What’s on Your Nightstand?

On last month’s nightstand:

What I actually read this month was…
not very much. Last month, I blamed the last few weeks of school and working on thesis–this month, I had a wedding interrupt my daily routines (definitely not an unwelcome interruption!) I’m going to have to stop making excuses and just accept that my life is such that I can’t expect to read a bazillion books a month.

Fiction

• Washington’s Lady by Nancy Moser
  I’ve enjoyed all of Nancy Moser’s historical novels–but I think this one is my favorite. Histories do not always make the best novels because our lives are rarely as neat as we demand our fictional tales to be. Nevertheless, Moser does a good job of giving Martha Custis Washington’s story a consistent theme. It’s not an amazing book, but it is enjoyable.
• Winter is Not Forever by Janette Oke

Nonfiction

• The American Bar Association Complete and Easy Guide to Health Care Law
• The Children’s Blizzard by David Laskin
  Click the link to see my review.
• In the President’s Secret Service by Ronald Kessler
  My thoughts pretty much echo Susan’s: the behind-the-scenes stuff was great; the whining about not having enough money, enough staff, nice enough supervisors, etc. was tiresome.
• Life’s Instructions for Wisdom, Success, and Happiness
• Make Your Own Living Trust
• Nolo’s Simple Will Book
• The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller
  Click the link to see my review.
• Writing your dissertation in fifteen minutes a day by Joan Bolker
  Intended for doctoral students working on their dissertations, this was nevertheless helpful to me in getting past some of the inner distractions to writing my (master’s) thesis.

Juvenile

• Children’s Picture Books author ANNO-ARNO (44 titles)
  including Kathi Appelt’s Bubba and Beau books
• The Shortwave Mystery by Franklin Dixon

Currently in the middle of…

Nonfiction

• Are Miraculous Gifts for Today?: Four Views edited by Wayne Grudem
  I had this one out via interlibrary loan and had to return it before I’d finished it. I quickly sent in a new request and quickly received a new copy. While I’m not publishing my notes from this title, I’ve been enjoying reading and making notes on the four views represented within. I think I’ve officially decided that this format is the best way to study controversial theological topics–the knowledge that other viewpoints will respond immediately to one’s argument seems to force each author to write with greater clarity and theological depth.
• The Cross of Christ by John Stott
  I’ve just started this title, but I’m already crazy about it. After a hiatus from writing (public) book notes (thanks to writing private ones on Are Miraculous Gifts for Today?), I’m ready to jump back in. I’ll be writing public notes on this title over the course of the next month.
• Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris
  I’ve already read this title through–but then I suggested that our ladies fellowship group read it through and discuss it at our bimonthly meetings. They agreed, so we’re traveling through it slowly (2 chapters a month) and discussing.
• Human Rights: Opposing Viewpoints
  I had to check this out a second time (after the first six-week period). I always enjoy the Opposing Viewpoints essays. Even though I generally end up agreeing with one side of any particular issue, I find it useful to read a variety of perspectives.
• The Myth of a Christian Nation by Greg Boyd
  I’m reading this one (two chapters per week) along with a diverse book club here in Lincoln. It’s definitely been interesting to see the differing perspectives (of book club members) on how the church is to deal with politics. So far, Boyd seems to be taking an almost Anabaptist position (separation from politics). There are some points on which I agree with him–and some points where I differ. I’m interested in seeing him develop his argument over the course of the rest of the book.
• Superhuman by Robert Winston and Lori Oliwenstein
  This is another one I checked out a second time. It’s interesting to read about advances in medicine and the wonders of the human body–but I dislike the authors’ underlying evolutionary and Nietzschean assumptions.
• Whom Not to Marry by Father Pat Connor
  Meh. Haven’t decided whether I like this or not. It’s directed towards women and it’s constantly making statements of “If he…., don’t marry him” but makes very little reference to what the women should be doing. There’s no corollary “If you…, don’t marry.” So basically, it reads like the man has to be perfect, but the woman can be as selfish and immature and irresponsible as she pleases.

