Compilation: A Baker's Dozen Books on Walking

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This may not be a definitive list of all the books I've read on walking, but in searching my blog, these 13 books rose to the surface. Instead of placing them in order of when read (chronologically), I'm listing my three favorite walking books, right out of the gate (followed by others I'm less enthusiastic about):

1. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce - novel - highly recommend!
2. God Walk: Moving at the Speed of Your Soul by Mark Buchanan - non-fiction - highly recommend!
3. The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen - young adult novel - great author, always trust her books (okay, slight departure as this is a running book😉)
4. The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce - sequel to Harold Fry novel 
5. Maureen by Rachel Joyce - novel of Harold's wife's journey
6. The Walk by Richard Paul Evans - novel - 1st in series
7. Miles to Go by Richard Paul Evans - novel - 2nd in series
8. The Road to Grace by Richard Paul Evans - 3rd in series
9. A Step of Faith by Richard Paul Evans - 4th in series
10. Walking on Water by Richard Paul Evans - final in series
11. Hiking Through: One Man's Journey to Peace and Freedom on the Appalachian Trail by Paul Stutzman - non-fiction
12. Walking Home: A Poet's Journey by Simon Armitage - non-fiction
13. A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson - non-fiction

The end of October is the perfect time to head off on a lengthy walk. The air is crisp and cool. It makes a great way to prepare the body for the feasting coming in the following months. If you could take a long walk somewhere, where would you choose? My favorite was my literary walk in Paris. But, I also have fond memories of this simple walk on our property with my son, Trevor, back when he was sweet and innocent and a great walking companion. Gone are the days when our biggest dilemma was a consistent bedtime. Still, the memories are grand!

Book Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

Drawn by a movie preview in my Facebook feed, I checked out Jennifer E. Smith's book, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. The lead character looked familiar. It turns out she played the lead in the movie version of Five Feet Apart. She's an attractive, spunky gal, and quite charming. The Love at First Sight movie sounded appealing, but I always prefer to read the book first. The book was delightful. Yet, I was skeptical the movie version would be as wholesome as the book.

Hadley Sullivan knows it will be a terrible day. After all, she's traveling to London to attend her father's wedding. He couldn't settle for abandoning his family. He had to seal the deal by marrying someone else, someone Hadley has never even met. When she misses her flight, she must wait for the next available one. But a British boy named Oliver ends up sitting next to her. Those four lousy minutes that made her late may just change her life...

As the inside cover tease reads: "Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it."

The dialogue is fun. The characters are endearing. I'm so grateful the author didn't follow the way of modern YA by muddying the waters with a tryst in the airplane lavatory. No, this is a clean and enjoyable romance I would feel safe handing to any teen reader. I'm thrilled I encountered that advertisement.

Here's the movie trailer that lured me in:

As for the movie, I am impressed! No, more than that, blown away. Not only is it clean (momentary exception*), but it enhances Oliver's storyline in such a way that I think it outpaces the actual book. In fact, I far prefer the way Oliver's story plays out in the movie. It holds more substance and feeling. 

I rarely laud a movie over the book. This movie gutted me. I sat sobbing on my couch (and this, moments after my husband heard me cracking up from a clever line). The movie was magical and moving (so much so, I watched it a second time). It nailed the essence of Smith's novel.

Exception*: In the movie, when Hadley phones her father in the middle of the night to say she missed her flight, he is lying in bed next to his pending bride. Is it any wonder our young people see no hesitation for sex preempting, or outside of, the holy commitment of matrimony? 

 

Book Review: The Happy Life of Isodara Bentley - Highly Recommend

I can't even remember how I discovered this novel, but I'm oh so glad I did! This may be my favorite book of 2023. The story of Isadora Bentley is adorable! I immediately fell in love with her character and wanted her to succeed in her experiment to discover true happiness. This book stirred a lot of self-reflection. Am I truly happy? What stands in the way of happiness for me? How could I bring more joy into my life?

Isadora Bentley is an outstanding researcher. Her data-driven life is safe and predictable, but also somewhat empty. While birthday shopping, a tabloid jumps out at her. It contains an article offering "Thirty-One Ways to Be Happy." Convinced it is a bunch of hogwash, she sets out to prove the hypothesis wrong. Yet, as she walks through the steps, her world begins to widen and past pains begin to heal. Soon she finds herself surrounded by new friends (an elderly man pining for his dead wife, a neighbor with a passel of kids, and a new research relationship with a professor). "No falling for that risky, romantic trap again," she declares. Life has burned her before and she is determined to insulate herself from pain. But in order to achieve happiness, you must risk the pain of loving and opening yourself up to others.

