Armchair BEA : What We’re Reading

May24

I forgot to sign up for an interview at Armchair BEA, so I decided to do some “what are you reading?” interviews via text message, Facebook, and in person with the people I met on Monday. These are the results:

What are you reading today?
Family:
Eldest Daughter: Augustine and the Trinity by Lewis Ayres.
Semicolon Mom says: ED is always reading something that makes the rest of us sound trivial, but we love her anyway.

Musician/Computer Guru Son: Lord of the Flies by William Golding.

Drama Daughter: Girl Power: The Nineties Revolution in Music by Marisa Meltzer.
Semicolon Mom says: I do not get it, but DD has a newly found enjoyment of and appreciation for nineties grunge music. Each to her own . . .

Brown Bear Daughter: What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen.

Karate Kid: Lord of the Flies by William Golding.
Semicolon Mom says: Uh-oh! I think my older son took younger son’s book and is reading it. Maybe we’re about to have a family book fight?

Betsy-Bee: The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien.
Semicolon Mom says: I’m so excited that my 12 year baby is starting to read my favorite epic fantasy novel of all time. I think she’ll enjoy it.

Z-Baby: Geronimo Stilton (one of the 47 titles in this series)

Friends and extended family:
Jane: Crazy Love by Francis Chan.
Semicolon says: I read this one a month or two ago, and it frustrated me.

Susi: The Seventeen Second Miracle by Jason R. Wright. So far, pretty good. I’m also reading Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova. I’m halfway through it, and it’s interesting I guess, but doesn’t seem to be going anywhere particular . . .
Semicolon says: I never read Kostova’s other immensely popular book, The Historian. Should I?

Celeste: One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp and Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham.
Semicolon says: Those both sound like books worth reading. Can I borrow?

Jen: Russian WInter: A Novel by Daphne Kolotay.
Semicolon says: I took look at this one on Amazon, and I’m looking forward to reading Jen’s review at 5 Minutes for Books or at Snapshot.

Oh, and I’m reading The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon and The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers. Something old, something new, both borrowed from the library, and neither of them blue. I guess I’m already thinking about all the weddings that are scheduled for June.

Armchair BEA: Fifty Favorites

May23

A lot of book bloggers and other bookish people are going to spend the greater part of this week in New York City at BookExpo America. However, many of us live too far away and can’t afford to go to BEA, so we’re celebrating books and blogging where we are. The assignment for today is to introduce yourself and your blog. So I thought that sharing with you a few of my favorite (mainly bookish) things would be a good way for us to get acquainted.

French Novel: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.

Spanish novel: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes.

American novel: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

Russian novel: The Brothers Karamazov by Feodor Dostoyevsky.

Memoir/biography: The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom.

Christian author: C.S. Lewis

Mystery author: Dorothy Sayers

Musical: Man of La Mancha

Candy bar: Baby Ruth

TV series: LOST, of course.

Current TV series: Friday Night Lights, even though it’s frustrating the heck out of me.

Board game: Scrabble

iPhone app: Words with Friends, an app I just discovered and cant get enough of.

Blog other than my own: The Common Room or Mental Multivitamin

Computer brand: Apple

Fruit: Strawberries

History mini-series: John Adams, based on the book by David McCullough

Beverage: Iced tea with lemon and sugar

U.S. President: Teddy Roosevelt. He was by far the most interesting and personable of the presidents, even if I don’t agree with all of his policies and actions.

Shakespeare comedy: Much Ado about Nothing

Shakespeare tragedy: Hamlet

Shakespeare adapted to movie: Kenneth Branagh’s Henry V

Charles Dickens novel: David Copperfield

Nonfiction U.S. history book: Men to Match My Mountains by Irving Stone.

Nonfiction British history book: The Conquering Family and its sequels by Thomas Costain.

Poet: Edgar Allan Poe

Poem: Renascence by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Narnia book: The Silver Chair

Movie (comedy): The Princess Bride or It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

Comedic novelist: P.G. Wodehouse

Fantasy novel: The Lord of the RIngs, grandaddy of them all.

Time travel books: Blackout and All Clear by Connie Willis.

