June has come and gone and I’m so shocked we are already in July! This summer is flying by. This was the first month that I created a personal curriculum to refer to. I got a lot more reading done than I expected but I would have liked to finish a few more non-fiction books. I really struggle with reading non-fiction but hope to get better in the coming months. I’m noticing that my personal curriculum is really helping me stick to my reading goals.
Let’s go ahead and jump into what I read in June!
Eragon & Eldest by Christopher Paolini
This story follows a young farmer boy named Eragon who finds a mysterious dragon egg. When it hatches, Eragon bonds with the dragon, Saphira, though dragons and their riders have long been a thing of the past. Eragon is left confused by the circumstances surrounding her. The discovery upends his life, forcing him to leave his small village and set out on a journey, pursued by the evil King Galbatorix.
I have truly been enjoying this young adult series. More so than I thought. These have been simple reads that I’ve been enjoying before bed. I also love that the author was 15 when he started writing the first book and it was published when he was 19. These books also remind me a bit of the Lord of the Rings series. 5/5, 3/5
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
This story is set in a dystopian future where humanity is divided into a color coded caste system. Darrow, a young miner from the lowest caste, the Reds, believes he’s helping prepare Mars for future generations. Darrow discovers this is a lie and that a privileged ruling class, the Golds, already live in luxury above ground. Darrow is then recruited into a dangerous plan to infiltrate their ranks from within.
I enjoyed parts of this book but I would definitely categorize it as a boyish read. The storyline started out pretty fast but lagged in the middle which made me want to stop reading. Towards the end, it picked back up and I am now definitely curious to see what happens in the second book. This book was definitely outside of my comfort zone but overall a pretty good read. 3/5
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
This story follows a young woman who grows up in an underground cell with 39 other women. Silent guards watch over them and no one can really remember the past or how they came to be imprisoned. The women are not allowed to touch and have no privacy of their own. One day, they are abandoned by the guards and the women manage to escape. They make their way out of the cell and find themselves in a desolate land.
While this book was interesting at times, it was also very dark and depressing. One of the most frustrating things about this book is that you don’t get any answers as to why the women are there or what happened before they were imprisoned. Many details in this book seemed unrealistic and I noticed holes in some parts of the storyline. Overall, it wasn’t my favorite read. 2/5
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Set during the early days of the pandemic, this story follows Lara, who is reunited with her three grown daughters at the family’s Michigan cherry orchard. As they work together harvesting fruit, Lara tells them the story of her youthful romance with a now-famous actor, Peter Duke, back when she was a young actress herself performing in a summer production of Our Town.
There were parts of this book that I enjoyed but I mostly found myself extremely annoyed with the young version of the main character, Lara. But, I’m sure many of us feel that way about our younger selves so maybe that’s the point. I enjoyed reading about the family’s life on the cherry farm and the relationship Lara had with her three daughters. Those parts were heartwarming. As the book went back to the past, I found the story pretty boring to be honest. 2/5
Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul David Tripp
This book is a biblical counseling resource that explores how ordinary Christians can help one another grow through the everyday relationships in their lives, not just trained counselors in formal settings. Tripp argues that real, lasting change happens through the gospel and through loving, honest relationships within the church community.
Although this is more of a counseling resource, I took a lot away from this book. Specifically, the importance of loving God with my whole heart and paying attention to idols that attempt to pop up in life. I was also encouraged in the chapters that discussed why it’s important to speak truth to those you love. Also, to allow others to call you out when you’ve made mistakes. If we love people and we love God, then we will speak the truth. 5/5
I would love to know- what did you read in the month of June?
With love,
Addison
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