I’m getting this post up a little late, but such is life. We had a busy week and I didn’t spend much time with my computer. More on what we’ve been up to late, but today I want to share what I read in March! I joined one (online) book club at the beginning of the year, which I am LOVING and this month (April) a few friends in my neighborhood have started a book club as well, which I’m really excited about. Between those two clubs, my NetGalley books, my hard copy books to review, books I own but haven’t read, and books I just want to read, I am never without a choice of book, but it can also feel overwhelming, ha! But I love it.

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Synopsis: Rejecting the boundaries that divide Christianity’s many denominations, C.S. Lewis finds a common ground on which all those who have Christian faith can stand together, proving that “at the centre of each there is something, or a Someone, who against all divergences of belief, all differences of temperament, all memories of mutual persecution, speaks the same voice.”

I liked this book, but I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. C.S. Lewis’s writing is hard for me to read sometimes, and between that and the deep doctrine he talks about — it was just too much for me. It was still a good read though, and I’m glad I finally read it. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wanted to read it.

3 stars.

*Every Note Played by Lisa Genova

Synopsis: An accomplished concert pianist, Richard received standing ovations from audiences all over the world in awe of his rare combination of emotional resonance and flawless technique. Every finger of his hands was a finely calibrated instrument, dancing across the keys and striking each note with exacting precision. That was eight months ago. Richard now has ALS, and his entire right arm is paralyzed. His fingers are impotent, still, devoid of possibility. The loss of his hand feels like a death, a loss of true love, a divorce—his divorce. He knows his left arm will go next. Three years ago, Karina removed their framed wedding picture from the living room wall and hung a mirror there instead. But she still hasn’t moved on. Karina is paralyzed by excuses and fear, stuck in an unfulfilling life as a piano teacher, afraid to pursue the path she abandoned as a young woman, blaming Richard and their failed marriage for all of it. When Richard becomes increasingly paralyzed and is no longer able to live on his own, Karina becomes his reluctant caretaker. As Richard’s muscles, voice, and breath fade, both he and Karina try to reconcile their past before it’s too late.

I still haven’t read Still Alice, but when I saw this book was available I knew I needed to read it, even though I was worried when I saw a few comparisons to Me Before You (since I’m the only person in the world who hated that book). While I can see why people say that, since it does have a similar “theme” I guess, this book was SO MUCH BETTER. Characters that grew and matured as the book progressed, themes of redemption and forgiveness. Just a solid read all around.

4 stars.

**Lullaby Road by James Anderson

Synopsis: Winter has come to Highway 117, a remote road through the Utah desert trafficked only by oddballs, fugitives, and those looking to escape the world. So when local truck driver Ben Jones finds an abandoned, mute Hispanic child at a lonely gas station along his route, far from any semblance of proper civilization, he knows something has gone terribly awry. With the help of his eccentric neighbors, Ben sets out to help the kid and learn the truth. In the process he makes new friends and loses old ones, finds himself in mortal danger, and uncovers buried secrets far more painful than he could have imagined.

I don’t know what it is about James Anderson’s books that draw me in, but oh, they do. They’re just — real and raw and great writing. I really enjoyed this second book, and can’t wait to see if he writes more about Ben Jones. I didn’t love the ending though, because I just really like when things are tied up neatly instead of subtly implied, like a lot of it was.

4 stars.

*The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll

Synopsis: When five hyper-successful women agree to appear on a reality series set in New York City called Goal Diggers, the producers never expect the season will end in murder…

I always think I’m going to like Jessica Knoll’s books more than I actually do. Halfway into this book and I had no idea what was going on. The characters all seemed to be the same (like reading an episode of The Bachelor — am I reading about the brunette drunk or the blonde addicted to Xanax — they present as the same person….) and then those “twists” kept happening. Nothing and nobody was reliable. I didn’t hate it enough to stop reading, but most of the time I was annoyed I was still reading. The ending wasn’t necessarily shocking, because everyone was an idiot and I wouldn’t have been surprised to hear that any of the characters killed her. (This is more a 2.5 star book, but rounded up.)

3 stars.

Did Not Finish: *That Secret You Keep by Brenda Benny.

Currently Reading: Searching For Sunday by Rachel Held Evans and Anatomy of a Miracle by Jonathan Miles.

On My Shelf: Hurricane Season by Lauren K. Denton and The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton.

*I received free product from NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
*I received free product from Blogging For Books in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.