In 2023, I set a goal to finish one book per week. I’m aiming to listen to 30 minutes of an audiobook per day (while cooking, cleaning, and/or driving) and read 10 minutes of a book. By doing this, I hope to fairly easily be able to finish one book per week.
You can follow along on GoodReads to see what I’m reading, what books I finish, and the star rating I give each of them.
Here are the three books I finished recently:
The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip
This book was slow moving in some regards but there was honestly beauty in the slowness. I fell in love with Mrs. Kip and learned so much from her — and I actually got emotional near the end because of all that I had gleaned from her fictional life.
(I feel like the mark of a great fiction read is if it stays with you, it opens your eyes or teaches you something, you don’t want it to end, and/or you feel so connected to the characters and the writing that it makes you cry.)
If you are looking for a clean fiction read that is unique and will likely touch your heart, I’d recommend this one. I will say that there were parts where I felt like the writing could have used some tightening up as it seemed a little choppy, but because of how the book moved me, I’m giving it 4 stars.
Verdict: 4 stars
Stop Calling Me Beautiful
I really appreciated Phylicia Masonheimer’s book, Every Woman a Theologian, so when I discovered this was a book she’d written sort of as a foundation for that book, I knew I wanted to read it. I found so many encouraging sections in it and was so challenged throughout it.
Phylicia has a way of sharing deep truths in an easy-to-comprehend way and this book was no exception. I loved how she confronted the often weak and surface-y culture of women’s ministry head-on and inspires us to dig deep into God’s Word and truly develop our understanding of and love for the things of God.
I didn’t agree with all of everything in the book (but do I ever? :)) and felt like there were some sections that could have been clarified or expounded on a little more, but overall, I thought it was a very valuable and worthwhile read and would definitely recommend it.
Verdict: 4 stars
Hope Anyway
I had high hopes for this book… and sadly, it didn’t live up to my expectations. I really appreciated Leeana’s book, Begin Again, but this one just fell flat for me.
(Truth: It’s been a long time since I read Begin Again — I think I read it back in 2018 or so when it came out? I don’t remember much about it except that the writing moved me at a deep level and gave me some clarity for some things in my own life. Maybe since I’ve changed so much since 2018, if I read it again I would think differently? I have no idea!)
She wrote Hope Anyway out of a place of deep grief and loss (losing her marriage and all of the loss and pain that comes from that) and I felt like maybe it was either written prematurely or she’s just moved quite a distance from where she used to stand theologically (or maybe that just didn’t come out in her other book?) because I felt really bothered by some of the ways she referred to God and herself and how she was processing through things. A lot of it I would disagree with and felt like there wasn’t Biblical backing for and it was more based in something that she’d picked up from therapy that wasn’t rooted and grounded in a Biblical foundation.
That said, I did glean a few nuggets that I really appreciated and some of the writing was really beautiful. But if you’re looking for a book on holding onto hope in the midst of the hard, this wouldn’t be one that I would readily recommend.
Verdict: 2 stars
lorie says
where is your list of books you read in 2023 and books you will read in 2024. I love seeing your lists. but I can’t find these years when I search
Crystal Paine says
I’m now sharing my book reviews and books I’m reading in my weekly personal email newsletter and on Instagram and the podcast. You can read more about this change here: https://moneysavingmom.com/my-22-goals-for-2024-my-word-for-the-year/ I’d love to have you join my email newsletter — I share a lot of newsy things there that you won’t read elsewhere!
Laura says
The link to follow you on Goodreads did not work☹️
Jordan says
That’s strange I just checked and it seems to be working for me. Try clicking here and see if that helps! -Jordan, MSM Team
Shauna says
What did you not agree with in Stop Calling Me Beautiful? I’m working on that one right now.
Crystal Paine says
Like I mentioned in the post, there were just small things here and there that I felt like could have been clarified more and I didn’t expressly agree with how it was communicated or would have liked for it to be fleshed out more. Nothing super major or I wouldn’t have given it a 4-star rating. 🙂
Sarah says
I’m going to check out The Extraordinary Deaths book at the library today. Thanks for the recommendation! I gave up on a WWII novel that bounced between characters and time periods entirely too much to be clear. Also starting a second WWII novel, Chateau of Secrets, and going to slowly work through some Christy Award winners.
Crystal Paine says
Have you read We Were the Lucky Ones? That was one of my very favorite books.
Sarah Brown says
I’m not sure if I have. I know I’ve heard of it. I love WWII fiction so much that I’ve started to lose track! But I’ll check it out and see if it’s familiar. If I Were You by Lynn Austin is one of my absolute favorites as well.
Julia Morris says
I read The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer. It’s set in Poland during WW II. It was a good book!
I picked up The Women of the Castle by Jessica A. Shattuck recently, but I haven’t started it yet. I like WW II fiction too!
If you want to read a good non-fiction book about WW II, read Operation Mincemeat (there’s also a movie). It was really interesting!
Crystal Paine says
I loved The Things We Cannot Say!
K says
Have you read “Unbroken” (Laura Hillenbrand)? It is very well-written and well-researched–a great read in general but especially if you enjoy WWII works.
Crystal Paine says
Yes! I listened to it a few years ago and watched the movie!
Sara- The Christian Bookworm says
I also thought the Mrs. Lip book was so well-done!
A truly fascinating Christian nonfiction I’m currently enjoying is The Red-Haired Archaeologist Digs Israel. For fiction I’m enjoying The Words Between Us by Erin Barrels, meaty Christian fiction but my warning is that it isn’t squeaky clean.
Crystal Paine says
Thank you for those recommendations!!