Great Books to Read this Year (2017 edition) and fun GIVEAWAY!

I’m so excited about this post today! Those of you who have read my blog for a while now, know that I love books. With a serious love, people. I get a little bit uneasy if there isn’t at least one book on my nightstand with two or three more waiting in my nightstand drawer to take its place once consumed. (I’ve been told I have a problem…okay, maybe more than one problem…ha!) I love to read for 30 minutes or so, just before I fall asleep at night. It’s a little, heavenly slice of escapism that has seen me through my adult life in a big, positive way, folks. It’s cheaper than therapy and is calorie free, which are only two of it’s many wonderful qualities. I know many of you out there are book lovers as well! You understand what I’m talking about, I know you do.

For the past several years I’ve posted a bi-annual list of book recommendations (you can see them all by clicking here) complete with reviews and my personal rating of the book (based on the 5 star rating system).  Check out the comment sections of these previous book lists! There are some wonderful book recommendations left there by many of you and I thank you for that! You can also follow me on Goodreads. I try and post all the books I read there, so I can keep track of the really, really good ones to share with you here.

Now, before we move on to the actual book recommendations, I wanted to tell you about the fun giveaway I’m including with this post.

Have you seen these fun Five Little Lines Journals?

My mom gave me one for Christmas this year and I’m so excited to start using it. Basically it’s a journal that is set up for you to write five simple lines, each day of the year, for five years running. Five lines! That is something I can wrap my mind (and pen!) around.

The pages are set up so that each day of the year is listed on the same page. That way, you can look back easily and see what was happening with your family on that day of the year during the years past.

I have to admit I often feel overwhelmed with journaling. I write frequently in my scripture journal…but to be honest, the last time I wrote in my personal/family history journal was when my oldest boy was an infant. He will turn 20 this summer. Now, that’s sad.  I’m hoping to be able to keep better track of things with this fun journal. Five Little Lines…that is something I can manage. Last night in the journal I wrote…”We taught the twin boys to play cards today at Bear Lake. They liked playing Spades the best. Nate wondered if the spades are always called ‘Trump’ or if they are sometimes called ‘Obama’…” Pretty cute, right?

I would love to send one of these Five Little Lines Journals to three of you dear readers. To enter the giveaway leave me a comment telling me one or two of your favorite books! (Mobile viewers, be sure to scroll all the way down to see the comment section). You can enter here, or on Instagram by clicking HERE. The giveaway will run until Friday January 13th. I will choose three winners and announce them bright and early on Saturday morning, January 14th. (Entries from those in the United States only, please). Best of luck to you!

Now, on to the book recommendations!

The Orphan Keeper
by Camron Wright
4.5 STARS

The Orphan keeper is based on the true story of a boy who was kidnapped in India, raised in America and his journey to find  belonging and peace.  To say it’s an incredible, extraordinary story would be a grand understatement. I was amazed from the beginning to the end. I so enjoyed reading about the culture and family life in India and its stark contrast to my own dear America. I kept saying to myself as I read… “I cannot believe this is a true story! I cannot believe this is a true story!” Definitely one of those time when truth is stranger than fiction.

This author also wrote The Rent Collector, which I know many of you have read and loved.

Water from my Heart
by Charles Martin
4.5 STARS

I have to admit that I almost stopped reading this book after completing the first third. It was so repetitive! However, I’m so glad I kept on! It ended up being one of the best books I’ve read all year, truly. I found myself reaching for my journal, so I could write down and keep track of some of the wonderful passages. This is a story about wealth, vanity and greed that ultimately develops into a beautiful story of redemption, forgiveness hope and love. Some of my favorite quotes….

“Hope is the currency of love.”

“How does a man wipe his life clean? With the one he’s got.”

Loved it. Favorite Charles Martin book by far.

 

The Two Family House
by Lynda Cohen Loigman
4.5 STARS

This is the story of two brothers and their families, working together, playing together, living next door to each other and the relationships and bonds they develop. The character development was amazing and truly the highlight of the book for me. There was tremendous evidence of what envy, pride and jealousy can do to a person. How these things can weave themselves into a persons very existence, leaving them bitter and ever so lonely. On the flip side, I loved watching many of the characters in the book grow and develop through love, kindness and forgiveness. A great lesson in attitude, and how facing challenges and relationships with grace, gratitude and love makes all the difference. Loved it.

Nothing to Fear 
by Jackie French Koller
4.5 STARS

This is a great, juvenile fiction book that takes place in New York City during the depression. The main character is a young (junior high aged) boy who is charming and endearing. It’s a great coming of age story that takes place during a difficult time in history.  My 10-year-old son Aaron has read this book three times, he loves it so much. He asked me to tell you that this book is “way, way, way more than just great”. 🙂 So there you have it. Great for kids, great for adults.

Once We Were Brothers
by Ronald H. Balson
3 stars

I have mixed emotions about rating this book! It’s a WWII historical fiction novel with an emphasis on Poland and the events that took place there during that time.  The characters are one-dimensional and lack development. The writing style is poor. It reads sort of like staged soap opera/historical documentary, actually with very little literary finesse…which is a shame because the plot was amazing! I seriously couldn’t put it down and though the ending was predictable, the journey it took to get there had me staying up late into the night. I have to give the author props for that. 🙂

A 3 star rating from this story lover. Both my mom and sister read it as well and enjoyed it. It’s a real page turner!

 

 

Out of My Mind
by Sharon M. Draper
4 STARS

This is an amazing story told through the eyes of a sweet girl who has cerebral palsy. She can’t walk or talk, but  is brilliant… with a photographic memory and the ability to remember every detail of those things she has experienced. It was very eye-opening and gave me so much compassion towards people with disabilities. This is a great read for kids and has so much to teach us about how we treat each other.

When Breath Becomes Air 
by Paul Kalanithi
4 STARS

This is the eloquently written, thought-provoking and touching memoir of Paul Kalanithi a neurosurgeon who is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. I loved reading the very interesting details of his life in its many phases, from student of literature, to medical student, to thriving neurosurgeon and finally as a cancer patient. I loved his insights on the meaning of life. Though this is a book about cancer and dying, it is not at all depressing, but enlightening and inspirational. I highly recommend this one!

The Storyteller
by Jodi Picoult
4 STARS

This is the first Jodi Picoult book I’ve had the pleasure of reading and I sure hope it’s not my last. 🙂 Though the subject matter is grim and deals with The Holocaust, which is obviously incredibly sad it was an amazing read all the way through. The characters were very real and the story was immensely captivating. One of the better books I’ve read lately. Looking forward to reading more of her work.

 

Mudbound
by Hillary Jordan
4 STARS

I generally love books that tell a story through the eyes of multiple characters, and this was no exception. The narrative style had me interested from the very start and I felt a bond and compassion for almost all of the characters. It’s about racism, based in Mississippi in the 1940s. No matter how many times I read or learn about the ugly and savagely gruesome hatred that was so prevalently accepted during this time period, I’m always surprised by it. Always. The ending of this book was particularly difficult to read (be aware, future readers…it’s get’s pretty gruesome) however, it made me so appreciative of my own circumstances, life blessings and freedoms. I’m looking at my life with renewed perspective today because of this book…and for that, I am grateful.