Nightstand (June 2012)

I’m trying to reduce my multitasking in order to promote safety–which means that I’ve been switching some of what used to be real reading for audiobooks (or having my Kindle read to me.)

This is very good for my safety, less good for my ability to quickly move through books (audiobooks are SOOO slow!) and my sleep time (I go through book withdrawals and end up reading WAY too late at night).

This month I read:

Adult Fiction

• Oblivion by Peter Abrahams
  I continue to enjoy Abrahams, even as I grow tired of the inevitable mention of sex (is that really necessary?) This one features a private investigator who is just getting started on a new case when he finds his memory wiped–three days in particular. Now he has to try to reconstruct what happened during those three days so that he can solve the case he knows that he’s on (but knows nothing more about) and so he can reclaim his life (figuratively and literally.) A definite page turner.
• A Thread of Truth and A Thread So Thin by Marie Bostwick
  The first is a mildly Christian novel about a battered woman who gets taken in by a band of quilters; the second about a collegiate quilter who’s not quite sure about the direction her wedding plans are taking. I enjoyed the first book in this series years ago–and am glad I finally picked up the rest of the books.
• Faith by Lori Copeland
  Faith signs up to be a mail-order bride in Deliverance, Texas–but gets there to find that she’s getting a silent husband and a cantankerous mother-in-law. I generally like “married-to-a-stranger” plots, but this one wasn’t a favorite.
• Magi by Daniel L. Gilbert
  Rich with cultural and historical details, this short novel follows the Magi on their trip from Parthia to Jerusalem (they think) to pay tribute to the newborn king. Read my full review here.
• Fit to Be Tied by Robin Lee Hatcher
  Cleo dreams of a family, but for some reason the men of 1916 Idaho don’t seem to want a jeans-wearing-ranch-wrangler. When she’s assigned to babysit reform supervise an English lord sent to America by his upset father, she’s less than thrilled. I enjoyed this second book in Hatcher’s Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series.

Adult Non-fiction

• Always Talk to Strangers by David Wygant
  Rather an interesting book on how to find “the love of your life” simply by meeting more people. I reviewed it here.
• The Guinea Pig Diaries by A.J. Jacobs
  A.J. Jacobs has my dream job (sort of). He does experiments on himself for a living. This particular book chronicles a series of month long experiments that include practicing “radical honesty”, doing everything his wife says, and following George Washington’s rules for civil behavior. Oh, and not multitasking. The irony is that I’d broken my own unitasking pact to read the anti-multitasking chapter while doing something else. Sigh. I really enjoy Jacobs’ writing-although this particular book has a few raunchy moments that a sensitive reader should be aware of.
• Maternal-Newborn Nursing Demystified by Joyce Johnson
• Overcoming Thyroid Problems by Jeffrey R. Garber
  Put out by Harvard Medical School, this is a thorough guide to thyroid conditions. Read my full review here (my review also includes common symptoms of hypothyroidism–you should check it out and get screened if you recognize several of those symptoms.)
• That Used to Be Us by Friedman and Mandelbaum
  The authors of this socio-political work consider themselves cautious optimists. They are concerned with how America appears to be falling behind (particularly behind China) in the world, but believe that America can still lead the pack–if we put our “American formula” to work. I have all sorts of notes in my notebook so that I can write a full review of this, but wonder whether I’ll get around to it.
• What Would Your Character Do? by Eric Maisel and Ann Maisel
  A writing reference to put your own characters through their paces. This is probably one of the most useful things on writing I’ve read in a long time. Check out my full review here.

Juvenile Fiction

• It’s a Baby, Andy Russell by David A. Adler
  Andy assumes that since his aunt says she doesn’t like animals, it means she’s going to try to make him get rid of his pets. After all, she’s making all sorts of rules around the house to prepare for when the baby comes home. Meh. I thought this little book was stupid, to tell you the truth.
• The Diary of Pelly D by L.J. Adlington
  A dystopian novel of a sort, with a Diary of Anne Frank vibe. It was good and not good. Read my full review, if you’d like.
• The Viking Symbol Mystery by Franklin W. Dixon
  I think I may be nearing the end of the Hardy Boys. Which means Trixie Belden is next. (Yes!)
• The Last Full Measure by Ann Rinaldi
  Unlike the other historical novels I’ve read by Rinaldi, The Last Full Measure is not about a prominent historical figure. Instead, it’s about an ordinary girl, a citizen of the village of Gettysburg in 1863. This book gives a unique perspective on one of the most famous battles of the Civil War. I thoroughly enjoyed (even if it had me bawling at the end.) Mothers will want to be aware that, while the story never gets explicit, Tacy’s brother engages in premarital sex without any repercussions or apparent awareness of moral wrongdoing.
• Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
  Read as part of Carrie’s “Reading to Know Bookclub” (Amy’s pick!) I enjoyed reading this but was a little turned off by how BAD Tom was. See my review for more details. (Oh-I’ve been reading listening to Huck Finn on my Kindle–and I REALLY like it. So it’s definitely not Twain I have a problem with, just Tom.)
• At least 16 Children’s picture books

Juvenile Non-Fiction

• The Orphans of Normandy by Nancy Amis
  Actually, it’s incorrect to say that this is “by” Nancy Amis. Instead, Nancy translated the loose-leaf book written and illustrated by the orphans themselves, describing how they endured the Nazi occupation, took shelter during the Allied invasion, and eventually rejoiced to see American tanks. “That consoled them for all that they had lost.” This was a beautiful book.

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