Reading Reflections 2017

You know my life is busy when I'm not reading. I have to be super busy not to be able to read. (Or I have to think I'm too busy to read. It's one of the two.) From October - December of 2017 the only thing I managed to read were books aloud to the kids and I was playing major catch up in my Chronological Bible in order to complete reading the Bible though by the end of the year.

You can see my 2017 Reading List here. I link reviews to titles and one thing you'll quickly notice is that while I read a little, I wrote even less. The sad thing to me is that I have a bad memory when it comes to books and writing out my thoughts on them helps to solidify stories and information. For that reason, I am sorry that I dropped book blogging because there is likely much more information lost than in year's past. While I hope to correct that this year, one never knows how life will go! Meanwhile, I thought I'd take a quick moment to record my favorite reads of 2017.

As I mentioned earlier this week, this past fall our family went to Prince Edward Island on vacation and so the large chunk of my 2017 reading was focused on the works of Lucy Maud Montgomery. A huge treat and treasure was picking up a copy of After Many Years: Twenty-One "Long-Lost" Stories by Montgomery. If I had to pick a favorite of my Montgomery-related reads, I'd have to pick this After Many Years because it was fresh, new and therefore especially fun!

As a bonus, I purchased my copy of After Many Years at the site of Maud's Cavendish Home and it is stamped as such.

The book I feel most accomplished for having read (or, uh, finished) was Atlas Shrugged and I made a very short blog post about that! Atlas Shrugged was tremendously fulfilling but a great deal of work! I can honestly say I enjoyed it and that I'm glad to have read it. Also, I'm glad it's over.

I'm still a huge fan of D.E. Stevenson books and still devour everyone that I can lay my hands on. This year I was blessed to read three different titles by this delightful author. If I had to choose a favorite I guess I'd say I most enjoyed Celia's House.

One of the most interesting books I read this past year was most definitely Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies, by J.B. West.

I picked this up during one of Amazon's Deal of the Day offers on the Kindle and I'm SO glad that I did. This title is absolutely fascinating. If you want to get a better picture of what the life of any random First Lady is like, then this is the book for you. West served as Chief Usher at the White House for decades and he recounts his experiences with six of our nation's First Ladies. What I love is that he didn't write this book to "dish" on any one particular First Lady but to explain an institution. It's fabulously well done. Take a trip down memory lane with this one and enjoy the ride!

This past year was probably the year I learned the valuable importance of the read aloud book for me, the mother. If the only book I get to spend time with is the one that I also will be sharing with my kids, I want to make that read aloud a particularly good one! (I can see some of you smiling and nodding your heads even now!) Once upon a time I was browsing the bookshelves at Powell's up in Portland. A dad approached me to ask if I had read the Swallows and Amazons series yet. He raved for a few minutes about how he had read them aloud to his kids and absolutely loved them. His sales pitch sold me and I purchased a couple of the titles.

Fast forward to 2017 and it looked like the reading level would be appropriate for almost all of our kids (ages 3- 11 now!) and so I pulled Swallows and Amazons off the shelf and read it aloud.

And. we. loved. it.

This twelve book series is set in between the World Wars and is set in the Lake District in England. Published in the 1930's, these books were the Harry Potter series of their day and they deserve another go 'round. It follows the adventures of four siblings and their explorations as they sail and camp and make friends with the locals on their holidays. We read the first book and immediately chased that book down with the second, Swallowdale. I loved these books so much that I think I have to declare them my top favorite books read in 2017! They are wonderful! Oh, and the kids liked them too. However, they did request a break before we move onto the third book in the series so I've complied with the request. Just you wait though because the moment I am "allowed" to go back in the world of the Swallows, I'll be there in a heartbeat! Also, I'm pretty sure I want to spend the rest of my life in the Lake District in England.

That pretty much summarizes my reading year. What about yours? If you've written up an end of the year reflection post, I'd love to see it! Leave the link in the comment section and I'll go visitin' my old book blogging buddies and catch up a bit!

Happy New Year to you all! I really have missed you!

The Long Winter, by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Ahh! It's the last day of February and the conclusion of Barbara's Laura Ingalls Wilder Reading Challenge. I thought I'd make a hasty effort to see if I can get our review of The Long Winter done. This was the title the kids and I read together this month as it was next in the series for us. I really am so happy Barbara hosts this each year as it gives me the opportunity to not only re-read these wonderful books for myself, but to also share them with my kids.

