January Reading Wrap-Up + February TBR

Hey, everyone!! It's a new year and I still can't get over the fact that we already finished one month in 2020 so far. The time is just going by so fast! Some major things that happened in January are that I finished my last ever college Bowl game as a color guard member, started my second semester of student teaching and am in the classroom all day, started my final semester of college, and started leading Life Group again. I also contracted the flu and was out of commission for five days which is not my usual way of living, but the forced break was needed. I also didn't read as much as I planned in January, but I still read a good bit. In February, I'm hoping to read a lot more and not waste the day away as I have become so apt at doing.

The Books I Read in January:

  

Letters to My Students Volume 1: On Preaching by Jason K. Allen- 2 stars I was not a fan of this guide to preaching and giving sermons. Allen's writing style was dry and verbose. Some of his points were good. Others were self-indulgent. I would equate this book to a pushed up blow fish. It is filled with a lot of air and while it is beneficial for nature (i.e. the church) it is not the most necessary fish. 

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell- 3.25 stars I finally finished this book! I have been listening to the audiobook for months and I was growing tired and faint of Scarlett and Rhett's constant back and forth. The entirety of this book is not interesting. Most of it is about politics in the Old South pre and post Civil War. Scarlett's willpower and desire to survive creates a heroine that had been unseen in most early reading circles. However, Rhett Butler's treatment of her is appalling. This book glorifies and romanticizes abuse and it put a bad taste in my my mouth. I don't regret reading this, but I'm glad I'm done with it.

Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking by Raleigh Sadler- 4.75 stars This is an in depth look into human trafficking and how as Christians we must allow ourselves to be vulnerable to reach people who have been preyed on for their vulnerabilities and further made vulnerable by the situations of trafficking that they have experienced. This novel was hard-hitting and it will stick with me for a long. However, a lot of Sadler's points go just up to where you want him to go and then never past it. I would've loved more testimonies of his own work in trafficking because it felt like a very cold presentation from someone with a huge foundation. I just wanted a bit more.

Bunny by Mona Awad- 5 stars This is my favorite book of the month hands down. This book was wild. It made me uncomfortable. It was WEIRD. Lovecraftian and college writing workshops graduate students weird. I loved every single minute of it. I can't recommend this horror novel enough. Check out my review here.

 Dare Me by Megan Abbott- 3.75 stars This is a book all about cheerleading in high school. It is full of secrets and manipulation. It's uncomfortable to read because everyone is horrible to everyone. The main character is also quietly evil and is probably the meanest one out of them all. It was a fun audiobook to listen to and it was addictive.
Stop Calling Me Beautiful by Phylicia Masonheimer- 5 stars This is my most anticipated novel of 2020 and it did not disappoint. It releases in February (this month!!) and I can't wait for you to get your hands on a copy. This novel is all about how being beautiful and recognizing our beauty does not help us walk in victory- Christ does. This book is powerful and full of wisdom and testimony that shows Jesus has the power to redeem and restore. I'm currently writing my review for it!
Unveiled (A Lineage of Grace #1) by Francine Rivers- 5 stars This little novella packs a punch. It follows the story of Tamar from the Bible and how she became apart of the lineage of Jesus despite having both of her husbands (both brothers) die because they angered God. It also follows Judah (one of the Joseph's brothers who sold him into slavery) and the guilt is faces. We see God unite these two people despite their deception towards each other. Wonderful story!
 Unashamed (A Lineage of Grace #2) by Francine Rivers- 5 stars This story follows Rahab who is known as the prostitute who helped the Israelite spies into Canaan, so they could receive the Promise Land. I love how Rivers depicts Rahab as a woman who hungers to know the one true God and leave her life as a prostitute behind. Also the romance with the spy, Salmon, was swoony and had my heart smiling. Rivers writes suspense in this one that packs a punch. My favorite of the series so far!
The Bible- 5 stars I completed my second reading of the Bible all the way through and it was so exciting. I continue to be blown away by every story I read even if I've read it multiple times.
Unshaken (A Lineage of Grace #3) by Francine Rivers- 4.5 stars This follows the story of Ruth, a Moabite, who travels with her widowed mother-in-law to Judah after her husband dies. It follows the story of how she loves Naomi and works diligently to stay alive while marking the romance and love between her and Boaz. This is the only book in this collection that follows a Biblical book and not a chapter or section. Ruth is famous and a story I've read many times. I loved this experience, but I wasn't a fan of all of Rivers authorial choices.
American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century by Maureen Callahan- 5 stars This is my new favorite true crime novel. This novel is well-researched and written with compassion for the victims and the agents who feel like they failed because Israel Keyes ultimately got away through his suicide. This is one of the most horrifying cases I've ever read about and I pray that more of his cases will be identified, so that the families of the victims will finally have peace.

