This is the next book I am going to read. It is one of the book pairs from NYSC the free summer audiobooks.

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

     This story is about life in Alaska for a small family who was totally not prepared for the beauties and horrors Alaska would bring them. Lenny's family was not prepared for the nighttime and winter with all the trials faced through the primitive lifestyle Lenny's family chose to follow after.
     Lenny's father and his best friend had been prisoners of war together in Vietnam. Lenny's dad inherited the Alaskan property when his friend died in captivity.  Lenny's dad suffered from PTSD from his years of captivity. Between his drinking and the darkness of the year, the father does even worse than before.
     When I was finished reading it, I felt like I was somehow looking around hoping to get a glimpse of the characters. I wanted them to pick up where they left off and let me back inside their story.
     It is a story more of family and inner survival than about the beauties of the Alaskan wilderness.  Be sure to check it out.

You by Charles Benoit

     Kyle is just starting 10th grade.  His reputation for being the kid who always gets into trouble precedes him as he starts the beginning of the new school year.  Everything is just disappointing and mundane. His attitude is very disenchanted. He is very cynical and wishing he would have done a better job in the 8th grade. Home life is plain, school life isn't any better, his social life is even worse. He has very few friends. 
     Kyle told his best friend about a crush he has on a girl, Ashley. He is too shy to ask Ashley out. These are just a few of the problems going on in Kyle's life. There is no way anyone could have known how it all would end.  Zack has been bullying Kyle and going before Kyle setting situations up so it looks like Kyle has done something he really hasn't done. Something that will get Kyle into trouble.  Everyone just thinks Kyle is all about doing the wrong thing and being at the wrong place at the wrong time, even when he did do the right thing.
     I listened to this audiobook. It was pretty short for an audiobook. I'm not really sure what I think of this book because Kyle is so negative and doomsday in his attitude.  When I finished it I thought it was an average book. But three days later, I really had to strain to remember what my opinion of the book was. Be sure to check it out.  Let me know what you think.
   

Six Hours One Friday by Max Lucado

     I don't usually read more than one book at a time but, I have to admit, that is what I'm doing right now.  I was looking for something to help me prepare for the Easter season when I came across these books by Max Lucado.  I thought Six Hours One Friday sounded very insightful, informative, and personal, so I decided to buy it. Then I saw the other two and got them all at the same time.
     When I was little, and a terrible reader who was constantly struggling to make sense of reading, I would pick a book according to how long it was. The shorter, the better!  So I had to laugh at myself when I evaluated the summaries and was trying to decide which one to read first. And do you know what I did? I picked the skinniest one. He Did this Just for You.  It was incredible!  It is only 64 pages. This, combined with the easy layout, make it easy to read.  There is so much clarity that I am going to have to read it again. It addresses the details of the pain and suffering Jesus endured, even before being crucified, just for me. He addresses a few things I haven't considered before. I strongly recommend it.
     On Calvary's Hill is divided into 40 reading leading up to Easter.  The author has the incredible ability to paint a picture with his words. The details of the events are so real. And with the detail, he includes some very deep insight. This is another excellent book for this time of year, or really, anytime.
     Six Hours One Friday is being offered as an online Bible study right now. I signed up for that too. Though I'm not able to join the discussion due to the time conflicting with school time, I'm hoping to gain some insight from other people who are actually meeting online sharing their thoughts and ideas. There is a Facebook page I've joined to participate in the discussion.
     Be sure to read at least one of these if you are looking for this kind of book. As I said in the beginning, I don't usually read more than one book at a time, or recommend that others do it, but in this case, I have to say I am really gaining a lot of insight as I grow closer to the one who called me close.

Does Anyone Have any Light and Humorous Book Recommendations?

     I'm looking for something funny, light, and entertaining.  Any recommendations?
   

Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's by John Elder Robison

     What a story! If you have anyone in your family, or circle of friends, or even an acquaintance, with Asperger's, you really should read this book.  The author, John, who has Asperger's, explains some of the quirky things people with this diagnosis do and how these things are misinterpreted or punished. He shares his life story in all the trials and humor.

     John's younger brother encouraged him to tell his story to help people understand, first hand, what it is like to live with Asperger's. They shared many experiences over the years, some that his brother helped him navigate.

     John revisits major events in his life and explains what he was actually thinking at the time.  Some heartwrenching experiences. There are highs and lows, but always a better understanding of what the author was dealing with.  

     And in closing, did I say, "You really should read this book!" 

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo; Lynn Vincent

   

      This book is such an inspiration to me, as a Christian. The main character, Colton, is almost four years old.  He has to have emergency surgery and was clinically dead for a short period of time. Months after the emergency, he starts sharing events of being in heaven, the people he sees, and his experiences there.  He tells his parents about people he met that he didn't even know were part of his family and many other recollections from his experience.
     I highly recommend this book if you want to be encouraged or are struggling with questions of life and making sense of death. It is uplifting and encouraging.