Quick Lit: Mini Reviews of Some Recent Reads – January Edition

I’m trying to read more books that I choose for my own reading enjoyment. Not for review, but because I’ve been wanting to read them or they caught my attention. Most of them have been talked about ad nauseam or have been on my to-read list for a long time so they don’t really need a full review. But, I’d still like to give them some space here on the blog.

I’ll be linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy and her monthly Quick Lit link up. Be sure to head over to see others link up their Quick Lit posts.

I’m finally back into a reading groove and I’ve got SO MANY books that I can’t wait to dig into. I’ve got some full reviews coming up soon and below, I’m sharing some mini-reviews from books I read in the last month.

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR HOME WITHOUT LOSING YOUR MIND

Dealing with Your House’s Dirty Little Secrets

By: Dana K. White

Published: November 8, 2016

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Format: eBook

I’ve been a fan of Dana’s blog and podcast for a while. Her blog A SLOB COMES CLEAN is funny yet she tells it like it is. She doesn’t have the perfect house or the perfect life. Nor does she make everything look like the perfect Pinterest or Instagram picture. She is just like you and me, trying to stay ahead of the mess and maybe, be able to have people over without hiding all the mess in a closet at the last minute.

Her book talks you through the basic steps of handling the daily care and upkeep of your home, starting with doing the dishes…every day. Waking up with no dishes on the counter or a dishwasher of clean dishes makes a huge difference. Her book is hilarious yet spot on. “Methods don’t clean your house. You have to clean your house.” She also tackles the clutter and helps you get rid of all the stuff that makes cleaning your home harder. The end of the book offers a 28 Day step-by-step process for tackling your mess.

It’s practical, it’s funny, and it’s straightforward. A good read and motivator for getting stuff done.

HELLO MORNINGS

How to Build a Grace-Filled Life, Life-Giving Morning Routine

By: Kat Lee

Published: December 5, 2017

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Format: Audiobook

I remember several years ago, finding Kat Lee’s blog and following her simple action plan for handling a morning routine. My life was much different then. I was a stay-at-home mom and had young children. Then I saw this book recommended by Sheila at The Deliberate Reader and it piqued my interest. I didn’t realize the author was the same person until I went to her website.

Lee approaches her morning with a three-minute process of God – Plan – Move. Obviously, this approach will eventually take more than 3 minutes, but it starts with building a habit of these three things, every morning.

Lee reads her own audiobook and I found her voice calming and reassuring during my morning listens. I wish I had a physical copy of the book but her website has several printables and tips that are from the book. I haven’t necessarily put her whole plan into place, but I have started every morning with a glass of water since I listened to her book. It’s a good read if you are looking to create a new structure or routine for your morning.

THE DEAL OF A LIFETIME

By: Fredrik Backman

Published: October 31, 2017

Publisher: Atria Books

Format: Hardcover

A quick read (under an hour) to remind you that every life is a gift. Backman wrote this in one evening while reflecting on his own life and family. Since it is set on Christmas Eve, it felt like a great choice to read during the Christmas season. 

It’s a novella and is read quite quickly, but it packs a powerful punch to the gut. A young girl is suffering on a hospital floor from cancer. A man has survived a car crash. Can one life be exchanged for another? The woman in the grey sweater with the file folder says no….or can it? Is one life more valuable than another? Can you redeem your life choices by saving another?

It was a thought-provoking read, but I wouldn’t recommend purchasing the hardcover version unless you are adding it to your Backman collection. It wasn’t worth the $12 or maybe not the $4.99 Kindle either. I think it is more a $1.99 Kindle Deal.

GATHER ‘ROUND THE SOUND

By: Paulo Coelho

Published: December 8, 2017

Publisher: Audible Studios

Format: Audiobook

This was a free download from Audible. I like choosing books to read around the Christmas season that involve a Christmas story. Unfortunately, the only enjoyable story from this collection was Zip Code 12345. It was the type of story I was hoping to hear during the Christmas season. This story involved a group of employees at GE that give of themselves to make sure they bring the spirit of Christmas to children all over the world. The rest of the stories, I lost interest pretty quickly.

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