What's On Your Nightstand - November & December

This is a long post since I'm combining two months into one. I had some very good months for reading despite the holidays. I have had to spend quite a bit of time in doctor's offices so that has given me quality time! In December I dived into quite a bit of P.G. Wodehouse's novels. I think he is such a brilliant writer and my favorite series of his is the Jeeves and Wooster books. I'm not sure what January holds since I have family coming to visit, so the Nightstand will look light and hopefully I can add to it throughout the month.

From October's Nightstand I read:

• Arabella by Georgette Heyer - This story was slow going for me this time, which I think was due to the story. It eventually hit it's stride and became enjoyable. I have always felt Heyer writes so well when she included kids in her stories. This one focused more on a dog than kids, but she worked her magic very well with it.
• The Dog Who Wouldn't Be by Farley Mowat - I heard this book recommended on a Schole Sisters podcast. I read it to myself looking for a read aloud for my kids, but ended up choosing something else. I later read Owls in the Family, but I think this books stories about the owls were better than Owls in the Family. If I picked one to be a read aloud it would be this book. 
• (un)Natural Mom: Why You Are the Perfect Mom for Your Kids by Hettie Brittz - I love a good book about personalities and my mom had heard the author interviewed on a radio program. While I wanted to like this book it ended up not being my cup of tea. I didn't agree with her dividing of the personalities and honestly, just had a hard time relating to much of what she said.
• Spiritual Mothering: The Titus 2 Model for Women Mentoring Women by Susan Hunt - This was an inspiring book about mentoring, but it really was about the need for it and the encouragement to do it. I would of liked to see some ideas given to help me go in this direction.

In November I also read:

• The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald - This was my youngest daughter's literature read which I read aloud to her. My daughter enjoyed this book though she just knew that Grandmother was an ogre. I think she was a little disappointed that she wasn't in the end.
• Silas Marner by George Eliot - This was my two older kids' literature read for Term 1. They asked me a couple of years ago for me to read aloud their literature which is always enjoyable. I have been a fan of Silas Marner since I read it in high school. Though not my favorite George Eliot story this is still a very satisfying read.
• Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe - I started reading this book last school year to my older kids, but then summer happened upon us and I ended up having them finish it on audio. Since I was so close to the end I set it by my bedside to get completed. This is my second reading of Uncle Tom's Cabin and it was just as good of read this time as it was last time.
• Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple - There were thing about this book that I liked. Her view on the Northwest was one. I thought the beginning of the story was very compelling, but I think the author herself lost her way by the end, plus it had way too much language it which was totally unnecessary IMO. 
• Virgil Wander by Leif Enger - This is my second Enger book that I have read, but I haven't read the one everyone raves about, Peace Like a River. I find Enger's stories odd, but compelling. I do think he has a way with words, but I do spend a lot of time hashing out the story in my mind. Maybe, that's the point.
• Everybody Reads: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content by Ann Hadley - I picked this up due to vamping up my job's Facebook page. I found it an easy read and I found some good little nuggets of wisdom concerning writing.
• Love the Home You Have by Melissa Michaels - This was an enjoyable read and I am inspired to paint (actually for my husband to paint) my walls white. This is not suggested in the book, but the author talks about her house that had pig-colored walls and while mine aren't quite pig-colored they are a funky tan color.) When I told my husband I wanted to paint our walls white he looked at me like I grew a new head. 
• A Touch of the Infinite:Studies in Music Appreciation with Charlotte Mason by Megan Hoyt - This was another inspiring read, though I'll need to re-read again to get all the ideas out of it.

In December I read:

