October Book Reviews

I read twelve books this month, which is the most books in a month I have read all year. This, of course, was mainly due to my husband and my reading vacation/anniversary trip to South Padre Island, TX, where we alternated from visiting the beach to reading poolside all week. This month has a wide array of genres, so hopefully you'll find something that interests you! 

The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan (audiobook) ★★★☆☆
A quirky, yet charming story about a British author, Anthony Peardew, who has spent four decades collecting lost objects with the hopes of returning them to their rightful owners one day. When he no longer can complete this mission, he passes it along to his assistant, Laura. With the help of the gardener and a neighbor teenager with Down Syndrome, they embark on an adventure. There is a bit of magical realism that I was not expecting but added to the quirkiness rather nicely. I especially liked Anthony's short stories written in between chapters about specific objects. And also that a character with Down Syndrome was celebrated. Also, a fun detail that was not lost upon me (pun intended) that Anthony's last name "Peardew" is phonetic for the French word for 'lost' (perdu). The audiobook narrator had a great British accent, which really worked for the novel.

Rating: PG-13 (a few references to sex and some language)
Reminded me of: The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick



First Women: The Grace and Power of America's Modern First Ladies by Kate Andersen Brower (audiobook) ★★★★☆
From Jackie Kennedy to Michelle Obama, the reader gets an inside look at the leading ladies  of the White House. Each of them found inspirational ways to leave a mark on the US  in their own way while also supporting their husbands in his presidency. Rather than taking one chapter per First Lady, separating each on her own, Brower focuses the chapters on different aspects that each of the First Ladies had to wrestle with, whether raising children in the White House, backing their husbands during controversial political or personal events, the West Wing (President's staff) vs East Wing (First Lady's staff) drama, and lack of privacy while under the public eye of the entire country. My favorite parts where any mention of First Ladies who encouraged and were truly friendly towards each other despite opposing political stances (most notably, my favorites from the list: Michelle Obama and Laura Bush). I wish the list of "modern" First Ladies extended to my favorite First Lady of all time, Eleanor Roosevelt, but there was plenty mention of her since many First Ladies looked up to her (especially/surprisingly, Hillary Clinton, who I never realized had so much in common with her). It gave me a lot of background info into the lives of these remarkable, courageous women.

Rating: PG (a few mentions of Clinton's affairs that had some language, but overall a very clean book)
Reminded me of: Sisters, First by Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush



Lies Women Believe: And the Truth that Sets Them Free by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth★★★★★
In this newly updated and expanded edition of the best-selling book, Nancy discusses areas of women's lives where we are prone to believe lies about who God is, who we are, and what He calls sin. She exposes deceptive and often subtle beliefs by countering it with Biblical Truths. She starts with lies about God (that He is not good, for instance), then moves onto lies we believe about ourselves (that we cannot change, that we are not loved, etc), about sin (God can't forgive what I've done), sexuality (God's standards for sex are out of date), marriage (If I submit to my husband, I'll be miserable), children (I can/can't control the way my children turn out), emotions (If I feel something, it must be true), and circumstances (things will never change). Some of the chapters were more powerful to my own life season than others, but I definitely got a lot out of it, particularly because of the accompanying  study guide (sold separately) that dug deeper and provided plenty of space to work through the lies and replace them with God's Truth. For me, this has been a vital resource in recognizing things that I allow myself to believe that do not align with what God says is true -- and then replacing them with what is true. I wholeheartedly recommend it for anyone who wants to get unstuck from negative thinking patterns that are rooted in lies rather than truth.

Rating: PG (the sexuality chapter is fairly tame so I think this could be a great resource for mothers and daughters to read together)
Reminded me of: What Women Fear by Angie Smith and Fervent by Priscilla Shirer
Disclaimer: Thanks to Moody Publishers for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.



