the loss of a friend

Jan Berenstain died on Friday at the wonderful age of 88.  Here is a great article about she and her husband, Stan.

What do you plan to read in 2012?

Have you started to say... Next year I'll do such and such?
Or my other favorite is ...I don't plan to do that again til next year...like ironing or paying bills etc

I am starting my reading list for 2012 and I love doing things like that because I love the clean slate, the newness, all the possibilities!

If you are ready to start your To Be Read List you will find good suggestions at this blog.

The Roque Crew

While I was in Savannah I finished reading The Roque Crew. It is a Redwall book.   I love the Redwall books!  They are a series of books written by Brian Jacques.  The books take place in and around the abbey at Redwall.  The stories are about good and evil and good always wins but not without great cost.  The characters are all animals- British animals, some I have never heard of.   There are 22 books in this series and there will be no more because Mr Jacques died this past February.  He wrote the first 5 books for students he encountered on his milk route.  They were blind so he provided them with fantastic descriptions.  I love these books, some more than others.  My all time favorite is the first, Redwall.  I just finished his last one, The Roque Crew.  It was outstanding but I didn't really want to finish it.  Now I have to say good bye to all the friends that I have made over the years.  I am sad that we will have no new adventures together.

Maybe I'll start at the beginning and reread some...

I am ready to go back

These are the books I have decided to read this October.  An Untamed Land was a wonderful, quick read.  I plan to find others in the series.  I am working on Walker Percy Remembered.  It is not one you can curl up in bed with so I am having to work at that one.

I am pleased to report- I miss my public library!  My list of books I want to read is growing.  I think I will celebrate November Fools Day by visiting the library after I request a few online.

33 HA

I am so sorry I didn't take a picture of the article in our local paper saying that July was a banner month for my library system. They checked out more books than ever.

EVER

Remember this post

I take a little credit for the increase circulation, I'm just saying.

Andrew, Harry and Andrew

The last Harry Potter movie opens tonight at midnight. Most of my children will be in line with lightning bolts on their foreheads and shirts with scenes and saying on them. I really thought the books were a bunch of nothing when they cam out but my children wanted to read them so we decided to read them out loud so we could discuss them. We all loved them.

One of the blogs on my blog roll is The Rabbit Room. It is written by Andrew Peterson and his friends. My son, Andrew, pointed out this great article that Andrew Peterson had written on Harry Potter. Enjoy! Andrew Peterson's thoughts on Harry Potter

Is 33 too many?????

An intervention

Really

Andrew thinks I need one

He asked me what I was reading

Well, I am reading several books

Oh, says Andrew, are they library books?

Yes

Then I said it, I voluntarily stated that I have checked out 33 library books

Andrew gasped

33!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, yes

Some I just thumb through and some I read

33!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, he says again

Mother, I think you need an intervention

Wait, the phone is ringing, it's the library, they are holding a book for me

We are up to 34 now!!!!!!

For all my reading friends

Have you found good reads? It is a wonderful web site that helps you record what books you have read, want to read, and are reading. You also get a wonderful newsletter with lots of great book suggestions.

If you sign up, add me as your friend so I can share what all you are reading too!

Do you take dares??

A Dare I plan to take today. How about you???

I am recovering from The Spelling Bee. It went 20 rounds last night.

Randomness

Do you want to give something to the folks in Alabama that have had their lives turned upside down by the tornado? This is one way. Baby shower for Tuscaloosa

Here is another way Riverwood Presbyterian Church in Tuscaloosa is a PCA church that was hit hard.

My friend Lilli Walker has a blog that is now on my blog roll. She is going to be in 11 countries in 11 months doing ministry. Check it out!

I read a wonderful book over the weekend. Left Neglected by Lisa Genova was so fascinating. I was hooked by the first few pages. Sarah has a traumatic brain injury but it is an uplifting book about it.

I have water today so it is a good day!

Judge a book by the cover!

What if you find yourself with a book that you just aren't enjoying. This Rule of 50 might help you.

Here is a bit of the essay- Read the whole thing, it is good!

Give a book 50 pages. When you get to the bottom of Page 50, ask yourself if you’re really liking the book. If you are, of course, then great, keep on reading. But if you’re not, then put it down and look for another. (Always keep in mind that there’s nothing to stop you from going back to it later, whether that might be in six days or six years. Or 60 years. There is many a book that I couldn’t get into the first time, or even two, that I tried to read it, and then, giving it one more chance, totally fell under its spell. The book obviously hadn’t changed – but I had.)

You are going to be jealous

Here is a picture of Hannah the Amazing! She has organized my scrapbooking and is now working on our books! Here she is getting ready to tackle a few more hours and a few more shelves.
Here she is in the wreck room with her computer. She started with the children's section. She is not only organizing but writing down every book we have! I can't wait!
Today we made a few stacks in the Living Room for her. My categories now are Fiction, Poetry, Biblical, Usborne, History, Homeschool and Children's books.
Here are a few of Hannah's stacks.
Here are some of the bookcases she has ahead of her...




I'll keep you posted on the progress. I am so excited!

Library Books

I am loving my library! All the books that I request now are out in the library instead of behind the desk of the librarians. All the books have a chip in them and I just put the books, a few at a time, on this special pad and like magic their names appear on the computer screen that is in front of me. It is very cool. I have made everyone that I can get in the car with me and go in with me as I check out my books. I feel like Ella Mae Clampett every time I do this- why, this is cooler than the cement pond!!

Here's what I have been reading.

In Search of Eden by Linda Nichols. very good, it is about family and forgiveness

The Girls from Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow. I enjoyed this book. It is well written. This is the story of a group of friends from childhood to now and how their friendship has endured.