On this month’s nightstand:

Fiction

• The Courteous Cad by Catherine Palmer
• The Princess Bride by William Goldman
• Solemnly Swear by Nancy Moser
• Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Nonfiction

• Donna Kooler’s Encyclopedia of Needlework
• Five Aspects of Woman by Barbara Mouser
• Holiday Crafts 2009 by Better Homes and Gardens
• Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
• Stitch Sampler by Lucinda Ganderton
• Theses–as I work on my own thesis
• Wedding planning books
  It’s my habit to use wedding planning books to “review” after each wedding I help with and to organize my notes for what worked/what didn’t work/how I can help things run more smoothly the next time around. Yeah–I’m somewhat over-the-top as a wedding assistant. Oh well!

Juvenile

• Children’s Picture Books author ARNOLD-?
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
  I’ll be reading this (and maybe The Horse and His Boy) as part of Carrie’s Chronicles of Narnia Reading Challenge.

Drop by 5 Minutes 4 Books to see what others are reading.

My pride rebels against holding over books from one nightstand post to the next, so I often find myself frantically trying to finish and review the rest of my list immediately prior to the fourth Tuesday of the month.

Alas, this month even my pride cannot keep me from holding over books. I bit off more than I could chew last month…and added some extra books throughout the month…and had all sorts of stuff to finish in the last weeks of school…and have been trying to actually get my thesis off the ground…and I’ve been on a bit of a crafty kick lately that has distracted my attention from books.

Which means that, in short, I am holding over a whopping 10 books.

Dear me!

On last month’s nightstand:

What I actually read this month was:
(Links lead to my reviews of the book, never to a site selling you something.)

Fiction

• Eye Contact by Cammie McGovern
• Lost in Rooville by Ray Blackston
• Where Love is, There God is also by Leo Tolstoy
• The Winds of Autumn by Janette Oke

Nonfiction

• 703: How I lost more than a quarter ton and gained a life by Nancy Makin
• Convergence: Spiritual Journeys of a Charismatic Calvinist by Sam Storms
• Dave Barry Does Japan by Dave Barry
• Dave Barry’s Money Secrets by Dave Barry
• Forgotten God by Francis Chan
  Check out my notes on this book about the Holy Spirit here.

• The Gentle Art of Domesticity by Jane Brocket
• Get Married: what women can do to help it happen by Candace Watters
• The Occasional Vegetarian by Karen Lee
  I made a couple of recipes out of this–a vegetable cassoulet that was good but not good enough to justify the work it took to make it; and a wonderful, low-stress Ginger Lentil Stew that I like so much I posted the recipe in my online collection!
• On Grief and Grieving by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler
  Discussion of stages of grieving was helpful, as noted before–otherwise, the vague “spirituality” of the remaining book was somewhat disconcerting.
• Religion Saves: and nine other misconceptions by Mark Driscoll
• Stuff Christians Like by Jonathan Acuff

Juvenile

• Children’s Picture Books author ANDERSON-ANHOLT (52 titles), including
  • Derek Anderson’s Derek and Lou Blast Off!
  • Tea for Ten and other books by Lena Anderson
• The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
• The Deserted Library Mystery created by Gertrude Chandler Warner
  Another confirmation of my bias against the “created by’s”. The children were in a truly dangerous situation without any adult oversight. Completely unlike Warner’s books where the children are involved with minor mysteries under the watchful eye of a caring but non-intrusive adult.
• Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George

This month’s nightstand

Fiction

• The Courageous Cad by Catherine Palmer
• Washington’s Lady by Nancy Moser (Holdover)
• Winter is Not Forever by Janette Oke

Nonfiction

• 1,2,3 Skein Crochet by Judy Crow
• The American Bar Association Complete and Easy Guide to Health Care Law
• **The Children’s Blizzard by David Laskin (Holdover)
• **Five Aspects of Woman by Barbara Mouser (Holdover)
• **Human Rights: Opposing Viewpoints (Holdover)
• **Life’s Instructions for Wisdom, Success, and Happiness (Holdover)
• Make Your Own Living Trust
• Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts
• Nolo’s Simple Will Book
• Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon (Holdover)
• The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller (Holdover)
• **Superhuman by Robert Winston and Lori Oliwenstein (Holdover)
• Whom Not to Marry by Father Pat Connor
• **Writing your dissertation in fifteen minutes a day by Joan Bolker