• The 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith - I have been wanting to get back to reading aloud to my kids and since it was Christmas I picked up 101 Dalmatians. It's not technically a Christmas story, but it has a lovely nod to Christmas. My older kids weren't too happy about reading it, but I think in the end they it received their approval and they enjoyed the creativeness of the author.
• The Luck of the Bodkins by P.G. Wodehouse - I always enjoy P.G. Wodehouse, though I would have to admit this isn't his finest writing. That's okay because Wodehouse always makes me laugh.
• Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat - A short little book about the author's time of owning two owls. This is a quick read and I think it would be a great book for a child who is just getting into reading chapter books. I did feel his book The Dog Who Wouldn't Be was a better choice of the two.
• Quick Service by P.G. Wodehouse - Another Wodehouse. Not his quippiest (Is that a word?) writing, but still enjoyable.
• Eve in Exile and the Restoration of Femininity by Rebekah Merkle - This was an excellent read. I kept reading portions of it aloud to my husband. Very eye opening about the feminist movement, but she offers hope and it's not in a sappy "let's go back to the old days" kind of way. Highly recommended!
• Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare - I read this with The Play's the Thing podcast. The reading and the conversation on the podcast was enjoyable. 
• Becoming MomStrong: How to Fight with All That's In You for Your Family and Faith by Heidi St. John - Another encouraging read. Since Heidi St. John is from the NW I have heard her speak quite a bit which is one reason why I didn't pick up this book for a while. I'm not sure what prompted me to finally do it, but I'm glad I did. For mom's who are raising kids for the Lord and are thick in the trenches of fighting. Highly recommended!
• I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel - A book about reading and books what more can you ask for? This is a lovely book and anybody that loves to read are going to find themselves smiling and agreeing with the author's stories and observations. Another excellent read! 
• So Close to Amazing: Stories of a DYI Life Gone Wrong...and Learning to Find the Beauty in Every Imperfection by KariAnne Wood - I wanted to enjoy this book, but found it to be a meh read. I think the title is very misleading. 

I listened to:

• How Right You Are, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse - #12 in the Jeeves and Wooster series. While I liked this book I think the previous book in the series (see below) stood head and shoulder above this one. 
• Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit by P.G. Wodehouse - #11 in the Jeeves and Wooster series. This book is Wodehouse at his finest! I rate it right up there with Aunts Aren't Gentleman which I read earlier this year and sang it's praises. Jonathan Cecil is does an excellent Bertie and Jeeves.
• Keep It Shut:What to Say, How to Say It, and When to Say Nothing at All by Karen Ehmen - I had a lady in my church ask me if I had read this and while I did own it I hadn't read it yet. I found it available to check out from Overdrive so I downloaded it and gave it a listen. Boy, did I ever need to hear this. I have worked hard through the years to "keep it shut" but I do fail quite often (especially with family members). This was a great reminder to watch what I say or how I say it. I definitely want to re-read this and will probably read the hard copy that time.
• Uninvited by Lysa TerKeurst - This was another book that came highly recommended. Again, I found it available to check out through Overdrive. I have read other books by Lysa TerKeurst, but I just had a hard time relating with the topic. Even though I did finish the book, I was very turned off by some of her biblical examples and felt she was really twisting and even adding to them to fit her topic rather than just letting the Bible speak for itself. 

What's On Your Nightstand - October

I fell down a Georgette Heyer hole this month. I haven't really found any fiction that interests me so when that happens I rely on Georgette Heyer or P.G. Wodehouse (I just brought home three of his books tonight.) to help me get out of my fiction reading slump. We shall see how that works!

November's Nightstand:

From September's Nightstand I read:

• The Bark of the Bog Owl by Jonathan Rogers - I have heard a lot of rave reviews about this series so I decided to check it out. I found this an enjoyable read, though it took me awhile to get into it. I'm not sure if I'll read the rest of the books in the series, but we'll see. 
• Giddy Up Eunice: Because Women Need Each Other by Sophie Hudson - I love to listen to the Big Book Podcast and Sophie Hudson is one of the co-host. There were a few gems to take from this book, but overall just an okay read.

I also read:

• False Colours by Georgette Heyer - Twins switching places always make for an interesting read. Fun.
• Lady of Quality by Georgette Heyer - A decent Heyer.
• Pistols for Two by Georgette Heyer - This was a book of short stories--not my favorite, but I did make my way through it.
• Treacherous Is the Night by Anna Lee Huber - This was an exciting and adventurous read that I really enjoyed. 
• God Has a Waiting Room by Kim Haney - This was a timely read about when you are going through struggles and what to do while you're in "God's waiting room." This gave me a lot of food for thought and a book I want to re-visit.
• How to Read a Book: A Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading - Mortimer Adler & Charles Van Doreen - My review on Instagram.
• Voracious: A Hungry Reader Eats Her Way Through Great Books by Cara Nicoletti - I loved the idea behind this book, but it was just a so-so read. 

What's On Your Nightstand - September

This month has been a rough reading month even though I do have a nice pile of books stacked up for September. I think most of my reading happened at the beginning of the month and then a few were finished in the last week. I'm sure most of this I can attribute to getting our school year kicked off in the midst of my son hurting his knee and needing surgery. That was not on my radar at all! Thankfully, he is recovering and we are finding our groove for school, so maybe there is some reading renewal on the horizon!

