September Books 2023
September Books 2023: 8 Books I Read this Month
By: Brittany Shields
With the exception of ‘Heaven’ all of these reads were released in 2023 (or 2022: Spare)!
I had a couple not so great reading experiences, but most of them I would recommend.
I only fulfilled one prompt from the Shelf Reflection’s 2023 Reading Challenge which also happened to be on my Most Anticipated Books of 2023 list.
I’m finding it harder and harder to navigate my to-read list between my challenges, my advanced reader copies from NetGalley, books I receive through reviewer programs, and books I receive via authors/publishers directly, plus all the ones I just have been wanting to read!
But each month I make a dent and try not to add more to my list than I read… easier said than done.
Anyway, I’m happy to be in the cozy, candle-lit, crisp air reading part of the season. I think I have a couple ‘spooky-vibe’ type books coming up in October (not horror…) that will be fun to get into.
What reads have you liked recently and what are you looking forward to?
Spotlight of the Month
I’m going to spotlight the book Amazing Grace because I think it was the most surprising of my reads this month. It was more powerful and enlightening than I was expecting. Plus this year is the 250th anniversary of the singing of the hymn, so it seems proper to give it some extra attention!
You may think you know the story behind the song, but if you read this book I think you’ll be shocked to find out the depth of wretchedness that God saved John Newton from.
1. Heaven by Randy Alcorn
Genre: Theology
[Fulfilled ‘A nonfiction book with a two syllable title’ for Shelf Reflection’s 2023 Reading Challenge]
“As long as the resurrected universe remains either undesirable or unimaginable, Satan succeeds in sabotaging our love for Heaven.”
This is a very comprehensive book on the topic of Heaven. Just like Randy Alcorn’s book, Happiness, it is long and probably best read as a reference book rather than read cover to cover.
With lots of Scripture references and quotes from C.S. Lewis’ fiction and non-fiction writings, Alcorn has compiled this book to show us all the amazing adventure that is yet to come.
Whatever you think about Heaven, my guess is you probably haven’t thought about it enough. I didn’t realize I hadn’t until I read this book. I grew up in the church and reading this I realized how many questions I never asked, how many answers I never sought, and how exciting and beautiful Heaven will actually be.
Whether you feel bored by the thought of Heaven, you’re already itching to get there, or you’re somewhere in between, read this book and rediscover God, because much of our view of Heaven tells us how we view the One who dwells there.
Read my full review for more quotes, a list of questions the book answers, and some of my lightbulb moments from reading it!
2. Spare by Prince Harry
Genre: Memoir
[Fulfilled ‘A book related to the royal family’ for Shelf Reflection’s 2023 Reading Challenge]
[On my list of Most Anticipated Books of 2023]
“If they didn’t know why I’d left, maybe they just didn’t know me. At all. And maybe they never really did.”
I feel like it needs to be said that I did not read this book because I just love the royal family. I am curious about certain things surrounding any family that is considered ‘royalty’ but I don’t follow this particular family or keep up to date on royal family news. I read this book for a reading challenge, because I was curious what Harry had to say about his mom, and to see if I could get more insight on all the Harry drama.
So it’s basically a hate letter to the press slash processing of his grief over his mom’s death with some biographical information on Harry’s military career, his drug and alcohol use, and series of girlfriends. And yes, the last bit of it does give more insight on the Harry/Meghan drama.
There is some controversy over the book and just like the rest of Harry’s life, I’m not sure what is all fact or fiction.
Read my review to see what other reviewers complained about, some randoms, and my comments on all the things with the disclaimer that ‘if what Harry writes is true’ then this is what I think of it. I was actually a bit surprised by my slight alignment with Harry on this thing. I’m still not Harry’s biggest fan but at least I’m now more informed about his story.
3. Take the Long Way Home by Rochelle Alers
Genre: Historical Fiction/ Romance
“Fifty-eight years. That’s how long it had taken Claudia to find her way back home... But then she had to ask herself: where was home?”
Take the Long Way Home is a historical fiction/romance/coming-of-age story.
I read this book because I was intrigued by the title and the idea of a book spanning so much history through the eyes of one black woman.
The book begins with an 83-year-old Claudia who reflects back on her life and the four men that made major impacts on her life- two white, two black- that span both time and oceans. As Claudia lives through the civil rights movement there is also the thread of what her experience is to be black in America during that time.
Read my full book review to get more plot and character details, some thoughts on the title, content advisory, and the major reason why I don’t actually recommend this book.
4. One Last Kill (Tracy Crosswhite #10) by Robert Dugoni
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
This follows book nine, What She Found. While it can be read as a stand alone novel, I think it would at least be best to read 9 and 10 in order because this book handles a lot of residuals from What She Found and I think some of it may lose its punch if you aren’t aware of the background.
