20 Best Kindle Lending Library Books (2023 Updated)

For those who love libraries and books, this is a facinating account of the burning of L. A. library in CA, when hundreds of thousands of books were lost. The author takes a meandering exploration of the causes of the fire, the response by the community, who was involved, and how things moved on.

In the course of this exploration she interviews current and previous library staff, the family of the man accused of setting the fire, and recalls her childhood with a book loving mother. The history of the L.

A. library is also reviewed, complex evolution where strong minded women and flamboyant outsiders jockeyed to shape and control what was to become a huge multifaceted resource. Never dull, much more than a straight up history, this is a great read.

There is a scene in the movie ‘3 billboards outside Ebbing Missouri’ where the central protagonist firebombs the local police station, the 2 minute clip is poignant & visceral with a dab of dark humour.

The brief word picture of the 1986 Los Angeles public library fire in ‘The Library Book’ is that film clip’s equal in every respect, “The fire flashed through fiction, consuming as it travelled. It reached for the cookbooks.

The cookbooks roasted. ” Susan Orlean’s 2019 book starts with a look at the wanton act of book burning, a taboo akin to murder because a library is a kind of hive mind memory so it’s destruction is the killing of our collective ideas, hopes & dreams.

But the story is much more than that. The novel is a love letter to reading. Beautifully written, eclectic in scope, it’s part history book, part ode to childhood, part story of the written word’s ability to outlive the writer, a kind of immortality.

Anyone who has enjoyed spending time in a library will relish this work.

A very readable book that tells the story of the modern library through the lens of the history the Los Angeles Public Library. If you thought libraries are dull this will disabuse you of that idea. I’m a librarian and work in a large State Library and I found myself nodding and saying “yes!” as Orlean laid open the issues ranging from the pragmatic (budgets, staffing and politics) to the eccentric (donations from obsessive collectors of maps and menus, strange reference requests, the story of the purported arsonist Harry Peak), the tragic (services to the homeless) and the dramatic (the fire itself!).

I was interested to discover that drug dealing in libraries has a long history with LAPL reporting problems as early as 1926. Libraries are our shared space where no one is turned away, where all can learn and participate and this book shows us how they have adapted over time without losing this core mission.

A recommended read for librarians and non-librarians alike.

The Woman in the Library is Australian author Sulari Gentill’s second excursion into crime meta fiction and, like her most recent Rowland Sinclair series release the setting is Boston. However, in this case the time period is contemporary.

The book resembles a literary matryoshka doll: it portrays an Australian writer, Hannah Tigone, writing a mystery story set in Boston, featuring as its main character another (fictional) Australian writer, “Freddie” Kincaid, who is in turn writing a fictionalised murder mystery inspired by her experiences while undertaking a literary fellowship in the city.

One day, while fruitlessly seeking literary inspiration in the Boston Public Library Reading Room, Freddie and other patrons are shocked to hear a woman’s blood-curdling scream. She subsequently forms friendships with three other “readers” and together they seek to uncover the horrific truth behind what they witnessed.

But could the villain be closer than Freddie could possibly imagine? Hannah’s authorial presence is depicted only via her role as the invisible recipient of a series of emails forming one side of an exchange between herself and a Boston-based fan / de facto research assistant named Leo.

Their exchange forms a separate plot line, as Leo gradually morphs from a somewhat gushing Beta-reader into a disturbingly volatile individual who seems to be blurring the line between fiction and reality.

Sulari Gentill skilfully employs a range of literary devices, including foreshadowing, misdirection and the trope, familiar in “golden age” crime fiction, that every character has something to hide. The underlying mystery storyline is enthralling, but just as engrossing are the developing relationships between Freddie and her newfound circle of friends.

Gentill clearly draws upon her own experiences as a writer, via the experiences of both Hannah and Freddie throughout the narrative. I found it a fascinating read – The Woman in the Library is so much more than another murder mystery novel – it’s a window into the process of mystery writing itself.

I’d thoroughly recommend The Woman in the Library to any lover of crime-mystery-thriller fiction who’s keen to read something a little different and perhaps more challenging than the mainstream offerings.

My heartfelt thanks to the author, the brilliant Sulari Gentill, publisher Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this stunning new title.