For October's Nightstand:

From September's Nightstand I read:

• The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers:Reclaiming Our Passion, Purpose, and Sanity by Meg Meeker - I heard this book recommended on a podcast and decided to check it out. There were some chapters that I really enjoyed and thought they were spot on and others were just okay. Still I felt a worthwhile read.
• Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce - Wow! What a story!! This will definitely be going down as one of my favorite reads for 2018. The first few chapters are a little slow, but when the story picks up you can't put the book down. I found this book recommended since I had liked The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and it did not disappoint. It is a very different story compared to Guernsey but not one to be missed!
• King Lear (No Fear Shakespeare) by William Shakespeare - The Circe Institute has a new podcast called The Play's the Thing and the first play they read was King Lear so I dived right in. I have never read King Lear and I really enjoyed it--at least as much as you can enjoy a tragedy.

I also read:

• The Adventures of Robin Hood by Roger Lancelyn Green - This was a read-aloud book with my 10 year old. We finished it off before diving into this year's school work. In some ways it's sad since I have read it aloud to all four of my kids. I guess it goes on the shelf for a while waiting for a new generation to enjoy it.
• The Floating Admiral by Agatha Christie, The Detection Club - I came across this book and was instantly intrigued. Every chapter is written by a different mystery author. I enjoyed the book though there was one chapter that really needed some major editing and it lost its momentum at that point. It still was a neat idea.
• Kate Hardy by D.E. Stevenson  - This was one of Stevenson's so-so stories. It was a quick easy read and since I've been in a reading rut it at least made me feel accomplished!
• Murder in an English Village by Jessica Ellicott - Again another so-so read. I kept telling myself to just return it to the library and then lo and behold the action picked and I made it to the end. There is a sequel but I'm not going to bother with it.

I listened to:

• Teaching from Rest by Sarah Mackenzie - A great read!
• Wait Till Next Year - Doris Kearns Goodwin - This memoir gives a great peak into life during '50s.  

What's On Your Nightstand - August

August has come and almost gone, my oldest son was married, my husband and I celebrated 26 years of marriage, and I sent my two middle children to church camp where my youngest son promptly hurt his knee and had to come home. Needless to say I didn't read very much this month and that is okay. We had a lot of fun with family and friends and now it's time to face the fact that summer is coming to an end, which for me means that it is time to start our new homeschool year. This is easier said than done since I haven't planned a thing. My nightstand for September is not very big since I'm sure I'll have my nose in school books for the next two weeks. Of course, I could get a lot of reading time sitting in the doctor's office.

Here is the happy bride & groom!

For September:

From August's Nightstand I read:

• Journey to Munich by Jacqueline Winspear - I always enjoy a Maisie Dobbs read.
• Here is Where: Discovering America's Great Forgotten History by Andrew Carroll - I really enjoyed this book though it took me awhile to read through it. If you like odd history stories this is a great read.
• The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch - Technology and families--something that I think haunts every parent. I really did appreciate the author's honesty when he admits sometimes his family aren't always the best at keeping their limits they have placed on technology. My favorite chapter was the one on singing. You may wonder what that has to do with technology. If so, you'll have to read the book and find out!
• Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overload Lives by Richard Swenson - This was a great read, actually it was an audio book, but great nonetheless. Very timely information and some good food for thought.

I also read:

• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer - This has been on my list to re-read for a while, but when I saw that Netflix had turned it into a movie it received a violent shift to the top of my pile. Honestly, I enjoyed this just as much as the first time I read it.  In fact, I haven't had the heart to watch the film. 
• This Side of Murder by Anna Lee Huber - An okay mystery that got me through the wedding.

What's On Your Nightstand - July

I had a great reading month in July which ending up being the month for audio books. I had a hard time finding a physical book that held my interest and obviously had the time to listen to more books than normal. August is a big month for my family. My oldest son will be getting married in a couple of weeks and we will have some family visiting for a little bit. Most of the books I put on my Nightstand for August are ones I am currently reading and I'm going to leave it at that. I may not get too many read and that is okay!

