Jessica Reads: January

Well, since I officially graduated in December I have suddenly a lot of time on my hands. Of course there are the normal house chores that I try to take care of during the day, but with the kids in school and me on a break as I wait for answers to my graduate school applications, I have time to read.

I don't think you understand the fullness of that statement.

I HAVE TIME TO READ.

It's a funny thing to state here, because for over two years I have been reading and writing nonstop for school. I have dived into awesome and interesting stories. I have trudged through many novels that I hope to never, ever have to read again, but I have done very little nonacademic reading. There has been some that I have squeezed in, mainly during the last summer, but not as much as I have wanted to do.

I love reading. There are very few things as enjoyable as a good book. And so far this January I have taken the time to read, and I wanted to share what I have been reading this month.

32 Candles by Ernessa T. Carter

This book was a great surprise. The concept of the book is simple. Davie is a young girl who is abused by her mother, ignored or bullied by the kids in her school, but somehow maintains hope because of her love of Molly Ringwald movies. She dreams of a future that comes with the happy endings. Life is not that easy for Davie, as we follow her through her decision to leave her home town and pursue a life that is unexpected for the homely quiet girl. Once I began reading, I couldn't put it down. Davie's journey is difficult but worth the adventure.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Roswell

This book I grabbed off the library shelf as I was walking by. I've seen it on several "best" lists. I don't mind reading YA books. I find the experience very enjoyable. I really had no idea was I was getting in to when I began reading, but I was sucked in. Set in the 1980s about a couple of teenagers and how their lives differ from each other and how, in spite of their differences brings them together. It made me remember my own teenage angst and awkwardness, and how difficult it can be to navigate school and family lives simultaneously, when everything doesn't quite meld together cohesively. This book was another fast read because I just couldn't put it down. So much so, that as I was close to finishing I needed to cook dinner for my family and was cooking while reading in spurts because I needed to see what happened to Eleanor and Park. It was that good.

Cherish by Gary Thomas

I try to mix up my books a bit with some non-fiction that I read along with my fiction picks. I bought Cherish a couple of years back. I had read Thomas' A Life-Long Love, and it really changed the way that I thought about marriage and my relationships with people as a whole, so I wanted to try out Thomas's latest. I will say that I did like this book but it didn't nudge me and much as A Life-Long Love did. But, in the end, it did make me thing about how I can be more intentional with the ways that I show love to let those who I love know that I care, which is really what this book is about.

War Storm by Victoria Aveyard

I really had to push myself to get through War Storm. Over the summer I had read the first three books in the Read Queen series but once school had started back up I did not have time to read its conclusion. While I did enjoy the first book in the series, this one did not really satisfy. Overall it was merely OK. I only finished it because I really prefer to have wrapped up endings and it was only one book left to read. Granted, it was one book of about 700 pages, which I honestly believe could've been cut down by about half and still maintained the integrity of the story. All in all, the series as a whole is great and a captivating read. Maybe if there were not six months between my reading of the third and fourth books I may have been more invested in the finale installment resulting in more excitement and enjoyment.

Finish by Jon Acuff

This is another book that has been sitting on my bookshelf for probably a good year before I had a chance to dive in. I have read several of Acuff's books and he truly has a passion for motivating readers to accomplish their goals by giving advice and developing programs that will lead them in the right direction. I like his take on many of the concepts that stop us from "finishing" our goals. As someone who has a lot of dreams and plans, anything that helps me get past the beginning is great. The book can become slightly repetitive at times but does not take away from the overall message of getting things done.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I ended up reading The Fault in Our Stars because my daughter had picked it up at the library. She had finished reading it and even though I have a large pile of books I am reading or want to read, I was in the mood for something that would go quickly, especially after reading War Storm, which took forever. Now, I know that The Fault in Our Stars is a big deal book for many people and the fact that it has been made into a movie increased its popularity. Also, because of these things, I already knew the base story plus the ending of the story, even though I have never seen the movie, nor picked up the book before a couple of days ago. At best, the book was "meh". It was a fun quick read, but not something I feel like I would be picking up to read again. I felt like the characters were a little on the dull side, in spite of the fact that they are presented as witty and sarcastic. Maybe I felt like it was too much or trying too hard. I wanted to like it more than I did, but I just couldn't. 

What's crazy to me is I read these books in about three weeks but now I already seem to be slowing down. It might be because I over did it... too much too soon, I guess. I was just so excited to read. I'm currently reading a couple of books that I am sure will end up in my February update.

With my goal being so much for this year, I need recommendations. What is your favorite book? Have you read something fun lately? 

I'm up for any ideas and will try just about anything.