Juvenile

• Children’s Picture Books author ANDERSON-?
• **The Shortwave Mystery by Franklin Dixon (holdover)

**The asterisks marks books I’m currently in the middle of.

Drop by 5 Minutes 4 Books to see what others are reading.

It’s time again to report the contents of our Nightstands, a la 5 Minutes 4 Books. I was hoping to be able to link up before I left for my interview–but I s’pose 6 am is a little early to expect a post to be up by. So enjoy browsing my books and check out 5M4B to see more Nightstand posts.

Last month’s nightstand:

What I actually read this month was:
(Links lead to my reviews of the book, never to a site selling you something.)

Fiction

• The Apothecary’s Daughter by Julie Klassen
• Divine and Human (and other stories) by Leo Tolstoy
  I haven’t read many short stories since my anthology days in middle school–but this collection of short stories by Tolstoy definitely piqued my interest. Like I noted when I reviewed Resurrection, Tolstoy’s characters are fantastic and the interactions between them often complex–but Tolstoy tends to moralize and certain of the stories can be heavy-handed in their conviction that socialism is the appropriate application of Christ’s words. Now that I’ve read a collection of Tolstoy’s works from after his conversion to Christ and embrace of pacifism and socialism, maybe I’ll have to read some of his earlier, better known works. Anybody got suggestions for my next Tolstoy read?
• Mozart’s Sister by Nancy Moser
• Once upon a Summer by Janette Oke

Nonfiction

• Bible Babel by Kristin Swenson
• Biology: High School Review by Princeton Review
• The Blue Zone by Daniel Buettner
• The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
• Home by Julie Andrews.
• Male/Female Roles: Opposing Viewpoints
• The Power of Half by Kevin and Hannah Salwen
• The Ten Big Lies About America by Michael Medved
• Unveiling Islam by Ergun Mehmet Caner and Emir Fethi Caner
  I also wrote extensive notes on this title as I read it.
• Vegetables Every Day by Jack Bishop
  I made several recipes from this book and was quite pleased with the results. I modified a recipe for honey glazed parsnips and liked it so much that I posted my modified version. I’ll probably be checking this one out of the library again–it has TONS of vegetable recipes, most of which can be easily modified as needed. This is a book worth having.
• Words to Live By by Charles Panati
• The World’s Last Night and other essays by C.S. Lewis
• A Year of Blind Dates by Megan Carson

Juvenile

• Catch-up Children’s Picture Books ALBOROUGH-ALIKI (11 titles) including:
  • Always Room for One More by Sorche Nic Leodhas
• Children’s Picture books author ALLARD-ANDERSEN (68 titles) including:
  • Brothers of the Knight by Debbie Allen
  • We are All Born Free by Amnesty International
  • For sure! For sure! by Hans Christian Andersen
• The Haunted Cabin Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• I, Coriander by Sally Gardner
• Inkdeath by Cordelia Funke
  It took me several chapters to get hooked into Inkheart. I slipped easily back into that world with Inkspell. And Inkdeath absolutely captivated me. This is a rare trilogy that improves with every tale.
• The Melted Coins by Franklin Dixon

This month’s nightstand

Fiction

• Eye Contact by Cammie McGovern
  Added to my TBR list after reading a review by Framed and Booked
• Lost in Rooville by Ray Blackston
• Washington’s Lady by Nancy Moser
• Where Love is, There God is also by Leo Tolstoy
  I’m dancing around reading the big two: Anna Karenina and War and Peace. I think my library has one more collection of short stories that I can procrastinate with before I start in on the two that still manage to majorly intimidate me (despite the fact that I enjoyed Resurrection–which is almost as long as Anna Karenina–a great deal.)
• The Winds of Autumn by Janette Oke

