Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered by Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff,304 pages

Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered is a memoir by the creators and hosts of the podcast My Favorite Murder. I recently became addicted to the podcast so I knew I had to read their book. Georgia and Karen are really interesting, hilarious people and the book was a great mixture of being both hilarious but also extremely deep. I don't think that you'd enjoy this book if you weren't a fan of the podcast, so I definitely recommend reading it if you are!

This Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy Philipps, 321 pages

I know Busy Philipps from her talk show that was previously airing on E!, although it's since been cancelled. I really fell in love with her honest, witty and too the point attitude. Busy was recently very outspoken in regards to some things that I felt strongly about, which made me admire her more. I picked up her book and honestly, it's the best book I've read so far this year. This Will Only Hurt a Little was heartbreaking, hilarious and honest. I feel that Busy is a celebrity that you can relate with even just on paper. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good memoir.

Parkland by Dave Cullen, 400 pages

I knew I had to read this as soon as I saw it. I've been reading a lot about the kids in Parkland and the movement that they started, and am really inspired by their activism and passion for change. I previously read Cullen's other book, Columbine, and was equally horrified and hopeful that nothing like that would ever happen again. (Unfortunately, I was wrong.) Parkland is a great representation of what the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas went through that day, but also the change and hope that those events inspired.

I'll Be There for You: The One About Friends by Kelsey Miller. 305 pages

Friends is one of my favorite television shows of all-time, so I had to read this one as soon as it came out. This book dives into the phenomenon that was Friends, and also gives a neat behind-the-scenes look at the show, including details of the casting process. It also points out the trends that the show inspired, and some of the most hilarious, iconic scenes from the series. I enjoyed this read and recommend it for any Friends lover!

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes, 337 pages

One of my reading goals this year is to read more non-fiction. This was an easy, fast-paced read that I really enjoyed. Shonda Rhimes is the creator of one of my favorite shows, Grey's Anatomy. Her witty, sassy attitude is hilarious and charming. I found myself laughing out loud multiple times while reading this. I wish that she would have talked more about the shows she's created, but I still loved this book.

We Say #NeverAgain by Melissa Falkowski, Eric Garner, and the Parkland Student Journalists

This was an interesting look at the tragedy that hit Florida in February 2018. This book was written by the journalists at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and really talks about the Never Again movement that started after what happened. I appreciated that it didn't focus solely on the shooting itself, and is more about what the students have done to ensure that this never happens again.

Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry, 689 Pages

I've always loved true crime, but never really got into it in book form. I decided to start reading Helter Skelter because I've always wanted to, and October seemed like a good time to finally do it. Bugliosi's telling of the Manson crimes was horrific. I found myself triple-checking locks and windows before I went to bed each night. The horror genre is one of my favorite's to read, and a book like Helter Skelter takes horror to a new level due to the fact that it is unfortunately real. In my opinion, Charles Manson is the ultimate boogeyman.

Whiskey In A Teacup by Reese Witherspoon, 304 pages

I was really excited for this book to come out, and chose to listen to the audio version because it's read by Witherspoon and she is one of my favorite actors. I unfortunately was a little let down by this book! I still enjoyed it, but I wanted more. I would have preferred to hear Reese speak about the roles she's played and stuff like that, instead of mostly recipes. But, I still would recommend this book to others. It was a refreshing change from my usual read!

The Uninvited: The True Story of the Union Screaming House by Steven LaChance, 264 pages

Confession time: I'm OBSESSED with anything paranormal related. I have been since I was a kid, and it seems to get worse around Halloween time. I picked up this book because it sounded nice and spooky. It was definitely scary in some parts, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that this supposed haunting takes place in Union, Missouri! I would recommend this quick and spooky read for anyone interested in the paranormal, or just wanting a good scare!

Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis, 240 Pages

Let me start off with this- I despise the idea of “Think happy thoughts and you’ll be happy.” Like, literally despise. The thought of it makes me cringe. I come from a background of mental illness, and specifically struggle with social anxiety myself. I know that I can’t just think happy thoughts and then everything will be butterflies and rainbows. Hollis definitely hits on that mindset, but in a way that makes sense. She makes sure to point out that mental illness is real. So, she earned points with me for that one. While yes, she’s privileged. She lives a nice life with her seemingly cookie-cutter family, she also has worked her you-know-what off to achieve all of her goals. She is self-made, and she is real. This book actually did give me a wake up call. I can’t count how many times I’ve told myself that I’m a bad mom. (I just did last night, actually.) I’ve considered myself too fat, not pretty enough, not successful enough, etc. But when I think about it, as Rachel recommends, none of these things have been said to me by other people. I’m the only one that is spewing this nastiness. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely recommend it.