Home by Marilynne Robinson★★★★★
In Gilead, the perspective came from Congregationalist minister  John Ames. In Lila, the focus was on Ames' wife. In Home, Ames' neighbor and best friend, Reverend Boughton's prodigal son, Jack, and spinster daughter, Glory, take the stage in this slow-moving literary novel. After twenty years who-knows-where, Jack has returned to an aging father and a heartbroken sister living in their childhood home. A recovering alcoholic who always struggled to belong and be good enough, a father who has been waiting so long for his prodigal son to come home, and a daughter/sister who is trying to mend the chasm between them while also healing from her own circumstances. Identity, family ties, faith, redemption, and fatherly love are threads woven together into this well-crafted masterpiece. I have absolutely adored each of Robinson's three Gilead books, but this might be my favorite. It is so raw and honest about tough circumstances while also deeply moving in the exquisite prose. She makes the setting come alive with the effortlessly descriptive atmospheric language  that makes you think of home, whatever that may look like to you. Just like other literary fiction, the characters typically lead the story rather than a fast-paced plot, so this one deserves to be savored slowly and thoughtfully rather than sped through.

Rating: PG (references to alcohol abuse)
Reminded me of: Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry



Refugee by Alan Gratz (audiobook) ★★★★★

Three different stories of three pre-teens from three different decades, all have one thing in common: they have become refugees because of devastating circumstances in their homeland. Josef is a Jewish boy living in Germany whose father has been freed from a concentration camp on the grounds that he leave Germany immediately, so their family sets sail towards Cuba with thousands of other Jews in the 1930s. Isabel is from Cuba and amidst the political turmoil in 1994, she and her family join her best friend's family on a wimpy raft to escape to America. Mahmoud is a Syrian refugee in 2015 who attempts to leave violence behind as he and his family embark on their journey towards Europe. Through many near-death experiences along the way, these children exhibit courage, love for their family, and maturity as they endure heart-wrenching situations. Though written as middle-grade (and would be a powerful resource for parents and teachers to use for discussing the refugee crisis with middle-schoolers), this is a great way for adults to get a glimpse into the world of refugees as well. The audiobook was exceptionally done, with each of the children having their own narrator. Though heavy and somber in subject, it is a novel filled with courage and hope for a better tomorrow.

Rating: G (though there are understandably a few semi-violent scenes that parents will likely have to discuss with children)

Reminded me of: Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan (best audiobook I have ever listened to!!!) 

My Berlin Kitchen: A Love Story (with Recipes) by Luisa Weiss ★★★★☆
I love foodie memoirs and travel memoirs, so this was definitely a sweet treat since it combined both! Luisa has an Italian mom and Jewish-American dad and grew up in Germany with them. As an adult, she works in publishing in NYC but her heartstrings are increasingly being pulled back towards Berlin. Written in short essays about her unique multi-cultural upbringing that led to somewhat of an identity crisis and always feeling like she doesn't belong, love interests, work aspirations, and, of course traveling (the chapters on Paris and Italy had be swooning) and food (most of which are German recipes, which was fun since I can't say I recognize many authentic German dishes other than schnitzel), it was a delightful memoir that inspired me to try my hand at a few recipes of my own homeland, Romania.

Rating: PG (two cuss words) but overall a really clean book.
Reminded me of: Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard (loved!) and A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg (liked), though there was a lot less cussing and Weiss is very shy and reserved compared to the outgoing and somewhat brash (yet still lovable and relatable) Bard and Wizenberg.



