Summer Reading

IT'S FINALLY SUMMER!!!

Words cannot express how happy I am that it is finally summer break. I was signed up for a Maymester class but decided that a mental break was necessary. The whole second half of the Old Testament in 11 days just did not sound enticing right after finals. So no school until August for this girl! I'll be working two jobs and enjoying life. AND READING! 

When you're in seminary, or just grad school in general, it's almost impossible to find time to read a book that isn't for school. Therefore, I've devoted this summer to reading and I'm super super excited about it! I ordered a few books on Amazon the other day and I was seriously giddy about getting them. Even the free 2 day prime shipping wasn't fast enough for me. I've also decided to keep all you fine readers (all 10 of you) updated about the books I read. I'm hoping to make it through my whole list and I'm hoping that all of them are wonderful and fascinating. Also, if you want to borrow a book, just let me know and I'd be happy to lend it to you! But know that my books are my babies and I will hunt you down until I get it back. Someone borrowed a book from me about 4 years ago and I never got it back and I'm still sad about it. 

So here's my list: 

First off, don't judge my choices. I realize that I read weird books that most wouldn't choose. For instance, 3 of the 11 books are about cults and 2 of the 11 are on child abuse/trauma and how it effects the brain. But I'm so excited!!! I know you're just as excited about reading about them too, right?! 

I plan to read them in the order that they're in the pile and hopefully I make it all the way through before classes start back up in August. Actually, I literally just finished the top one so I'm making good progress!! 

Book 1: 7, An experimental mutiny against excess by Jen Hatmaker 

Description via Amazon: "7 is the true story of how Jen (along with her husband and her children to varying degrees) took seven months, identified seven areas of excess, and made seven simple choices to fight back against the modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overindulgence."

Personal Review: I thought this book was thought-provoking yet a bit extreme. I like the idea that she's going for and I agree that we tend to live in a constant state of excess. Her 7 categories were clothes, spending, waste, food, possessions, media, and stress. I appreciated the fact that she was incredibly transparent throughout the book and admitted to the fact that sometimes, the experiment just wasn't fun. However, she also let us into her spiritual life and told us what God was revealing to her throughout the 7 month experiment. It was a nice reminder to me that a lot of time while I'm living in a state of "excess" and not even noticing it, there are others that are living with the complete opposite; nothing. It also reminded me that my earthy possessions whether they be food, clothing, books, media, etc., can very easily replace God in my life. So I'm starting off my summer by remember that my stack of books may be thought provoking, super exciting, and interesting, but they do not in any way, shape, or form, replace my time reading God's word. It's all about balance, people! 

Up next: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown. 

To give you a glimpse at the amazingness of Brene Brown, take a look at this Tedtalk about vulnerability that she did a few years back. SO good! 

Happy Summer, all!! At some point, I'll also post about how this semester went. God was at work, for sure, and I'm glad I got to be a part of it.