Weekly Round-Up: January 9-15

lauralynne — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:36:18 +0000

I didn’t finish reading anything this week and was putting off this post in the hopes that I’d get at least one book read enough to call it done. Alas, it was not to be. In addition to reading for pleasure and general edification, I’ve set a goal to read through the Bible in a year. I have never actually done this–read the Bible from cover to cover–and I have a variety of reasons for doing so, foremost is my desire to more fully understand Biblical references that people make when they are trying to defend some position or other. So I suppose this would be a more secular reading of the Bible than anything. As I read, I realize that I am familiar with most of what I’m encountering (long years of Sunday School, youth group, even Bible study), I just haven’t read it without the context of guided study or in conjunction with the other parts of the Bible. The plan I am following has you reading from a different book each day. I was doing well until we got to Isaiah. I’m now rather behind. So, I’ve got a date with a mug of coffee and my Bible this morning. Seems appropriate for a Sunday!

Still Reading:

Cranford, Elizabeth Gaskell

I am reading this slowly, a couple of chapters a night. The humor sneaks up on you–it’s quite sly and rather funny.

Oryx and Crake, Margaret Atwood

Listening to this one on my commute. My guess is that I will finish next week or early the following (depends on how long my commute is each day, and that is variable). Really enjoying this story–glad to have the context of The Year of the Flood. When I tried to read Oryx and Crake it was difficult for me to enter the world. Having read The Year of the Flood first gets me there because I have an idea about just what is happening/has happened in the wider, desolate world around Snowman.

The Clockwork Three, Matthew Kirby

Having a hard time getting into this story, although it isn’t badly written. May just be me.

The Steps Across the Water, Adam Gopnik

I want to love this book and I am struggling!

Have Yet To Start

Catherine of Sienna, A Passionate Life, Donald Brophy

The American Catholic Revolution : How the Sixties Changed the Church Forever, Mark Stephen Massa

The Wonder of Charlie-Anne, Kimberly Newton Fusco

Abandoned

The Damage Done, Hillary Davidson

Silent Auction, Jane Cleland

Acquired

Moon Over Manifest, Clare Vanderpool (Newberry)

A Sick Day For Amos McGee, Phillip C. Stead, illus. Erin E. Stead (Caldecott)

One Crazy Summer, Rita Williams Garcia (Coretta Scott King, author)

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave, Laban Carrick Hill, illus. Brian Collier (Coretta Scott King, illustrator)

Award winners to read–for myself and for work. Eventually I need also to read the winners of the Carnegie Medal, Pura Belpré Award, and Geisel Award, as well as the Newberry Honor books. And probably the Printz Award titles too. This is a need/want. :) There are such a ton of awards (though, not compared to the number of titles coming out) that it’s kind of not possible to get to them all before people start asking about them. Well, they have already started requesting the titles, but the wider public will probably not really be aware of the books until next month or even later. It’s mostly librarians and educators who are looking for the books right now. So that gives me some time.

A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes From My Kitchen Table, Molly Wizenberg

This has been on my list for a little while and I found a copy at Borders on sale. Looking forward to relaxing with this and cooking up something special.

My Eyes Are Burning

Weekly Round-Up: January 9-15