Reading Journal - March & April

I had great intentions to post my reading journal every month and I have already failed. In March I had a great reading month and April was pretty dismal, but that's okay. Here is a look at what I have been reading the last few months.

March

Fiction:

• Constable among the Heather by Nicholas Rhea - I am really enjoying this series and am still working my way through it. 
• Constable around the Green by Nicholas Rhea
• Constable beneath the Trees by Nicholas Rhea
• The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett - I read this book for The Literary Life Reading Challenge for the middle ages. It took a while to get all the characters straight, but I did enjoy the story by the end.
• Just Like That by Gary D. Schmidt - I love Gary D. Schmidt and this was another outstanding story by him. Not as good as Wednesday Wars, but still a worthy read.
• A Man Lay Dead by Ngaio Marsh - I listened to my first Ngaio Marsh book in December and then I realized that it was a part of a series. I have a thing about series and like to start at the beginning. I think I prefer reading her books vs. audio and I will dive a little more into this series eventually.
• Munich by Robert Harris (audio) - I saw this book recommended somewhere. It was an interesting read since it dealt with Chamberlain and the beginning of World War II. 
• Murder in an Irish Bookshop by Carlene O'Connor - This is another series that I have really enjoyed. This one was a little more PC than I prefer, but still readable.
• Silas Marner by George Eliot (audio) - I listened to this along with The Literary Life podcast. I have always enjoyed this story even when I first read it in high school. (Of course, everyone else moaned and groaned about it.)

Non-Fiction:

• Elastic Habits: How to Create Smarter Habits That Adapt to Your Day - Stephen Guise - While there a few good ideas in here the system that the author described was so intense that I don't know who would follow it. 
• In Vital Harmony: Charlotte Mason and the Natural Laws of Education by Karen Glass - I will definitely have to re-read this again. I always feel like she talking just above my head, but I'll keep on trying!
• Handbook on the Epistles of Paul by Jeremy Painter - I read this for a class my kids are doing. Reading a commentary from front to back (thankfully it wasn't too thick of a book) is not recommended.
• Nobody's Cuter than You: A memoir about the beauty of friendship by Melanie Shankle - I have read most of Melanie Shankle's books and could never get my hands on a copy of this. I finally found it on Hoopla and let me tell you this book was just wonderful, plus listening to her read made it even better.
• Walking on Water by Madeleine L'Engle - This book has been on my radar for a while. While I wasn't wowed by the book there were a few good thoughts that were worth jotting down.

April: (I had COVID-19 in April so it greatly affected my reading life. Not that I was very sick, but I didn't feel very inclined to read.)

Fiction:

• Constable in the Shrubbery by Nicholas Rhea 
• Constable versus Greengrass by Nicholas Rhea
• Constable about the Parish by Nicholas Rhea
• Constable at the Gate by Nicholas Rhea

Non-Fiction:

• Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee - I heard about this book from a recommendation from a podcast. I didn't really care for it so I won't recommend it. 
• Pearls of Wisdom: Little Pieces of Advice by Barbara Bush - On the other hand this book is a gem! I really enjoyed all the little tidbits that Barbara Bush passed on. Just good common sense advice that our world needs to remember and follow.

Reading Journal - February 2021

Fiction:

