I didn’t meet my reading goal of eight books last month. I finished six books. This month I must read more. August had many distractions. It was a hard month for me, for several reasons.
Word of the Month
Adjust
Bible Verses of the Month
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?” – (Psalm 27:1)
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.
∅ – Stalled – I started but didn’t finish.
Here’s what I want to read during September
✓ Classic: The Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad
I’ve already started reading this. Very well-written, but ominous. Finished September 1 – Fantastic writing style. Here’s my review. Five stars.
☆ Classic Play: Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare
This, to complete my “Around the World in ??? Days” challenge – something I undertook earlier in the year with the proviso that I had no intention of doing it in only 80 days.
☆ Classic: Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
Okay. I’ll try again.
From Last Month
★ Classic Fiction: Vanity Fair, by William Makepeace Thackeray
I’m reading this now. It is very long. It is EXCESSIVELY long. The characters are not likable. Groan. Update 8/7/23: I have both an audiobook and Kindle version. The audiobook is very long – 31 hours. I’ve listened to almost 10 hours, and wow, I just need a break, to read or listen to something else for a while. None of the characters are likable – even the author knew that – he called this “a novel without a hero.” Right. Also this was originally published as a magazine serial around 1850-ish, and the chapters are bloated! Just my opinion. I do want to finish the novel, but not right now. Update 9/1/23: I hope to listen to at least another 1/3 of this lengthy audiobook this month.
★ Christian Historical Romance: The Heart of the Mountains, by Pepper Basham
I love audio-reading Christian fiction, but this is a Kindle copy. That slows me. I’ve noticed most of my reading this year is with audiobooks. I must be getting old.
★ Christian Nonfiction: The Healing Light, by Agnes Sanford
I’m making good progress on reading this and expect to finish soon.
★ Christian Nonfiction: The Art of Storytelling: Easy Steps to Presenting an Unforgettable Story, by John Walsh
This is a nice book that teaches Christians to be better storytellers. I expect to finish reading it this month.
Historathon 2023
☆ Memoir: The Journal of George Fox, by George Fox
This is for Historathon 2023 Q3, but is special because one of my ancestors is briefly mentioned in it. George Fox was the founder of Quakerism, and my ancestor, Captain William Smith, was one of the original Quakers in England.
★ History: 1776, by David McCullough
I’m reading this now for Historathon 2023 Q3. Currently in chapter three. Making progress.
Hornblower Readalong Continues
✓ Cult-Classic Fiction: Commodore Hornblower, by C.S. Forester
My next book for the Hornblower Readathon. Finished September 13, thank God. I’m not loving the Hornblower novels. Enough already. But there are 2 more in the series. I will continue. Here’s my review. Three stars.
Mary Stewart Readalong Continues
✓ Fantasy: The Last Enchantment, by Mary Stewart
Still reading this. This is the third novel in The Arthurian Saga. The main character is Merlyn. I have an audiobook version. As of the beginning of September I’m about halfway through this novel. Maybe more. Finished September 17 – Not a fantasy fan, and so glad I’m done with this book. Here’s my review. Four stars.
★ Juvenile Fantasy: The Little Broomstick, by Mary Stewart
Another Mary Stewart book I could have lived my whole life without. This is one of her children’s books with witchy-fantasy themes. Not my thing. I’m reading it in an attempt to trace the entire literary career development of a talented novelist. There are three of these juvie-novels and this is the first.
Impulse Reads
✓ Christian Nonfiction: Winning Your Spiritual Battles, by Tony Evans
Received from Christian Book .Com and had to read it right away because of a recent battle. Finished September 5 – Short but helpful. Here’s my review. Five stars.
✓ Christian Historical Fiction: Freedom’s Light, by Colleen Coble
This is my first time to read a book by Colleen Coble, who I’ve heard is a good author for Christian fiction. Finished September 24 – good enough for Christian fiction. I appreciated that it is a Revolutionary War story when I’m reading a good nonfiction book about the same war at the same time. Here’s my review. Four stars, because I’m beginning to tire of Christian fiction, just a little, and I thought the Lydia character was an unrealistic stereotype.
★ Christian Nonfiction: When to Walk Away, by Gary Thomaso
Some people are just too toxic to maintain a relationship with and Christians need to be aware so as not to allow them to waste their time and emotional energies. Sometimes it is best to walk away. That’s what Jesus did.
My September 2023 Reading Diary
September 1 – Honestly, August was exhausting. There was so much going on. So much emotional upheaval. So much physical upheaval. It was just crazy. I am hoping for a more peaceful September. PLEASE, Lord! Let me get a grip on my new reality! And the beat goes on.
I finished reading The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. Here’s my review. Five stars.
September 5 – I’m 2 books behind schedule still. Just finished Winning Your Spiritual Battles by Tony Evans. Here’s my review. Five stars.
September 9 – Still reading, but I haven’t finished anything in the last few days. I’m listening to Commodore in the Hornblower series… that’s my main audiobook right now. Also am both reading and listening to 1776 by David McCullough. One page at a time. There’s a lot going on in my life right now with my house being built and I’m also cleaning up after my daughter and her family. They moved off my property and left me with a lot of trash to remove. Still working on that. I will have a nice yard and it will be soon.
September 13 – lots of stress this month is sucking the joy out of my reading. Finished Commodore Hornblower – Here’s my review. Three stars.
September 17 – So glad I’m done reading The Last Enchantment. I’ve been dragged kicking and screaming into this Merlyn/King Arthur series by Mary Stewart. I wanted to read her romantic suspense books, not the Arthurian Saga, but… here we are. Here’s my review. Four stars.
September 24 – I continue to be majorly distracted because my home is being built. I’m four or five books behind on my Goodreads annual goal. I just finished a Christian fiction novel, Freedom’s Light. Here’s my review. Four stars.
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