Reading List

I’ll be watching this one with interest, since we’re about to leave for a little trip, too, and I need some new reading material.

Here are a few I’ve read recently and enjoyed:
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (very short, though)
Home (Marilynne Robinson)
Christ the Lord series by Anne Rice
So Brave, Young, and Handsome
The Book Thief
Bill Bryson books are generally a fun read, if you enjoy his style

@ Andy: I’m loving fiction right now. And memoirs are kind of hit and miss for me—I love a good one. Nothing too heavy, something to pick up and put down easily.

@ Bethany: I’ve heard great things about Diving Bell—both the movie and the book. I loved Gilead—is Home related (prequel? sequel?)?

Yes, I’d very highly recommend both the book and movie of Diving Bell. So beautiful.

Home is related to Gilead, but not really a prequel or sequel…it takes place during the same time as Gilead, but focuses on the Boughton family, from Glory’s perspective. It took me a little bit to get into it, but it’s really good, and if you enjoyed Gilead, I think you’d probably like it.

The Double Bind was my last traveling book - I was so absorbed I made it through several mountain passes.  A girl is brutally attacked (violence warning), which I am not into at all, but the story is…wow.
Bill Bryson In a Sunburned Country and A Walk in the Woods are both quite entertaining, and happen to be informative.

I second The Book Thief. Good story. I also enjoyed Cloud Atlas, to a degree. Several different writing styles in one book and that may be annoying at times, but the book is good and a little trippy.

In a different category is Scott Cairns’ Love’s Immensity. It’s his poetic interpretations of Spiritual writings from many of the greats over the centuries, from early Church fathers and mothers to more recent saints and thinkers. Super good. His St Ephraim the Syrian’s interp’s are awesome.

Have you read much Bill Bryson.  He’s pretty light and very funny.  I’m A Stranger Here Myself is my favorite but I also liked The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. 

Peace Like A River by Leif Enger was really good as well. 

And I hate to say it but if you’ve never read one of the Mitford series they are fun.  Father Tim and Barnebas the dog are great.  For me the series gets a little old after book three or four.

I’ve already passed my books to you, Renae, but I like reading everyone else’s suggestions.

Andy, did you read the entire Mitford series? I loved them. (In my pride, I didn’t want to even read them. Once I read the first I was hooked.)

No I gave out after a couple.  Mom and Elizabeth have read to the end I think.

Bethany is right. Read Home. It is glorious.