Oh my gosh, Gemma and Jethro were everything I love in romance!!! Gemma’s story held me captive as it was slowly revealed. She was a strong heroine despite her fears and uncertainties. I loved that her love and determination to protect her daughter took precedence over everything else in her life.

When her choices were between doing the smart thing or that thing that readers scream about, she held fast to her character and remained strong. Jethro was a unique hero with his accent and his special abilities.

I adored him from the beginning. He was everything Gemma and Trudy needed and his interactions with the little girl were ovary exploding scenes that had me wishing for a Jethro of my own. He too had a background that was rising up to threaten him and what he was developing with Gemma and his protection of her and Trudy had me loving him all the more.

The scorching chemistry between Gemma and Jethro was enough to singe the pages. This also had several moments of intense danger and drama. I was glued to the pages as one thing after another was revealed to this couple and they were left to deal with it.

Of course, the Deep Ops characters were there to give backup and I gobbled each delicious bite of them as they supported this couple.

“The Woman in the Library” is such an amazing novel. It’s quite original, I’ve never read anything like it. But if you love a good mystery, this is for you. The plot is so engaging and the characters are so enjoyable – I was kind of just reading it for them to be honest.

It’s funny but not so much that it takes away from the plot. I feel that it’s an underrated book, if you’re reading this review I’m just going to go ahead and say, buy it! It’s definitely worth it. A stunning mystery overall, one that I will be reading again.

I haven’t read anything else from Sulari Gentill, but I will be checking out her other works now that I’ve read this masterpiece.

A brilliant story, sadly a close reflection of what is currently happening in Europe and how it can all go wrong. A great read, recommend to everyone.

Have really enjoyed Ken Follett’s books – this one did not disappoint. Don’t let the size of the book put you off, it’s hard to put down.

Never disappoints!!! Excellent, gripping storytelling. His finest work right here.

The story itself was pretty entertaining. I was not a big fan of the pace, however. The chapters felt incredibly short for the most part, which made it really difficult for me to feel immersed. Nora felt like a very two-dimensional character, which made it kinda hard to connect with her and care about her like you’d want to with most protagonists.

Overall, I would say it’s a good casual read! The ending had a good message but it was predictable and I think I just wanted more out of it. I would have loved a flash forward to tie some loose ends but no biggie! It was a cool book concept without getting too existential and I would recommend it as a good, quick novel if you’re in a reading slump and need something to get you interested in doing it more!.

4. 5 rounded up. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig was my book club book for this month. I was so looking forward to reading it as Matt Haig is so so good at putting words to the human condition. His ability to reflect on his own experiences of mental health issues allows him to represent the doggedness of the darkest depression, and suicidal ideation.

This book does just that. It lays out Nora’s life and suicide attempt and then delves into the realm of parallel lives as Nora tries to find herself and the elusive happiness she has been missing. This was a quick book to read and I loved the premise of the midnight library itself, and Mrs Elm, Nora’s guide to help her explore her infinite lives.

Nora’s struggles felt real, they weren’t overinflated end of the world issues that pushed her to the edge, they were the small things that can break you down piece by piece. There were a coupls of times I felt the book slipped and became a bit mawkish and obvious in the message Nora was supposed to be learning in these lives, but overall it really hit the mark for me.

A poignant and empathetic novel that explores the beauty and pain in everyday life. ⭐⭐⭐⭐🌠 (4. 5/5).

Again, Matt Haig has crafted another tale of philosophical brilliance. While The Midnight Library wasn’t what I expected, it was still interwoven with sci-fi, fantasy elements and a fascinating premise.

There were quite a few life lessons throughout the book about letting go of regrets and truly seeing and appreciating the life you are given. The character growth and world building were well done and the ending was satisfactory.

Overall, I understand the message behind the library and the multiverse scenarios, but I didn’t totally connect with the story. It is possible that I had different expectations prior to reading The Midnight Library.

Even so, the author did create a compelling work of fiction that no doubt many will enjoy. While this book may not have been my cup of tea, Matt Haig is an excellent writer and this one is definitely worth reading.

Helen was surprised to find a great person and friend in Sully. Sully was surprised to find that Helen and he not much in common except needing a friend and confident. They both fell for the other and in the end could not do without the other.

Helen’s niece , Dr. Leigh, could not bring herself to commit to a man she was deeply in love with. Rob Shadon, the pub owner, fell deeply for Leigh. Having already raised 2 sons , he was really astounded when Leigh presented him with her little surprise!! Great book.

