My reading list is unusual this month in that I read more fiction books than non-fiction.  That almost never happens!

The first book is on my 2016 reading list; the other four were not.  All three of the fiction books were read just before or during our vacation week.

 
1.  Fervent:  A Woman’s Battle Plan for Serious, Specific, and Strategic Prayer by Priscilla Shirer.  This book on prayer reminds us of who our real enemy is and the importance of using prayer to defeat him.  Each chapter deals with a specific prayer topic, and includes verses to use in developing your own prayer for each situation.

2.  I’m Happy for You (Sort Of….Not Really) by Kay Wills Wyma.  This was a re-read; I just felt like I needed to be reminded of the truths that Kay shared in this book.  You can read my extensive review of this book here.

3.  The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin.  I actually got this young adult book to preview for my teenager, but ended up reading the whole thing myself before I passed it on to her.  It’s a Newberry Award winner, and quite a clever little mystery.

4.  The Patmos Deception by Davis Bunn.  Reading a story set on the island of Patmos was interesting and thought-provoking.  I’ve always related that location to the apostle John and his writing of Revelation, but it was neat to realize that it’s a place where people actually live today.  This book seemed a little slow at points for me….but maybe that’s because I ended up comparing it to my next read.

5.  Gold of Kings by Davis Bunn.  This was an entertaining read, with lots of adventure and mystery.  I really enjoyed this one!

What have you been reading lately?

Except for February, I think this is my year of underachieving when it comes to reading!

I finished three books in May; the first was on my 2016 reading list, but the other two were not.

 
1.  Age of Opportunity:  A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens by Paul David Tripp.  The author encourages parents to use the teen years to prepare their children for the life ahead of them rather than to see it as a season just to be survived.  He deals a lot with promoting their spiritual growth and maturity, which begins by living a Godly example before them.

2.  What a Girl Needs from Her Mom by Cheri Fuller.  I thought this book covered the mother/daughter relationship very well!  It talks about all the different ways we can develop our relationship with our daughters.  The author has good insight into issues we will face with them.  Much of her focus is on keeping the lines of communication open.  I had gotten this book at the library, but I bought a copy for myself so that I can read it again from time to time.

3.  Living Beyond Your Capacity by Paul Chappell.  This was a helpful read about viewing the Holy Spirit as a person and acknowledging all the roles He plays in our spiritual walk as well as appreciating the work that He does in our lives.

What have you been reading lately?

I was missing in action here on the blog earlier this week as our daughters and I got to accompany my husband on a work-related trip to Asheville, NC.

We were blessed with beautiful weather!  My husband and the girls went ziplining on Monday, then we visited the Biltmore House and Gardens on Tuesday.

 

I’m also excited that I was able to read a few more books this month!  Here are the five that I read; only the first one was on my 2016 reading list.

 

• Parenting for the Launch:  Raising Teens to Succeed in the Real World by Dennis Trittin and Arlyn Lawrence.  This book is all about preparing your teens to leave home.  My favorite chapter dealt with helpful skills we can develop to communicate effectively with our teenagers.  The authors also explained changes to look for and embrace, offered advice on preparing them to make decisions and build relationships, and how we transition into guiding and influencing our children instead of telling them exactly what to do.
• Simply Tuesday by Emily P. Freeman.  Emily reminds us to embrace the small, the ordinary, and the every day; see the beauty in simple moments; and set aside time to let our souls breathe.
• Hands Free Life by Rachel Macy Stafford.  I’d read Rachel’s previous book, Hands Free Mama, but I have to say that I really prefer this book to the first one.  I highlighted a number of passages (and already shared this quote).  The nine habits she develops throughout the book are all key principles for developing a well-balanced life.  I love the personal stories she uses to illustrate each of the habits, and I left the book with a new realization of the importance of relationships.
• Meet the New You by Elisa Pulliam.  You can read my complete review of this book here.
• Murder at the Courthouse by A.H. Gabhart.  Okay, this fiction book is not as dramatic as the title sounds.  It’s a small town mystery that I enjoyed reading while we were on our trip earlier this week.  I hope to read the second one in the series soon.

Have you read any good books lately?

If you’ve ever wanted a personal life coach to guide you in changing the direction of your life, you might want to read Meet the New You:  A 21-Day Plan for Embracing Fresh Attitudes and Focused Habits for Real Life Change by Elisa Pulliam.

 
This book is laid out in 21 chapters, each with a particular theme.  The chapter opens with a couple of pages to read, followed by a “Trap and Transform” section, which gives activities that reinforce and put into practice what you’ve read.  Next, a few related questions are asked, with a place given for you to write in your answers.  Each chapter ends with a prayer.

