Reading in May...

The month started out strong with reading and school work but then we left for a week towards the end of the month and my reading slowed down. Still happy with the books I was able to move out of my "to-read" stack. 



The Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy and Hard Times
by Jennifer Worth
I love the PBS series Call the Midwife and loved this book. I'm happy to find that so many stories in the TV series were kept so true to the book.



The Rooster Bar
by John Grisham
Not one of my favorites but still an enjoyable read. 



Seven Stones to Stand or Fall
by Diana Gabaldon
This book is a collection of novellas, some previously published, a couple new. The book includes: "Besieged" (original novella), "A Fugitive Green" (original novella), "Virgins," "The Space Between," "Lord John and the Plague of Zombies," "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows" and "The Custom of the Army."



The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids
by Sarah Mackenzie
I loved this book.  If you are a follower of the Read-Aloud Revival podcast, website, or forum, most of the information will be familiar to you already.  I have followed Sarah Mackenzie for years and have been encouraged at every step.  Her book, Teaching from Rest, is a constant companion to my homeschooling journey.  I am enjoying the book lists she has included in this book.  I also love having so much info compiled in one place.  While I am sure I will continue to search the forum for specific advice I believe I will pick up this book when I start to doubt that reading really is enough.  When my throat is tired and I think surely there are more important things to be doing...I will reach for this book. 



A Hundred Summers
by Beatriz Williams

This is a great summer/beach read! It also sparked my interest in learning more about the hurricane of 1938. 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith I have read a couple from this series but decided to finally read them in order.  This series is about the day to day life of the residents at 44 Scotland Street.  It is an easy, enjoyable, comfortable read. My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse I love Wooster and Jeeves and decided I need to read the series in order.  This book is not my favorite of the series.  There are some stories about Wooster and Jeeves but there are also stories about Reggie Pepper, who was an early prototype for Wooster.  22 Britannia Road by Amanda HodgkinsonThis book was a little sad and depressing. But as it is about people trying to put their lives back together after the war, how could it not be? I enjoyed it because it is a different perspective than a lot of post-WWII books. It is hard to imagine the challenges of starting a life in a new country after surviving the horrors of war. 'til next time...

Reading in April...

I didn't get quite as much reading done this month.  It was a busy school month and just busy in general! 



A Test of Wills
by Charles Todd
Enjoyable but I had a little trouble sticking with it, maybe I just wasn't in the mood for the book. I will probably read another in the series though.



What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank
by Nathan Englander
I read this book for a book-club, otherwise I probably wouldn't have picked it up.  It is a collection of short stories, some I really enjoyed, others not so much. Overall I liked this book but would probably not read it again. 



The Space Between
by Diana Gabaldon
This is an Outlander Novella that fits in between book 7 and book 8.  It is hard to compare a novella to a regular Outlander book but I did enjoy this.  If you are a fan of the series you will enjoy any story that gives you more info on the characters. 



Unfair: The New Science of Criminal Injustice
by Adam Benforado
I really enjoyed this book though it did take me quite awhile to read. Twice, I set it down and misplaced it only to have it resurface a time later.  The book was fascinating and really makes you think about how our justice system works.  I do believe that the author is correct in saying that years from now we will look back and view our current legal system as antiquated as "justice" in the middle ages.  Science is proving that many of the processes we thought to be fair do not actually work. At times the book gets a little redundant but overall it is a thought provoking book about the American justice system. 



The Woman in the Window
by A. J. Finn
Liked this but didn't love it.  Definitely didn't love it as much as my Goodreads friends. 



Anne of Avonlea
by L. M. Montgomery
I always love Anne and this was no exception.  This is the second Anne book I have read with an online book club so I'm enjoying the slower pace of reading as well as the discussions. 



Twenty-One Days
by Anne Perry

I have been reading the books about the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt for years so I wasn't sure if I was ready for the series to feature their grown up son, Daniel Pitt. But, I shouldn't have worried, I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one! The Knowledge by Martha Grimes I really enjoyed the latest Richard Jury mystery! This book features more of the jack & Hammer crew than we have seen in the last couple books so that made it even more enjoyable.

'til next time...

Reading in March...

This month I managed to read quite a bit and we got a fair amount of school work completed, and everyone was fed and had clean clothes to wear.  I may have forgotten to clean my house...


Cell
by Robin Cook

Typical Robin Cook medical thriller but not my favorite. I enjoyed the technology of the book, interesting premise, uncertain about the ending-perhaps there will be a sequel? Didn't really care for the main character so that is why it is only "ok" for me. We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter This is a novel based on the actual events that happened to the family of the author during WWII. At times the book reads like a novel, at times like non-fiction, knowing that it was based on a real story made the book that much more enjoyable to me. After you read this book you will want to visit the authors website where she has some additional information about the family and her research.

by James Patterson
This is another Bookshot by Patterson. This one was just "ok" for me. 


Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church
by Rachel Held Evans
I really enjoyed this book, the first half particularly. I think that if you have had a bad or traumatizing experience with a church you will be able to relate with a lot of what she says. If you haven't had that experience you probably will not enjoy this book.



Welcome to the Book of Common Prayer
by Vicki K. Black
This book is on my list of books to read in preparation for my baptism and confirmation. It is a good introduction to the Book of Common Prayer. Would also be very helpful to people new to the Anglican faith and wanting to understand the church service better.



French Kiss
by James Patterson
This book is a Bookshot but feels more like a regular James Patterson book. This is part of the detective Luc Moncreif series, it was an enjoyable though short read. 



I Will Plant You a Lilac Tree
by Laura Hillman
Really enjoyed this true account of a Schindler's list survivor.



A People Called Episcopalians
by John H. Westerhoff
This was another book on my reading list of books to read in preparation for my baptism and confirmation. It has some helpful info for people new to the Episcopal church or to the Anglican faith. 



The Christmas Mystery
by James Patterson
Another Bookshot about detective Luc Moncreif, short but an enjoyable read. 



Being Christian: Baptism, Bible, Eucharist, Prayer
by Rowan Williams
This was the first book that my new Rector recommended to me.  Then we also read the book in a class, diving into a chapter each week. I really enjoyed this book and the discussions we had about it. 



Dragonfly in Amber
by Diana Gabaldon
This was a re-read for me, part of my plan to read the entire series again before the next book is released. 



Cultivate: A Grace Filled Guide to Growing an Intentional Life
by Lara Casey
This was an enjoyable read.  I liked the way she used gardening as an analogy for cultivating the life we want.  It was a good reminder that in many cases we are just sowing the seeds with no guarantee of the outcome. 



The Accidental Anglican: The Surprising Appeal of the Liturgical Church
by Todd D. Hunter
An interesting read.  



'til next time...

Reading in February...

This month I managed to get a fair amount of books read despite a heavy school month and no snow days!


The Baker's Secret
by Stephen P. Kiernan
This is a story of life in a small village in Normandy during WWII. Very engaging book and an insightful look of the hardships they faced.



An Echo of Murder
by Anne Perry
This is book #23 of the William and Hester series.  While I always enjoy another glimpse into their lives this was not one of my favorites. 


Fall of Poppies: Stories of Love and the Great War
This book is a collection of short stories surrounding WWI. I do not typically like short stories but this was an enjoyable read. A few of the stories I really liked, a couple were just ok, but overall an nice, easy read. I have been trying to squeeze in more reading and this book worked perfectly when you have 5 minutes to pick up a book and read a few pages.



The Girl She Used to Be
by David Cristofano
When I was rating this book on Goodreads I was very tempted to give this book 2 stars but it is a page turner, I had a hard time putting it down so that makes it a 3 star for me.  The premise of the book was intriguing but there are so many parts that didn't work for me.  Perhaps it is the cheesiness of the "romance" or lust between the main characters, it felt very adolescent to me. I do like the story line and would love to read another book that is similar but more believable for me. 



All Dressed in White
by Mary Higgins Clark
Classic MHC, fast, easy read, kind of like reading a Murder She Wrote episode.



The Perfect Summer: England 1911, Just Before the Storm
by Juliet Nicolson
This book is about what was happening in England during the summer of 1911. It is a chronological account of the summer so it tends to be a choppy read.  Some people are mentioned numerous times, other people/events seem rather random..I enjoyed this book because I like reading about this era and this book gives you a "behind the scenes" look at that summer.  If you do not read about this era then I don't believe this book would hold any interest for you. 



The Sea Garden
by Deborah Lawrenson
This book is a little difficult for me to review. It is written as three novellas that all tie together by that end of the third section. I found the first part very difficult to get thought and was very tempted to set the book aside, but as it had been highly recommended to me I decided to plow through it. The second and third novellas were much more intriguing and I really enjoyed those sections. I should also note that I have not read "The Lantern". I think I may have enjoyed this book even more had I read "The Lantern" first. 



Detective Cross
by James Patterson
This is one of James Patterson's bookshots, so only 131 pages long. If you are a fan of Alex Cross you will want to read this as it is another glimpse into his life.



French Twist
by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo
This is one of James Patterson's bookshots, a very short novel. I typically do not enjoy short stories but I much admit these are enjoyable. They still feel like a James Patterson book despite how short they are.


The Light Between Oceans
by M. L. Stedman

Oh my, what a beautiful but heart-wrenching book. A story where good people make some horrible, life changing decisions and you can't quite fault them for these decisions, even while you grieve for all parties involved.

'til next time...

Reading in January...

This was a heavy school month but I still found some time for reading.  Much of it late at night, which doesn't help my goal for getting more sleep...so be it. 



Christmas Pudding
by Nancy Mitford
I reserved these Nancy Mitford books for some Christmas reading but then had to wait a while for them to be available at the library.  This was an enjoyable, holiday read.



