Happy Wednesday friends! Today I am so excited to share my book, movie, and TV review of the month with y'all! This month I am doing both April and May together and am excited to share with y'all! Before I start though- if you have any suggestions for me for June please let me know! I am constantly looking for suggestions so if you have any favorites - please pass them on! (Also- if you missed February's Review and are looking for some ideas yourself you can find it HERE!)
So there a few books, movies, and a thought about TV... here we go: *smiles*
Books
{one}Rywka's Diary
If you know me or have been around the blog for even a little bit of time than you know that one of my passions is keeping the stories of the Holocaust alive so that we can educate the next generation about this time period. I have talked here on the blog about discovering information about the Lodz Ghetto a couple of years ago and how some of the stories from that time period influenced a book I have been writing for several years now.
I recently discovered this book, Rywka's Diary, which is the newly discovered diary of a Polish teenager who lived in the Lodz Ghetto during World War II. This was originally published by the Jewish Family & Children's Services, but has since been updated. One of the things about this book was that it really introduces the reader to so many ordinary and extraordinary people whose lives were forever changed by the Holocaust. Similar to The Chronicle of the Lodz Ghetto (that I have mentioned on the blog before), Rywka's Diary introduces the reader to the many individuals and happenings of the ghetto, but this time from Rywka Lipszyc's perspective. It is incredibly hard to read (especially the reality that she lost her parents and her siblings), as she discusses the issues of poverty, hunger and malnutrition. The diary takes place between October 1943 and April 1944 and horrifyingly ends literally in mid-sentence.
To this day it remains a mystery of what happened to Rywka Lipszyc, but her notebook was found in Auschwitz so it is believed that is where she died... but her story bravely lives on giving testimony and honor to so many people, including herself. I definitely recommend y'all reading it. You can find Rywka's Diary on Amazon HERE.
{two} The Path of Loneliness
I have mentioned on the blog before that Elisabeth Elliot is definitely one of my heroes and when I came across this book (which I hadn't read in years) I thought it would be a good one to read. If you are struggling through any kind of loneliness setting in your life right now (and I think a lot of people are) then this book is comforting and the topic is handled with extreme grace and tenderness.
One of my favorite quotes throughout this entire journey with my health issues actually came from this book...
"The pain of loneliness is one way in which he wants to get our attention. We may be earnestly desiring to be obedient and holy. But we may be missing the fact that it is here, where we happen to be at this moment and not in another place or another time, that we may learn to love Him - here where it seems He is not at work, where He seems obscure or frightening, where He is not doing what we expected Him to do, where He is most absent. Here and nowhere else is the appointed place. If faith does not got to work here, it will not work at all."
So convicting... and yet it has made me search my heart in so many ways time and time again.
{three} Adirondack Fifty Falls Challenge
Y'all know how I am working on this challenge this spring, summer, and fall and have been sharing about the #adk50falls here and on my instagram feed! While a lot of information is on the website, this book condenses it down and also is extremely helpful to anyone doing the challenge because it separates the falls by their location which is extremely helpful.
If you are doing the challenge or you are just interested in finding out more about different waterfalls in the Adirondack area, I would definitely recommend this book!.
{four} Devotedly
This book... I am honestly still processing it in so many ways. Has anyone else read this? I am going to save my complete review of it for a future month because I want to encourage y'all to buy it so we can talk about it! *smiles*
{five} Lauren Conrad Beauty
Y'all know that I am a girly-girl to the hilt and so when I came across this book by Lauren Conrad I thought it would be really interesting to read. The book is all about beauty (as the title states) and it's description says that it will tell you all about what you need to know about beauty, including Lauren's beauty secrets.
{six} Wildflowers
Y'all know that I love Robin Jones Gunn Books, especially a few of her series and the Glenbrooke Series has become a dear favorite to me as I have gotten older. I read this book several years ago for the first time and didn't relate to it as much but I picked it up again a few weeks ago and was really touched by the tender story in new ways. If you are looking for a new sweet story, I can't recommend this one enough.
One of my favorite quotes from the book was the following:
"I think it's possible to have an infirmity of some sort and live with it as a routine for decades. It's possible to forget that Jesus Christ has the power and desire to heal us. We just find excuses and keep living with things as they've always been..."
Isn't that so true of how things are in our lives sometimes? We just start to accept that things will be the same always or are routine... but that is not the way it has to be. So so powerful.
Movies
This is totally random but I watched it and despite the negative reviews I actually enjoyed this little Hallmark Movie. They filmed this in Africa so the scenery was beautiful, Lacey Chabert is always a fun actress, and it was just a lighthearted movie. If you are looking for a Hallmark story that has a bit of a story to it and will show you a safari- try watching this one. It is just cute.
I have always enjoyed Sarah Drew's acting and so when I saw that she was making a movie about the true story of Army Chaplain Darren Turner and his wife Heather I was so excited to see it. When it came out out of the theater my mom and I watched it and it really hit home to us. There are deep questions and struggles of those going through difficult times with their faith and I thought that the movie was extremely well done, inspirational, and beautiful in a deep way that will stay with you long after you have watched it. I can't recommend it enough.
I would also say that I felt that the acting and the film itself was one of the better Christian films that i have seen made and directed. It is just a really amazing story!
TV
*happy happy sigh* I just love this show. It is seriously so well done and it constantly makes us laugh and tackles some serious issues that need to be discussed in a thoughtful and respectful way. I love the relationship of the Secretary and her husband (the most healthy marriage that has been on TV I truly think ever!) and I often walk away from it challenged to do more in my community and world. Probably my favorite seasons have been season 1 for the beginning, but season 2 was... AMAZING. Anyone else agree? Well this season I have been SO impressed with the topics that they are addressing and bringing to light.. and the way that they have addressed issues... I seriously wish everyone in America would watch the show so that we could all learn some points on how to have respectful disagreements and dialogues. SO SO good. You can find it HERE.
This show is just phenomenal. If you haven't seen it than I can't recommend it enough. It does a good job (I think) of show casing our unsung heroes of our country and their families while also being phenomenally acted without to much violence. They depict the violence in a way that you understand the story but you are not turned off if you have a sensitive heart like mine.
Over the years there have been different shows that have attempted to do this dealing with the military but this one has really hit it home in my opinion. And the recent episode showcasing the issues that our servicemen and women encounter after they have served and sacrificed for our country ... I just wept. This episode (Medicate and Isolate- Episode 19) deserved an Emmy and if you don't watch any other episode... especially today on memorial day take a moment to watch THIS one - Medicate and Isolate (Ep. 19) ... I wept at the end and was reminded of the sacrifice that so many give for us each day.
You can find it HERE.
If you are curious about other book, Movie and TV reading lists I have done in the past you can find those posts below:
What about you- what have you been watching and reading that you would recommend for June?
Happy Monday friends! Thank you so much for reading today! I hope that you have a wonderful Memorial Day!
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