I confess that I had hoped we'd have matching weather to compliment our reading (but with a working heater!) but, alas, we here in the Northwest had a rather mild winter. We had just one snow flurry and that was that. Small pellet hail was about as exciting as it got. I believe those on the East coast had our share of snow along with their own! We ended up reading The Long Winter to the accompaniment of our usual rain.

Ultimately, we spent two weeks reading this book aloud and I think it's safe to say that all of the kids enjoyed it. The older two boys (ages 9 and 7) would ask for additional chapters to be read at the conclusion of each day's reading. Things grew especially tense as we stopped before finding out what happened to Almanzo when he went in search of wheat for the town. The boys were also especially attuned to the lack of food in the Ingalls home. Bookworm1 (age 9) - who is not a fan of potatoes - was glad not to live out on the prairies in the 1800's. He appreciates a little more variety in his diet. I thought it especially interesting to see their minds at work when we were on the chapter which talked about how Pa managed to purchase 2 lbs. of beef. As it so happened, I had just bought the same amount from the store.

Bookworm2: Well why were they worried? Two pounds is a lot of beef! That'll last them awhile!

I pulled out the wrapped two pound package of beef from our fridge and asked how long he thought that amount would last our own family of six. Realization dawned.

The Long Winter is an excellent book to be reading if you want to talk about teamwork as a family. This is a subject we focus on a great deal as with six of us, the more help we give to one another, the further we make it in a a day. An attitude that says, "I'm here for you when you need me" is something that we very much stress and wish to grow in our kids and we look for examples to show them what attitudes make - and break - the concept of being a team. This particular portion of the Ingalls' life really struck me as being one that required team work for one's very survival. Situations were tough and intense and it required the efforts of all family members to make it through that one long winter. (It also made me thankful for the rain.) We might not each face a long winter in the sense of being trapped by large snowdrifts, but we each have particular moments in time where we really need the comfort and the help of others and I really admired the way the Ingalls pitched in and worked together. On that note, I looked up a few quotes on teamwork which I liked and which I think suit this book well.

Thanks, Barbara, for hosting this reading challenge. I surely do appreciate it! We'll be looking forward to next year's challenge in anticipation of our next Wilder read.

Secrets at Sea, by Richard Peck

I arrived at a place that I never thought I would be. I'm a decent reader. I can read fast. I've amassed a good reading library for my kids. I've always anticipated that they would never be able to out read me and I'd have a chance to preview what they read. (Who among you is laughing at me now?) You know what I'm about to say now, don't you?

Bookworm1 is a fast reader. He's read almost everything I've collected for him so far. Of course, he hasn't read everything because, um, there are a lot of books in our house. (wink) But when he starts to re-read just about every title he's already read, I find myself in a position of needing to find something new and interesting for him. Suffering from the lack of time to preview, I'm relying on my reading friends now to point me to good authors and good stories. Amy from Hope is the Word mentioned that Richard Peck is one of her favorite children's authors and since I trust Amy I decided to keep an eye out for Peck titles.

A month or so ago I found a copy of Secrets at Sea at our local used bookstore. Bookworm1 said it looked like an interesting read so I picked it up. As is the case with any book that he reads before I do, I request a little report of the book post-reading. This won't be a requirement forever (no way) but it gives me a bit of calm as he branches out on his own in the reading world. Bonus: he's learning how to write more succinctly!

Now, I haven't read Secrets at Sea so I'll give you the Amazon description and then Bookworm1's.

From Amazon:

"In the beloved tradition of The Borrowers, The Tale of Despereaux, and The Cricket in Times Square, here is an irresistible adventure story about the tiny creatures who secretly live among us humans, as only Newbery Medal winner Richard Peck could imagine it. Set on a grand cruise ship to England in 1887, this beautifully illustrated tale of a charming family of mice is full of laughs, near misses, and surprises."

Bookworm1:

"Secrets at Sea is about four mice named Helena, Beatrice, Louise, and Lamont. These mice live in a house with a family named the Cranstons. When the Cranstons want to get their daughter, Olive, married, they board a ship for England. Wanting to see what happens, Helena, Beatrice, Louise, and Lamont then meet a mouse named Nigel. He takes Lamont away to live with him.

In the end, Olive gets married, and Beatrice gets married to Nigel!"

When asked if he enjoyed the book, Bookworm1 replied that he did. I asked him if he would like to read another book written by Richard Peck and he said he would. I asked him if we should keep the book for his siblings to read and he thought that was a good idea.

