Currently Reading – Week of May 11th

Some people can only read one book at a time. I am not that kind of people. My goal was to have one audio book, one print book, and one Kindle book going at all times. Each have their own purpose… audio books while walking/running or doing chores, Kindle books at night because I can read them without the light on, and print books during all other times. That didn’t work out either. I decided to do my spiritual book challenge for 2020 and to add one of those too. And then I got hung up on a couple of books. Here is my list of books (links available to purchase on Amazon Kindle, but look for them at your local bookstore first!)

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes – Published by Pamela Dorman Books October 2020. I’ve read about 27% of it and so far so good. It’s highly rated on Goodreads and by my friends, part of the reason that I decided to read it now. I’m reading the print version which I got via my Book of the Month subscription at the end of 2019. It’s a historical fiction set in 1937 in Kentucky. It follows a couple of strong ladies that help start a traveling library around a small town in Kentucky.

Conceal, Don’t Feel by Jen Calonita – This is a Disney twisted tale. A rewriting of the story Frozen that is a bit different than the story that we know. It’s for middle grade students. I’m reading it on my Kindle and received my copy from my local library. I’m reading this to fulfill a challenge that I’m doing in one of my online book groups on Goodreads. We get points for reading books that are tagged a particular way. This book will get me points towards a Disney tag. I’m enjoying it so far but I’m not very far into it. All I’ve found out is Elsa and Anna aren’t living together because Anna was adopted by another family. I haven’t gotten into the why or what of that yet.

Black Widow by Leslie Gray Streeter – The longer title for this is Black Widow: A Sad-Funny Journey Through Grief for People Who Normally Avoid Books with Words Like “Journey” in the Title. Have I mentioned that I lost a lot of people last year? Grief and I are on a first name basis… we’re BFFs. I think this is a book that the Universe put in my path. I was on Libby, the library app, and Audible looking for books that weren’t too, too long and that would fit for tags in for my Goodreads group. I happened upon this book and checked out the audio version from the library. I started listening to it while gardening the other day and it dawned on my that the story sounded familiar. The author’s husband died suddenly one night. He was 44 and didn’t have any health issues and one day he was just gone. I did some googling and realized that Leslie Gray Streeter was featured in a CBS Sunday Morning story about grief. I’m about half-way through and wow. So far, this book as made me so grateful. I’m so grateful that I’ve taken some time to be my husband and mom. This book is a reminder that life is short and to hug the ones you love fiercely because you never know when they might be gone.

The Book of Longings – Sue Monk Kidd – Holy crap. What if Jesus had a wife who was a feminist. I found out about this book a few weeks ago, right before it was released. I’m reading another book by Sue Monk Kidd and it was having such an impact on me, I needed to learn more about her. I found out that this book was being published April 21st and that due to Covid the book tour was going virtual. I watched an interview between Glennon Doyle and Sue Monk Kidd and wow, just wow. So. Much. Good. In the interview they actually referred to the other book I’m reading, The Dance of the Dissident Daughter, multiple times. In the interview, Sue Monk Kidd announced that she was going to have a virtual book club for the reading of this book. Details can be found at bookoflongings.com. I got the print version of this book through an affiliate online bookstore so that the proceeds go to my local bookstore.

Deep Play by Diane Ackerman – I’m reading this book as part of a book led group coaching with Steph Jagger. I’m reading the print version of this so that I can make notes if I want to (this may be a whole blog post on it’s own, marking up books). I’m reading this over this month and next, so no hurry. I’ve only read the preface and the 1st chapter, so I don’t know what I think of it yet.

The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams – This is the 2nd book in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I’m reading a print version of this that has the 5 books. I was told that I might like this one better than the first book. I’m withholding judgement right now. I know this series is beloved by a ton of people.

The Dance of the Dissident Daughter – Sue Monk Kidd – This is another book that is part of Steph Jagger’s book led group coaching. It was the previous book, but I got behind in reading it. I was copying so much out of it into my journal and doing so much journalling while reading it I got behind. I’ll definitely be blogging big time about this one. This book is the first time that I’ve felt seen in the journey that I’ve been on. I felt like I’m not alone. Finally. I identify so much with the personas that she describes in the pages. Especially the Gracious Lady. I hope to get back to this one really soon. I’ll probably work on finishing it after I finish the other book I’m reading by Sue Monk Kidd. I may write a fan letter post specifically to her, there’s an idea!

The Yamas & Niyamas by Deborah Adele – I started reading this five months ago and then got distracted. (Oh look! That’s shiny!!) I got it because it was suggested to my by a friend of mine who said that it helped her with her spiritual journey. I was really enjoying it and there are a ton of great lessons in it that were helping me create boundaries and treat others with more respect. And then a shiny thing popped up. In reality the book led group coaching started and I got distracted by those books. I will finish it before the end of the year.

Mating in Captivity – Esther Perel – I’ve been trying to read this book since last year. LAST YEAR!! Another book that is part of the book led group coaching with Steph Jagger but from LAST YEAR! I started it exactly a year ago today! When I finish it I’ll be able to use it to fulfill another book reading challenge that I’m doing called Popsugar Reading Challenge. This will fulfill prompt for ‘A book you meant to read in 2019’. I thought the book was incredibly interesting when I first started reading it but then… well. It started feeling like a slog. I always finish books. That’ll be another post… to finish or not (DNF).

Villette by Charlotte Bronte – Holy heck!! I swear I’m going to finish this. I promise myself. I started it May 8, 2018. May is a bad month for me to start books apparently. I’m currently reading this on Kindle but am thinking of switching to the audio version, although the audio version stands at an intimidating 20+ hours (depending on who is reading it). Have I mentioned I always finish books?? And this is a classic! I think it’s part of 100 books to read before you die. Regardless, I’ve kind of challenged myself to read all of Charlotte Bronte’s books. Jane Eyre I liked and gave it 3 stars, but sigh… I will finish this.

So that’s it! That’s what I’m currently reading as of today! Although to be fair, the first four books in the list are really the ones that I’m switching back and forth between right now. I have no problem doing it, but then I think of switching between books like switching between shows that I’m binging. Right now I’m binging NCIS but maybe tomorrow will be Psych. I feel like switching between shows that you are watching is very similar to switching between books. After a couple of paragraphs I usually remember where I am in the story and what has happened. Villette or Mating in Captivity may be another story since it’s been so long since I’ve picked those up last, but we’ll see what happens.