I read some things last month.
I would never had said I could lose my love of consuming books, but September was hard and I didn’t read much. October (my favorite month of the year) found me emerging from the fog and picking up some books again.
Here’s what I read:
The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile
This book. The Road Back to You will make my list of top books of 2017 without a doubt. Learning about the Enneagram has rocked my world, and I’m completely sure it will rock yours too. Please read this book. Let’s be better friends, spouses, parents, children, workers, and humans together. (I’m writing more about this next week, don’t you worry.)
Hallelujah Anyway by Anne Lamott
Anne Lamott is always just what I need. Especially last month (oh, and this month too…) when I needed to be reminded again and again of what mercy looks like in my life and what it looks like in others’ lives. If you love the craft of writing or want to be reminded of God’s goodness in our lives, Hallelujah Anyway is a good one.
A Fierce Love by Shauna Shanks
No. Absolutely not. I hated this book. I ended up quitting it a few chapters from the end. In A Fierce Love, Shauna Shanks tells the story of her husband cheating on her, staying in their house while saying he wants to be with the other woman, and her lessons through this horrible time. I picked this up hoping for a little marriage encouragement and Shanks is so sappy, sweet, and submissive I felt physically ill reading it. Her reactions to her husband’s betrayal feels fake and forced–this whole story felt weird.
Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
You know I loved Made You Up by Francesca Zappia last year. Or was it two years ago? Either way, I love that book. Her new one, Eliza and Her Monsters, is okay but not as all-consuming for me. I’m not a big fan of stories with two story lines (Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl did this too; I didn’t like it then either), especially when it gets too fan fiction or sci-fi. Two genres I just can’t seem to get into. But younger readers are going to like this one. I liked it, but it was going to be hard to compete with Made You Up no matter what Zappia came up with.
Read anything good in October?
Can’t wait to read more about your thoughts on The Road Back to You. I’m obsessed with the Enneagram and have this book on hold at the library to learn more. Have you listened to any of the podcasts that the authors have done (podcast same name as book)? I definitely recommend them, depending on your number… they had several with guests with my number, so they were very enlightening!
I just finished Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng and looooooved it. Haven’t had that kind of visceral reaction (in a good way) to a book in a long time. I keep seeing The Road Back to You popping up in my various feeds … just took the Enneagram test and think I’ll dive into that one soon!