Summer reading. Top 5.

Man.  Coming up with a blog once a day is tough. Maybe it would be easier if I started earlier in the day.  I'm still learning.
Here are 5 books that I read this summer, that I would recommend.  I'm not going to say too much about each one, because you're already online.  You can look them up if you're interested (ok, ok, I'll give you some links at least).

5.  Child 44, by Tom Rob Smith.  A gritty, suspenseful book that takes place in Soviet times.  The ending is a bit cheesy, but only because it is setting you up for the sequel, which I'm currently reading (The Secret Speech).  At times, it reminded me of George Orwell's 1984.

4. The Help, by Kathryn Stockett.  Actually this story takes place also in Soviet times (or should I say nearly the same decade), but in the South....in the United States.  A white woman writes the stories of various black women in the community, who have basically raised all the white kids in the houses they worked in.  1.  I still sometimes can't believe that this is a part of our nation's history. 2.  It saddens me that racism still exists. 3.  They made a movie that is coming out soon, so you'll probably want to read this beforehand.

3. Between Shades of Gray, by Ruta Sepetys.  This is another Soviet story, this one about a Lithuanian family who is sent to labor camps in the northern part of Siberia....told from the point of 16 year old Lina, an aspiring artist who documents the story via secret drawings.   It is a totally quick read (the chapters are short, and the style suggests that high schoolers could read it in English class), but worth your time.  Based on true stories of the author's Lithuanian relatives.

2. Peace Like A River, by Leif Enger.  Come to think of it, this story also takes place in the same era as the rest, but in Minnesota/North Dakota region.  Told from the point of view of 11 year old Reuben, a family takes a road trip to search for their convict brother.  A really sweet story...and the presence of God is assumed in such a way that He's everywhere, yet you don't feel like the book has an agenda.

1. Grounded in the Gospel: Building Believers the Old Fashioned Way, by J.I. Packer and Gary A. Parrott.  The only non-fiction book on the list.  Highly recommend for those who are in Christian leadership in any way shape or form, but especially those who are passionate about teaching the faith to others (in Sunday School or elsewhere).  Loved it.  Though, it is only number one on the list because that is the order I thought of it, it is not necessarily better than the rest (though it is in a completely different genre).


Enjoy!  What books have you been reading this summer?