It turns out that I?ve read at least 61 books last year, plus textbooks and children?s novels! Although I read very quickly, perhaps this is too much. I will need to consider how much to read and review while making plans for this year.
However, let?s put this into perspective. Here?s a mealtime conversation we had a few weeks ago.
Me: ?Bonhoeffer is probably the best book I?ve read this year, and I?ve read a lot of books.?
Kids: ?How many??
Me: ?By now, at least 50.?
Miss 10, with heartfelt sympathy: ?Is that all? Poor you!?
So, perhaps I don’t read all that much!
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Here?s a list of the books I can remember reading since the last 52 Books in 52 Weeks post, with links to my reviews where applicable. You can join the challenge yourself at 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
Raising Real Men by Hal and Melanie Young (child-rearing and homeschooling) Very good.
The Lonely Sentinel by Piet Prins (Second World War story for preteens and older) Excellent.
While We?re Far Apart by Lynn Austin (Second World War story for adults) Good.
Emily?s Chance by Sharon Gillenwater (light romance) Pleasant.
The Preacher?s Bride by Jody Hedlund (historical romance) OK.
The Redemption of Sarah Cain by Beverly Lewis (Amish fiction) Pleasant.
Locust: The Devastating Rise and Mysterious Disappearance of the Insect that Shaped the American Frontier by Jeffrey A. Lockwood. This fascinating and exciting detective story looks at the plague that destroyed so many hopes in American history. Remember the grasshopper plague described by Laura Ingalls Wilder? (nonfiction) Very good.
George Alfred Henty: The Story of an Active Life (biography) Very good.
The Brethren by Beverley Lewis (Amish fiction) Pleasant.
Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas (biography) Excellent.
Dearer Than Life by Emma Leslie (historical fiction around the time of Wycliffe) Very good.
The Power of a Positive No: How to Say NO and Still Get to YES by William Ury. This book should be required reading for anyone who is ever involved in conflict, as well as for those who avoid conflict by saying ?yes? when they shouldn?t. (nonfiction) Very good.
A Trio of Huguenot Stories by Alcock and Malplach (Huguenot stories) Very good.
Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution by Natalie S. Bober. This seems to be very good book, but it arrived by interlibrary loan when I was over-busy. Although I couldn?t finish it completely, I enjoyed many chapters and excerpts before it was due back at the library. My friend Laraba reviewed this book.
Flourish by Catherine Hart Weber, PhD (nonfiction) Excellent.
And, of course, I?ve skimmed hundreds of books before handing them to the children?or putting them away on a high shelf?including some very interesting ones such as Decision Points by Bush, Sarah Palin?s America by Heart, and Gilbert Morris?s historical novels.
I?m grateful to have had the opportunity to do so much reading, and I?m also grateful that I now have the energy to do more physical things, too. God has been very good to me.
I never seem to have enough time to get through many books anymore, other than read-alouds and brief skimming to check out the books the kids would like to read. I used to read a lot. But I find it very hard to get things done while I’m in a good book – it consumes my thoughts and is very distracting and I can tune out almost anything while reading. Study books are OK – I can read them with more moderation and fit them into little time slots without finding out that I should have started supper an hour ago or something like that. Someday I’ll have more time for that, but I do wish I could manage to read more of what my kids are enjoying.
It is a never-ending struggle, isn’t it? If I read a book during the day, I’m lost, too. That’s why I basically stopped reading for several years: I always felt so bad afterwards.
Now I read in the evenings when I’m too tired to do anything else, and occasionally on Sundays.
It makes a huge difference, though, that I no longer have little ones. And you have twice as many children, so you’ll have less time for now. Wait until you’re older, and you’ll be able to read to your heart’s content.
Blessings,
Annie Kate