Here is the second instalment of my reading challenge 🙂

• Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller- I really really loved this book. Quite a dark subject matter but very well written, the characters were believable and lovable and you really go on a journey with the protagonist. It’s quite similar to Room, both in subject matter and delivery. I would highly recommend it (plus Claire Fuller did her MA at the Uni of Winchester, so y’know, represent!) Fans of Iron and Wine may recognise the title as the same as an album of his, and Fuller thanks Sam Beam in her acknowledgements. In hindsight, you can hear his music throughout this novel in the descriptions and the atmosphere. Beautiful.

 

• Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez- An oldie, but a goodie. So beautifully written (I believe Marquez once said he preferred the English translation to his Spanish original!). Rich, evocative imagery and a long, sprawling story over a number of years involving a number of characters. Hilarious, heartbreaking, wise and whimsical. It’s a long book so it took me a while but it’s just delicious, a classic for a reason.

 

 

• Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig- A super short, easy to read book that taught me a lot. As someone with loved ones suffering from depression, it aided my understanding of their illness and also helped me see how much I don’t really understand it. It’s very well written with honesty, practical guidance, humour and poignant affirmations. I’d recommend it to anyone, especially those with mental health issues and their loved ones.

 

 

• Night Music by Jojo Moyes- I just love Jojo Moyes. It’s great. Not as good as
  Me Before You, but a good holiday read. The characters and their relationships are complex and well crafted and the story comes to a dramatic climax. So definitely read it if you’re a Moyes fan. Just read all of hers, tbh. She’s a master storyteller.

 

 

 

• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert- Loved the book, love her. Gilbert wrote “Eat Pray Love” which may help you decide if you want to read this book!! It’s nonfiction but so creative and so much fun. I would love to be Gilbert’s friend and just chat with her. Whether you consider yourself creative or not (and Gilbert argues that EVERYONE is creative), I’d really recommend it. It’s easy to read, will make you think and may just encourage you to live more adventurously.

 

 

I can lend you all of the above! Or check out your local library 🙂

xx

At the beginning of this year, instead of a new years resolution, I set myself the ambitious challenge of reading 50 books in 2016. I felt that at the end of the year, I wanted to have achieved something and, since I love reading, cramming a load of books into my eyes and brain seemed like a good choice!!

As a companion to that (so something I really should have started at the beginning of the year), a few people have suggested I blog about the books I’ve read and whether I’d recommend them. I too am often curious as to what to read next so if I can help friends to choose their next book, that would be great!

Some of them are novels, some are Christian books, some are nonfiction.

As I’ve already read 20, we need a few catch-up posts! Rather than do all 20 at once, I’m going to do them in blocks of 5. Then from here on out, I’ll do a blog post per book.Or I may carry on in blocks of 5… Who knows. So here’s your first lot:

• The Heart of Church and Mission by Bryan Knell- This is a bit of an odd one to begin with as I had to read it for work…. BUT…. I found it a really useful and insightful look into how the Church today engages with mission and mission agencies. I didn’t agree with everything Bryan said (making it even more interesting) but I enjoyed the different ways he said the Church should be engaging with mission and how mission agencies should be engaging with the Church. It was a particularly useful and enlightening book to read in the role I had at Latin Link, which involved engaging with churches who were sending members of their congregation to Latin America. Still, I’d recommend it to anyone, especially those in church leadership. It’s super short and, if anything, will make you think about your views on Church and mission.

• After You by Jojo Moyes- The sequel to the wonderful Me Before You. This book was
  brilliant, very touching and an insightful look into what living with grief looks like. I gobbled it up. Lou Clark is such a lovable, believable character and you really feel for her pain and
  loss, especially if you read the previous book. In ways, you feel like you mourn with her… Nevertheless, there are still funny bits and warm romantic parts. I really enjoyed it, but not as much as Me Before You as it lacks the relationship between Lou and Will, which, in my opinion, was the best part of that book.  Still would recommend it, but read Me Before You first.

 

• A Guide to the Beasts of East Africa by Nicholas Drayson- A novel, not an actual guide… Another sequel, but this one just as good as the first one (A Guide to the Birds of East Africa). Just one of those books where nothing much happens but you grow to love the characters and their relationships.The imagery and characters really capture the essence of Africa and transport you there. A lovely, light read that’s a lot of fun. You don’t necessarily have to have read the first one, though it may help you better understand the characters.

 

• Life Is… by Judah Smith- Another sequel (to Jesus Is…)! I think you’ll either love or hate the way Judah Smith writes. I enjoy it, though I can see why some wouldn’t. It’s very American but full of stories and helpful imagery… The fact I can’t remember much of it shows it didn’t have a very big impact on me but an easy to read Christian book which can help with devotions etc.

 

 

• The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro- I was surprised at how much I didn’t like this book… I LOVED Never Let Me Go but this book was a bit too fantasy for me. I’m not a fan of books like Lord of the Rings, but if you are then you might enjoy this! It’s a long read and is very well written but I guess I just didn’t “get” it. I think it may be allegorical but I’m not sure what the message was… It would get 3 stars from me, but just because I don’t tend to go for those kinds of books. If you’re into fantasy books, you may love it!

 

 

So there’s your first lot! If you have any questions, ask away! I have all of them apart from Church and Mission, if you would like to borrow them 🙂 I’m a firm believer in sharing books and using our local library.

xxx

There aren’t many things I hate. I’m scared of bats, I don’t like eggs or nuts and I really don’t like it when people are mean or rude to others. But one thing I really do hate is depression. Depression is a thief. It steals days, weeks, months, sometimes even years. It steals people. It’s stolen my mum, my husband, a number of my friends and other family members. It steals memories. I had a wonderful childhood but there are some memories depression has claimed. It steals desire, hope, joy and energy. It steals motivation and focus. It has stolen from me time and time again. But, it hasn’t stolen me. I am merely an observer, a bystander, as it steals from my loved ones. Some struggle more with it than others. Some can cope with medication, space and friends. Some you wouldn’t even know suffer from it. But us humans are great actors. We wear convincing masks and tell convincing stories. Stories like “I’m fine” and “it doesn’t bother me” and “I’m not scared”. The gift and curse of being close to those struggling with The Thief is that you see right through those masks. The tone of voice, the faded light in their eyes, the way they hold themselves. You can read them, and you do read them out of concern if they’re OK. Sometimes you’re looking for something that’s not even there and they really are fine. But the anxiety is present until you’re convinced. It makes me sad that so many people I know struggle with depression. Ignorance may say it makes me depressed. But I know I’ve never felt that weight. Never felt that darkness. As much as I say I’d rather it be me than them, I don’t know what I’m talking about. It’s not something to wish on anyone. People with depression have been campaigning to convince others that it is a real illness, it needs to be taken seriously, it needs funding for treatment. But me, I don’t need any more convincing. I’ve held my mum’s hand as we’ve walked through a crowded room and sat waiting for her to return after running away. I’ve sat with my husband during a panic attack and given him space when I’ve needed him. I have visited a friend in hospital after she put herself there. This is no joke. This is not feeling down or under the weather. This is not something you can snap out of, though I’m very guilty of wishing they just would. This is real. And I hate it. The pain it’s causing me is negligible next to the pain it’s causing them. But it does hurt me. How can it not? My days are at the mercy of my husband’s moods. My heart has been broken listening to my mum crying down the phone. My mind is stuck on whether my friend is going to die. Depression, I hate you. But you will not steal me too. I will fight you. I will shine light into the darkness you cover them with. I will speak truth into the lies you whisper in their ears. I will hold them together as you try to pull them apart. You will not win. Love will win. Hope will win. We will win. You can piss off.