• Constable in the Dale by Nicholas Rhea - I am still reading through this series and finding them thoroughly enjoyable.  
• Constable by the Sea by Nicholas Rhea
• Constable Along the Lane by Nicholas Rhea
• Constable Through the Meadow by Nicholas Rhea
• Constable in Disguise by Nicholas Rhea
• Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie (audio) I listened to this for The Literary Life Podcast. This is my second time to read this and at first thought I'd just listen to the podcast, but I'm glad that I did read it again since I forgot big chunks of it. 
• A Final Storm: A Novel of the War in the Pacific by Jeff Shaara (read-aloud) - I've been reading through Jeff Shaara's series with my son for part of an in-depth World War II study. Jeff Shaara writes very compelling fiction which we have enjoyed thoroughly.
• Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier - What a read! I read this for The Literary Life Podcast and finished it early since once I got to a certain point I had to finish it. Highly recommended!
• The Secret of the Chimneys by Agatha Christie (audio) - This book caught my eye last year and I decided to give it a listen. It is part of the Superintendent Battle Series. When the book was finished I felt like I had read it before, but when I looked in my Goodreads I didn't have a record of it. So I guess I'll never know!
• Seven-Day Magic by Edward Eager (read-aloud) - This is the conclusion of the Tales of Magic Series. My daughter has thoroughly enjoyed this series. I was glad to revisit this series.
• The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion #1 by Beth Brower - I saw this book (actually novellas) recommended and it was available on Kindle Unlimited so I gave it a go. This is written in journal format and cover just a few months at a time. I devoured all four books in the series and I enjoyed them so much that I ordered them in paperbacks. They are very clever and extremely funny! Just what I needed when we lost our internet for a week after surviving an ice storm.
• The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion #2 by Beth Brower
• The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion #3 by Beth Brower
• The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion #4 by Beth Brower
• The Well-Wishers by Edward Eager (read-aloud) - The sixth book in the Tales of Magic series. I read some of them aloud to my older kids, but this is the first time I read the whole series out loud.

Non-fiction:

• 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (audio) - This is a re-read that I read for The Literary Life Podcast. I loved Hanff's books when I first discovered them years ago, but honestly, the audio book was sheer perfection. I highly recommend this in audio!
• Realign: God-Called Leaders Connecting with Their Purpose by Eugene T. Wilson - This is a book that I read for some classes my husband and I oversee. I had high hopes for it but was disappointed since there were so many ideas that came from other book that it seemed like a book of compilations. A book list might have sufficed better.

Reading Journal - January 2021

 

Fiction:

• Constable on the Hill - Nicholas Rhea - I subscribed to Kindle Unlimited since I could get a free trial. There were some books that I wanted to read. Needless to say I'm past the free trial and am still paying for it since I discovered this series. These books have improved as the series has continued. This are very gentle reads, but he has a great knack for capturing human character. These are in the vein of James Herriot and Miss Read books. 
• Constable on the Prowl - Nicholas Rhea
• Constable Around the Village - Nicholas Rhea
• Constable Across the Moors - Nicholas Rhea
• A Long Road on a Short Day - Gary D. Schmidt - I'm a big fan of Gary D. Schmidt, so when I saw he had new book out I quickly checked it out. This is a simple picture book about a simple (or not so simple) trade deal that I think small kids would really enjoy. 
• The Reader's Room - Antoine Laurain - I'm not sure where I read about this book, but I thought the plot was interesting enough to check it out. Unfortunately, it wasn't my cup of tea.

Non-fiction:

• Breaking Bread with the Dead - Alan Jacobs - I heard an interview with the author about this book. It sounded great, but when it was all said and done I was not impressed. While I agree with his premise, I found his writing hard to follow and his classic literature he draws from is obscure at least for this normal person.
• The Clutter Connection: How Your Personality Type Determines Why You Organize the Way You Do - Cassandra Aarssen (audio) I love reading about personalities and this was an interesting listen. My only problem was that I could never identify my "Clutterbug" style. There is an updated book out that I have on hold so maybe it will be more helpful.
• HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style - Elizabeth Holmes - Overall I enjoyed this book though they were problems with it. The first was that there wasn't enough pictures. I could have done with more pictures and less "thoughts". The thoughts were written like on a blog, which can be really distracting in a book. The section about the queen was the best part by far. Princess Diana was not too illuminating considering that Princess Diana was THE princess during my teen years. Princess Kate could have better coverage, but felt that the author wanted to promote Meghan Markle and her woes more, but honestly, how can we really know what Meaghan Markle's style is since she is----gone from the HRH?
• Notes from a Small Island - Bill Bryson - This was an okay read. If it wasn't for his always bringing up delightful British place names and his monologue on sand I probably would have given it up.
• Through Gates of Splendor - Elisabeth Elliot (audio) - I have a few Elizabeth Elliot books on my bookstand that I want to read, but I had never read Through Gates of Splendor so I decided to rectify that. The biggest thing I took away was their devotion to God--so convicting!
• Welcome Home - Myquillyn Smith - I loved the author's first book, The Nesting Place, but found her second book, Cozy Minimalist Home disappointing. I'm not sure why I read this book since she still thinks the best way to add "cozy" to your home is blankets, pillows, and plants. (I do have blankets in my house, but not for decoration since most people in my house lay them on the floor, pillows also go on the floor, and plants--outside is where they belong!) I did come away with one good tip on entertaining, but other than that we are on two different wave lengths when it comes to decorating! (Which is why she is a published author on the subject, and I'm not.)

