I've noticed over the years that reading has not been made a priority since I've finished college and I miss it! I do read fiction here and there when I get the itch or when on vacation, but mainly non-fiction fills my shelves as I am always striving to learn and grow as a person through the vast amounts of information out there. One thing I'm hoping to achieve by doing this challenge is to gain a greater connection with using my imagination... Here you'll find the current list of books I've chosen to read for my 2013 - 50 Book Challenge! I've linked to Amazon.com when I can so you can check out these selections and purchase if you want your own copy. Maybe you'll be inspired to start your own book challenge! Enjoy!
7. The Age of Miracles
Amazon.com Description:
Spellbinding, haunting, The Age of Miracles is a beautiful novel of catastrophe and survival, growth and change, the story of Julia and her family as they struggle to live in an extraordinary time. On an ordinary Saturday, Julia awakes to discover that something has happened to the rotation of the earth. The days and nights are growing longer and longer, gravity is affected, the birds, the tides, human behavior and cosmic rhythms are thrown into disarray. In a world of danger and loss, Julia faces surprising developments in herself, and her personal world—divisions widening between her parents, strange behavior by Hannah and other friends, the vulnerability of first love, a sense of isolation, and a rebellious new strength. With crystalline prose and the indelible magic of a born storyteller, Karen Thompson Walker gives us a breathtaking story of people finding ways to go on, in an ever-evolving world.
My review: Loved it!! I don't want to give anything away, so I won't say much... But it really makes you think about your impact on the environment and how we are all connected to the universe...
Amazon LINK
Spellbinding, haunting, The Age of Miracles is a beautiful novel of catastrophe and survival, growth and change, the story of Julia and her family as they struggle to live in an extraordinary time. On an ordinary Saturday, Julia awakes to discover that something has happened to the rotation of the earth. The days and nights are growing longer and longer, gravity is affected, the birds, the tides, human behavior and cosmic rhythms are thrown into disarray. In a world of danger and loss, Julia faces surprising developments in herself, and her personal world—divisions widening between her parents, strange behavior by Hannah and other friends, the vulnerability of first love, a sense of isolation, and a rebellious new strength. With crystalline prose and the indelible magic of a born storyteller, Karen Thompson Walker gives us a breathtaking story of people finding ways to go on, in an ever-evolving world.
My review: Loved it!! I don't want to give anything away, so I won't say much... But it really makes you think about your impact on the environment and how we are all connected to the universe...
Amazon LINK
6. What to Expect When You're Expecting (Currently Reading)
Amazon.com Description:
"Now comes the Fourth Edition, a new book for a new generation of expectant moms--featuring a new look, a fresh perspective, and a friendlier-than-ever voice. It's filled with the most up-to-date information reflecting not only what's new in pregnancy, but what's relevant to pregnant women. Heidi Murkoff has rewritten every section of the book, answering dozens of new questions and including loads of new asked-for material, such as a detailed week-by-week fetal development section in each of the monthly chapters, an expanded chapter on pre-conception, and a brand new one on carrying multiples. More comprehensive, reassuring, and empathetic than ever, the Fourth Edition incorporates the most recent developments in obstetrics and addresses the most current lifestyle trends (from tattooing and belly piercing to Botox and aromatherapy). There's more than ever on pregnancy matters practical (including an expanded section on workplace concerns), physical (with more symptoms, more solutions), emotional (more advice on riding the mood roller coaster), nutritional (from low-carb to vegan, from junk food–dependent to caffeine-addicted), and sexual (what's hot and what's not in pregnant lovemaking), as well as much more support for that very important partner in parenting, the dad-to-be."
Amazon link HERE
"Now comes the Fourth Edition, a new book for a new generation of expectant moms--featuring a new look, a fresh perspective, and a friendlier-than-ever voice. It's filled with the most up-to-date information reflecting not only what's new in pregnancy, but what's relevant to pregnant women. Heidi Murkoff has rewritten every section of the book, answering dozens of new questions and including loads of new asked-for material, such as a detailed week-by-week fetal development section in each of the monthly chapters, an expanded chapter on pre-conception, and a brand new one on carrying multiples. More comprehensive, reassuring, and empathetic than ever, the Fourth Edition incorporates the most recent developments in obstetrics and addresses the most current lifestyle trends (from tattooing and belly piercing to Botox and aromatherapy). There's more than ever on pregnancy matters practical (including an expanded section on workplace concerns), physical (with more symptoms, more solutions), emotional (more advice on riding the mood roller coaster), nutritional (from low-carb to vegan, from junk food–dependent to caffeine-addicted), and sexual (what's hot and what's not in pregnant lovemaking), as well as much more support for that very important partner in parenting, the dad-to-be."
Amazon link HERE
5. Seasons of Witchery: Celebrating the Sabbats with the Garden Witch (Currently reading)
Amazon.com Description:
"In this charming book, award-winning author Ellen Dugan offers an intimate look at her personal practices and magickal life throughout the wheel of the year. Written with humor, warmth, and practicality, Ellen offers a fresh twist on ways to honor each season, along with insightful journal notes about her enchanted gardens. Her magickal lessons and stories about her own coven—how they celebrated, changed, and grew over the course of the year—will inspire you. Enjoy sabbat-themed spells, rituals, herbal magick, and holiday recipes that will motivate you to make your own seasons of witchery more unique and meaningful."
