Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Spring Reading Thing - 2009


**updated**

I saw this "Spring Reading Thing" button on a couple of sites I have visited recently and decided to check it out. Let me just say, I absolutely love to read. I don't have nearly the amount of time I would like to devote to reading, but I am always looking for something new that I want to read. Suffice it to say, that this idea of a low-pressure reading challenge seemed perfect for me. So, I think I'll give it a go.


The basic premise is this ... you create a list of books that you want to read between March and June and then visit Katrina's Callapidder Days to join in the fun. In June you'll evaluate your challenge and write a post about how you did. Along the way, you can review the books you have read or revise your list if you find that it isn't working for you.

I am going to start with a fairly short list, because to be honest, I haven't exactly spent a lot of time making a list of books that I really want to read. I will see one occasionally and think that I should write the name down before I forget, but usually forget before I get that far. I fully expect to edit this list as I actively seek new books to read. For now, I am going to list the books that I want to read personally, as well as some books I want to read with the kids. So, here goes.

Books for just me:
  • Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery ~ I am reading this one now and will probably read it again in the fall with LB.

  • Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes ... in you and your kids by Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller ~ I've been reading this one for a couple of weeks now and am at the point where I am ready to implement some of their ideas

  • Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis ~ recommended by someone I went to high school with.

  • Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan ~ I've never read the "real" version of this book. I am re-reading the simplified version with the kids for school right now. I would like to think that I am old enough for the real thing now.

  • I would like to add a biography of some sort to this list, but haven't decided whose ... any suggestions?
  • NEW ~ Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala ~ the men of our church are reading this book for their Wednesday night Bible study. My hubby got a copy of it and I picked it up last night after church (and read most of the night since I don't sleep well during thunderstorms). I plan to finish it tonight and so far it is very good.

Books for the kids and me:

  • From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg ~ we are reading this again for LB's literature co-op class. The kids love this book ... it is great fun!

  • Little Women by Louisa May Alcott ~ one of my favorite books as a kid and now I want to read it with LB

  • I am looking for something to read with JW and D, but I don't know much about "boy's books" so I am open to suggestions. I am thinking about Treasure Island or Swiss Family Robinson, but we'll see.


I have no idea that I will actually get through even half of these books by June, but I think I will enjoy trying! I would welcome any comments from those who have read these books or have suggestions for the areas I am still looking!



Don't forget to visit Callapidder Days and join the fun. Happy reading.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I LOVE Anne of Green Gables! I also remember loving The Mixed Up Files. Happy reading!

Amy said...

The last good biography I read was Paula Deen's- an excellent read if you don't mind a little bit of adult material. Nothing graphic, of course, but she had an affair and did some things to get by in hard times that aren't exactly pure in nature. Still, if you're a Paula fan (I am), you'll enjoy the book.

My book list is up HERE if you'd like to take a peek.

Pray~and~Wait said...

I love Anne of Green Gables and Pilgrim's Progress! I hope you like them if you haven't read them before. I would love to know your thoughts on Mere Christianity. I've had people tell they really like it and some that weren't fans. It was interesting b/c the people who really liked it became believers later in life...anyway--just curious.

As for boy's books...They might like:
Where the Red Fern Grows
Summer of the Monkeys
Snot Stew

Have fun!!! :)

Lynn said...

I've read most of the books on your list; must say, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler was one of my very favorites as a kid. I also re-read it not that long ago and still loved it.

A biography-ish book you might enjoy is Me, Myself, and Bob: A true story about Dreams, God, and Talking Vegetables by Phil Vischer, the creator of Veggie Tales. It's a realy moving account of Vischer's vision to do this wonderful thing for God, and how he got totally engulfed in it. Then things happened and he had to re-evaluate everything. It was such an honest account of having dreams and wanting to pursue them with all your heart, but also having to give up those dreams. I loved it. Maybe you will, too :) Happy reading!