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Books I've read so far in 2026


    I'm finally reading again! I realize that sounds like an exaggeration, but over the last few years, I've set aside reading as a regular hobby.  But I'm a bookworm again, and it is amazing.
    Since the start of 2026, I've logged 26 books read so far. Some have been audiobooks, some in print books, and a few have been eBooks. I keep track of the books on my Goodreads profile. 
    The first book of the year was a short, powerful book by AW Tozer, "How to be filled with the Holy Spirit". I listened to the audiobook and it only took 2 or 3 hours. It was a great way to start my reading year!
    The most recent book I've finished was also an audiobook; this one was quite long. It took approximately 10 hours to listen, and I took almost a month to finish it. But it was well worth the length of time. "Where the Wind Leads" might be the most extraordinary, true-life story I've encountered in a long time. I highly recommend! It's the story of a Vietnamese family escaping Communism as refugees, their perilous journey across the sea, the parents coming to Christ, and the family's eventual settling in Arkansas. Amazing.
    In between these two audiobooks, I've been privileged to read some great- and not so great-books.
   I'll just highlight a few of my favorite books of the year so far and then touch on my least favorite ones. 
    First, I enjoyed the first three Posie Parker mysteries. I listened to them on Hoopla. The narrator is superb. The second book was my favorite. I believe there are like 12 or more, but I haven't finished the series-yet.
    Second, I really liked Terri Blackstock's "If I run" series: books one and two. (I am headed to the library this weekend to try and check out book 3.). This is a good, clean, suspense series with two memorable main characters.
    Third, "the Correspondent" by Virginia Evans. I loved this novel. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads. A witty, humorous, but also heartbreaking, novel made up of letters between Sybil and her many friends, family members, and even a few famous authors. I can't stop thinking about it.
    Fourth, I really enjoyed a couple domestic thrillers by a new (to me) author, BA Paris. "The Breakdown" was an audiobook. I enjoyed the British narrator. While I got annoyed by some of the repetition and the main character's panicky responses to just about everything, I also liked how it came together, and while not a perfect book (there was some language), it was a pretty good psychological thriller. It definitely had some tense, somewhat dark moments so just be aware of that. I also read her book, "Behind Closed Doors". I read the eBook. It kept me on the edge of my seat. The villain was outrageously mean and evil, and the main character was so helpless as times, but I could not put it down.  It also had some dark themes, and moments of pure anxiety. I find that I have to space out my readings of these types of books. But every now and then, they are fun.
    Fifth, "How to break up with your phone" was a great book. I highly recommend it. This book has helped me tremendously as I've taken some steps to break my addiction to social media.
    Finally, it was fun reading a couple Agatha Christie stories: "Cat among the Pigeons", and "Peril at End House". Nobody writes mysteries like she did!
I enjoyed several others, but those are the ones I'd probably highlight for the start of the year.
Now, least favorites. This may be controversial.  But I did not like "You are what you love" by James KA Smith. I did not like the writing style, the wordy illustrations, nor did I agree with many of his conclusions. I did agree that habits form who we are.  
    The other book I did not really like was Lisa Jewell's "I found you". Actually, I DID enjoy reading it. It was hard to put down. But as I finished it, I did not like the feeling it gave me. It was so bleak in places. I devoured it and then felt kind of sick. I read another book written by Jewell years ago, and I think I felt the same way. Maybe her books just aren't for me, despite how difficult they are to put down!
    In between these highs and lows, I read some good books. It has been so fun to become a reader again! I'm grateful, and I hope I will continue to find great books to read.
    Also, I'm steadily reading through the Bible this year. (on audiobook). I'm in Psalms currently. The ultimate Good Book for sure!
    Ok, that's all for now. Let me know what books you have been reading. 
-Ruth

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