Highly recommended.

I devoured this book. I started it at Christmas time and I read it almost straight through. I couldn’t stop, I couldn’t put it down, and I just had to know that everyone ended up happy. I was invested in the characters relationships, I wanted to be part of their loving family, and I needed to know what was going to happen with them.

While this is Leigh and Rob’s story I loved that it was Sully’s story also. Sully was in need to his happy ever after and this was written perfectly for him. I love his wit, his sense of who he is, and the fact that he didn’t let the Helen sway him from what he wanted, which was her.

He knew that he was older and that his life was slowing down but he was willing to do whatever it took to keep her happy and with him. Rob and Leigh’s story is a hot, slow-moving romancing. The heat is scorching but they take the relationship part slowly.

Neither is ready for marriage but they both realize that they have to commit to each other to make it work for them. While they are in different places in life together they are perfect. Rob balances out Leigh’s need for control and Leigh gives Rob some fun that he much needed after raising his two boys alone.

The Best of Us is the perfect, loving romance story. The characters have real relationships with family and friends.

I just started reading Robyn Carr’s books and really enjoy them. I’m almost finished with the Sullivan Crossings series. I like the variety of characters and how she tells each of their stories. If you’re looking for a little something different in a “chick” book I recommend her writing.

This is the first graphic novel I’ve ever read and I was hooked from the start. The characters are so diverse and interesting, and the story keeps moving forward at good pace. The artwork is simply beautiful.

The book ends on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait for the next installment of this wonderful story. Highly recommend!!!.

I love this book. I had been following the series For as long as I can remember, reading issues where I could. However leaving my hometown I lost my ability to find and read them. After moving I found my city had a Books-A-Million and I was able to order this amazing paperback of all the issues.

I waited for days until it came and read the entirety as quickly as I could. It was super easy to be able to order all the available issues in one book without having to go back and get issues one by one.

One of the better written comic book stories in a long time. Excellent characters, excellent plot. This series has it all. One of the best written adult comic books

Somewhat informative, light reading. Sort of a Ripley’s Believe It or Not about the”Human Condition. ” If you’ve read a lot of science, nothing new here. Even so, somewhat interesting in a “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” sort of way.

Learnt a few things. Not a “Laugh out Loud” book as some of Bryson’s first books were. This is a list of scientific and medical facts about the human body with a few of Bryson’s humorous asides thrown in for good measure.

I believe this book is about Bill Bryson’s body. It starts of interesting, informative and vigorous but the further into the book you go the more it becomes a boring old man medical view of the body.

In the parts that deal with sex there is little discussion about sexual diversity. It is glib, focussed on mechanics and not much detail there also. When it comes to emotions, the appendix will show there is more about farts than emotions.

There is also very little about the body in politics, the definition of, control over, the battles over women’s bodies, slavery etc. Foucault doesn’t crack a mention. So it is disappointing. However I would recommend this as the is some fascinating facts about our bodies.

I just gave this book to my Orthopedic surgeon as a thank you for repairing my torn tendons in my left knee. It is full of fascinating medical history and makes one appreciate the wonders of out bodies.

Highly recommended as are his Walk in the Woods, etc.

Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko is memorable and full of heart and life’s struggles, ups and downs, challenges, survivals and kindness portrayed in lives of many characters of this unforgettable novel. The author shined a light over Korean people who lived in Japan for many generations, their longing for their unreachable motherland and being forever “outsiders” in Japan.

From the start to finish the author told a long but compulsively readable story, and described the harsh life of poor Koreans living in Japan. It also showed how hard work to provide for their family pushed them to work harder, and some of them were successful climbing out of the pit of poverty, and many were not so lucky.

Pachinko is a well researched novel and is a pleasure to read.

I read the book (borrowed from the local library) and read it again, then I decided to buy a bunch to give as a gift for my friends and to keep a copy for myself. As a Korean growing up in Seoul, having lived in Tokyo and been living Sydney, I could feel as Sunja( the main character) and Noa, Solomon throughout the story.

The history of a family was powerful and touching. Some might say that it was not such a dramatic story but I think that makes the story more believable and like that of any family. You will smile, feel touched and cry while reading this book.

