July's Reading List

It felt good to dedicate more of my time reading this month.  Reading is one of my absolute favorite things to do and I was happy to get back to doing more of what I enjoy. 

Here are the books I read in July:

I loved this book. It wasn't until after I read it that I saw that it sparked controversy because it was written by a white author to a (primarily) white audience. Despite the issues over who should have written this book and to what kind of audience, I loved it because it shows why people feel compelled to leave their homes to seek out a safer life in America. I am pretty passionate about immigration. I believe that it is an issue of compassion for people who live in circumstances that I will never have face as an American. This book reinforced by beliefs about why people leave their homes in the first place. I would definitely read this book again. 

I am on a Middle Eastern kick right now, and have been for the last few months. I am particularly interested in the plight of women living in the Middle East. This book was one that I would probably read again and most likely purchase. Middle Eastern women amaze me because of their strength and resiliency despite living in some of the most oppressive circumstances imaginable. 

I love reading books about history. I think of all of the topics to read about history is my favorite. That being said, I think that this was a little bit too far back for my interests. This book takes place in the 12th and 13th centuries. I love reading about the 1700's+. Those centuries fascinate me. And maybe I would enjoy learning about history before that time period, but if this book was any indication of what reading about that time period would be like, I think I will pass. It was informative, but the narrative just didn't really strike me as all too interesting. 

I was surprised I picked up this book. I saw that a public figure I occasionally check up on had read it and was trying to implement some of its practices in her own marriage. It is a book on Christianity which I did not think I would like especially given my current feelings on God, etc...I actually enjoyed this book. I don't know that I would read it again, but I am glad that I read it once. It made me think about some things and I enjoy when a book does that. 

I was really looking forward to reading this book. I enjoyed Glennon Doyle's first books so much that no only did I purchase them, but I have read them multiple times. I did not feel this way at all about this book. I will most likely not read it again and I will not buy it. 

There were definitely some gems in this book, don't get me wrong, but I felt like too much of this book was recycled stuff - stuff I had either read before in previous books, or stuff that was shared on the author's Instagram (both life experiences and snippets of this book). I also felt like the book was choppy and there was no real story line. 

I know that this book is beloved by so many. I see the reviews and I see its ranking on the New York Times bestseller list, but it just wasn't for me. 

Books Read:

January  - 7

February - 8
March  - 7
April - 2

May/June  - 5

July - 5

2020 total - 34