WWW Wednesdays (Feb.10)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

 

My answers:

What are you currently reading?

I’m reading Beth Moore’s “So Long, Insecurity“. And, it’s pretty good!

 

 

What did you recently finish reading?

The last book I finished was “Crave: Wanting So Much More of God” by Chris Tomlinson. Finished it in 3 days, and gave it an A- rating. Definitely check it out!

 

What do you think you’ll read next?

I’m hoping to get back to my library copy of “Godmother” by Carolyn Turgeon (I’d set it aside to read the above two review books), and then move on to “Fragile Eternity” by Melissa Marr.

 

 

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own WWW Wednesdays post, or share your answers in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

 

New Beginnings Wednesdays (Feb.10)

((For the main post about this new WEEKLY EVENT, click here)).

To remind you of the way this works, here’s how to play:

First — post your list of New Years’ Resolutions in a post at your blog (or in the comments here, if you don’t have a blog).

Second — every week, on Wednesday, write a new post about how you’re doing with each of your goals … you’ll have to list them, again, each week, as people won’t remember what you’re working towards, otherwise. Be brief in your updates, as there may be several blogs to visit! ((come give a quick update here at Should Be Reading, if you don’t have a blog)).

Third — after you’ve written your update, come back to Should Be Reading, and share your link so that we –the other New Beginnings participants– can stop by your blog and encourage you!

Important! … It would be absolutely great if you could visit at least ONE other participant’s blog  on Wednesdays and leave a comment on their post to share some encouragement for their efforts! Show your support! That’s what this event is all about — standing by each other to finally reach our goals!

My New Years’ Resolutions:

1. Move more. I plan to exercise for at least 15-30 minutes, 5 days per week. I’d like to work my way up to being able to jog, 3 days per week.

I am having trouble this week. I got called into work for Monday & Tuesday, and was already scheduled for today and Friday. So that’s 4 days of working, and not a lot of time to exercise, nor a lot of energy. I had hoped to walk before work, but that ends up being too difficult. And, after work, I’m soooo tired from being on my feet for hours already.

2. Eat less. I plan to follow my hunger cues to eat in moderation. No more mindless munching.

This one I’m still struggling with.

3. Shrink down. I’m aiming to lose about 45 lbs.

Nothing lost, yet.

4. Read through the Bible in one year. I did this a couple of years ago, and found it really helped me to stay focused on what’s important. So, I’m trying it again.

Sticking with this goal, so far, too. I’ve read my daily allotment every day.

5. Give up pop. I have been drinking way too much Coca-Cola, and it’s not helping my health any. So, I’m giving it –and all other sodas– up for good. They are just cans of chemicals, anyway, and I definitely need to stay away from the caffeine in them. So, no more pop.

I had one pop this past Monday, as I was super-exhausted, and really wanted the pick-me-up. I know I need to find better ways to give myself that boost, but at the time, I just didn’t have the resources to go for anything other than the pop. Oh well. I’m learning. 

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own NEW BEGINNINGS update, or share your progress in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

 

Teaser Tuesday (Feb.9)

 Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teasers:

“You develop into your own false prophet, and if you don’t stop yourself, you won’t rest until you’re proved true. It’s a miserable trap of self-inflicted insecurity.”

~ p.80, “So Long, Insecurity” by Beth Moore

 

 

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your 2 ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

~ :: ~ :: ~ :: ~

((remember, the link for the comments is at the TOP of this post!))

 

Musing Mondays (Feb.8)

((Musing Mondays are hosted by Rebecca!))

This week, Rebecca asks:

I’ve seen several bloggers mention reading multiple books this week. Do you frequently read more than one book at a time? Do you try to limit this to a certain number? Do you have different books for different purposes/topics?

I’m usually only able to read one book at a time. I’ve tried to read multiple books at one time, but I always end up focusing more on one than the others, and finishing it first. So, it doesn’t really make any sense for me to try to read more than one, anyway.

For example, I have been trying to read Arron Chambers’ “Eats With Sinners” (an e-Book) a little at a time, while also reading my other review books (hard copy). But, I tend to read the hard copy books more so than I have been the eBook. Eventually, I’ll just get on the computer and read the rest of “Eats with Sinners“, but I won’t be able to have anything else on the go at the time.

I often have bookmarks in a lot of books at once. This is because I’ll start a book, then find it isn’t grabbing me, and so I’ll set it aside and try something else. But, I’ll leave a bookmark in the book to keep my place, as I might decide to go back to it right away (not usually — I usually don’t get back to it for quite some time — but one can have hope, right?).

I’d love to be able to do it, though — to have multiple books going at once! Can you imagine how many books I’d be able to get through then? That’d be great! Maybe then I wouldn’t have so many unread/TBR titles in my personal collection. LOL

 

The Sunday Salon (Feb.7)

This week, I have been reading a lot. I’ve really been in a “reading mood”, lately… which I love.

I had finished reading “Ink Exchange” by Melissa Marr, and then had moved on to another library book, “Godmother” by Carolyn Turgeon. But, just as I was getting into the action, I had a review book show up in the mail that I wasn’t expecting: “Crave” by Chris Tomlinson. Sure, I’d asked to be on the list for the tour of said book, but I hadn’t gotten any response. So, given that it’s been months since I asked, I just figured I wasn’t going to be touring that one. Think again!

