March Books
What are you reading these days?
Here are two books I've read lately. One nonfiction, one fiction. One I liked a lot, one I loved.
Newbery Honor Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt.
Even though this book is YA, it was recommended to me by a number of adults. You guys, you gotta read this. Everyone will love it, but if you're a teacher, it will totally win you over. Holling Hooodhood is a seventh grader in the 1960s and is convinced his teacher hates him. He is left alone with her every Wednesday while his classmates attend church/temple. His teacher hates him so much, she begins to assign him Shakespeare to read. And it slowly changes his life. . .and hers. This book is smart, funny, heart-warming, and incredibly well-written. I wanted to underline so many lines in this thing. (I didn't though because it was a library book. But my 2.5-legged cat might've taken a bite out of it…) The voice is so dang good. Please read this book. Please. It would make an excellent Hallmark movie, excellent read-aloud, and is recommended for boys and reluctant readers (plus everyone else in the world).
My nonfiction pick is Spirit Rising: Tapping Into the Holy Spirit by Jim Cymbala (with Jennifer Schuchmann). 
It's a good book. It's kind of an entry level education on the Holy Spirit, ” the forgotten God” as Frances Chan puts it, but it includes lots of great stories of miracles and movement of the Spirit. It's a good reminder of what can be accomplished in faith and when you're connected to the Holy Spirit. I loved the stories. I do believe faith and prayer can move mountains. I believe God still does miracles. Like the book says, I also believe we don't look for miracles or powerful acts of God because we're so conditioned to relying on logic and ourselves. I'd give the book a B, I suppose. I get frustrated with spiritual how-to books that tell you what you need, but not how to get it. Still, the other 95 percent of the book were powerful reminders and fresh words that were valuable reads. Well-written book, as well. I have a lot of respect for Brooklyn Tabernacle, and while I've never been there, I always assumed they were at least a bit charismatic. The whole time I was reading this book, I felt like the pastor was editing himself. I'd love to sit down with him and have a no-holds-barred conversation about the Holy Ghost. Still, book recommended. I did underline all over this book.
So that's what I've been reading.
What about you?