Pigeon Pie
by Nancy Mitford
I liked this book but not as well as Christmas Pudding.  Amazon sells them together in one volume, you can find it here. 



Abdication
by Juliet Nicolson
I enjoyed this book but it wasn't as much about Edward and Wallis as I had hoped. 



Faithful Place
by Tana French
This is the 3rd book in the Dublin Murder Squad.  I figured this one out early on but the story was still intriguing. Not my favorite in the series but I still really liked it. 



a long way gone Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
by Ishmeal Beah
This book is a fairly quick read, a heartbreaking story but yet so full of hope. It is exciting to see how Ishmael Beah has devoted his life to helping others. 



Anne of Green Gables
by L. M. Montgomery
I don't know how many times I have read this book and yet it is always a joy to read.  This time I read the book in an online book club, reading two chapters a week.  I enjoyed the slow pace, having time to mull over what I had read. I also enjoyed the observations and comments of the other ladies reading the book. 


City of Women
by David R. Gillham
I liked this book but didn't love it.  The book takes place in Berlin during WWII, so the tone of the book is going to be rather gloomy and depressing.  Parts of the book were intriguing but parts of the book didn't work for me.  I think the author is hoping you ask yourself 'what would I have done as a German woman during WWII?'  Would I had supported the Nazi agenda?  Helped hide Jewish people?  That part of the book I enjoyed.  But, I didn't find the sex scenes/theme believable.  They were starving, they were exhausted, just trying to survive another day,  it seems unlikely she would have had the time/energy/desire to have love affairs. 

'til next time...

Lots of reading, school, yule log hunts, and more books...

January.  The fun and festivities of the holiday are wrapping up, the days are cold, the nights are long...perfect for embracing hygge in your life.  For curling up with books in the evening, for buckling down and getting caught up on lots of school work, for hot drinks and evenings playing games by the fire. 

This month the kids are participating in a reading challenge from Read Aloud Revival where they have to read aloud each day.  They both enjoy reading to Bunny and Puppy in front of the Christmas tree. 

  

Ainlsey surprised me one morning with breakfast in bed!  She had made hot tea for me but was afraid I would get up before she could finish making toast so she brought me some cookies instead.  Once I got over my shock that she had managed to carry hot tea up the stairs without burning herself, I was delighted.  

January always seems to be a heavy reading and school month for us. Since we use a lot of books from the library for our homeschooling our book hauls tend to look like this!  When the library tells you that "your hold shelf is full" you know you are making the most out of this resource!     

We celebrated Epiphany this year by attending our church's annual Epiphany Yule Log Hunt.  I volunteered to make a few crowns for the event but as I didn't know what they were supposed to look like I made a variety.  My favorite was the Epiphany crown. 

   

The Yule Log Hunt and Christmas tree bonfire was held at Highland, the home of James Monroe.  We began with the hunt for the Yule logs. There were a few smaller logs and one big one, those finding the smaller yule logs would be crowned prince or princess of the hunt. The person that found the large yule log would be crowned king or queen of the hunt, and would be pulled to the top of the hill on the sled. 

Ainsley, off to a running start...

  

searching through the woods...

and she finds a yule log!

 I'm not sure what these are but they looked really neat. 

bringing back the big yule log

  

Pulling the "Queen of the Yule" up the hill

"Princess of the Yule"

    

the finders of the yule logs

Bestowing a piece of the yule log to the Queen of the Yule - this piece will be kept to to ward off mildew, house fires, toothaches, and other minor mishaps.

 The arrival of the three kings... 

The lighting of the Christmas trees... 

a rather terrifying inferno...

  

He was happy to find the baby Jesus in the King Cake!

It was a fantastic day, we are already looking forward to next year!

My lemon tree is finally producing enough lemons at a time to really use!    

 We use a lot of books in our homeschooling.  While we do use some text books most of our work is literature based.  This means we bring home armloads of books from the library, it means I drink copious amounts of hot tea to keep my voice after all this reading out loud! I love that we have so much time to spend on books and yet, there will never be enough time for all the books we would like to read!  

  

trying to read aloud at the same time...not as peaceful as it looks!

Once again all the snow seems to be missing our town.  This is the only snow day we have had this year and it is a pitiful amount of snow.  But, enough white on the ground for the kids to attempt to sled and snow board.  

   
    

   

When almost all your holds become available at the library....not even I can read this many books in two weeks.  Especially considering that we are working through a heavy school load right now.  I guess I will sort in order of which books I would like to read the most and see how far I get!  

 The kids completed their reading challenge of reading aloud each day for the month of January.  I always feel a bit silly doing reading challenges because we do read a lot of books in our house.  But I like this challenge particularly because they have to read out loud.  It gives me a change to hear what words they may be mispronouncing and also to help them on their reading rhythms.  They earned a few treats throughout the month for completing their reading without complaining and without me having to nag them.    

'til next time...