         

The tour is this coming Wednesday, so I had to set aside “Godmother“, and read “Crave” instead. Luckily, “Crave” was a quick — but really good! — read, so I finished it after only 3 days.

Mind you, I still haven’t gone back to “Godmother“, as I have another review book (“So Long, Insecurity” by Beth Moore) that will be due for a tour in one week, and it’s pretty hefty, so I feel I should read it, first, and then go back to my library books.

Anyhoo. I’m also pretty excited about some of the review books I’ll have coming to me in the next few months. Each of them have their own blog tours. Two of the ones I’m looking forward to are “Chosen” by Ginger Garrett, and “Abigail” by Jill Eileen Smith.

“Chosen” by Ginger Garrett ~ Description: Wrenched from a simple life for her beauty, Esther finds herself at the mercy of King Xerxes. Leaving behind her only relative, her cousin Mordecai, and her first true love, Cyrus, she is thrown headlong into the unrestrained extravagance of palace living. Quick of mind and strong in spirit, she refused to suffer the fate of her harem sisters and boldly challenges Xerxes to give of his heart before taking his pleasure, thus sealing her place beside him as queen. While conspiracy spins it diabolical web, Esther’s mind and spirit waver, and she is forced to confront the past in order to save her future – and that of an entire nation. [from Amazon.ca]

“Abigail” by Jill Eileen Smith (Wives of King David series, book 2) ~ Description: Abigail’s hopes and dreams for the future are wrapped up in her handsome, dark-eyed betrothed, Nabal. But when the long-awaited wedding day arrives, her drunken groom behaves shamefully. Nevertheless, Abigail tries to honor and respect her husband despite his abuse of her. Meanwhile, Abigail’s family has joined David’s wandering tribe as he and his people keep traveling to avoid the dangerous Saul. When Nabal suddenly dies, Abigail is free to move on with her life, and thanks to her brother, her new life includes a new husband–David. The dangers of tribal life on the run are serious, but there are other dangers in young Abigail’s mind. How can David lead his people effectively when he goes against God? And how can Abigail share David’s love with the other wives he insists on marrying? [from Amazon.ca]

Both of these sound really good! I’m excited to read “Chosen“, because my church’s ladies’ Bible study group just did a study on the book of “Esther“, thanks to Beth Moore’s teaching. It was awesome (now my favorite Beth Moore study!), and ”Esther” has always been one of my favorite characters in the Bible.

This Past Week @ Should Be Reading:
+ Musing Mondays: Pick a random book…
+ Teaser Tuesdays
+ New Beginnings Wednesdays
+ WWW Wednesday (What are YOU reading?)
+ Booking Through Thursday: Winter Reading
+ Friday Finds (featuring Mike Erre, David Plotz, Dr. Don Colbert, etc)
+ Faith ‘n Fiction Saturday: Why Read Fiction?

Plus, reviews of…
:: Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
:: Crave by Chris Tomlinson

 

FnFS: Why Read Fiction?

((FnFS is hosted by Amy!))

This week’s question:

The very concept of Christian fiction had a huge battle to face in conservative circles and is, in my opinion, still facing those battles in its attempts to grow. Is there any value in reading fiction for Christians? Why are some people so resistant to the idea of reading fiction? If you DON’T read fiction, why don’t you read it? (Please keep in mind we are talking about ALL fiction and not just Christian fiction)

I don’t read a ton of fiction, but I do read some. I’m not against it. I guess I read more NONfiction because I love to learn, and I soak up knowledge like a sponge.

It used to be that I had a hard time reading Christian fiction. It was so preachy, and reminded me too much of the legalism in my family/church life. The preachiness of the books made me want to throw them across the room! Blessedly, the market has gotten a lot better, these days, and the books are getting more realistic. The characters aren’t all “perfect”, and there isn’t as much preachiness to the stories.

As for regular fiction, I don’t know why I don’t reach for it more often. I think I read about 75% nonfiction, and 25% fiction. When I do read fiction, the genre varies. I used to choose a lot of mystery/suspense, and the occasional light romance, but now I tend to choose romantic suspense, or fantasy — of all things! LOL. (I’m loving books about vampires and faeries!) LOL. I guess I still choose mystery/suspense, too, though, judging by the review books I’ve picked in the recent past.

If I had to guess, I’d say that I think a lot of people are resistant to reading fiction because (1) it may have too much in it that makes them think about their own lives, and maybe they don’t want to go there, (2) maybe they’re looking for something in a book, and they just aren’t finding it in fiction, and (3) maybe they hate it when a character’s life seems too “perfect” compared to their own. Honestly? I don’t know why people wouldn’t like fiction… I don’t even have a good reason for why I avoid it most of the time, myself! LOL.

As for the value Christians could get from reading fiction… I think Amy was right on when she said that reading fiction helps us connect to other people, and relate or find that we’re not alone. It can encourage us to keep on plugging — or that there’s hope. And, it can definitely still teach us things!

