.....sooooo..... I had a bad month of reading.
Like 1 book was done... & it was awful & I wanted to throw it against the wall - except it would be my Kindle & I love my Kindle. But in my mind, I totally threw an imaginary book against the wall.
You'll hear about it next month in my Show Us Your Books post... I'll just add it in to that. & hoping I get more than one more book read. Geez. Reading fail. I do go through stages, that's for sure.
So I thought I'd just take this time to highlight some of my all time favorite books....the ones that I will always recommend for someone to read.
After all, a good book never ages....
The Sea of Tranquility by Katja MillayQuick Summary: The Sea of Tranquility is a rich, intense, and brilliantly imagined story about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.
I just loved Nastya & Drew & the relationship they had with one another. & I loved that this book still pops up in people's reviews which makes me glad its still getting attention. I felt like I was one of the last ones to get to it but I read it back in 2013. & almost feel like its time to read it again.
Mondays with my Old Pastor: Sometimes All We Need is a Reminder from Someone Who has Walked Before Us.By Jose Luis Navajo
Quick Summary: A man goes to his elderly's pastor's house for reflection & inspiration & learns from watching how he accepts what life throws at him & his wife through the years.
This one was powerful... & moving... & was full of wisdom & thoughtfulness... & some tearful moments.
& I'm not even sure if this is a true story - I want to think it is... & even if its not, its still a good read for the soul. It's very much a story like "Tuesdays with Morrie"... which I enjoyed - but loved this one more.
When Heaven Weeps By Ted Dekker
Quick Summary: A love story set back in WWII that is a story based off of the book of the Bible, Hosea that shows what true love & forgiveness can look like.
I read this when I was a teenager & it moved me like no book I think had ever moved me before - & that was before I even realized it was based off of the scripture in Hosea. I have recommend this book to so many youth girls on what its like to truly be loved & how forgiveness can look.
If you are a fan of Ted Dekker, you have had to read his Martyr Series, right? If not, this is my favorite out of the entire series.
They are pretty old books - published in 2005 - but always a great story.
Through the years, I've given away so many copies... I need to see if my shelf still has one & re-read it again & see if its as impactful now as an adult.
Beauty by Susan WilsonQuick Summary: a modern retelling of Beauty & the Beast
So this is one of my first books I've ever picked up that was a re-telling of one of my favorite stories. I've been a Beauty & the Beast fan since ... forever... & just loved this story. This one stuck with me - maybe because the book itself was beautiful. It had slim pages - not like an ordinary book - the cover was rich in texture & I loved the art work... & funny, Susan Wilson is also the name of my cousin - not the same person - but I always remember this book because of that. I do remember being brought to tears in this book though & feeling it in my soul the heart ache it brought me. I really do need to dust this one off & re-read & see if its as impactful to me now that we are all swarmed with all the Beauty & the Beast retellings & remakes.
This one was published in 1996.
After River by Donna MilnerQuick Summary: A 35 yr old woman has to go home to see her dying mother & it brings back memories of when she was 15 & a Vietnam soldier shows up on their porch & changes the families lives forever.
I loved this book. I dont even know where I got it from or if anyone recommended it or if it ever was popular in any way... but I just loved the story of Natalie - a girl finding herself as she's becoming an adult in the 50's. It's really a book about love & family relationships, prejudice & intolerance & most of all the terrible alienation that can come from keeping secrets.
Under the Overpass: A Journey of Faith on the Streets of Americaby Mike Yankoski
Quick Summary: An upper-middle class man decides to live as a homeless person for 5 months to experience firsthand the life to see exactly what homelessness looks like in America.
If anyone ever asks me for a book recommendation - I ALWAYS say this one first. I think this book is amazing. 10000% amazing. So eye opening & powerful & just well written. It's one of those book that when you close the last page, you are changed. You cant look at things the same again.
I will still recommend this one first.
So what is one book you ALWAYS will recommend?
Linking up with Steph & Jana
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Linking up with Steph & Jana
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I own The Sea of Tranquility, so that's one that I really need to finally take the time and read!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
I didn’t have the best reading month either ....I adored The sea of Tranquility ..I will never read it again but I will always recommend it!
ReplyDeletemy books sucked this month -- ALL OF THEM. i'm waiting for 2 of my books to come in so hopefully those will be better.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had more time to read. I do appreciate good recommendations though. Monday's with my Old Pastor looks very interesting to me.
