Luggage and Literature

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. - St. Augustine

October 2020 Reading List

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This year, I’m participating in the Unread Shelf Challenge 2020 with a goal to read 75 books that I already own. Each month, I’ll read one fiction, one nonfiction/memoir, one law/business/politics, and one devotional/spiritual book. Quarterly, I’ll be reading one book of classic literature. I’ll be listing where each book came from, whether from my existing collection, I borrowed the book, or purchased the book new this year. This is my October 2020 Reading List, which includes the books that I’ve finished, the books in progress and ongoing, and the books that I’ve abandoned.

Books Finished:

The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt

Purchased physical book this year.

From the author who wrote Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, The City of Falling Angels is the same concept but set in Venice. The book is nonfiction and begins with the fire at La Fenice. The author’s interviews and interactions with the city’s residents are simply fascinating. And the intrigues he discovers are entertaining.

History of Bourbon by Ken Albala

Audible Original, so new but free.

I listened to this while driving in Maine. It made for subject matter that kept my attention, but wasn’t distracting from driving, which is perfect for an audiobook. I’ve never been a bourbon drinker, but learning about it was still fun. And who would have thought that there would be quite that much history, and even drama surrounding bourbon.

Tales from Misery Ridge: One Man’s Adventures in the Great Outdoors by Paul J. Fournier

Purchased physical book this year.

I picked this book up while in Maine for work. It is a memoir of the author’s years living and working in Maine. He discusses his teenage years as a guide, time as a camp owner, a bush pilot, and with Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. His life was a series of backwoods adventures, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to read about it in this book.

Nine Mile Bridge: Three Years in the Maine Woods by Helen Hamlin

Purchased physical book this year.

I also picked this book up in Maine. This is also a memoir of the author’s years in Maine, particularly Aroostook County, Maine, which is the area where I was. She however, was there in the 1950s when it was far less developed, and she was in the most remote areas of the county and state. She even wintered over in remote warden cabins without access to the outside world. It was so fascinating to read about, as it’s not something that I will experience (or care to!).

Bless the Beasts & Children by Glendon Swarthout

Borrowed from a friend.

My friend Dennis initially talked about this book; and my friend Sierra purchased it. She loaned it to me, and I read it right away. It is the story of several misfit boys at a summer camp who want to rescue bison who are held at a sporting camp for people to “hunt.” I use that word, although there wasn’t much that was either sporting or hunting. The story is a coming of age story, with moments of immense joy, and moments of incredible sadness. This was wonderful, and I recommend it.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Purchased physical book this year.

Sharp Objects is so psychologically disturbing and wonderful. It is the story of a woman who goes home to report on a murder of a young girl in her hometown. The woman clearly has some pretty significant emotional baggage, and a messed up family. And it just gets darker and more twisty from there. This book was a page turner, and I couldn’t put it down.

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

Purchased on Audible this year.

I listened to this book on Audible, and the narration was quite good. Audible recommended it to me, and it was a good recommendation, as I’m a fan of Bradbury’s writing. In it, a circus comes to town, but it’s not a happy occasion. The circus is spooky and dangerous, and two boys have to stop the bad things that will inevitably come with it.

The Haunting of Brynn Wilder by Wendy Webb

Kindle First book, so new but free.

This was a Kindle First book that I thought would be perfect for October. Haunting is in the title, after all. I started reading, and right away from the epigraph saw a reference to the illustrated man, which is a character in Something Wicked This Way Comes. I thought it was just a coincidence, but kept reading. An illustrated (tattooed) man is a main character in this book, and the book by Ray Bradbury, The Illustrated Man plays a role. The timing of these things sometimes is astounding. This is the story of a woman who has had tragedy in her life, and goes to a cute touristy town to spend the summer and recover. She stays in a boarding house with some interesting folks, and begins to have some disturbing dreams and experiences. This is a little spooky, but not terrifying, and the mystery is great.

The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury

Borrowed from the library on Libby.