You’ll learn so much about ourselves and others. I strongly recommend this book.

It is well- described how Koreans survived to live under Japanese colonial period and I strongly believe Min Jin Lee’s book showed the harsh life of poor Koreans living in Japan when Sun Ja moved there with her husband.

My grandmother grew up in Korean under Japanese colonial period and when she was talking to me about it, I was too young to understand how much our poor Koreans worked hard to make a living with lots of pressure in a such a difficult times.

However in this book, I was so impressed to read details of the story, could picture all of the characters vividly and am really appreciated all Koreans who lived in that moment both in Korean and Japan.

From the message of this book, I recommend this book to everyone to read and some issues back then are still going on today including race discrimination, cultural differences, etc. I hope all human beings get to be matured to respect each other and overall, this book was a satisfying read to me!.

If you’re struggling with mediocre team performance or wondering how to equip your child for the ever-changing world, rush out and grab this book. “The power of knowing what you don’t know”, is an apt summary of the contents.

I have not encountered a book on an abstract topic that is such a captivating read. The author strides through the different types of thinking in various contexts, such as individual, interpersonal, and collective thinking.

He effectively guides the reader to consider the possibility of “thinking about how we think”. By removing impulsive responses, rethinking our position then considering alternative views, and, when appropriate, refining our perspective will improve outcomes and enhance relationships.

The adoption of various approaches to interactions, such as a preacher or prosecutor mode, is likely to alienate our position, however adopting a curious and scientific approach to proposals from others will increase collaboration and the prospects of consensus.

Adam Grant underscores this standpoint with constructive observations on the remarkable success of teams, with individuals who are comfortable with a high degree of divergence in opinion. They have an ability to gain unanimity by a scientific approach of questioning, considering all proposed alternatives then agreeing on the optimal solutions.

This contrasts with current norms where teams often have a dominant individual whose ideas are adopted as the group falls in line, ceding to position power. The ability to fully utilise a diversity of knowledge and opinion is exceptionally powerful.

For parents, Adam Grant has exciting insights on education highlighting the advantages of delivering an environment filled with continuous review and improvement processes. The mundane delivery of facts via lectures is removed with future generations collaborating and reviewing ideas within a team setting.

The focus on process rather than the individual will serve them and society far more effectively. Rethinking how we interact has the power to open up paths that accumulate, distil and distribute the collective greatness of individuals and teams and offers a viable alternative to the extreme polarization of the modern world.

In the must-read category – a few times and then share with those around you!.

Being the first book I read by this author, and after seeing so much positive reviews, I was expecting to find something better. The ideia is good, and it could turn to an interesting article in a self-improvement website (and not a very long one, by the way), instead of a hundreds-of-pages book.

It’s repetitive, annoying, pseudo-funny (really, you are not fun. Don’t try to look like you are). I’m mad at the author and the publishers for advertising this book as serious material, because it is not.

I don’t have the background to evaluate the scientific value of the data cited, but being a Surgery professor I am used to clearer and better organised thinking supported by high-quality studies — Adam Grant says that we must back our decisions with well-designed studies, peer-reviewed works and meta-analysis, but this book lacks this kind of characteristics.

There are many good thought and advices, for sure, but they could have been more efficiently transmitted if they have been told in a lot less words. This book looks like an advertisement of the author’s professional competence (the guy brags a lot).

It just doesn’t show in the book that he is willing to help you by the price it costs.

Very useful! It has no waste and the tools it supplies are concrete and efficient. With simple language, it goes straight to the point. It has amazing examples with concrete tools to develop critical thinking.

Fantastic book. Highly recommended. I listened to an interview with the author, then bought and listened to the audiobook. Was so impressed that I purchased the hard copy and have been recommending this book to my (adult) children and their partners and other friends.

Because the author is not a medical professional, some of his explanations and details became “aha” moments when he gives details/explanations that the professionals don’t think to include because, while it may be basic (almost intuitive) knowledge to them, it isn’t for the general public.

He does NOT dumb things down, but creates understanding with his explanations of why and how things happen in meaningful and easily understandable language. I am far more conscious of my breathing now and have created several healthy practices and memory joggers that I use daily and feel much better for them.