Nonfiction

• The Children’s Blizzard by David Laskin
  Added to my TBR list based on somebody’s review–but unfortunately this was before I started saving the locations of all the reviews that got added to my TBR list.
• Dave Barry Does Japan by Dave Barry
• Five Aspects of Woman by Barbara Mouser
  Didn’t end up starting this one last month–I had so many other books to read, not to mention going to school and teaching. I plan on starting on this as soon as I’m done with Forgotten God
• **Forgotten God by Francis Chan
  So far, I’m loving this book about the Holy Spirit. Check out my notes on the first few chapters here.
• The Gentle Art of Domesticity by Jane Brocket
  I’ve picked up this blogger’s book before and enjoyed perusing it–but didn’t have time to finish it before I sent it back to the library. Maybe this time I’ll get all the way through it.
• **Get Married: what women can do to help it happen by Candace Watters
  I read about this when Carrie reviewed it last fall–and then essentially forgot about it. Something or another reminded me of it while I was blog-hopping a week or two back and I figured I’d ILL it. It’s a slightly different perspective than the “If God wants you to marry, He’ll land someone in your lap” perspective so common in the Christian world today. So far, it’s quite interesting.
• Human Rights: Opposing Viewpoints
  After reading on that human rights treatise disguised as a children’s book, I figured I might look a little deeper at how folk define “human rights”.
• Life’s Instructions for Wisdom, Success, and Happiness
  A quote book. I probably like them just a little too much.
• Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
  Another title I’ve barely had a chance to look at this month. Since I’ll likely be just working on thesis this summer (not working or going to school else-wise), I might have a bit of extra time to peruse this cookbook with its extensive nutritional/ideological sidebars.
• **The Occasional Vegetarian by Karen Lee
  Vegetarian recipes for people who aren’t necessarily anti-meat, but who just want to go meatless more often. I’ve made one recipe already–it was pretty good but a little too fussy for everyday use. I hope to make a few more recipes before I have to take this title back to the library.
• **On Grief and Grieving by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler
  I read the first few chapters of this book after my mom recommended looking into the stages of grief. I found the discussion of stages of grieving very helpful. However, since I’m not dealing with grief from a death, which the book is primarily geared towards, I’m not sure if I plan to finish the rest. For now, it may have served its purpose.
• The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller
  Another one on the TBR list that I can’t pinpoint the source of.
• Superhuman by Robert Winston and Lori Oliwenstein
  It seems to be a book about how our bodies fight disease–and about modern medical technology. It seems especially interesting to me since my brother is in biological systems engineering and works quite a bit with biomedical appliances and the like (currently, he’s doing some research with adult stem cells.)

Juvenile

• Children’s Picture Books author ANDERSON-?
• The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
• The Deserted Library Mystery created by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• The Shortwave Mystery by Franklin Dixon
• Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George

**The asterisks marks books I’m currently in the middle of.

Drop by 5 Minutes 4 Books to see what others are reading.

I’ve done a bit more reading this month to catch up from my dismal month of February (in which I read less than a quarter of a full-size book per day. Gosh!)

Last month’s nightstand:

What I actually read this month was:
(Links lead to my reviews of the book, never to a site selling you something.)

Fiction

• John 3:16 by Nancy Moser
• The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen
• When Tomorrow Comes by Janette Oke

Nonfiction

• Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
  Very good book. Highly recommend. Especially for younger people.
• Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris
  Enjoyed this, recommended it to my new ladies small group/book discussion group. We’re going through it slowly starting last night. So I might be giving more comments on individual portions as time goes by.
• Good Housekeeping Best Recipes 2000
  Made and modified the Caribbean Roast Chicken recipe from this a couple of times. Good stuff!
• If Ignorance is Bliss, Why Aren’t There More Happy People?
  This is a book of quotes. I love quote books!
• Why We Love the Church by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck
  I wrote a whole series of book notes on this book–Check them out here

Juvenile

• Children’s books AJHAR-ALIKI (43 titles)
  Including books by Arlene Alda and a potpourri of others
• Benny Uncovers a Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• Bus Station Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
• Dave at Night by Gail Carson Levine
• The Flickering Torch Mystery by Franklin Dixon
• The Illustrated Book of Fairy Tales by Philip and Mistry

This month’s nightstand
I don’t think I can afford to go back to the library in this next month–my nightstand for April is absolutely packed full (with a lot of non-fiction too!)