Romance novel: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Fictional couple: Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane.

Movie (drama): Chariots of Fire

Hymn: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross by Isaac Watts.

Love song: Desperado by The Eagles.

Month: October

Season: Autumn

Pie: Pumpkin with pecan halves arranged in a pleasing pattern on top.

Color: purple

Dystopian novel: Children of Men by P.D. James.

Announced 2012 presidential candidate as of today: Rick Santorum????

Classic children’s book: Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott.

Young adult novel: Christy by Catherine Marshall.

Picture book: Oh, Were They Ever Happy by Peter Spier.

Easy reader: Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel.

Quotation: “I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?” ~C.S. Lewis.

Book of the Bible: The Gospel of John.

Bible verse: Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:68

If you just can’t get enough of this sort of thing and want more ME, here’s a post on 52 Things that Fascinate Me.

Happy Armchair BEA to all ye who enter here.

Around the World and Here at Home

May6

In our homeschool this week we started a year-long study of geography and cultures of the world. Our books this week were mostly about maps and globes and comparisons of world cultures and regions. We’ll be starting our travels in the Arctic and the Antarctic next week.

Books we read:
The Seven Continents by Wil Mara. (Rookie Read-about Geography)
Looking at Maps and Globes by Carmen Bredeson. (Rookie Read-about Geography)
Living in Polar Regions by Tea Benduhn. (Weekly Reader Life on the Edge)
The Whole World in Your Hands:Looking at Maps by Melvin and Gilda Berger.
Follow That Map! A First Book of Mapping Skills by Scot Ritchie.

Z-baby liked the last one best, Follow That Map!, probably because it had a story line and because I read it to her instead of having her read it herself. I thought all of them were adequate, information-wise, but not too terribly exciting or enticing. I’ll be working this summer and probably into the fall on a list of the BEST in primary/preschool level geography books and picture books set in countries around the world. What are you favorite around-the-world picture books?

Book links for today and this weekend:

Mother’s Day books your mom will actually like. by Kathleen Massara.

Christy Award nominees for 2011. Honoring and promoting excellence in Christian fiction. I’ve read exactly two of the books on the nomination list, She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell (Semicolon review here) and Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes (Reviewed by Gautami Tripathy). I thought both of those novels were O.K. but not really anything to write home about.

Have you read any of the Christy Award nominees? Are there any that you highly recommend?

More Books for Zambia

Apr25

Back in January, I went public with a project I called Books for Zambia, an effort to collect books to place in the library of Kazembe Orphanage in Zambia. We collected a few books and sent them back to Zambia with Amy Morrow and her family in February when they were here in Houston for a brief visit. Amy and her husband Tom are the founders and directors of Kazembe Orphanage. Thank you to those of you who contributed books to send to Zambia back in January.

Now a small group from my church is planning a trip to Kazembe for the month of July, and I would like to send more books with them.

If you would be interested in helping with this project by providing any of the books (new, or used in good condition), please email me (sherryDOTearlyATgmailDOTcom) for more information. You can order any of the books from Amazon and have them sent to me. Or if you have one or more of the books on the wishlist in good condition or have your own source, just email me the titles of the books you would like to contribute, and I will give you my address to send them. Right now the plan is for a group from my church to go to Zambia in July and take the books that we have gathered with them.

Purchasing children’s books in Zambia is quite expensive, and the selection is limited. There are ~~seventeen~~ twenty-one children at the Kazembe orphanage now, ranging in age from infants to five years old. The plan is for the children to stay at the orphanage until they are grown, receive an education, and become a force for good and progress in Zambia. You can read more at this post on Amy’s blog. You would be welcome to post information about Books for Zambia or about Kazembe Orphanage on your blog or website. I can vouch for both the financial need of the orphanage and for the fiscal responsibility of the Morrows in spending your money wisely to care for these children.

More information on Kazembe Orphanage:
Kazembe Orphanage official website
Kazembe Orphanage on Facebook
Amy’s blog, Amy’s Assorted Adventures.
Videos of the orphanage at vimeo
Twitter page for Kazembe Orphanage
Please consider donating a book or two during the month of May.