I loved every character. As usual, my husband responded to my enthusiastic descriptions with his standard, "But none of this is real, right?" Even though it is just a novel, it induced all kinds of introspection and growth as I read. It was a delight to walk a mile in Isadora's shoes and to feel the angst of going out of her comfort zone to seek what she truly desires and deserves. I couldn't help but root for her and for her whole team. Great story. Excellent writing. Important truths. Clean! Book club questions provided at the end of the novel. I'm pretty sure I'll re-read this one!

2023 Prayer Project Progress

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The names in my bag continue to dwindle as I near the end of my 2023 Facebook Prayer Project. One individual, when I drew his name, replied, "Finally, I made it!" Ha! As of today, we are 4/5ths through the year. Because I had 377 Facebook friends at the outset of this project, I drew 8 names each week for the first 26 weeks and will draw 7 names each week for the last 26 weeks. One month out from praying for individuals, I send a quick message alerting them to the Bible verse I selected to accompany my prayers for them in their week. I also offer to place needs on my ongoing prayer list. The ongoing list has grown substantially, and this makes my heart glad. Often, people do not respond to my initial offer to pray for them. It could be they cannot think of a need. Perhaps they're not comfortable sharing significant needs. Perhaps they doubt I really pray for them. Whatever the case, they often later say, "Could you add this to your ongoing prayer list?"

I also ask for news of answers to prayer. Some are simple and small. One shared that time in God's Word had been beneficial for improving her mindset about her job. Another said she was feeling more at ease with her life and the people around her. Plus, I have heard answers to prayer for jobs, financial aid for schooling, and children plugged into church connections. Another shared that her mother's house sold in a week. One woman, after praying for a student, heard from that student out-of-the-blue. She wanted to connect about faith topics because her grandmother passed away, causing her to consider spiritual things. One very dear friend has experienced deep losses and walked a long and troubled path with prodigals. She needed a biopsy to check for cancer. Her results revealed it was benign!

When possible, I add the names of family members (spouse, children, grandchildren) to each 3x5 prayer card. This week I prayed for 125 individuals. Over time, the bulk of my praying has shifted to those ongoing needs. I suppose that is understandable. Those needs are clear and specific. Sometimes I have nothing to go by but the person's name. When the connection is tenuous (say, met at an event or friend-requested because they know my sibling), I have even less. Still, I pray for general needs (physical, emotional, and spiritual).

Prayer needs in my home have grown, as well. I continue to pray for each of my sons. Bryce has many work stresses. Trevor is seeking a more established job and an apartment. I pray for Sean's safety in football practices and games. For each of them, I ask God to counter the attractions of the world and draw them into a deeper relationship with God. My husband has not been sleeping well since May. We are not sure of the cause. But this, combined with many necessary home repairs, feels like a spiritual assault. In the beginning of October, I came down with the most horrendous head cold I've ever experienced (perhaps it was acute bronchitis). Of course, given his sleep loss, my husband caught it. As much as I complained about the intensity, his seemed ten times worse.

Plus, I feel the weight of the times. Every day we move closer to what I would consider the "end times." Developments seem to fall right out of scripture. With that, comes an urgency to do more witnessing to unbelievers. I joined a friend-forming group on Facebook and have tried to make it to several of their events (games, movies, bingo). It is like watching an hourglass emptying. The sand flits through so fast. Before we know it, our time may be up. Where will you spend eternity?

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Mid-Month Mention: Book Giveaways

 

What better way to celebrate National Book Month than to link to book giveaways?

Book Riot is offering a few giveaways I intend to enter. From an e-reader, to a Kindle Scribe, to gift cards for booksellers, to a box of banged up books, they have so many to choose from in October.

I almost hate to mention this next book giveaway because I want to win for myself (wink, wink) and every extra entry lessens my chances - Ha! I discovered a website called Deeper Christian. I hope to explore it more intensely at a later date, but for now, I've entered his monthly book giveaway because October's prize is a copy of P.T. Forsythe's The Soul of Prayer (a book mentioned in several of the prayer books I have read this year). I know I'm close to wrapping up my 2023 Facebook Prayer Project, but still think it would make a beneficial read.

And in the spirit of October, I thought I'd mention an author page that runs an annual Halloween story contest. Susanna Leonard Hill (no relation) is a children's author running the 13th Annual Halloweensie Writing Contest. Try your hand (pen) at it - the prizes include several different writing critiques and free books.

Book Review: The Hideaway

I tried another Lauren K. Denton book using my Hoopla account from my library. While I really enjoyed A Place to Land, I didn't latch onto this one as quickly or completely. The Hideaway tells the story of a woman whose eccentric grandmother dies and leaves her a bed-and-breakfast property. They label it "a southern and Christian-themed book." I can't say what they felt was Christian about the book. If you enjoy women's fiction set in southern states, this might be a good bet for you.

