Reading Life – Page 22 – Smart Mamas Read

Page turners, all, except for Ted Cruz's book. I had to force my self to finish that one, but I'm glad I did. Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth Earthy. Vivid. I loved the PBS series and the book was helpful to know what was fact and what was on screen embellishment. Jennifer Worth paints the picture of life in an impoverished London community in the fifties so vividly you can almost smell it. The full range of human emotion and drama from birth to death. Some descriptions are earthy, but, then, so is the subject matter. Say Good-Bye to Survival Mode by Crystal Paine Practical. Endearing. I'm a big fan of Chrystal Paine. I find her story fascinating. Her website, Money Saving Mom, is enormously popular. Her insights are well articulated and extremely helpful. Say Good-bye to Survival Mode lives up to that reputation. It's easy to get stuck in day to day survival. What a relief to find someone saying there's a way out. Rising Strong by Brené Brown Best book I've read all year. I love Brené Brown's TED talks and her books. This is the best one yet. The message of the book, is to embrace your story, even the dark parts. Those dark chapters form an integral part of who you are. Hiding those chapters hinders your connection with others. Being courageous and vulnerable with the good, the bad and the ugly is the way to whole-hearted living. [Note: Language Warning] Calico Joe by John GrishamMoney Saving Mom Feel good, breezy read. I'm a huge Grisham fan, and I checked this one out of the library on the recommendation of Anne Bogel at Modern Mrs. Darcy. It's not my favorite Grisham, but I liked a few elements: less language than some of his other books; a predictable but refreshing redemption story; most of all--the baseball theme reminded me of my Dad. He grew up in the forties and fifties with a passion for the game that I found mirrored in this story. Who can't relate to childhood heroes and obsessions? A Time for Truth by Ted Cruz First half: fascinating memoir. Second half: issues, beliefs and an insider's view on DC (hint: it's not pretty) The book starts with the compelling story of Ted Cruz's family roots in Cuba and then his own formative years. The second half dealt more with current politics (appalling) and issues that were informative and helpful, but didn't float my boat as much. I liked learning what he believes and why. It's easy to get cynical and disillusioned by deceptive politicians. I admire Cruz's stand for honesty and integrity. It's helpful to hear Cruz's words without media editing. What's your best reads this month? Share in comments.