Gleaned from the Saturday Review and Other Places

Apr6

Thanks to Carrie for pointing me to this review of Praying for Strangers by River Jordan. I’m intrigued by the idea of this book about an author who decides to choose one stranger to pray for each day. My first thought after reading about Ms. Jordan’s resolution was, “I could do that!” Then, I read at her blog that Ms. Jordan not only prays for a stranger each day, but she also often feels led to tell the person that she will be praying and asks for prayer requests. That’s a little more intimidating. See, I’m really rather shy and reserved. The idea of going up to a complete stranger and telling them that I’ll be praying for them is, well, actually terrifying. So I’ve been praying for a stranger each day for the past three days, but I haven’t told anyone about it, especially not the person I prayed for, until I wrote this post.

I also downloaded the book for my Kindle and started reading it today. I’m intrigued, and I can see the benefit to me and to others of actually talking, getting my stranger’s name, and telling the person that I’ll be praying for him or her. I’m just not sure I have enough courage to do it. Maybe in the pages of Ms. Jordan’s book, I’ll find the gumption and unselfishness to move me to talk to strangers. Maybe I’ll just continue to talk to God about the people He brings across my path. Either way I’m expecting God to work through this prayer thing, even though I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t really understand how or why prayer works.

On another note, I found a few other books at Borders and at Barnes and Noble that I’d like to read soon. I didn’t buy anything, but I’ll be looking for these books at the library soon:

Decision Points by George W. Bush. I’m a Bush fangirl, and I’ve been meaning to read his book. But I sort of forgot about it, so I was happy to be reminded whe I saw it in the bookstore.
Truman by David McCullough. Another president, another biography by the author of John Adams. I expect to enjoy learning more about Mr. Truman when I get around to this one.
The Last Greatest Magician in the World: Howard Thurston versus Houdini & the Battles of the American Wizards by Jim Steinmeyer. I heard the author of this book talking about Thurston and Houdini on NPR, and I thought then that I would like to read the book. However, it’s another one I had forgotten until I saw it displayed in the bookstore.
Fortunate Sons: The 120 Chinese Boys Who Came to America, Went to School, and Revolutionized an Ancient Civilization by Leil Leibovitz and Matthew Miller. “In 1872, under the auspices of the Chinese Educational Mission, 120 Chinese boys were sent to the U.S. to attend elite colleges, absorb the best this mysterious country could offer, and return to enrich China with their experiences and knowledge.” (Booklist) Why does this subject sound so fascinating to me?
The First Clash: The Miraculous Greek Victory at Marathon and Its Impact on Western Civilization by Jim Lacey. And this one, too?

Right now, in addition to the prayer book, I’m reading a book about Louisa and John Quincy Adams called Cannibals of the Heart: A Personal Biography of Louisa Catherine and John Quincy Adams. The book is annoying me in some ways because the author, Jim Shepherd, seems to have no sympathy for John Quincy Adams at all. In fact, his portrayal of JQA makes one wonder how in the world he ever would have managed to get a job as local dogcatcher much less world famous diplomat, senator, U.S. president, and legislator. Mr. Shepherd likes Louisa a lot more and tries to induce his readers to feel sorry for her and her lot as an early nineteenth century woman, enslaved and dominated by the men in her life, especially the irascible Mr. Adams. I’m sure she was in a pitiable state and one at which I would have chafed, but Mr. Shepherd’s obvious and heavy-handed partisanship makes me want to take JQA’s side just to be contrary. Still, I’m finding the life story of of this Washington power couple to be full of interest and excitement, not to mention historical significance. I’ll be writing more about the Adams family soon, I’m sure.

I will finish my posts on the 40 Inspirational Classics for Lent, too. I’ve been in the midst of a blogging block or dry spell or something the past few days, so my 40 Classics posts may go past Easter and into the time of feasting after Easter. But that’s OK with me.

Sunday Salon: Books Read in March, 2011

Apr2

First of all, announcing: The National Homeschool Book Award Homeschoolers will vote for one of four nominees to win the award in the inaugural year of this children’s book award.

