The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls

I finished this a little while, ago, just haven't had the time to post about it.  I saw something on social media about the movie that's coming out and saw that it was based on a book.  A memoir, no less.  So, naturally, I had to check it out. I waited for over 100 people who had the same thoughts to take their turn before I got mine.

It was quite the emotional book.  This woman... I'm amazed at what she survived.  I also think she survived because of what she survived.  Her upbringing and childhood circumstances made her strong... she had to be.  Her brother and sisters, too.

I wanted to slap her parents.  At times I wanted to downright kick them in the head.  I was at times outraged at what they allowed their children to experience and their reaction (or lack thereof) to things they faced.  Unbelievable.  That was the word I often found myself vocally uttering while closing the book to digest what I just read.  Simply unbelievable.  I couldn't believe that this really happened, that it happened when it did, and that it likely still happens for others.  It seems unfathomable, to me.

I want to write to this author and tell her my heart was with her on her journey, though I knew nothing about it at the time.

It helped me see the things we often take for granted.  I complain about my big house being too hard to keep clean.  I complain about having to spend hours meal planning, list making, grocery shopping, cooking.  I complain about neverending laundry.  I complain about having to make my kids' lunches every morning.  I complain about having to pay for water or electricity or gas prices.  This book makes one grateful for all of those things.  Every time my kids complain about what I make for dinner, I'm reading them this book.

I highly recommend it.  It's quite good.

Same Kind of Different As Me, by Ron Hall & Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent

If you liked Fireproof, Courageous, Flywheel or Facing the Giants, you'll love this book.  I saw the movie trailer and couldn't get through it without tearing up.  If the trailer was so touching, I imagined the book would be just as great or even better.

It was.  It didn't take me long to read it - it was hard to put down.  It was incredibly touching and made me want to be a better person, showing God's love to any and all I meet.

The two men who wrote this book are real and their story is real.  Their lives were changed by Ron's wife, Deborah, who not only blessed their lives but the lives of so many.

I'm not going to give any spoilers, but this is definitely worth the read.  But only if you like true life inspiring stories and own some tissues.  Tissues are surely needed when reading this book.

I'm excited to see the movie.  I consider myself blessed to have made this story a part of my life.  I'm grateful to the authors for sharing it.

Here's a sneak-peak.  ;)

You Don't Sweat Much For a Fat Girl, by Celia Rivenbark

I like this woman.  She says it like it is.  She's irreverent.  She's real.

And, yet, I couldn't finish the book.  What's up with that?? I love these kinds of books! Or so I thought.  I prefer non-fiction to fiction, any day.  I love a good romantic comedy in pretty much any form, but I love people even more.  I love their stories, the raw and real.  The true life experiences of anyone.  I love it.

I yearn for a page-turner, one I can't put down.  I miss that! I need that!

I just had an idea... I need to go on a fast, of sorts.  I need to delete Netflix and all things visual from my life for a time... maybe a month.

And I need to spend some time at the library without my impatient family.

I would recommend this book, though, to those who aren't afraid of reality.

I Feel Bad About My Neck, By Nora Ephron - March

I felt pretty excited about this book because the author is the screenwriter for a couple of my favorite flicks (Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail).  I thought, this should be perfect!

It was ok.

In fact, I didn't even finish it.  It was just a collection of short little blurbs from her life experiences with random things (like her neck or her purse).  They were slightly entertaining, but I wasn't drawn in.  I didn't find myself shirking my daily responsibilities to nab a few more minutes of reading time.  I was bummed.

It's a quick read.  I should've just persevered.  I feel like my goal for March wasn't quite met.  Though, to be fair to myself, it was the second book I attempted to read.  My next book (should I be able to finish this month - I haven't exactly started it, yet), will make mention of the second attempted book for last month.  I guess you'll just have to see.  😉

Avalanche: A Love Story, by Julia Leigh - February

I finished this with just a couple days to spare - and I'm just now getting it blogged.  Busy, busy, busy!

This is a true story of a woman's journey through IVF and trying so desperately to become pregnant; to be a mother.

She talks about her struggles with many emotions.  She's older and knows her chances of becoming pregnant are pretty slim, but that doesn't stop her from trying again and again.