Fiction

• The Apothecary’s Daughter by Julie Klassen
  Recommended by too many bloggers to keep track of.
• Mozart’s Sister by Nancy Moser
  Reading my way through Moser
• Once upon a Summer by Janette Oke
  Reading my way through Oke

Nonfiction

• Bible Babel by Kristin Swenson
  Saw this on the “new books” display at the library and thought it looked interesting.
• **Biology: High School Review by Princeton Review
  Despite almost minoring in it, biology has never been one of my strong points. Brushing up while getting some more done on my “read every book” goal
• The Blue Zone by Dan Buettner
  Health theory professor handed us an article about the author (published in Newsweek, I think). His stuff sounded interesting. Studying the communities around the world where people tend to live longer.
• Five Aspects of Woman by Barbara Mouser
  A theology of femininity–I’ve read excerpts, but I’m eager to actually go through this whole Bible study. I don’t anticipate getting done anytime soon though.
• Forgotten God by Francis Chan
  Picked up after watching a video (no longer available) called “The Big Red Tractor” on Vitamin Z. It’s all about the Holy Spirit.
• The Girl’s Guide to Kicking Your Career into Gear
  Finishing up school soon. It’s about time to kick it into gear.
• The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
  Added to TBR list on recommendation of Wayside Sacraments
• **Home by Julie Andrews
  Picked up audio book for drive to visit my sister. Enjoyed the first disc (read by Andrews herself).
• Male/Female Roles: Opposing Viewpoints
  I enjoy the Opposing Viewpoints collections–and since I spent some time exploring gender roles during Love Month, I thought I’d keep researching a bit more.
• Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
  Becky lent/sent me a copy of this so I could explore its claims more in depth.
• The Power of Half by Kevin and Hannah Salwen
  Picked this up based on a review from Golden Grasses.
• **The Ten Big Lies About America by Michael Medved
  Picked up after reading a review from Seth Heasley at Collateral Bloggage
• The Ultimate Job Search by Richard H. Beatty
  Should be done with classes in two months. I need to get a job. Anybody know of any great jobs for RDs? How about a great place to relocate to? Currently, the world is my oyster–which is a bit intimidating.
• **Unveiling Islam by Ergun Mehmet Caner and Emir Fethi Caner
  Unfortunately, I failed to bookmark the blogger that recommended this–but I was very impressed by the recommendation…and, so far, I’m pretty impressed with the book as well. I’ve been compiling a “Cliff’s Notes” in my journal and may well post my notes online as I get going further.
• **Vegetables Every Day by Jack Bishop
  I’ve done a couple of recipes from this so far and am very impressed.
• **Words to Live By by Charles Panati
  A history of the origins of phrases like “Practice what you preach” and “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”
• **The World’s Last Night and other essays by C.S. Lewis
  Leftover from last month–I’ll have to finish this one quickly as it’s due back to the library soon!

Juvenile

• Children’s Picture books author ALLARD-?
• The Haunted Cabin Mystery by Gertrude Warner
  Bet you couldn’t guess that I’m trying to read the Boxcar children books :-P I’m getting to the ones I’ve never read before, being somewhat of a snob as a pre-teen and only reading the books BY Gertrude Warner (not those only CREATED BY.)
• I, Coriander by Sally Gardner
  Read The Red Necklace on my little sister’s recommendation–and thoroughly enjoyed it (it’s a historical novel set during the French Revolution.) We’ll see about this one.
• Inkdeath by Cordelia Funke
  Working my way through Funke. I absolutely ADORED Inkheart and Inkspell. I expect great things from this one.
• The Melted Coins by Franklin Dixon
  Already finished Nancy Drew a couple of years ago. It’s been slower getting through the Hardy Boys. Don’t quite know why.