Overall Thoughts:

I read 11 books and I'm super proud of that. I'm also happy that I was finally able to finish three books that I've been reading since 2019. Here are my 5-star reads:

1. Bunny
2. Unashamed
3. American Predator
4. Stop Calling Me Beautiful
5. Unveiled
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 Challenge Tracker:

*2020 52 Owned Books TBR:

3/5 A Lineage of Grace books (in progress)

None

*Audiobook TBR: 

3 in progress
None

*5-star Predictions Tracking Progress:

Stop Calling Me Beautiful: 5 stars

1/20
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Currently Reading/ Hoping to Finish in February:

 
Already Finished: Making Peace with Change
 Netgalley ARCs: Making Peace with Change, Fire & Wind, Isaiah's Legacy, Long Bright River, Post-Christian, DEV1AT3, Kingdom Come, God Sees Her, A Darker Shade of Magic, Selected Poems of Edith Wharton
Sent By Publisher: The Promises of God Storybook Bible, The Insanity of Sacrifice, The Harp of Kings
E-book from Library: The Good Nurse
Audiobooks: The Good Neighbor, Imaginary Friend, Fire Road, We Are All Good People Here, The Family Upstairs, Children of Vice and Vengeance, Good Omens
Books I Bought/Gifted: A Lineage of Grace, Humility, Things Fall Apart, Twenty-Two, Needful Things, Long Bright River, Nothing to Prove, The Celebration of Discipline, The Spiritual Gifts Handbook, The Purple Book, East of Eden, Moments of Grace, The Harp of Kings
On Hold:Good Omens, The Spiritual Gifts Handbook, The Purple Book, East of Eden, Moments of Grace

I obviously have a problem. I start books all the time.

ARCs to Catch Up On:

For All Who Wander: Priority
For All Who Wander Journey Guide: Priority
The Art of Friendship: Priority
In Want + Plenty: Priority

The Tenant: Priority
Unspeakable Things: Priority
She Laughs: Priority
Still: Priority
Growing Nightmares and Dreams: Keep in Mind
Blood Countess: Give a Shot
The Will and the Wilds: Try to Read Soon
On the Isle of Sound and Wonder: Give a Shot

ARCs That Come Out in February:

 
101 Awesome Women Who Transformed Science: Nonfiction
Upright Women Wanted: Scifi and fantasy
Things in Jars: Mystery with supernatural elements
Handle with Care: Christian living 
Tomorrow's Woman: Poetry
Ghosts of the Missing:  Mystery thriller
Fight Your Fears: Christian living
Strange Girls: Horror short stories
No Bad Deed: Mystery/ thriller
Bridge 108:  Scifi
Practicing: Christian living
Pray Fully: Christian living
The Hidden Girl and Other Stories: Scifi hort story collection

Audiobooks:

Once Upon a River- fairy tale stories play an important aspect in this one (not sure if it's Historical Fiction or Fantasy or both)
The Fountains of Silence- historical fiction by one of my favorite YA authors
If We Were Villains- Mystery that involves Shakespearean actors
Ninth House- urban fantasy about magical societies
The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist: True crime
 Catch and Kill: True crime
When Less Becomes More: Christian living
The Wives: Mystery thriller

Books I Own:

Binti: Home- Sci-fi sequel to Binti and a small novella
Parable of the Talents- sci-fi sequel to Parable of the Sower
  Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot- Christian living about sexuality
Hidden Bodies- sequel to You
Bonhoeffer Abridged- Nonfiction about famous Christian prophet, spy, and martyr

Have you read any of the books I read in January? Are you anticipating any ARCs that I am or catching up on any? How are your goals going so far? Let me know down below in the comments!