I still wholeheartedly believe that God can use even secular fiction to teach us… to speak to our hearts.

I’ve been learning, in my current ladies’ Bible study — “One in a Million” by Priscilla Shirer — though, that we also need to be careful in what we read. We have to watch that we don’t read anything that is going to distract us from God and His purposes for our lives. We have to stay away from the kind of reading that brings about the wrong responses in us. If it causes us to think impurely, or to become disastisfied with our lives, then it shouldn’t be something we’re reading.

Just last night, I was looking through a book in my collection called “Technical Virgin” by Hayley DiMarco, and in it she said that we need to be careful about reading romances, as they tend to make us have unrealistic expectations for our lives, and if we’re not careful, they can cause us to sin in that we become dissatisfied with our current situation.

Of course, I’m guilty of all of this. I’ve read a lot of books that I probably shouldn’t have. But, I’m slowly learning to be more discerning in my reading choices. I think I’ve become really desensitized to the danger of certain books, but this Bible study is reopening my eyes to the ways I’ve let myself slip.

Anyhoo. I’ve also had some really great fiction reading experiences. In 2002, I read a ton of fiction, both Christian and secular, and I still look back on that year fondly. There were a lot of books that really stuck with me. Sometimes it makes me think that I really should read more fiction than I do. In fact, I even joined a couple of reading challenges, this year, to help me with that goal — to get me to read more fiction. For example, the 12×12 challenge: It goes for one month at a time, each month being hosted by a different blogger. And, the goal is just to read more fiction. This month (February), J.Kaye is hosting.

 

REVIEW: “Crave” by Chris Tomlinson

 Full of Chris’ personal stories of chasing after God, this book is funny, thought-provoking, and honest. I could relate to so much of what Chris shared throughout, and I’m glad he was open to being honest — books like this show you that you’re not alone in what you feel.

 

The short one-liners at the beginning of each chapter were catchy — they made me wonder what on earth the chapter was going to be about! I even showed the book to my Mom, and the one-liner at the beginning of the chapter titled “Silence” (which says something to the effect of “God called me on my cell-phone at 4:30 a.m.”) caught her right away.

 

Definitely a book I’ll recommend to a lot of people.

 

Rated: A-

 

Friday Finds (Feb.5)

What great books did you hear about / discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!

 

My Finds:

       

   

Death by Church by Mike Erre

The Good Book by David Plotz

On Guard by William Lane Craig

Dr. Colbert’s ‘I Can Do This!’ Diet by Dr. Don Colbert

Why the Bible Matters by Mike Erre

 

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Friday Finds post, or share your ‘finds’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

 

BTT: Winter Reading

  {BTT is hosted at: http://btt2.wordpress.com}

This week’s question asks:

The northern hemisphere, at least, is socked in by winter right now… So, on a cold, wintry day, when you want nothing more than to curl up with a good book on the couch … what kind of reading do you want to do?

Hmm… well, a lot of times, I get the urge to pick up a big, chunky book (something over 450 pages). Don’t know why — perhaps ’cause then I could sit there with it for longer, and not have to go out in the cold & the snow.

I haven’t been listening to that urge, this year, though. Instead, I’ve been picking fiction titles of any length. I am more of a nonfiction junkie, so picking fiction is a bit different for me. It’s not that I never read fiction — just that I tend to reach for the nonfiction more often. Lately, it’s been books like Melissa Marr’s “faery” series: “Wicked Lovely“, “Ink Exchange“, and –next up– “Fragile Eternity“.

I keep eyeing my copies of “Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy, and “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay” by Michael Chabon, though. They’re chunky books, and I’m sorely tempted to pull them off the shelves and start reading.

       

I also kind of get in the mood to read Classics: “Sense & Sensibility” by Jane Austen & “Rebecca” by Daphne du Maurier are two that have been calling my name, of late. For the last couple of years, I’ve picked up Classics in January (can’t read much in December, so January is when my gotta-read-something-’cause-it’s-cold cravings kick in). I read “Gone With the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell the one year, and “Middlemarch” by George Eliot the next. Both were “chunky” AND Classics, so it was a good combination.

And, I guess that kind of says it all right there… I get a hankering for chunky Classics at this time of year! When it’s cold outside, that’s what calls to me.

Huh. Weird. LOL.

 

WWW Wednesdays (Feb.3)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

 

My answers:

What are you currently reading?

I’m reading Carolyn Turgeon’s “Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story“. So far, it’s pretty good! I’m loving the fact that the main character works in a tiny bookshop, and that a lot of the first chapter described the store, and the atmosphere there!

 

What did you recently finish reading?

I just finished “Ink Exchange” by Melissa Marr, the other day. It was good, though not quite as good as the first book in the series, “Wicked Lovely“.

 

What do you think you’ll read next?

Next up for me is Beth Moore’s “So Long, Insecurity“. It’s an upcoming blog tour, and I need to get it read so I can have a review ready. I love Beth’s work, though, so I’m looking forward to it! I get to go see her (at a conference) next month — and I am soooooo stoked about that!!!

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own WWW Wednesdays post, or share your answers in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!