January Book

Hi girls!

I hope you are enjoying the relief from the holidays. I know I am! There is nothing like nothing going on. Since I am a mother there is plenty going on when there is nothing going on!

I really wanted to read Don Quixote this month, but my library seems to have one copy, which is checked out. I am also going to turn on the repeat button which says, "it is hard to read right now." IT IS! But my kids elementary school is having their reading incentive program on Percy Jackson so I am going to try to read The Lightning Thief sometime soon. Will I get it done in two weeks? I doubt it. But maybe I can get my hands on it by then. I am sorry this is so late being posted. I kid you not, I have been trying to choose for about a week now. I was trying to decide on something on my shelf, since I missed getting one at the library last week. Today it finally dawned on me that this would be a rational choice for me, so I can get what's going on at my kids school.

I also recommend Rock Solid Relationships by Wendy Watson Nelson. I love this book and plan to read it bit by bit again this month. And lastly, please send recommendations! I am slow at reading them, but I love ideas, which is why I am hard pressed to pick a book myself. I usually read by word of mouth! :) Happy January!

Rushing as always!
Lindsay

"Tis the good reader that makes the good book; a good head cannot read amiss: in every book he finds passages which seem confidences or asides hidden from all else and unmistakeably meant for his ear."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Chains

Hi girls, I am posting the June book as Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. I really loved and learned from this book, and it's sequel, Forge. I look forward to the third book, Ashes. These books talk about the coming of our country to freedom and the involvement of blacks, both free and slaves. If you choose to read it I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Lindsay
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November Book

Hi girls! I am sorry but this book club has made me realize how little I have to offer in the booktable arena! I read so many books that are unexciting and personal, (diabetic recipes in 15 minutes, healthy bread in five minutes a day, Here's how to do (speech) therapy, see what I mean?) and then I go off of so many others' suggestions for other books, and besides, I have a difficult time reading many books at all right now. I obviouly have not been good at reading yours, I can never seem to get a hold of them, and in time! But please know I love you anyway and always enjoy hearing what you choose! Many if not all these books are on the hopeful list to read someday! I love to hear what you have to say about these books! I believe what each person gains from a book is extremely personal, based on his or her life experiences and personal beliefs, and so gleanings, likes and dislikes from a book are entirely personal.

For my selections this month I am going to simply tell you what books I am reading and if you choose to read them, great, if not great! I just love you all anyway, but I am not going to promise they will be worth your while either! ;)

Right now I happen to have these books on my bedside table and will be happy to tell you my basic opinions should I actually finish them by December. Good heavens I hope I will, December sounds far away, and it is not! Oh My!

Sorcery and Cecelia or the Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer

This is a reread for me, exactly two years later! I love the back and forth letter style of this book and in my memory I found the writing and background of this story enchanting. It is not perfect. You may not glean anything from it--it is just a story. I like it.

The Happiness Makeover by M.J. Ryan

Oh, I know, some of you will not care for this book, but it has helped me and reminded me a bit and I find it uplifting. Simple ways to remind yourself to be happy, like being grateful, finding joy in simple things, etc. No, it is not perfect, you have to read with your gospel lenses on but luckily I have the gospel truths to back me and the spirit or my conscience to tell me YES on many of these ideas or ALMOST! ;) It is simple and basic and theoretically you all know what is says already. Plus the prophet recently said a bit of it, bless his heart, what a great talk! I like this book so far, a few pages a day.

Also for a while I have been thinking it would be fun to read just a chapter or an essay together, as sometimes time is short. I would like to reread this one about FAMILY WORK. Everyone is part of a family somehow, and right now, mine seems to be creating LOTS OF WORK! :) Here is the link.

And then I would like to hijack this BOOKCLUB and ask that you all send me a few recipes that you use often because I NEED THEM! I will post them all here or send them in an email to all of you, if you would like. It often feels like cooking is a major part of my life, and I could use a little excitement and change here, or you know DINNER! I can never figure out what to COOK, SO I thought this would be fun for our bookclub for some spice. Do you? I will try to post a few recipes in the next couple of days to...get you excited?! :)

Lastly I would really like to hear about everyone's family again. It has really been a while! I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO KNOW!

Lindsay
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July Book!

As I have reported to you, I am in the mood for something light, and so I have chosen the book Spindle's End by Robin Mckinley.

I enjoy many of Robin Mckinley's books because at least some of them, in my opinion, can be light but not too fluffy or overly simple. Even in her flufflier ones I enjoy her writing style! I have read this book before, which is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but I am going to read it again since I am great at forgetting things and I have not come across another light well-written book that I can get my hands on.

It is difficult to choose a book for everyone! If you would rather not read this book, my alternate books are
A Joyful Mother of Children by Linda Eyre and Are My Children Going to Make It?: Real Help for Teaching the Gospel in the Home by R. Wayne and Leslee S. Boss.
I have been reading and enjoying both of these books and would love to hear your comments about any of them. Happy Reading!

Lindsay