We are on temper tantrum 7,000 so far this morning, so in the hopes of not losing my ever loving mind, I’m escaping to the world of books instead of posting about how we are actually doing this morning.
Anyone else manage to be in the middle of several books at once? Please tell me it’s not just me. Because seriously, I’ve got oh so many!
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A Spouse Who Prays
This book for grown ups by children’s author Katie Warner is fabulous. Each week has a different prayer focus, with space for journaling specific prayer intentions. There is also space to keep track of a weekly spiritual bouquet for your spouse, and I love that! It’s definitely helped me up my praying for Mark game.
Demelza
This is book 2 in the Poldark series. I may or may not have gotten hooked on the Masterpiece Theater series (available to stream on Prime) and then gotten myself into the books. Book one was fabulous. Book two seems a little darker. We’ll see how far I manage to get into the series. There are 12 . . .
Accidental Theologians
This book on the four female doctors of the Church is a fascinating read (you can also listen to a series of lectures the author gives on hoopla if audiobooks are more your speed). It’s an interesting approach to the four women, but definitely not a substitute for reading the actual writings of the saints.
The Life of Teresa of Avila
To that end, I’m rereading Teresa’s autobiography. Every single time I read it, some new piece or part hits me. Most recently I was struck by a paragraph in which she explains, that she just didn’t have time for being sick anymore, and so she just kept going. As a sleep deprived Mom, that rang with truth to me.
Unsheltered
Okay, this one I just finished, but only a few days ago, and it was so good I just had to share it. I fell in love with Barbara Kingsolver’s writing style when I was in high school and read The Poisonwood Bible. This one is a fabulous mix of history and science, with Kingsolver’s amazing knack for making her characters come right off the page.
In a Sunburned Country
I started this one awhile back and got distracted from it, which is a shame because it’s so darned hilarious. I love Bill Bryson’s travel diaries, and this one is especially good. But fair warning, you may not want to visit Australia after reading . . .
Magnificat
I’m always in the middle of the Magnificat this year, and it is oh so wonderful. Mark gave me a subscription last Christmas, and it is probably one of the most useful gifts I’ve been given. It’s certainly the most fruitful. I love the fact that I have a touch point for prayer throughout the day that’s all in one spot. The chunks are long enough to be meaty, but short enough that I can sneak them while the kids are busy. I’ve been such a fan of the shortened morning and evening prayers, and love the daily meditations.
Okay, what’s on your reading list currently? Goodness knows I’m always looking for more reads and ways to live vicariously through the lives of people who don’t have a toddler bringing them a half eaten stick of butter. Speaking of which . . . I need to go clean butter off of everything. Not even kidding.
Linking up with Kelly, who, by the sounds of it, is crushing the Halloween costume making, so click on over and read the rest of the 7QTs.
I read In a Sunburned Country while in Australia and hated it. I’d read and liked a different Bill Bryson book (can’t remember which) but I really didn’t like his cursory approach to Australia. In that book, he seemed very arrogant to me, stopping in a town for a day or two and then dismissing the entire town for a bad waittress or some other poor experience, and moving on to dis the next town on his route. 🙁 I spent three and a half months there, LOVED my entire summer, and my only regret is that I didn’t have more time to explore and spend in each place I stayed. 🙂 I need to check out some of these other books… I’ve never read Barbara Kingsolver. 🙂
Yes, Bryson is definitely more cynical and sarcastic about Australia than he is in his other books. I’m sure I would have felt the same way if I had any connection to the country myself! Do check out Barbara Kingsolver- she is a master at weaving a story.