2020 Reading Journal

 Another reading year is over. Being 2020 it was a weird year of reading though I did get quite a lot read. When we first went into quarantine I didn't do a lot of reading since I found it hard to focus. I finally came out of that funk and then had to spend a lot of time driving so thus I have a record number of audio books read for this year. My total for this year was 127 books.  

Fiction: 81 Books

• Aiming for Love - Mary Connealy 
• The American Agent - Jacqueline Winspear (audio) 
• Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery (audio - 2x) 
• As You Like It - William Shakespeare (audio) 
• The Ark - Margot Benary-Isbert 
• The Austen Escape - Katherine Reay (audio) 
• Bayou Suzette - Lois Lenski 
• Blandings Castle - P.G. Wodehouse (audio) 
• Bless Me, Father - Neil Boyd 
• Blue Ridge Billy -Lois Lenski 
• Carry On, Jeeves - P.G. Wodehouse (audio) 
• The Cater Street Hangman - Anne Perry 
• The Code of the Woosters - P.G. Wodehouse (audio) 
• Corn-Farm Boy - Lois Lenski 
• The Corpse at the Crystal Palace - Carola Dunn (audio) 
• Death Has Deep Roots - Michael Gilbert 
• A Father Before Christmas by Neil Boyd 
• A Gentleman of Leisure - P.G. Wodehouse (audio) 
• The Golden Road by L.M. Montgomery (audio) 
• The Gown - Jennifer Robson 
• The Great Divorce - C.S. Lewis (audio) 
• Happy Little Family - Rebecca Caudill (audio) 
• Home to Holly Springs - Jan Karon 
• The Importance of Being Earnest - Oscar Wilde (audio) 
• The Incredible Journey - Sheila Burnford 
• In the Company of Others - Jan Karon 
• In This Grave Hour - Jacqueline Winspear (audio) 
• The Jane Austen Society - Natalie Jenner (audio)
• Jill the Reckless - P.G. Wodehouse 
• Knights Castle - Edward Eager* 
• The Last Holiday Concert - Andrew Clements (audio) 
• Laetitia Rodd and the Case of the Wandering Scholar - Kate Saunders 
• Last Christmas in Paris - Hazel Gaynor 
• Letters from Father Christmas - J.R.R. Tolkien 
• Light from Heaven - Jan Karon 
• The Light Over London - Julia Kelly 
• Madam Will You Talk - Mary Stewart 
• Magic By the Lake - Edward Eager* 
• Magic or Not? - Edward Eager* 
• Magical Melons - Carol Ryrie Brinks* 
• The Man in the Brown Suit - Agatha Christie (audio) 
• Mansfield Park - Jane Austen (audio) 
• Men of Iron - Howard Pyle (audio) 
• Michael O'Halloran - Gene Stratton Porter 
• Murder in an Irish Churchyard - Carlene O'Conner (audio) 
• Murder at an Irish Christmas - Carlene O'Conner (audio) 
• Murder in an Irish Cottage - Carlene O'Conner (audio) 
• Murder in an Irish Pub - Carlene O'Conner (audio) 
• Murder at an Irish Village - Carlene O'Conner (audio)
• Murder at an Irish Wedding - Carlene O'Conner(audio) 
• Murder Most Malicious - Alyssa Maxwell 
• No Less Than Victory - Jeff Shaara* 
• Peace Like a River - Leif Enger 
• Prairie School - Lois Lenski 
• The Reb and the Redcoats - Constance Savery* 
• The Right Sort of Man - Allison Montclair 
• The Rising Tide - Jeff Shaara 
• Rowan Farm - Margot Benary-Isbert 
• A Royal Affair - Allison Montclair 
• Rules of Civility - Amor Towles 
• Scout: The Secret of the Swamp - Piet Prins* 
• The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett (audio) 
• Shepherds Abiding - Jan Karon 
• The Snow Child - Eowyn Ivey 
• Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good - Jan Karon 
• The Steel Wave - Jeff Shaara* 
• The Story Girl - L.M. Montgomery (audio) 
• Strawberry Girl - Lois Lenski 
• Summer Lightning - P. G. Wodehouse (audio) 
• Superfluous Woman - Carola Dunn (audio) 
• The Talisman Ring - Georgette Heyer (audio) 
• The Tempest - William Shakespeare 
• Thimble Summer - Elizabeth Enright* 
• Tied Up in Tinsel - Ngaio Marsh (audio) 
• The Time Garden - Edward Eager* 
• Till We Have Faces - C.S. Lewis (audio) 
• To Die But Once - Jacqueline Winspear (audio) 
• The Unknown Ajax - Georgette Heyer (audio) 
• Venetia - Georgette Heyer (audio) 
• Where the Crawdads Sing - Delia Owens 
• The Winter's Tale - William Shakespeare 