What Tracy found in the last book was corruption in high places and leaders taking drug money. The investigative reporter looking into several cases then, including that one, went missing. Some things were left a little ‘unresolved.’
So now, in One Last Kill, Tracy is investigating the cold case of a serial killer that may have some connection to the other cases the investigative reporter was researching back then. Anita Childress, from book 9, is a returning character.
Not only is Tracy battling the normal challenges of a cold case, she’s also got some enemies in high places that don’t want her to succeed and is assigned a partner she can’t stand. Can she track down a killer without putting herself or her family in danger?
Read my full review for a comment on the title, some other randoms, a spoiler alert, and a content advisory on this book that differs from previous ones in the series.
5. Reclaiming Masculinity: Seven Biblical Principles for Being the Man God Wants You to Be by Matt Fuller
Genre: Christian Living/ Cultural
I didn’t read this book to figure out how to be the man God wants me to be… because I’m a woman.
But I was curious how Fuller approached the term ‘masculinity’ in a time when it’s pretty much only used negatively.
I’m a woman, but I’m married to a man and I’m raising two sons. My husband is bombarded with the term ‘toxic masculinity’ and my sons will have to figure out their place in a world where they’re made to feel guilty just for being a male.
While this book is primarily written for males, I think women can benefit from reading this in three major ways: recognizing and encouraging biblical masculinity in our husbands, knowing what to look for in a potential husband if we are single, and knowing what to teach our sons if we are mothers.
I also think this would be a good book for a group of men to go through together. It’s short so it’s a pretty quick read and would foster some good conversations and areas where they can provide each other with accountability.
This book is not meant to be exhaustive or prescriptive. These are broad-stroke principles not daily routine schedules. There is room for differences here— every man is not going to look the same or like the same things, but ‘manhood’ is more defined by a right posture before God and towards others.
Read my full review to see what the seven principles are, my highlights from the book, and a list of books for further relevant reading.
6. Amazing Grace: The Life of John Newton and the Surprising Story Behind the Song by Bruce Hindmarsh & Craig Borlase
Genre: (Dramatized) Biography
“‘My memory is nearly gone. But I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.’”
This is the year (2023) that we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the first singing of the hymn, Amazing Grace, by John Newton.
It may be one of the most well-known songs in the country, but the story behind it— not so much. I grew up in the church and I had heard of John Newton, of course, but it was the post-repentant John Newton. The song’s message is even more powerful when you read of everything that came before it.
This book enlightens you, educates you, and encourages you. It will make you feel sad and angry, but it’s a book of hope and forgiveness. It’s a book that reminds us that God is a God of both forgiveness and justice. In a world full of violence and oppression, we know that he sees and we know he will have final vindication.
It reminds us to reflect on our own sin. To confess where we’ve been blind. And to accept his forgiveness when we have repented. We are not disqualified from his grace. If God can save someone like John Newton, he can save us too.
Read my full review for a content advisory warning, more story details, a reflection on a modern blindspot, and four profound truths we can take away from this story.
7. The Taken Ones by Jess Lourey
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
This book was a nice surprise! I had not read Lourey before so I wasn’t sure what to expect.
It was a suspenseful police procedural without a lot of swearing, plus a couple twists and a cliffhanger ending!
This is the first in a series with two main characters working cases together through Minnesota’s BCA (Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) in their cold case unit.
A cold case of two abducted girls back in the 80s is reopened when they think they may have found one of the girls (now a woman) buried alive. If they can solve the case they may be able to find the other missing girl.
Read my full review for a heads up on an aspect of the book not everyone will like, more info on the characters, and a trigger warning.
8. The Librarian’s Ruse by Thirzah
Genre: YA/Novella
This is a novella written for younger readers. Because of the short format, there is not a lot of depth to the book, but it does appear to be part of a series so the story should hopefully continue on in a deeper way.
The premise is Amelia and Leon, librarians and siblings, are traveling to Eldnaire to bring some books to the library there. But on the way they inadvertently hear a murder in the woods and stumble across the victims’ abandoned campsite. They help themselves to the goods, including the unique white fur coats.
But when they enter the city, they are approached by an official of the emperor who mistakens them (because of the coats) for those were killed. To avoid punishment of stealing goods, their ruse is to continue to pretend to be whoever the emperor was expecting even though if they’re caught they could face death anyway.
They are then thrust into the politics and secrets of nations at odds and those who would rather have war than peace. The people who killed once may be coming for them next.
Read my full review for things I thought were missing.
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