There are not enough hours in the day to read all the books on my bookshelf.   Now that the kids and I have a long commute, we listen to audiobooks but those tend to be geared toward the youngest in the van.  I crave “mind candy” books — the ones that I could read for hours without moving, talking, or even thinking about getting up.  During the snow days (yay!) I had time to catch up and read the books I should have read long ago.  This post contains affiliate links; opinions shared are mine.

The first book I savored while the snow fell was Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver.   This was a winning from a book giveaway on another blog, and it’s been whispering to me since it arrived.

Lauren Oliver has this uncanny way of thinking like her character — the words and personality just seem so genuine.  I lost myself as Nick, then somehow became Dara, all from reading those pages.  Now, I’ve admitted that sometimes I skip to the end of the book.  Thankfully, I’ve heard that this one has a huge WHOA moment, and I refrained from peeking this time.  Such a good call — sneaking a peek would have ruined the book, but also would have marred my reading experience with confusion.  Vanishing Girls is the kind of book that sends shivers up your spine after you finish it, not during it.   Why did I wait so long?

I received the book (affiliate link) Dancing Through Life through Lifeway bloggers. The cover caught my eye when I saw it a few months ago.  If you’re my age, you probably remember watching author Candace Cameron Bure as the adorable DJ on Full House.  Otherwise known as Kirk Cameron’s little sister, remember?  She’s now an amazing wife, mother, accomplished actress, and famous dancer with DWTS under her belt!  As I read about her supportive faith-filled family, it made me realize what a struggle it must be to live a celebrity lifestyle when one’s morals are so different from the general Hollywood population.  From the costumes to the conversations, Candace explains how her convictions led her.  She also had a little bit of fandom going on, as she mentions waving at JLo.   Like other moms, she struggled with mommy guilt as she performed away from home, and she depended on her husband for support.  Now, you  might think that her life is so different from yours that you just don’t have anything to gain by reading this memoir.  On the other hand, consider her mom emotions. Have you ever felt exhausted while trying to multi-task life with motherhood?  Do you feel stretched when you try to step out of your comfort zone?  Have you ever been so passionate about something that you’re willing to give it 100%?  I think Candace’s book is a great reminder of girl power.  It was a big encouragement to my heart, and I am glad I finally took the time to enjoy this book.

I have a hard time reading books in which the strong family is divided. I guess it reflects the worry I have for my own family’s safety.  Like Vanishing Girls, the book Waiting for Morning describes the horrific tragedy in the aftermath of a drunk driving accident. The book was sent to me a few weeks ago, but it took a snow day to give me the chance to read it.  Waiting for Morning was different from the other Karen Kingsbury books that I’ve read; the flow of the story reminded me of a Kristin Hannah book.  Kingsbury wasn’t afraid to take her readers deep into the darkest parts of her main character’s mind.  It was sometimes scary in that place, especially when revenge was lit up in bright red letters.  I had a hard time dealing with the fact that the main character, Hannah Ryan, seemed so indifferent to her daughter’s emotions.  Rather than offering comfort or solace, Hannah was so consumed with her own grief that she repeatedly chose to neglect her daughter, thinking she would have time with her later.  This whole scenario made me dislike Hannah, which was sad.  I think I would have liked her in another book setting.  In this case, though, she just came off as bitter and selfish.  Don’t get me wrong — what she endured as a wife and mother was unthinkable, unspeakable.  Still, I ended up feeling the most sympathy for her daughter Jenny, who had more to overcome both physically and emotionally.  As a teenager, she didn’t have the toolbox to deal with this crisis, and I expected more from Hannah in that regard. Finally, it made me miss my church family from our old community.  They supported and encouraged one another in a powerful way.  We’re currently visiting a new church (in our new town), and Waiting for Morning has given me the push I need to get involved with those who need help as they face death or illness in their households.    The result of all this drama made the book seem more contemporary in nature, instead of a Christian fiction novel.  Perhaps the better word is realistic? I’m not sure, but it wasn’t all I’d hoped for.

What books have you waited to read?