All of March was spent during Lent, so that means I mostly focused on reading religious books. I did get quite a bit of reading done on some relaxing Sundays. We were on homeschooling spring break the last week of March, so I had some more time that week, too. Here are the books I read this month:
Most Christians know the story of Joseph in the Bible. What is the story of the woman who claimed he tried to rape her and got him sent to prison? Mesu Andrews creates a possible story of Zuleika, a woman from Crete, who marries Potiphar to save her island after a destructive earthquake. While Potiphar’s Wife is historical fiction, it creates a picture of what life was like for Joseph during the time he served Potiphar. I highly enjoyed reading this book and plan to read more by Andrews.
Lord, Have Mercy is a book about confession. It’s a great read for Catholics as a reminder of what confession means and what it does for people. Every Scott Hahn book I read deepens my faith and this is no exception.
Feldhahn did extensive research with surveys and interviews to figure out what was important to men and women in relationships. For Women Only explains what is important to men. I didn’t come across anything I didn’t know before, but it was a solid book on relationships. I would recommend this for anyone about to be or is married.
While this was an exception from my Lenten religious reading (I did read it on a Sunday), I wanted to re-read Island of the Blue Dolphins since my daughter is reading it for school. I read it when I was about her age, so it was time to read it again. I had forgotten that it’s based on a true story. It’s a nice alternative for girls to Hatchet, since the main character who survives on her own is a woman. It’s impressive how someone could live alone for so many years – all because she wanted to save her brother.
A friend recommended this book to me and while no one in my family is facing cancer, this book would be a go-to if we were. Chris Wark tells his story of how he did research and found out chemo does not really “cure” cancer, but only slightly increases life span. He treated his cancer with nutrition and supplements and went into complete remission for many, many years now. Chris Beat Cancer is a fascinating read for anyone who is open to holistic medicine.
The Letters is an Amish romance with a very in-depth plot. Rose has found herself living with her mother-in-law, her children and her step-children after her husband commits suicides from business debt. While the investigation is ongoing, Rose feels the pressure to help pay back what is owed to the people who trusted her husband. She decides to open their basement as an inn, all while dealing with unruly boys, a teenager with a broken heart and a ever-complaining mother-in-law. Her neighbor starts helping her every chance he can and their friendship starts to grow into something more. Both has several obstacles to overcome before either can even consider romance.
Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace is Scott Hahn’s story of his discovery of the Opus Dei. He found the group before he became Catholic and was intrigued by its focus on being a faithful Christian giving a testimony in the world by doing well at work. I learned several new things about the group and am glad there are groups like this for “normal” people.
I heard Father Rob Galea speak at the Columbus Catholic Women’s Conference last month. He mentioned he had written a book about his journey to faith and that it was being made into a movie. He grew up in Malta and got caught up in a rough crowd. He finally met Jesus in his room when he set up two chairs – one for him and one for Jesus. Now a priest, he talks to youth all over the world and encourages them since he was once like many of them. I recommend Breakthrough as an inspiring faith story.
Fledge is a book about launching teens into the world. It gives some solid advice in short chapters, but wasn’t different from many of the books out there on the same topic.
I really enjoyed reading Becoming Mrs. Lewis. It’s a well-researched historical fiction book about Joy Lewis – the woman who became the wife of C.S. Lewis. She was a divorced mother of two and they only had a few short years together before she died from cancer. A lot of the story is based on recently found sonnets written by Joy that show more of her heart and struggles through the years her and C.S. Lewis were friends before they got married.
There is more to our world than the physical. The spiritual world is often forgotten by us. By not thinking about it, we don’t even delve into the names, spirits, hierarchies that might exist. Unseen Realm delves into what the Bible says about the spiritual world. I am still mulling over some of his arguments and I’m not sure I agree some of his ideas; however, it’s a good book to read to examine another point of view.
The power is out, cars don’t work, watches have stopped and planes are falling out of the sky. The Branning family now has to find a way to survive. The father and his grown daughter had just landed on a flight from D.C. and the mother and the rest of the children got caught a few miles from home heading to practice. As they gather back at home, the world has changed. People are fighting for supplies and murders are taking place in their neighborhood. Can the oldest daughter get back to her fiancé? Will they have enough food to eat? I enjoyed reading Last Light – a Christian dystopian novel and the first in a series. I do plan to read the rest of the series.
What books did you read in March? Share with me in the comments!
