Spring Reading Thing 2007

Katrina over at Callapiddar Days is hosting the Spring Reading Thing—I just love that title. No nonsense. Someone asks, “Whatcha doing??” The simple answer, “The Spring Reading Thing!” It’s in Spring, I am reading, it is one of those “things.” It runs from March 21 to June 21 so make your list and join.

My trouble is that I start books and get sidetracked…by other books, and, well…yeah homeschool and running the boys to basketball and ballet and other fun stuff like laundry and dishes. So I start these books and then I come back and sit down with intentions to finish and many times I don’t. So who’s going to come make sure I stay focused??

Perhaps having a plan is exactly what I need and I am going to try so here is my list:

Fiction

The Jesus Incident by Frank Herbert and Bill Ransom (I am reading this with a friend of mine, another mom who has boys that dance, so often we have our little book club while we sit and wait.)

The Ill Earth War by Stephen R Donaldson second in the Lord Foul’s Bane--The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever series. This is sometimes painful reading. Like watching an accident happen, but then seeing hope and faith in the chaos.

The Crossing Places by Kevin Crossley-Holland. This is the second in a trilogy. It follows The Seeing Stone. Reading is upper level juvenile/young adult fiction. The first was well done and I expect the books to follow be the same. It is an interesting take on the King Arthur story.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini Just because I've been wanting too.

The Princeling and the Oak Apple by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles. There are 29 books in this series and while I will allow it is not the height of literature it is fascinating historical fiction. Not for everyone, due to some explicit content.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon because I have been told I should.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. I have wanted to read this forever and have not seen the movie—once I read the book then I will see the movie.

The Forest House by Marion Bradley Zimmer. This is a pre-prequel to the Mists of Avalon which I loved. Another Arthurian story.

Non fiction
Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. I. Am. Going. To Finish. This teeney tiny little book if it takes every ounce of energy I have to keep it in my hand. I think I am the only person who this is not a favorite.

Sprititual Direction by Henry Nouwen

Healing ADD by Daniel G. Amen, M.D.

Scattered by Gabor Mate, also ADD related reading.

The Unprocessed Child (a reread) by Valerie Fitzenreiter. It is an unschooling book I read before and need to read again. I didn’t agree with everything she had to say the first time but it was an eye opening book. Much like the John Holt approach.

Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Eastern Orthodox Theology by Daniel B. Clendenin

In His Steps by Charles Sheldon

Read Alouds with the boys will include Stuart Little, E.B. White, Little House, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Heidi Johanna Spyri, Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry and then we will see what comes. We did the Read to Me Mission 2007 with Jennifer at Snapshot and plan to continue with some better habits we worked on.

Our library offers a summer reading program that will pick up at the end of May and run into the last weeks in August so the boys will be participating in that and while I will “guide” their selections, I will let them make the decision to read what they want in that. We tried to participate with that last year, but really fell down on the job. Summer Intensives and the annual County Fair week during "Camp Grandmarama" and the pool, just allowed us to be lazy and make excuses. At the end of the summer the boys were disappointed they didn’t finish as well as they planned, but the life lessons were valuable.

Thanks to Katrina for hosting this and I am looking forward to peeking at everyone else’s lists.