#NeverAgain: A New Generation Draws the Line by David and Lauren Hogg, 165 Pages

I saw this in a magazine of upcoming releases and knew that it would be a difficult one to read, but decided to attempt it. #NeverAgain is written by David and Lauren Hogg, siblings who survived the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The writing isn't fantastic, but I think that is to be expected when it was written by two teenagers who are dealing with unimaginable amounts of grief. The book hits on the tragedy that unfolded MSD, and also talks about the #NeverAgain movement that began after. I found it interesting to read it from their point of view, because it showed that not everything you see in the media is true.

Bachelor Nation by Amy Kaufman, 320 Pages

While I found some of the information in this book interesting, I honestly found a lot of it appalling. I understand that the contestants sign up for the show, and "know what they're in for", I don't believe that they sign up with the intention of being publicly humiliated and manipulated by the producers and overall production company. Many interviews from past and current employees of both The Bachelor and Bachelorette franchise painted the production company in such a horrible light, and openly talked horribly about the "cast". Most of the book discusses how producers often manipulate cast members into drinking and then corner them for a one-on-one "in the moment" interview to get what they need for ratings. Like I said, I know that these are consenting adults, and maybe I'm naive for watching the show and thinking the behind-the-scenes wasn't that bad. I'm not a huge fan of The Bachelor or Bachelorette, and I'm especially not now. 

I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara, 352 Pages

I. Loved. This. Book. I will loudly and proudly admit that I am not fond of non-fiction. I love a good, juicy biography, but overall, I struggle with the genre. This book had so much buzz around it, and I read about it in a Library Journal at work, so I thought I would give it a try. This book sucked me in from page one and was one of those "Do Not Read After Dark" kind of books. Michelle McNamara was an extremely talented and intelligent woman, who devoted most of her life trying to figure out the details of these horrific crimes. I'm extremely saddened that she passed away before she was able to complete the book and see the impact it had on the investigation. I've been recommending this one to everyone I know, and will continue to do so for the unforeseeable future.

Kepler’s Witch: An Astronomer's Discovery of Cosmic Order Amid Religious War, Political Intrigue, and the Heresy Trial of His Mother by James A. Connor, 402 pages

  I read this book immediately after reading Galileo’s Daughter to round out my understanding of the times and world re-centering observations of two mathematicians whose work inspired each other during the early 17^th Century.

  Johannes Kepler was a devout German Lutheran whose free-thinking, stubborn and conceited ways got him ex-communicated from the Lutheran church but respected (albeit with little pay and exiled from the country by the Catholic church) as a court expert. As the title alludes to, his intelligent hard-headedness likely came from his mother who was tried as a witch in spite of opportunities to apologize and potentially remove herself from harm. His mother, in spite of the book title, is a fairly minor character in this account.

  The biography was written well and kept my interest as the pages of Kepler’s life unfolded. I would have liked a little more straight chronology rather than the time-jumping and doubling back done by the narration, but perhaps the repetition required by the non-linear narration made me notice and better remember some of the more important aspects of Kepler’s influence on our understanding of cosmic order today.

  I’m glad I took the time to read and learn.

Galileo’s Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love by Dava Sobel--420 pages

  I thought that, perhaps, reading a historical fiction account of Galileo’s daughter might be a not-too-dull way to trick myself into learning about a world-view-changing 17^th Century scientist.

  I’m smarter now than I when I made the commitment to open to the first page if only because I know how wrong my initial impressions and lack of enthusiasm about this book were. First of all, Galileo considered himself to be a mathematician. Secondly, this book is non-fiction. Thirdly, the title is a ruse; the book is totally a biography of Galileo in which his daughter is but a character.
  Galileo lived in Italy, and I really like Italy and peeking into the religious/political landscape of different time periods. And best of all, I read through the book quickly, with excitement, frustration, anger, and fear based on what my now favorite mathematician was going through . Before reading this book, I had no idea how much Galileo Galilei happened upon, observed, and understood in ways no one else ever had. And I had no idea how difficult it was for him to make sure that the truth he saw didn’t die with him.

  My husband will not have to read this book because I couldn’t keep it to myself. Without his even asking, I gave him thorough and energetic reports of pretty much every chapter. Lucky man!

Chasing Light: Michelle Obama Through the Lens of a White House Photographer by Amanda Lucidon, 222 pages

"Chasing Light" is a collection of photographs taken by Amanda Lucidon while she was the White House photographer assigned to Mrs. Obama.

