Elisabeth Elliot is someone I have always admired, but besides the barest details of her life I didn't really know much about her before reading this biography. This book has been making its rounds through my family as each of my sisters and my mom have been reading it and raving about it before passing it along to the next person in the queue. At the beginning of the month I got my turn, and it was just as inspiring and gripping as it was promised to be by those who read it before me. It's not the most thoroughly detailed biography I've ever read, but it's compulsively readable and surprising. Ellen Vaughn is a great writer and truly makes Elisabeth Elliot feel like a person and not an unattainable, intimidating figure. It's honest about her shortcomings and how she turned to her faith when dealing with hardships. I'm excited to pick up the next volume soon to finish Elisabeth's story.
Rating: ★★★★★
A Gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towles
A wonderful historical fiction novel that has been sitting on my TBR shelf for far too long. I'm so glad I finally picked it up and got swept away in the world of the Metropol Hotel and Count Alexander Rostov. While I felt like the book was very passive in the way it interacted with the historical events going on in Russia (and the rest of the world) at the time, I loved how reflective it was and the characters. Amor Towles' writing is so good, and there are many lines, characters, and events in this book that will stay with me for a long time.
Rating: ★★★★
Us Against You - Fredrik Backman
I read Beartown by Fredrik Backman, the first book in the series, years ago. It was a book I enjoyed and think of every so often, but I never expected to be motivated to read more in the series. However, for some reason I was struck with a craving for Backman's writing style and immediately put this book on hold at the library. I think I honestly liked this second installment in the Beartown series better than the first one. While the first book set up the characters and tragic events that tear the town apart, Us Against You really examines the aftermath of everything that happened and how complicated healing can be for a community. This is a book that felt very human. There are no perfect characters, and it's very honest with human nature. There are politics, sports, messy relationships, and so much more. I definitely don't think you have to read this book after reading Beartown, but, personally, I feel like it added a layer of richness to my experience in this world.
Rating: ★★★★
Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools - Tyler Staton
I've been doing a lot of reflection on prayer in my spiritual life, so when I saw this book getting some buzz, I decided to read it and see what insight it could give me. Overall, it was a perfectly fine book. It had some interesting anecdotes and good reminders that are helpful. But, though there wasn't anything heretical, it was pretty standard and could be a bit repetitive in the points Staton was trying to make. Nothing that radically made me rethink my prayer life, but full of truth that Christians should be reminded of.
Rating: ★★★
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What did you ready in February?
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