Celia's House by D E Stevenson. wonderful, heartwarming, even just seeing the name of the book makes me give a contented sign. It stands alone but read the Listening Valley afterward to continue the story.

Waiting for Daybreak by Kathryn Cushman. A story about two pharmacists and how their lives intersect.

The Chili Queen by Sandra Dallas. I don't know what I think about this book. I wish you would read it and let's talk about it! I may need to read it again to understand it.

Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin. Outstanding! It is the story of 3 generation of women and God in their lives. It spans the Civil War to WWI. As soon as I finished it I got on my library web site and requested more of her books. This will be added to my list of books that I give to folks. I really liked this book, can you tell?

Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers. This book was good overall. It started great but it got really slow in the middle so I skimmed until it picked back up and I knew that story. There is a sequel coming soon called Her Daughters Dream. I plan to read it.

I have also been requesting children's books from the library. I love Gail Gibbons. I have 4 of her books now, Tornadoes!, Elephants of Africa, Corn and Hurricanes! I enjoyed them all.

A special shout out to Laurie for reading my blog and asking for more book reviews. I hope you find some from this list that you enjoy as much as Miss Buncle's Book.

Get your Library Cards Ready!

I have never written down a list of the books I have read.

My sister in law, Elaine, gave me a book for Christmas, that I have faithfully been writing the titles of the books I have been reading in.

Here goes:

Leaving Yesterday by Kathryn Cushman. Very good. It was a quick read and thought provoking. It made me wonder just how far would I go to protect my children. I read it while the power was out in our house in February. It kept my mind off how cold, hungry and mad I was that the power was out- well, it mostly took my mind off those things.

Miss Buncle's Book by D E Stevenson. I found D. E. Stevenson from a blog on my blogroll and what a feast I am having on her books. This book is very sweet and funny and you will love it and will be so glad there is a sequel. Miss Buncle is very observant and writes a book about her neighbors. The hilariousness that follows will keep you laughing.

At the Scent of Water by Linda Nichols. This book grabbed me from the first page. It is a book about forgiveness and family's and life. This book made me cry but there was enough hope so that it was not a downer.

My friend, Monica, got me on a Grace Livingston Hill kick. I found a list of her books that all have a Christmas scene in them! The Substitute Guest is a delightful book. One of my favorite lines is ...and wrapping paper and ribbon made a bright confusion everywhere. Can't you just picture that? The Prodigal Girl is by the same author and has the same review. Quick, pleasant read.

Miss Buncle Married by D. E. Stevenson. Just wonderful. Not quite as good as the first but you will enjoy it.

The Church Ladies by Lisa Samson. Very good. I have read one other book of hers and now I plan to read them all. In this book, forgiveness plays a key role.

New Mercies by Sandra Dallas. I also plan to read all her books. There were twists and turns in here that I didn't see coming. Very good. I tried to read Tallgrass by her but I couldn't get into it. I may try it again later.

Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas. What a good book. I plan to reread this again soon so that I can gleam so more of the wisdom out of it.

The Listening Valley by D. E, Stevenson. just wonderful. breath of fresh air.

The Canopy by Angela Hunt. I cannot recommend this book and I don't plan to read any more of this author. From the beginning you know that the author has an agenda. I was ok with that. Her writing style made me want to find out what happened in the book and to the people. The book has 394 pages. On page 367 she introduced all these weird spirits that I didn't feel added to the story, they just weirded me out. I skimmed the last pages to find out the rest of the story but didn't enjoy it.

The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. This book was so good. The setting is 1986 and WWII. It is the story about WWII and the affect it had on one family. I couldn't put this book down. I had to tell the story to Marisa and Kaitlin so they could enjoy it with me.

Happy Reading!

Anne has created a monster!

My friend, Anne, that goes to church with me, was the one who told me about requesting books online from the library. Now I can't control myself. Here are my latest ones. How am I to read all these by May 10th? I'll figure out some way- I am thinking that there won't be too much picking up or cooking for awhile around here.I'll write a book report soon on some I've already read if I have time with all my new reading :)

All new books or do you reread old ones

Some thoughts from John Piper and how he decides what to read. Very interesting.

What have you been reading?

Marisa has a TBR shelf in her room. She has several books on it. She asked me if I had a TBR shelf and almost fainted when I showed her mine. I realized I needed to get to reading.

Return to Sullivans Island by Dorothea Benton Frank

Couldn't put it down. I have even been rereading sections so I can roll her verbiage off my tongue. Will give high recommendation.

Last Light over Carolina by Mary Alice Monroe

Good. Glad I read it. Will recommend. Good story on forgiveness and not holding grudges.

Savannah from Savannah by Denise Hildreth

Very good. Some of the funniest lines I have ever read- I laughed out loud. Marisa has this on her TBR list now. I plan to ask for her other books for Christmas

Dune Road by Jane Green

I enjoyed Beach House by the same author. Dune Road had a few more, shall we say 'colorful Metaphors', than I am used to reading. It was a good book but not one I can give to just any one to enjoy. It has a good story and I had to find out how it ended.

Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews

Couldn't put it down. It grabbed me from the beginning. I like her writing style. Marisa is now reading this.

If you want to borrow one of these just let me know! If you have read a good one let me know, I've moved a few off my TBR shelf and it looks empty.

books about books

The Read-Aloud Handbook and Honey for a Child's Heart are two books that helped me as I looked for books to read to my children and books to encourage them to read.

Even if you don't have children at home, these websites and books by the authors will help you in shopping for books for gifts that you give.

Also, I believe a good book is a good book no matter what age the book is written for. Who knows , you may find a book that you loved as a child or missed as a child and need to read it now.