Joy in the Morning by Betty Smith ★★★★★
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn stands as one of my favorite books, so I have had Smith's second novel on my to-read list for several years. On the first pages of this novel, slightly childlike, naïve, eternally optimistic, eighteen-year-old  Annie marries her longtime beau Carl, a law student at a Midwestern university, minutes after disembarking the train from their Brooklyn hometown. What follows is the ups and downs of their first year of marriage. Told in refreshingly honest vignettes, Smith does not shy away from the many frustrations, bickering, and hurt emotions that often mingle with wedded bliss of newlyweds. From their miscommunications and assumptions that lead to arguments, to PMS-related emotional tirades, to financial woes and budgeting, Smith tackles it all in a humorous and relatable way. I was cheering Annie and Carl on, while also identifying with a lot of what Annie was experiencing (insecurity, comparison). Annie was an adorable character, and like Francie from A Tree, a lover of reading and writing. It was fun to read the stories Annie crafted and watch her improve her skill throughout the year, pushing herself towards the uncomfortable work of learning and growing. And I was laughing out loud when she would use her imagination and daydream, which brought a lighthearted touch amidst their frequent marital conflict.

Rating: PG (no cussing, but there are a few subtle and not-so-subtle references to sex)
Reminded me of: the charm and childlike imagination of L.M. Montgomery's Anne Shirley in the later books in the series.



The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables by Catherine Reid ★★★★☆
I borrowed this book from the library with the intent to flip through the photos as a reference, but ended up reading it cover to cover because it was so intriguing! I have long been interested in L.M. Montgomery's life and the interweaving of fact and fiction shared between her and her most well-known heroine, Anne. I already have Prince Edward Island on my bucket list, but it has bumped its way up after reading this book. With gorgeous photos depicting Prince Edward Island's rolling hills and seaside brilliance and noting areas near L.M. Montgomery's relatives' home that inspired the beloved scenery in the novels, including the Lake of Shining Waters, Lover's Lane, and of course, the iconic Green Gables itself. I enjoyed finding out about the similarities between Maud and Anne, but was sad to read the heartbreaking story of Maud's later life, including a marriage to a difficult man and long battle with depression and life disappointments. If you are like me and would love to visit PEI and discover first-hand the landscapes of Anne of Green Gables, but cannot do it anytime soon, this is the next best thing.

Rating: G
Reminded me of: MY DEEP DESIRE TO VISIT PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND!!



Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier ★★★★★(audiobook)
I've been wanting to read this book since I saw in on The Great American Read list last summer, but wanted to wait until October since it is a spooky book and fits perfectly with cooler, autumnal weather. I don't read horror or anything remotely scary and I went into this book without knowing too much about it. I was tentative at first, but quickly discovered a gem. A young woman is caught in a whirlwind (unromantic, IMO) romance while in the French Riviera, leaving with a new last name as a souvenir: Mrs. de Winter. But as soon as she steps into Manderley, the regal stone mansion in the British coastline that is now her home, she is reminded over and over about the previous Mrs. Maxim de Winter aka Rebecca, who mysteriously died the previous year. Filled with eerie  interactions with the creepy Mrs. Danvers, the main housekeeper who is eternally devoted to Rebecca, as well as the constant comparisons and her new husband Maxim's odd, aloof behavior that makes one wonder why he remarried at all, the new Mrs. de Winter is not going to get her honeymoon newlywed year she was hoping for. Idealistic, daydreamer, and people-pleaser that she is, the poor thing gets more of a nightmare than a fairytale. So why did I like it if it was so dark? I typically don't go that route, but after devouring the equally dark Wuthering Heights last summer, I figured I could give it a try, and I am so glad I did! The mysterious, quickly-paced, and twisting plot were absorbing and un-put-downable, in the vernacular of Anne Bogel (of What Should I Read Next podcast), while the melancholy, brooding setting was atmospheric, almost causing a chill up my spine (especially whenever creepy Danvers entered the scene, yikes).

