because some of my best friends are from books

 Lately I've been reading more again [that sentence is a little confusing]. When I taught I felt like I had so much to read [like papers and papers and papers, plus the class novels and stories], that my personal reading slowed WAY WAY down. I have always had a love for reading, and I don't want that part of me to ever die. PLUS I want Blythe to see me reading, even now. 

Here are a few books I've read/ am reading:

Okay, how do I describe this book? It is obviously about the tragic shooting that happened at Columbine high school in 1999 [written by Dave Cullen]. I was first interested in it a few years ago, and then forgot about it. I was wanting to read another book in the vein of In Cold Blood, and stumbled back upon this one. I downloaded it to my Kindle, and then the horrendous events in Newtown occurred. I felt guilty for reading it, but was entranced. It is a lengthy book and I read it in a little over a week. I had to talk about it with Brent quite a bit to just process some of the stuff, but it really gave me perspective, especially on how the MEDIA portrays and relays information in situations like this. I didn't really need much of a reason to do so, but after reading all the misinformation that was initially put out there surrounding Columbine, I stopped watching news coverage of Newtown completely. If you like journalistic writing, and don't think the subject matter would be too intense for you, this is definitely a good read. [I didn't read it after dark… I learned that lesson with In Cold Blood when I read it at midnight, alone in my dorm room!]

 

The Zion Chronicles by Bodie Thoene have been well loved by the women in my family. I have been super hesitant to read them though because, well,…I can be a literary snob and Christian Fiction is just typically [not always, but typically] not well written. The plot line in these books has so far been very intriguing though and mostly very well written. They are set in Jerusalem after WWII and I have found the history pretty interesting. The characters are also pretty likable and they are quick, easy reads. Unlike Columbine, they are good to read before going to bed! :) I finished book two last night and started The Return to Zion today. You can tell by the cover art these were written a little while ago! I plan on finishing this five book series and then reading the next series, The Zion Covenant, which is actual a prequel taking place in WWII. I think I will like those more, because I know more about that time period. 

I'm sure anyone who has heard Dr. Laura has an opinion of her, good or bad. My sister loaned me this book a few months back and I have read it off and on while nursing baby girl, or on days that I am about to LOSE IT from being home. I will probably do a STAY AT HOME post sometime soon, but this book has definitely been a blessing to me lately. I think we all need to be praised about what we do, whether that is working, staying at home, retiring…whatever it may be. 

Grandma Pat loaned me this book when I visited with her last week. She read it and enjoyed, and like she has done in the past with good reads, shared it [this is what finally got me to read "East of Eden" which is now a FAVORITE of mine]. It is an easy little read about Forrest Carter's childhood in which he was raised by his grandparents, who were Cherokee. He also wrote The Outlaw Josey Wales, and I grew up watching that film thanks to my father, so I felt like I owed it to Dad to read this. :) It took me by surprise how much I enjoyed it. Some stories written in dialect and told from a children's point of view are meh…so so…[obviously excluding To Kill a Mockingbird], but this one was done very well and was endearing. I almost cried at the end, which I think proves it is a pretty good book. 

Over the past year our church in Louisville has read The Story. Brent wanted to get it, so it was one of his Christmas gifts. As the cover says, it is "the bible as one continuing story of God and his people." The narrative is very easy to read, and it's a great way to reread the stories you've grown up hearing from the bible. 

I have a very very very large list of books I want to read. I even think I'm going to do a little book club via a blog I follow. So the next books I read may be determined by that, if I decide to do it, but regardless of what is chosen for the club, I HAVE to get my hands on this book and read it soon: 

 Jenny talked about it on her blog HERE, and ever since then it has been on my mind. 

There are many more I want to read soon. What about you? Read any good books lately that I should add to my list? Have you read any of the above books? 

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