The story alternates between the grandmother (Mags) and the granddaughter (Sara). Sara is a boutique owner in New Orleans. Raised by her grandmother after her parents died in a car accident, Sara got out of Sweet Bay, Alabama, as soon as she could. In returning to hear the will, she embarks on a mission to carry out Mags' dying wish. Mags requested she restore the Hideaway. In the process, she finds love and learns more about her grandmother's complicated story. While the story was absorbing, it just didn't resonate as much as A Place to Land (and wasn't as clean, either).

Book Review: Cassandra in Reverse

Some characters in novels stay with you long after you close the book. I'm sure I'll feel that way about Cassandra. If you adored the quirky Eleanor Oliphant in Gail Honeyman's Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, you will take to Cassandra as quickly as I did. She is an endearing protagonist. I couldn't help but root for her to get her life straightened out.

I might have highly recommended Cassandra in Reverse, if not for the same dilemma I approach with most modern bestselling novels. The initial pages struck right out the gate with cursing and casual sex. Remembering the accolades, I skimmed past and barreled on. The book is compulsively readable. I read it in two days. I set things aside to open the book again.

The premise offers a unique take on time-travel. But it was a deep love for the main character that kept me turning pages late into the night (and I retire early and rise early). Cassandra is very particular. When her life gets upended by multiple unexpected challenges (job, boyfriend, housing disruption), she discovers an ability to re-set the clock. She is determined to figure out what it is about her that turns people away and how to erase the bad things. My heart ached for this oddball, trying to understand the social graces others take for granted. Plus, I wanted to discover what she was running from. She might be prickly, but in the end, you just want to hug her and make everything okay.

Content Caution: 📒 - language, sex

Here's a clip of the author pitching the book's premise. I loved the premise, adored the protagonist, and enjoyed the plot.

Book Review: A Place to Land - Highly Recommend

I've grown cynical. So many books published in recent years push societal agendas and rely on immorality to draw readers. This book, published last year by an unfamiliar-to-me author, was a gamble I'm so glad I took. The cover endorsement by Kristy W. expresses it well: "Denton is a masterful storyteller who makes magic on every perfect page." Not only was the storytelling outstanding, but it remained wholesome throughout. That is such a rare commodity these days!

Set in the small Southern town of Sugar Bend, Alabama, a decades-old mystery slowly emerges as the pages slip away beneath the reader's fingers. What a delight! This tale is full of atmosphere and the magical pull of promise. The writing leaps from the page, incorporating every sense. Two elderly sisters with a fierce bond run a small art shop. Drawn by flyers about the town's art festival, eighteen-year-old Maya hopes for a fresh start and a safe place to land. A long-forgotten boat rises to the surface of the river and threatens to unravel buried secrets. As these lives intersect, multiple stories merge, bringing to life mercy and redemption. 

If you love bird-watching, exploring sibling dynamics, and seizing second chances, this book will touch you deeply. Author Susan Meissner calls it, "A touching tribute to sisterhood, first loves, and promises kept." The details are mesmerizing. The characters are authentic and real. I was so enrapt in the story that I snatched moments every day to listen to this redemptive tale unfold. Such fine writing of brokenness made whole!

Book Review: Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess

I've said before how much I despise cleaning, that thankless task that needs to be done ad nauseam. No sooner are the dishes back in the cupboards than the counter is full again. As soon as I fold the last pile of laundry, one is crying out that a particular garment is unavailable because I haven't washed clothes. Frustrating! Yet cleaning has to be done. We can't sit around in filth, let dishes pile up, and wear the same clothes all year. [Side note: They did in Elizabethan times. This is the source of the term "spring cleaning." All winter long, individuals would bind feathers around them to add warmth. Once the temperatures calmed, they would go down to the river and remove the feathers and clothes for their annual cleaning. I learned that in a lecture given at Anne Hathaway's house.]

So, too, your brain can get messy. Anxious thoughts can take control and threaten your peace and sanity. Dr. Caroline Leaf is convinced, after years of research and counseling experience, that what you think determines how you feel. Of course, I picked up this book because I sought advice on how to rid myself of invasive thoughts. The advice is sound. The steps probably work. My difficulty is in mustering passion enough to put in the work. Just like housecleaning, it seems an endless and repetitive task. Indeed, she insists that in order to establish new habits of thought, you should practice her "neurocycle" steps for 63 days.

So, what are the steps, you ask? They didn't show until 168 pages in. The first half of the book provides background information on the brain and how it ends up in a mess. 1) Gather, 2) Reflect, 3) Write, 4) Recheck, and 5) Active Reach. While I want the promised results, I lack enthusiasm for pursuing the steps. If you have more willpower than me, you can even access an app that helps you establish these habits. Keeping a spotless home, a trim waistline, and a peaceful brain takes work. There's no easy way. I believe the steps outlined in this book will help. However, believing is not enough to make it happen. Every chapter ends in a testimonial. I'll let you know if I ever have one to share.