After reading the previous book, I just had to read The Illustrated Man. This is essentially a series of short stories which are tied together with the illustrated man being the overarching theme. I listened to this one, and also really enjoyed it in that format.

The Wedding Bees by Sarah-Kate Lynch

Purchased physical book this year.

This book is a lovely little story of a woman finding love and forgiveness and bringing love and healing to a whole lot of other people. The characters are quirky and fun, while also being relatable. And the plot device of hearing from the bees themselves was wonderful. Just an enjoyable little book.

Inside Jobs by Ben H. Winters

Audible Original, so new but free.

This Audible Original is a series of short stories set during the early stages of our current pandemic, when things were largely locked down and people were quarantined. Most of the stories were enjoyable, with funny and cringe-worthy moments that we can all relate to.

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Purchased Kindle e-book this year.

A woman moves back to her hometown of LA after a rough go of things. Her friends throw a welcome home party for her, and at the end of the night she decides whether to stay at the bar with her former boyfriend, or to go home with her friends. And that is where the story splits. Think ‘choose your own adventure’ story. This was so very good. I think that Taylor Jenkins Reid is probably one of my very favorite authors, having read this and Daisy Jones and the Six.

Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan

Already owned Kindle e-book.

This is my book club’s pick for November. It is historical fiction set in World War II, so right in my wheelhouse, but not a genre that I’ve read a tremendous amount of lately. And this book is a little different than many other World War II books, in that it is set in Italy. The book is based on the true story of a boy who helped Jews escape over the border into Switzerland, and who spied for the Allies while working as a Nazi driver. The events seem almost unbelievable, but are apparently all true. It’s a very good book.

In the Backyard of Jesus by Steven N. Khoury

Purchased physical book this year.

Steven Khoury lives in Israel/Palestine. He is a Protestant Christian. This book is a memoir of sorts, where he tells about his journey to becoming a Christian and a minister. He also tells stories of his family and parishioners, and their experiences living in Muslim Palestine and dealing with hatred and opposition for their beliefs and evangelism. Fascinating.

How Should I Live in This World? by R.C. Sproul

Purchased Kindle e-book this year.

Are People Basically Good? by R.C. Sproul

Purchased Kindle e-book this year.

I’m writing about these to booklets together, as their subject matter is largely similar. The topics are just as the titles would indicate. The first tells readers expectations for how to demonstrate a belief in Christ, and the second looks at original sin as a basis for understanding that people are not basically good, without the forgiveness of Christ.

 

Books Ongoing through 2020:

Unshakeable: 365 Devotions for Finding Unwavering Strength in God’s Word by Christine Caine (Already owned physical book.) This is a daily devotional that I’ll be reading all year.

Year of Wonder: Classical Music to Enjoy Day by Day by Clemency Burton-Hill (Already owned physical book.) This book has daily readings about classical music generally, various sub-genres of classical, and a daily piece of music to find and listen to. I’ll be working through it all year.

 

Books in Progress:

The St. Nicholas Anthology edited by Henry Steele Commager (Already owned physical book.)

Taste for Truth: A 30 Day Weight Loss Bible Study by Barb Ravelin (Purchased Kindle e-book this year.) My bible study is working through this book.

The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person by Judith S. Beck (Already owned Kindle e-book.)

Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fate of Human Societies by Jared Diamond (Purchased using Audible credit.)

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (Already owned physical book and Kindle e-book. Quarterly Classic from 2020 Reading List)

The Sweet Hell Inside: The Rise of an Elite Black Family in the Segregated South by Edward Ball (Already owned physical book. October Nonfiction/Memoir pick from 2020 Reading Plans.)

Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead  (Already owned physical book. October Fiction pick from 2020 Reading Plans.)

 

Books Abandoned:

The Dance of the Dissident Daughter: A Woman’s Journey from Christian Tradition to the Sacred Feminine by Sue Monk Kidd (Already owned physical book. October Spiritual/Devotional pick from 2020 Reading Plans.)

Book of the Little Axe by Lauren Francis-Sharma (Borrowed from library using Libby app.)

