Reading in 2014 - February Update

Last month, I read a couple of books.  Not as many as I had hoped for.

I really enjoyed this book One Second After.  I was worried because my husband had warned me about the emotional and psychological effect it had on him.  I was brought to tears about 5 or 6 times.  There were slow moments, but they were far and few between.  It was definitely worth reading.  I wouldn't consider myself a "prepper", but after receiving information from the branch about being prepared for natural disasters, you can never be too prepared.  This book gave me much to think about.

My friend Donna, told me about the book A Girl of the Limberlost.  She loved it and suggested I read it.  I loved it.  The story line was good, slow but good.  There were moments when I thought the author was going in one direction, only to head down a completely different path.  Time skipped and dragged.  The author would dwell on an incident for chapters then quickly dismiss years within one paragraph.  If you like Anne of Green Gables, you would probably like this book.  I'm going to read Freckles next, I wonder if it should have been read first, I'll let you know. 

Tea with Emma was an especially fun read.  The character returns from a trip to England and decides to open up a tea room "a la Jane Austen-esque".  It was a free kindle book and I'm going to buy the next books in the series.  It's a sweet, clean romantic novella.  

I'd love to have a minimalist home.  I hate clutter, and I'm sentimental.  Catch 22 I know.  It's hard for me to throw things away, so 9 times out of 10, I donate things to Goodwill.  But it takes me weeks to donate something.  My friends laugh at me, and it's okay, I know I'm nuts.  The other problem I have is keeping things with a view of turning them into a DIY project.  Good grief, my garage is a nightmare.  I found this free kindle book Organize - the secret to a spotless life.  Most of the information was very practical and I have tried implementing the tips already.  I didn't find it extremely eye-opening, but for a free book, it was worth reading.  I skipped the suggestions about personal organization referring to my life (friends, family, religion...).  I learned a while ago to keep my life free of "drama" friends.  I just don't have the temperament to keep their life together and mine.  I have learned that "drama" people, while I love them, are more emotionally draining than upbuilding.  We all have moments when we are downers, but when your negativity starts to wear on me, I have to take a step back and limit my association with you.  Call it my age, I don't know, but I just don't have time for it anymore.  

Currently, I'm reading Fire in my Belly by Chef Kevin Gillespie.  I can't wait to tell you about it.  

What are you reading?

Reading in 2014 - January Update

I have always been an avid reader.  When I was younger, my favorite books were the Bobbsey Twins and the Sweet Valley Twins series.  My mother, also an avid reader, would indulge me with the next book in the series as a special treat.  As I got older, I read Victoria Holt.  My favorite of her books was the Landower Legacy.  I had tried reading her other pen name, Phillipa Carr.  I only read a few of hers.  Then I got hooked on the Regency Romances.  The time period was fascinating to me.  In the 12th grade, we were required to read Jane Eyre.  I loved it!  Then I learned of Jane Austen.  Oh my, Jane Austen.  Honestly, I haven't actually read her books, but I love the movies.

I will read them one day.

I have them.

On my fireplace mantle.

One day.

I even read cookbooks as novels.  I know...a little crazy.

I have some personal goals to increase my reading habits.  I've been following Life as Mom's booking it series for a years.  I thought I'd share what I've been reading so far this year.

Children read aloud:

We finished Black Beauty in January.  The littles loved it.  I want them to love to read as much as my husband and I do.  Even our oldest son, Wooley, loves to read.  We are currently reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

My personal reading:

I am happy to report I finished reading the Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses.  It's filled with encouraging experiences of faithful Christians all over the world.  I won't spoil it for you if you haven't read it yet.  It's available online for free.  There are also older copies available as well, if you need to catch up.

I found an interesting book at the Dollar Tree a few months ago and thought I'd try it out.  Tomorrow River.  The author's style was very hard to read.  It was almost like they thought we could follow along without actually telling the story completely.  Anyway, I read almost half of it and then skipped to the end and read the last 5 chapters to found out what happened.


My mother let me borrow The Pursuit of Mary Bennet.  Wow!  It was fantastic!  I love Pride and Prejudice and have read Mr. Darcy's Little Sister in the past. (Which happened to be a really good read as well).  The Pursuit of Mary Bennet even brought me to tears a few times.  Such a good book!




I have been drawn to "end of the world" books in the past.  My husband read One Second After.  He has warned me that it's very dark and emotionally disturbing.  I've decided to try and read it. If I don't like it, I can put it down.

That's what I've been reading.  What have you been reading lately?  Any suggestions for me?

The hyperlinks take you to Amazon.com through my affiliate link.  If you choose to purchase any of the books, I will receive a very small commission.