Spring Reading Thing 2012 \\ The End

What is up with me and reading challenges? You'd think at some point I'd just take the hint and quit trying, but no . . . it seems I can't help it.

I only read two of the five books on my original list. I even narrowed it down to five just so I would have a good chance to actually finish them all. I should say that I'm almost done with a third, One Thousand Gifts, but since that'll take me a few days I probably shouldn't count it.

1. The Secret Life of a Fool by Andrew Palau. I really liked it.

2. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. My least favorite of the trilogy. It sort of gives me an ugh feeling. I wouldn't say I hated it, but I certainly didn't like it. I couldn't bring myself to write a review of Mockingjay. Instead, I've been reading other YA dystopian-ish novels and writing about why I like them better than The Hunger Games trilogy. Rude, perhaps? I think not. Part one is Divergent versus The Hunger Games. Part two is coming soon; I'm in the process of writing it.

3-ish. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I'm only a couple of chapters away from the end. I attempted a weekly discussion about the chapters I read during the week, but I fell behind and now I'm thinking I'll just save my thoughts for a final review. I like it, I suppose, but I wouldn't bring love into the discussion.

So why didn't I finish all five? I have great excuses reasons. The Pilgrim's Progress proved too trying for me at the time. I need to be in a certain mood, I think, and the mood left me this spring. Letting Go of Perfect still looks interesting, but I couldn't bring myself to work on that and One Thousand Gifts, so I nixed it. 

I read many books not on my list, however. 

There's a lesson in this; I know it. Perhaps it is a lesson that I should forgo future reading challenges. Or, perhaps, the results of this year's Spring Reading Thing simply demonstrate my preferred reading diversity. And that's a pretty good thing.

So will I skip Fall Into Reading this year? No way. ;)

Review & Giveaway \\ The Secret Life of a Fool by Andrew Palau

And the winner is . . .  Sandra Stiles!

"People seem to want guys like me—son of a preacher man—to have some scandalous reason for all my 'mistakes.' But my scandal is less of what you might expect and more like something we all deal with: our dirty selves."

\\ About the Book \\ He spent his growing-up years living for himself-recklessly rebelling against his evangelist father's faith, numb to God and to the letters his father wrote him, immersed in the dark side of life. Until one intense night in the Jamaican Blue Mountains that allowed him to see himself in the mirror of grace, changing everything. The Secret Life of a Fool is Andrew Palau's unforgettable journey of running from God-and the crushing, freeing experience of coming back to Him. It is a story of getting high, burning up cars, being stranded in Europe, surviving a near-fatal plane crash, and utter despair overcome by simple grace-and a father's love, expressed in excerpted letters throughout this book.

"This book then is a peek into my life, but more than that, it's a story-arc that tells how a life that was discarded and broken can be gathered up again and remade." 

Honest. That's the adjective I think best describes Andrew Palau's new memoir, The Secret Life of a Fool: One Man's Raw Journey From Shame to Grace. It's a thoughtful testimony about an imperfect person's encounter with a perfect God. I love it.

I love it because the author doesn't try to build himself up in any way. Andrew Palau recounts his past in often vicious terms, refusing to, as he says in one chapter, consider his past mistakes as moments of "sowing wild oats."

I love it because, while reading The Secret Life of a Fool, I felt like I had just sat down with Andrew Palau to share stories and encouragement. I didn't feel like I was being preached to, but that someone who really cares wanted me to know I was not alone in my mess-ups, breakdowns, and all-around selfishness.

I love it because, unlike some memoirs, The Secret Life of a Fool ends in hope. There is a real-life happy ending here, and it is filled with the grace and peace that only God can give.

If you are curious about the Christian life, if you're a fan of memoirs, if you just want to know that someone else struggles to, this book is for you.

\\ About the Author \\ Andrew Palau, son of international evangelist Luis Palau, is an evangelist in his own right—organizing outreach events worldwide for the Palau Association and regularly sharing the gospel with tens of thousands. Andrew can be heard on the daily radio program Reaching Your World, which is on more than 850 radio stations in 27 countries. He and the Palau team have also been featured in some of the world’s leading media outlets including the Associated Press, Forbes Online, The Washington Post, CNBC Asia and USA Today. In addition, Andrew maintains his own website, which receives 5,000 visitors a month. He and his wife have three children and live in Portland, Oregon, close to the world headquarters of the Palau ministry.

Are you interested? Worthy Publishing has most kindly offered one of my readers a free copy of The Secret Life of a Fool! Leave your email address in a comment below and on April 19, 2012 a winner will be picked! Please enter; this is a great book. And before you go, watch the book trailer below.

\\ In Case You Were Wondering \\Title: The Secret Life of a Fool: One Man's Raw Journey from Shame to GraceAuthor: Andrew PalauPublisher: Worthy PublishingPublication Date: April 3, 2012Pages: 191ISBN: 193603476XMany thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

Spring Reading Thing 2012 \\ The Start

March 20th - June 20th

Spring Reading Thing 2012 has arrived! Katrina at Callapidder Days is hosting once again with her challenge to make a few reading goals this Spring. It is a very low pressure challenge, as I can heartily attest to. If you're interested, click the button above, then add your link.
Five books. That's my goal. Since Spring covers about three months, I think I can manage it. I'll probably end up with more than five since I'm not counting the books for my English class in this list, but I thought I'd feel better if I set the bar a bit lower than usual. Some of these books I've already started, so I'm already a step ahead.

What can I say about The Pilgrim's Progress? It's a classic!

I've been meaning to get around to One Thousand Gifts for a long while. I'm going into it a bit wary; books with a lot of hype surrounding them make me suspicious.

On the mention of hype... I've had Mockingjay on hold at my library for the past few weeks and it finally came it. It's pretty popular, apparently (as if I hadn't noticed). My sis read this before me and I'm just upset that she knows how it ends before I do.

I like a memoir every now and then. The Secret Life of a Fool: One Man's Raw Journey From Shame to Grace looks intriguing.

I'm nervous about reading this book, because perfection is my enemy and letting go of it is a little difficult and unnerving for me. Letting Go of Perfect: Women, Expectations, and Authenticity will definitely be an interesting read for me.

Looking at the covers of these books excites me! I'm excited to dive into spring! (Though so far the whole allergies thing hasn't been kind to me.) I'm coming off a high after spring break, too, so I'll let you know how I'm doing in a few weeks when I'm neck deep in assignments.

Spring is here. It's the time to stand in the middle of a grassy field speckled with wildflowers, spread arms wide, and breathe deeply. Happy reading this Spring!

"The feathery kiss of destiny sent a shiver over her soul as the breeze rushing over the mountaintop tapped her legs."

The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck

Titles crossed out have been completed. :)