Adult Fiction
She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell. Semicolon review here.
The Double Comfort Safari Club by Alexander McCall Smith. I’m just getting around to this latest in Mr. McCall Smith’s series about traditionally built lady detective Precious Ramotswe and her assistant Mma Makutsi. I actually think this series, contrary to typical expectations, gets better with each installment. The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series is comfort food for traditional readers. There’s a new book in the series just out this month: The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party.
Talk of the Town by Lisa Wingate. The accented dialog in this Texas chick-lit novel about a reality TV producer who finds true reality in the small town of Daily, Texas was a bit overdone, but the story was readable and entertaining. Read on my Kindle.
After the Leaves Fall by Nicole Baart. Also a Kindle read. Review will be forthcoming.

Young adult and children’s fiction
Taking Off by Jenny Moss. Set in Houston in 1986, the time of the space shuttle Challenger crash. I remember these events, so how could I not become absorbed in this coming-of-age novel about a girl and her dream and her admiration for Christa McAuliffe?
Trash by Andy Mulligan. Excellent mystery/action/adventure story about poor garbage picker children living next to the trash dump in the Philippines who find a valuable treasure in the garbage. Resilience and courage were the hallmarks of the young protagonists in this thriller for kids.
Sent (The Missing: Book 2) by Margaret Peterson Haddix. I had to read this next book in Haddix’s The Missing series since it deals with the two princes in the Tower and Richard III. I’m still with Josephine Tey and the Richard defenders, but Haddix’s take on the story was enjoyable anyway.
Bitter Melon by Cara Chow. Semicolon review here.
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. I read this one because my teens have been reading this book and a newer one by this author. I found it disturbing because of the very unlikeable characters and the toxically self-absorbed teen culture that is described. I think Ms. Oliver probably describes the teen/high school world quite accurately; it’s just a world that I’m sorry that anyone has to inhabit. Even in a book. Read more about the book itself, rather than my reaction to it at Reading Rants, Rhapsody in Books or Life With Books. Many other reviews are only a Google search away.
Delirium by Lauren Oliver. Of the two by this author, I liked this dystopian novel the best. Very sad.

Nonfiction
The Great Silence: Britain from the Shadow of the First World War to the Dawn of the Jazz Age by Juliet Nicolson. Semicolon review here.
Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton. Semicolon review here.
Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Semicolon thoughts here.
What Good Is God? by Philip Yancey. The next book for the Faith ‘n Fiction Roundtable, to be discussed at the end of April.
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Prophet, Martyr, Spy by Eric Metaxis. Excellent. One of the best nonfiction biographies I’ve read in a good while. After having finished the book and re-read the criticism, I can say that I think this bit of fault-finding is both unwarranted and unfair. Metaxis did a good job with writing about a complex man, and I found myself both admiring and questioning Bonhoeffer’s life and decisions. That’s a good balance.

Sunday Salon: Books Read in February, 2011

Mar5

Bible:
Proverbs

Children’s and Young Adult Fiction:
Epitaph Road by David Patneaude. Semicolon review here.
Dirt Road Home by Watt Key.
Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly.
Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson. Semicolon review here.
The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane by C.M. Millen. Semicolon review here.
Nothing To Fear by Jackie French Koller. Semicolon review here.

Adult Fiction:
Certain Women by Madeleine L’Engle. Re-read for Faith ‘N Fiction Roundtable. Semicolon thoughts here.
Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin.
Listen by Rene Gutteridge. Semicolon review here.
Imaginary Jesus by Matt Mikalatos.
Blackout by Connie Willis. Semicolon review and recommendation here.
All Clear by Connie Willis.

Nonfiction:
Blood River: A Journey to Africa’s Broken Heart by Tim Butcher. Semicolon review here.
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. Semicolon review here.
W.F. Matthews: Lost Battalion Survivor by Travis Monday. Semicolon review here.
Obama Prayer by Charles M. Garriott. Semicolon review here.
The Unheard: A Memoir of Deafness and Africa by Josh Swiller.
Bold Spirit Helga Estby’s Forgotten Walk Across Victorian America by Linda Lawrence Hunt. Semicolon review here.
Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton.

