What I Read (October 2015)

Every month I try to read at least one book from the following categories: nonfiction, devotional, and fiction. Non-fiction ensures that I’m always learning something new. Devotionals ensure that I’m keying into my faith. And fiction books are just so enjoyable to read! This is What I Read in October 2015.

Books Finished:

The Memory Thief by Emily Colin

The plot of this novel was a bit bizarre, but definitely made me want to keep reading to find out how things were going to resolve themselves. The story is written from the perspective of each of the main characters, which means that the story could jump around a big in chronology without feeling disjointed. I really liked it.

A Better Way: Make Disciples Wherever Life Happens by Dale Losch

This book discusses the current model of discipleship (missionaries and church planting) contrasted with a new model of discipleship (people working in chosen fields and starting businesses to gain access to countries that don’t allow missionaries and to spread the Gospel). I thought that the arguments were compelling, in particular how quickly each Christian making one new disciple each year could make believers out of the population of the entire globe. However, I would have liked to have read more geared toward those of us making disciples in the US, and more ‘how to’ like tips for actually making disciples. It has a good message for how the church can adjust its efforts to create believers in the modern era. And I think this message is one worth listening to, as there are many, myself included, who want to help people become followers of Christ, but do not feel that we are supposed to be full-time ministers or missionaries.

Further Chronicles of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery

After reading the rest of the series, I had to finish it up. This book consists of short stories about people from Prince Edward Island, and who are tangentially related to Anne Shirley and the other main characters of the other
books. Some are happy, some are incredibly sad, and some are actually ghost stories. Quite enjoyable.

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell

After finishing Outliers last month, I just had to read another Malcolm Gladwell book. Although I liked Outliers better, The Tipping Point was also excellent. The book essentially endeavors to explain the spread of epidemics of all kinds. The explanations all made perfect sense through Gladwell’s masterful anecdotes. I definitely recommend this one, as well.

Pianist in a Bordello by Mike Erickson

This was a fun and entertaining little book. I had a difficult time putting it down. The general plot is that a young man by the rather unfortunate name of Richard Milhaus Nixon Youngblood is running for political office, and decides that to bolster his claim of honesty in all things he will publish an autobiography. Most of the book is that autobiography. I so recommend this novel, as it really was engaging.

Toward the Sunrise: An Until the Dawn Novella by Elizabeth Camden

This little novella is the tale of a woman enrolled in medical college and hoping to be a medical missionary, at a time when women are not terribly welcome in colleges. She is the daughter of a groundskeeper, and the wealthy absentee landowner pays her tuition. It was a sweet little story, that also contained an excerpt from the novel by the same name. It was sweet and heartwarming. I’m
looking forward to reading the novel.

Blogging: How To Start A Profitable Blog by David Lim

This book is a realistic look at what blogging is actually like, and what is needed to monetize a blog. Good starter or refresher tips.

Miramont’s Ghost by Elizabeth Hall

This book was really good…until it wasn’t. What I mean by that is that it started out as a very interesting story, with character lines that drew me in, and a plot that kept me reading. But then toward the end, the story line felt rushed to completion, and many of the plot points, the visions experienced by the main character, Adrienne, weren’t seen through to completion. And many of the
characters were simply dropped, with no resolution. And it felt almost as if characters were changed from good guy to bad guy, and as if terrible things happened, for no apparent reason, as they didn’t really move the story. And
the final chapter of the book felt almost as if it were pulled from another story, as there had been no foreshadowing to help it fit together with the rest of the book. Overall, I didn’t like this book, although I thought that I would when I started reading it.

Lost Highlander by Cassidy Cayman

This was a fun little novel that included romance and adventure. Although it’s definitely not a literary masterpiece, it’s a fun story that’s an enjoyable way to
pass the time. And it’s not as smutty as what the cover of the book might indicate. 😉

 

Books Abandoned:

None.