Too Proud to Beg: Self-Empowerment for Today’s Dog by John T. Olson and Cindy Cobb-Olson (Purchased physical book this year.)

September 2020 Reading List

by //

This year, I’m participating in the Unread Shelf Challenge 2020 with a goal to read 75 books that I already own. Each month, I’ll read one fiction, one nonfiction/memoir, one law/business/politics, and one devotional/spiritual book. Quarterly, I’ll be reading one book of classic literature. I’ll be listing where each book came from, whether from my existing collection, I borrowed the book, or purchased the book new this year. This is my September 2020 Reading List, which includes the books that I’ve finished, the books in progress and ongoing, and the books that I’ve abandoned.

Books Finished:

Finding Tess: A Mother’s Search for Answers in a Dopesick America by Beth Macy

Already owned Audible. Substituted for September legal/business/politics pick from 2020 Reading List.

This audible original is a powerful look at opioid addiction in the United States, and the really terrible system of treatment that is available to addicts. The difficulty in getting people into treatment programs, and the often poor results from treatment programs is something that I’ve seen firsthand in my own legal practice working with criminal defendants and parents and youth in juvenile cases. This is such a difficult topic, and I appreciated the straightforward and open look at one young woman, her family, and how things went wrong.

Daughter of Destiny by Benazir Bhutto

Already owned physical book. September nonfiction/memoir pick from 2020 Reading List.

This book is incredible. The writing is excellent, and it’s about a woman and a subject matter (Pakistan) that I didn’t know much about before reading it. But it’s a tough read. Be aware that the book largely deals with a dictator being in power, so there are themes of torture and oppression. And the United States’ conduct in propping up a military dictator like Zia is simply abominable. Benazir Bhutto is a fascinating woman, although certainly not perfect. I don’t agree with all of her policy positions, but her stance on freedom and democracy is one that everyone should be able to stand behind. I’m really glad that I read this book.

The Space Race by Colin Brake, Patrick Chapman, Richard Hollingham, Richard Kurti, Sue Nelson, Helen Quigley, and Andrew Mark Sewell

Audible Original book, so new but free.

There were components of this book that I really liked, and components that just set my teeth on edge. I love books and audiobooks about space, and the history of the space race, particularly the audio clips and the history of the Russian space program were fantastic. But I really hated the fictional future space theatrical story, and I disliked the audio components that were theatrical recreations of what occurred during previous space missions. If these elements won’t bother you, than this will be great for you. If they will, then like me, you may have a mixed opinion of this audiobook.

Unspoken by Luke Daniels

Audible Original book, so new but free.

This book made me laugh so hard while driving that I had to pause the audiobook and catch my breath. It also made me cry. This is a memoir from celebrated audiobook narrator, Luke Daniels. If his name seems familiar, it may be because he narrated the Iron Druid Chronicles, which I adored. He has the best array of voices, and talks about how he became a narrator and voice actor. But the main thrust of the book is about the illness and death of his little boy. This book is so fantastic, and I recommend it to everyone. Just be prepared for hilarity and sadness in equal measure.

The Secret of Lost Things by Sheridan Hay

Already owned physical book. September fiction pick from 2020 Reading List.

The book jacket description makes it sound as if this novel is predominantly about a mystery about a missing Melville novel. Although that subject plays a part in the story, it is much more about an 18 year old girl living on her own in New York after her mother’s death growing up and learning about the world and those around her. The characters were all strange, and I didn’t quite understand their motivations. And I felt like the mystery element was underutilized, and there were threads of plot that weren’t tied into the story. This was an okay read, but not my very favorite.

Veronica Mars: Mr. Kiss and Tell by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham

Purchased Kindle e-book this year.

I heart Veronica Mars! I watched the entire original series, plus the movie, and the new Hulu season this year, and couldn’t get enough. So having previously read Veronica Mars: The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line and loving it, I had to read this book too. You know, being a completist. This book takes place after the movie, and before the new season on Hulu. It’s really good too. And now I’m a little sad that I don’t have any more Veronica Mars to look forward to.