Everyone should read this book. It’s engaging right the way through and explores a subject so fundamental to life, you will be surprised, enlightened, empowered – and will know so much more about the power of breath by the time you have finished this book! From my perspective as a yoga teacher, this is the best most inclusive, informative and readable book out there on this subject.

It is well backed up by research and very respectful of ancient knowledge. Should be required reading for all medical practitioners!.

Breath is a fascinating journey into a typically overlooked territory for most of us. We take breathing for granted yet it is imperative for living out the day, and most of it do it badly. The results are poor health in many ways, which have alternative explanations–or no explanation (can you say idiopathic?) High blood pressure.

Diabetes. Sleep apnea. Waking up at night to pee. Misaligned teeth. Obesity. Chronic stuffed up nose. Yes, all related to and some caused by faulty breathing and can be cured by better breathing. This book could improve your life or the life of someone you love.

Get it. Read it. Do it.

I read Second Glance for our local book club, and as usual Jodi Picoult won me over! This book is quite different from her others, but her creativity and research culminated into a fascinating read! The information regarding the sterilization of people who produced less than favorable offspring was a wakeup to the past in our own country, as well as to Hitler’s schemes for creating the perfect population.

Genetics and genetically transmitted conditions are woven throughout the novel. I was particularly enchanted by the ghosts and the spirit world through the reading of this book. Suicide, death and dying, romance, deception and other topics are well described also.

This is a book that I would read a second time. There is so much to absorb, that I think a second reading might reveal even more information as well as enjoyment. I highly recommend Second Glance, and look forward to reading more books by Jodi Picoult!.

Having enjoyed a different book by this same author I was compelled to see what else she had written. The description of Second Glance intrigued me enough to track it down and order it. I enjoyed it even more than the first book.

I can usually figure out what’s going to happen in most novels, but not this one. Good unexpected twists and turns!.

Excellent read. I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult and this book did not disappoint. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because it took me a little longer to get into it than some of her other books have.

But once I got into it I couldn’t put it down. And the eugenics piece was very interesting to me – educating me on a darker side of history that I was not aware of.

When i bought this book i had my reserves. I thought it might turn out to be the sort of book that puts common sense into words and disguises those as profound nuggets of wisdom. How wrong I was. Adler is an incredibly lucid voice in a world of faux-inspirational reads and pseudo-psychological literature.

This book really helped me understand the different ways in which a book can be read, and which one will best suit my purpose and need. He covers how to read scientific books, poems, plays, works of old literature, classics, non-fiction, history and biography (among others).

Adler also shows how there are 4 main ways to read/analyse a book, and how we are usually only taught the first two. The book is clearly structured, concisely written and brilliantly explained. I have no regrets.

This is a practical “how to” book, containing principles and rules about the art of reading well. The aim of this book is to teach the reader how to read a book with increased proficiency, for the purpose of gaining greater understanding.

There are perhaps 4 basic assumptions underlying the purpose of this book: 1. That good books have the potential to increase our understanding greatly. 2. That there are specific skills required to extract greater understanding from good books.

3. That most people don’t fully possess these skills. 4. That these skills can be learnt. The book identifies 4 “levels” of reading skill, instructs the reader how to acquire and use these skills, and demonstrates how to apply them to different types of books.

An OUTSTANDING educational easy read that will change the quality/content of the books you choose to read. Also how to get the most out of the material in a time effecient manor. If your a Born Again believer in Jesus Christ this will tremendously help with your Bible study and determining what theology books will most likely benefit you or be a waste of your time before investing the time in actually reading them.

Absolutely love Danielle Steel books and have read many of hers in the past. Always come back to them as i find they are light reading but the stories are completely different and you never want to put the book down.

It transports you into the world of the story!.

Danielle Steel never writes a bad book. I am a fan, and have most of her books. Every book has a hidden theme which goes along with the title, and you will find it hard to put the book down for that reason.

Love Danielle Steel books….I am trying to read them all. I like the romance, and mystery of some of her story’s. I really liked this one.

I loved this book so much. It’s really relaxing and every word just makes you re-appreciate things the way you did when you were a child. As someone who has suffered with anxiety, depression and etc this book really spoke to me and it was nice hearing that I wasn’t alone….

Hope, love and self acceptance. We are all in this together.