Rating: PG (a few references to questionable behavior)
Reminded me of: The brooding, haunting mood that is reminiscent of Jane Eyre and definitely Wuthering Heights (though in the era and style of Great Gatsby)



In His Image: 10 Ways God Calls Us To Reflect His Character by Jen Wilkin ★★★★☆
Jen's previously published book (which I absolutely loved), None Like Him, focused on ten incommunicable attributes of God -- ten ways He is wholly and holy different than humanity and why that is a good thing (His omnipotence, omnipresence, an infinite nature, to name three). In His Image continues the study on who God is by focusing on ten distinctly communicable attributes and how we can share in these attributes by our call to image Him. The ten attributes include: He is most holy, most loving, most good, most just, most merciful, most gracious, most faithful, most patient, most truthful, and most wise. Though we can -- and are indeed called to reflect Him in each of these attributes -- only He is the perfect definition of them, while we in our human nature, can only be a whisper of Him. Even so, when we imperfect humans, through the power and wisdom of His Holy Spirit pursue holiness, faithfulness, patience, truthfulness, wisdom, mercy, grace, and justice, we are bringing glory to Him and pointing the focus on Him. This is a great study on these specific attributes. I wish she went just a little deeper on some of them, but overall, a great resource to grow in knowledge of God.

Rating: G
Reminded me of: None Like Him, obviously



Middlemarch by George Eliot (audiobook and hardcover)★★★★☆
This gargantuan novel (my beautiful clothbound Penguin edition clocks at 838 pages!) was originally published in eight installments between 1871-1872 as an insider's look into the English provencial life. Eliot, who's real name was Mary Ann Evans, intersected several different stories amidst a large cast of characters. Most notably, there is young Dorothea, idealist and naïve to the core, who falls head over heels and quickly marries the much older, wealthy theologian scholar (and self-righteous bore) Casaubon. Issues that arise in their story include the status of women during that time period, idealism vs reality of an unfortunate, ill-matched marriage. Next in order of my interest was the story of Dr. Lydgate, also an idealist like Dorothea, with a desire to incorporate pioneering, evidence-based medical treatments from larger cities (but the country folk aren't so keen on his modern medicine). He gets involved with the irritating (my least favorite character in the book), pompous Rosamund. Her brother Fred is an immature rich kid who has no idea what he wants to do with his life after dropping out of Oxford but knows one thing for sure: he wants to win the hand of a poor childhood friend, now housemaid named Mary (surprisingly the most normal love story in the book). Lastly, the hypocritical, religious banker Bulstrode's well-crafted life starts unravel after hidden past scandals come to light.  Though around half the book separates these stories as stand-alone plots, they later interweave in entertaining ways, which made the second half a lot more enjoyable than the first. This was a loooong book, and though I enjoyed it overall (especially the last quarter of the book, where the plot thickened and quickened), it seemed to drag in some parts. I particularly did not care at all for the references to historical events and government-related dialogue since my interest in 19th British history is lacking. I did, however, appreciate the bits about the upcoming railways, which pointed towards to Industrial Revolution, since that was at least a little familiar.

Rating: G
Reminds me of:  The BBC production of Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford (also about British provincial life).



Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was and Who God Has Always Been by Jackie Hill Perry ★★★★★
A vulnerably honest, powerfully and poetically penned memoir by spoken word poet and writer Perry. Organized into three parts, Who I Was (her upbringing and identity as a lesbian from childhood to early adulthood), Who I Became (how God radically changed her life by pointing her heart towards Him), and thirdly, chapters on same-sex attraction from a Christian perspective (specifically on identity, endurance through the temptations and difficulties of pursuing Jesus, and the dangers of the 'heterosexual gospel' which claims if you become Christian, you will automatically have changed sexuality and marriage will be the end goal, which leads to shame and confusion for those who still struggle with same-sex attraction for years to come. She contends that the goal is Jesus, not marriage, and that for some, marriage will never come but they can still deny same-sex attraction and follow Jesus nonetheless and find their identity in Him).  The creative way she crafts her sentences is refreshing and powerful, almost as if you are hearing her give a spoken word poetry performance in front of you. I appreciated how real she was and how deeply she desired every part of her story to point to the transforming and redemptive power of Jesus.

Rated: PG
Reminds me of: The Secret Thoughts of An Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield
Disclaimer: Thanks to B&H/Lifeway for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

What did you read in October? Anything you'd recommend?