What I actually read this month was…
(Click on the titles to see my reviews.)
Fiction
- Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke
- The Quest by Nancy Moser
- Second Time Around by Nancy Moser
Nonfiction
- American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation by Jon Meacham*
Read some great quotes from the introduction. - Become a Better You by Joel Osteen
- The Best Apron Book Ever edited by Julie Johnson
- Community Quilts by Kavava and Skemp
- The Cross of Christ by John Stott
I also wrote copious notes on this title. - It All Changed in an Instant: More Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure edited by Smith Magazine
- Marry Him: The Case for settling for Mr. Good Enough by Lori Gottlieb
I also wrote up a post of quotes from this book - The Myth of a Christian Nation by Greg Boyd
Also see my various thoughts related to this title from my weeks of reading it together with a book club - The Organized Home by Real Simple
- See What I’m Saying: The Extraordinary Powers of our Five Senses by Lawrence D. Rosenblum
- Southern Living Homestyle Cookbook
I made and modified four recipes from this book: Peanut Butter Squares, French Toast Casserole, Southwestern Turkey and Rice Soup, and the amazing Arlene’s Herb Biscuits.
Juvenile
- Children’s Picture Books author ASCH-AZORE (95 titles)
including several Moonbear titles by Frank Asch
some bird books by Dianna Hutts Aston
and some read aloud favorites by Jim Aylesworth - The Animal Shelter Mystery created by Gertrude Chandler Warner
- Inside The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by Bell, Pyykkonen, and Washington
- The Phantom Freighter by Franklin W. Dixon
- The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee*
*****************Begin Note**********************
I generally review what I can prior to my nightstand post and figure that I’ll leave what I didn’t get to un-reviewed. I DO NOT want to do that with Jon Meacham’s American Gospel or Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird–both are too excellent to not write about. I hope to write about both over this next week–the reviews will be linked in my “Recap” post that comes out Saturday evenings at 11:59. So if you want to read my thoughts on either of those books, check back sometime on Sunday for the link. Otherwise, if you see a linked title on this post (or any other of my nightstand posts), the link will lead to my review.
*****************End Note**********************
Currently in the middle of…
- Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris
I’m still working on this one slowly with my book group–I’ll let you know when I’ve got a formal review done! - Founding Faith by Steven Waldman
A history of church and state in the United States. So far, quite interesting. It makes a case for there not having been a uniform religion among the Founding Fathers–leading to interesting discussions of the interactions between church and state. - Proverbs: The Wisdom of Solomon translated by Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro
I’m reading this along with my daily Bible reading (which currently has me in Proverbs.) This is a free translation (somewhat akin to the Message, only by a Jewish rabbi who appears to be rather secular)–and it makes for some interesting reading and comparison. - A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken
Lisa reviewed it, I recapped it, Casandra raved about it–and then she lent me her library copy so I could read it (Casandra’s my roommate, for those who were wondering!) Thus far, this is a spectacular true story.
On this month’s nightstand:
I’m going easy on myself this month, recognizing that I’m starting up quite a few new things that’ll likely eat a significant portion of my time. Thus, there are only (!) 13 titles on this month’s nightstand (not counting the homemakey books and the children’s picture books, of course.)
Fiction
- By Way of the Silverthorns by Grace Livingston Hill
- A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
- Love’s Enduring Promise by Janette Oke
- Love’s Long Journey by Janette Oke
- Masquerade by Nancy Moser
- Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
Nonfiction
- How to Write & Publish a Scientific Paper by Robert A. Day
- Manufacturing Depression by Gary Greenberg
- The Narnian by Alan Jacobs
- The World According to Mr. Rogers
- Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen
(After reading Osteen’s Become a Better You, I’m not sure whether I’ll read this one or not–I’m guessing I’ll skim it just for the basics so I can dialogue about it in an informed manner. Please read my thoughts on Osteen for a better understanding of why I’m reading/skimming this title.) - A dozen craft/decorating/homemakey books
Juvenile
- Children’s Picture Books author BA-?
- C.S. Lewis: The Chronicler of Narnia by Mary Dodson Wade
- The Homeschool Liberation League by Lucy Frank
Drop by 5 Minutes 4 Books to see what others are reading.
We’re blogging up & at it early this morning. :-) Good to visit with you now at Nightstand. I’ve added The Cross of Christ to my list; I must get around to reading that one. (Or else I could just read your copious notes…) Marry Him also looks like a great book I should read and pass along to my daughters.
