From the Family Bookshelf

 

 

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve posted this column. Year end school activities and preparing for our son’s wedding hasn’t left me a lot of blogging time. It’s taken a tiny bite out of the reading time too, but not so much since I read every night before bedtime.During that time, I’ve managed to read some great books:

Conflicts with Interest by Michael Ruddy. This book brings you up close to the dark underbellies of insurance companies and law offices as seen through a builder’s eyes when he is sued by a client for construction issues.

More Than Conquerors by Kathi Macias. While the stated genre is contemporary thriller, it is definitely a Christian novel. I loved it!

America’s Black Founders by Nancy I. Sanders (Review will be posted here soon). This is a book for school-aged children. Every third and fourth grade classroom in America should have one, though younger and older grades would enjoy it too.

I’m currently reading The Wildcat’s Burden by Christopher Hoare. This is the fourth book in his Iskander series.  I’m also reading A Very Dangerous Woman: Martha Wright and Women’s Rights by the husband and wife team of Sherry Penny and James Livingston.  This last book, sadly to say, was left out in the rain during last night’s huge thunderstorm. I was reading it while I grilled on the deck, but forgot to bring it in. It rained on my beautiful book for about 30 minutes before I realized where it was. I am so upset.

Okay, now on to Dad. He just finished up Prayers for the Assassin  by Robert Ferrigno. I assume he’ll be starting on the second in this series soon.

The Lil Diva is back to reading her two, Katie & Kimble books: Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish. She’s anxiously awaiting the third book in this series.

The Lil Princess has been enjoying books by Lynn Plourde: Book Fair Day, School Picture Day, and Teacher Appreciation Day. She really wants to read without assistance, but she isn’t totally there yet. She’s making good progress, though, and these books are so fun that she wants to read them over and again. She has trouble with some of the names, like “Josephina Caroleena Wattasheena the First” from School Picture Day. But it is also those silly parts that entertain her.

Until next time, keep reading!

From the Family Bookshelf

 

It’s time again–actually, this is past due–for From the Family Bookshelf–the weekly (so far, so good) column talking about the books we’re reading, have read or want to read. There’s Mom (me), Dad (slowest reader in the world), the Lil Diva (reluctant reader extraordinaire), and the Lil Princess (bookworm in training).

I’ll let Dad go first this time, but that’s because I’m going to pick on him. Yes, he is still reading the thriller, Prayers for the Assassin , by Robert Ferrigno. Can you imagine how big my TBR pile would be if I read as slow as he does?

As for me, I’ve lucked out and hit a really good patch in the reading cycle.  Not many books that I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed. Since last time, I’ve read:

The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House a memoir by Melissa Anderson. Anderson played the character of Mary Ingalls on the classic 70’s family show, Little House on the Prairie. 

Jack’s Dreams Come to Life by Sara Jackson (children’s picture book)

The Raindrop by Brian McClure (children’s picture book)

Mr. Vinegar and the Frozen Sea by Chris Wardle (middle grade/tween chap book)

The Soggy Town of Hilltop by Kevin McNamee (children’s picture book)

My Dog Tim and Other Stories by Garasamo Maccagnone (literary story collection)

The Elf of Luxembourg: An Alex and Jackie Adventure by Tom Weston (YA fantasy)

Faith & Finances: A Journey to Financial Dependence by various authors

Some of these reviews have been posted here: Jack’s Dreams Come to Life, The Raindrop, Mr. Vinegar and the Frozen Sea, and The Soggy Town of Hilltop.  Tom Weston’s book will be reviewed here on Friday. My review of Melissa Anderson’s book appears at Laura’s Little Houses, my Laura Ingalls Wilder  blog. The other books will be reviewed at The Book Connection.

I just started reading the novel Conflicts with Interest by Michael Ruddy. I’m also reading The Three Dimensions of Character by Larry Brooks.

Wow! I take a up a lot of space. Now onto the girls.

The Lil Diva is still in Justin Bieber heaven, but she is managing to get some other reading done. She just finished Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren (RH Books for Young Readers) by Barbara Park. There are few books I can get her to read without an argument. Junie B. Jones books fall in that category.

The Lil Princess has read a few books this week. Now that she’s beginning to recognize more words she wants to read to me at night instead of the other way around. Two books I remember from this week are The Silly Scarecrow by Danielle Denega. This is a Clifford Puppy Days book from Scholastic geared toward kids in K – 2.

Her other popular book of the week is What Do Smurfs Do All Day? by Peyo. This book is part of the Dr. Seuss Beginning Readers Collection.  I’m sure it belonged to my son, who watched Smurfs, as did my sister and I when we were younger. My sister had the Smurf village toys that were popular when the cartoon first came out.  The Cartoon Network was airing reruns of Smurfs for a while and my girls really liked the show.  A great show, like a great book, never goes out of style.

Until next time, keep reading!

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