On Reading

On the Nightstand, March 2011

What's On Your NightstandIt’s that time again — the What’s On Your Nightstand carnival at 5 Minutes for Books, where we’re invited to share what we’ve been reading, or what we plan to read. Click the button to find out the details, and join in.

I missed the last Nightstand, but here’s what I’ve read over the last month:

  • A.A. Milne’s Red House Mystery, reviewed here. This was a page turner in the style of Arthur Conan Doyle and a fun glimpse of the Milne beyond Pooh.
  • Sherry Turkle’s Alone Together is a fascinating and disturbing look at our relationship technology — and our relationship with technology — and the effect it’s having. Highly recommended. My review is here.
  • G.K. Chesterton’s Everlasting Man was an expanded version of the ideas in Orthodoxy, which I read last year. But where Orthodoxy is a spiritual autobiography, The Everlasting Man takes it beyond a personal focus and into a historical commentary. Challenging and rewarding. Review here.
  • Elizabeth Goudge’s The Heart of the Family, the third book in the trilogy about the Eliot family. I had mixed feelings about this one. Review here.

At the moment, I’m brushing up on the middle school section of The Well-Trained Mind in preparation for next year’s homeschooling, and reading Linnets and Valerians aloud to my daughters. I really wish I’d previewed L&V and have mixed feelings about finishing it as a read-aloud. Aggh.

Other than that, I’m in a slump, with a trail of half-read books in my wake: Decision Points, The Alphabet of Grace, and Cranford, to name a few. Maybe it’s time to take a reading break and enjoy the spring… ?

11 Comments

  • Susan

    I like your list – lots of meaty, literary stuff there! I loved Cranford when the series was on PBS so I’d enjoy hearing your take. And yes, from your initial description I thought I’d enjoy Heart of the Family, but reading on in your review … maybe not!

  • Carol in Oregon

    “a trail of half-read books in my wake” that is a great phrase!

    Cranford is in that category for me. I want to read it before seeing the DVD, but I can’t get excited about picking it up.

    I only read the middle Eliot family book by Goudge. I didn’t realize it was in a series when I started. I enjoyed it and now I’m curious about the others.

    I’ve read Red House; and want to read the others on your list.

    Thanks for a great post.

  • Carrie, Reading to Know

    I have a few half-read books myself. I seem to be stumbling about rather blindly at the moment! =)

    The Well-Trained Mind! I had forgotten about that title but I would definitely like to read it at some point.

  • DebD

    I’ve also got a collection of half-read books. Last night I finally decided to give up on “The Stories of English” because it is just so dense. I need something light to counter the other heavy reading Im’ doing this lent.

  • Sarah M.

    I’ve never read the entire Eliot series. I read Pilgrim Inn as a young teen and I really must have misunderstood the book, but I’ve heard great things about the series, but I don’t remember liking the book… I have the entire series on my list to check out. Thanks for your thoughtful review.

    Also, never read Red House Mystery, but now I have to!

  • bekahcubed

    I’m wondering what to make of your trail of half-read books. My TBR list contains two of your three: Cranford and Decision Points. So the question is…are they half-read because they’re not worth reading or because you have to be in a certain sort of mood (which you’re not currently in) to be truly enjoyed?