It is a wonderful glimpse into the public life of an American First Lady.  It not only contains lots of photographs, but also some behind-the-scenes stories from Ms. Lucidon.

Aah, those were the days!

Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels by Kenneth E. Bailey, 443 pages

  I zipped through this book of essays with much interest.

  Fascinating . . . with solid footnotes, bibliography, and indexing. Definitely worth the read for those who lead others through the Bible, who are interested in history and grammar of language, who wish to learn more about Judean culture during Jesus’ time, and who might be looking for a Lenten read or post-Easter study.

  The book consists of 12 essays, focusing on particular New Testament passages. Bailey clearly understands how the Western church, stemming from Greek and Latin languages has understood the passages. He shares perspectives from Middle Eastern Christian writings and translations closely related to Jesus’ own language and culture; the information will likely be new for most people raised in Western branches of Christianity. Bailey says the goal of this book is to “add new perspectives to our understanding of the text, rather than to rearrange old ones.”

  The author received his Ph.D. from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO, but was raised in Egypt. He has taught the New Testament in institutes and seminaries in several countries for 40 years. He is a Middle Eastern Christian, knows the cultures, speaks the languages, and is able to read early Syriac and Aramaic Christian literature about the Gospels.

Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail by Malika Oufkir and Michele Fitoussi, 293 pages

  The stuff of great fiction here: princesses, kings, harems, palace intrigue, treason, murder, wrongful imprisonment, struggle beyond understandable human endurance, strong relationships, escape, capture, resolution, and hope. Elements of a great story (and a compelling book), however, aren’t necessarily experiences I would wish on actual people, and certainly not in relation to this particular story. This is an autobiography.

  Through these pages, with the assistance of journalist Michele Fitoussi, almost 50-year-old Malika Oufkir (former Moroccan princess) tells about her life.

  I’m glad that Malika got to tell her family’s story to the world and that I read it. My heart hurts for humanity that the experiences in the book actually happened.

Alcoholics Anonymous by Alcoholics Anonymous, 575 pages

  I read the fourth and latest edition of the Big Book.

  If you struggle with any substance abuse or addiction or care about someone who does, this is a valuable read. It could be considered "Self Help" inasmuch as reading it could help you take a step away from life-destroying addiction and toward a 12-step group.

  This blue book is a primary piece of literature for Alcoholics Anonymous, aimed to be a tool to help those in recovery and those seeking sobriety guide each other through meetings and personal contact. The first section of the book describes how the program came about and how it is designed to work, along with notes to family members and employers of alcoholics. The majority of the book consists of personal stories written by individuals in recovery, each one sharing his/her own struggle and path to sobriety. The appendices are also much-used tools.

  The book retains the Foreword from each of the previous editions that, when viewed back to back, are awe inspiring. In 1939, the Foreword identifies Alcoholics Anonymous as “nearly one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body.” In 1955, the group had “mushroomed into nearly 6,000 groups whose membership is far above 150,000 recovered alcoholics” in the all 48 states, Alaska, Hawaii, all the Canadian provinces, plus communities in six other countries. The 1976 edition conservatively estimated more than one million recovered alcoholics among their ranks belonging to 28,000 groups in more than 90 countries. The 2001 edition celebrates more than two million recovered alcoholics finding sober lives through Alcoholics Anonymous via more than 100,800 groups in approximately 150 countries. Impressive life changes across the globe stem from this book!

An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods and Ministry Formation by David A. DeSilva, 975 pages

  Yes, I read reference and text books when I can make it happen. Do you? If so, you'll probably be happy as I am to explore the library reference shelves.

  This text was written as a resource for Christian pastoral preparation and was used heavily in a seminary class I took. It took me five years or so, but I finally finished reading it in full, hand in hand with simultaneously rereading each book of the New Testament as needed to best understand the content. 

  As with other similar handbooks, this resource examines each New Testament book separately. DeSilva uses the socio-rhetorical interpretation model of exegesis aiming to explore how the words and texts spoke within and to their original contexts. Four chapters precede the examination of each New Testament writing: the New Testament as Pastoral Response; The Environment of Early Christianity-Essential Landmarks; The Cultural and Social World of the Early Church-Purity, Honor, Patronage, and Kinship; and The Four Gospels and the One Jesus-Critical Issues in the Study of the Gospels. Each chapter focusing on a book of the New Testament ends with a section relating the New Testament book to ministry formation. Photos, maps, footnotes, and four indices all add value to this learning resource.

  This textbook has already been and will likely continue to be one solid resource from which I draw as I continue to learn, teach, and serve in various aspects of ministry.