My Reading List

I've recently discovered that there are people out there who blog about what they read.

Wow.

There they are in black and white. Hundreds, probably thousands, of blogs about books and reading books. Lots of people blog about the books they're reading. Why this never occurred to me as a good idea, I don't know. Of course it's a good idea. People blog about everything. We blog about our children, our hobbies, our crazy in-laws and the awful smell that comes from having a dead rat in the wall. We blog about blogging, for Pete's sake. Why wouldn't we blog about what we're reading? And this way we can share our good book ideas with each other!

I've even found someone else who loves two of my favorite authors: Jan Karon & Lucy Maud Montgomery. Now that discovery inspired me.

Personally, I am primarily a fiction reader. Well, I am and I'm not. When I read just to enjoy reading, I read fiction. My father read non-fiction of a huge variety; My husband reads mostly non-fiction, but he has a few fiction series/themes that he likes to read. I read fiction. Unless I'm reading my Bible, trying to improve myself, or reading a recipe.

Recently, I've been kinda stumped on what to read because, unfortunately I'm kinda picky in the fiction that I read:

• I like well written books. If it's badly written I get bored - easily.
  
• I generally prefer upbeat books.
• I don't really like suspense; I'm definitely not into gore.
• I don't generally read romance novels (though there are exceptions - we'll get to that later).
• I prefer series books, where I can get to know and "live" with a character for a while.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Anne of Green Gables series. And I loved reading just about all of Jan Karon's Mitford series. Last year I re-read the entire series of Mitford books. I was planning to follow that with re-reading the Harry Potter series, but my father became seriously ill last Fall and died in November. Harry Potter is just too dark at this season in my life. I need lighter stuff.

SO, on a recent trip to my wonderful local library, I picked up Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen and The Tuesday Club Murders by Agatha Christie. I know, I know, a murder mystery? Isn't that kinda dark? I've gotta be out of my mind - not exactly light stuff here. The thing is, Agatha Christie is familiar. I read a bunch of her books while I was in high school; it was the next series I read after I graduated from Nancy Drew. And I like Agatha Christie. She's not overly graphic or gory. And she uses the same characters over and over. It's like reading a series. And right now, I need books that are comfortable. So, I grabbed Agatha Christie. I've started Agatha first. She's a bit less daunting than Jane Austin. I've tried reading Sense and Sensibility at least twice before and never managed to finish it. Life interrupted. Hopefully, this time I'll finish it. I'll just keep on renewing it until I do!

On my nightstand right now are:

• The Tuesday Club Murders by Agatha Christie
• Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
• Building Faith at Home by Mark A Holmen
• Open Heart, Open Home By Karen Mains
• Amazaing Grace by Eric Metaxas

Sitting beside my rocker in the living room are:

• my Bible
• The Daily Message by Eugene H. Peterson
• Experiencing God Day by Day by Henry & Richard Blackaby

And, I've been reading these books to or with my children:

• 100 Bible Stories; 100 Bible Songs created by Stephen Elkins
• Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems (my daughter's favorite book)
• Kapow by George O'Connor (one of my son's favorites)
• Ker-Splash by George O' Connor (another of my son's favorites)
• The Big Green Pocketbook by Candice Ransom
• John Philip Duck by Patricia Polaccco (my all-time favorite children's author)

That's what I'm reading. In true UnfinishedMom fashion - most of the adult books have been started, but are unfinished at this point. What are you reading these days? If you are a Jan Karon and Lucy Maud Montgomery fan, I'd really like to know of other authors you think I'd enjoy. I'd also love to know what books you're reading to your children.

For more of what others have on their nightstand go here.