Books I Read in August

I haven’t posted in a while, but I thought it would be a nice change of pace to share what I’ve been reading lately. I’ve been taking some time off writing and exploring a variety of genres.

I found Wish Me Home by Kay Bratt on Amazon Prime Reading. I wasn’t sure if it was the book for me, the description didn’t immediately pull me in. However, there was a free audiobook version available and I decided to try it out simply because I was curious about using the audiobook feature on the Amazon Kindle app. The audio version of this book was very easy to listen to. I don’t have a lot of experience with audiobooks, but the narrator did a great job with the voices. Initially, I thought I would just use this book to fall asleep to at night. Then I got HOOKED on the plot! I was so curious how things would turn out for the main character, Cara, and even more curious about what happened to her twin sister. Contemporary women’s fiction can sometimes be a toss-up, but I am glad I “read” this book. It wasn’t the most groundbreaking book, but if I ever want a nice book to read while on vacation then I will probably read more from this author.

The next book I read was To Kill a Mockingbird. Yes, the classic but Harper Lee. I’m a little bit ashamed to admit it was the first time I finished this book. Back in High School, it was on the recommended reading for my English class. However, it was not on the required reading list. So, I read part way through, tossed it to the side, and didn’t touch it again until recently. I really loved this book. I actually laughed out loud a few times at the spunkiness of the main character, the story is obviously compelling, and I wish I could sit Freshman me down and tell myself to just finish the damn book. I can only imagine the types of discussions that have been spurred from this book. I look forward to reading Harper Lee’s recent release.

Lastly, I read The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. I won’t say this book changed my life, but I think it would be helpful for anyone looking for a fresh way to look at how much they can accomplish in one day. Many of the tips in this book are somewhat regimented versions of what everyone probably knows they should be doing in a day. You should exercise, collect your thoughts, take time to breathe, read more, and write often. If you can wake up at some early hour to accomplish all these things in a relatively short period of time, then I think it could make a difference in your productivity. Will it make you an overnight success? Probably not. But it will help you get closer and probably help you feel better about yourself. I did try the Miracle Morning myself for a few weeks, and I have tried to continue following the tips (even if it is at night). It isn’t realistic for me to accomplish everything, every morning. Your mileage may vary.

So, those are the three books I’ve read recently. All of them were worth the time to read, but To Kill a Mockingbird is the only book I would suggest you must read if you have not already done so.