Meredith's Recommended Books: September » Living Life with Meredith

I cannot believe we’re in October & that I’m sharing my September recommended books with you. March feels like it was just yesterday. Remember the fiction book from March?! That book was crazy. Anyway…

It’s October and that’s unbelievable but I just want to say that I am back to my normal self when it comes to reading. As in, I have motivation to read again. I have no problem just picking up one book after the other. And more importantly, I really want to read. Yay! So happy that my usual reading self is back!

I read the fiction book that I’m sharing with you today & and that kick started things & got me back into my groove. This book is so good, I love the author, and I can’t wait for you to read all about it & then hopefully read it yourself.

You know what, I think we should just dive right in. Let’s go.

Onto the books from September!

September Recommended Book #1:

The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck

Non-Fiction Recommended Book-The Road Less Travelled by M. Scott Peck

Here’s the synopsis:

“Confronting and solving problems is a painful process which most of us attempt to avoid. And the very avoidance results in greater pain and an inability to grow both mentally and spiritually.

Drawing heavily on his own professional experience, Dr. M. Scott Peck suggests ways in which facing our difficulties – and suffering through the chances – can enable us to reach a higher level of self-understanding. He discusses the nature of loving relationships: how to recognize true compatibility, how to distinguish dependency from love, how to become one’s own person, and how to be a more sensitive parent.”

My Thoughts:

I am racking my brain trying to figure out what to say about this book. Let me start with this: it took me forever to read it. Not for lack of trying but because to really be able to focus & grasp everything, it needed to be quiet. Like, sit out by the pool or in a quiet room by myself. There’s just so much information in here. And some of it is worded in a way that if you just “read” it, you’ll be confused. You need to truly read it & think about and process it before moving onto the next sentence. This book was a ten million copies sold, bestseller book. And I don’t know how I feel about that. In some ways, with some parts of the book, I totally get it. In other ways, I can’t believe it.

Don’t leave. Let me explain.

I liked most of this book. Parts of it, and by parts of it, I mean sentences, occasionally paragraphs, sometimes small details, I didn’t agree with (it was written in the 70s, I definitely don’t think the woman has to stay home :)). That could be because it was worded in a way that confused me & I couldn’t wrap my head around it but fair warning there. Overall, I like the premise of the book & the overall meaning. The book was broken up into three (long) sections: discipline, love, and grace. Each three are broken down answering questions about each topic, explaining each topic, how to grow in each topic, etc. Like I said, most of it I liked. I liked how he would give different case studies that helped further explain the topics. He did talk a lot about psychotherapy & how those three topics (discipline, love, & grace) coincide with psychotherapy.

I would recommend this book if you’re really into learning & want to learn how to take The Road Less Traveled, especially with discipline & love. Those were the best sections in my opinion. If you do read this book, which I would recommend, my suggestion would be to read this slowly & take your time. Maybe even take notes or highlight key passages for you. This is truly a learning, educational book. I’m not the type of person to read more than one book at a time but if you are, I would recommend this book for you to learn & grow, slowly, and then a fun book (like the one below) that you read during your non-learning free time. 🙂

September Recommended Book #2:

The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda

Here’s the summary:

“Littleport, Maine, has always felt like two separate towns: an ideal vacation enclave for the wealthy, whose summer homes line the coastline; and a simple harbor community for the year-round residents whose livelihoods rely on service to the visitors.

Typically, fierce friendships never develop between a local and a summer girl—but that’s just what happens with visitor Sadie Loman and Littleport resident Avery Greer. Each summer for almost a decade, the girls are inseparable—until Sadie is found dead. While the police rule the death a suicide, Avery can’t help but feel there are those in the community, including a local detective and Sadie’s brother, Parker, who blame her. Someone knows more than they’re saying, and Avery is intent on clearing her name, before the facts get twisted against her.

Another thrilling novel from the bestselling author of All the Missing Girls and The Perfect Stranger, Megan Miranda’s The Last House Guest is a smart, twisty read with a strong female protagonist determined to make her own way in the world.”

My Thoughts:

I have been waiting to read this book for a while & it was definitely worth the wait. It was so good! I read it in two days. I just could not put it down. This book falls into the “suspense” category and it does not disappoint. I’ve read one of her other books, The Perfect Stranger, and I’d say that one falls into more the thriller/psychological thriller category and there were definitely moments that had me a little scared. This book, however, it suspenseful. You won’t be scared but you will be on the edge of your seat & unable to stop turning the page.

You’ll be reading along, enjoying the book, wondering what the heck is gonna happen next, and then Megan Miranda is going to drop a bomb. Or two. Or three. Right in a row. At one point I was literally saying–out loud might I add–“I can’t. I can’t do this. This is insane! You’ve gotta be kidding me!” It’s that shocking, or at least it was to me, and it’s that good of a book, from start to finish. You definitely need to read this one! I highly recommend you start it ASAP. You won’t be able to put it down!

The Perfect Stranger is also really good & I highly recommend that one too!

I hope y’all enjoyed reading my thoughts on this month’s books.

Comment below & let me know what type of books you like to read on vacation & if you’ve read either of these books and what you thought of them. Let’s talk about it! And if you haven’t read either of them, do you want to? Which one?

Love,