Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living (Shauna Niequist)

Why I have this book: I bought it on Audible after a friend recommended it. (I used a "credit," to be more precise.)

Meh. I gave this two stars on Goodreads. I didn't love the way the author narrated it... it was a little too soulful (which I might have expected, given the title). What she's looking for in life and what I'm looking for in life are somewhat opposite ends of the spectrum. She apparently had a really busy life and wanted to slow down. I have a somewhat unexciting existence (which isn't a bad thing), and have been looking for things to do. 

I did find a few ideas of hers that I appreciated:

We can shape our own lives. Sometimes I know I let life just kind of happen instead of shaping how I would like it to be.

Friends support each other and carry each other's secrets, fears, worries, etc.

We shouldn't give our pen to others to write our life story. That's up to us.

Take time to listen to our minds and bodies to know if we're living the life we want to be living.

Live more lightly... don't crowd it with things and busyness.

There may have been another thought or two, but those were the ones I jotted down. Good thoughts, but other than those, I really was ready for the book to be over before it was even close to done.

This Christian book is clean.

Gregor the Overlander (Suzanne Collins)

Why I have this book: I bought the series for my son for Christmas last year, and he finished it this past week. He was so upset at the ending and so emotionally invested in it that I told him I'd read it, too. This is the first book of the series.

I gave it three stars on Goodreads. I'm not really into fantasy books, and this one is definitely fantasy. I liked it well enough to keep going in the series. 

There are some deaths including animals (who speak and act with human characteristics) and "underland humans" (if that's what they are called), and those deaths are generally by war-type violence. I don't recall any swearing. The book is written for 9-12 year olds, so I think it's as clean as can be in a fantasy war story.

I'm Glad My Mom Died (Jennette McCurdy)

Why I have this book: Several people mentioned this book to me, so I was going to borrow it, but it was a very long hold time. Luckily, Audible had a great sale, and I was able to buy it for under $5, so that's what I did.

I really wanted to give this book four stars because it was so interesting and sad and fascinating (in a disturbing way) to learn about Jennette's life as a child star. I'm guessing most young actors don't have such an extreme dysfunctional family and upbringing like she did, but even the most normal families must be crazy to want their kids to be in showbiz.

I had to drop it to three stars just because she got a little too graphic for my taste with the sexual descriptions in her relationships. Didn't need that!

I mostly felt sad for her and all that she went through. I hope she's able to have a good life from here on out and is able to heal from the trauma of her experiences.

It was also interesting to read about her connection to the LDS Church in her childhood. Makes me wonder how she processes that now.

A few sexual descriptions and lots of swearing once the memoir reaches her young adult stage of life, including many F-bombs.

Sheep's Clothing (Josi Kilpack)

Why I have this book: I borrowed the ebook version from the library even though I have the print version downstairs. I wanted to read it again before having my daughter read it.

I gave the book three stars on Goodreads. I probably would have given it four stars back when I read it the first time (probably 15 or so years ago), but the book is dated to some degree now, and I'm in a different stage of life.

I still think the story has merit for today's young people as long as they understand how dated it is. I'll probably recommend my daughter read it, and I'll just talk to her about how things are different now in technology and predator's methods.

I admit it was a little difficult for me to read about the mom in the story. She's so typically LDS, and it's hard to think about how much I probably accepted her lifestyle (similar to my own) when I first read this book. And... I don't know why the author made an issue of the daughter (Jess) always feeling fat. Not only that, but one of the points made in the wrap up is how she trimmed up by running cross-country or track or whatever. I don't know if that would fly in a book published today, and I found it annoying and probably not mentally or emotionally healthy for the average teenage girl to read.

Clean, although it deals with an abduction and implied sexual assault. There is also a murder that happened before the book begins. There is an underlying disturbing vibe because of the subject matter.

Long Bright River (Liz Moore)

Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the ebook library after seeing a lot of good reviews online.

I don't know what I expected, but this wasn't it. I guess I was thinking it would be like an old-fashioned story set in the country with a river running through. Nope. Not at all.

I gave this book four stars on Goodreads. I could hardly put it down, and it's still swirling in my mind and soul. It had a gritty edge to it (but not gory or too creepy), and took me into a world that is so far removed from my own that it's hard to think about. It's sad that life like that is the reality for so many people. 

I thought the author did a great job of bringing a good balance of humanity to the "streets." I don't think I'll stop thinking about this for a long time.

It is about murder, prostitution, drug addiction, police corruption. It's more than that, though... there's so much humanity involved. It's not just like an episode of CSI or Law and Order. There's more of the back stories that make people who they are.

In addition to those topics mentioned above, there is quite a bit of street swearing (including the F-word). There are also unmarried sexual relationships (not descriptive), but really, compared to the prostitution (also not descriptive), you kind of forget about that.

Under the Banner of Heaven (Jon Krakauer)

Why I have this book: I borrowed it from the ebook library.

Well, I'm super disappointed. I was finding the book quite interesting, but when the author included a chapter on Elizabeth Smart, I knew I couldn't trust him as an accurate source.

I've read Elizabeth's own book, and the things Krakauer claims about Elizabeth's feelings toward her captor are not at all what she says. He also got it wrong when he stated she would have worn sacred robes to the temple with her parents.

Since I know he was wrong in this section, I can't put a lot of stock into what he's written about other religious communities or situations about which I'm not familiar. Since I want all my sources to be impeccably true, I stopped reading this one at 13%.

Up until the point I stopped reading, there were disturbing stories about the way women and children are treated/molested/raped/murdered in fundamental religious communities.

Everybody Fights: So Why Not Get Better at It? (Kim and Penn Holderness)

Why I have this book: I borrowed the audio version from the ebook library at the recommendation of my sister-in-law.

I didn't realize this was a marriage self-help type book. I figured it was more of a memoir. I've seen a handful of the videos this couple has made for their YouTube channel, but didn't know much more about them.

I enjoyed the book, and thought it had good tips and info about marriage for the average couple. It doesn't go too deep for those who have bigger issues in marriage. It was fun to listen to it since the authors often expanded on what they had written as they recorded the audiobook. On the other hand, sometimes I felt like they shared more than they needed to about their fights and their sex life. It wasn't graphic at all, but it's still kind of a personal subject.

Overall, it was enjoyable. I gave it three stars on Goodreads.

I'd say this is PG-13 rated since one chapter deals with sex and mentions sex toys. (Nothing is graphically described.) I think there were a couple of the more mild swear words, as well. The tone somehow manages to be Christian-based to some degree since they mention the things they learned from their pastor in marriage counseling.