It's another month of reading and sharing what I read! I'd love to have some good recommendations for books!
It has been a delightful month of reading!! I've been reading lots of good stuff. If you look closely, you'll see that I read three children's books, one fiction, and one nonfiction adult book...that I have not quite finish!
Fiction
Jane of Lantern Hill, by L.M. Montgomery. Do Montgomery's books make you want to name your home? (Unfortunately our home doesn't have half of the character that Lantern Hill, Silver Bush, or Green Gables have. Somehow, a home built just five years ago doesn't seem worthy of a name, but I like the idea.) This was a very enjoyable book about Jane who lives in Toronto with her mother and resentful grandmother. The father she does not remember and is never discussed (who lives on Prince Edward Island) sends for her for the summer. She's scared to go, and is surprised at how well she and her father connect. Jane's parents never divorced (only because divorce was too complicated in Canada at that time). Jane really transforms during the summer with her father. Like most LMM titles, I think this can be enjoyed by children, but consider it to be an adult/young adult book. (My friend bought this and seven (SEVEN!) other LMM titles for me at the local Book Barn for used books...for a quarter a piece! Thank you, Kate! She knows they are difficult to find and real gems.)Children's Fiction
Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Unseen Guest, by Maryrose Wood. I do enjoy this series and am horribly disappointed that I have to wait until December for the next book to be published!
The Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O'Dell. This was a surprise for me. I read it as part of the Classics Reading to Know Book Club. I *think* my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Schoonover, read it to us, but I'm not certain. The story is of a girl whose people leave her behind on an island and how she survives on her own. The story was very well-written and captured my attention 100%. Loosely based on a real incident, O'Dell wrote one great book. No wonder school teachers and children adore this book! My favorite part may have been in the acknowledgements where O'Dell thanked Maude and Delos Lovelace for their help. Maud Hart Lovelace (without the E, and the wife of Delos, another author) is my favorite children's author!
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo. This was just recommended by Carrie, and my library had it, so I grabbed it. It was a delightful story of a china rabbit named Edward and how he learns to love those who love him. It was a very quick read (a couple of hours, max), and I was disappointed my daughter didn't want to read it when I offered it.
Non-fiction
The Fruitful Wife, by Hayley DeMarco. I don't typically write in this about a book I haven't finished yet, but I definitely recommend this book! I will likely be writing a full review in early June.
Audio Books
I Am Half Sick of Shadows and Speaking from among the Bones (Flavia deLuce Mysteries), by Alan Bradley. I have thoroughly enjoyed these mysteries. Written for adults, they are about a brilliant 11 year old girl who has a love for chemistry and a passion for poisons...with a flare for solving murders in her English town. I keep hearing of others who enjoy these books, too, and am so glad we can enjoy Flavia together! I am very eager for the next book in this series to be published...and even wonder if it will be the final book. Do you have a mystery author you enjoy? I do prefer them to be mild in the language department.
The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale, by Carmen Agra Deedy. Someone recommended this, and my library had it at the library on CD, so I was thrilled to read it. It was fun hearing about a cat who doesn't eat mice and little bits of Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins from the author's imagination. Lots of fun! I'm not even a big Dickens fan, but if you are, I think you'd appreciate it even more. I think I am giving up on No Name by Wilkie Collins. I have an ebook of it, and just can't get into the ebook, though I would love to find a copy in paperback. (Moreso, I would like The Woman in White by him. I do like my Kindle Fire, and use it daily...throughout the day...but mostly use it for the internet. I struggle to read lengthy books on it.)
Next month I'll be finishing The Fruitful Wife, and checking out Going Public: Your Child Can Thrive in Public School (currently $5.20!). I will likely read Through the Gates of Splendor for Book Club and Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee. Slightly more grown-up reading, huh?
What are you reading this month? Share in the comments or over at 5MinutesforBooks!
~ Annette {This Simple Mom}
Your list looks/sounds so good! I have met Carmen Agra Deedy at a couple if storytelling festivals and love her books so much! Actually, I pretty much love everything you read this month!
ReplyDeleteI still have a few days to get Island of the Blue Dolphins finished. I got a late start. busy times around the homestead! Sounds like you had a pretty good month.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I'm another fan of Flavia - still waiting on my library copy of Speaking from Among the Bones.
ReplyDeleteGreat list!! Lantern Hill is one of the very few L.M. Montgomery titles I haven't read...your description makes me want to read it! Wasn't The Fruitful Wife good?! I need to write a review of that one myself.
ReplyDeleteI think you can name a house that is less than 5 years old! Certainly, it will grow character in time but naming it seems a good idea. Ours is referred to *very* generically. "The log house" to be distinguished from the family home across the yard. It's not a magical name but everyone knows which Brownell home to go to when invited, once specified. :P (SO GLAD you liked the book!)
ReplyDeleteYou've beat me in the Flavia books. I've read the first, bought the second and there it has remained on my shelf. Fail!
If it makes you feel any better, Bookworm1 wasn't really interested in reading The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane either. He read the first chapter and didn't enjoy it very much. Maybe later? We'll have to try again...
I'm just getting into Blue Dolphins. Carrie tells me it's a quick read, so I hope to finish it before the end of the week.
ReplyDeleteGlad you'll be joining in for Through Gates of Splendor!
The Cheshire Cheese Cat sounds fun. I hope to get acquainted with Jane in a future LMM challenge.
Great list! It's been too long since I've read an LMM book, I may have to add some of her books to my summer reading list. :O)
ReplyDeleteI concur with Carrie regarding naming new houses. I grew up at Twin Maples (also the name of our homeschool), built in the 60s. When I moved to Columbus, I lived at "The House on Lottie Lane" (real name), which I called "The House of Dreams" on my blog. Now, I live in "Betsy", a 1920's bungalow.
ReplyDeleteI finally ordered a copy of Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie at Paperback Swap. I've been wanting to read it for awhile now. :)
ReplyDeleteI had to give up on No Name, too. Big surprise, huh?! ;)
Have you heard about the free audio book downloads from Sync that starts today? (2 per week). If not, there's lots of Classics AND new books. You might like some of them.