This is an excellent approach for all persons interested in reducing self-inflicted stress and for those of us who have experienced the “black hole”,it will ring particularly pertinent. Clearly Matt Craig sees depression as a “curse of the strong” and he is right since those suffering tend to be those persons who most others rely on for stability in their own lives—He is so right about the idea of saying “no” and the need for true acceptance of guilt—-“Yes,I would very much like to do that,but I am going to say no”!! The book has a lot of good ideas for all of us to live more contented and less stressful lives.

From simple musings designed to lift the spirits, to a recipe for peanut butter on toast, this book is the sort you want to dip into on a bad hair day, or when the weather is grotty. An uplifting read.

Quite demanding in terms of understanding psychological terms, which means some of the difficult words need to be searched in dictionary. The contents is compelling and interesting, it gives more insight and understanding in regards to psychological explanation of how myths, religious themes and other stories have actually contain the same kind of narrative oscillating between chaos and order, showing how to find yourself in breath taking dynamics between the two.

It is definitely life-changing position! Have a good read, everyone!.

I tried to read this but the fault is my own as I have a hard time reading even a news paper and retaining the information. I decided to buy books on audible and it has helped me out a ton, this is a great book and jordan is the best with his own narrations like on 12 rules and beyond order.

I will be seeing him Jan 22nd at the DAR constitution hall. Can not wait. First time my wife and I will have gone out for the night since we had our 4th child Oct 2020. Excited.

It’s not an easy read but very well worth the effort and your time. It will help you understand yourself and the world around you. Extraordinarily well written work. Jordan Peterson is genius, in the same league with thinkers like Friedrich Nietzsche, Carl Jung, Carl Rogers.

Do yourself a favor and read it, it will open your eyes and expand your mind.

Got this book for my son, who loves war history. He absolutely LOVES the story! He reads a couple chapters every night. He shows his online class how far he gets and talks about what he’s read. He’s so amp’d this was his first chapter book because, he doesn’t like it, he loves it!.

I Read this before giving it to my grandchildren and I think they are too young. This is one of the best books I’ve read all year and I’m recommending it to adults. I loved this story, love the writing, loved the characters and hated for it to end.

It’s a beautiful book.

A good story, full of interest, with twists and turns. The ending allows you to take the story in several directions. Both Pax and Peter grow up a lot in the few days the story covers. How the story is told from both points of view is fascinating.

This is one of the best Christian non-fiction / inspirational books I have studied this year! Lysa TerKeurst is a Christian woman, wife, mom, ministry leader, book and Bible study author who found herself in three major life crises in a short time.

The situations highlighted in this book to show the power and love of God when we endure similar – or entirely different – circumstances that just weren’t supposed to happen. Circumstances that He can and does use for our good.

The author takes us through her feelings and faith challenges she experienced as a result of those situations, and how she wrestled through with scripture, prayer, and reliance on the Lord. Her vulnerability is refreshing, her wisdom inspired by the Lord.

“Disappointment isn’t proof that God is withholding good from us. Sometimes it’s His way of leading us home. ” (pg. 5) Lysa doesn’t mince words. She does not minimize the Lord in any way, rather, He is everything! She is honest, showing that bad things do happen to Christians even while believing that God is good.

She writes in a manner that someone who has been a Christian for any length of time, whether new or seasoned, can grasp when in the midst of a trauma. There are stories of people from scripture, and parts of her own life.

The wisdom imparted comes from serious wrestling in a walk with God through painful disappointments. I could see myself in some of her feelings and reactions – not in circumstances like she was experiencing, but things going on in my own life.

It isn’t the situations that are front and center, it is how we can learn to respond despite times that simply weren’t what that should have been. Those responses may sound overly simple to those not going through a trauma but are profound to the person who is trying to put one foot in front of the other for one more day.

There are two ways we can get through – with God, or giving in to our flawed desires. One quote that is important is “We must set our minds and our hearts on things above by choosing to remember God’s words, repeat God’s words, and believe God’s word about us.

” (pg. 65) I listened to the audiobook and read the print copy while doing the associated Bible study (and purchased the e-book), and I feel it is a valuable resource to the person going through struggles or the friend of someone struggling through hard times.

Don’t compare the author’s situations to yours; instead, compare your reactions, feelings, and responses. I very much like the writer’s approach to seeking God, wrestling, praying, and getting into scripture.

