Welcome to my weekly book update post where I share what books I read this past week + my honest thoughts and star ratings of them.
A Word on My Star Ratings
The star ratings I give the books I read are based on a 5-star rating system. I rarely will ever give a book a 1-star rating (maybe never?), because my philosophy is that if a book is only worthy of one star, I’m more than likely going to quit reading it. 🙂 In the same vein, you’ll also notice that I’ll rarely give a 5-star rating as I reserve those for only my very, very favorite books.
Want to see all of the books I’ve read so far this year? Check out my Good Reads page.
Last week, I finished two books and here are my reviews…
Fully Alive: Learning to Flourish — Mind, Body, and Spirit
This book is the author’s story of struggling through anxiety and health issues and what helped her break free from from crippling fear. It is filled with reminders of how connected our spiritual, physical, and emotional health is. I especially loved her quote, “What happens in our souls, happens in our cells.”
Fully Alive is filled with Scripture and practical application. At the end of each chapter, there are some workbook pages to help you process through the insights in your own life.
While I thought there were some pieces of wisdom in the book, I didn’t find that I personally connected with a lot of the author’s stories or fears. However, I’m sure many women would.
Verdict: 3 stars
A Very Bavarian Christmas
I was asked to endorse this book, so I got a pre-release copy to read! It’s not currently available for sale online yet, but should be in October. I’ll try to let you know when it is. Here was the endorsement I wrote:
If you are looking for a holiday-themed read that will warm your heart but also make you think, A Very Bavarian Christmas is the perfect pick! The storyline and characters draw you in from the get-go and you’ll find yourself relating to their struggles, cheering for their victories, and being reminded that everyone is in need of grace and kindness, because we never know what it’s been like to walk in their shoes.
Verdict: 3 stars
Picture Book: Sing a New Song
This isn’t exactly a picture book, per se, but we’ve been using it so much with the babies that I just have to share. This is a hymn book my mom gave me when Kathrynne was born and we’ve used it almost every day since we brought Champ home from the NICU. I also used it with the three older kids, too. We just sing one or two of the songs every day. I’m a big fan of hymns and love teaching them to my kids, too!
What I’m Currently Reading
Here’s what I’m currently reading: Atomic Habits, You Who, The White Rose Resists, and 25 Lies Twenty Somethings Need to Stop Believing.
What have you read recently? I’d love to hear! Tell us in the comments!