She finally accepts that being a mother isn't in the stars, for her.  I can't imagine how that must've felt, but I can imagine the heartache.  My own heart has been heavy, of late.  My arms have been feeling quite empty.  I don't know if another baby is in the stars, for me, but I dream about it.  I usually have a baby girl, but it's someone else's.  Anyway, that's a post for a different day.  Or a different blog.  ;)

I found it hard to like this book; maybe because I can relate to her pain? I don't know.  I thought she sounded rather dismal, throughout.  Maybe I'm being insensitive.  I have no doubt this was a very difficult and depressing time, for her.  It was brave (and probably a little therapeutic) to share this experience with the world.  I hope she has found happiness.

Save Me From Myself, by Brian "Head" Welch

This was an amazing autobiography.  I truly love reading real people's real stories.

"Head" was the founder and lead guitarist of the heavy metal group "Korn".  I never listened to them, growing up, so I ventured onto Netflix to view one of their concerts. 

Whoa.

This man found God after being a member of quite a "colorful" band that sang songs that had "colorful" lyrics in them. 

Amazing.

His story and testimony are deep and powerful.  It's awesome to me, a fellow Christian, to see how God reaches out to all of His children, no matter where they are in their lives. 

This was a wonderful testament of God's love for His children and the many ways He uses His other children to reach out and show His love to all.  That this man was able to change his life around the way he did is truly miraculous.  It just goes to show that good always does conquer over evil.

I would recommend reading it.  :)

Letters My Mother Never Read, by Jerri Diane Sueck

After 3 renewals (at three weeks each), plus the original time I had it (also three weeks), plus the five day grace period, I finally found time to finish this book!!

It was good.  ;)

I won't just leave it at that, though. 

This is one young woman's story of survival.  She lost her mother when she was eight to a fire, was abused by her grandmother for two years, separated from her brothers when her own adoptive father abandoned them at an orphanage on Christmas Eve, and faced further abuse from foster parents.  My favorite part about this person is how she not only survived, but triumphantly so.  She found God and chose to never give up though there were many who constantly told her she wasn't good enough and never would be.  She lived most of her life in an orphanage, overcame her cleft palate and speech issues on her own, was never told about how a woman's body changes during puberty and faced those challenges alone, and dealt with her inner turmoil without the aid of others.  She more than succeeded in school, earned her Master's degree and went on to become a nun as a way of saying "Thank you" to her Maker for always helping her through life.  Included in this heart-rending book are letters to her mother asking questions she never got answered, begging for the nurturing and love she so craved, wondering how she could've died and left her alone. 

I think it would be awesome to meet this woman.  She's amazing. 

I've been told by three different people that now I have to read "A Child Called It", as it's a similar story.  I love reading real stories from real people.  The book I'm currently reading (see right) is another one.  :)

Happy reading!

My Life for the Poor, by Mother Teresa of Calcutta

I have never read a book that was so short but took me so long that I enjoyed so much.  I think it took me so long because as I read it, I tried to absorb what I was reading in attempt to make it part of myself.  In reality, it's only 107 pages long, so it could possibly be a quick read for somebody.

I never knew much about Mother Teresa, other than probably what the rest of the world knows about her.  After reading this book, I have half a mind to model my life after hers.  She truly was a wonderful, most unselfish, spiritual person.  The things she did for so many people and her beliefs are so incredible! As I read this, my mind began to grasp what it truly means to be Christ-like.  This woman was such an example of Christian behavior.  She truly believed that the things she was doing to and for others, she was doing to and for Jesus Christ.  She often quoted the scripture that says "If ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."  She had such a clear perception on what true poverty is, what true hunger is.  She encourages us all to help the poor around us, first in our homes, then in our neighborhoods, and so on.  She says the worst disease on earth is that of loneliness, feeling unwanted, feeling unloved and teaches how we as God's children can cure this disease by reaching out to those around us.  Her mission, her life, was devoted to helping people come to the realization that God loves them, that they are His children.  She never asked for money.  She had such great faith that if the Lord wanted it done, He would provide, and He always did.  So many people have welcomed her and her "co-workers" into their lives and their countries and provided so much for her work.  She has been joined so willingly by so many "sisters" who have the desire to serve and live their lives as she does, as the poor does.  She literally gave up everything she had for this sacred calling.  Other religions and non-Christians have helped her work progress.  It was amazing to read her story, her thoughts, her firm beliefs, and to be influenced by such greatness.

I've never had a hero before, but I do believe I have found one in Mother Teresa. 

***Now I can FINALLY start my new RPE book!***