Tuesday, January 18, 2011

January Reflections: Reading

I'm working my way through Corrin's January Reflections this month, for those of you who are wondering what in the world I'm talking about.  She just posted the prompts for the next few days, and I knew exactly which one I would write about first!  If you read this recent post, you'll understand why.

Corrin's prompt reminds us that it is said that we are what we eat.  Likewise, we are what we read.  She asks what we've been reading to feed mind and soul lately.  

Once upon a time, I would be able to give you an exhausting list of recent and current reads.  It would be a jumble of fiction and non-fiction, biographies, inspirational reads, poetry, old classics, quick reads, on and on this list could go.

These days my reading time is limited.  I could go into this but if you know me you know why, so I'll leave you with the explanation that right now, my hours are full to overflowing.  So this recent reading list, to me, is never completed as quickly as I'd like it to be!

I'm a believer in God, and I know that reading His word everyday helps me to understand Him more, so I'm reading the Bible.  

I'm a mama, so I'm reading Raising Your Spirited Child, by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka.  [Love you, Mr J!]  When you're a mama, or around children at all for that matter, you get to read fun kids' books, too.  I'm constantly picking up children's books to read to my kids but at the moment we're particularly enjoying  The Story of the Snow Children, by Sibylle von Olfers; and Children of the Forest, by Elsa Beskow.  If I was going to be a children's book author, these are the kind of books I'd want to write!

I'm learning alongside my children, so I'm reading Teach Your Own: The John Holt Book of Homeschooling, by John Holt and Pat Farenga.

I'm a follower of Jesus, so I've recently finished No Compromise: the life story of Keith Green, by Melody Green.  [A biography of a man who followed Jesus to the extreme]

I'm a wife, so I'm reading a book [second time through for me] with my husband:  Crazy Love, by Francis Chan.  Follow the link to read more about it if you're worried that Dan and I are into something weird.

I'm interested in consuming less, so I'm starting The Story of Stuff, by Annie Leonard.  This is going to be a hard read for me.  I'm already convinced that we have and consume too much; reading statistics about all of it will only feed the fury.  So, in order to combat this, I will be reading my favourite creative living blogs to keep me sane.  You can find links to some of my favourite daily reads (or as often as they post) on the left of my home page.  

Any books you want to recommend, please comment!  I'd love to hear what all of you are reading.

8 comments:

  1. I'm going to look into some of the books you mentioned. I have a copy of " raising your spirited child" as well lol as I have one ;)

    And I so love Keith Greene's music.
    " Create in me a clean heart" is my favourite.

    I love book recommendations, thanks for this post!
    xo

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  2. You're welcome, Glynis. Thanks for reading! :)

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  3. Anonymous7:15 pm

    We are on the same brain wave today..I was thinking about books and reading and how like movies I some times lock into an actor. I spent about a month last year reading almost every book by Douglas Coupland. Shampoo Planet is a funny favourite. I tried reading many Barbara Kingsolver books, but was ruined by the wonderful fictional narrative 'The Bean Trees' which she wrote in 1992 and didn't enjoy her more biographical books as much. Recently I have read Mudhouse Sabbath by Lauren Winner, The Happy Intercessor by Beni Johnson and I am currently popping into a book about D.L Moody: On Spiritual Leadership. I have become a bit busy lately, but with my husband engrossed in 'The Day of the Triffids' I am a bit envious for my own book to read. Enjoyed your blog and your love of books. :)

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  4. Sounds like some great stuff! Might check out the Crazy Love book...

    I'm reading a historical novel right now - The Crimson Rooms by Katharine McMahon. It's set in London after WWI.

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  5. Thanks Anon and Melissa, for the book ideas! Anon, I loved Barbara Kingsolver's book "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" - non-fiction though - have you read it?

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  6. I love Keith Green's music, I've been brought up on his music by my dad, in fact one of the songs we're having at the wedding is 'There Is A Redeemer...'

    Have you read anything by Erwin McManus? 'The Barbarian Way' and 'Soul Cravings' are two books I have enjoyed...

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  7. Greg, I haven't. Going to look him up though. :)

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  8. I listen to his podcast every week, I really enjoy listening to him. The podcast is listed under Mosaic Los Angeles...

    I'd also recommend 'Peppermint Filled Pinatas' by Eric Bryant (no relation to Kobe) which is a very good book...

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Please don't hesitate to comment if this post has provoked your thoughts! I enjoy reading what you have to say.