Amy, I'm trusting you! (Ha!! No pressure, no pressure....!) Truly though, I've really come to appreciate the honest reviews and hard thoughts about books which come out of other people's corners so that I can pick and choose as wisely as possible for my children. I find that reading the blogs of others is a valuable service because I'm now finding myself in a position that many of you have already expressed yourselves to be in: being behind my children who are zooming along faster than I can keep up with! So thank you to Amy today for providing another title for him to read. I really do hope I get a chance to read it myself. It looks cute.

Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Well, we did it! A few days late and a few dollars short but we got our Wilder book in this year, thanks to Barbara's Laura Ingalls Wilder Reading Challenge which she hosts every, um, February.

I was originally going to read the kids The Long Winter but, as it turns out, we experienced quite a mild winter ourselves. I didn't feel that that book would be as impacting when we're wearing short sleeved shirts. Instead, I opted to read Farmer Boy which I can't say as ever been my favorite of the Little House books but, as seems to nearly always be the case, it improved for me upon a re-read.

I'll refrain from sharing the storyline for Farmer Boy because I'm sure that most people already know it (or can easily look it up) but I will note that Farmer Boy tells the story of Almanzo Wilder's (Laura's husband's) childhood. It's interesting to think of him relating to Laura stories from his past. I'm sure some of the facts must be a bit hazy because he could only tell her things from his perspective but, whatever the case, it makes for a jolly read.

Warning: this book will also make you hungry as much of the story focuses on what you'd find on the Wilder dinner table. (Wouldn't I like to be a guest there! With a hearty metabolism to boot!) My boys were enthralled with the food which runs rampant throughout the story. Not a few pages would go by before there was a howl of desire rising from all of the children's throats as we read about Almanzo eating slice after slice (after slice) of pie, glorious pie! Can we label the food as its own unique character in this book? It features so prevalently that I have to wonder.

Changing the subject a little, I'll keep this post rather short and sweet by documenting the children's experience with Farmer Boy. I posed a Q and A to all of the bookworms and have posted their answers below:

*****

Bookworm1, Age 8 1/2

Did you like the book? Yes.

Why? Because there was lots of yummy food!

If you could eat anything you wanted to at one meal, what would you eat? Pancakes and chocolate ice cream, mandu, apple pie and a raspberry pie.

What was your favorite part of the book? When Almanzo got the $200.

What would you do if someone gave you $200? I would say, "YAY!"

Would you ever want to read this book again? No.

Why not? Because then I would have to listen to you read about all the yummy food again.

Would you tell other people to read this book? Yes.


*****

Bookworm2, Age 6

Did you like the book Farmer Boy? Yes.

Why? Because he got to eat all of that candy.

What was your favorite part of the book? When the log fell on Almanzo.

Why was that your favorite part? Because I thought it was exciting.

Why was that part exciting? Because it was a little bit scary.

What food from the book would you want to eat? All of the yummy sugar stuff. And pancakes for breakfast.

Would you ever want to read this book again? Yes.

Would you tell other people to read this book? Yes!

*****

Bookworm3, age almost 4 and counting down the days


Did you like the book Farmer Boy? Mmm-Hmm.

What was your favorite part? Christmas and all the yummy food.

Would you tell other people to read this book? Yes.

*****
And there you have it, folks.

Maybe next year we'll see some snow and that'll make The Long Winter a more appropriate read. Either that or we'll blast the air conditioning.

Thanks, Barbara, for hosting this challenge yet again (and for accepting even us late comers)! I surely do appreciate it.

On the Bank of Plum Creek, by Laura Ingalls Wilder

I'm very late to the party, but at least I'm coming, right? Can we go with that?

Last year our family read Little House on the Prairie together and so this year I wanted to move on to the next title in the series, On the Banks of Plum Creek. This one read a little longer for us but we worked on it and got through it. (Reading this title definitely felt like work more than anything else.)

Overall we did enjoy it but Wilder's descriptions of wavy, scented grass just made the story seem to go on and on and on for my kids who were less than thrilled about being made to read it. (Culture, kids! We have to be cultured!) Part of their problem was that this book was not in the Narnia series and Bookworm1 is still begging for Narnia. (Considering the length of Plum Creek, about half way through I did promise him Narnia would come next since he's been so persistent in the request.)

