Summer is over and Fall is beautifully making its way to the midwest! Here are reviews of the other six books I read over the spring and summer, as promised in my last blog post. I hope you find some fun reads to add to your Fall reading! I am about 2 books into my fall books and would love to know what you are reading as I make my choices for fall and winter!!
Brennen Manning is by far my husband’s favorite author and
because of that I have read everything I can get my hands on by Manning. His words
speak straight to my husband’s soul and so I want to know ALL THE THINGS. This book, however was somehow one I missed. I thought I had read the books, watched the
films, all things Brennen, covered, check. I’m going to be honest here and say
I would not have read this book had it not been required reading for our HVG
staff. BUT had I not, I would have VERY
MUCH MISSED OUT. We read through this in
a space of our life that was crazy busy and not very consistent. So reading
this was a challenge becauese I wanted to give it my entire head space but often
only opened the book with 1/3 of my brain J.
In true Manning fashion, all his writing requires is for you to take a deep
breath, open your heart and read. He does all the work with his provocative
question asking and prolific stories. I have so much to say about this book,
but if you cant find a copy (its not easy to get a hold of sometimes) than pick
up anything by Brennen Manning and be challenged and encouraged.
You Are Free by Rabecka Lyons
Rebecka Lyons does it again! You are Free beautifully and vulnerably stories through Lyons quest towards freedom, specifically freedom given to her by God. Her previous book, Free Fall to Fly, stories your battle with anxiety so profoundly and openly that it aided so many to a freedom in that area. You Are Free opens up the idea of freedom beyond the area of anxiety to all the areas of your life. She speaks to the rat race of feeling like you need to meet every one's expectations and gives you tools to know how to throw off self doubt and condemnation. At the end of each chapter she gives easy to work through questions to help you along the journey.
Rebecka Lyons does it again! You are Free beautifully and vulnerably stories through Lyons quest towards freedom, specifically freedom given to her by God. Her previous book, Free Fall to Fly, stories your battle with anxiety so profoundly and openly that it aided so many to a freedom in that area. You Are Free opens up the idea of freedom beyond the area of anxiety to all the areas of your life. She speaks to the rat race of feeling like you need to meet every one's expectations and gives you tools to know how to throw off self doubt and condemnation. At the end of each chapter she gives easy to work through questions to help you along the journey.
Hands Free Life by Rachel Macy StaffordRachel Macy Stafford, New York Times Best Seller and blogger, know to many as The Hands Free Mama, wrote this book with a desire to encourage people to put down all the distractions and see the people right in front of them. Stafford gives 9 intentional habits to help you live, love, connect, and dream at a richer level. Hands Free Life is easy to read and full of helpful, practical advice. Stafford shares stories of how she has applied each of the 9 habits, making it easy to connect with her suggestions.
Braving The Wilderness By Brene Brown
Y'all. Stop reading this right now and click on the link and buy this book! Or run out to the book store and grab it! The message in this book is so important to the cultural climate, especially in America, today. Brene Brown, a research professor in Social Science, urges connectedness and belonging, both to yourself and to others. She shows us the cultural effects of our individualization and the shame responses we have that result in a lack of belonging. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 are crucial concepts for us to learn as we navigate this modern world. The chapter titles tell it all :: Chapter 4:: People Are Hard To Hate Up Close. Move In. Chapter 5:: Speak Truth to Bullshit. Be Civil. Chapter 6:: Hold Hands. With Strangers. Brown encourages us to get to know people who do not think like us and shows the negative cultural implications of surrounding ourselves with only like minded humans. I can not stress enough how helpful and encouraging this work is. I highly recommend you add it to your reading list...soon!
Y'all. Stop reading this right now and click on the link and buy this book! Or run out to the book store and grab it! The message in this book is so important to the cultural climate, especially in America, today. Brene Brown, a research professor in Social Science, urges connectedness and belonging, both to yourself and to others. She shows us the cultural effects of our individualization and the shame responses we have that result in a lack of belonging. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 are crucial concepts for us to learn as we navigate this modern world. The chapter titles tell it all :: Chapter 4:: People Are Hard To Hate Up Close. Move In. Chapter 5:: Speak Truth to Bullshit. Be Civil. Chapter 6:: Hold Hands. With Strangers. Brown encourages us to get to know people who do not think like us and shows the negative cultural implications of surrounding ourselves with only like minded humans. I can not stress enough how helpful and encouraging this work is. I highly recommend you add it to your reading list...soon!
Of Mess and Moxie by Jen Hatmaker
If you are looking for a fun book that makes your feel like you are talking to your best friend, this is your jam! Jen Hatmaker is HILARIOUS as always, but in her brilliant way, makes you think hard about the how's and why's of life. This book is full of camaraderie and encouragement. She tells stories that make you laugh until your side hurts and cry the ugly cry. We got the audio of this book to listen to on our long haul across the US because my husband loves listening to and reading Jen's writings just as much as I do. This book guided us into wonderful conversations. Jen helped us look at our life and be tremendously grateful for our friends and loved ones. She helped us have courage for hard things, chuckle at things that were hard that shouldn't have been, and grapple with some cultural issues. ALL IN ONE BOOK. You will love this book. Get it and enjoy it with some friends!
If you are looking for a fun book that makes your feel like you are talking to your best friend, this is your jam! Jen Hatmaker is HILARIOUS as always, but in her brilliant way, makes you think hard about the how's and why's of life. This book is full of camaraderie and encouragement. She tells stories that make you laugh until your side hurts and cry the ugly cry. We got the audio of this book to listen to on our long haul across the US because my husband loves listening to and reading Jen's writings just as much as I do. This book guided us into wonderful conversations. Jen helped us look at our life and be tremendously grateful for our friends and loved ones. She helped us have courage for hard things, chuckle at things that were hard that shouldn't have been, and grapple with some cultural issues. ALL IN ONE BOOK. You will love this book. Get it and enjoy it with some friends!
This autobiographical account of Eddie Wadsworth’s life
growing up as the child of a broken home, finding herself in situations almost
unbearable to hear, is a must read. A fantastic story teller, Wadsworth helps
you see into her life growing up in between an acholic father who lived with
family in a trailer park and a single mother who was doing her best to get her
kids out of the life they had and into a better one. The author does an fantastic job of taking
you along on her upbringing and writes in a way that helps you see and feel the
things of her childhood. Her journey to finding God and growing into adulthood
will pull you in and by the end you will feel as if you are longtime friends.
This resilient child became a tenatious adult who loves the Lord and is trying
with all her might to see All The Pretty Things. -->