Our responses in times of crisis are vital to how we live our lives from those times forward. Regarding the audiobook, it is read by the author. I felt in many ways as if we were sitting in her kitchen over coffee or tea from the writing style and simply hearing her word sin her voice.

Why did I get three formats? Because some things I learn better by repetitive hearing. Other times it is easier to open the book and search for the relevant pages, including chapter endings of “Going to the Well”, “Receive (a scripture)”, “Reflect”, and prayer.

Back sections include scripture and helps for situations. I highly recommend this unique and timely book to Christians who are going through trauma of any kind and want to know that God is still in control and appreciate solid biblical teaching.

Opening a Lysa Terkeurst book is always life-changing and mindset-shifting. It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way” takes it to a different level though. It’s emotionally rich, raw and so real. As I read, I felt Lysa’s pain, turmoil and struggles and I related! I haven’t walked her path but the heartful emotions, the doubts and fear, I’ve walked that! Lysa has a gift at framing the tiniest, but crucial, moment in a way I can understand and learn from.

She is in fine form here, this book is full of transformational insights such as: “When you suffer, slow becomes necessary. Slow becomes good. One of the best parts of this season of suffering for me was a life that doesn’t require shoes.

When your wear no shoes the sun has access to your feet. ” Lysa’s life during the writing of this book has had so many highs and lows. Each chapter connects the reader with a different point in her life and, it’s an emotional rollercoaster, so of course I had to read it flat out til the early morning! Let this be a warning, this is a jam-packed, mile-a-minute, challenging and faith-building book to begun in a morning with a Bible beside and the understanding you may need to read it twice to fully comprehend it! Central to the book, is Lysa’s framing our time here on earth, between gardens.

She speaks of those who have learnt to live this life in its fullness! I love this vision of how we can be: “It’s those clothed with garments of understanding. They have personally experienced that this life between two gardens can sometimes make it excruciatingly painful to simply be human.

They keep in mind the Bible’s instructions, as we rub shoulders human to human. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

” (Colossians 3:12)” To highlight, share or discuss more of the book would disrupt the amazing experience Lysa has created. All I can say is, the end is amazing, it full of hope and it’s fantastic!.

Having read Lysa’s previous books, I had an inkling of what I was in for: Biblical expository, real life experiences and a down to earth style. What I didn’t expect right away was for this book to change my view on hard times and suffering.

Because of this book, my perspective on dealing with life’s struggles–some of which may be life altering– has totally changed. I’d say that makes “It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way” a book we each should read sometime in our lives.

Lysa not only shares her own personal struggles: from dealing with marital infidelity on her husband’s part, to facing two challenging health diagnoses and her eventually learning that her life of comfort zone living was about to drastically change.

I was moved by her personal stories, as well of those of close friends and associates who faced things some of us consider a nightmare scenario. I loved the imagery created and idea of “the life between two gardens,” referencing the Garden of Eden and the Garden mentioned in Revelation.

The idea is fleshed out in each chapter, and at the end of each, Lysa gives the recap of the high points of the subjects discussed, in a portion called “Going To the Well. ” This is further broken down into three subheadings: “Remember, Receive and Reflect.

” I found much great encouragement here, and it draws the reader to follow up with their Bibles to learn more about the topics discussed. Because of its timely topic and the sensitivity with which it is handled, I truly applaud Lysa for this book.

I received an advanced reader copy and chose to review. All opinions are my own.

I’ve read all of Mr. Gladwell’s books and if you’re only going to read one, IMO, this is his most important, and at the risk of hyperbole, I’ll call it brilliant. He argues, and supports with substantial evidence, the idea that sheer luck plays an enormous role in how our lives turn out.

He stops short of taking the extreme deterministic position agreed upon by, oh, Einstein, Freud, and BF Skinner, to name a few of the 20th centuries most influential thinkers, but many readers will have their minds opened to consider that possibility more seriously.

The book is also the story of failure. I guess if that had been incorporated into the title it would have been less appealing. And although examples of failure due to bad luck are no doubt far more common than The Beatles or Steve Jobs, thus who experience failure, also because of (bad) luck, don’t stick out to be studies and included.

If there’s a weakness it’s that examples that con’t support his thesis are ignored. On the other hand. if his thesis is correct, and I think it is, there are no contradictory example. Outliers is, IMO, a truly great book.