In On the Banks of Plum Creek we meet up with the Ingalls family who have just left Indian country and are headed north to Minnesota. They take up residence in a dugout where Ma determines to keep the floor swept and clean even if it is made of dirt. Laura and Mary are a wee bit older and Laura especially enjoys exploring the surrounding country and the creek. The girls are finally close enough to walk to town where they attend school. They meet other people outside of the family; some they like very well and others not-so-much. Laura finds an enemy in Nellie Olsen. (My kids did like hearing about Nellie. "Bad guys" make stories infinitely more enjoyable, don't you know?)

The real excitement came when the grasshoppers arrived on the scene and ate up all of Pa's wheat crop. Hearing about all of the grasshoppers was revolting and awe-inspiring. (I confess that I thought, "Thank you, Lord, for pesticides.") I could not have endured. I also would have gone half mad with fright during times of family separation without a telephone handy to help keep you apprised of your loved ones' whereabouts. The Ingalls family definitely lived in a different world than our own and I can't say I envy them much for it. Sometimes I think it would be nice to be more "old fashioned" - to live off the grid and be self-sufficient. But when I hear about howling blizzards and plagues of grasshoppers I'm not so convinced that modern isn't better (for me anyway). Last summer we had a grasshopper invasion in our own neck of the woods. We'd walk outside and grasshoppers would just start flying everywhere. You tell yourself not to mind them and you do your best to ignore them but still it wasn't all that pleasant. In retrospect I've been made exceedingly and abundantly grateful for shoes. I didn't have to touch any grasshoppers with my bare skin and that is something I can appreciate.

I'm grateful for families like the Ingalls who continued to do the "dirty work" in pushing the population further west and who conquered many amazing hurdles in order that we might know the land better where I live now. It's a beautiful land and I'm glad people cared enough about exploring it to come by wagon several hundred years ago. I'm also really glad that I was able to come by car and that my house has central heating.

Reading On the Banks of Plum Creek was enlightening. I'm very glad that the Ingalls' struggles are not my struggles. It was a good book to read and also a good book to finish.

In addition to our reading, we watched the very first episode of the The Little House on the Prairie tv show. I don't think I had ever seen it. In this first episode the family is traveling from the Big Woods to the prairie and follows the most popular title fairly well. Our entire family took objection to the way that Michael Landon portrayed Pa. Bookworm1 said, "That's not what I imagined he looked like." And I said, "He's rather schizophrenic in this show." One minute the tv Pa is all calm and happy and the next he's exploding because of one thing or another. I didn't like that portrayal of Pa as I feel like it's very different than the Pa that Laura wrote of. Aside from Pa though, we all enjoyed the show (if you ignore the fact that he is the show, it is possible to enjoy it).

At the conclusion of the movie version, Bookworm1 asked me concerning future episodes, "Are we going to Plum Creek next?" The way the question was worded totally made my heart smile, despite the fact that he was not enjoying the book very much. He's pointing out a truth he cannot articulate just yet: stories take you places, which is why we love them so.

Linking up to the Reading to Know Book Club post discussing Little House and also Barbara's LIW Reading Challenge conclusion. Moving along now...

Bookish Fun

Grabbed this meme from Barbara who answered the same questions on her blog last week.

1. Favorite childhood book? One of my favorite books from childhood that I thought was the biggest hoot was Skinnybones, by Barbara Park. I saved my copy for my own kids. However, the other day I pulled it out and was browsing it and the kid in the story is a major liar and quite disrespectful to his parents. As an adult reader, I see far less humor there than I did before. Funny how that works. (Har, har.)

2. What are you reading right now? Daniel Deronda, by George Eliot which is incredibly fantastic!

3. What books do you have on request at the library? None! I have forsaken the library because I just can't seem to get the books back in time and rack up fines left and right which frustrates me!

4. Bad book habit? Buying books faster than I can read them.

5. Do you have an e-reader? Well. Heh. What a complicated question. Readers here will note that I have long decried the horrors of the e-reader. However, my father-in-law gifted me with a Kindle. I choose to believe that he gave this to me chiefly because I'm a HORRIBLE traveler and I made mention of the fact that I was going so stir crazy on our 16 hour drive to his house that I would even consider a Kindle (to read audibly TO me as I cannot read in the car). So. I have one. But the power button hasn't been pushed yet.

6. Do you prefer to read one book at a time or several at once? I really prefer to have only one going at a time. Sometimes I'll try for two but inevitably I end up back with one.

7. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog? Having the blog pushes me to read for deeper meaning. I think I get more out of books as a result of having a book blog. I stop and consider passages for longer and allow time for things to sink in.