**The asterisks marks books I’m currently in the middle of.

Drop by 5 Minutes 4 Books to see what others are reading.

It’s time again for 5 Minutes 4 Books’ monthly meme.

Last month’s nightstand:

I’ve done quite a bit less reading than usual this month, partly because the time between meme posts is shorter, but mostly because I’ve been so busy with Love Month (and keeping up with school).

What I actually read this month was:
(Links lead to my reviews of the book, never to a site selling you something.)

Fiction

• Beyond the Gathering Storm by Janette Oke
• How Do I Love Thee? by Nancy Moser

Nonfiction

• The Best Case Scenario Handbook by John Tierney
• The Bombshell Manual of Style by Laren Stover
• Cassell Dictionary of Cynical Quotations by Jonathon Green
• Christmas Letters from Hell by Michael Lent
• Dave Barry Hits Below the Beltway by Dave Barry
• The Two-Headed Boy and other medical marvels< by Jan Bondeson
  Interesting information, reads like a academic journal–not EXACTLY my favorite kind of reading (although I do quite a bit of it, I prefer it to be in my field!) I stopped this title after 80 pages. But with this one officially done, I’ve finished the Dewey Decimal category 610 at my library.

Juvenile

• 7 titles by Allan Ahlberg
• The Anne of Green Gables Storybook
  Why does anyone write adaptations? And why does anyone read them? This is basically all the worst attributes of the Anne movies without any of the redeeming attributes of the Anne books. Ugh!
• Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
• Lucy Maud Montgomery by Alexandra Wallner
  Meh. This children’s biography of LMM wasn’t anything spectacular, IMHO.
• The Mystery of the Broken Blade by Franklin Dixon
• Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

On my nightstand for next month:

Fiction

• John 3:16 by Nancy Moser
• When Tomorrow Comes by Janette Oke

Nonfiction

• Don’t Waste Your Life* by John Piper
• Dug Down Deep* by Joshua Harris
• Forgotten God by Francis Chan
• When God Writes Your Love Story* by Eric and Leslie Ludy
• The World’s Last Night and other essays by C.S. Lewis

Juvenile

• Bus Station Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• Celtic Fairy Tales by Philip and Brent
• The Complete Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault by Perrault and Holmes
• Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
• The Flickering Torch Mystery by Franklin Dixon
• The Illustrated Book of Fairy Tales* by Philip and Mistry
• Children’s picture books AJ-AL

*The asterisk marks books I’m currently in the middle of.

Drop by 5 Minutes 4 Books to see what others are reading.

It’s time again for 5 Minutes 4 Books’ monthly meme. Here’s what I had on my nightstand last month.

What I actually read was:
(Links lead to my reviews of the book, never to a site selling you something.)

Fiction

• Fancy Pants by Cathy Marie Hake
• The Good Nearby by Nancy Moser
  This one didn’t grab me as much as I had hoped–but I think it might have had more to do with my (rather odd) moods of late than with the book itself.
• Little Lady, Big Apple by Hester Browne
  Entertaining, not quite as enjoyable as the first book, but better than most chick-lit sequels–main character Melissa doesn’t really PROgress as a character, but at least she doesn’t REgress like many chick lit sequel characters do.
• Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy
• When Breaks the Dawn by Janette Oke
• When Hope Springs New by Janette Oke

