Earlier this year (around the spring) I did an experiment where I tried to read just one (fiction) book at a time instead of reading multiple and no one was more surprised than me that I loved it as much as I did.

For the most part I’ve stuck with reading one book at a time since then but this month that has gone off the rails.

I’m 99% sure it’s this current season of life I’m in (as well as the head cold that I currently have) but not many books are catching my attention right now. It’s actually been to the point in the last few weeks where I’ve questioned if I actually enjoy reading anymore (I do, it’s just a phase and apparently some not-so-great books I’ve picked up).

As a result, I’m reading little bits here and there from a variety of books so I thought I would do a little post sharing the books I’m currently reading and some preliminary thoughts on them.

BOOKS I’M CURRENTLY READING

I went into this one knowing nothing and it’s actually been a fun ride so far. This is the fiction book that I am currently enjoying the most and I’m doing a spoilery vlog for Patreon so that always makes a book even more fun.

Dark Matter

Author: Blake Crouch

“Are you happy with your life?” Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious. Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits. Before a man Jason’s never met smiles down at him and says, “Welcome back, my friend.” In this world he’s woken up to, Jason’s life is not the one he knows. Hiswife is not his wife. His son…

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Okay, I’ve always been a fan of Shirley Jackson, and I’ve gotten this book out from the library multiple times and read a number of the short stories and liked them BUT the last half of this book has been pretty lame. (With the exception of The Lottery which I know is amazing.) I keep waiting for the stories in the end to have the same kinds of twists as the short stories in the first half of the book and they just don’t. I only have a few more stories to read from here. This was my pick for the September Read Your Bookshelf Challenge prompt.

The Lottery and Other Stories

Author: Shirley Jackson

One of the most terrifying stories of the twentieth century, Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” created a sensation when it was first published in The New Yorker in 1948. "Power and haunting," and "nights of unrest" were typical reader responses. Today it is considered a classic work of short fiction, a story remarkable for its combination of subtle suspense and pitch-perfect descriptions of both the chilling and the mundane. The Lottery and Other Stories, the only collection of…

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This book is one I’m supposed to read for a class in my church. (To be honest, I was supposed to be done it yesterday but the head cold definitely got in the way.) So far I would HIGHLY recommend this book, I’m tabbing and highlighting like crazy.

Total Church

Authors: Steve Timmis, Tim Chester

"Church is not a meeting you attend or a place you enter," write pastors Tim Chester and Steve Timmis. "It's an identity that is ours in Christ. An identity that shapes the whole of life so that life and mission become 'total church.'" With that as their premise, they emphasize two overarching principles to govern the practice of church and mission: being gospel-centered and being community-centered. When these principles take precedence, say the authors, the…

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This one I pulled out of the jar for my September TBR, it’s one of the books my patrons suggested for me to read. They haven’t steered me wrong yet so I have high hopes, I’m not far enough in this one to have any thoughts yet though.

The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

Author: Robert Dugoni

Sam Hill always saw the world through different eyes. Born with red pupils, he was called “Devil Boy” or Sam “Hell” by his classmates; “God’s will” is what his mother called his ocular albinism. Her words were of little comfort, but Sam persevered, buoyed by his mother’s devout faith, his father’s practical wisdom, and his two other misfit friends. Sam believed it was God who sent Ernie Cantwell, the only African American kid in his…

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This is a book I have heard so many rave reviews for in the four years that it’s been out so I figured it was about time I read it. I’m pretty sure I’ve gotten it out from the library before but never started it. As I enter a new season of life and start some new habits this seems like a good book to read.

Atomic Habits

Author: James Clear

No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving--every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results. If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't…

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I’ve heard such good things about this one and I just really want all the cozy vibes right now so I’ve started this one but am only a few pages in yet.

At Home in Mitford

Author: Jan Karon

Series: Mitford

It's easy to feel at home in Mitford. In these high, green hills, the air is pure, the village is charming, and the people are generally lovable. Yet, Father Tim, the bachelor rector, wants something more. Enter a dog the size of a sofa who moves in and won't go away. Add an attractive neighbor who begins wearing a path through the hedge. Now, stir in a lovable but unloved boy, a mystifying jewel theft,…

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So, I’m reading bits of all of those books, plus a poem or two a day from a bunch of poetry books as well:

For someone who has realized they like to read one book at a time, this is a lot of books at once! I’m hoping to get a few of them crossed off real soon.

What are you currently reading?