Nightstand (July 2012)

This month, I’ve been reading…Harry Potter. Period.

Okay, not exactly, but I’m definitely Potter heavy.

I had a dream about Harry Potter. I can’t remember any details, but still.

It’s horrendous.

On the upside, I’ve read all the J.K. Rowling my branch library owns.

This month I read:

Adult Fiction

• Austentatious by Alyssa Goodnight
  Nicola James intended to give the vintage journal to her cousin, but when she spills tea on it, she ends up keeping it for herself. She jots off an entry and stows the book next to her set of Jane Austen. When she retrieves the journal the next day, her entry is gone–all except for the words “Nicola James will be sensible and indulge in a little romance.” Thus begins Nic’s strange journey away from “The Plan” (which she created at age 14 and has been following ever since), led by none other than Jane Austen herself. The concept of this book is intriguing, but I should have known better than to pick up any book whose cover describes it as a “sexy novel”–even if it’s Austen-inspired.
• Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer
  I actually read this last month, on my Kindle. Sad disadvantage of the Kindle is the lack of a paper copy of the book to set on my “to be logged” pile. My thoughts were very similar to those of Barbara H.. Couldn’t figure out why it was labeled Christian, thought it was pretty graphic violence-wise, but really enjoyed the story.

Adult Non-fiction

• Barnheart by Jenna Woginrich
  A memoir of a 20-something who takes up homesteading of a sort. It was okay, but I think I prefer the 70’s homesteading manuals still.
• Cooking for the Week
  The concept of the book is that you make a large fancy meal on the weekend and then incorporate the (intentionally made) leftovers into meals throughout the rest of the week (with four “weekday” meals). I made the roast chicken week and very much enjoyed it, although I found the recipes still rather long on time and high on pan use. Nevertheless, I’ll probably be getting it out of the library again (if only to copy down that amazing chicken pot-pie recipe, but probably also to try a couple more weeks.)
• Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller
  Good, powerful, Christ-centered look at the idols we worship. I read this twice while I had it out of the library and I’ll be reading it again once my Amazon order comes through. God definitely has used this (in combination with His word in I John) to point out idols in my life.
• Radical-in-Chief by Stanley Kurtz
  Supposed to be a history of Obama’s ties to socialism. Really more a history of socialism in America. It didn’t exactly grab me, but I waded through.
• Real Men Don’t Apologize by Jim Belushi
  Next up in the 817 (Humor) section at my library. Basically all about sex and in the crastiest terms. Ick. Also, not funny.
• Thirty Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know by the Time She’s 30 by the editors of Glamour
  An expansion of the famous list. Not fantastic, not awful. Just meh.

Juvenile Fiction

• Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber
  I read devoured this after reading a couple of reviews of it (especially this one on edj’s May Nightstand). It was a lot of fun. Think “Killers” with Ashton Kutcher except with teenagers (and no baby on the way.) Perry thought he was just taking his family’s boring, mousy, ugly foreign exchange student to prom. Little did he know that he’d end up having the night of his life–and possibly end up accessory to murder. (My little sister, who ended up reading this immediately after me, says it’s also somewhat like “Salt”-which I haven’t seen so I can’t really comment on the likeness.)
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
  Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
  The Tales of Beedle the Bard
  Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
  Quidditch Through the Ages
  by J.K. Rowling
  And with that, I have added “Muggles” to my vocabulary and finally understand why my younger siblings thought it was so funny that I call my little brother and his wife (Dan and Debbie Menter) the “D.Menters”. I have also “closed” J.K. Rowling. So there!
• When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
  I think I would have really enjoyed this story if I hadn’t listened to the audiobook. Cynthia Holloway’s voice majorly annoys me. I’ll probably be looking for her name on future audiobooks so as to avoid them. Ugh. Otherwise, a really interesting story involving time travel and middle-grade friendships (with the sad-but-inevitable first romance, bleh!)
• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle
  I’d never read this one, never knew anything of the plot. I checked it out of the library at the same time as When You Reach Me, but had no idea that this would turn out to be the favorite book of Stead’s main character. The sneak previews that I got there had me raring to hear this one–and it did not disappoint. Why didn’t I read this as a child? It’s great. I’ve stocked up on the rest of the series. Next thing you know, I’ll be dreaming of Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which and the Tessaract.
• Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
  Read as part of Carrie’s Chronicles of Narnia Reading Challenge. I’m making notes and will make more before the challenge is up.
• At least 15 Children’s picture books

Can you see how much I’ve decreased my reading lately? I actually only have 47 items out of the library right now–which I’m sure is a six year low.

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