Nonfiction

• Boy Meets Girl by Josh Harris
  I’m holding off on reviewing this one until “Love Month” in February.
• Dave Barry’s History of the Millennium by Dave Barry
  Amusing, a little too political to be completely enjoyable (by which I mean he makes fun of MY pet topics a bit too much!)
• Don’t You Dare Get Married Until You Read This by Corey Donaldson
  A collection of thought-provoking questions to get couple to think about the serious issues in their relationship. Some questions are absolute duds, but most of them aren’t bad at all.
• Finding Answers in U.S. Census Records by Loretto Dennis Szucs & Matthew Wright
  I just noticed the author’s unfortunate last name. Suppose it’s pronounced “sucks”?
• Healthcare Online for Dummies
  Not in print any longer. I wonder why?
• How to Find Mr. of Ms. Right by Beverly and Tom Rodgers
• An Idiot Girl’s Christmas by Laurie Notaro
  Funny, interesting, a quick read. Low levels of “naughty” humour.
• I Married Adventure by Luci Swindoll
• I’m More than the Pastor’s Wife by Lorna Dobson
• The Lord’s Supper: Five Views edited by Gordon T. Smith
• Rocking the Roles by Lewis and Hendricks
• What I with I’d Known Before I Got Married by Kay Coles James

Juvenile

• Four picture books by Jon Agee
• Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman
• Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg by Gail Carson Levine
  Bleh. Levine should stick to fairy tale adaptations. This Peter Pan spin off was boring, IMHO.
• Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan
  I put this on my TBR list after reading a review by Amy @ Hope is the Word. I wasn’t disappointed. This really is a book worth reading!
• Mystery behind the Wall by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
• The Stunning Science of Everything

On my nightstand for next month:

Fiction

• Beyond the Gathering Storm by Janette Oke
• How Do I Love Thee? by Nancy Moser
• When Tomorrow Comes by Janette Oke

Nonfiction

• The Best Case Scenario Handbook* by John Tierney
• The Bombshell Manual of Style* by Laren Stover
• Cassell Dictionary of Cynical Quotations* by Jonathon Green
• Dave Barry Hits Below the Belt by Dave Barry
• The Two-Headed Boy and other medical marvels* by Jan Bondeson
• When God Writes Your Love Story* by Eric and Leslie Ludy
• Half a dozen Better Homes and Gardens Holiday Crafts books to do projects out of

Juvenile

• Bus Station Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• Celtic Fairy Tales by Philip and Brent
• The Complete Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault by Perrault and Holmes
• Good Enough by Paula Yoo
• The Illustrated Book of Fairy Tales by Philip and Mistry
• Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
• The Mystery of the Broken Blade* by Franklin Dixon
• Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
• Children’s picture books AH-?

*The asterisk marks books I’m currently in the middle of.

Drop by 5 Minutes 4 Books to see what others are reading.

It’s time again for 5 Minutes 4 Books’ monthly meme. Here’s what I had on my nightstand last month.

What I actually read was:

Fiction

• Bergdorf Blondes by Plum Sykes
  Bleh. I wasn’t impressed.
• The Gatecrasher by Madeleine Wickham
• When Comes the Spring by Janette Oke

Nonfiction

101 American Customs by Harry Collis

Book of Common Prayer

Books: a memoir by Larry McMurtry
Actually, I only read the first 60 pages of this one. I think it’s worthless. Click on the title to read the rest of my thoughts.

Cultural and Historical Allusions by Sylvia Cole

Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets Christmas Poems

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Healthiness by Dean Edell

Michael Hague’s Family Christmas Treasury

Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
I didn’t have time to finish this before it had to go back to the Inter-library loan office. My initial thoughts on what I’ve already read are that there is some truth to certain aspects of Fallon’s reasoning (specifically that red meat probably isn’t as “evil” as many people would make it out to be), but the majority of the views promoted in this book are based on tenuous science and serve only to add unnecessary stress to meal preparation. Follow Fallon’s recipes if you like them, but don’t worry about destroying your family’s health if you don’t use raw milk, sprouted grains, etc.

PC Magazine Digital SLR Photography Solutions

What Your Counselor Never Told You by Dr. William Backus

Juvenile

• Cinderellis and the Glass Hill by Gail Carson Levine
  Gail Carson Levine’s Princess Tales are quick, whimsical variations on old-fashioned fairy tales. They’re a fun read for pre-teen-ish girls for whom “classic” fairy tales are just a little too “childish”.
• Keeping a Journal by Trudi Strain Trueit
• Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep by Gail Carson Levine

Picture Books

• 25 books by authors AD-AG
• Africa Calling, Nighttime Falling by Dan and Kim Adlerman

For next month, I’ve got way too much on my nightstand–and way too much weighty stuff. I feel certain I won’t be able to finish it all in time. But I’ll try anyway.

