Mirkwood Reflections

4 more books in May - one a week seems like a good average, yes? The Eternal Argument: A framework for understanding Western Literature and Culture by R. Robin Finley - 5/16/2014  Good Non-fiction 286 Print Long time middle school English teacher Robin Finley traces the history of Western literature against the larger conflict between theism and humanism. I purchased this at the homeschool convention in 2013 and it sat on the shelf. But in April 2014, I heard the author speak at the homeschool convention in Cincinnati and remembered I had the book at home. Useful information to help understand Western literature. The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis - 5/17/2014  Excellent Non-fiction 141 Print If God is omnipotent and good, how can we explain human pain and suffering? Lewis proposes reasonable answers. Finally decided to stop SAYING that I am going to read all of Lewis and get started on it. I decided to read just a short bit every day when I do my devotional reading. ...

I only managed two books in May. A busier month I can't remember. Two birthdays - husband and youngest daughter The end of the 2012-13 school year (we homeschool) Mother's Day A spring banquet for my oldest daughter A day at the opera with my oldest child Our quarterly karate test  Our first visit to Motor City Comic Con - hotel stay #1 Soccer, soccer, and more soccer (3 kids playing - 2 on travel teams) A soccer tournament out of town - hotel stay #2 An all-day planning meeting for our homeschool group Oldest daughter exhibited in an art show The three oldest kids worked several days at a local vineyard Taught an all-day essay writing seminar Worked my regular 20 hours per week every week My son's high school graduation Whew! I am exhausted all over again! The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner - 5/11/2013 Good - Young Adult - 416 pages, listened to the Audiobook Read by Tom Hiddleston - 'nuff said. OK, maybe that's not enough for you....

As you may have surmised from the lack of recent posts, life has overtaken me. The part-time job I've taken means less time for writing and much less time for reading. I have all I can do to keep up with my book club's selections. (And I have managed it so far, but the size of the Dickens volume I am supposed to tackle this summer has me quivering in a lump in a lonely dank corner.) So, here are my April and May reads - pitiful list, though it may be. Becca By the Book by Laura Jensen Walker 4/2/2010 Good - Inspirational This was an inspirational romance and I neglected to write a summary. I remember it was about a book club, mostly about the non-Christian member of the club. I also did not realize it was part of a series of books and it wasn't the first one in the series, or I probably would not have read it. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead Good - Children's (Read Aloud) I believe this was the Newbery Award winner for 2009. Mysterious and engaging, the book addres...

Because I neglected what I SHOULD have been doing this month (but that's another story), I go t a LOT of reading done this month - 9 books. That's the most in any month so far this year. This included my first book in my C.S. Lewis category, which I'd been procrastinating. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult - 05/02/09 Good - Fiction (999 Category: 9 and Counting) Sterling High School is torn apart by a mass shooting. I'm never quite sure if I like Picoult or not, but this was definitely a compelling read. If y ou like heavy fiction, this may fit y ou well. Deep in the Heart of Trouble by Deeanne Gist - 05/04/09 Good - Inspirational (999 Category: Kindred Spirits) Essie has accepted her spinsterhood, but then Tony Bryant comes to town. But is he too good to be true? This historical Christian novel is a sequel in the edgy Christian fiction category. Realistic people with realistic problems and who don't always make good choices despite being Christians. The Martian C...