Daring to Hope: Finding God's Goodness in the Broken and the Beautiful by Katie Davis Majors

Daring to Hope: Finding God's Goodness in the Broken and the Beautiful by Katie Davis Majors-209 pages

I really enjoyed Katie's first book, Kisses from Katie, so I was looking forward to reading this. This one is just as good and did not disappoint. Katie chronicles the recent things God has taught her and done in her life since her last book was published. She has gotten married and added a biological son to the family. She has truly shown God's love to so many in Uganda through their suffering and, sometimes, through their healing. Her story is an inspiration and encouragement.

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness - 320 pages

When the apocalypse comes, there is always the Chosen One.  It's one of the indie kids with too cool names.  They must fight the battle to save the world.

This isn't their story.  This is the story of the other kids -- the regular kids just trying to live their lives and make it through graduation without the high school being blown up . . . again.

I absolutely loved this book.  I loved the premise as soon as I heard.  And the book lived up to all of my expectations.  I could not put it down once I started it -- I read it straight through.  A great book for all teens.

Love Life by Rob Lowe

Love Life by Rob Lowe, 259 pages

Love Life is Rob Lowe's second book.  When I read the title, I was not sure if this book would be about his love life or if he was writing a book about loving life.  I realized it was about the latter. Love Life is a good book, but for some reason,  it took me a while to get into.  I am not a big Rob Lowe fan and that could be why. Though, who can resist his gorgeous face on the cover.  I was also a little disappointed that there were no color photos included, just black and white shots. Love Life is mainly about his recent years and not much so about past love affairs. He does write about some of his recent acting jobs and a previous trip to the Playboy Mansion.  There is also a funny story about spending the night at Sea World on one of son's field trip.  He also writes with love for his wife and sons and the experience of sending his first son off to college.  If you are a Rob Lowe fan, you will love this book.  The message I took away from this book is to love your life!!

This is Water, by David Foster Wallace

 This is Water, by David Foster Wallace, 137 pages

This is a commencement address the author made for a college class only a few years before his suicide.  The message is brief but powerful and reminds the reader to live consciously and mindfully.  

A Guide to Being Born: Stories, by Ramona Ausubel, 200 pages

A Guide to Being Born: Stories, by Ramona Ausubel, 200 pages

These short stories were all beautifully written, with the exception of one that involved a pet getting hit by a car and I had to skim right over.  They aren't really about birth or women (first impression), but more about the beauty of life, in general.

The End of Your Life Book Club, by Will Schwalbe

The End of Your Life Book Club, by Will Schwalbe, 336 pages

This was a poignant memoir (of sorts) about the time spent and the books read by the author and his mother after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer.  This made me feel like I don't talk to my dad enough and like I don't read enough.  This would make for excellent book club discussion- there are alot of really important discussions about reading, illness, living and dying.

Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century: 32 Families Open Their Doors by Jeanne E. Arnold

Life At Home in the Twenty-First Century: 32 Families Open Their Doors by Jeanne E. Arnold, 171 pages

I love nonfiction and getting a look inside other people's homes and all the junk they have.  This is a fascinating book on a study done by UCLA how people live in the twenty-first century.  Like most people, many of the families in this book are two income homes where both parents work.  All families in this book have at least two children.  The books discloses many statistics on the families and includes many, many pictures inside their homes.  The book is mainly divided by rooms of the house.  If  you like to see real life homes that are not "perfectly clean" and decorated, you may enjoy this one.  It is fun to see inside people's kitchens and see the dirty dishes piled up and garages that hold everything but cars!!

100 Months, by John Hicklenton

100 Months, by John Hicklenton, 170 pages

This is one of those books that you read more because of the book's back-story than the actual appeal of the book.  John Hicklenton, a talented comic artist, struggled for years with multiple sclerosis, before deciding to take his own life with the help of an assisted suicide group.  100 Months was his salute to the rage of life and death, and the last work he produced, knowing that he was going to kill himself upon its completion.  The work itself is stark, bloody, and evocative of our most visceral fears of death.  While it's a small book, the text requires concentration and thought, and you will definitely have to read it more than once in order to put together even the roughest meaning.  It was dark, but brilliant.