lighthousebooks's reviews
556 reviews

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.

I wanted to like it being a Mainer and all, but I did not care for the writing style and some of the content is a bit risqué for me. 

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Cursing

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

adventurous emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Overall it was charming and delightful, while sad at turns. I enjoyed it more on audio which surprised me, but I think that’s because it helped me speed read the boring parts 😂🥴. The story illustrates family life and coming of age with good moral teaching, yet it isn’t true to a biblical faith, instead reflecting Alcott’s transcendentalist beliefs.

For a Lifetime by Gabrielle Meyer

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A book in this series finally earned five stars from me. I loved it. The history. The plot twists. The relationship between the sisters. The faith messages. All wonderful. And the romance was not awkward in the way it had been in the previous two novels. 👏

In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I really enjoyed the story. Great writing, though maybe heavy-handed messaging at times. I didn’t entirely agree with the author’s view of God’s will and I do find the romance to be awkward/uncomfortable given the multiple time streams.

Practical Religion Being Plain Papers on the Daily Duties, Experience, Dangers, and Privileges of Professing Christians by J.C. Ryle

informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯 is akin to a pastor or elder of the church encouraging you with a firm and compassionate hand to live the Christian life. Such practical wisdom! JC Ryle cares about our walk, our unity, and where we will spend eternity. He doesn’t bend beneath the winds of change. He is steady and grandfatherly (that beard!), strong and tender. You will feel his love for fellow Christians in his unswerving guidance. I highlighted so much of this book. JC Ryle is a fount of wisdom for the church, even today. A MUST READ. Maybe a 2025 goal? I have also read 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, and of the two I think this is the one you should read first. It is perfect to slow read after spending time in God’s Word. 

The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

The Christmas Guest is a dark and creepy novella. If you feel sad at this time of year, it might make you forget your troubles for a short time because your Christmas has got to be better than the one described on these pages. Overall, I have mixed feelings about the story. The plot was somewhat predictable and some of the content grated, but it wasn’t a terrible read.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Cursing, Sexual content

Why I Trust the Bible: Answers to Real Questions and Doubts People Have about the Bible by William D. Mounce

informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

This is an excellent book for anyone wanting to learn more about the historical reliability of the Bible. It addresses the common questions of the skeptic and the Christian alike in a scholarly and pastoral manner. The main topics are the historical Jesus, contradictions, the canon, textual criticism, translations, and the Old Testament.

My main interests/takeaways:

➖The viable text variants do not change our understanding of the Bible and its teachings. 

➖Translations are different because “languages are not codes, and it’s not possible to bring one word directly from one language into another.”

➖“… there is no such thing as a literal translation, nor is one even possible.”

A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen

emotional informative inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This was a fantastic middle-grade read full of historical details about the Berlin Wall and a suspenseful plot that had me tearing up in the end. I remember watching people take sledgehammers to the wall on the news November, 1989, and seeing the jubilation on their faces. It was an historic moment I won’t forget. 

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

5.0