Written from a Christian perspective, the chapter topics include such things as “order your priorities,” “discover your talents and spiritual gifting,” and “eliminate the excess and concentrate on what’s best.”  Some of the chapters have a lot of material to consider, especially if the particular topic is one you’re wanting to apply in your life, so you may want to take more than one day per chapter.  This would allow you to complete the assignments thoroughly and fully internalize the lesson being taught.

Since Elisa is an actual life coach, her perspective and guidance is helpful.  I think the book meets its goal, which is to “help you assess what your life looks like today while allowing you to gain clarity and vision about tomorrow.”

I also believe you will get out of this book what you put into it.  If you really dig in, put time and thought into answering the questions, and complete the activities given, you can gain a clearer picture of how you want to live, the habits you need to change, and clarity for a new direction in life.

Blogging for Books provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.  All of the opinions expressed in this post are my own and I was not compensated for this review in any other way.

I knew going into March that I wouldn’t have much time for reading, but I was still surprised that I only made it through two books.  That makes for a short post!

At least these books were on my 2016 reading list.  They were both good, but not books that I plan to revisit.

• You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream by Holley Gerth.  If you’re looking for encouragement to step out of your comfort zone and try something big and/or new for God, this book could be good motivation for you.

• 9 Things You Simply Must Do To Succeed in Love and Life by Dr. Henry Cloud.  The author shares nine principles that can help you in your relationships and in pursuing your life goals.  He uses interesting metaphors as chapter titles, such as “Pull the Tooth,” and “Act Like an Ant.”  My favorite quote from the book is “Humility is not having a need to be more than you are.”

Have you read any good books lately?

Related post:  6 Tips for Getting the Most from the Books You Read

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When I shared my reading list for this year in January, a blog reader, Laura, wrote the following:

“I have a 2016 reading list as well. Sometimes I think I should read fewer books and work more on putting them into action. I wonder if I am any different three months later than before I read a parenting book or marriage book or other such type of book. Do you have thoughts or tips on such or do you hope it is just somewhat renewing your mind?”

She had an excellent point!  Often we read a book, take in a number of helpful thoughts and ideas – maybe even highlight or underline portions (with an actual highlighter or on an e-reader) – but then finish the book and never go back to it again.

In my own experience, I’ve found that there are certain quotes or thoughts that I just don’t want to forget.  When that’s the case, here are six things I might do.

1.  Put it in the Notes section of your phone (or some other note-taking app).  Since I have my phone nearby almost all the time, it’s easy to type in a quick quote and then pull it up later to think about some more.  I also do that with Bible verses that I come across in my daily devotions and want to meditate on.

2.  Keep a journal (or just a simple notebook) with handwritten notes of lessons you’ve learned from books.

3.  Copy passages or quotes onto 3×5 cards.  This would make it easy to file them into categories (parenting, marriage, finances, etc.) for future reference.

4.  However you record your reading highlights, make a habit of going back and reading the notes/quotes on a consistent basis (daily, weekly, etc.)

5.  If you’ve gotten a lot of material out of a particular book, create a list of books that are worth re-reading.  A couple of examples of that type of book for me are “Stepping Heavenward” and “The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth.”  If you’d like to see my complete list, check out my Books to Read Again board on Pinterest.  It only has 17 books on it at this point, but that’s okay – not too many books are actually worthy of a second read!

6.  If you’re a blogger, type up a quick draft post for each quote/idea you may want to expand on in the future.

As I told Laura in my response to her comment, I do think reading good, quality literature refreshes our mind. I believe it’s one of the best ways to keep learning and growing even when we’re way past our “formal education” years!

Do you have other tips on preserving lessons from books?

After finishing only two books in January, I found more time to read in February!

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• The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith.  This was an excellent book on Christian growth.  I read it slowly as there were so many good thoughts to ponder.  I added this to my Books to Read….Again board on Pinterest as I plan to revisit it in the future.  One of my favorite quotes deals with accepting God’s will for our lives and reads as follows:

“Could we but for one moment get a glimpse into the mighty depths of His love, our hearts would spring out to meet His will, and embrace it as our richest treasure; and we would abandon ourselves to it with such an enthusiasm of gratitude and joy, that such a wondrous privilege could be ours.”

• • Nourished by Becky Johnson and Rachel Randolph.  This book dealt with enriching your life by examining each area and growing it to be the best that it can be.  The authors cover sleeping and eating habits, soul nourishing and friendships, your relationship with God, and other topics.  A favorite thought from the book – “Worry is the waste of a good imagination.”

