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.