September Book Reviews

Ashley's War: The Untold Story of Women Soldiers on Special Ops Battlefield by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon (audiobook) ★★★★☆
1st Lt. Ashley White was part of a pilot program that placed some of the Army's strongest, brightest female soldiers  alongside the Special Operation (Green Berets and Army Rangers)  on missions in Afghanistan in 2010.  This program, named the Cultural Support Team, proved extremely helpful in bridging a gap between the U.S. military and the women in Afghanistan. Since it is considered dishonorable for a Muslim woman to be interviewed and/or be searched by a male American solider, Ashley White and her team were able to step in and speak to these women, often gaining indispensable information that helped the war effort while also respecting the conservative traditions of the surrounding culture. They risked their lives for their heroic work, with Ashley being the first member of the CST to be killed in action (not a spoiler, it is mentioned on the official summary & spoken of early in the book). This biography, extensively researched and riveting to the end,  gave me a window into the dangerous, courageous, and extremely difficult world of these hand-picked female soldiers as well as the implication on their family while they were on the battlefield. FYI: There is a fair amount of cussing.


The Madwoman Upstairs by Catherine Lowell (audiobook) ★★★☆☆
I have had this book on my Goodreads to-read shelf for two years and have been waiting to read some Brontë  before I read it since it has all sorts of Brontë references that otherwise would have been completely lost to me. Even though I was not crazy about this book, I am glad it was the impetus for reading a few Brontë novels in the past year, including Jane Eyre (favorite!), Wuthering Heights (creepy but so good), Agnes Grey (slow but good), and The Professor (meh). In this fan fiction debut from Lowell, the focus is on a modern-day descendent of the Brontë sisters: socially awkward, snarky, paranoid Samantha Whipple. Years after the mysterious death of her eccentric father, she finds herself a student in Oxford and on a scavenger hunt for clues that lead to her inheritance and potential secrets of the Brontë legacy. I enjoyed the snippets of history on the Brontë  sisters (though I was not a fan of some of the scandalous, gossipy speculation Samantha kept bringing up). It made me curious enough about the three Brontë sisters to want to read an actual biography on them. The mystery part of the plot was ok, entertaining enough to keep me guessing. But Samantha was an unlikable character. She was too sarcastic and rude and her awkwardness was annoying rather than endearing. Based on the interactions with her professor, I was confused how she supposedly got into Oxford University in the first place because she didn't seem motivated towards an education and seemed like an apathetic, oblivious student until it benefits her via a possible inheritance. Two things that make it difficult for me to enjoy a novel: when a plot is not believable and when the protagonist is unlikable. Check and check. If you want some Brontë  in your life, go for the classics before considering picking this one up.


Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh ★★☆☆☆
Often revered as a classic, I was recommended this novel by a few people and after finding a copy for a dollar, decided to finally give it a shot. It's got a bit of Downton Abbey (the upstairs part) mixed with a narrative style comparative to The Great Gatsby.  Charles Ryder gets immersed in the privileged, affluent life of the enigmatic and well-respected Marchmain family when he befriends Sebastian in their first year at Oxford.  But he finds out over the years that along with the family's prestige comes a fair share of scandal, broken relationships, loneliness, and loss. This is a satire of the English upper class during the golden age between WWI and WWII that also pokes fun at Catholicism (not a cool thing to do, Mr. Waugh). There wasn't one character I was rooting for. The narrator is unlikable, concerned particularly with what benefits himself. He is a terrible friend, husband, and father. So, that made it hard to read. Also, I just don't really care about reading novels about the rich and famous. I was never really into Downton Abbey and when I watched it, I liked the drama that went on in the servant's quarters more than upstairs with the Crawleys. So this story just dragged on and on for me. The writing was pretty good; I can see why Waugh's wit and satire are applauded. But there wasn't enough charm for me to root for any of the characters and I disagreed with a lot of the moral decisions they all made. It just wasn't for me.


I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death by Maggie O'Farrell (audiobook) ★★★★★
After Anne Bogel of What Should I Read Next podcast & Modern Mrs Darcy blog gushed about this book, I decided to give it a try and and incredibly glad I did! The premise seems a big a little unbelievable (she nearly died seventeen times?!), but yes, O'Farrell is not over-exaggerating when  she dives into each near-death experience, including car accidents, murder attempt, anaphylaxis, armed robbery, childhood encephalitis, near drowning, and others. In a way, the book is terrifying; not in a horror movie type of way but in a "oh my gosh, this could actually happen!" way that reminds me of the vulnerability of being alive.  For one thing, it made me want to buy some pepper spray for my morning jog. But don't let that steer you away. This is no Debbie Downer of a book, I promise. O'Farrell's writing is exquisite and powerful. She weaves words together masterfully and poetically without being woo-woo or artsy-fartsy. Each chapter is a stand-alone essay that is titled with the body part that was involved in the near-death experience. For example, two chapters titled Lungs details two different near-drowning experiences, while the chapter titled Cerebellum tells of her childhood encephalitis that kept her bedridden for a year. There are two heart-wrenching and powerful chapters that had me bawling: Baby and Bloodstream (on infertility and miscarriage) and Daughter (on one of her child's extreme allergies and dangerous anaphylaxis episodes). Both deal with such painful subjects and she wrote them in a way that I feel could be both comforting and validating to other moms who have endured similar situations.  This is a book I do not want to forget.


Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll ★★★★★
The Disney version was a favorite of mine as a child, and though it is a classic in its own right, it did not capture all of the wit, word play, and puns that I was surprised to find in this hilarious tale of a curious girl, a compulsively tardy yet distinguishably dressed white rabbit, a loony set of tea drinkers,  a creepy smiling cat, a ferocious queen obsessed with beheading, and a caterpillar that's higher than a kite. It's silly and written purposely to not have morals or lessons to learn since so many children's books around that time had to teach them lessons on education, morality, religion, and manners rather than letting the child be entertained. So don't go digging deep for meaning and just enjoy the ridiculousness of this tale for what it is. It was a lighthearted and comedic balance to some of my heavier reads.



Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls (audiobook) ★★★★★
I have heard of this book since I was in middle school but somehow never read it until I saw it on The Great American Read list and decided to pick it up. The narrator of the audiobook did a great job with all the different character's voices. This sweet tale follows young Billy as he works to earn money to buy two hunting hounds, trains them, and then sets out on various exciting escapades through the foothills of the  Oklahoma's Ozarks mountains. Billy is such a good role model for young kids. He respects and obeys his parents, understands that they are poor and can't buy him his dogs so he finds ways to raise money on his own, and is sweet to his younger sisters. I think it is far more easy to find young protagonists who are the opposite in today's middle grade and young adult fiction so it was a breath of fresh air to read about Billy. He was also an entertaining character, especially at the starting when he was "infected with this terrible disease" of puppy love. He goes in long, hilarious detail about how much he wanted dogs and how pitiful he was trying to convince his parents until he finally realized he'd have to work for the money on his own. This is great for middle graders but I absolutely loved the charm and childhood simplicity of romping through the woods with your four-legged best buddies. Beware, there are some tear-jerker moments.

Kid Lit

Big and Little Coloring Devotional (written by Rachel C. Swanson, illustrated by Jacy Corral)
A brilliant idea that Rachel C. Swanson felt was a nudge from God to have some quiet, reflective, and creative time for herself and her child through the simple and relaxing art of coloring. For moms, there are intricate designs with a short-and-sweet (2-3 paragraphs) devotional to contemplate while coloring. For the child, a more age-appropriate, simpler coloring page with a Bible verse that corresponds to mom's devotional. I don't have children yet but I feel like this will be a great way to naturally incorporate faith conversations while doing something together that is both fun and relaxing for both mama and child. Whether a calming activity before nap time or a go-to after meltdowns, it seems like a useful and encouraging resource. Devotional topics include remembering God is in control and letting Him "take the wheel",  the power of prayer, obedience to God, trusting in His promises, we are "carefully crafted" by Him, stillness in the hustle, and many others.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free (thank you!) from B&H/ Lifeway Bloggers in exchange for an honest review, which I have provided here.

I Can Only Imagine (for Little Ones): A Friendship with Jesus Now and Forever by Bart Miller (with Laura Neutzling), illustrated by Sumiti Collins
Inspired by the the song by MercyMe with the same title, this is a darling book that encourages young children to wonder what it will be like to meet Jesus and experience heaven for themselves one day. As the child narrator imagines the fun, beauty, and love that is awaiting him, he also mentions the ways he can be a friend of Jesus here and now:

"I'm sure of one thing that will always be true --

I don't have to wait to spend time with You!" 

From cuddling close to parents to hear His story, to enjoying friends and pets and ice cream, children can be encouraged through this beautiful book to look at the many gifts God has placed in their lives and see them as ways that can make them anticipate and be excited for a friendship with him now and forevermore.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free (thank you!) from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review, which I have provided here. 

 Currently Reading:

In His Image: 10 Ways God Calls Us To Reflect His Character by Jen Wilson

Middlemarch by George Eliot

Lies Women Believe: And the Truth That Sets Them Free by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

Streams in the Desert: 366 Daily Devotional Readings by Lettie B. Cowman