Ink & Sigil by Kevin Hearne

Purchased on Audible this year.

Ink & Sigil is a spin-off from the Iron Druid Chronicles. The protagonist is a Scottish Sigil Agent who also runs a print shop. He and the supporting cast of characters are all as zany as I’ve come to expect from Kevin Hearne, and the story is wonderful. And on Audible, narrated by Luke Daniels, it’s simply masterful. I hope that there will be more!

The Bookman’s Tale by Charlie Lovett

Already owned physical book.

My book club read this book this month. I think most of the group enjoyed it. Some people struggled a little bit with the number of different characters, and the different timelines, but this wasn’t something that bothered me. This is a literary mystery, so there’s a component that takes place in the 1990s solving that mystery. Those same characters’ backstories are also told, and that is set in the 1980s. Then the story of the book is told from the 1600s all the way up to present day. I recommend Lovett’s mysteries (this one and First Impressions) for book lovers.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

If you read The Hunger Games trilogy, then you HAVE to read this. This book is a prequel and told from the perspective of President Snow as a teenager. I found myself rooting for Snow, and then feeling really guilty about it, knowing where the story leads. I loved the elements that tie in with the rest of the trilogy. This book was so good!

The House at Sea’s End by Elly Griffiths

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

This is book number three in the Ruth Galloway Mysteries series. My book club won the first book, and I enjoyed it enough to add the remainder of the series into my Libby wish list. Periodically, I want something a little different and will download another one. They are short and enjoyable and true to the genre.

A Map of Heaven by Suzanne Elizabeth Anderson

Already owned Kindle e-book. September devotional/spiritual pick from 2020 Reading List.

This is a novel which is infused heavily (but well done) with Scripture. It is a book about second chances, living a life that you can be proud of, and allowing love into our lives. It was lovely and enjoyable, and a quite easy read. I recommended it to my mom, as it seemed like a book that she might enjoy. I can think of many others who might like this as well.

Who Is Jesus? by R.C. Sproul

Purchased Kindle e-book this year.

This short little book looks at how Jesus is described in the Bible, the different terms used to describe him, and who he is. As with everything else by R.C. Sproul, it was informative and well written.

What Can I Do with My Guilt? by R.C. Sproul

Purchased Kindle e-book this year.

I really love how R.C. Sproul explains things in a new way that make so much sense that you wonder how you’d never thought of things that way before. Do you have guilty feelings? I think we all probably do about some topic or another. This booklet is about guilt and guilty feelings, and examines whether they come from above, or are a manmade invention, and what the purpose might be.

Does Prayer Change Things? by R.C. Sproul

Purchased Kindle e-book this year.

This Crucial Questions booklet is on the topic of prayer–does it matter, why do we pray, how do we pray–basically just answering a whole host of questions about prayer. I thought it was a solid read.

Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana by Anne Rice

Purchased physical book this year.

I picked this up while packing books for our local Friends of the Library virtual book sale. I don’t recall having ever read anything by Anne Rice before, although I’ve obviously heard of her. This is a fictionalized take on Jesus during his adulthood, just before taking to the road and beginning his ministry. I really enjoyed imagining what Jesus’s life and family would have been like. The book was well-written, and clearly from the perspective of a believer. I believe there to be one other book in the series, and will likely read it at some point too.

 

Books Ongoing through 2020:

Unshakeable: 365 Devotions for Finding Unwavering Strength in God’s Word by Christine Caine (Already owned physical book.) This is a daily devotional that I’ll be reading all year.

Year of Wonder: Classical Music to Enjoy Day by Day by Clemency Burton-Hill (Already owned physical book.) This book has daily readings about classical music generally, various sub-genres of classical, and a daily piece of music to find and listen to. I’ll be working through it all year.

 

Books in Progress:

The St. Nicholas Anthology edited by Henry Steele Commager (Already owned physical book.)

