Recent and Current Reads

I apologize for not posting in a long time, but our internet has been down for about three weeks (long, boring story), but it's back, so here is update of my recent and current reading activity:

Recent Reads:
                      
Two books by Kansas author Nancy Pickard:  The Scent of Rain and Lightning: A Novel and The Virgin of Small Plains: A Novel.  It's been awhile since I read them, so they are not fresh enough in my memory to do a full review, but I do know that I like and recommend them.  They are both mysteries.  Nancy Pickard has been writing mysteries for many years, and she has really grown and matured as an author since her Jenny Cain days.













Two by Georgette Heyer:  False Colours and The Talisman Ring, delightful as always.  I am almost through all the Regency romances by Georgette Heyer.  What am I going to do when I've finished the last one?  Start over, probably.  These are the most wonderful, cheerful, funny and clean books.  I am so thankful to my friend Sharon for insisting that if I liked Jane Austen I would like Georgette Heyer.














Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool, another Kansas author and this year's Newberry Medal winner.  I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery/coming-of-age tale set in the fictional town of Manifest, Kansas.  Abilene Tucker is the delightful heroine of this novel set in 1936, with a parallel story line in 1918, unveiled in newspaper clippings, letters, and the storytelling of the mysterious Miss Sadie, as Abilene works to figure out the relationship between Ned Gillen and Jinx and what they have to do with the past of her father, Gideon Tucker.  Thoroughly enjoyable read.



Speak: 10th Anniversary Edition by Laurie Halse Anderson.  Novel about the aftermath of a rape of a young girl at a party.  Tough read, but important book.








Currently Reading:



This is my second time through Ayn Rand's masterpiece about John Galt, the man who said he "would stop the motor of the world, and did."  I am reading this in preparation of the movie Atlas Shrugged: Part I, which is being released (appropriately) on April 15.  If you believe that excessive government, taxes and regulation are damaging to our culture and society, but have a hard time articulating your argument, this is the book for you.  "Who is John Galt?"



     I am reading the Dragonbreath series with the very enthusiastic Colin right now.  This is the first series of books that has really captured my 6-year-old's imagination.  Thanks to my friend, Wendy, for the recommendation.







Last, but not least, these are the books I'm reading in conjunction with my Sunday School class  and my Tuesday morning Bible study.  We are studying Lewis's Mere Christianity (Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis (Paperback - Feb. 6, 2001)) during Sunday School.  This book was originally given as a series of radio broadcasts, it addresses the central issues of Christianity, building a solid case for why this is the one true faith.




I have been leading a Tuesday morning Bible Study and we are currently studying Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy.  This is my second time to do this study, but my first time leading it.  Beth Moore is an awesome teacher and through this workbook and the video sessions that are part of the study, I have learned about the book of Daniel in a rich and deep way and the lessons will stay with me for a lifetime.

Why Conservatives Should Love Chuck - By Ray Keating - The Corner - National Review Online

Why Conservatives Should Love Chuck - By Ray Keating - The Corner - National Review Online

Lost in a Good Book

I am currently reading a mystery that is so good that I got wrapped up in it and didn't get my blog changed to post it as my "currently reading" book until I was more than half done with it.  It is called The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard.  Pickard is a Kansas author who writes the Jenny Cain mystery series.  I like the Jenny Cain books, but this one is better.  Pickard has matured over the years and this book has richness and depth which the Jenny Cain books do not.  The Virgin of Small Plains is more like true literature than a light quick-read mystery (not that there is anything wrong with light books).  I am reading this on my Nook Color and I only miss the smell of the paper pages a little.  A review will (hopefully) be forthcoming.

Next up for me:  The Scent of Rain and Lightning, also a Pickard book, and a recent choice by Barnes & Noble as one of their recommended selections.

Newberry and Caldecott Awards Announced

Newberry Award:


I get so excited every year when the Newberry Award is announced.  This medal is given every year by the American Library Association "to the author of the year's most distinguished contribution to American literature for children."  My mom taught 5th grade for more than 25 years and she always told me that you can't go wrong with a Newberry book.  I was delighted when I learned that this year's winner is both written by a Kansas author and set in Kansas.  It is Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool.  I haven't read it yet, but am looking forward to it.  It is set during the depression with another story/mystery from World War I interwoven.  Here are links to this year's winner and the Honor Books (runners up):


Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool












Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman












One Crazy Summer by Rita Willimas-Garcia












Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus












Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm












Caldecott Medal:


The Caldecott Medal is given each year by the ALA to the most deserving picture book.  This year's winner is A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Christian Stead.  Below are links to it the Honor Books.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Christian Stead












Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein











Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill