Over the last month we have done quite a few new book reviews. Today we are highlighting seventeen of the new book reviews.
When I was putting this together I realized what a wide range of books that it is this time. We have some serious books like the first one on the list and we also have some fun mindless reads. I hope that you find something to add to your TBR list.
The Cost of Discipleship
The Cost of Discipleship was the first book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer that I read. I enjoyed it. I did not agree with chunks of the book, but after reading about his life in other books, parts of the book made a lot more sense. It is well worth reading as it teaches a lot. It is a little old fashion writing so be ready to pull out a dictionary as you read this deep yet well worth reading Christian book. ~ Grace
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before has been all over the place as a wonderful read and now is a movie on Netflix. It was on scribd, so I decided to read it when I was sick. It was fine. The writing is great.
The conversations are mostly realistic. The thoughts the reader get to see in Lara Jean’s head are interesting and probably a normal teenage response. There was an obvious villain and conflicts that drove the plot. ~Grace
The Fill-In Boyfriend
I read The Fill-In Boyfriend when I was sick. I needed something that I didn’t have to pay attention to but was worth it. It was on Scribd, which is where I go when I want a light hearted book about love.
It was fine. It was relatively clean. It was stupid. It wouldn’t happen in real life, but I have feeling many people have dreamed that this situation in the book would happen. It ended up happily, which is good when you are not in a great mood and need something light. ~Grace
Doc: True Tales of Mishaps, Emergencies, and Miracles from a Montana Physician
I was in a doctor office and had finished my book that I had brought. And shamefully, I had forgotten to bring a back up. So like a modern day champ, I went to my kindle on my phone and browsed what mom had on there. Doc caught my eye, so I started to read it.
It took a while to finish it. I enjoyed the stories in it as they were unique and taught me different things about the medical from over a century ago. I am glad I read it, but it wasn’t well written. It was a little sporadic and could have been changed to be better. ~ Grace
To Hell and Back
To Hell and Back by Audi Murphy is a classic World War II memoir of America’s most decorated soldier, and it has taken me too long to read it. I used to watch Audie Murphy’s movies when I was younger. I enjoyed them even though they are a little cheesy.
My great great uncle who fought in World War II still loves Audie Murphy. He will watch his movies anytime he sees them on because my uncle Johnny loves the sacrifice and service that this eventually Hollywood star gave. I enjoyed this book. It was riveting, well written. ~ Grace
Tending Roses
Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate was one of my favorite books for 2020. I picked this up at a used bookstore that my husband and I visited. I wanted something different to read, that had a good story line, but that wasn’t too deep or depressing to read. This book was just that. It was the perfect book for me to read at the perfect time.
It is the story of a women, who moves in temporarily with her grandmother. Instead of just helping her grandmother, she ends up realizing what is important in life. ~ Lynn
Thunder In the Mountains
My mom bought me Thunder in the Mountains at Costco. I had read multiple books about Native Americans, and she thought I would enjoy this book. I did. I knew some about the Nez Perce, but this book when way more in depth than I had ever read. It shows fault on both sides, and does bring out things that surprised me. ~ Grace
Death in the Air
Death in the Air was not what I expected it to be. I guess I was thinking it would be more focused on the serial killer. But it wasn’t. Instead, I learned about the horrors that the London people suffered through during the terrible smogs that would occur. I guess it went right along with the Biology class I was taking in college as I was learning about why humans breath and why it must be clean, which told me why people were dying, and about pollution.
The author Dawson did an amazing job of intertwining the smog and the killer together. I thought at first I wouldn’t like that, but it was so well done that I was able to see these events side by side and see which one was more impactful on England.~ Grace
Capital Gaines
Several people in my family have read or listened to the audio version of Capital Gaines by Chip Gaines and really enjoyed it. My daughters and I all loved The Magnolia Story book. We actually are not huge Fixer Upper fans. We like it, but it has never been a must watch at our house. However, we find Chip and Joanna’s story fascinating. It is a pretty amazing story how they built their business and brand. Because we loved that books so much I knew I wanted to read the book Capital Gaines by Chip Gaines. I loved this book. My daughters enjoyed reading this book too. ~Lynn
The Liar’s Club
The Liar’s Club by Mary Karr was published back in 2005. I picked this book up because I have heard that it was one of the memoirs that helped change the way memoirs were written. I have seen this on several people’s book list for must read memoirs. I am glad I read this book, but it wasn’t for me.
The writing style was fine, but it didn’t pull me into the story like many memoirs do. I also thought the details were way too graphic and detailed. It had way too much information in several parts. You can talk about abuse and difficult things without all the extra details. I skimmed over several sections of this book simply because I couldn’t handle the in depth details. I really struggled to see why so many people love this book. ~ Lynn
High Noon
I love the movie High Noon. It is a classic that helped make the anti western western movies into Hollywood. So when I saw the book, High Noon, I really wanted to read it. And in the end, I was not disappointed. There was a mix of scandal, the old west, actors, and more, which made this book tasteful.
I learned so much about Hollywood and how what was going on at the time the movie was released was what made it more impactful on its audience. It also showed me the behind the scenes and how budgets work. ~ Grace
The Shadow of Christ In the Book of Job
In the Book of Job was recommended to me by my dad and a friend. I picked it up mainly because I have recently been fascinated by the book of Job through conversations with several people.
This book brought a new light on the book of Job in the Bible. I was able to see passages differently and how the man Job reflects Christ. I think if you enjoy or are trying to start to reading more commentary/theology type books that aren’t too long, this could be for you. ~ Grace
The Man Who Flew the Memphis Belle
The Man Who Flew the Memphis Belle is another great World War II Memoir that brought light into how the life of being a bomber pilot and part of the crew is like. I think it wasn’t the best written memoir, but it did show me a lot of how things worked back then. It didn’t show about the war; it showed what people on the home front felt to crews like this. If watched the Memphis Belle movie, read the book. ~ Grace
A Higher Call
I have yet to be disappointed by Adam Makos’s books. A Higher Call drew me in right away. I loved how it showed a different view of the war through a German’s eyes and not just the American side. This really put things into perspective. It showed that there were good people on the wrong side.
If you need a little reminder that not all people are bad even if they are on a different side than you, grab this book, a hot drink, and a issue to read this unique story of a fighter pilot helping out the other side. ~ Grace
The Devil In the White City
The Devil In the White City is the first book by Erik Larson that I have read, and I loved it! This book has been on my TBR list for a long time. I finally picked it up for my Illinois book for my book for every state challenge, and I am so glad that I did. Once I started this book, I could not put it down. ~ Lynn
In Pursuit of the Common Good
In Pursuit of the Common Good by Paul Newman combines food, business, and Hollywood. Most people are familiar with the food company Newman’s Own, but do you know the whole story behind it? This book shares the story of how Newman’s Own came to be, why it has the mission it does, and how Paul Newman made it all work. ~ Lynn
The Widow Next Door
The Widow Next Door was the last book that I choose for my books for every state challenge. Delaware was the last state that I needed a book for, and I had trouble finding one. There are books set in Delaware, but not a lot about Delaware or a person from Delaware. The Widow Next Door is set in Delaware, so I am counting it for that state, but it didn’t talk a lot about the culture of Delaware. I am sure there are better books about Delaware out there.
This book also wasn’t really for me. I finished it, and I hate to say that I didn’t like it because it is someones story. But I had trouble with this one. It is basically a blog in book form, which isn’t my favorite style of book. ~ Lynn