Welcome to my weekly Book-ish post where I share what I’ve been reading and watching recently. If you missed it, you can see my Reading Goals for 2018 and 44 Books I Plan to Read This Year.
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So last week, I told you that I set a crazy goal for myself to read 3 books per week every week for the rest of the year. Some of you thought I was completely crazy and some of you graciously suggested that I lower my goal. Others of you told me I totally could do this.
I realized that I should tell you that as an INTJ and Enneagram 8, I’ve discovered that this type of goal can really motivate me in a powerful and good way, instead of in a stressful way. So far, it seems like this goal is going to be a good thing.
Even though I had a really full week, I found myself turning on an audiobook multiple times per day and I realized I was picking up a book at night instead of picking up my phone to check Instagram — which was my big hope.
And it felt so good to be reading so much more again! As long as it keeps me motivated in a good way and it’s not causing stress for me, I plan to keep aiming for this 3 books a week goal.
I’m happy to report that I hit that goal this week! Here are the 3 books I read/listened to:
1. Relentless Spirit
This book is one I’ve wanted to read for quite some time as I’m always fascinated by Olympians and their resolve and discipline and upbringing. Unfortunately, this book was hard for me to get into.
I felt like it had a lot nuggets of truth and interesting stories, but it kind of jumped all over the place and I felt like it needed a lot more editing and tightening up. It felt repetitive and wordy in many sections and it was confusing since the timeline of stories was all out of order.
2. Dance, Stand, Run
I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed Wild & Free. I wanted more of a clarion call and to feel highly motivated and inspired when I finished it and I just didn’t. However, I felt like there were some thought-provoking chapters and things I’ll be mulling over for quite some time.
Have you read it? I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.
3. Shaken
I feel like I’m a broken record in my book post this week, but this book also was a disappointment. I felt like it had a lot of filler information, a lot of illustrations that have been shared too many times, and just wasn’t that insightful or interesting.
I ended up listening to it sped up through the Libby app.
(I just recently downloaded the Libby app and am loving it. It’s like a modern version of Overdrive. It’s free and you can “check out” audiobooks and ebooks from your library through it. They have a pretty wide selection and I think I won’t run out of audiobooks to listen to for a very long time. Here are 8 ways to get audiobooks for free.)
When I Find Time to Read
People are always asking me how I find time to read. Honestly, it’s because I love to read, because I’ve chosen to prioritize it, because I don’t have a lot of other hobbies, and because I can’t not read. Also, when you love something, you usually can find ways to get creative to find time to fit it in — even if it’s in the little nooks and crannies of life.
I wrote a post on 3 ways to find more time to read — even when life is busy. And here are 7 more ways to find time to read.
I loved reading the mystery “Maisie Dobbs” . It’s set in Post WWI England. So good!
Crystal, I love reading your blog, especially your bits about the family. My son was assigned a book last Christmas to read for social studies and I bet you and the girls (even your son) would love it. It’s called, “I will always write back”. It’s a true story about a girl from PA who becomes pen pals with a boy from Zimbabwe. Very cute. My son, not a reader, loved it and I did too! He even said after finishing it that he wished there was a second book about their lives. Get it, read it, you will not be disappointed!
Thanks so much for the suggestion!
Good to hear you like Libby. I need to download it. I use the Kindle app more, but I look forward to giving it a chance now…
And I agree about the Tim Tebow book :(. I actually want to talk Nick Foles’s book for my next sports one.
Like the OP, I love Karen Kingsbury’s work.
Last week I read Jody Picoult’s Small Great Things. I really, really enjoyed it. There was humor that was carried forth in several places that was a nice touch. It dealt with race, a sensitive topic in today’s society, and it really made me THINK.
Note: there is a tiny bit of language and sexual reference that some may not like.
Thanks so much for the suggestion!
Thanks for sharing! I always find your book reviews so helpful to me when selecting which books to read 🙂 Thanks for your tips on finding free audiobooks too!
I love Libby! My family listened to Murder on the Orient Express while traveling and we loved it! Dan Stevens of Downton Abbey narrated it and did a fantastic job.
Thanks so much for that tip!
Just finished 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You. Definitely thought provoking!!
I completely agree with you about Shaken. It had some good parts but I feel like he should have waited a few more years before publishing an autobiography.
I love to read and have been enjoying mostly fiction. Trying to finish Max Lucados Anxiety for Nothing while reading a lot of Karen Kingsbury and Ellie Alexander books!
Thanks for sharing!
Is there an advantage to Libby over Overdrive? Currently use overdrive and our library just started offering Libby, too.
It’s just a more user-friendly/updated app. Overdrive was a little antiquated and clunky since it’s been around for awhile. (And there may be perks to Libby that are better than Overdrive — I’m new to it, so if anyone knows, let us know!
Libby is still from the Overdrive company, they were just overhauling the app so much it made more sense to redo it from scratch. It is generally more intuitive, and you can connect cards from multiple libraries to your account. Otherwise, it’s just what you’re more comfortable using. For now, both apps are still supported.
Thanks for the info!