April 15, 2015

Quick Lit: April 2015

A Wrinkle In Time:

I had never read this book before reading it with my kids for our parent/child book club.  I must say that it was not at all what I was expecting.  I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting, but I felt like I didn’t love the book as much as I was planning to.  It’s a modern classic, after all.  My kids loved it and I enjoyed it because they did, but overall I was not all that impressed.  One of our favorite lines of any read aloud came from this book,

“If you have some liniment I’ll put it on my dignity,” Mrs Whatsit said, still supine. “I think it’s sprained…Have you ever tried to get to your feet with a sprained dignity?”

After we read this aloud, I found the graphic novel at our library.  My 10 year old loved it! She usually doesn’t share my affinity for graphic novels.

Halo Found Hope:

Hounded:

I heard this book described as a mixture of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, for adults.  It’s a pretty fitting description.  Atticus O’Sullivan, a 2100 year old Druid (who looks like he’s in his early twenties), is try to live a simple life and run an occult bookshop.  He becomes entangled in some messy business involving a magical sword, Celtic Gods, a Hindu witch,  a team of werewolf and vampire attorneys, a goddess and a coven of witches.  The book is witty and fun. It also includes a few steamy scenes and some language, if you were wondering. I listened to the audiobook version read by Luke Daniels who is an incredible narrator.  His voice for Atticus’s dog is reason alone to listen to this book.  
This is outside my normal reading niche, but I still found in enjoyable.  I’m not rushing out to get a hold of the other 8 books in the series, though.

Wave

I shared this on Instagram while I was reading Wave:

Love Idol:

This book resonated with me from beginning to end.  I appreciated the reminder that I am loved, just as I am by my Heavenly Father with no need to win his approval or acceptance. Jennifer Dukes Lee writes in a personal and personable manner and shares insights gained on her own journey to feel God’s love and acceptance and not dwell on pleasing others or comparing herself to the successes (and failures) of those around her.  It reminded me of this quote by Dieter F. Uchtdorf:

Do you suppose it matters to our Heavenly Father whether your makeup, clothes, hair, and nails are perfect? Do you think your value to Him changes based on how many followers you have on Instagram or Pinterest? Do you think He wants you to worry or get depressed if some un-friend or un-follow you on Facebook or Twitter? Do you think outward attractiveness, your dress size, or popularity make the slightest difference in your worth to the One who created the universe? 

He loves you not only for who you are this very day but also for the person of glory and light you have the potential and the desire to become.

This is a journey I have been on for my whole life, and one I hope to be able to leave behind me, at least to some extent.  Reading Love Idol was about 50 steps in the right direction.

This gripping memoir was dictated letter by letter by Jean-Dominique Bauby after he suffered a stroke which left his entire body paralyzed, except for his left eye.  He blinked this eye in order to communicate. He tells his story in a beautifully frank voice and inspired me with his spirit and perseverance.

The Woman in White

This tome has been on my to-read list for years.  I finally listened to it this month for one of my book clubs.  It’s a wonderful Victorian-era detective story and one of the very first novels told from the perspective of multiple narrators.    Characters were well-developed and though the book is long and includes much detail, all the moving parts and pieces made it very interesting all the way through. Though I still wish the love story had ended differently (I suppose that’s my non-Victorian woman side coming through) I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Head to Modern Mrs. Darcy for many more book recommendations.

Heidi Hillman
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6 thoughts on “Quick Lit: April 2015”

    • Author gravatar
      Anonymous April 15, 2015, 6:47 pm

      I saw the film version of Diving Bell and the Butterfly, and it was very good and so sad!

    • Author gravatar
      Sarah @ Seriously, Sarah? April 16, 2015, 10:48 pm

      I thought The Woman in White was interesting because I really never thought that a book from that time period would have multiple narrators like that! I just read (listened!) to The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins this month. I am not sure which I liked better.

    • Author gravatar
      Heaven Smiling April 17, 2015, 12:28 am

      Dang! I admire how many books you are able to complete! My mom loved A Wrinkle in Time as well as the others in the set. I couldn't get into it. Right now I'm reading the second book in the Come to Zion series by Dean Hughes. I've cried so many times over the grief out pioneer ancestors felt as they buried their children. I'm pinning your list.

    • Author gravatar
      Heidi Hillman April 25, 2015, 3:33 am

      I had no idea there was a film! I need to check that out. We're always looking for something good to watch. Thank you!

    • Author gravatar
      Heidi Hillman April 25, 2015, 3:35 am

      The Woman in White was my first Wilkie Collins. I have a pile a mile long on my nightstand right now, but I'm going to add The Moonstone, too. Thanks for the recommendation, I've never heard of it!

    • Author gravatar
      Heidi Hillman April 25, 2015, 3:36 am

      Thank you! I'm a little obsessed with reading 🙂 I haven't read anything by Dean Hughes. Would you recommend the series?

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