Fiction

• The Good Nearby by Nancy Moser*
• Little Lady, Big Apple by Hester Browne
• Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy
• When Breaks the Dawn by Janette Oke
• When Hope Springs New by Janette Oke

Nonfiction

• Better Homes and Gardens Making a Home
• Confessions of an Organized Homemaker by Deniece Schofield
• Dave Barry’s History of the Millennium by Dave Barry
• Dearest Friend: A Life of Abigail Adams by Lynne Withey*
• Genealogy Online by Elizabeth Powell Crowe
• Genealogy Online for Dummies
• An Idiot Girl’s Christmas by Laurie Notaro
• I Married Adventure by Luci Swindoll*
• I’m More than the Pastor’s Wife by Lorna Dobson*
• Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook
• Rocking the Roles by Lewis and Hendricks*
• The Lord’s Suupper: Five Views edited by Gordon T. Smith*
• What I with I’d Known Before I Got Married by Kay Coles James*
• And a dozen more that I hope I can get to (but kind of doubt that I will)

Juvenile

• Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg by Gail Carson Levine
• Mystery behind the Wall by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• Picture books from AG to ?
• The Stunning Science of Everything

*The asterisk marks books I’m currently in the middle of.

Drop by 5 Minutes 4 Books to see what others are reading.

It’s time for 5 Minutes 4 Books’ monthly meme. Check out what I had on my nightstand last month.

What I actually read was:

Fiction

• The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy by Sara Angelini
  I do not recommend this title. It had a neat concept to start, but quickly degraded into a s.ex novel.
• When Calls the Heart by Janette Oke
  It’s been a while since I read the Canadian West series–I don’t remember being too impressed with them when I read them as a pre-teen. I’m inclined to think now that these might be among Oke’s best works.
• The Carousel Painter by Judith Miller
  This is the first work I’ve read by Judith Miller and I’ll definitely be going back for more. The “historical” part was detailed enough to be informative, but understated enough to not bog down the reader.
• The Measure of a Lady by Deeanne Gist
  I loved this title! Gist honestly portrays desire and denial, respectfully lays out a “moral”, AND simultaneously tells a good story. Not many can do all three. Brava!
• Barren Corn by Georgette Heyer

Nonfiction

• Catastrophe by Dick Morris and Eileen McGann
• Guinness World Records 2010
• Somebody’s Gotta Say It by Neal Boortz
• Beyond the Wardrobe: The Official Guide to Narnia
• A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis
• The Most Brilliant Thoughts of all Time
• Dave Barry Slept Here

Juvenile

• Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
• The Dashwood Sisters’ Secrets of Love by Rosie Rushton
• Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
• The Princess Test by Gail Carson Levine
• The Fairy’s Return by Gail Carson Levine
• Mystery in the Sand by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• Mystery of the Flying Express by Franklin W. Dixon
• 7 picture books by Verna Aardema
• 17 picture books (Ab-Ad)

On my nightstand for next month, I’ve got:

Fiction

• Bergdorf Blondes by Plum Sykes
• The Gatecrasher by Madeleine Wickham
• The Good Nearby by Nancy Moser
• When Comes the Spring by Janette Oke

Nonfiction

• Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Healthiness by Dean Edell
• Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
• Cultural and Historical Allusions by Sylvia Cole
• Books: a memoir by Larry McMurtry
• The Art of Conversation by Catherine Blyth
• Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets Christmas Poems
• Michael Hague’s Family Christmas Treasury
• PC Magazine Digital SLR Photography Solutions

Juvenile

• Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep by Gail Carson Levine
• Cinderellis and the Glass Hill by Gail Carson Levine
• Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg by Gail Carson Levine
• Mystery Behind the Wall by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Don’t forget to stop by 5 Minutes 4 Books for more.