September sure did fly by! We took a quick trip to the beach and then started running our kids to all their activities every night! I came away reading a nice balance of fiction and non-fiction during the month. Here are the books I read in September:
A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline
Born on a family farm, Christina Olson never thought much of life anywhere else. However, when she is young, she survives an illness that leaves her without complete control of her legs and arms. Constantly falling and dropping things are part of her life, but it leads to few friends and a slim chance at any romance. The farm is to be her life. A Piece of the World is a historical fiction book based on her life.
This is Your Mind on Plants by Michael Pollan
This is Your Mind on Plants explores the relationship between people and three plants that alter our minds. The first one he explores is opium from the poppy flower. Then, he looks at the role coffee has played in our world. Then, he looks at peyote, although COVID and the Indians holding it closely make it hard to see what it’s all about. The book was fascinating and could stir up some great conversations.
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Crime and Punishment is a classical, Russian novel about redemption. The main character finds himself at the bottom of life, not knowing any way to get ahead. He commits an atrocious crime and can’t decide to get away with it or turn himself in – but all the while he is suffering. His mother, sister, sister’s fiancé and a friend’s daughter all influence his life and the ultimate outcome. Is anyone ever too beyond reach?
A Fish Out of Water by Eric Metaxas
Anyone who knew Eric Metaxas before his conversion to Christianity would probably never have ever guessed that he would become an outspoken defender of his faith. A Fish Out of Water is his autobiography of how his life brought him to the moment when a dream would cause him to change his entire life. His story starts when his Greek father and German mother met as immigrants in America. He grew up with a little faith and a little church, but it mostly went out the window by the time he went to college.
Could you live a year just eating what you grown in your garden and what you can buy from local producers? The Kingsolvers did just this more than a decade ago and then Barbara wrote Animal, Vegetable, Miracle about their experience. They were able to move to her husband’s land in Virginia and had room for a large garden. While inspiring, what this family did is not something most families could accomplish. However, we could all try to grow some of our own food and look to support local farmers, growers and businesses.
In The Newcomer, Letty shows up with her 4-year-old niece at The Murmuring Surf Motel in Florida early one morning, looking for a place for them to stay. She is on the run from her sister’s boyfriend after finding her sister dead in her NYC apartment. The motel owner takes pity on her despite some misgivings from her son, who is a police officer. As they all learn more about each other, they start to get involved in helping Letty get her sister’s boyfriend behind bars.
What did you read in September? Share in the comments!