Amazon link HERE
"In this charming book, award-winning author Ellen Dugan offers an intimate look at her personal practices and magickal life throughout the wheel of the year. Written with humor, warmth, and practicality, Ellen offers a fresh twist on ways to honor each season, along with insightful journal notes about her enchanted gardens. Her magickal lessons and stories about her own coven—how they celebrated, changed, and grew over the course of the year—will inspire you. Enjoy sabbat-themed spells, rituals, herbal magick, and holiday recipes that will motivate you to make your own seasons of witchery more unique and meaningful."
Amazon link HERE
4. Create Your Own Religion (Currently reading)
Amazon.com Description:
"Create Your Own Religion is a call to arms--an open invitation to question all the values, beliefs, and worldviews that humanity has so far held as sacred in order to find the answers we need to the very practical problems facing us.
Writer, philosopher, and professor of comparative religion, Daniele Bolelli, leads the reader through three thousand years of mythology, misogyny, misinformation, and the flat-out lies about "revealed truth" that continue to muddle our ability to live a peaceful life, free of guilt and shame and the ultimate fear of death.
"Our worldviews are in desperate need of some housecleaning," says Bolelli. "We enter the 21st century still carrying on our backs the prejudices and ways of thinking of countless past generations. What worked for them may or may not still be of use, so it is our job to make sure to save the tools that can help us and let go of the dead weight.""
Amazon link HERE
"Create Your Own Religion is a call to arms--an open invitation to question all the values, beliefs, and worldviews that humanity has so far held as sacred in order to find the answers we need to the very practical problems facing us.
Writer, philosopher, and professor of comparative religion, Daniele Bolelli, leads the reader through three thousand years of mythology, misogyny, misinformation, and the flat-out lies about "revealed truth" that continue to muddle our ability to live a peaceful life, free of guilt and shame and the ultimate fear of death.
"Our worldviews are in desperate need of some housecleaning," says Bolelli. "We enter the 21st century still carrying on our backs the prejudices and ways of thinking of countless past generations. What worked for them may or may not still be of use, so it is our job to make sure to save the tools that can help us and let go of the dead weight.""
Amazon link HERE
3. Shadow of Night (currently reading)
Amazon.com Description:
"Harkness’s much-anticipated sequel, Shadow of Night, picks up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending. Diana and Matthew time-travel to Elizabethan London and are plunged into a world of spies, magic, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the School of Night. As the search for Ashmole 782 deepens and Diana searches for a witch to tutor her in magic, the net of Matthew’s past tightens around them, and they embark on a very different—and vastly more dangerous—journey."
Amazon link HERE
"Harkness’s much-anticipated sequel, Shadow of Night, picks up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending. Diana and Matthew time-travel to Elizabethan London and are plunged into a world of spies, magic, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the School of Night. As the search for Ashmole 782 deepens and Diana searches for a witch to tutor her in magic, the net of Matthew’s past tightens around them, and they embark on a very different—and vastly more dangerous—journey."
Amazon link HERE
2. Spirit Junkie
Amazon.com Description:
"Spirit Junkie: A Radical Road to Self-Love and Miracles, Gabrielle Bernstein shares the story of how she transformed her life, offering her spiritual journey as a guidebook for overcoming fear, changing perceptions, and creating a life you’re psyched to wake up for. Bernstein has traded self-doubt and addiction for a new kind of high. In 2005 she became a student of A Course in Miracles and since then she has been guided to teach those spiritual principles to the next generation of seekers."
My Review:
I really enjoyed the insights Gabrielle gave while talking about her journey from a place of darkness and despair to a enlightened and motivated woman, seeking to improve the world around her. It was a nice read on one powerful woman's life struggles and breakthroughs that left me inspired. She also has some incredible meditations (with the guided audio versions available for purchase) inside the book along every chapter. I would recommend this book if you feel you need a jolt of inspiration!
Link: AMAZON
"Spirit Junkie: A Radical Road to Self-Love and Miracles, Gabrielle Bernstein shares the story of how she transformed her life, offering her spiritual journey as a guidebook for overcoming fear, changing perceptions, and creating a life you’re psyched to wake up for. Bernstein has traded self-doubt and addiction for a new kind of high. In 2005 she became a student of A Course in Miracles and since then she has been guided to teach those spiritual principles to the next generation of seekers."
My Review:
I really enjoyed the insights Gabrielle gave while talking about her journey from a place of darkness and despair to a enlightened and motivated woman, seeking to improve the world around her. It was a nice read on one powerful woman's life struggles and breakthroughs that left me inspired. She also has some incredible meditations (with the guided audio versions available for purchase) inside the book along every chapter. I would recommend this book if you feel you need a jolt of inspiration!
Link: AMAZON
1. A Discovery of Witches
Amazon.com Review:
"Amazon Best Books of the Month, February 2011: It all begins with a lost manuscript, a reluctant witch, and 1,500-year-old vampire. Dr. Diana Bishop has a really good reason for refusing to do magic: she is a direct descendant of the first woman executed in the Salem Witch Trials, and her parents cautioned her be discreet about her talents before they were murdered, presumably for having "too much power." So it is purely by accident that Diana unlocks an enchanted long-lost manuscript (a book that all manner of supernatural creatures believe to hold the story of all origins and the secret of immortality) at the Bodleian Library at Oxford, and finds herself in a race to prevent an interspecies war. A sparkling debut written by a historian and self-proclaimed oenophile, A Discovery of Witches is heady mix of history and magic, mythology, and love (cue the aforementioned vampire!), making for a luxurious, intoxicating, one-sitting read. --Daphne Durham"
My Review:
I loved this book! First of all, it has everything from witches to daemons to vampires, you name it. And who doesn't like a love story between two star crossed lovers? This book was hard to put down and I cannot wait for the movies to be made in the future!
Amazon link HERE