The Book Shelf

SUMMER READING CHALLENGE:

Thanks to my friend Jess, I’ve found myself really needing a summer reading list of books I would like to have read and reviewed by the end of the summer. I have all these books gathering dust on my bookshelf that I purchased so excitedly and impatiently because I couldn’t wait to read them. And then it happens – I get busy. Every time. And I don’t make time to read.

Well, I’m giving myself a challenge (sometimes I find that when I call something a “challenge” it makes me want to conquer it):

“Create and conquer a summer reading list through the summer of 2009 and review each book once finished reading in the hopes of recommending it to friends and family.”

Below you’ll find my list of books to read this summer – I’ll continue to add to this list and update it with reviews and all that as I read, so if you have any suggestions or want to see what I thought about a certain book, make sure you check back. Oh, and here’s a breakdown of the grades:

• A = Great book, loved it, definitely recommend
  
• B = Good book, liked it, recommend to some
• C = Ok book, unsure about it or not for me, wouldn’t really recommend
• D = Bad book, didn’t like, don’t recommend
• F = Terrible book, couldn’t stand, definitely don’t recommend
  

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CURRENTLY READING:

Rain Song by Alice Wiseler

“Nicole Michelin avoids airplanes, motorcycles, and most of all, Japan, where her parents once were missionaries. Something happened in Japan. Something that sent Nicole and her father back to America alone. Something of which Nicole knows only bits and pieces. But she is content with life in little Mount Olive, North Carolina, with her quirky relatives, tank of lively fish, and plenty of homemade pineapple chutney.

Through her online column for the Pretty Fishy website, Nicole meets Harrison Michaels, who, much to her dismay, lives in Japan. She attempts to avoid him, but his e-mails tug at her heart.

Then Harrison reveals that he knew her as a child in Japan. In fact, he knows more about her childhood than she does! Will Nicole face her fears in order to discover her past and take a chance on love?” –Bethany House Publishing

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RECENTLY REVIEWED:

Treasure of the North by Tracie Peterson
-Grade: A

Torn between her desire to obey her parents and her fear of the man they’ve arranged for her to marry, young Grace opts to leave Alaska; Peter, a widower, must choose between his children and his dreams; and Karen strikes out on her own to find a missing family, in a story of the untamed Alaskan frontier. –Biblio.com

I’m not going to spoil the book because I definitely want you to read it, but I loved this book. Though their lives and stories are so very different, Grace and Peter had the most effect on my reading experience. As her relationship with God grows and shines a light brighter than Karen had ever imagined, Grace finds herself falling for Peter, a man who believes God exists and yet would rather trust in himself to see to his and his family’s needs. Troubled by how much pride Peter takes in his family’s trust and how heavily he relies on being their guide, Grace admits her fear for Peter to him in their conversations and leaves Peter troubled and bothered by all that she says.

…read more

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THE BOOK LIST:

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Ashes and Ice by Tracie Peterson

Rivers of Gold by Tracie Peterson

Waking the Dead by John Eldredge

Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris

Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski

97 Random Thoughts About Life, Love and Relationships by Justin Lookadoo

Blue Like Jazz – Donald Miller