It has been 6 months since I have updated you on Good Books I have read lately.I didn’ read too much this fall, but I have started reading more lately.  One of my most favorites lately is After by Amy Efaw. It is a book about a teenager who threw her baby in a trash can.  No one knew she was pregnant.  She had even convinced herself that she wasn’t pregnant.  The theme of “fear can make you do anything” is one of my favorite themes for a book.  This one was a home run.

I really enjoyed Quinn Cummings book, Notes from the Underwire.  It is a book of short stories about her life.  I enjoy her writing style.  It made me laugh.  My favorite quote from page 74 is “I also forgot about the list because my brain works like an Etch-A-Sketch; even the slightest movement causes it to go completely blank.”  So true.  The reason I read this book was I had read her other book….

I enjoyed this book as well because of her writing style.  It isn’t a typical Homeschooling book, but about her learning about the different ways to homeschool.

I enjoyed the book, An Invisible Thread: The True Story of an 11-year old panhandler, a busy sales executive, and an unlikely meeting with destiny by Laura Schroff and Alex Thresniowski.  This book gave me an insight to a world I know exists but never see…the world of the drug addicted and their family.  Made me count my blessings.

I thoroughly enjoyed Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly, so I decided to read Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot.  Again Mr. O’Reilly did a great job of bringing history to life.  It gave interesting details but in an entertaining way.  I think I enjoyed this one even more since it all happened shortly before I was born.

I also had read Gretchen Rubin’s book, The Happiness Project a couple of years ago, so I decided to read her new book, Happier At Home.  This book is very similar to her first book, but I enjoyed it just the same.  Always some food for thought on how to create a happier life.

I read several fiction and non fiction books since the last time I did a Good Books Read post, but these are the most interesting books I have read lately. Only one fiction here.  You can follow me on Good Reads to get more up-to-date info on the books I am reading.

I had a goal of at least 80 books read this year, but it looks like I will come up short.  I don’t have the exact count but it looks like I am just over 70 books.  Not bad, averaging almost 6 books a month.  Did you set a goal and did you meet it?  I will set a goal again for 2013, but still working on my goals.

If you want to read about other books I enjoyed this year check out my Good Books Read 1 and Good Books Read 2.

I would love to hear any recommendations for a good read you may have. Leave the titles in the comments.

Here is another installment about some of the good books I have read lately. I haven’t read quite as much in the last 3 months, and I am behind on my goal of 72 books for the year, but that is typical for the spring and early summer for me.

The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal is probably my favorite book from the past three months.  It was easy to read, entertaining and highly informative on how self-control works and why it matter.  This is one book I would like to read again.

Having had 4 miscarriages, three of which were in the 2nd trimester, I like to read about others who have lost a child.   I Will Carry You by Angie Smith was a tear jerker about a family that found out their baby would not be able to survive outside of the womb.  This one probably isn’t one to take to the beach, but it is a worthy read.  I find I need to read a story like this every 6 months or so. Then on to other topics.

Rework by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson was recommended to me by someone out there in the blog world.  I can’t remember who.  It is a very easy read.  Took me about 2 hours while I was watching my son’s swim meet on Sunday. If you own a business, are thinking of starting one, or just are interested in ideas of how small businesses can thrive, this book is for you.

Cathy Zielske recommended the book, The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene’ Brown so I decided to read it.  It is an insightful book about living a Whole Hearted life. I have been thinking “I am in” since finishing this book.  Thought provoking. I will add her other book, I Thought It Was Just Me to my to-read list.

As I look at this list I see all non-fiction books, business, self-help type books.  I did read a few scrapbooking books and one fiction.

A Good American by Alex George was a great book.  I believe this was Mr. George’s first book.  It was about a family over a century, moving to America and struggles and triumphs.  My favorite part of this book was the writing style.  It was lyrical and poetic without it being confusing.  The words were so smooth.  It was just a pleasure to read. I will definitely read any future book by Alex George.

