February 2024 Book Round Up
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Reading Roundup for February
This month was a little skimpy compared to most book round-up’s of mine. We had our anniversary, my birthday, and Valentines Day all back to back. You could say we were a bit busy!
The Hail Mary Project - Andy Weir
Targeted age: Adult
Clean: Talk of sex between two characters
Christian: No. Secular book.
My Rating: 3/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Description
"Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.
Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.
All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.
His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.
And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone.
Or does he?”
This was a really cool sci-fi book. The story was really awesome and the further you get into the book, the more it draws you in. This is a dystopian sci-fi book, so there’s a lot of talk of the end of humanity.
There are a few drawbacks, however.
Being sci-fi, there is talk of climate change, and one character even makes fun of what he calls “climate change deniers”. Super cringeworthy line. There is also talk of sex between two unmarried astronauts, and the way it was written was really awkward. The few pages where they have this dialogue feels out of place with the rest of Weir’s writing. It seems like it was an afterthought from the publisher, rather than the natural flow of the story from the writer. I docked a star just for that. It was unnecessary, forced, and awkward for the reader (not to mention, it’s sin). There’s not much thought of God, even in this “end of all humanity” story, making it quite bleak for all the characters. Other content warnings below.
Content Warnings:
Talk of/methods of suicide
Curse words sprinkled throughout the text, not super heavy. One f-word.
Lord’s name taken in vain
Sexual relationship between 2 unmarried couples.
Being a sci-fi book, there is a LOT of science terms. At times I found myself skipping/skimming these parts. I was still able to follow the story without understanding the mechanics of many machines or the science of something in space.
If you can get past the content warnings, this is actually a good story. I think it would be a fantastic movie! However, it gets a 3 star from me for the weird sex-talk.
Authors, do better.
Of Love and Treason - Jamie Ogle
Targeted age: Adult
Spice: Clean
Christian: Yes
My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I finished this book last night and I needed some time to process my emotions. I wanted to read this book for the week of Valentines Day (and my wedding anniversary). Jamie Ogle really delivers with this book.
Quick break down…this is the story of Saint Valentine. Based in true historical fact, wrapped up with a beautiful story of love and sacrifice. My favorite kind of book is a historical novel based in true history. Jamie took her time and did her research with this novel.
What I love the most is that she bases the entire novel on the sovereignty of God. This is a hard lesson I’ve had to learn in the last few years through much physical suffering, so in many ways I could personally relate to the main character who is going through trials that she doesn’t understand. Throughout the book, we see her come to Christ and learn that God is a good God, even when we suffer.
I highly recommend this book to you all. This one doesn’t disappoint. I’m labeling it as an adult novel though for mature themes.
Content warnings:
Christian martyrdom (some details)
Violence
Talk of women having to go into prostitution (not in detail)
The Sisters of Sea View - Julie Klassen
Targeted age: Adult, but fine for teens
Clean: Yes
Christian: Yes
My Rating: 5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was like a warm cup of tea on a rainy day. It warmed my soul. It was as if this book could warp me into a hug every time I opened it. This novel was a rare, unexpected gem. It gave me all the vibes of Little Women and Anne of Green Gables. Being two of my favorite books, I was immediately drawn in.
Basics of the book; after their father dies, and their mother is all but an invalid, 4 sisters decide to turn their seaside home into a boarding house. The book tells of their adventures of love, loss, and friendship.
No real content warnings here.
I adored Jack and his story. Being the wife of a combat injured veteran, I really identified with Jack and Viola’s story. Viola grew on me and I really enjoyed her character and how she developed as the book went on. I enjoyed their story more than any other in the book.
I’m really excited to read book #2, which I already have on my shelf. This is a series, and from what I’ve heard, book #3 is coming!
A Life Once Dreamed - Rachel Fordham
Targeted age: Adult (and mature teen)
Christian: Yes
Spice: Just kissing, mentions intimacy in jest a few times
My Rating: 5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Calling all fans of When Calls the Heart! This sweet book only took me 2 days to read. Not because it’s a short book, but because I loved it so much. It had a great hook in the beginning and I was sucked into this story. This had a touch of WCTH and Anne of Green Gables.
Set in the late 1800’s we have a teacher who left her hometown to start a new life because of a deeply-held secret. She left behind a man whom she was engaged to. He sets off to find her 6 years later and settles in the town she’s teaching in. Now they both have to make decisions about their future, together or apart.
Highly recommend this one for fans of historical fiction!
