In 2023, I set a aim to complete one guide per week. I’m aiming to hearken to half-hour of an audiobook per day (whereas cooking, cleansing, and/or driving) and learn 10 minutes of a guide. By doing this, I hope to pretty simply be capable to end one guide per week.
You may comply with alongside on GoodReads to see what I’m studying, what books I end, and the star ranking I give every of them.
Listed here are the three books I completed lately:
Salt to the Sea
I completely liked this guide. It was well-written, tremendous participating, and I realized rather a lot about an occasion in historical past (that befell throughout WWII) that I’d by no means even heard of earlier than. I additionally liked that it was the identical story written from a number of views… which made it actually fascinating.
It’s a tragic story, however the writer dealt with it in a method that it might be applicable even for youthful readers. Our teenagers learn it with me over the summer season and all of us actually loved it.
One factor I’ll say is that because it’s advised from a number of views, it could take a bit to get your bearings on who’s who and what’s what… however preserve studying for the primary 30-40 pages and also you’ll in all probability then not wish to cease studying
Additionally, because of loving it a lot, I went on and listened to all three of the writer’s different YA books!
Verdict: 5 stars
Don’t Maintain Again
Should you don’t like getting your toes stepped on, don’t learn this guide. As a result of regardless of the place you stand politically, there’s a good probability this guide goes to convict you — and probably make you’re feeling actually unsettled. However finally, I hope it challenges you to look to Jesus and for us to cease seeking to a person or a political determine or a political get together to “save us” or to alter our world.
I additionally liked the emphasis on loving others and reaching out to those that might imagine very in a different way than us. And the decision to unite round God and His Phrase as an alternative of secondary beliefs and convictions.
This guide has gotten numerous pushback and critique (not less than based mostly upon the variety of messages I received whereas I discussed studying this guide on Instagram) and I discovered that each single factor individuals advised me why they wouldn’t learn the guide missed what the guide was about. So I’ll simply say in the event you’ve heard issues and haven’t learn it, learn it first earlier than leaping to conclusions about it aligning with a sure political get together.
Verdict: 4 stars
Okay, so I struggled to determine overview this guide. On the one hand, I assumed it had numerous actually worthwhile ideas on spot a dysfunctional friendship and the significance of discovering our value and worth in Jesus as an alternative of looking for that in a relationship. When you’ve got struggled in friendships and relationships prior to now, particularly relating to drama or misunderstandings and harm in relationships, I feel this guide has numerous perception into the place a few of that may very well be stemming from.
Alternatively, I felt prefer it left me wanting… as in, sure, you shared tons and plenty of clever perspective on what unhealthy friendships appear like and keep away from and acknowledge that, however I didn’t really feel empowered with concepts of virtually what it seems to be wish to pursue wholesome, life-giving buddies. It nearly made me really feel hesitant to pursue relationships lest I’ve mistaken or unhealthy motives.
Additionally, it made it look like wholesome relationships will contain numerous confrontation and onerous conversations and calling out sin. Personally, I feel this guide might make individuals really feel like they must be confronting their buddies rather a lot as an alternative of loving and exhibiting up and believing one of the best after which (very often) needing to have a troublesome dialog. I’m all about pointing our buddies to Jesus and inspiring them to pursue holiness, however I feel we must be cautious that we don’t really feel prefer it’s our job to be their Holy Spirit.
I’d advocate studying this guide along with Discover Your Individuals for some stability of total — particularly if you’re wanting to construct wholesome, life-giving, deep relationships.
Verdict: 3 stars