• Spark Joy by Marie Kondo.  Read my full review of this book here.

• Truth Stained Lies by Terri Blackstock.  I took this book on our weekend trip to Myrtle Beach and it was a fairly good fiction read.

• Living Well, Spending Less:  12 Secrets of the Good Life by Ruth Soukup.  An easy read, this book features chapters on contentment, goal setting, time management, saving money, and giving.  Ruth shares stories of her past overspending lifestyle, and offers practical advice for getting on track with your finances as well as refining your view on what “the good life” really is.

• Retire Inspired by Chris Hogan.  If you’re a Dave Ramsey fan, there’s not a lot of new material in this book, but Chris presents it in a way that is easy to understand.  He includes enough personal and client stories to keep the subject matter entertaining.  The premise of the book is exactly what the title says – he encourages readers to dream of what they want their retirement to look like, then helps them develop a plan to get there.

• Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay.  Another interesting fiction read, this one was a little slow in the beginning, then drew me in about a quarter of the way through.  The format of the story is very much like Jean Webster’s Daddy Longlegs.

• The Fringe Hours:  Making Time for You by Jessica N. Turner.  If you’d like to find a little time for yourself in the midst of a busy schedule, Jessica offers some practical tips for how to do that, as well as ideas on how to spend those special moments in a way that will most benefit you.

I’ve now finished 3 of the 36 books on my 2016 reading list.  I’ll have to pick up the pace if I’m going to get them all read this year!

Have you read any good books lately?

Spark Joy:  An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up by Marie Kondo is the follow-up book to the very popular The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up.  This second book is a detailed how-to guide to properly storing the items you choose to keep in your home, those things that “spark joy” for you.

Kondo walks readers through each category (clothing, books, papers, etc.) that you’ve tidied and gives suggestions for how to store each of them.  There are illustrations throughout the book showing folding methods and storage solutions that fit with her methodology.  The drawings are helpful in seeing how to fold odd-shaped clothing, arrange miscellaneous “komono,” and organize your kitchen.

This book, like the first one, contains occasional Eastern religion references to objects having “feelings,” so I disregarded those portions of the book.  This is an excellent companion book to The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, but you’d definitely want to read that volume first.  It provides the inspiration to get you moving towards the goal, whereas Spark Joy gives you the nuts-and-bolts process of how to create a home that is organized and tidy.

Blogging for Books provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.  All of the opinions expressed in this post are my own and I was not compensated for this review in any other way.

While I haven’t read as much as I expected to in January, the two books I did finish were winners!

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• Making Home Work in a Broken Society:  Bible Principles for Raising Children and Building Families by Paul Chappell.  This was a great parenting book to start off the year!  The simple yet effective principles Chappell lays out encourages parents to build relationships and grow their families in ways that are pleasing to God.  Chapters on “Taming the Media Monster” and “Navigating the Teen Years” were especially helpful in my current stage of life.  He also talks about the influence parents have, teaching respect and contentment to our kids, and concludes the book with a chapter highlighting the importance of prayer.  This is a parenting book that I will recommend to others in the future!

• The Best Yes:  Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands by Lysa Terkeurst.  I’d seen this book recommended by many bloggers, but wasn’t sure what to expect from it.  However, I gleaned so much from this book!  I read it on my Kindle and have large portions highlighted to review from time to time.  If you’re a people pleaser who tends to say “yes” whenever you’re asked to take on additional responsibilities, Lysa gives principles for choosing the best and most important things to add to your life.  She talks about the overwhelmed schedule, asks readers to consider the trades they make when they say “yes” to certain things, shares the power of the small “no” (one of my favorite chapters!), and encourages us to chase down our decisions by thinking through ahead of time where each decision will take us.  I also appreciated her advice to evaluate opportunities as they relate to my time, my ability, my money, my passion, and my season.  I think the whole book could be summed up in the following quote:

“The decisions we make dictate the schedules we keep.  The schedules we keep determine the lives we live.  The lives we live determine how we spend our souls.  So, this isn’t just about finding time.  This is about honoring God with the time we have.”

I’m halfway through Hannah Whitall Smith’s The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life, another book from my 2016 reading list that I’m really enjoying!  I’m going through it a bit more slowly as I try to think through what she’s teaching – and this book’s getting lots of highlighting, too!

I hope to post a review of Marie Kondo’s Spark Joy, a follow up to The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, very soon.

What good book have you read lately?