The Lovely Bones

was a pretty easy read.  Done in a month. Trylle is mostly finished too. It is a fantasy book about trolls that are almost human like. Brings back the theory of Changelings. Different, but not bad.

Mostly, for 'food', we've been reading about goats around the Phillips Funny Farm. Yes, folks, kids will be arriving, and we must be prepared!

Favorite magazines to devour: Hobby Farms, Hobby Farms Home,  and a variety of specialty ones for turkeys, chickens, and well, goats.

One Down

I stayed up late last night and finished The Swan Thieves. It was excellent. If you're unfamiliar, it's about an artist who attacks a painting at the National Gallery. Most of it is written from the perspective of his psychiatrist, who goes through a variety of means to figure out what caused the man to attack a painting. I had anticipated parts of the ending, but I was eagerly turning pages waiting for the characters to figure it out, and was delighted that there was even more to it than I imagined.

Next I'm going to read My Not So Storybook Life, which is by a woman whose blog is a favorite I've been reading for years.

Another Kristin Hannah winner!!

I finished reading 'Home Front', Kristin Hannah's new book, at 2:30 this morning. I couldn't put it down! I just got it and read it cover to cover in 24 hours!It dried up a little in a very few places but still compelled you to keep going. It is not a "happy :)" book, it is a "think about it" book. I am still thinking and probably will for a very long time. It is about women and men,love and war and the consequences of both. Read it... you will think too.

My current Book

I am striving to finish Inheritance, the 4th book of the series by Christopher Paolini. It took a bit to get into it, but now it is harder to put down. Roran is one of my favorite characters. He is not arrogant like Eragon. He is creative and daring. In this last chapter, he boldly turned back about 150 horsemen by sitting at a table with a jug of mead and some knuckle bones. Funny stuff.

First book of the year is:

A Game of Thrones.  Karen gave it to me to read.  Looks pretty good.  I'll let you know.......

P.S.  What about reading a book or two from 1962 to honor the 50 year old-to-be?

A Little Bit at a Time

I used to do most of my reading before bed.  Since Abel got here, that has of course changed.  Both because of his generally irregular bed times (which are thankfully getting more consistent!) and because most nights by the time I get to bed, I’m barely awake enough to tuck in, nevermind read a chapter or two.

I have been able to read before bed a couple times and have fit it in while “making the donuts.”  These little bits at a time, often just a chapter and sometimes just a few pages, have gotten me through my first book since Abel’s birth day: The Hearts of Horses.  It was excellent!

My next book will be The Swan Thieves.  I’ve been wanting to read it for awhile and I was going to get it at the library, but then it was super on sale when Borders went out of business, so I bought it.  It’s kind of a long book, so it will probably take awhile to read with my little bit at a time.  I’ll be back whenever I’m finally finished to share how it is!

Well Hello!

Even though most of my reading lately has been baby related, I didn't want Aunt Cindy to feel lonely on here! In addition to trying to keep myself as informed about newborns as I can (you know, besides learning from experience), I've also started reading Organized Simplicity, for inspiration and motivation, and last night for pleasure I started reading Hearts of Horses, which seems like it's going to be awesome. I'll try to update as the latter book progresses. It might be a little while since I'm short on time for pleasure reading these days, though it gets better all the time!

"The Distant Hours"

This book is a beginning book this week. I finished "The Girl Who Played with Fire" and am working through the last in the series. "The Girl who Kicked the Hornets Nest". For a visual, I think of Lisbeth of being similar to Karen. Don't know why, but I do. We started the movies. They are Swedish, with English subtitles. Kind of cool, as I like closed captioning. But, I digress...

"Distant Hours" is about a young woman from England. Her mother, as a young child, was sent to stay in a castle with three sisters. One of the sisters had been jilted, and the other two tended to her. 50 years later, the mother receives a letter from the 'sick' sister, and that is as far as I am. This is supposed to be a 'Gothic novel', so we will see. The intro pages were about a "mudman" and a young girl who longed to be out in the world. Hmph, maybe I should change from this being a car book to a bedside one. I mean I have "The Host" on the burner...

Are we still reading?

I am!
I devoured "The Help".

I am working through "Me" by Katherine Hepburn.

Speaking of work,  I am enjoying, yes Kats, I said enjoying, a 'help type' book about my favorite topic. (No, not my kids.) :o) "The Home Visitors Guidebook" is wonderful! I have enjoyed it more than I can say. So many new thoughts to help me help others. OH! that is the secret to this type of book. I HATE 'selfhelp' books. This is a help someone else one. hehe

Additionally, I am reading "The Girl Who Played With Fire". I really like this series. It dragged a bit at the beginning, but it picks up pace. I even don't mind turning off the tv. Should be easier now that the Sox lost last night. :o)

I am looking for a chance to read "The Distant Hours". My friend, Tina, is a book hound and turned me onto the novels previously mentioned in this post. She is in a book club, and I have several others on my list to take time for. Should be easier as the days grow shorter and the evenings longer.

Back On The Happiness Trail

I am once again reading "The Happiness Project". Kathy convinced me to keep going and so I did... now I am really enjoying it. I am in mid-August and just enjoying most of what she has to say. I am not doing her thing but just enjoying reading it. I may go back and try some of her ideas when I finish reading. It WAS a good pick, Christie. Thank you for an enjoyable read and a chance to share it with you!