Taste for Truth: A 30 Day Weight Loss Bible Study by Barb Ravelin (Purchased Kindle e-book this year.) My bible study is working through this book.

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury (Purchased on Audible this year.)

The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt (Purchased physical book this year.)

 

Books Abandoned:

None.

August 2020 Reading List

by //

This year, I’m participating in the Unread Shelf Challenge 2020 with a goal to read 75 books that I already own. Each month, I’ll read one fiction, one nonfiction/memoir, one law/business/politics, and one devotional/spiritual book. Quarterly, I’ll be reading one book of classic literature. I’ll be listing where each book came from, whether from my existing collection, I borrowed the book, or purchased the book new this year. This is my August 2020 Reading List, which includes the books that I’ve finished, the books in progress and ongoing, and the books that I’ve abandoned.

Books Finished:

And the Good News Is…: Lessons and Advice from the Bright Side by Dana Perino

Already owned physical book. October legal/business/politics pick from 2020 Reading List.

I needed something a little lighter and easier this month for my legal/business/politics book. Things are so gloomy politically, and I’ve been so busy with some really tough stuff at work. This book fit my needs perfectly. Dana Perino is a class act, and I think that we can all learn something from her about disagreeing respectfully, loyalty, and hard work. This book was so interesting to me. I learned a lot about her as a person, her life path to the White House, and her time working for George W. Bush.

The Prince of the City: Giuliani, New York, and the Genius of American Life by Fred Siegel

Already owned physical book. July legal/business/politics pick from 2020 Reading List.

I finished this book this month. I’d started it in July, but it’s just not the type of book to rush through. It is a really in depth look at Giuliani’s predecessors in the New York City mayor’s office, his election, and then his term as mayor. The changes that he made to how the work of the city was done were also examined. I think Rudy Giuliani is a really interesting guy, so I enjoyed this book.

We Seven: By the Astronauts Themselves by The Astronauts Themselves

Already owned physical book. August nonfiction/memoir pick from 2020 Reading List.

This book is a 1960s publication from Life, and contains information from the Mercury astronauts themselves. It was a bit of propoganda, but considering the Cold War going on at the time it was published, I’m not surprised. This book was a nice complement to some of the other books that I’ve read and movies/documentaries that I’ve seen about the space program. The pictures were my favorite part though.

A Little House Traveler: Writings from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Journeys Across America by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Purchased physical book this year.

This is the last of the books that I found out about while reading Prairie Fires, and I enjoyed it just as much. Wilder’s writings about her travels are just endlessly fascinating to me, as I’m familiar with many of the places that she travels through or to. Understanding how these places have changed over time helps me to have a better understanding of our little area of the world.

The White Album by Joan Didion

Purchased on Audible this year.

I really love Joan Didion’s essays. I think this is the third collection of them that I’ve read. There is something about how she writes, and the observations that she makes about the world, and about the time period when her essays are written (1960s-1970s) that makes them so thought-provoking and still relevant. If you’ve not given Didion a try, I recommend her.

The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd

Already owned physical book. December fiction pick from 2020 Reading List.

The premise of this book is that a woman goes back to the island where she grew up after her mother has chopped her own finger off. The island houses a monastery, where  the patron saint is a former mermaid. The woman falls in love with a monk. It’s so preposterous, that I really didn’t know where the story would go. But I’ve read several books by Sue Monk Kidd before, and trust her storytelling. I ended up enjoying the book, but can’t put into words exactly what it was that I liked about it. The story was just strange and wonderful.

Three Slices by Chuck Wendig, Kevin Hearne, and Delilah S. Dawson

Purchased Audible this year.

I downloaded this, as an additiona Iron Druid novella that I hadn’t previously listened to. I love the Iron Druid Chronicles, and just can’t get enough of them. This story was short, and ended a little abruptly, but was still enjoyable. I listened to one of the other novellas in the collection, about a vampire in a circus. It was also an entertaining listen. But I couldn’t get into the third novella, and gave up on it.

