A thousand things have happened since my last Nightstand post, and very few have involved reading. So this month’s list is rather shorter than my usual.
My Entire Nightstand
This month I read:
Adult Fiction
- Glory by Lori Copeland
Another “Brides of the West” title from Copeland. Not spectacular but not awful either. - Twice Loved by Lori Copeland
Eh. A nice light read. I did enjoy reading in the author’s afternote that she’s a fan of Support Your Local Sheriff–yes, her books rather remind me of that classic Western comedy.
Adult Non-fiction
- Surviving Your Doctors by Richard S. Klein
A book by an MD/litigator intended to empower the public to avoid medical malpractice. It was interesting, but mostly annoying. Klein is an old-school doc who is all about ordering a hundred thousand tests, regardless of the cost (in money and in anxiety). He’s mistrustful of mid-level practitioners (I live with one and happen to respect them highly). He’s very down on the American medical system. Basically, I thought the subject matter interesting but the author a complete blankety-blank. (No, I’m not prone to cussing, but I took a violent dislike to the author and can think of not a few bad words to describe how I feel about him.) Yeah, so, take from that whatever you will. - Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
Despite my prolific abuses of Jon Krakauer, bigot, I actually enjoyed this book overall. Wanna read my abuses? Go right on ahead.
Juvenile Fiction
- In Your Dreams by Robin Jones Gunn
Earlier this year, I received a review copy of the first three Sierra Jensen books for my Kinde–except that the latter two wouldn’t show up on my Kindle. Thankfully, a friend owns all of them and she had her mom bring them up to town a while back. So I’m catching up on the series I didn’t read as a teen. Still liking these even better than the rather more “drama-filled” Christy-Miller series. - A Wind in the Doorby Madeleine L’Engle
Sequel to A Wrinkle in Time, this one has Meg and Calvin joining a cosmic classroom to save Charles Wallace from the Echthroi doing war within his farandolae (organisms within his mitochondria.) Another fascinating and imaginative work by L’Engle. - A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L’Engle
This might be my favorite of the “Wrinkle” series that I’ve read so far. In it, Charles Wallace time travels into a collection of characters, where he makes small but critical choices to keep the Ecthroi’s dreams (destruction) from coming true. - The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart
Like the rest of Trenton Lee Stewart’s books, I really enjoyed this prequel to the Mysterious Benedict Society. In it, young Nicholas Benedict is moved to yet another new orphanage where he is again sorely abused, but this time learns to care about more than himself. - 4 Children’s picture books
Juvenile Non-Fiction
- Fact, Fiction, and Folklore in Harry Potter’s World by George Beahm
Part of What I’ve been doing with my time
Yes, that’s 13 titles. Only 13 titles. I’m rather astonished myself.
But I’ve been busying living a story of God’s faithfulness. He has been exceedingly faithful to orchestrate so many details of the past months–from my work situation to my friendships to deep works within my heart. I would not trade this life for a thousand books (although I still wouldn’t mind a thousand books, and the time to read them :-P)
In the meantime, I’m working on the following:
- Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Why have I held Russian authors so long in such great fear? This is masterful fiction. - Lit! by Tony Reinke
Won from Lisa Writes. I am loving this God-honoring approach to reading. - I John
I’m learning the meaning of “steeping”, spending months in the same book, letting its words and phrases and sentences and paragraphs infuse my life. Learning how to walk in the light. Hearing, seeing, and touching eternal life. Discovering how little I love and longing to love as I have been loved.
Don’t forget to drop by 5 Minutes 4 Books to see what others are reading this month!
Can you believe I’ve never read Madeline L’Engle? I was a complete sci-fi/fantasy geek as a girl, so I’m not quite sure how that happened!
So good to hear of the positive things that have been happening. :)
Your short list is still pretty impressive.
I read A Wrinkle in Time as a child and don’t remember much about it — I’d love to reread it some day.
I’ve always wanted to try Crime and Punishment and War and Peace but they seem daunting. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on them.
Yeah, 13 books ain’t too shabby. ;)
Been messing with fabric, much?
I, too, wouldn’t mind a thousand books and the time to read them. Alas, I don’t think that’s going to happen (and that’s ok). I LOVED Crime and Punishment. LOVED it! And I discovered that I really liked Russian Lit but have never gone back to read more. Why?!?!!? I don’t know. But I loved it!
Wow! Super list
I’ve read Krakauer….
Lit! Sounds well worth a look and it’s time I picked up another of the Wrinkle in Time series–I’ve gotten thru the first 2 and loved them.
Surviving Your Doctors by Richard S. Klein reminds me of TR Reid’s book The Healing of America–he looks a a medical issue and how it is treated in different countries. The USA often looks foolish.
Isn’t Crime & Punishment great? I’m reading it right now. I was so intimidated by the thought of reading the “Russian Authors” but this book is not a hard book like I thought it would be.
Oh if I could only get through 13 book in ONE month! I love how you are “steeping” in the word. It is amazing what the Lord will reveal to us when we do that! Happy Steeping!
I love A Wrinkle In Time and it’s follow-ups! Crime and Punishment is one of my all-time favorites so I hope you enjoy it. I re-read it often.
I think 13 books is fabulous, especially since you have been able to do other things that are meaningful. If I could have time to sew and read that many books I’d be in heaven (or close to it)!
Oh Crime and Punishment is an all-time fav of mine! And so are all the Wrinkle in Time books. The 3rd is a fav in many ways, although for me the 1st is still the best.
I liked Krakauer’s Into Thin Air (which I have to admit I only read a part of, because it was a book in a hostel) but haven’t read Under the Banner of Heaven. I liked your first rant though :) (Didn’t have time to read all of them) I also liked his comments on Greg Morgenstern’s 3 Cups of Tea. I thought they were balanced and necessary.
edj
13 titles is still impressive! I always enjoy reading your Nightstand posts. :)
Hurray for fabric! I really like your color choices.
13 titles is still more than most people read! I re-read A Wrinkle in Time relatively recently (i.e. as an adult) but didn’t re-read the other books. I should remedy that. I positively adored that series as a child.
I read “A Wind in the Door” and “A Swiftly Tilting Planet” a few years ago with my oldest daughter. I liked them both.
13 titles…that is a low for you. ha. But it’s still a lot of books. Glad you’re seeing God’s faithfulness first-hand.
For me, my seven adult books was a great feat. :)
I have not read any Russian lit. I love Robin Jones Gunn, though I have not read her teen books. Lit! is fabulous! As is the EEoNB. Lots of fun there!
Sounds like a lot of us are reading less than usual, though your less is still much more than my usual! Great list, a lot of interesting titles!
I like to read and re-read the same passage or book of the Bible over and over again. As always, I’m amazed at the volume you read, especially since it was a light month. :-)