What's On Your Nightstand - March

I thought at first this month was going to be kind of dismal in the reading department, but after compiling my list it doesn't look so bad. My April list may be a little robust since we are going to be very busy the next few weeks as my kids get ready to compete in the NW ACTS Student Convention that we have participated in the last few years. Once that is finished then it is time for baseball to start! I wish I could say that I get a lot of reading in at baseball practice, but I tend to talk more than read. So here goes:

For April's Nightstand:

From February's Nightstand I read:

• The Making of a Marchioness by Francis Hodgson Burnett - This is a little bit like a Cinderella story with quite a big dose of reality and suspense spread throughout.
• Penrod by Booth Tarkington - I read this aloud to my kids and laughed through the whole thing! Penrod is the twentieth century version of Huckleberry Finn, except that he may be even more naughty is that is possible to imagine. It does include some stereotyping that was typical of that time, but still very much worth the read. I will be posting a review soon.
• Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin' Cornbread (Jane Austen Takes the South) by Mary Jane Hathaway - I enjoyed the first two books in the series, but this one fell flat. I just couldn't connect with the characters. Oh well, I think next time I'll just settle for the original. I know I like that!
• The Busy Homeschool Mom's Guide to Daylight by Heidi St. John - I have heard Heidi St. John speak many times and have found her very down to earth. I also found this book like a breath of fresh air to come floating through my school year. This book isn't deep, but it was an uplifting read.
• Rite of Passage: A Father's Blessing by Jim McBride - This is a book from my 2015 Reads list. I love the idea of giving kids a rite of passage into adulthood. Jim McBride shares what he did with his sons and also his daughters. If this idea appeals to you this is a book worth reading.

I also read:

• The Diary Of A Young Girl by Anne Frank - I am going to just state up front that I really, really disliked this book. Like I have said before I either hate or love memoirs and this one fell in the hate category, even though I love to read books set during World War II.
• Penrod and Sam by Booth Tarkington - After finished Penrod, I quickly ordered the next book. It didn't take us long to make it through this book and we are now patiently waiting for Penrod Jashber from the library. One think I have learned is that it isn't easy to read aloud when you are laughing so hard that you can't read.

I listened to:

• Common Sense by Thomas Paine - I listened to this in a matter of a couple of hours. Parts of it I "got" and parts went over my head. I would benefit from actually reading it, so one day I must come back around to it.
• Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley - Sharon, from Life With the Tribe shared about this book. This was such a fun and very cute little story. If you love books, Parnassus on Wheels fits the bill.

See what others have read over at 5 Minutes for Books.