Good Books

I really enjoy reading and now that my kids are at an age where they are fairly self sufficient I find myself having more and more time to read.  For the last couple of years I have kept a record of  all of the books I have read, those I want to read and even reviews of the books I have read on an app on Facebook called Visual Bookshelf.  So imagine my surprise and irritation today when I found out that this app is being discontinued. Thankfully they are allowing members to transfer their content to another app called GoodReads(http://www.goodreads.com/).  If you have not visited the site you should check it out I think you will like it and find it useful.  So since I have been going over books it prompted me to make some recommendations here for those of my friends who enjoy reading.

  

Each summer I pick a subject matter that I would like to learn more about and immerse myself in that topic for the summer.   A little crash course if you will.  Past topics include Mormons and polygamy, American Revolution, just to list a few.  This summer I have been reading all about WWII, both fiction and non-fiction.  So I am going to list out what I have read so far and what I hope to read.

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption  by Laura Hillenbrand
     A wonderfully inspiring story of Louis Zamperini and his survival from being lost at sea, to then        being captured by the Japanese and held in a POW camp.

Night by Elie Wiesel
     The story of Auschwitz through the eyes of a 16 year old boy.  Wiesel has a way of telling his story so that you feel as if he is in the room talking with you himself.  A wonderful book written about a terrible time in history.  


The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
     A novel about Auschwitz as seen through the eyes of a 9 year old boy whose father is commander of the camp.

Evidence Not Seen:  A Woman's Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II  by Darlene Deibler Rose   A beautiful story of God's faithfulness in times of need.  Darlene was a young missionary bride to Dutch New Guinea anxious to bring the gospel to a people who had never heard of Christ.  She ends up in a Japanese POW camp and her faith and trust in the Lord will be a tremendous source of inspiration to all who read. 

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay The author fictionalizes the 1942 Paris round up of Jews who were then taken to Auschwitz.  A riveting story that enlightened me on a part of history that I was unfamiliar with prior to reading this book.  

Books I want to read about WWII:

Bonhoeffer: Pastor,Martyr, Prophet,Spy by Eric Metaxas

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

A Measureless Peril by Richard Snow

The Girl in the Red Coat by Roma Ligocka

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

I would love to hear your suggestions for additional books that I should add to my list, or what you have enjoyed reading this summer.  Don't get me wrong, I have had to add a few beach reads in the mix to keep things light.  I especially liked Beach Trees by Karen White.  


I love reading a real book that I can turn the pages, but there is something great about being able to get books when you want them and are ready to read them on the Kindle.  My husband had been borrowing mine so much and so often that the kids and I gave him one for Father's Day.  Happy Reading!