SUMMER READING LIST UPDATE


Summer Reading List

Do you know that we are almost halfway through summer? NOOOOOOOOO. I know. I just want to freeze summer. The last couple weeks have been really chill for us, which has been so nice. We did go camping in Tofino but mainly we've just been hanging around the house and that has been a refreshing change from the go-go-go summers. Last week James rented a chainsaw for a day and went to town on our hedges and the pear tree that was taller than our house !!!! Our yard is looking fiiiiine and I'm getting pumped to plant for next year.

I've also managed to get quite a bit of reading in and I'm happy to report that I'm almost half way through my Summer Reading List! #teacherspet

Here's what I'm reading this summer...

What I've read so far:

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!

Currently reading:

Simplify by Bill Hybels...I'm slowly working through this one. It's beautiful but takes a lot of work because there are action steps at the end of every chapter.

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving...just started this one and I'm loving it. Owen Meany is such a darling character. It's a long one though so I'll probably take awhile finishing it!

4 down, 2 in progress and 4 to go! Don't know if I'll get through them all but I'm going to try!

 

Do you have a summer reading list? Are you reading any of the ones above? I'd love to hear about it! And p.s. if you're joining the summer reading club be sure to tag your instagrams with #ssheartbookclub

Love you to the moon & back,

s.s.♥︎.

top image via stocksnap

 

2015 SUMMER READING LIST


It's light out well past 9pm. All I want to eat is ice cream. And I have a desire to go camping (whaaat??) Folks, summer is HERE. I also have the desire to curl up and do nothing except sit in a hammock and read a book. Maybe you have that desire as well and if that is the case, you will be glad you stopped by today because today, I'm sharing what's on my summer reading list!

Summer is my favourite time for reading. I think it started when I was a little girl. I always remembering going to the library in the summer and signing up for their book reading club. You were challenged to read a whole bunch of books and it was THE BEST. Well this summer, how about we take that challenge? Here's 10 books I'm going to read this summer...and please don't judge me for the chick lits :p

Feed your inner book worm this summer!

1. Silver Girl by Elin Hildebrand- I actually already finished this one! It's definitely a chick lit but it's perfect for summer. This author always writes about Nantucket and it makes me want to visit there sooo badly!

2. The Shadow Queen by Sandra Gulland- I'm so pumped to read this! I devoured her trilogy on Josephine Bonaparte. Love me some historical fiction.

3. Fashioned to Reign by Kris Vallatton- I actually bought this book last summer and never really dived into it. It's all about empowering women to step into God's calling for their lives and not be held back by the glass ceiling society or (sadly) church's have put over them.

4. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern- Both Courtney and Thea recommended this one to me so I'm defs going to read it!

5. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving- I've only heard good things about this book so I'm excited to read it!

6. The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion- I loved The Rosie Project so I'm assuming I'm going to love the sequel! Witty writing is perfect for summertime!

7. One Plus One by Jojo Moyes- I'm currently reading this book. I'm only in the beginning and it's pretty good. Nothing too exciting but I'm digging it.

8. Where'd You Go Bernadette? by Maria Semple- OH MY GOSH I LOVE THIS BOOK. It literally had me laughing out loud repeatedly. I can't recommend it enough!!!!

9. Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan- I've heard this one is a page turner...so pumped for it.

10. Simplify by Bill Hybels- I started reading this one in LA and almost bawled....it's exactly what I need. A serious refreshing cup of iced tea on an incredibly hot day. It's all about simplifying your life to do what God's called you to do. At the end of each chapter there are action steps...and you know how I feel about action steps (!!!) My soul is really excited to read this.

 

OK there you have it, 10 books I'm going to read this summer! Who's with me??

xo,

s.s.♥︎.

BOOK CLUB REVIEW // GIRL YOU LEFT BEHIND BY JOJO MOYES


Hey hey! Remember when we started a virtual book club? Well today's the day we talk about the book! Ok take it away book club president Courtney...! (PS. my (Laura) responses are italicized!)

 

Welcome to the S.S. Heart Book Club wrap up!

As you know I am always so excited to get lost in a story. I feel that I have to be 100% honest with you but I have mixed feelings about this book. 

I enjoyed the 1917 storyline as that is one of my favourite time periods (Downton Abbey anyone?!) but I felt as though that part of the book was too short and the 2006 too long. I do however think Liv's struggle to decide what to do was interesting. 

I would love to pose a few questions to hear your thoughts. These are some of the questions i was left thinking of.... 

What were your thoughts on the book overall?

I kinda agree with Courtney. I did read this fast but I didn't EAT IT UP..ya know? I would have loved to have waaaaay more of Sophie's story...like their life after surviving the war!! Liz's life went on and on and on. 

Is the Sophie in The Girl You Left Behind the real Sophie?  