For August:

 

From June's Nightstand I read:

• Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery - I know this isn't a favorite for most readers of Anne, but I still find it a fun read. 
• A Dangerous Place by Jacqueline Winspear - Another book in the Maisie Dobbs Series that I found very sad at the beginning. In fact, I had to set the book aside for a couple of weeks to gain the courage to read it. 
• Mere Motherhood: Morning Times, Nursery Rhymes, and My Journey Toward Sanctification by Cindy Rollins - A re-read and just as good this time as the first time. Such and encouraging read for homeschooling moms.
• The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson - Another encouraging read for mothers.

I also read:

• The Authoritative Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury by Bill Watterson - This was my deep thinking book this month! LOL!!
• The DIY Home Planner: Practical Tips and Inspiring Ideas to Decorate It Yourself by KariAnne Wood - This book was a lot of fun to look at. I think this would be great for a young woman setting up her first home especially is she likes to decorate. For the non-decorator like myself I just read and smile because I know I'll never take the time to do anything like suggested.

I listened to:

• Frederica by Georgette Heyer - I've read/listened to this one many times. I think this is my favorite Georgette Heyer!
• Money in the Bank by P.G. Wodehouse - This was a re-read, but the first time I did it on audio. I think I preferred reading this to listening. It seemed harder to follow the plot while listening to it.
• Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving - A short story I listened to after I realized I had never read it. This is full of a great descriptive writing.
• A Basic History of the United States, Volume 3: The Sections and The Civil War 1826-1877 by Clarence B. Carson - My kids had finished up their American History course which had a decided bias when it came to the Civil War. I listened to this to get another view point. Though Carson can be kind of dry at times I have enjoyed his view on history.
• Lies Women Believe: And the Truth That Sets Them Free by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth - This is a re-read and I was excited to learn that it was updated. Excellent, excellent read!!
• The Magnolia Story by Chip & Joanna Gaines - When my Mom came to visit she just raved about this book. (Neither of us have a TV so we don't watch their show.) Anyways, I found it available to download from the library and decided to check it out myself. I had to concur--it was a great read! Everything that should be in a memoir. The audio was a lot of fun with a mix of both Chip and Joanna Gaines doing the readings. Excellent!
• Why I Hate Green Beans: And Other Confessions about Relationships, Reality TV, and How We See Ourselves by Lincee Ray - After reading the previous book I was on the lookout for another fun memoir. Though it wasn't quite as good I loved the transparency of the author which came through while she was reading the book.

What's On Your Nightstand - June

Here I am on the cusp of July. June has flown by and was filled with a lot of baseball and a visit from my parents. While they were here they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. The celebration was low key but we did spend the day together taking a small day trip and then celebrating with some nice big beautiful pieces of cake! I am hoping July will be a good month for reading, but I won't hold by breath on it. My summers are always busy and the closer we get to August the busier I will get especially since my son's wedding is fast approaching! How did I get old enough to have a son getting married? Oh, well, I'm not going to dwell on that and just focus on reading.

For July:

 

From May's Nightstand I read:

• Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin - The first book I read by Gretchen Rubin was The Happiness Project which I hated. I then read Better Than Before which I really liked. I decided to Happier at Home and I have to admit it won't be my favorite, but I didn't hate it as much as The Happiness Project. There are parts which I think she just tries too hard and then there are some insightful lessons that she learns which I found applicable. One thing I have noticed is she has a pattern to how she writes her books which made this one easier for me to understand. Maybe one day I can go back to The Happiness Project and get more out of it now that I see the pattern in her writing.
• Made to Crave Book & Devotional by Lysa TerKeurst - This is a re-read from 2011 though I didn't read the devotional at that time. I felt I was in need of re-reading since I had gained some weight and was really feeling unmotivated about losing it. Honestly, if I had to do it over I would just read the devotional book. I think it has just as much if not more to offer than the book. Though she is mainly talking about food many of her ideas are applicable to other things that can trip us up. (About my weight--I started the book and went back to Weight Watchers at the same time. It's working. Making myself pay to lose weight was probably more motivating than the book.)
• Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry - The was a Close Reads podcast book that I listened to by audio. Again, this is a re-read. I will admit that the first time I read this I really disliked the book. I think the Close Reads Podcast has helped me come to better terms with many of the ideas in this book though I don't think Wendell Berry will every be a favorite author. I find his books incredibly sad.
• Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims by Rush Limbaugh - I really wanted to like this book. To start with it is a beautiful book. The pages are heavy and are beautifully decorated. There is original artwork interspersed throughout the story with a list at the end of the book telling what each piece is, whose it is, and where it can be found. There is a lot of history included along with important ideas that helped shape our nation. My biggest problem was with the story--very cheesy. I think this may be a great read for kids who only feed their minds on twaddly books and TV, but if your kids know any history I don't think it will be very appealing at all.

