Reads for Spring

Spring in Alaska is an awkward season. Let’s call it the adolescence of weather. Muddy snow abounds, and as it starts to melt the trash that was hiding beneath it suddenly appears and everything is in a general state of brown. It is actually called Break-Up season up here, and no, that is not in reference to the dissolution of romantic relationships following winter’s end. Rather, it quite practically refers to the breaking up of ice upon the rivers in Fairbanks. (There’s actually a lottery in the nearby town of Nenana called the Nenana Ice Classic where people place bets on when the Tanana River will break. Read about it here – it’s fascinating).

In unrelated news, I think spring is always a good time to pick up a book. (Actually, I usually think anytime is a good time to pick up a book, but there’s something special about spring). There is nothing like pouring yourself a nice iced tea and sitting on the deck reading. These are all books I have enjoyed recently, and I hope in turn you will share with me some books you have loved as well.

Today is also National Independent Bookstore Day! This is my favorite bookstore of all time, Sundog Books in Seaside, Florida.

1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I absolutely adore this book and I love F. Scott Fitzgerald. For some reason I find this book fitting to read in spring. Maybe because it touches on themes of renewal and redemption. If you were forced to read it in high school, I encourage you to give it another go without the pressure of having to write a paper on it. I find reading it with fresh eyes teaches a lot.
2. The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown. I am totally riding the Brené Brown train right now and loving it. This book talks about embracing failure and difficulty and seeing it as a catalyst for change and growth. I loooooved it.
3. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. My book club picked this book for last month. That’s one of the beautiful things about book club – I have been introduced to books I would not read otherwise. It was so good! I could not put it down. It’s a pretty fast read, but also touches on some serious ideas and is the perfect balance of entertaining and thought-provoking.
4. The King’s Cross by Timothy Keller. This book is an essay-ized version of a sermon series Tim Keller preached through the book of Mark. It is fantastic. I highly recommend reading it along with reading the book of Mark. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the gospel and I learned a lot.
5. Hope Heals by Jay and Katherine Wolf. This is the true story of a couple who faced a difficult health challenge in their marriage. The wife, Katherine, suffered a serious stroke at age 26 and this book is the story of her recovery and their family’s growth and faith as a result. It was easy to read and really beautiful and convicting. It definitely brought tears to my eyes at certain points. Apparently this is in the works to become a movie soon as well.
6. A Prayer Journal by Flannery O’Connor. Short and simple, a look into the prayers of a phenomenal writer and a woman of deep faith. This was a quick read and very powerful.

Again, please share your favorite books with me! Have a lovely weekend.