Looking back on the month of August, most of my books were relatively short … if that’s the case, I’m not sure why I didn’t get more read! Well, if school hadn’t started last week, then I would have been able to get that last one finished before August 31st – but alas, it didn’t happen. And so the reader’s life goes … sometimes accomplishing ambitious goals, sometimes not. In any case, here’s a quick review of what was read in August:

1. The Master Plan of Discipleship by Robert E. Coleman [Published the year you were were born – 1987]
The first book I chose that was published in 1987, I discarded after about the first chapter … and subsequently went on a hunt through my parents’ bookshelves, opening up every book with a somewhat 80’s-ish cover to see if it was published in 1987. Hence – the discovery of this one!

It wasn’t quite as captivating as I’d hoped it would be … I felt like it was more just going through Acts and the early church instead of the practical “how-to’s” on discipling one-on-one. I did like this quote at the end, though –

“Christ’s call is to martyrdom – to die to our own self-appointed ways, in loving submission to the will of God. His Word is our command, His cross the measure of our obedience. Such consecration may be looked upon as fanaticism by the worldly-wise, but it is the stuff the New Testament church is made of: daring faith that does not think of limits or make excuses, a willingness to go wherever Christ leads, never to stop until His work is finished and the commendation is heard, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant.'”

2. Insurgent by Veronica Roth [A book set in the future]
This was to follow up on reading Divergent last fall … and it was a fast, page-turning read. I think that Roth’s ideas are intriguing and thought-provoking [as most dystopian plots are to me], but I’m not the hugest fan of her writing style. More on the simplistic side, I think there is much wanting there. Not to mention that I was also not a fan of all the choices the characters made. Some were probably necessary, but on the whole, I’d like to be proud of my heroes and heroines, and I wasn’t always. Guess that’s like real life, though.

3. Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesserling [A play]
I guess it was finally time to read this play after hearing about it for so long! It’s a classic, and I was expecting great things of it … and it did not disappoint. I thought it was hilarious with great plot twists and a perfect ending. I would love to see it onstage … or better yet be in it and play one of the dear, sweet old ladies!

4. The Anne of Green Gables Treasury by Carolyn Strom Collins & Christina Wyss Eriksson [Set in a different country – Canada]

What a treat for an L.M. Montgomery fan like myself! I borrowed it from Sarah Gilcher who is such a kindred spirit when it comes to loving L.M. Montgomery. Rarely do I find people who love all 8 of the “Anne” books – too often they only like the movies (which I try not to fault them for … they just don’t know what they are missing out on in the books!).

It was such fun delving deeper into Anne’s world through this book, which was a collection of maps, recipes, and descriptions of all aspects of Anne’s life – or what it would have been like. And of course, it was just happiness remembering for the thousandth time why I lover her so much! This quote from the end rather sums it all up –

“Anne began life impoverished and unloved, yet she managed to cultivate her gifts of optimism, curiosity, and imagination. As a girl, she was impetuous and adventurous, but she developed into a young woman of courage and independence, as her romantic notions mellowed into an intense appreciation for beauty and accomplishment.

“Though Anne was of a much different era, we can still share those things she valued most – ‘the joys of sincere work and worthy aspiration and congenial friendship.’ And perhaps we can be counted among her cherished kindred spirits, for she once said herself that ‘kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.'”

Additionally, Sarah loaned me two other L.M. Montgomery books I haven’t read before, so those will be forthcoming in the month of September! What cozy books to read while the rain pounds against our windows … this fall weather is simply the perfect time to devour books. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!