened to that one on audio. I think Sedaris is supposed to be listened to, not read. He reads all of his own books and is a very good narrator. I don’t actually find him particularly funny but his books are mostly light and even the difficult topics he tackles still have a light angle. Since it was the holidays and this was the last book of his I hadn’t read, I decided to tackle it. This is his holiday Christmas collection and I gave it 2 stars on Goodreads. My favorite was The Diary of a Macy’s Elf. It definitely isn’t my favorite Sedaris.
I hope you enjoyed these quick fire reviews. Let me know if you’ve read or intend to read any of these books in the comments. Have a great reading week everyone!
Leggy
TwoNightStands 