Currently Reading: April 2017

Long time no talk, friends. It's been a while since I've written something, so I'm a little rusty. Well actually, writing was (and never will be) my "thing." To be quite honest, I hate writing! There's something about my brain that just won't let me translate my thoughts into words. Another part of that is my need to sound good, to be put together, to look intelligent. So you can see why that combination is bad for me.

After listening to Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, I've just decided to stick with something she talks about: PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION. I WANT to talk books with you all, WHO CARES if I'm eloquent or not? I'm not being graded on my content, and I'm not looking for a literary agent to help publish my work. I just want to express my love for stories! (Here's to being unapologetic about my lack of writing skills!)

Now that I'm done being my own hype man*, it's time to get this bookish party started! (*One of my friends, Tina, told me that you gotta be your own hype man cause no one's gonna do it for you LOL.)

I'm here to talk about all the books I've been reading. Commitment is hard, my friends. I am so bad at finishing books ... there are just too many good ones to start and I don't want to have FOMO. If you're reading any of these, please let me know so we can encourage each other to KEEP GOING!

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern • 24%
I've been meaning to start this one for the longest time but it is so intimidating! Not sure how I garnered the courage to pick this up, but it happened on Wednesday and I'm not mad about it. I really hope I end up loving this book. So far, the writing is incredibly atmospheric and the story is strange, in a good way. It hasn't completely captured me yet, but I do get the urge to pick it up from time to time. (If you've read this one, please tell me!)

Goal: Finish by the end of May

Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda/Jeremy McCarter • 57%
Y'all, if you love Hamilton, you need to read this. I love the footnotes for every single song (I listen to each one as I read) and I love being able to read through the entire writing/casting process. I am just about to start Act 2!

Goal: Finish before I watch Hamilton on July 7th

Noteworthy by Riley Redgate • 6%
Jordyn from J. Bookish recently read and loved this book, so of course I went and requested it from NetGalley. It's about a girl who can't get a part in her school's fall musical because of her lower range, so she decides to try out for an all-male a capella group. I've barely made a dent, but I'm excited to find out what happens. A capella speaks straight into my soul, and reading this book makes me want to sing! (Haha.)

Goal: Finish by the end of April (so I can share my thoughts around publication time!)

Word-Filled Women's Ministry by Gloria Furman/Kathleen B. Nielson • 24%
This is the book we're reading through at my church as part of the women's mentoring ministry. I've only read through two chapters (I didn't even finish the second chapter yet :x) so I can't say much about it yet. The cover is really pretty though!

Goal: Stay on track with our sessions

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero • 35%
Myself and the other youth counselors at my church have been going through a spirituality course that accompanies this book. We've been listening to the sessions together, but I am sooo behind in reading ... hopefully I can finish most (if not all) during this upcoming week. I will be in NYC from Monday to Friday, so there will be plenty of time for me to relax and enjoy the atmosphere :)

Goal: Finish by the end of April

What are you currently reading? Are you juggling more than two books?