September Books

A year ago today, we moved into our new house and sold our old one.  (Yep, all on the same morning.)  I'm so thankful that we are not moving and unpacking this year.  Also, I'm grateful for the blue skies and sunshine we had today.  It's been a rainy few days, and more are expected due to Hurricane Joaquin.  I like sunshine so, so much.  So much that I'm going back out now to enjoy it before it sets. 

 

 

 

The Story Keeper by Lisa Wingate -- Journalist Jen Gibbs, presently of NYC,  returns to the Blue Ridge Mountains following a story about a "Melungeon girl trapped by dangerous men in Appalachia at the turn of the twentieth century."

Larkspur Cove by Lisa Wingate -- After her divorce, Andrea returns to her parents' lake house in an effort to build a new life for herself and her son.  Interesting tale of her life working in the field as a family counselor.

A Thousand Voices by Lisa Wingate -- the story of an adopted young lady with Choctaw heritage who goes back to where she was born to find out more about her roots

Finding the Lost Images of God by Timothy S. Laniak -- a short, colorful books speaking of God and Biblical themes and teachings within ancient cultural context. Things like "The Divine Architect and His Temple," "The Divine Farmer and His Plantings," "The Divine Shepherd and His Flock" and so forth.

Small Town Girl by LaVyrle Spencer -- I found this in a book exchange; otherwise, I'd probably not read it.  A country star comes back home to care for her mother after her mom has hip-replacement surgery.  She discovers the nerdy neighbor/classmate whom she ridiculed has turned out ...different.

 

 

Truth Stained Lies by Terri Blackstock -- I found this in a book exchange, too. I always liked her little bit of mystery/lawyerish-type books.  This one deals with a blogger whose brother is framed for the murder of his ex-wife.  I like the author's note about how she weeps with her characters as she creates and forms them, and her reminder about God being there for us as He writes our stories.  (Moonlighters Series)

Harvest of Blessings by Charlotte Hubbard -- another book exchange read; a former Amish woman comes back home to reconcile with her family and meet the daughter she gave up sixteen years previously

The Accidental Bestseller by Wendy Wax -- four writer friends come together to produce an outstanding book, but, oh, the ramifications of this!

A Wedding Invitation by Alice J. Wisler -- after attending a wedding intended for someone else, Samantha reconnects with some people from her past and remembers part of her time helping Vietnam refugees in the Philippines

Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution by Mona Eltahawy -- I agree with a lot of what she has to say though I'm still conservative enough that everything she proposes is not for me, (i.e., I think it's not right to do.)  This book is part memoir and part her position on what needs to change in certain societies.

On why there are more Aishas than Khadijahs: 

"Why has the notion of the child bride persisted, but not the older spouse modeled by Khadijah?  ... The simple answer is because Khadijah represents the power and autonomy that some clerics despise in women.  The child bride is helpless, malleable, without experience of any kind, and lacking any ability to challenge a man's authority. So those clerics who insist on the 'Islamic right' to marry little girls should just be honest about it: they want malleable and powerless girls who will never challenge them."  Protect girls from pedophilia.  (pg. 172)

Intervention by Terri Blackstock  -- the story of a drug interventionist who ends up murdered, and the 18 year old girl she was helping being suspect in her murder

Vicious Cycle by Terri Blackstock -- the second book in the trilogy which started with the book just above.  In this book Lance tries to help a fifteen year old addict, and ends up arrested for kidnapping.

A Comedy & A Tragedy by Travis Hugh Culley -- "a memoir of learning how to read and write"  -- I read much of this while watching Zach at the children's museum; it was OK, kind of interesting to try to understand how some people learn

Downfall by Terri Blackstock -- the last in the intervention trilogy -- Emily and her family are once again in the middle of some drama involving drug addicts. Whew...I am tired for them! 

Distortion by Terri Blackstock -- book two in the Moonlighters Series; figured I'd read book one so why not find the others. Juliet's surgeon husband is gunned down. Was he involved in a secret life of drugs?  Find out when you read this book!