My plan for May is to finish reading books I’ve started then set aside for various reasons. I have a shelf full of them. Since I’ve decided to “read what I own” in 2025 I think this will help me make progress. I pledged to read 100 books I already own before I buy anymore. So far this year I’ve read only 10. (Audiobooks are not counted in this challenge, so I can continue to buy and read as many of them as I want/need/desire.)
Word of the Month
Guidance
Bible Verse of the Month
The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” – (Psalm 32:8 NLT)
This month’s reading diary is at the bottom of this page, after the book list.
My Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/lindajm
★ – I’m reading it.
✓ – I finished reading it. Yay!
⇗ – Still reading at the end of the month.
⇓ – I did not like it or finish it. (DNF = Did Not Finish)
∅ – Stalled – I started but didn’t finish. (Soft-DNF)
Challenges
1. Finish Things I Started – I’m dedicating May to making progress in finishing things. For example I have a shelf full of books I soft-DNF’ed for various reasons months or years ago. I also have a few unfinished reading challenges to attend to. I have two unfinished paintings in my art studio, waiting for my attention. Etc.
2. Reading Books I Already Own – During 2025 I commit to reading books I’ve already bought, and not buying more… hopefully, for the most part. I’ve made a commitment to read 100 books I already own because there’s no sense in buying more when I’m not taking time to read the books I’ve already got. I made an exception for audiobooks. Also library or Libby books don’t count because I’m not buying them. Same for books from sites like Project Gutenberg. Progress: 10/100 This is not counting audiobooks or Kindle books of course. I “read” or “audio-read” a lot of audiobooks, but for this challenge I count only on-paper books I own. Am I reading them? If not, why buy more?
3. The Visual Theology Christian Reading Challenge – 30/73
4. The 2025 Biblical Studies Challenge – this challenge asks us to read one book monthly on a topic one would study if lucky enough to attend a Bible college. The May topic is Textural Criticism.
5. Middle Grade May – Another month for reading middle grade novels. I want to read the novels I didn’t read during Middle Grade March!
6. Becoming Vegan, Getting Fit, Losing Weight – I’m still transitioning to a vegan diet. Facts so far: I gave up ice cream and butter. I did not give up cheese or oil. I normally don’t eat meat anyway. This month I need to make exercise more of a habit. I just bought a walk pad and am getting a standup desk to go with it. A walk pad has no handles and I want something to hold onto. This setup is cheaper than buying an actual treadmill. I joined Walk-Fit (an app) and am advised to walk 16 minutes daily for right now. So far, it is not a habit.
Finished Reading This Month
✓ History: Brave Companions: Portraits in History, by David McCullough
This was my May 2025 book for the McCullough Readalong. I finished reading it on May 29. Great collection of articles about American history and people. Review
✓ Christian Nonfiction: Just Open the Door, by Jen Schmidt
This is my first choice for a soft-DNF book to finish. I have four more chapters to read. When I was reading it a few years back I was living in a travel trailer and wasn’t going to let people in… let’s say I wasn’t in a very hospitable mood. Okay, I let a few people in, but not many! And I was never very happy about it because the trailer was small. Anyhow, I’m now living in a house again and enjoy having a Christian women’s fellowship meeting here once a week. Great fun. I do like hospitality when I have a home I like well enough to want to share it for special occasions.
Update: Finished May 19. Review
✓ Classic Fiction: Agnes Grey, by Anne Brontë
This is the story of a young woman working as a governess. Review
✓ Christian Nonfiction: The Master Plan of Evangelism, by Dr. Robert E. Coleman
This short book tells how Jesus did evangelism, from selection of disciples, through to the end, and beyond. My review.
✓ Christian Biography: Katharine Barnwell: How One Woman Revolutionized Modern Missions, by Jordan Monson
This is the fascinating biography of a Christian missionary linguist who changed the way the Bible is translated into native languages. She is now known as the mother of modern Bible translation. Impressive! Here’s my review.
✓ True Crime: Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties, by Tom O’Neill
Too fascinating. I started the audiobook and then couldn’t stop listening. I was 17, about to start my senior year in high school, when the terrible Manson murders happened.
Update: I finished audio-reading this book on May 8. Shocking. Here’s my review.
✓ Christian Memoir: Tramp For the Lord, by Corrie Ten Boom
I started this in April.
Update: I finished reading the book on May 3. What a wonderful memoir! This is the sequel to The Hiding Place. In that memoir Corrie was living with her father and sister in the Netherlands. In this one she travels around the world as a missionary, writing books. Awesome life. Review
Reading Intentions
★ Christian Nonfiction: Myths & Mistakes in New Testament Textural Criticism, by Hixson & Gurry
This is my May book for the Biblical Reading Challenge.
★ Slave Narrative Memoir: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, by Harriet Jacobs
I didn’t read this in April, so maybe, during May?
★ Christian Amish Fiction: Her Brother’s Keeper, by Beth Wiseman
I started this in April.
★ Bible Study: Come & See: Bible Study on John, by The Daily Grace Company
I started this in April for the 2025 Biblical Studies Challenge.
☆ Christian Nonfiction: The Story of Christianity, by Justo L. Gonzalez
My sister bought this for me on my birthday, along with another book on Christian history. The month for history during my Biblical Studies Challenge will be November, but this is a big thick book and I have no hope for finishing it in November unless I start early.
This video is about the Biblical Studies Challenge I’ve embarked on during 2025.
Did Not Finish – aka: DNF
⇓ Juvenile Fiction: The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, by Dan Gemeinhart
I’ve decided not to read this book.
My May 2025 Reading Diary
May 1 – May flowers everywhere – that’s what I like! Today I planted tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, and marigolds in one of my new raised beds. I bought them at the store since I’m so late getting started this year.
May 3 – I just finished reading the memoir by Corrie Ten Boom today and am awestruck by her ability to write about her relationship with the Lord. Also I made bread today which turned out very good.
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