8. Least favorite book you read this year (so far)? Payne & Misery

9. Favorite book you’ve read this year? Frankenstein

10. How often do you read out of your comfort zone? My reading comfort zone, I think, is fairly large. If by leaving it you mean Christian fiction or chick lit, then seldom. But maybe I'm not as generous and diverse in my reading habits as I'd like to think.

11. What is your reading comfort zone? Christian non-fiction, general non-fiction, history, classics (I wouldn't have said so before just a few years ago!). Those primarily.

12. Can you read on the bus? Unfortunately I cannot read in moving vehicles. Thankfully, I think I can still read on airplanes. We'll find out soon!

13. Favorite place to read? On my living room couch, tucked into a cozy blanket.

14. What is your policy on book lending? Well. It's uncertain, that's what. I dislike loaning books to people who lose them or return them in sad condition. I no longer loan out any of my Lucy Maud Montgomery books because most are out of print and hard to find at present. (And I once loaned out one of the titles which was never returned.) I really wouldn't have a problem loaning things out of people had the general mindset that if they break or ruin something, they will replace it. I think that's a common courtesy. However, such a thought does not seem to occur to the general populace so I try to be choosey in what I loan out and to whom.

15. Do you ever dog-ear books? I'm starting to.

16. Do you ever write in the margins of your books? NO! But I'm trying to get into the habit of underlining. Baby steps.

17. Not even with text books? Nope.

18. What is your favorite language to read in? Um. English.

19. What makes you love a book? Depends on the genre. If we're talking about fiction then a solid story which has twists and turns and fun side plots. I like believable dialogue and a total LACK of references to modern things like iPads, McDonald's, etc. I like a story which makes you think about your worldview.

20. What will inspire you to recommend a book? If it contains the above elements, I am highly likely to recommend it. Daniel Deronda, for instance. The Mysterious Benedict Society. (Just thought I'd throw that one out there again!)

21. Favorite Biography? Hmm. That is a hard one. I think I'm going to go with Bonhoeffer: A Biography, by Metaxas.

22. Have you ever ready a self help book? Yup.

23. Favorite cookbook? "The internet."

24. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)? Hmm. After some consideration, I think I'll go with The Envy of Eve.

25. Favorite reading snack? Probably chips and salsa. This is extremely evident if you open my copy of Daniel Deronda. (Thwwwppt!)

26. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience. I can't think of anyone, even after some consideration on the topic. Generally speaking, when my trusted bloggy/reading friends recommend a book, I like it.

27. How often do you agree with critics on a book?As Barbara said, I don't read the critics. I pay attention to my trusted book bloggers.

28. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews? I really don't have a problem giving a bad review when I think a book deserves it (and some do!). I feel like publishers these days are willing to publish a great deal more than they should and so it leaves the readers to be even more on guard and discerning than might otherwise be the case. I want to weed out the "duds". I like having the duds weeded out for me! So I appreciate a negative review and am prepared to give them when I feel the situation calls for it.

29. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read? Bleak House.

30. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin? Atlas Shrugged. Shonya made it sound fabulous and tedious at the same time.

31. Favorite poet? No.

32. Favorite fictional character? I'm split between two, so I will mention them both. Anne of Green Gables and Lucy Pevensie.

33. Favorite fictional villain? The White Witch

34. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation? I am most likely to take a book along that will not require me to think very much and will further the idea that I am on vacation. Usually this means I take a Lucy Maud Montgomery title or a Narnia book. And most of the time I take both. (That way the kids and I can read aloud should moments present themselves.)

35. The longest I’ve gone without reading. A week. And by the end of the week I am Super Grump by the way. I get antsy if I haven't read.

36. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?Unfortunately I have to say Facebok. Which is super pathetic and I KNOW it.

37. Favorite film adaptation of a novel. Predictably I shall say Anne of Green Gables.

38. Most disappointing film adaptation? Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story. And "disappointing" is an understatement.

39. The most money I’ve spent in the bookstore at one time? Probably around $125. But that only on two occasions that I can think of and both occurred after the fire at our house wherein I lost a lot of our book titles and so I was rebuilding the library.

40. How often do you skim a book before reading it? Never. Only I'm trying to get into the habit of at least reading the first two pages to determine whether or not I'm going to appreciate the writing style. Most modern novels sound exactly the same for the first two pages, by the way.

41. Do you like to keep your books organized? YES!

42. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them? Depends. If I really, really liked them then I want to keep them. If I felt halfhearted about it, then I'll find the book a new home. If it's a non-fiction self-help type that I feel I only need to read once, then I'll find it a new home.

43. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding? Ha! ha! Yes. The Twilight series. My husband won't let me read those because he doesn't want to hear me harping on and on about how much I will despise them. I sort of want to read them but only to find out how to better make fun of them, which might not be fair but it is how I feel.

44. Name a book that made you angry. Only one, hmm? I think the only type of book that makes me truly angry is one that writes with flippant or flat out bad theology because it bothers me how easily people are sidetracked by them. I really did not appreciate The Shack, nor did I care for Blue Like Jazz.

45. A book you didn’t expect to like but did? Bleak House!

Thanks, Barabara, for the list of questions! If anyone else gets around to doing this, let me know and I'll come read your answers!

Seasons of a Mother's Heart Book Club

AMY at Hope is the Word is hosting a book club to discuss Seasons of a Mother's Heart by Sally Clarkson. It's been a few years since I've read this one and I think it's a good time to re-read it as I continue (always) to re-prioritize my commitments and schedule in the (bright) light of motherhood.

Amy posted more about the book club HERE and included the schedule for chapter discussions.

If you'd like to learn more about this, please visit Amy at Hope is the Word.

Fall Into Reading 2012 :: Conclusion

Why is it time? How is this over all ready?

As I've said before (many times) I love Katrina's Fall Into Reading Challenge because it focuses me at the tail end of my reading year.

So, to get to the point, how'd I do? I did interestingly. My list and the results:


1. Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe (linked to my review)

I re-read this one and really appreciated it. In fact, it made my list of Top Ten Favorite Reads in 2012.

2. Jewel of Persia, by Roseanna M. White

I didn't get to this one, as I explained HERE.

3. A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

Completed. (It's an easy read!) This one is the book of the month for the Reading to Know Book Club and we'll be discussing it next week. You still have plenty of time to read it if you like! It's a quick one.



4. The Story of Ain't: America, Its Language, and the Most Controversial Dictionary Ever Published, by David Skinner

Just didn't happen.

5. Marvel Comics: The Untold Story, by Sean Howe (Linked to my review.)

I rather wish that one didn't happen.

6. And Now We Shall Do Manly Things, by Craig J. Heimbuch (Linked to my partial review.)

As I explained, I wanted to like this one. But I couldn't. Regrettably.

7. Double Blind (Linked to my review)

My first Brandilyn Collins book. I won't say it will be my last but I probably won't be reading another of her books anytime soon.

8. The Midwife of Hope River (Linked to my review over at 5 Minutes for Books.)

I liked it on the whole.



9. The Second World War, Volume 2: Their Finest Hour, by Winston Churchill

Why do I even keep mentioning this one? I'm just torturing myself. I want to read it. I just have to make the time and I haven't done that yet.

10 and 11. Horton's Miraculous Mechanisms and Horton's Incredible Illusions (Linked to my reviews.)

Liked them both! Highly recommended middle grade reader.

12. One More Sunrise, by Michael Landon Jr. and Tracie Peterson

I've carried this book with me all over my house. Some days it sits on my desk, some days it's next to the bed. Other times I find it on the kitchen table. Yet it remains unread.

13. Choosing Gratitude, by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

A hoped for re-read that hasn't happened. Actually, what happened was that I picked it up and re-read the first chapter and realized it was going to require some hefty attention. I wasn't able to give it adequate attention and haven't picked it back up.

14. Angels in the Architecture: A Protestant Vision for Middle Earth, by Douglas Wilson and Douglas Jones.

I keep mentioning that I really want to read this. So, I finally decided that enough was enough and I was just going to read it already! I sat down and struggled through the first chapter. I once mentioned this as one of my Top Ten Spiritual Growth Books. And I realized when I started reading it again that I had already internalized it as much as I needed to. It was once hugely inspirational to me and it did, in fact, change my worldview. However, this worldview has become so much a part of who I am that I wasn't moved nearly as much in the second reading as my first. The first read was revolutionizing and the second just sounded like something I already knew.

This being a very odd realization to me, I decided not to re-read the book. I think I will do best re-reading it alongside my kids when they become old enough to find the information useful and applicable. But for the moment, I'm good with it. There are other areas of life which I need to focus on and I didn't want to spend the time rehashing information I've already come to terms with.

Of course I read plenty of books which were NOT on my Fall Into Reading list, but this post merely concludes the challenge. I read 50% of the books on the list. I don't rightly know whether or not I should feel bad about that. One thing I do know is that I'm not going to let guilt weigh me down. ;)

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!!!