The Salt Path by Raynor Winn — A memoir about a husband and wife who lose their home and get a terminal diagnosis in the same week. They decide to drop everything and hike England’s South West Coast Path, some 640 miles. It was an interesting read, especially her descriptions of nature and camping.
The Ministry of Ordinary Places by Shannan Martin — It was highly recommended by a few trusted sources, but I had a really hard time with this book. The author uses a lot of words without saying very much. As much as I love authors like Anne Lamott for their candor and down-to-earth writing, authors like Martin leave me confused and annoyed.
Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue — About a Dublin maternity ward nurse in 1918. This would have been a great timely historical fiction about nursing during the Spanish Flu if the author hadn’t pulled a random woke climax out of a hat at the last minute. The climax was so out of place that it seemed like the author set out to write a completely different ending, but was influenced at the last minute to make the book “relevant to the times”.
Shadow of the Almighty by Elisabeth Elliot — A fascinating look into Jim Elliot’s life through his own journals and letters. It is so convicting and encouraging to read about such a young person having a strength of faith far beyond his years.
Autumn's Writing 