February Reads

Well, this month my reading has kind of turned the world upside down!  I read two books that opened my eyes and convicted my heart: I am not doing enough to serve the disenfranchised, the hungry, the homeless.  The unlovely, unpolished people who Jesus loved and sought and with whom He spent His time.

So...there's been a lot of discussion and moves toward reform in the Jorgenson household.  It will be exciting to share in the coming weeks and months just what that entails.

For now, here's a little peek at the books that graced my night stand over this month of love:

:: Midwives by Chris Bohjanlian

This was a book I picked up at the library on a whim.  The story moved slower than my preference dictates, but I need to learn to write that way, so all examples are good.  I thought it lagged in places and I never had that can't-put-it-down feeling because of the pace, but the story was good and the ending well-done...especially the tiny twist that is actually enormous on the very last page--brilliantly executed.  Overall, though, the action seemed to take place off the page, and I would have liked to see those big moments rather than just hear about them.  If I used a number system, this might be a 7 out of 10.

:: Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis

Katie Davis had a burning heart for Uganda and talked her parents into letting her take a gap year to serve there.  This is the compelling story about the life she never expected to find and her plea for all believers to see the need beyond their abundance.  This was the book that first got me thinking about the suffering right here where I live, and how I need to be a Katie, to serve and love like Jesus.

:: 7: An Experimental Mutiny against Excess by Jen Hatmaker

This book just about killed me: I laughed, I cried, I wanted to give away everything I own.  I can't even begin to talk about this book because I wouldn't stop writing for a day and a half.  Read it!  And if you're interested in seeing what I took away, I've posted the quotes I don't want to forget on my GoodReads page here.

:: Quitter by Jon Acuff

Okay, I'm technically not done with this book yet but I will be before March 1 hits.  Jon Acuff is funny and easy to read and though I'm already a "quitter" in that I'm not trying to pull off my dream job while working a day job, his encouraging words are spurring me on to write more, to write better, and to reach farther.

I would love to hear what you're reading these days; I'm always looking for my next great read!

{images courtesy of GoodReads.com}