As of Lately: Books

Garner recently bought me a Kindle and I've quickly gone through some more reads (commuting has suddenly become a lot more interesting!). Here's post #2 on books I've read lately:

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (4/5 stars):

This best-selling deep psychological mystery makes you think about the power of motherhood, the intensity of teenage love, and the danger of perfection. It’s a great book and a bestseller for a good reason.

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah (5/5): 

Kristin Hannah is probably my favorite author of all time. In her latest novel, a desperate family seeks a new beginning in the near-isolated wilderness of Alaska only to find that their unpredictable environment is less threatening than the erratic behavior found in human nature. Highly recommend this read.

Defending Jacob by William Landay (3/5): 

How far would you go to protect your child? It is a test of devotion. A test of how well a parent can know a child. For Andy Barber, a man with an iron will and a dark secret, it is a test of guilt and innocence in the deepest sense. This legal thriller is great for anyone who loves Cold Justice or Law & Order.

Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller (5/5): 

In Donald Miller's early years, he was vaguely familiar with a distant God. But when he came to know Jesus Christ, he pursued the Christian life with great zeal. Within a few years he had a successful ministry that ultimately left him feeling empty, burned out, and, once again, far away from God. In this intimate, soul-searching account, Miller describes his remarkable journey back to a culturally relevant, infinitely loving God.

I loved this book because it’s real. It talks about the parts of Christianity that most people avoid, how to avoid becoming a “fake” Christian and why atheists can be your friends too. Highly highly recommend reading this whether you are religious or not.

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn (2/5): 

The mystery novel deals with class issues in rural America, intense poverty and the Satanic cult hysteria that swept the United States in the 1980s. I only gave it 2 stars because I don’t love books about satanic cults or devil worship and there are also some tough parts about family abuse.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo (4/5): 

This #1 New York Times best-selling guide to decluttering your home from Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes readers step-by-step through her revolutionary KonMari Method for simplifying, organizing, and storing. I jumped on the bandwagon and immediately got rid of multiple bags of clothes I don’t wear, “duplicates” around the house and other types of clutter. Highly recommend reading this… plus it’s a quick read for a flight. Just make sure to donate it or throw it away after ;)