Spring Reading Thing ... Recap

The Spring Reading Thing has come to an end, here is a recap of my progress. 

Here we are, nearing the end of June.  Our summer vacation began with a lot of fun, and a lot of tired.  Once school was out, for all of us, we enjoyed a long weekend away, with my family, along the Chesapeake.

It was a fun way to kick off the summer, and exhausting.  Let us just say I missed my king size bed.  Hubby and I can't find comfort, nor sleep, on a full size mattress.

Anywho, we are talking about books.  And, I am excited to say that not only did I complete my list, but I added more books to the list.  A first for me.  Usually I keep my lists short, and my expectations low.  This time I kept my list short, but made reading a priority.

So, here is the original list:
The Time Baroness, by Georgina Young-Ellis
Georgiana Darcy's Diary: Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Continued, by Anna Elliott
Charlotte Collins: A Continuation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, by Jennifer Becton
The Saturday Big Ten Wedding, by Alexander McCall Smith
The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan
The Son of Neptune, by Rick Riordan


Added to the list:
Choosing to SEE, A Journey of Struggle and Hope, by Mary Beth Chapman and Ellen Vaughn
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
Caroline Bingley: A Continuation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, by Jennifer Becton
The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, by Ree Drummond
Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime, by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin

Now, short reviews on some of the books.

The Hunger Games: Yes, I know, everyone is reading them.  Or, everyone has read them and I am behind the cultural curve ball.  Our 11 year-old was asking to read them, and we said no, then Hubby and I decided to read them to see what we said no to.  After reading the first book, we still said no; however, I enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading the next two.  (Yes, I was one of those readers who read, come out of the bed room in their P.J.'s and robe, eat breakfast, and headed back into their bedroom to continue reading.)  The story was not as violent, as I originally thought, but the premise remained the same, children are killing children.  This book covers many deep subjects, that younger readers would miss.  Bottom line, I would recommend this book, and if youth are reading it, I hope they do so with the guidance of a parent or teacher.  Collins has written a commentary on the effect of war, how survivors of conflict deal with their new reality, and our obsession with reality TV. 

Reading what our children are reading, or want to read, is what introduced me to Rick Riordan, and his character Percy Jackson.  I am hooked, and thankful my 11 year-old has pre-ordered the third installment of the Heroes of Olympus series.  It should be out in the fall, so look for that on my Fall Into Reading list.

Choosing to SEE, was written by Mary Beth Chapman, the wife of Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman.  The book is an autobiography of their lives, but focuses mainly on the death of their young daughter, several years ago, and the paths their family have taken to heal.  If you haven't read this book, be warned, you will cry from the introduction, to the end.  This is not a book I typically pick up, being a parent myself, reading about the death of a child touches too many nerves.  However, Chapman shows the strength of God during this time, and reminds us that God is alive, and that His promises are true.  She also lays out their grief for all to see.  There is no sugar coating it, and for that I respect her.  She shares the good, the bad, and the very ugly.  Despite the depth of our faith, in the face of tragedy we will question God, but he is there to walk us through it. 


Game Change is a close up look at the 2008 presidential election.  I must say, it is the most academic book I've read in a long time, and though I need a dictionary near by, I am loving the exercise my brain is receiving.  It is interesting to read, and remember back to the primaries; comparing what we heard/read in the media, to what was actually happening behind the scenes, which the authors were able to compile after countless in depth interviews. 

And, there you have it.  I am (slowly) wading through Game Change, and hope to pick up the next two in the Hunger Games series; as soon as July rolls around, and if I beat my 11 year-old to the Amazon Prime Lending Library.  The pile of books on my night stand has grown, as has the list on my Kindle.  I predict lots of reading this summer, and hope your summer is the same.