Books have held a special place for me lately, a rare indulgence, since when I read it means I am truly at leisure, usually at night in the last hour before bed while soaking in the tub.
Several times I have indulged my tendency to read through a book part way, skip to the end, and then decide not to finish it. I blush in shame as I admit this. I am grateful I have several good friends who do the same, it makes me feel less scandalous. I have however finished several...
Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson. I devoured this book in less than a week. It's so inspiring and I have a special connection to Miss Nie of the NieNie Dialogues that I'll have to write about in another post. It's a reminder of what's really important in life and how happiness doesn't have to be about having a "perfect" life.
The House at Riverton by Kate Morton. The writing was lovely and it kept me going to see what the big reveal was, and maybe I also enjoyed it because I'm missing Downton Abbey. It reminded me of Downton Abbey - set in the same time period in England, in a large family estate that is going the way of the dinosaurs, with an upstairs, downstairs cast of characters, but it is missing that wicked sense of humor in Downton Abbey and it's more of a melancholy downer. And since I also read The Distant Hours by Kate Morton last year, I feel a bit like "oh I've read this before" - many recurring themes - sisters, homes that are personalities in themselves, old tragedies and secrets, and lost loves - not that recurring themes are a bad thing, but it did feel similar.
Spirit-Led Parenting: From Fear to Freedom in Baby's First Year by Megan Tietz and Laura Oyer. This book is brilliant. Well it was for me at least. It leans toward attachment parenting, but the overall message is that you should be following God's lead as you care for your baby, and not be fixated on following experts - there is not one way, or one right way to care for your baby. In the high stakes of being a first time mom, when there feels like so much pressure around sleeping and scheduling and so much anxiety about not doing things the right way, it's such a relief to have words of freedom spoken.
And I am currently reading:
The latest issue of Mollie Makes. Why? I mean it's not like I'm going to craft anything. But I was feeling self-indulgent the day I had a few minutes in the bookstore alone, and I so love the aesthetic of Mollie Makes.
84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff. It's the sort of light, smart, witty, britlit I love.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Why? Well, because it was free on my Kindle and because I never have read it before. I wanted to go back to the original source and see what it was like.
The Book of New Family Traditions by Meg Cox. I've been thinking about what family traditions I might want to have as Will grows older.
What are you reading lately? Any recommendations for me?
Hey, so nice to check in and see that you are doing well! I'll have to take a look at that issue of Mollie Makes (I'm in TX now and can get a copy at B & N!). Glad to know what you're enjoying reading these days. 84 Charing Cross Road and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes are two of my favorites!
ReplyDeleteWill look into the Spirit-led Parenting - I still need encouragement to find my own way, even the second time around. 84 Charing Cross Road is on my bookshelf, on loan from a friend - will get to it someday.
ReplyDeleteCurrently reading Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History. Very interesting - I think you would like it too.