Lauren’s Comments (group member since Dec 31, 2020)

Lauren’s comments from the 2021 Reading Challenge group.

I’m the worst. I think I’ve read four this month? I am currently reading Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund, and I read each chapter over and over because it is just the best and I walk away and forget it and want to remember it so much and so I can’t move on. Highly recommend for any Christian.

Also read When I Ran Away by Ilona Bannister, and I have not cried and laughed so much since I read Anxious People. I felt like the author looked into my brain and described motherhood and post-partum depression in a way I never have been able to. It gave words to all the things.

Also currently reading: the Last thing he told me by Laura Dave. So good and quick and engaging. Really what I need. Another Percy Jackson! Disciplines of a godly woman. And the leadership challenge. ❤️

One book this month! I read the second Percy Jackson, The Sea of Monsters. That puts me at 18! Hoping to get some more reading done in May though... we will see!

Oops. 🤦‍♀️ super late with this! In the month of March, I read five books, bringing my total to 17 this year. It was a busy month, so I’m proud of myself for even reading one. Mentionable books are 1) The Midnight Library. This was the Goodreads top book of the year, I think? And it was good. I did like it. But.... number one? Over Anxious People?! No. I would casually recommend it, but I don’t get the hype. 2) Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie. This one was my favorite book I have read this year. I couldn’t put it down. 3) Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief. I want to love this series as much as my students, but I’m on the second book and still struggling. I think it’s good, but I don’t get the hype at all. However, I do love how it makes certain learning disabilities seem like superpowers. I also think I struggle to enjoy a first person narrative. I will keep reading on... apparently, the writing matures as Percy matures, and I am interested to see that.

Sorry for my lateness!

Finally. 🤦‍♀️ This month has been stressful for me, and as much as I want to be reading, I just haven’t the time. I also have traded a lot of audiobook time in the car with my daily Bible reading listening plan. Anyway, enough excuses 😂 this month I COMPLETED one book, American Royals by Katherine Mcgee. It was light and fun. It wasn’t engaging enough for me to want to care to read the series, but eh! It was fine. However, I am 75% or more finished with a handful of other books, so hopefully March will look a little better. Also, I just picked up Percy Jackson. I have had student after student claim to me that this is better than Harry Potter, and the other day a copy was left on my desk with no note, so I feel I must find out. I’m 50 pages in and already like 🧐. I’m going to be super disappointed if it doesn’t get better. I’m at a total of eleven books. With my modest goal of 50, I’m probably fine, but I’ve missed reading!

This has been one of my slowest reading months ever! I have read only one book this month, a fun YA book called American Royals by Katherine McGee. It’s been a busy month and that’s been all my brain can handle. 🤦‍♀️ Also currently reading Mother to Son by Jasmine Holmes, The Switch by Beth O’Leary, Enjoy by Trulia Newbell, Fierce Marriage by Ryan and Selena Frederick.

This month I read 10 books, which is far more than I expected to read, as January is usually a pretty busy month for me. My favorite read was The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny, book four of her Inspector Gamache series. I have enjoyed this murder mystery series so much. I love the depth of the characters and the fictitious town of Three Pines so much. So much quick wit. I’ve never loved a town so much from a book. My favorite Christian non-fiction was Analog Church, a book about the importance of real community in a digital world. It was written pre-pandemic, which made it an incredibly meaningful read for me.

This is going to reveal how ADD the of a reader I am. 🤪 currently reading:

Vicious by V. E. Schwab. I picked this up because I loved The Invisible Life of Addie Larue so much, but I honestly am just not into it. Love the writing, just not that into the story. Recommend if you like The Darkest Minds series by Alexandra Bracken or X-Men.

When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett. Incredibly insightful, mind-shifting book on alleviating poverty. It’s a lot to digest and will probably take a while to finish.

The Flat Share by Beth O’Leary. British rom-com. Only about 60 pages so far, but it’s cute!

Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid. Of everything I am reading right now, this is my favorite. I can’t wait to get more into it. Light, funny, yet a deep look into cultural issues.

TBR: I am about to start the fourth book of Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series. It is honestly all I want to be reading right now, but I am avoiding it because I love the series so much I don’t want to read them too quickly. 😂