So glad you’re enjoying A Severe Mercy! You’ve got a great list.
So much good stuff here! The “Marry Him” book sounds fascinating (enjoyed your review of it), and I’d love to come to your place for dinner. Those recipes you tried – yum!
Thats quite a list!!
mine
Great reading month! I see a couple of Nancy Moser titles I have not read yet.
Whew!!
I got Love Comes Softly (is that the first one?) on my Kindle free last month. I’d like to read it and for my middle schooler to read it. I think I was about her age when I read my grandmother’s copies.
And I saw your copy on Brooke’s about Hunger Games — the series is finished. Mockingjay is the last!
What a good and meaty list! I’m off now to read some of your reviews…
Ahhh….your list is so interesting. And, per usual, I’m clicking on all of the titles you reviewed and I somehow missed! So…hopping around your site now. =)
Oh wow, I read all those Jeannette Oke books when I was 12… over and over haha. I loved them, but I forgot about them until now. I really loved Love Comes Softly, but also there was a couple not from that series that I loved too. I think one was called Roses for Mama. The other “favourites” I would remember if I saw the titles but I can’t right now.
Quite a list!!! I’ve read one Nancy Moser book — the one about Elisabeth Barrett Browning — and want to read more some day. I’d love to go back through the Love Comes Sofylt series again, as well.
I’m with Lisa, I am adding The Cross of Christ to my list!
I have yet to do my Nightstand post, but my stack is quite high this month. I’ve been bitten by the reading bug. :D
I saw you have a couple Moser titles on your list. Do you like her? I just received an email from Bethany House Publishers (have you signed up for any of the free books for bloggers programs?) that had her newest book available free for review. I’ve enjoyed her books so far and look forward to receiving the newest one. If you’re interested, I can forward the email to you so you can get a review copy as well.
Wow- ONLY 13, huh? :)
You must have a real dedication here, because that is a whole lot of reading going on!
-Dawn, 5minutesforbooks.com
I’m with Dawn — “Only 13” this month made me smile! I’m hoping to read a tiny bit more than usual this month, with school back in session, but I haven’t thought past my current book yet. :)
@Lisa: Definitely! It’s not often that I run into another blogger up and around and leaving comments in those early morning hours. But Nightstand day is one of my favorite days of the month and I have to get a start on blog reading early!
@Susan: Dinner would be great :-) Since I live with only one roommate, it seems like I eat leftovers almost constantly (I cook one or two full meals a week and then eat their leftovers the rest of the time.) I’d appreciate anyone who could eat some of it while it’s still hot (and save me the leftovers). Nevertheless, you know that the recipes that make it through have got to be good, since I’ve managed to eat them for two to four meals and still consider them worth repeating!
@Bluestocking: Thanks–and thanks for the info on Hunger Games. I was wondering what all the buzz was about.
@Nise: Masquerade, the one on my nightstand right now is the last one in my library’s collection that I still haven’t read. I generally liked all of them except The Quest which I disliked quite a bit.
@Jennifer: Love Comes Softly is the first of the series–and I remember enjoying it quite a bit as a pre-teen/early teen. (Actually, my favorites were about Belinda, the daughter–Love Takes Wing and maybe Love Finds a Home?) Thanks for letting me know that Mockingjay is the last–I’m going to have to put Hunger Games on my library hold list now–wonder how long it’ll take to get it? :-)
@Janet and Carrie: Thanks for reading some of the reviews! I always appreciate it when people click through and (hopefully) find something useful.
@Teresa Dawn: I totally relate. I was fanatical about Oke. I remember my older sister reading Roses for Mama to us younger kids. It was her favorite book–but I didn’t like it very much. Then I read it again last year and was blown away. It’s got to be one of Oke’s best works.
@Barbara: I’ve enjoyed most of Moser’s works–except The Quest (that one’s worth skipping.) I’m re-reading the Love Comes Softly series after something like a ten-year hiatus. It’s fascinating how time changes one’s perspective on books!
@Monica: Glad you’re adding The Cross of Christ–it’s a great book.
@Cassandra: I do like Moser. I haven’t signed up for any books for bloggers programs–but I’d love to receive any information you have about them. Thanks!
@morninglightmama and Katrina: Yeah, the “only” 13 books was a bit tongue-in-cheek. But honestly, I’ve been holding off visiting the library for WEEKS, trying to get my pile under control because I knew things were going to get busier soon!
I sent you an email about the books for bloggers program. Hopefully it doesn’t go to your spam filter! :)