I have just started Imagine: How Creativity Works by  Jonah Lehrer.  This one was recommended by Stacy Julian.  I am only 45 pages in, and I am really enjoying the stories of creativity and invention.  It is easy to read and entertaining.  Looking forward to learning more about creativity.  I had never thought of myself as creative until I was in my 30s.  Now I realize we all are, just in different ways.  Nope, I still can’t draw a stick figure, but I still am creative.

Finally as an update to Good Books Read. I had just started the book, Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder. It was just as good as the first book in the series.  So if you enjoy reading about dystopian worlds, put this one on your list.

Those are the most interesting books I have read lately.  You can follow me on Good Reads to get more up-to-date info on the books I am reading.

I would love to hear any recommendations for a good read you may have. Especially any summer light reads since I have been reading so many non-fiction books it is time to switch it up. Leave the titles in the comments.

It has been a while since I wrote about books I am reading. I have been reading as much as I can lately.  I have always been one to read before I go to sleep and take a book or magazine with me when I leave the house.  One never knows when a few minutes of waiting will result in a chapter read.

One of the books my son, Z, had to read for literature was The Hiding Place. I am not sure if it is considered a classic, but in my mind it is.  Corrie ten Boom did a fantastic job of writing about her life during World War II as her family helped so many escape persecution, then life in concentration camps once they were discovered.  I believe everyone should read first hand accounts of the Holocaust so it may never happen again.

I have heard about this book, The Noticer, on a few blogs so I reserved it at my library.  When it came, I was anxious to read it.  It did not disappoint.  I finished it within 24 hours.  I remembered that I had another book in my stack from Andy Andrews, so it found it.

Read The Travelers Gift within 24 hours as well.  Both books are inspirational.  They give some great advise.  They remind me of Og Mandino’s books.

I read this one and several of his other books probably 20 years ago.

Then I moved on to one of my favorite christian authors, Karen Kingsbury.  Ocean’s Apart was published 10 years ago.  It is about second chances and forgiveness.  Probably not her absolute best book, but a good one that I couldn’t put down.

From a book published 10 years ago, to one that came out this year.  Kristin Hannah is another of my favorite authors, and she didn’t disappoint.  Home Front is her latest novel.  This one is about a struggling marriage, and then the Mom is called up for active duty in the Middle East.  The effects of war on the soldier as well as the family back home had me pulling out the tissues.  I highly recommend this one.  I have read 8 of her 18 books that she has published, and I have ranked them all 4-5 stars.

Then I completely switched genres and read Killing Lincoln. My boys are into learning about wars.  Me…not so much.  But I had heard this one would give me new insights on Lincoln’s murder.  Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard did a great job of writing the days from the end of the civil war to the killing and hunting down of Lincoln’s killer into a novel form.  When I found myself hoping that something would go wrong and Lincoln wouldn’t be shot, I knew I was enjoying this compelling history book.

I had not read anything by Mr. Dugard before, but I enjoyed Killing Lincoln enough that I have put Chasing Lance on to my “to read” list.

I switched gears completely again and read Matched.  It is a young adult book by Ally Condie that starts a trilogy.  My son, Z, recommended it to me.  He said it was not as good as The Hunger Games series (the book was better than the movie, but did enjoy the movie) or The Maze Runner series (a movie has been written..can’t wait till it comes out), but he thought I would enjoy it.  He was right on.  It is another dystopian novel.  This one got me thinking about which is more important, perfection and equality or freedom and personal choices.  There is young love as well as euthanasia mixed in to make this book fly by as I was reading it. Yes, I will be reading Crossed soon, and then Reached when is comes out later this year.

Just started Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder last night.  Another recommendation by Z.  Another dystopian world with potential to be a good read.

So those are the most interesting books I have read lately.  You can follow me on Good Reads to get more up-to-date info on the books I am reading.

I would love to hear any recommendations for a good read you may have.  Leave the titles in the comments.