All My Knotted-Up Life

 Nonfiction by Beth Moore

https://www.audible.com

This was a good honest memoir that really helped me understand the author's life in its complexity. Also having it read in her own voice is a bonus!

Analog Church

Subtitled: Why We Need Real People, Places, and Things in the Digital Age 
Nonfiction by Jay Y. Kim

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

My pastor assigned me this book to read for church.

That sounds terrible, but it was actually a pretty insightful book, and not painful to read.

The Most Mis-Used Verses in the Bible

Subtitled: The Surprising Ways God’s Word is Misunderstood  

Nonfiction by Eric James Bargerhuff

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

This was an interesting book; most of the information was not exactly new to me, but some of the author’s takes on popular Bible verses were very insightful. It’s a great reminder that we should always look at the context of the entire Bible instead of cherry-picking the verses we like in order to get an accurate picture. 

Another Gospel?

 Subtitled: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity

Nonfiction by Alisa Childers

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

I read the first chapter of this book as a “teaser” advertisement on Facebook and it interested me a lot. I bought the book on kindle and read at least half of it while waiting for a prescription at the military hospital. (It was a LONG wait, obviously.)

This is a memoir written by Alia Childers, who was in the popular Christian group Zoe Girl in the early 2000’s. She is a Christian woman raised by devout parents who experienced a crisis of faith as an adult.

I really recommend this book to any Christian who is wondering how to answer those who ask, “How do we know the Bible is true? And does it even matter?” The author had her faith well and truly shaken by these questions at a vulnerable time in her life, and came back so much stronger after searching for the answers. 

Blind Hope

Subtitled: An Unwanted Dog and the Woman She Rescued

Nonfiction by Kim Meeder

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

The idea behind this book was nice; it’s about a young woman called Laurie who adopted a dog with special needs and found purpose in life. I did not really like the way it was written, however. I can’t explain it, except that the author didn’t really make it interesting to read. I think she was more interested in imparting life lessons than telling a good story. Which is fine, except that I prefer stories to lessons. 

Girl in the Song

Subtitled: The True Story of a Young Woman Who Lost Her Way and the Miracle That Led Her Home

Nonfiction by Chrissy Cymbalta Toledo

https://www.amazon.com

This is a memoir about a pastor's daughter who strayed from her father's church and into the arms of a man who was no good for her. I had never really thought about a bad relationship as being an "addiction to a person," but that seems to be what she is describing here.

It was a good story and a quick read, although I wonder how honest she is being about her relationship with her parents. They come across as awfully perfecty-perfect.

The Boy Born Dead

Nonfiction by David Ring, David Wideman, and John Driver

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

This was an interesting true story about David Ring, a young man with cerebral palsy who became a great speaker and evangelist. It's told in a surprising way, through the point of view of David Wideman, a boy who befriended him when the two were teenagers. The result is a very readable story that, I think, would have been less compelling told from just David Ring's viewpoint.

So the writing credit should really go solely to the "ghostwriter" John Driver, in my opinion, because he conducted the interviews of both boys, made the artistic choice to change point of view and make the story ten times stronger than a first-person account would have been and... oh yeah, DID THE ACTUAL WRITING of the book. But such is the fate of ghostwriters, I suppose.

Miss Brenda and the Loveladies

Subtitled: A Heartwarming Story of Grace, God, and Gumption.
Nonfiction by Brenda Spahn and Irene Zutell

https://m.barnesandnoble.com

Now this is the kind of nonfiction I enjoy: a character-driven story about real people! I'm going to give the cowriter credit for readability, because I see she is also a fiction writer. Still, you could also really get the personality of Miss Brenda in the writing as well, so I think both ladies did a good job.

This was an interesting story and I recommend it!

Until We Reach Home

Fiction by Lynn Austin.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

Three sisters in the late nineteenth- century leave Sweden for a new life in America in this interesting book. I enjoyed the story, although I thought it wrapped up a bit too quickly at the end.

I also read recently by this author: All Things New, A Woman's Place, and  Wonderland Creek

The Promise Bride

Fiction by Gina Welborn and Becca Whitham.


https://www.barnesandnoble.com

This book was (co)written by a fellow military wife who was stationed with me recently, although she's moved elsewhere now.

