It’s Monday! What are you reading?

It’s Monday! What are you reading? Is a meme started by Sheila at Book Journey. Kellee and Rikki at Unleashing Readers and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts gave the meme a kidlit twist. It’s a great way to reflect on what you’ve read and reviewed the last week and plan what you want to read next. Join up with us and discover what good books other people are reading.

IMWAYR 2015

 

We finally had our first snow of the winter. I woke up yesterday to a world wrapped in white and dropping temperatures. I snuggled in with a few good books and read the morning, afternoon and evening away while sipping hot chocolate and tea. I could get used to this…and I probably should since more snow and cold is forecast for tonight. I even got back into more regular blogging with a couple of reviews this past week. You can check out my thoughts on the two books below:

I finished…

Finding the Game by Gwendolyn Oxenham – I am so glad I got to travel around the world (vicariously) with Gwendolyn, Luke, Rebecca and Ryan as they looked for and found soccer games. These are not the soccer games played on perfect pitches by professional or even elite amateur teams. This is soccer played by people who are passionate about the game and who will play wherever and however they can. Soccer opens doors and connects these four young Americans with people around the world from city slums in Africa to rooftop fields in Japan, from a prison yard in Bolivia to illegal games in Iran. Did I mention games deep in the Amazon rainforest or on desert plains? It almost makes me wish I played soccer. Maybe I’m not too old to learn. Now that I have finished reading the book, I do want to find and watch the documentary, Pelada, that they produced from their adventures. Stay tuned for a full review coming later this week.

The Jesus Prescription for a Healthy Life by Leonard Sweet – Does the life of Jesus show us how to live a healthy life? Sweet says it does. I would love to incorporate many of theese ideas into my life this year. I don’t have to do them all at once, but I can explore them. Sweet combines stories about Jesus from the Gospels with the latest research from medicine and psychology. None of what I’ve read so far is startling or unexpected, but it’s good to be reminded of healthy choices as I start the new year.

The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown – This book was one of my Christmas presents this year, and it is even better than I had hoped. The three Andreas sisters–Rosalind/Rose, Bianca/Bean and Cordelia/Cordy–find themselves drawn back to the parents’ home in small town Branwell, Ohio, as their mother battles breast cancer. Each sister hides her own secrets that spill out as they reconnect and come to terms with each other and their past. There are so many things I loved about this book (come back for full review later this week), but how can I not enjoy spending time with a family obsessed with books and reading–and sprinkled with Shakespeare quotes.

I’m currently reading…

Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans – Here’s another Christmas present. I’ve just started and am trying not to rush through it because there is much to think about. I first discovered Rachel’s writings through her blog and Facebook posts and was impressed with her ability to thoughtfully tackle difficult subjects without demonizing those who disagree. I’m surprised to learn in this faith memoir that she wasn’t always like that. I enjoy her thoughtfulness and wit as I read about her changing understanding of God and faith.

Raising Chickens for Dummies by Kimberly Willis and Rob Ludlow – After our delightful (at least I thought it was delightful) experience with Big Ben before Christmas, we are going to get chickens of our own. (We had to find Big Ben another home since we weren’t quite ready for chickens.) I grabbed this book back off my shelf (I’ve been trying to talk the family into chickens for a while) to began learning what I need to know. We’re currently planning a chicken coop and run and have signed up for a class through the county extension office. I hope to have some hens of my own by spring. Meanwhile, I can read and dream and plan and build…

My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States, selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Stephen Alcorn – I picked this book up from the prizes offered by our library’s summer reading program. Now I’m reading it for my daily does of poetry. Last week’s poems took me on a tour of the Northeast with stops in “Watercolor Maine”, “Islands in Boston Harbor,” “New England Lighthouse,” and “Gulls and Buoys.” Once I finish poems from the Northeast, I head down to the Southeast.

Coming up…

The next book I want to read is another Christmas present:  Anatomy of a Curiosity by Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton and Brenna Yovanich. I’m looking forward to more of their short stories and writerly insights. Did you know that Emma Watson has started a GoodReads book club of feminist reading? It’s called Our Shared Shelf (named by Twitter followers–the other suggestions were brilliant, too). the first book up for discussion at the end of January is My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem. It’s available as an ebook through our public library, so I’ll be downloading it to read. I love seeing my daughter’s excitement over it, too.

What have you been reading this week? Anything good?

Disclosure: I participate in the Amazon Associates Program. If you decide to make a purchase by clicking on the affiliate links, including in the linked picture above. Amazon will pay me a commission. This commission doesn’t cost you any extra. All opinions are my own.

10 Comments on It’s Monday! What are you reading?

  1. Myra from GatheringBooks
    January 15, 2016 at 3:52 am (8 years ago)

    That Poetry Atlas looks great – I’ve been meaning to read more poetry this year, so I will definitely check that one out.

    Reply
    • Mrs. McGriff
      January 15, 2016 at 9:46 am (8 years ago)

      I’m also trying to include more poetry this year. So far I am enjoying the poems in the atlas. I love how a few short lines can evoke so much about a place.

      Reply
  2. Kellee from Unleashing Readers (@kelleemoye)
    January 13, 2016 at 6:18 pm (8 years ago)

    Chickens?! So much fun!
    I cannot wait to hear about the Stiefvater book.

    Happy reading this week! 🙂

    Reply
    • Mrs. McGriff
      January 15, 2016 at 9:46 am (8 years ago)

      I’m looking forward to diving into to it!

      Reply
  3. Ricki @ Unleashing Readers
    January 12, 2016 at 12:36 am (8 years ago)

    Your description of the snow is beautiful. You almost have me convinced that I am ready for the snow in our forecast. 😉

    My friends raise chickens! They’ve had about 15 chickens taken out by wild animals (about five different sets). I highly recommend protecting them from that! High walls? I am excited to hear about your chicken adventures!

    Reply
    • Mrs. McGriff
      January 12, 2016 at 11:06 am (8 years ago)

      Thanks! Stay warm and toasty through your first snow. The kids have another snow day today (Tuesday), too. I’m excited about getting chickens. Strong fencing (with a cover) is definitely part of our plans. There are plenty of critters around who would like to munch on chickens or eggs.

      Reply
  4. Linda Baie
    January 11, 2016 at 11:57 pm (8 years ago)

    I saw Maggie Stiefvater speak a couple of years ago & bought Anatomy of Curiosities, but have still not read it. I was there for another Raven Boys book! I do love her writing, & she was a lovely person to chat with. Finding The Game sounds really interesting, will look for it. I wish you well with the chickens. A good friend & a former colleague are raising a flock & while cold weather is hard (if really cold, they put them (somehow) in their garage), but have loved having them. Thanks Kay!

    Reply
    • Mrs. McGriff
      January 12, 2016 at 11:05 am (8 years ago)

      I’ve not had the opportunity to meet Maggie Steifvater, but Tessa Gratton did the very first author SKype visit with one of my 8th grad classes. She was incredible–especially since neither one of us had done anything like it before! Finding the Game was the summer read for my alma mater one year. I didn’t read it then, but got it for my daughter–a soccer player. I do want to watch the documentary now.

      Reply
  5. Jane
    January 11, 2016 at 7:03 pm (8 years ago)

    I so adore Emma Watson, she’s certainly mature beyond her years, I wish I’d had a head like that on my shoulders at her age!

    Reply
    • Mrs. McGriff
      January 11, 2016 at 7:25 pm (8 years ago)

      Me, too! I am impressed with how she uses her celebrity to make the world a better place.

      Reply

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