Spring Reading Thing - Wrap Up

Today marks the conclusion of Katrina's Spring Reading Thing. I don't know that I did a stellar job at getting through my list, but I did put a dent in the ever-growing piles around here, and have made notes (of course!) of many more books I want to check out. :-)

My list that I started with was:

• White Chocolate Moments by Lori Wick
• Emma by Jane Austin
• Elsie's Endless Wait by Martha Findley
• The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Caught by Neta Jackson
• Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss
• A Place of Quiet Rest: Finding Intimacy with God Through a Daily Devotional Life by Nancy DeMoss
• Hospitality Commands by Alexander Strauch
• Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God by Mary E. DeMuth
• Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook.
• Daniel (as in the Bible)

What was the best book you read this spring?
Best fiction was my Yada Yada book. Love me some Yada Yada. Such real women, real lives, real struggles. I can so related to these books - one of those serious I wish was never ending. (Sadly, the last book in the series comes out in October - and yes, I already have it pre-ordered on Amazon). :-)

The best non-fiction was A Place of Quiet Rest by Nancy DeMoss. What a fantastic book about why it is important for us to have time alone with the Lord, along with many, many practical suggestions and ideas for how to do that. I loved this book, and know I will go back to it in the future when I need encouragement in my walk with God. Nancy DeMoss came across as very real which I liked. I did a small review on a part of the book here. Hospitality Commands was also excellent (and a short read). I was encouraged and convicted about my level of hospitality and highly recommend this one as well.

What book could you have done without?
I wasn't terribly impressed with Not Your Mother's Slowcooker. While it was fascinating to read about what you could do with the your crockpot, most of the recipes were so exotic (some just plain odd) that I wouldn't make most of them.

Did you try out a new author this spring? If so, which one, and will you be reading that author again?
Nancy DeMoss, Alexander Strauch, and Elizabeth Prentiss were all new to me. I'm sure I will explore more of their books as they cross my paths.

If there were books you didn't finish, tell us why. Did you run out of time? Realize those books weren't worth it?
Out of all those, I never got to Elsie's Endless Wait. I'm not sure why - it would have been a quick read, and I still want to read it.

I left unfinished Emma, Stepping Heavenward, and Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God. (I probably should count Emma as one I never got to because I really only read a few pages into it). Stepping Heavenward was my "car" book, small enough that it was always in my purse and I would read on it for a few minutes at dr. appointments, waiting for food if I was out picking something up, etc. My car time was cut waaay back when baby E was born, and I forgot about the book. :-) I will DEFINITELY be finishing it ... I was thoroughly enjoying it until it slipped my mind. Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God was also excellent - I didn't finish it because it's really not meant to be read quickly in big chunks. I found it more like encouraging little devotionals for moms that should be read slowly and savored. So, I purposefully slowed down on that one, but will finish it.

Did you come across a book or two on other participants' lists that you're planning to add to your own to-be-read pile? Which ones?
I've seen so much Jodi Picoult out there, I will probably try one of her books soon. (I almost started one several months ago, but after hearing a bit about it, I decided it wasn't a good choice for me while pregnant and hormanal so I set it aside).

What did you learn -- about anything -- through this challenge? Maybe you learned something about yourself or your reading style, maybe you learned not to pick so many nonfiction books for a challenge, maybe you learned something from a book you read. Whatever it is, share!
That I can and do like non-fiction when I tackle it. It does take more brain power than a breezy fiction, but it's good for me and I come away having learned something and usually fired up about something! :-)

What was the best part of the Spring Reading Thing?
All the great ideas for MORE BOOKS! :-) And the challenge, of course, to tackle some that I would continually put off.

Would you be interested in participating in another reading challenge this fall?
Oh, I'm so there. :-) I'm also participating in the Newberry Challenge this summer/fall. (It was hosted by my precious friend Natalie who has since gone home to Jesus). Several of us are going to do this in her memory and a new website with details and place to participate is going to be up and running soon. *coughdanacough* And, I'm also planning on participating in Shaunarumbling's Christy Challenge since it's a one-book challenge - very doable. :-)

Thanks again to Katrina for hosting this ... I'll be back this Fall with a new reading list!