It's a straight historical romance, and a good one. I'm interested to see where the next book will take the series.

The Devil in Pew Number Seven

Nonfiction by Rebecca Nichols Alonzo.


http://www.barnesandnoble.com

An amazing true story about the author's father (who was a small-town preacher in the seventies), this book gave me a lot to think about. When Jesus said to bless those who curse you, did He really mean it?

Just a Minute

Nonfiction by Wess Stafford.


http://www.barnesandnoble.com

A good book to read in short snippets. Like in the bathroom. (Was that TMI? Sorry.)

No seriously, this is a collection of true stories about how a moment of interaction in child's life can make a huge difference for good or bad. Thought-provoking.

(THUMBS-UP)

For Women Only

Nonfiction by Shaunti Feldhahn.


http://www.barnesandnoble.com

This is a book about what married women should know about their husbands.

The following conversation with MY husband resulted:

Me: I'm reading this to understand you better.
Him: Ah! ...and this book was written by a...?
Me: Um. A woman...
Him: I see.
Me: She did a LOT of research.
Him: Hmmm...
Me: There's one for men too.
Him: Really?
Me; Yes, so that they can understand their wives.
Him: Guess who WON'T be reading that?

(THUMBS-UP)

My Big Bottom Blessing

 

Subtitled: How Hating My Body Led to Loving my Life
Nonfiction by Teasi Cannon.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Okay, I'll admit I totally picked this book because of the title. I mean, who could resist, right? But it turned out to be really good.

Here's a confession: I have major body image issues. By which I mean, I hate how I look. Really, really hate it. The symptoms of this disorder are mirror avoidance,  a tendency to scream please-don't-take-my-picture, and a general air of apology for the amount of space I have to take up while offending the eyes of all.

Apparently, Teasi Cannon, the author of this book used to feel the same way. Her descriptions of how she felt looking in the mirror was spot-on with my own experience. It was amazing to see someone else with the same problem. Maybe I'm not crazy after all?

Anyways, the book is about how she overcame this problem by realizing that God loves her the way she is. Because He made her! She learned to see herself the way God sees her.

Well, I'm still working on that. I will probably need to read the book again.

In the meantime, don't take my picture, okay?

(TWO THUMBS-UP)

Too Small to Ignore

Subtitled: Why the Least of These Matters Most.
Nonfiction by Wess Stafford


http://www.barnesandnoble.com

This is written by the man who is head of Compassion International. He gives a really interesting history of his own life and why he cares so much about children's causes.

Really good book.

(THUMBS-UP)

When Godly People Do UnGodly Things

Subtitled: Arming Yourself in the Age of Seduction.
Nonfiction by Beth Moore.


http://www.barnesandnoble.com

My book club book for this month. Really thought-provoking.

(THUMBS-UP)

No Compromise

Subtitled: "The Life Story of Keith Green"
Nonfiction by Melody Green and David Hazard


http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Keith Green was an amazing person, and his story is fascinating.

However, it could have been better written. For one thing, it took me a long time to even get into this book, because almost a third of the story was spent before he was even saved. Unlike most Christians, Keith Green got more interesting with Christ.

Still it's worth reading.

(THUMBS-UP)

The Blessing

Subtitled: "Giving the Gift of Unconditional Love and Acceptance "
Nonfiction by Gary Smalley and John Trent.


http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Good book loaned to me by a friend.

This has some great advice on really showing your kids you love them. Now if I can just follow through....

(THUMBS-UP)

Love and Respect

Subtitled: "The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs."
Nonfiction by Emerson Eggerichs.



http://www.barnesandnoble.com

You may have noticed I've been reading a lot of marriage books.

It seems lately that people keep giving me marriage books, or recommending them.

Are y'all trying to tell me something?

No, seriously, it was explained to me once that reading books on marriage, or attending couples' seminars, et cetera, should not be reserved for those whose marriages are "in trouble." Because if you value your relationship, you want to study and improve it. The same way that if you enjoy golf, you want to read books about the game, and watch videos or whatever to get better at it.

So I'll take the flood of marriage books as a compliment.

And this was a good one, by the way.