I also read:

• The Awakening of Miss Prim by Natalia Sanmartin Fenollera - Another re-read. I really liked this book the first time I read it but I found the ending lacking. This time through I didn't dwell too much on the ending and found the book just as enjoyable and since I already knew how it ended it didn't disappoint!
• The Dyslexia Help Handbook for Parents by Sandra K. Cook - I'm still researching dyslexia. Out of all the dyslexia books I've read so far this one is the most encouraging. The author gets the frustration that parents feel. She also encourages the parents that they can help their child and don't have to rely on specialist. Of course, she gives that as an option too, but she is very affirming and reassuring to parents.

I listened to:

• The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams - Another Close Reads listen. I didn't care for this play in any way, shape, or form--even with the discussion.
• Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear - I haven't listened to a Maise Dobbs in quite a while. I really enjoy these mysteries. Even though I don't agree with the author's worldview she writes very compelling stories.
• The Lifegiving Parent by Clay and Sally Clarkson - This book is such a breath of fresh air when it comes to parenting books. I think this is a great read to help parents in making a long-term goal of how they want their family to live. Excellent read!

What's On Your Nightstand - May

I had quite a reading month! I'm kind of shocked myself. I will admit that I spent quite a bit of time today finishing up two books since I wanted to get them on the list. I don't know what June will hold for reading time. My parents are going to come for a visit and we are still busy going to baseball, though practice gives me plenty of time to read. I also will need to see how my allergies hold up. June is grass season and some days I'm not good for anything except watching movies, etc.

For June:

 

From April's Nightstand I read:

• The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse - I read this with the Close Reads podcasthttps://www.circeinstitute.org/podcasts/close-reads. You can't go wrong with this Wodehouse.
• The Looking Glass Wars by John Le Carre - I continued reading on in the Smiley series, but I have to admit this book may have ended it. Bleak, bleak read. I haven't decided if I'm going to attempt Tailor, Tinker, Sailor, Spy or just give it up.
• The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic by Jennifer Trafton - This is a very highly recommend read and I bought it for my daughter for a gift a while back. I decided that I'd read it, but I have to admit I did not find it lived up to all the great recommendations. Afterward, my daughter said she wasn't crazy about it either. I guess we just walk to a different beat.
• Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child by Anthony Esolen - I attempted to read this book years ago when it first came out and never made it through. So it has sat around my house forever until I decided to get it read. Esolen writes very sarcastically so that can make it hard to read. I did find myself agreeing with everything he said though I felt their were times I cringed because I wasn't doing well in that area. A very thoughtful read.

I also read:

• Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery - 
• The end of this book always makes me so very happy.
• Bachelor's Anonymous by P.G. Wodehouse - I was on a Wodehouse kick this month. This is a stand alone novel. It was fun read though it won't be a favorite.
• The Good Pilot Peter Woodhouse by Alexander McCall Smith - I haven't read anything by Alexander McCall Smith in forever. I found this book in the online catalog and thought it looked like a good read. Well, I was disappointed. This isn't one of his better reads. Skip it.
• A Man of Some Repute by Elizabeth Edmondson - Book 1 in A Very English Mystery series. I absolutely loved this series. They were just fun and clean cozy mysteries.
• The Penderwicks at Last by Jeanne Birdsall - The last book in the Penderwicks series which I have really enjoyed. I'll admit I'm a little rusty in the previous books and probably need to refresh my brain. Unfortunately, I can't say I was very satisfied with the book since it was the last in the series. It wasn't horrible but it just fell short of the mark compared to others in the series.
• A Question of Inheritance by Elizabeth Edmondson - Book 2--same as above.
• The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald D. Davis - More reading about dyslexia. This is about the Davis Method of working with Dyslexia. Not super helpful unless you are considering using it with your child.
• The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids by Sarah Mackenzie - I have listened to all of the Read-Aloud Revival Podcasts and decided to just order the book from the library rather than buying it. I really enjoyed reading Sarah Mackenzie's thoughts about reading aloud to your kids even though I've heard a lot of of it. I think this is a great gift for new parents or anyone parent for that matter. Highly recommended! 
• Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a Child's Moral Imagination by Vigen Guroian - Andrew Pudewa recommends this book when he talks about reading aloud to kids. I was able to get it at the library (thankfully since it is quite an expensive book) and kept having to renew it. I finally assigned myself so many pages a day so I could get it read before my last due date. This was an interesting read. I have to admit there were probably some things that went over my head, but I kept working my way through it. 

