Literary Junkies [v. 3]

It's that time again!

Wait...

What am I saying? I haven't really participated in the link-up for Literary Junkies that frequently. I've only done it two other times. So I don't think I'm entitled to start with the sentence I was going to.

Anyway, I am going to be linking with Taylor and Lesley for the LJ post this month. And since I've got a brand, spankin' new library card, I think I may join in on their book club if I can nab a copy of the book their reading, though who knows if I'll actually be able to read through the books. I may be up for the challenge. I'll let you know!

1) What are you currently reading? Tell us about it.

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Well, I'm going to be s.l.o.w.l.y. working my way through The Power of  Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian. If you follow my blog, you already know this. For newcomers, you can read the posts I've written so far by going here. 

Oh and by slowly, I mean I won't be finished with it until the end of November.

However, it's worth it to me as it's encouraging me to commit myself to praying for husband on a daily basis with a focus for each week.

I love how Stormie writes because if she isn't sharing her own story she's sharing someone elses. It helps remind me that I'm not the only one who needs her words to help jump start my lacking prayer life for the hubs. (Honestly, in general.) She gives some very practical, down-to-earth advice on what to focus on within each topic. And it is all biblically based, which is of utmost importance to me. I love how she saturates what she's bringing to the table with it. Good stuff.

I'm also reading...hang on...I can't remember the title becauase I never looked at it except for when I downloaded it.

...

...this:

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I had liked a facebook page for Gospel eBooks a while back. My older sister had told me they daily post great deals on Christian literature along with free books, too. This book happened to pop across my feed one day so I decided to download it.

It if a farely easy read, but it has completely captured my attention. I'm not sure if it's the stubborn, hot-tempered Madeline or the sweet, going-against-the-grain Devlin who have captured me more, but whoever it is, I find myself wanting to pick up my Kindle even when my inner being is crying for me to hold paper. Though it is farely predictable, I'm ok with that as my daughter and I are finally on the other  side of mending from being sick off and on between the two of us for almost a month now. And even with its predictability, I find that the characters invite you in, making you feel as though you are the fly on the wall, which I love. Entering another world is one of the many reasons I enjoy reading and this book offers just that.

2) Summer is just ahead and my fav thing to fantasize is laying in a hammock with a good book. What are you top 3 fav "summer" reads?

Oh my. I'm such a reader that I'm not certain I'd really go back to reread anything. Even if I loved it. So I'm going to pick the first three that come to my head.

First up, is Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. I just love how he wrote from the standpoint of Satan's workers trying to lead astray a Christ-follower. Plus, C.S. Lewis has so many great insights scattered throughout and the way they are said captivates my mind.

The next book that comes to mind would be The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. Very interesting book. It's been a while since I've read this one so I can't really give you a synopsis on it, but if I reread books, I'm know this would be in my stack.

And finally, but most certainly not least of any of these, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It's also been forever since I've read this one. I know that it follows a criminal and essentially gives you a look into his thoughts. Aside from that, I can't really remember. I just know I am continually telling my husband how much I enjoyed reading it in High School, would love to read it again, and that he needs to read it because he never has. So there. Ha!

3) What are your top 3 summer "to-reads"?

Ummm...

I have no clue.

If I had to guess, I will say these three, in no particular order:

     1) She's Gonna Blow by Julie Ann Barnhill - Yes, I struggle with anger. Yes, I find myself working over-time to keep from taking it out on my child. No, I'm not joking. Yes, I'm going and doing something about it. No, I've never harmed my daughter, but I know that if I don't do something about it, I am just as capable as any other human to lose their temper and doing something I would deeply regret. Only by God's grace. And I know I'm not the only one who struggles with it. (Hence, the book. I think if I was the only one, I wouldn't have that book for help.)

     2) 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp - I'm waiting on the copy I recently won to arrive in the mail. I cannot wait to read this book as I've heard nothing but great things about it. I also love that it's entire point is to hone in on all the gifts we are surrounded by and how they all point back to a God who loves to lavish us, even in the seemingly trivial and small things that we take for granted. (Heck. I take for granted the roof over my head. That is not small or trivial. But I digress.)

