Thursday, December 21, 2006

Fall Into Reading Challenge - A Review


I've so enjoyed taking part in the Fall into Reading Challenge that Katrina headed up this year. While I didn't get near what I wanted accomplished ... pregnancy and super-duper exhaustion slowed me down in my reading considerably. I did get some new fiction read (not re-reads), and a couple non-fictions done. The summary is as follows:

Fiction

1. Summer of the Midnight Sun, Alaskan Quest series, book 1, Traci Peterson
2. Under the Northern Lights, Alaskan Quest series, book 2, Traci Peterson
3. Whispers of Winter, Alaskan Quest series, book 3, Traci Peterson (not originally on the list, but books 1 & 2 were, and this just finished out the trilogy). While I don't typically read a lot of Traci Peterson, these books were very interesting with facts about life in Alaska before it became a state.
4. The Yada-Yada Prayer Group Gets Real, Yada Yada Prayer Group series, book 3, Neta Jackson
5. The Yada-Yada Prayer Group Gets Tough, Yada Yada Prayer Group series, book 4, Neta Jackson
6. Village School, Miss Read
7. The Shop on Blossom Street, Debbie MacComber
8. Summer at Fairacre, Miss Read (technically a re-read, but I didn't realize that till I was about a 1/3 of the way through the book and things started sounding familiar)

Those that didn't make the cut:
1.
Emma, Jane Austen
2.
@Home for the Holidays, Meredith Efken (It was never in the budget for me to read this book or the Dee Henderson below and the library didn't have them ... however, I have a VERY strong suspicion they are in my stocking from a family member so they will be read, oh yes.)
3.
Before I Wake, Dee Henderson


Non-Fiction
1.
Ambassador Families: Equipping Your Kids to Engage Popular Culture, Mitali Perkins (my current read) - excellent!! I can't recommend this one enough.
2. Me, Obey Him?, Elizabeth Rice Handford - also excellent. Her examples and manner of writing is somewhat dated, but the truths within are not.

Those that didn't make the cut:
1.
Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis
2.
Small Beginnings, Barbara Curtis
3. Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration (I did look at this one some, but as my attempt at advent readings with our three year old ended dismally this year, I will probably pick this up a-fresh next fall).


Biography/Autobiography

1. The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom (a re-read from loooooooong ago)

Those that didn't make the cut:
1. Shadow of the Almighty, Elisabeth Elliot (still want to read this...)

Bible Study
We are doing an inductive study of the book of Exodus this year with the women at church so that's where I'll be focused primarily. However, I do want to review
Fresh Brewed Life on my own and maybe do some journalling along with that. :)
**I barely kept up with this this Fall so this will stay on the plate as we continue our Exodus study in the spring.

Reading with the Girls
We had good days and bad days for reading together. Definitely still going to pursue this and work on this with both girls.

I can already say, count me in for the spring reading challenge!

8 comments:

  1. thanks for the reading suggestions!

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  2. Yes it was a lot of fun.

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  3. I loved this whole reading event. I had a blast and now my reading list is getting a nice refresher...

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  4. Great job, Stephanie! It looks like you got quite a bit done - especially considering that you were dealing with tiredness and pregnancy. I know how that goes! Thanks for being a part of this reading fun... I look forward to doing it all over again in the Spring!

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  5. Wow, you got a lot of books read, considering all of the constraints on your time from family and pregnancy. Kudos to you Steph!

    I love Debbie Macomber and have read Shop on Blossom Street and the follow-up A Good Yarn, and I've just started her Cedar Cove series. Two of those were on my challenge list.

    I've added some of Tracie Peterson's books to my library list, the Yukon series before the Alaskan ones. I love good book recommendations, thanks for the comments on those, and all of the others. Lots of good books here!!

    Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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  6. I don't think I could have gotten near as many books read as you if I were pregnant - good for you!
    Your list looks great - I appreciate the comments about each book.
    Blessings to you.
    Karen @ www.firstbrookfive.typepad.com

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  7. Anonymous9:47 AM

    I hope you do get to Shadow of the Almighty. It's an older book now, but one of the best I ever read in college. I want to read it again some time.

    I've read a lot of Tracie Peterson, but not that series, for some reason.

    I read Emma years ago for a Lit. class but would love to revisit it.

    I have a Miss Read book but haven't gotten into it.

    I'm partway into Mere Christianity now. I have to "make" myself read that type of book, but it is good for my thinking muscles. :)

    Great list!!

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  8. Shadow of the Almighty is wonderful! Hope you got those "stocking filler" books.....enjoy your new reads!

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Thanks for commenting!

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