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.

Top shelf

Top Shelf of Nightstand

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.

Bottom Shelf

Bottom Shelf of Nightstand

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!

What's on Your Nightstand?

15 thoughts on “Nightstand (July 2012)”

  1. Your reading totals are still higher than most people’s, I think!

    I’ve heard great things about Keller but haven’t read him yet.

    I read Wrinkle in Time ages ago but don’t remember much about it and would like to revisit it some day.

    Reply
  2. My son and I read both WHEN YOU REACH ME and A WRINKLE IN TIME together a couple years ago and loved them both (even when we couldn’t completely wrap our heads around things in AWIT!)
    Happy reading,
    Dawn, 5M4B

    Reply
  3. I had the same experience with A Wrinkle In Time! Don’t understand why I didn’t read it in my youth! Just started Prince Caspian this morning. I am really enjoying the re-read of The Complete Chronicles of Narnia!

    Reply
  4. I agree about AWIT! I have since read/listened to a few.

    I totally agree about certain readers being horribly distracting/annoying with audio books! Yet, I always think of the voice of Cherry Jones for Little House and ?? for Little Women and Anne of GG. They both did a great job!

    Reply
  5. :D Your post is entertaining.

    You’re making me reallly, realllly want to read Harry Potter. Like, now.

    Austentatious sounds like it HAD promise. And flopped.

    I can’t tell whether you would recommend When You Reach Me or not. I’ve been avoiding it. A clear tip would be useful!

    Reply
  6. “Counterfeit Gods” deserves a read so I’ll look out for it. I liked “When You Reach Me,” but you are right about the voice! Wrinkle is fabulous—don’t get the audios with the author reading. Her lisping drove me nuts!

    Reply
  7. It seems to me you’re still reading a lot!

    I loved A Wrinkle in Time when I was a kid. We tried watching a movie adaptation a couple weeks ago. Wow, it was bad! ;)

    Reply
  8. I LOVE YOUR LIST!! I feel we’d get on well. I adore Madeleine L’Engle in general and Wrinkle in Time in particular, and of course the Narnia books are all favs. Also, Counterfeit Gods was so so so good. I’ve loved everything by Keller I’ve read. My daughter and I thought “Au Revoir CEC” was pretty fun too. I will stop enthusing in your comments now. :)

    elizabeth@5MFB

    Reply
  9. Confession: I have never read anything HP. Nothing. And I used to be an elementary school librarian! One day, I will tackle at least one.

    I really liked When You Reach Me. I thought it was quirky in a fun and unexpected way.

    Reply
  10. You’re so lucky. I can only take 3 books at the same time. Although this might not be a bad thing. I don’t think I have enough free space to put almost 50 library books.

    I have to admit that I’ve only read the first book in the Chronicles of Narnia.

    Reply
  11. Aaaargh! Is it that time again? I can’t believe it! I think I might skip this month because I got a little busy. I did finish all the books on my list though. :-D

    Looking forward to you sharing your thoughts on A Wrinkle in Time. At least…I hope you’ll share. I LOVE that book. I actually ended up reading all of her books as a result. Not…all of them I should have read I must admit, but I generally like her work.

    Reply
  12. Only 47. You amaze me. On to the books:

    I really want to read Chasing Mona Lisa but I fear it won’t be any time soon. The life of a book reviewer, so little time for those personal reads.

    I also really want to read Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick, it sounds like such fun!

    I always hold my breath when I see someone has read A Wrinkle in Time for the first time, it was one of my favorite books growing up and I’m always afraid someone will be all “I HATED it!!!!” but I’m yet to see that happen. Big sigh of relief.

    Reply
  13. I read “A Wrinkle in Time” only as an adult also, and loved it. The whole series actually.

    And Harry Potter at last. :-) We’re both late to that party. But so glad we now know what a muggle is. Loved them all.

    Reply

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