     3) START. by Jon Acuff - I am already in love with this book. You see, my sister had a Blissdom exclusive copy when I went to visit her early in April. (I actually like her copy more than my husbands because its my favorite type of paperback binding. Weird? Maybe. But I'm not a big fan of hardback. Anyway...) And so while I visited her just a few short weeks before it was released to the less fortunate (aka those who didn't go to Blissdom), I found I just. couldn't. put. it. down. Seriously. She was always finding me with it in my hands if there was any silence to be spared. Or even if a ruckus was being made. I was trying to soak up as much of its goodness as could be. I didn't have enough time to finish it, but since I pre-ordered my hubs copy, we also have a eBook copy. SCORE! Oh you bet that sucker is being read before summer is over. Can. not. wait!

4) What book do you wish they'd make a movie of?

None.

Seriously.

Though I know they've made some great movies that do a decent job of capturing the book and I love (read: Harry Potter), I never have found myself sitting around hoping they will make a movie based off of a book. Because, generally speaking, the book wins. Every time. And many times, after I've read the book, I can never watch the movie again (ie Born Identity). It's a rare case for me to watch the movie again. And so I don't have any books I wish they'd make into movies. 

The end.

5) Has your favorite author published a book lately or going to publish a book soon? Tell us about it.

I'm not sure who my favorite author is.

But since I can definitely pin point my favorite children's author, that is for young children, ages 0 to 5/6, I will share that with you.

Our favorite children's author is Sandra Boynton.

Oh, and I had to ask Ben what her age range is. His answer: "0 to 85." She's that good guys. They're catchy, so they're extremely easy to memorize.

You think that last piece of info is bad? It isn't when you have a toddler who turns the page every .5 seconds. You can recite the entire book as she flips through it 10 times in a sitting.

Plus, they are either plain silly, silly with a good lesson to learn or way to teach a topic (letters, numbers, opposites, animals, etc), or a cute way to teach a lesson. Wait. They're all kind of silly. But either way, they're all stinking cute! I find myself hoping that Zoë brings me any of the Boynton books we have. Ha!

Now, back to adult convo...favorite author...

You know, I'm just going to go with Karen Kingsbury because I own a ton of her books. And honestly, I wouldn't have a book to give you guys if I didn't choose someone current because my other favorites have long sinced passed away. (Fyodor Dostoevsky and C.S. Lewis. I seriously love both of their writing.)

And she just released a new book:

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Since I know absolutely nothing about it, I'm going to copy and paste the synopsis up on her website (the source for the image takes you there):

"The Chance is a heartwarming story about childhood friends, broken lives, and a long ago promise that just might offer the hope of love for today. In The Chance, Karen delves deeply into a theme that resonates with us all: It’s never too late for those willing to take a chance.

Years ago, the day before Ellie moved from Georgia to California, she and her best friend Nolan sat beneath the Spanish moss of an ancient oak tree where they wrote letters to each other, and sealed them in a rusty old metal box. The plan was to return eleven years later and read them. But now, as that date arrives, much has changed. Ellie, bereft of the faith she grew up with, is a single mom living in a tired apartment trying to make ends meet. Sometimes she watches television to catch a glimpse of her old friend —Nolan, now an NBA star, whose terrible personal tragedies fueled his faith and athletic drive in equal measure. But Nolan also suffers from a transcendent loneliness that nothing has ever eased.

In their separate lives, as Ellie and Nolan move toward the possibility of a reunion at the oak tree, Kingsbury weaves a tale of heart-wrenching loss, the power of faith, and the wounds that only love can heal."

Knowing how much I always find myself sucked into her books, I'm guessing this one will be nothing less.

I'm a bit surprised at how much I was able to crank out for this post. I guess if you get me talking about books, I can go for a while. Only proves that I love them!