The First Mrs. Rothschild by Sara Aharoni

Kindle First book, so new but free.

This book is set in Germany at the turn of the 18th century. It follow’s the main character, Gutle, from her teenage years up to her death, through her marriage and child-rearing years, and through the changing fortunes of her family, the Rothschilds. I have no idea if any of the story is true, but the book was a look at a time and place, and a group of people that I knew virtually nothing about. So from that perspective, I felt like I learned something, even though it is a fictional novel. I enjoyed the book.

The Topeka School by Ben Lerner

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

Ugh. I really, really disliked this book. It was our book club’s pick for this month, and our entire book club disliked this book. The only slightly redeeming thing for me was a tiny bit of nostalgia for my high school debate years, as that forms a backdrop for part of the story. But even that wore thin. I spent a considerable amount of time reading about why critics and others loved this book, and trying to understand what I was supposed to have gotten out of the book. Perhaps I’m just too stupid, although I do consider myself to be a fairly educated person. This was just not a book for me, and apparently not a book for many others either.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

Purchased on Audible this year.

Narrated by Tom Hanks was the reason that I decided to listen to this book, rather than reading a physical or e-book version. I’ve heard about this book on blogs, podcasts, and Instagram, and was so curious to read it for myself. The Dutch House is a place that is almost a character in its own right in the story, as it truly is the reason for the characters acting as they do. This book was wonderfully written.

The Woman in the Moonlight by Patricia Morrisroe

Kindle First book, so new but free.

Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, Beethoven himself, and the mysterious woman that the Sonata is dedicated to, form the inspiration for this novel. I enjoyed the story, although at points felt like it was a little bit long and meandering. But overall, I did like it. The novel is right in my wheelhouse of books though, being historical fiction that includes a musical element to it.

Come Thirsty: No Heart Too Dry for His Touch by Max Lucado

Already owned physical book. August devotional/spiritual pick from 2020 Reading List.

Max Lucado has a way with words, and a way of explaining difficult spiritual concepts in a way that makes sense. Perhaps it’s that he uses so many stories to illustrate his points, or perhaps it’s just a God-given gift. Whatever it is, when I find Lucado’s books a book sales, I often pick them up. Come Thirsty looks at the concept of living water, the story of Jesus and the woman at well, and reminds us to surrender everything to God.

Walking with Christ (Design for Discipleship)

Purchased this year.

I picked this up through a virtual book sale as part of a package deal. I think it is meant to be a workbook for a discipleship series, so I didn’t find it up much value independently.

More Bad Girls of the Bible by Barbara J. Essex

Purchased this year.

This was part of the same package deal as the previous book, but was much more of what I was looking for. I really enjoy books that take several different stories from the bible and put them together to illustrate particular concepts. This looked at women of the bible who acted improperly, or against the norms of the time and place that they lived in. Several were of women that I didn’t remember from the bible, as they were lesser characters in bigger stories. Overall a good book, but I didn’t always see eye-to-eye with the author’s conclusions or come to the stories from the same political/theological background.

 

Books Ongoing through 2020:

Unshakeable: 365 Devotions for Finding Unwavering Strength in God’s Word by Christine Caine (Already owned physical book.) This is a daily devotional that I’ll be reading all year.

Year of Wonder: Classical Music to Enjoy Day by Day by Clemency Burton-Hill (Already owned physical book.) This book has daily readings about classical music generally, various sub-genres of classical, and a daily piece of music to find and listen to. I’ll be working through it all year. I’m hopelessly behind at this point, but will just keep working on it into 2021 until I’ve completed it.

 

Books in Progress:

The St. Nicholas Anthology edited by Henry Steele Commager (Already owned physical book.)

Taste for Truth: A 30 Day Weight Loss Bible Study by Barb Ravelin (Purchased Kindle e-book this year.) My bible study is working through this book.

 

Books Abandoned:

On the Occasion of My Last Afternoon by Kaye Gibbons (Already owned physical book. August fiction pick from 2020 Reading List.)

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