I listened to:

• My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse - The first book that introduces Jeeves. The Jeeves stories in the book are the best.
• Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown - This was another highly recommended book that has been on my radar for awhile. This book did lift up to the recommendations. It really gave me a lot of food for thought that I will be thinking about in the next little bit. It is a business book but many of his thoughts are applicable to everyday life.

What's On Your Nightstand - March & April

Again I'm having to do two months together. Last month went right by and I forgot. So my list is longer. The next six week are going to be a big push around here to get school work finished. That shouldn't affect my reading but one never knows what will happen around here!

For May:

From March's Nightstand I read:

• Out to Canaan by Jan Karon - Always enjoy my visits to Mitford!
• For Woman Who Are Called By Women Who Have Answered by Kim Haney - As a pastor's wife I added this as "professional" read.
• Know and Tell: The Art of Narration by Karen Glass - I love using the Charlotte Mason education in our homeschool and was excited to read this book. We have used narration in our homeschool for years and this was an excellent read to help us do it better.
• Lion by Saroo Brierley - Last summer I saw the film Lion when I was with friends and while I found the film intriguing, but it was missing something. I decided to check out the book and see if it filled in the gap. I did enjoy it more than the film and it is a story that will stick with me for awhile.

I also read:

• A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet: Southern Stories of Faith, Family, and Fifteen Pounds of Bacon by Sophie Hudson - I have mentioned I'm a fan of The Big Boo Cast and this book is written by the other co-host Sophie Hudson. I enjoyed it but I don't think it is a must read.
• A Murder of Quality by John LeCarre - I found out that my local book club that I sporadically attend was going to read The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and someone mentioned it was a series. Well, I love series so I started at the beginning! A Murder of Quality is book two of the series which I enjoyed. This was more of a mystery than an espionage story though.

In April I read:

• Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery - Just taking another round through the Anne books.
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - This was a literature selection I read aloud to my older kids though my 9 year old insisted on listening in. Of course, you can't go wrong with Austen.
• The Spy Who Came In From the Cold by John LeCarre - I read this for book club. This book is a different beast than the first two in the series. I'll just put it this way--I felt I needed therapy when I finished the book. Intense and not what I was expecting (or wanted)!
• True Grit by Charles Portis - I read this along with the Close Reads Podcast. I had watched the John Wayne film years ago but didn't hardly remember it. I enjoyed Portis' writing style, but again the ending was more intense and the ending was bittersweet.
• Church of the Small Things:A Million Little Pieces That Make Up Life by Melanie Shankle - If you've been following my nightstand posts you will notice I've been on Melanie Shankle kick. This is her latest. A nice book to relax to.
• A Path Through Suffering:Discovering the Relationship Between God's Mercy and Our Pain by Elisabeth Eliott - A good read about suffering with some important truths. The good thing was I figured out I wasn't suffering that bad.

I listened to:

• For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macauley - If you know anything about Charlotte Mason then you will know this is the go-to book to introduce people to a CM education. Honestly, this has never been my favorite read and I'm currently reading it with a CM book club. I found that the audio was available to download from the library so I pushed through it to help me through my slow reading. 
• Aunt's Aren't Gentlemen by P.G. Wodehouse - Yes, I just listened to this in February but we had an errand day up in Portland and my kids wanted to listen to it. We made it through over half the book so on another trip up to Portland I finished it. I think right now this is my favorite Jeeves book.
• Call for the Dead by John LeCarre - Book one in the Smiley Series. I really enjoyed this book.
• Overcoming Dyslexia:A New and Complete Science-Based Reading Program for Reading Problems at Any Level by Sally Shaywitz (April listen) - My youngest seems to be dyslexic and I'm trying to figure out what to do. This book was always coming up in my research so I borrowed the audio through Overdrive and powered through it. Honestly, I was quite disappointed in it. There wasn't much of a solution and very much for parents who children go to government schools. I felt very frustrated with this read.