ReplyDeleteThe Sea of Tranquility is one of my favorite books of all time!
ReplyDeleteI just started the newest Stephen King book - I've always wanted to read his books and never have, so I'm giving him a try. The book is HUGE. Going to take me awhile to read it.
Thanks for new books to add to my reading list!
ReplyDeleteSea of Tranquility yes yes yes.
ReplyDeleteAfter River seems like something I would like. I'm going to see if my library has it.
Aww I loved Sea of Traquility too. I might re-read it sometime.
ReplyDeletebummer about your bad reading month. i have thrown my kindle at a wall before, and yeah, it breaks. so don't do that! lol. The Sea of Tranquility is one of my faves, i am itching for a re-read. too many books, too little time :)
ReplyDeleteThe Sea of Tranquility is such a good book, and I am definitely adding the others to my list!
ReplyDeleteMeg, Borrowed Heaven
I read Under the Overpass a few years ago. It was really good.
ReplyDeleteIf I were recommending, it would depend on the person and what I think they may like. But I always recommend 2 books and they are by the same author, Lori Wick. "Pretense" and "Bamboo and Lace". I like most all of her books, but these 2 are my favorites.
Man, it seems like so many people had a bad reading month. And I hear you - a bad book throws off my reading mojo so hard! You are not the last person to read Sea of Tranquility because I have not read it yet. Hangs head in shame. It's been on my TBR forever and I really, really need to read it because it's on so many people's best of list. Here's to better reading in October!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea for a post! I haven't actually read (or even heard of, honestly) ANY of these, so I appreciate the recommendations :)
ReplyDeleteIs Under the Overpass full of any triggers? Like, extreme cruelty or intense violence or anything like that? I ask just because I tend to be pretty sensitive to stuff like that, but the book sounds super interesting...
I really loved The Sea of Tranquility, too! It was so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite book of all time is Night by Elie Wiesel...a terrifying account of the Holocaust but told so beautifully in Elie's prose. This is a fabulous post idea. one other thing to note, I can still smell the smell of the fist "real" library I was in, you know, not a school one but a real "town" one. Fresh musk wrapped in citrus is oddly how I always describe it. Will never forget that intoxicating smell.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've heard of any of these so I'll be looking out for them! I totally get the bad reading month blues too -- that's one reason I combined two months into today's post. 🙂 I don't know if I've ever been so angry to throw a book or my kindle - must have been some book!
ReplyDeleteHeard great things about the sea of tranquility and will be reading soon... just so many books to get through.
ReplyDeleteI really need to add most of these to my reading list.
ReplyDeleteWe are kind of slammed with Beauty and the Beast retellings right now, aren't we? I read one last month and am in the process of reading another right now!
ReplyDeleteSea of Tranquility was a PHENOMENAL book. It sticks with you in a sad, amazing way
ReplyDeleteBummer about the one book being bad. We had a similar month =/
ReplyDeleteUnder the Overpass sounds SUPER interesting! Adding it to my TBR list now!
I always like to hear about good books (and bad ones, too, so I don't get them!). I just finished a really good one called Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman. Loved it and they are making a movie of it, too!
ReplyDeleteSea of Tranquility is on my TBR. Beauty just got added. I'm a little baffled that this wasn't on my radar. Fairy Tale Re-tellings are my jam! For me, I will always recommend Jane Eyre, Riders of the Purple Sage (so out of character for me!), Renaissance Soul, Bel Canto, and How to Sew a Button. :) XO - Alexandra
ReplyDeleteSimply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
I still haven't read Sea of Tranquility. I know. I KNOW. I will get to it! After River sounds interesting, I will add it to my list.
ReplyDeleteI really loved Sea of Tranquility. What a beautiful story! Haven't read the others on your list.
ReplyDeleteI added After River and Under the Overpass to my never-ending to read list. Thanks for the recommendations!
ReplyDeleteWhat do I always recommend? Depends on the reader. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin and Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley are two books that include book lovers as characters.
Sea of Tranquility is on my tbr list. I have been reading alot of YA lately and enjoying it. Pam
ReplyDeleteI definitely think I read SoT after you, but I agree I love seeing it pop up in people's reviews!! Some good books I'll be adding to my list, thanks for sharing these!
ReplyDelete