Non-fiction: 46 Books

• The 4 Wills of God - Emerson Eggerichs 
• 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You - Tony Reinke 
• Abigail Adams: Witness to the Revolution - Natalie S. Bober* 
• Anyone Can Homeschool - Nicki Truesdell 
• Awakening Wonder - Sally Clarkson 
• The Book on Prayer - Ken Gurley 
• The Clutter Free Home - Kathi Lipp (audio) 
• A Colorful Way of Living - Barbara Bradley Baekgaard 
• Dear Bob and Sue - Matt & Karen Smith 
• An Everlasting Meal - Tamar Adler 
• Evaluating Books - Richard J. Maybury* 
• Find Your Weigh - Shellie Bowdoin 
• Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done - Jon Acuff (audio) 
• The Grace Blueprint - Lisa Taylor 
• Growing a Church - David K. Bernard 
• The Handbook on the Gospels - Jeffrey E. Brickles 
• A Higher Call - Adam Makos 
• The Homeschool Experiment - Charity Jenkins 
• House of Dreams: The Life of L.M. Montgomery - Liz Rosenberg 
• How to be a Great Wife Even Though You Homeschool - Todd Wilson 
• Integrity: Principles of Christian Ethics - Richard M. Davis 
• The Lazy Genius Way - Kendra Adachi 
• Lies Homeschool Moms Believe - Todd Wilson 
• A Literary Education - Emily Cook 
• A Love the Laughs - Ted Cunningham 
• Mama Bear Apologetics - Hillary Morgan Ferrer 
• M.O.M.--Master Organizer of Mayhem - Kristi Clover 
• Mother Culture - Karen Andreola 
• My Divine Comedy - Missy Andrews 
• October Sky - Homer Hickam 
• The Ocean of Truth - Joyce McPherson 
• On the Bright Side - Melanie Shankle (audio) 
• On Reading Well - Karen Swallow Prior 
• The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels -Ree Drummond (audio) 
• Rhythms of Rest - Shelly Miller 
• The Second World War: Milestones to Disaster - Winston Churchill (audio) 
• The Second World War: Alone - Winston Churchill (audio) 
• The Second World War: The Grand Alliance - Winston Churchill (audio) 
• Seven Men Who Rule the World From the Grave - David Breece 
• A Simplified Life - Emily Ley 
• The Unhurried Homeschooler - Durenda Wilson 
• United We Stand - Arthur L. Clanton 
• Used and Rare: Travels in the Book World - Lawrence & Nancy Goldstone 
• What Ever Happened to Justice - Richard J. Maybury 
• When Less Becomes More - Emily Ley 
• When Ye Pray - Joy Haney