This week is Luca's final week taking part in our local library's (and province-wide) Summer Reading Club. It's a seven week program where you record the books you read and then at the end of the week you get a sticker and a prize! It's kinda surreal because I did it when I was a kid (at the exact same library too!!!!)
Read MoreSummer for me means sunshine, beach days and lots of reading. These days I don't have the time to spend hours reading on the beach BUT that won't stop me from making my Summer Reading List!
If you've been following this blog for awhile, you'll know how much I love to read! I'm a bonafide book worm/nerd and my favourite summer activity is sitting in the sunshine with a cold drink and a good book! It's a bit more difficult to get my read on with my little munchkin running around BUT I still manage to getttterrrr done.
Here is what's on my list for summer 2017! Would love to hear your recommendations from all of you bookworms out there!
1. Into the Water by Paula Hawkins- The author of The Girl on the Train brings out another thriller. I'm expecting it to be an easy beach read! Love these thriller/page-turners in the summer time.
2. Anne of Green Gables Series by L. M. Montgomery- Well apparently I'm not actually a Canadian because I didn't grow up reading the classic Anne of Green Gables....but I'm making up for it now! I purchased the whole set at a used book sale and I'm currently on #2. I absolutely adore Anne. Can't wait to read these with baby girl!!
3. Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist- I've only heard good things about this book so I'm excited to dig into it this summer! The subtitle says, "Leaving behind frantic for a simpler, more soulful way of living."...yessss please!
4. Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan- It's the third instalment of the Crazy Rich Asians series! I didn't like the sequel as much as the first but I still found it a quick, entertaining read which is perfect for those poolside days!
5. The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure- A story of a french architect who is paid to create temporary hiding places for Jewish people in Paris during WW2. I have a feeling this will be a tear jerker.
6. The Identicals by Elin Hildebrand- Love these summer reads. I've read a number of Elin's books and although they're crazy predictable chick lits, they're still fun to read in the summer. It makes me want to visit Nantucket.
7. Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire- I'm a diehard Harry Potter fan...and very proud of it lols. I'm rereading the series and just finished #3. Goblet of Fire is next on my list!
8. Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple- I absolutely loved Where'd Ya Go Bernadette so I'm so I'm pretty pumped to read this one!
9. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate- I briefly read the synopsis of this one and it seems very intense...based on a true story about a man who would kidnap children from orphanages and sell them to wealthy families.
Now bring on the baby free beach days so I can actually get some reading done, haha.
Would love to know what's on your summer reading list!
XO,
laura
Another update on my 20 GOALS FOR MY LAST YEAR AS A 20-SOMETHING ! I set a goal of reading 30 books over my 29th year. Well so far I've read 11...which means I need to get some reading done if I'm going to accomplish my goal before I turn 30 and well, let's face it...before baby boy comes!!!
Today is the last day of our church-wide 21 Day Fast. I fasted from scrolling through social media, and I found that because I wasn't spending so much time on instagram, I had a lot more time for reading! It's been great but I do miss me some insta.
So what have I been reading? All sorts of books and I love it! I need a good combo of fiction and non-fiction, serious and funny or I get bored real fast.
Okay, there you have it. 11/30! I'm already starting my next (Unstoppable by Christine Caine) and need to pick up one that I have on hold at the library.
Have you read any "must reads" lately? Would love your recommendations!!!
XO,
laura
So remember when we were reading 10 books this summer? Today is the last day of summer...or is it the first day of fall? Well anyways, summer is GONZO and fall is here and we're supposed to be finished 10 books!
Incase you forgot...here is what was on my list!
I wish I could tell you I finished 10 books....I finished 9.2. I'm still working away on Simplify (and have about 30 pages left of Fashioned to Reign!) and I'll get to that below!
I reviewed some of the books I read here and here but to save you some time I'll put a quick review of the books below...
1. Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand....I thought it was ok. A little drawn out but hey it's a summer chick lit and got me dreaming of Nantucket!
2. The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion....Definitely gobbled up this one. If you haven't read The Rosie Project, do that right away! The sequel was cute but not as good as the first one. It was enjoyable enough to recommend though. The main character is just hilarious...love that Don Tillman.
3. One plus One by Jojo Moyes...I don't know why I keep reading her books. I find them all just mediocre. This one had a cute ending but I don't think getting there was worth it.
4. Brain On Fire by Susannah Cahalan...This one was a non-fiction story about a young journalist who seems to go crazy. It was very intense. A lot of medical stuff, which I may have skimmed through but it was very riveting and I would highly recommend it!
5. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving...OH MY GOODNESS, SO GOOD. I fell in love with the character of Owen Meany...he's just so fascinating. I don't even know how to describe this book, you just have to read it.
6. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern...I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I definitely got sucked into the magical world of the Night Circus and loved the characters. I didn't loooove the ending but I don't know how I would do it differently so I better not complain.
7. The Shadow Queen by Sandra Gulland....I was very excited to read this book as I absolutely loved the Josephine B trilogy but oh my goodness, I was so disappointed. I would not recommend this one as there was some weird dark spiritual stuff in it that was rather disturbing...but not only that, the characters weren't developed and it was just blah.
8. Fashioned to Reign by Kris Vallotton...This is a great book to read if you're passionate about seeing women empowered. It's an easy to read theologically enriched book about how it is God's plan to see men and women serving alongside each other in leadership roles! I wish I could meet Kris to give him a big hug.
9. Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee....Ok so technically I was supposed to read Where'd You Go Bernadette BUT I had already read it and I really wanted to read this one by the amazing Harper Lee. I ended up listening to this one on audiobooks through a lot of my runs this summer. It was soooo good. The audiobook was narrated by Reese Witherspoon and she did such a fantastic job. It's the sequel to To Kill A Mockingbird and it was so good. Reading it made me think of the post I wrote just awhile back on what a tragedy it is to idolize people instead of realizing that they are people and they make mistakes.
10. Simplify by Bill Hybels...ok to be completely honest, I've been avoiding this book....ha. I've been avoiding it because I know I'm going to get convicted and need to change my life. HA. I know that's not a good reason to not read the book but it's #realtalk. BUT I'm determined to finish this one this fall, so I'll get back to you on it!
So there you go, 9.2 books I finished this summer! Now it's fall and I'm working on my birthday goal of completing 25 books before I'm 30! Would love to hear some of your reading recommendations! What book must I read before I turn 30??!!
-laura
I'm Laura. Wife, mama, pastor, diy-er + chocolate addict who's just trying to change the colour on your mood ring. Thanks for stopping by, XO!
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