What's On Your Nightstand - October

October seemed to go by at a leisurely pace, until I realized way too late last night that it was time for a What's On Your Nightstand post. I guess I was in la-la land. November doesn't seem too busy, but I'm divided on what to read so I am keeping my nightstand open for possibilities.

For November:

From September's Nightstand I read:

• Hero On a Bicycle by Shirley Hughes - An okay story. We love Hughes Alfie stories for little kids, and event this story is for older kids I didn't find it a great read.
• Stories from the Old Squire's Farm by C.A. Stevens - This was an excellent read. Stevens is definitely a storyteller. I am hoping to make this an upcoming read-aloud with my kids.
• A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War by Joseph Laconte - Another very compelling and eye-opening read.

I also read:

• Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler - This is supposed to be a modern re-telling of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Unfortunately there was no shrew, but only a very nondescript, boring female character. The more I think about it I'm not sure how funny a shrew would be in our day and time which could explain why the character was boring. Anyhow, skip this and just read the original. 
• Irish Meadows by Susan Anne Mason - This book was first in The Courage to Dream Series. I haven't read much Christian fiction lately and I liked these well enough. I have found I'm not reading CF quite the same since hopeinbrazil at her Worthwhile Books Facebook page has been posting silly sentences from Christian Fiction. These sentences now jump off the page at me. :)
• A Worthy Heart by Susan Anne Mason - ditto above
• Love's Faithful Promise by Susan Anne Mason - ditto above
• The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart - The Mysterious Benedict Society books have been a big hit with my kids. When this came out we quickly ordered it from the library and my daughter read it. She was a little unsure on what to think about it so she insisted that I read it. So I did and we have had several discussions about the characters and the dilemmas they face. Honestly, I can't ask for more than that. Carrie at Reading to Know reviewed it so check her review out. 
• To Love, Honor, and Vacuum by Sheila Gregoire - This is a great title, but I can't say anything in it is profound or life-changing. Maybe if I was at a different stage in life. 

I listened to:

• Frederica by Georgette Heyer - This is my favorite Georgette Heyer book! Back in 2013 I noted that that this book was "filled with rambunctious children, a ravishing beauty, a sensible sister, and a bachelor--fun, fun, fun!!" and I think that still stands.

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