Best Fiction: Blackout and All Clear by Connie Willis.

Best Nonfiction Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.

I would suggest that you run, not walk, to the nearest bookstore, better yet, order on Amazon, any one of the three “best” above and read it. You will be glad you did. And no one paid me for that endorsement.

Sunday Salon: Fascinations for the Month of February

Feb27

Author Laura Hillenbrand (Seabiscuit and Unbroken) has had her own challenges as she continues to write best-selling nonfiction and deal with a debilitating disease.
A Sudden Illness: How My Life Changed by Laura Hillenbrand.
Laura Hillenbrand releases new book while fighting chronic fatigue syndrome by Monica Hesse.

C.K. Dexter Haven, you are so much more attractive and intelligent than anyone who’s decorating the screen these days. “Cary Grant’s frothy delights leave us pondering the dramatic shift in our understanding of marriage, divorce, vows and the idea of anything being permanent.” Divorce Granted by Joseph Susanka.

John Piper recommends ten books for Black History Month. I happen to think that if they’re good books, they’re good to read any month, not just during February which happens to have been designated Black History Month.

Did you see my article on YA fiction from 2010 at Chuck Colson’s The Point online magazine? I’m rather pleased with the way it turned out and the books I was able to recommend.

Circumscribed by Noel deVries, on living a small but brave life.

I’ve been studying Proverbs, rather sporadically, during the month of February. I printed out this study guide, and it’s been helpful. However, the best thing I’ve done is just to read through the proverbs in the book of Proverbs and check the ones that seem useful and understandable and x the ones that I don’t understand. There are more than a few about which I still lack understanding.

My plan for Lent is to post about Forty Inspirational Classics that I have read and would recommend to others. The posts will start on Ash Wednesday, March 9th, and God willing, end on Easter Sunday, my Resurrection gift to you all.

HAPPY READING!

Sunday Salon: Books Read in January, 2011

Jan30

Bible:
Genesis.
Mark.
Psalm 1-15.

Children’s Fiction:
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool. Semicolon review here.
Dragon’s Gate by Laurence Yep.

Young Adult Fiction:
After the Dancing Days by Margaret L. Rostkowski.
Heist Society by Ally Carter.
Split by Swati Avashti. Semicolon review here.
The Wager by Donna Jo Napoli. Semicolon review here.
The Life of Glass by Jillian Cantor.
Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly.
Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson.
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi. Semicolon review here.

Adult Fiction:
The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy.
Valeria’s Cross by Kathi Macias.
The Identity Man by Andrew Klavan. Semicolon review here.
The Unbearable Lightness of Scones by Alexander McCall Smith. Semicolon review here.
Mrs. ‘arris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico.
Little Bee by Chris Cleave. Semicolon review here.

Nonfiction
You Are What You See: Watching Movies Through a Christian Lens by Scott Nehring. Semicolon review here.
The Eye of the Elephant by Delia and Mark Owens. Semicolon review here.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer.

Favorite Nonfiction Book of the Month: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer. Inspirational, Thomas Edison-type story with much tragedy and questioning mixed in. Semicolon review here.

Favorite Fiction Book of the Month: Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi.

Reading Through Africa

Jan22

Niger portrait femme woman Africa photo Â© 2005 etrenard | more info (via: Wylio)
I am not African American. I have no African heritage or ancestry as far as I know. However, I have been for some time interested in reading books set in the various nations of Africa or books written by African authors. In fact, I’ve been collecting ideas for this reading and links to reviews of African-flavored books for over a year. So today, in honor of Bloggiesta, I decided to pull those lists out my drafts folder, put them onto separate pages of their own, and share them.

Obviously, these lists are not complete. I will be reading and gathering ideas for reading and adding books and links to reviews for . . . as long as I remain interested in the project. If you have any suggestions, blog reviews, or other information to add to my Africa pages, please leave a comment. If you’re looking for a book to read about Africa or about a specific African country, check out my Reading Through Africa pages.

This is going to be fun.

Semicolon

Books we must have though we lack bread.

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