July Books.

This month was a slow one for reading. I let a lot of distractions get in the way of reading, a mistake I won’t be making again in August!

The Hidden Life of Prayer by David McIntyre — (Audiobook listen for me) Very convicting and great encouragement to keep steadfast in prayer.

At Home in the World by Tsh Oxenreider — I’ve heard about this book for a few years and so was excited to finally read it, especially given how widely it was promoted. I thought it was something like a guide for how people can travel the world with their kids. Or at least would be relatable and inspiring. But in fact, it was clear that Oxenreider’s year of travel isn’t really attainable for ‘normal’ people, even though her writing seems aimed at inspiring others to do the same as she did. The effect was that the reader feels somewhat shamed at not being able to travel while also feeling a bit jealous of Oxenreider’s adventures. I wish the tone of the book was different! 

A Life Less Ordinary by Baby Halder — A random find at a thrift store. A memoir about an Indian woman married off to an abusive man at age 12, became a mother at 14, and eventually found the courage to make her own life. She wrote her memoir thanks to the help of a compassionate benefactor who encouraged her to learn to read and write and tell her story. It was a super interesting read, especially since I didn’t know much about this part of Indian culture. 

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck — I first read this book in high school and found it powerful and sad. But now as a parent of a special needs child, it hit much harder. It’s a very quick read and worth revisiting as an adult.