Fall Into Reading 2007

It's been quite 'round here, and that's mostly because I've been forcing myself to catch up on some chores, and some work. You know what I'm talking about? The kind of chores and projects that we stare at and walk past every single day, but always end up saying "I've gotta get to that!". So since AB had a trip out of town this weekend, I've been using the time wisely to catch up on those "gotta get to its" and it's been a such a good feeling.

Meanwhile, since it's my favorite time of year, I also LOVE the Fall Into Reading Challenge over at Callapidder Days! This seems to really motivate me to get through my piles and piles of books. I've shown you the pictures recently of all the books we have, and I just love the motivation this gives me to set a goal for myself and see it through. It helps that there are weekly prizes! Go and visit Katrina and "Fall" into the fun! If you love to read, then not only can you post your own list for others to get ideas from, but you go looking at other lists and find some really good books! So here goes the big un' for my Fall Into Reading Challenge '07: Drum Roll Please....................................................(dots represent said drums)

Non Fiction

Marley & Me: life and love with the world's worst dog. By Josh Grogan. Such an excellent book for those who love animals, specifcally dogs. It has warmed my heart and made me laugh out loud. Now I just need to finish it!

The Power of a Praying Wife: By Stormie Omartian. Just an encouraging book that gives us a refreshing look at the power of prayer in our marriage.

A Gentle Thunder: By Max Lucado. The Amazing lengths God will go to get our attention. Something I think I really need to grasp in my heart.

Each for the Other: By Bryan Chapell. One of the wisest things I've been taught in my marriage is that you must live for the other person and not yourself. If you're both doing this, your marriage is so much happier and healthier. Since following Christ is about letting go of ourselves and serving others, it makes perfect sense that in our marriages we would mirror that. Really looking forward to this one.

Fiction

The Next Big Thing: By Johanna Edwards. The story of a "big girl" who goes on a reality show to lose weight so she can meet the man of her dreams and have the perfect life. Or so she thinks...

Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife: By Linda Berdoll. Since Pride and Prejudice is one of my hands down favorite movies (and no, not the one with Collin Firth, but the new one) when I saw this book, I knew I had to have it. Now finding the time to read it is another issue. It's the love story of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy after the wedding. Mmm, mmm, good!

The Birth of Venus: By Sarah Dunant. This just looks interesting. It's the story of a 15 year old girl in Europe 1528 and her love of learning, and dazzling art and painting. But her parents wed her off to a much older man who is wealthy, and she struggles to find out who she is and how she can return to her much loved passions without being punished.

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hollows: By J.K. Rowling. I've read them all - I'm actually re-reading #6 right now so that I can remember what happened before I plunge into this one head first. The beauty with the Harry Potter series is that once you read them, you not only find out that they are wonderful, but that they are well written, imaginative, amazing literary genius that take you into a world of literary candy and creativity. They are pure imagination from beginning to end.

Homeland: By John Jakes. This one caught my eye from the half price books shelf. I loved the "North and South" series - well, the television version. Anything with Patrick Swayze, right? This is the first in a series that brings to life the saga of the American immigrant experience of a family at the turn of the century. Total early 1900's and all the drama of the war, love, etc. I love a book with a sequel...it tells me the author just couldn't bear to part with the story any more than we probably will.

The Historian: By Elizabeth Kostova. Story of a young woman plunged into a labyrinth where the secrets of her family's past connect to an inconceivable fifteenth century reign of Vlad the Impaler. Her journey to uncover the truth takes her all over Eastern Europe. Sounds good to me...

Snow Flower & the Secret Fan: By Lisa See. I keep meaning to read this, and keep not getting to it. Nineteenth century China - in a remote Hunan county, two girls are paired in an emotional match that lasts a lifelong. This is the story of Lily and Snow Flower - and how they reach out to each other in their isolation as they age, marry, endure foot binding, share loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood.


Ok, there's the list and there's the challenge - if you're a reader, stop over here and join in the fun. There's no "time-limit" per-say. It's just a way to coerce yourself into finally getting to all those juicy literary finds you have piling up around the house. And if you don't have any...well, I can recommend a great half price store where you can stock up. Time to light a fire, curl up on the couch with a light blanket and a cup of coffee and grab one of those books - it's time to Fall Into Reading!