I can’t thin of a book I’d recommend more highly.

A book that challenges the stereo type thinking of who is an exceptional person or group of people. The author has demonstrated that outliers are products of history and community, of opportunity and legacy.

Their success is not exceptional or mysterious. It is grounded in a web of advantages and inheritances, some deserved, some not, some earned, some just plain lucky, but all critical to making them who they are.

The book has so many examples of circumstances but the wonderful example of the Jewish emigre family to New York, the Borgenichts’ showed how Louis and Regina may have been tired and poor and overwhelmed.

For Louis being his own boss and making his own decisions, engaging his mind and imagination resulted in a relationship between effort and reward. The three things – autonomy, complexity and connection between effort and reward are, most people agree, the three qualities that work has to have if it has to be satisfying.

Meaningfulness is very important in one’s job or task for us to excel in it. Hard work is a prison sentence only if it does not have meaning. Once it does, it becomes the kind of thing that makes you grab your wife around the waist and dance a jig.

For me, a crucial lesson to those who want to tackle the upper reaches of a profession is if you work hard enough and assert yourself, and use your mind and imagination, you can shape the world to your desire.

Working hard is what successful people do. Even for subjects like mathematics, it’s not ability as attitude. Success is a function of persistence and doggedness and the willingness to work. As the Chinese say “No one who can rise before dawn three hundred city days a year fails to make his family rich”.

In summary, outliers are those who have been given opportunities and who have had the strength and presence of mind to seize them. As the author summarises, “The outlier, in the end, is not an outlier at all.

This book enlightens us about the myth of land of opportunities and hard work. These myths survive because a lot of people heard of self made millionaires. Theyre usually the ones that perpetuate the illusion of hard work, good ideas produce $ucce$$.

Without proper opportunities, like being in the right place at the right time and knowing someone who can propel you in the right direction, just by ones own merit doesnt take you very far.

I was really excited to get this book – not only is Jody Picoult a well-known, #1 New York Times bestselling author, but there’s nothing I like more than a book where I can learn something. I love novels such as Barbara Quick’s Vivaldi’s Virgins where I learned about opera, Tracy Chevalier’s The Girl with the Pearl Earring that taught me about art, and especially Robert Harris’s Pompeii, which taught me about, well, the lava-buried civilization of Pompeii.

So, I was super enthused to dive in and learn more about the ancient land of Egypt. Also, I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about this book! Unfortunately, this book did not live up the hype. While Picoult undoubtedly did her research, this tale comes off more as a vanity pet-project for which she shoe-horned together a story.

The novel contains an immense amount of narrative background around Egyptology, archaeology, and scientific theory. Normally, learning new things would be right up my alley. However, these portions of the novel are thick, dry, and plodding.

They feel more like lecture at a huge university auditorium, rather than our main character sharing her love, passion, and experience so that we see things through her eyes. Even though discouraged by this tough-going text, I continued to forge ahead, as I was still enthused about learning more about Egypt through the fun of fiction.

Yet, I found I could only make it to page 96 before my discouragement was finally done in by about the third forced-in social issue that had nothing to do with the plot line. All that said, I do still think this could be a fascinating tale about the choices we make in life and how they define us, if you can stick with it.

Excluding the history lessons, the novel is very well-written with likable characters and excellent conversational quality. I’ll leave you with this thought-provoking character quote from the novel: “There’s really no such thing as a right or wrong choice.

We don’t make decisions. Our decisions.

Jodi piccoult does a great job of drawing you in from the first page and not letting you go until the last page. When Dawn, a death doula, is one of the only survivors of a plane crash, she re-evaluates her life and what’s important! This book explores Dawn’s life of once being a student at Yale studying Egyptology in Egypt and her current career as a death doula.

I love the connection this author made between the two disciplines. I wasn’t aware death doula’s was even a profession. I love this concept of a death doula because it gives the family and the loved one even more support! I also loved all the research that was weaved into this book, I leaned so much! This book is a must read, what an incredible book!.

Child loves this series! Read four (4) books in one day. Very impressed!

I bought it to replace the one that was lost, so the set is complete again. This is an exellent books for kids, as they are entertaining and educational. The cost of the book was a better bargain than when originally purchased.

I would recommend the book to anyone.

I will buy theses books for my two 6 year old grandsons they love theses stories.