Nightstand (March 2012)

I’ve been busy, busy, busy, which has decreased my reading somewhat. But I’ve still managed to get a good piece in.

This month I read:

Adult Fiction

• Catching Katie by Robin Lee Hatcher
  Suffrage-fighter Katie Jones returns to her small-town home-town to encourage her fellow women to fight for enfranchisement for women in other states. Her plans go somewhat awry when her best friend, Paul Rafferty, falls in love with her and wants to get married. This was a light read that I was not overly impressed with. Katie’s a bit too self-centered, the “religious” element a bit too contrived, and the plot a bit too formulaic for me to really enjoy it.
• A New Name by Grace Livingston Hill
  In some ways, very unusual for Hill (thanks to a male main character, a very understated romance, and some definite law-breaking). In other ways, classic Hill (thanks to romanticized mothers, a strong “conversion” scene, and lots of great food and household descriptions.)

Adult Non-fiction

• Decision Points by George W. Bush
  A fascinating look at some of the key decisions 43 made over the course of his presidency (and a couple prior to that)–and how he made those decisions. George W. explains why he did what he did–and offers some retrospective thoughts on the outcomes of his decisions. I still don’t agree with everything Bush did during his presidency, but this book confirmed my respect for him as a leader. Read some quotes I’ve extracted from this book.
• Don’t Sing at the Table by Adriana Trigiani
  A delightful little memoir about Adriana’s grandmothers, filled with common anecdotes made special by Trigiani’s telling and wise sayings that are special however they come. I read this book based on Jennifer’s review at 5M4B–and I’m glad I did.
• I’m Not Really Here by Tim Allen
  Supposed to be humorous. Wasn’t quite. Meh.
• The Language of God by Francis S. Collins
  An attempt to reconcile science with faith–or, more specifically, Darwinian evolution with Christianity. I disagreed with much of this book, but appreciated it for provoking thought. Read my full review here.
• The Pregnancy Project by Gaby Rodriguez
  Few people were surprised when Gaby announced that she was pregnant in her senior year of high school. She was the daughter of a single mom who’d had her first child at fifteen. Many of her older siblings had carried out the family legacy of teen pregnancy. Gaby’s announcement was disappointing, but no surprise–until five or so months later when she announced that she wasn’t actually pregnant. The Pregnancy Project recounts Gaby’s senior project, a social experiment in expectations and prejudices. I had some definite peeves with this book (Gaby’s written voice is less than stellar and the way she skirts the question of whether she and her boyfriend were sexually active frustrated me), but the overall story is fascinating.
• The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard
  Stuff is all around us. We buy it from the store, we bring it home, we pile it up. Eventually, we go through and toss it out. But stuff’s story begins long before it reaches us–and lasts long after we toss it out. Leonard tells that story in The Story of Stuff. I liked this book except when I didn’t. I enjoyed the information and appreciated how Leonard made me think about the environmental impact of “stuff”. I did not appreciate Leonard’s clear bias against individual responsibility and toward government action. (I tend towards libertarianism–and Leonard is evidently a strong proponent of the nanny state.)

Juvenile Fiction

• Cam Jansen and the Mystery at the Monkey House by David A. Adler
• Only You, Sierra by Robin Jones Gunn
  I’ve read the Christy Miller books and the Glenbrook books and the Sisterchicks books–but I’ve never read the Sierra Jensen series until I started this last weekend. And now I’m hooked–so much so that I was VERY disappointed that I can’t access books two and three on my Kindle edition that was supposed to be the Sierra Jensen Collection, volume 1 (containing all three books). Because I’m hooked, I’m actually reading books 2 and 3 on my computer (not something I like to do since the computer’s backlighting KILLS my eyes). I’ll review all three once I’m done, but for now I’m thinkin’ Sierra’s a slightly less conformist but ultimately more normal version of Christy Miller.
• Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge
  I never imagined I’d like graphic novels, but this one is the second I’ve read so far, and it’s rather good. Paige is timid, insecure, and not so sure she likes being transplanted into New York City. But, by taking to heart some art tips from her Grandma (who was a real artist) and practicing them in her sketchpad (and in life), she manages to adjust to and find her place within her new world. This novel reminded me of my little sister.
• The Search for Delicious by Natalie Babbit
  Go read Carrie’s Review of this book. She’s right, there doesn’t seem to be any ulterior motive behind this delicious little read. I positively devoured it.
• Young Cam Jansen and the Baseball Mystery by David A. Adler
• At least 14 Children’s picture books, 14 of which were “Franklin” stories

Don’t forget to drop by 5 Minutes 4 Books to see what others are reading this month!