Yes! It's who her beloved husband painted her to be. Maybe she wasn't always "that" girl in the painting but he caught a version of herself.

What do you think of the relationship between Sophie and the Kommandant? He states that they're just two people. Do you think that is true?

UGH! I hated it. I understand I know nothing about war times but man I hated their whole relationship. I just ended up feeling sorry for both of them.

How did you feel when Sophie went to the Kommandant with the painting?  Do you think she went out of desperation or selfishness? 

AHHHHH....this part was SO SAD :( I believe she went out of desperation. She wanted nothing more than to be reunited with her husband...but at what price. This part made me sooo sad.

Do you think Liv should have just let go of the painting or was she right to pursue? 

For a lot of it, I was like gosssssshhh Liv is just being selfish in not giving up that painting. But I did enjoy the adventure in discovering the true owner of the painting. It did mean A LOT to her and was a great way for (oh gosh I can't even remember the other dude's name...) to prove his love for Liv.

Does letting go of the painting make her relationship with David any less real?  Is this the reason behind keeping the painting? To keep that memory alive?

I think a huge part of her keeping it was to remind her of David BUT as she worked through her healing from the loss she realized that the painting reminded her more of the girl she is when she is happy- a feeling that's not exclusive to David.

 

Can't wait to read your thoughts! 

 

Also stay tuned for our next book! 

 

Ok now your turn! What did you think? And we're also wondering, what books do YOU want to read??

xox,

s.s.♥︎.

BOOK CLUB // FEBRUARY


We finally picked a book for February book club! Last month, Courtney told you all about #SSHEARTBOOKCLUB and today we start! Take it away Courtney...

 

Hello lovelies!!

I'm super excited to read our first S.S. Heart Bookclub book! This is one I have been looking forward to. A little mystery, a little history and of course a little love story! Laura and I thought it would be good for February and Valentine's Day is just around the corner!

The book we have chosen is, The Girl You Left Behind by JoJo Moyes. 

The book is about two women, in two different centuries who fight for what they love!  One woman is the feature in a painting that is gifted to the second a century later. As the recipient of this painting tries to discover "the girl in the paintings" history, she is tested in what she truly believes in. 

I look forward to hearing your thoughts as we read along together! 

- Courtney

We hope that you would join us in this...because come on, a two person book club is laaaaaame. So please be our friend and read this book and we'll be back to discuss it at the end of the month!!!!

xoxo,

s.s.♥︎.

SSHEART BOOK CLUB


So here's a funny story. I have some friends and we all love books (my friends got brains!) A couple years ago we tried to start a book club…I think there were about 6 of us. Well at first we were all like YES, LET'S DO THIS, BOOYAH!! But when we tried to find a time to discuss the book, there was never a right time. It took us months to find a time where we could all meet and by that time, most of us were long finished with the book! So we gave up on the book club idea…but not on books. We all continued to read avidly, borrow books from each and even have short discussions about the books. Basically we were a book club without being a book club but still couldn't get our stuff together to actually be one! So I had an idea…why don't we start a book club on SSHEART!! We all read the book, put the invite out to others and then we can discuss the book in our pyjamas from the comfort of our living room.

And then I had another idea…why don't I get my incredible bestie/assistant/encourager/most read person I know- COURTNEY to lead the book club posts….and that way if no one joins the book club, it will still have two people…ha! She thankfully agreed. Take it away Courtney!

 

Hey guys! Courtney here. Do you know what I love almost more than coffee? BOOKS!  I am completely and utterly in love with books!  I have so many I cannot even count. I love the smell of the pages. I won't even buy a purse unless I know it'll hold a book!  There's just something so magical about diving into the unknown world on the pages. 

I'm super excited that the lovely Laura has decided to launch a Bookclub!  Now, before you go getting all "I'm so busy, I can't join a book club!" Just take a deep breath because this book club is for you!  No more rearranging schedules to get together at a certain time. Now you can read at your own pace and comment/respond while you're commuting or waiting in line at the grocery store. 

I'm super excited to be on this journey with you! I am excited to share with you some of our favourite books as well as hear your suggestions and everything you have to say about them! 

 

So here's the deal. 

  1.  A new title will be posted and that book will be the one we read for a months time 
  2. We will have a half way point update with questions and comments as well as one at the end. 
  3. Some people read at different paces and if we are half way, please don't share spoilers from the end! 
  4. Please be mindful!  We are all created differently (and uniquely!) and therefore will have different opinions on things which is so good! I love a good healthy debate.  But please remember to be respectful and courteous when posting. 
  5. I look forward to hearing your thoughts! 

 

C-Money

 

Yahoooo! So who's in!!?!?!?

We'll post the book in the next couple weeks and then we'll give it a read in February! But in the meantime please let us know what types of books you want to read and discuss!!

xo,

s.s.♥