Literature: August 2021 Books

It is a new year, it's 2021, we are now out of lockdown, but I am still finding time to read.

As I managed 152 books in 2020, I thought would up the ante and go for 155 in 2021. Between January and July, I was able to read 104 books and now August has ended I am up to 111 as I read 7 books this month. This is a low number for me, not sure what happened to me! Now I have another 44 to read before reaching my target.

So what are the 7 books I read in August?

Crime

• The House Guest by Mark Edwards
• The Skylight by Louise Candlish

Fiction

• The Wafflehouse on the Pier by Tilly Tennant
• Love from A to Z by SK Ali

Christian

• Faithful Leaders by Rico Tice

Short Stories

• The Great Cornish Getaway by Fern Britton

Recommended Books

This month I recommend Love from A to Z by SK Ali. This book tells the story of Adam and Zayneb, two Muslim teenagers who meet each other while they are on Spring Break in Doha. They are both dealing with their own issues.

Adam is struggling with his new diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis and how to break the news to his dad who is still dealing with the death of his wife who died after a battle with the same diseases.  Zayneb has been suspended from school due to speaking up to her teacher who won’t stop reminded the class how ‘bad’ Muslims are. She is struggling with this and the way that other people treat her when they see her hijab.

They both clock eye in the airport and then actually meet each other in arrival in Doha when it transpires Zayneb’s aunt works with Adam’s dad in the International School. They get to know each other and realise they have feelings for each other but it's not a smooth road for them both.

I loved this book and thought the writer described MS very well. 

Literature: July 2021 Books

It is a new year, it's 2021, we are now out of lockdown, but I am still finding time to read.

As I managed 152 books in 2020, I thought would up the ante and go for 155 in 2021. Between January and June, I was able to read 95 books and now July has ended I am up to 104 as I managed to read 10 this month. So now I have another 51 to read before reaching my target.

So what are the 10 books I read in July?

Crime

• The Dying Detective by Leif GW Perrson
• Bedlam by LJ Ross
• Dying Inside by Damien Boyd
• Marshlight by Joy Ellis

Fiction

• Everything I’ve Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Christian

• Chosen by David Barr
• Arriving Well by Cate Brubeter
• We Need to Talk About Race by Ben Lindsay

Children

• Mary Poppins Opens the Door by P.L Travers

Biographies

• That’s Another Story by Julie Walters

Recommended Books

I really recommend We Need to Talk about Race by Ben Lindsay. The subtitle of this book is Understanding the Black Experience in White Majority Churches. This book offers eye-opening insights into the black religious experiences, challenging the status quo in white-majority churches. The book is filled with examples from real-life stories including Ben’s own story of how they as Black people have felt within white churches. Ben shows us how we can work together as a church to create a truly inclusive community and accept each other the way God accepts us – as his children.  

 

 

 

Literature: June 2021 Books

It is a new year, it's 2021, we are now out of lockdown, but I am still finding time to read.

As I managed 152 books in 2020, I thought would up the ante and go for 155 in 2021. Between January and May, I was able to read 77 books and now June has ended I am up to 94 as I managed to read 17 this month. So now I have another 61 to read before reaching my target.

So what are the 17 books I read in June?

Crime

• The Russian by James Patterson
• All Fall Down by M.J Alridge

Fiction

• The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
• Music from Another World by Robin Talley
• The Harpy by Megan Hunter
• Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
• My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Christian

• Popcultured by Steve Turner
• Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado
• The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosario Butterfield
• Leading a Special Needs Ministry by  Amy Fenton Lee
• The Inconceivable Truth by Joanne Graham
• Abortion by Lizzie Ling

Children

• Paddington at Large by Michael Bond
• Paddington Marches On by Michael Bond

Biographies

• Hear Me Out by Sarah Harding

Books to Avoid

I had to read The Harpy by Megan Hunter for my book club and it was one of the worst we have read together and one I think you should definitely avoid. The story was weird and hard to follow, however, the style of writing was good so that is a positive.