Another (Few) Years of Dickens...

I laughed when I saw this post the other day. That was from 2007. I took a break from reading through my Charles Dickens collection. A two year break it turned out to be. I did read some of his Christmas Stories last year, but dove back in full force this summer. I have completed Dombey and Son and Little Dorritt and am currently three fourths of the way through Bleak House. As they average 1200 pages, it takes a bit more time and thought to read than say, the Mitford series I reread last month. I do read and nurse the baby at the same time when it works out.

Dombey & Son has been my least favorite so far. Not that it isn't wonderfully written. It is just a sadder story to me. I adored Little Dorritt and begged Sweetheart to get the movie when I finished. We both loved it. Do watch it if you can!

All this Dickens led to watching an old BBC version of Bleak House that we've had for years but hadn't seen. Now we own the new version as well. *ahem* Both are good, but the newer version is filmed in a more up to date fashion and very well done as well as being easier to follow with better audio. It is an amazing story. I will be a bit sad to finish reading it.

I think next I will venture off to The Curiosity Shop for a visit. By then it will probably be time to finish up the Christmas Stories. As my set of books is quite old and worn I sewed, a book cover that I can put on each book as I read them. I hope this will help them to last longer.

Though at over 135 years old, I think they've paid their dues, don't you? Maybe I'll get a picture of the cover I made taken and posted soon. As computer time varies wildly these days, we'll just have to see. I am keeping quite busy these days and loving it all. Well, except the crying. And I am a wee bit tired today. Therefore, I am going to sign off for now wishing you all the best. Maybe I can get a few more pages read...

What are you reading???? Do tell!

Spring Reading Challenge Update

I've been busy reading for the Spring Reading Challenge. I've finished several of the books I wanted to read. Here was my original list:

The Secret Garden and The Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett ~DONE!
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte ~3/4 th of the way done!
The Private World of Tasha Tudor and Springs of Joy by Tasha Tudor
Desiring God by John Piper
What Every Mom Needs by Elisa Morgan & Carol Kuykendall
The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
Deception by Randy Alcorn ~DONE!
Living Simply: Choosing Less in a World of More by Joanne Heim~DONE!
Taking Care of the Me in Mommy by Lisa Whelchel~3/4 th of the way done!

I've also added a bunch of others along the way and am joining a group blog on the Newberry Awards, so I've been reading through those. I'll have to look in my book basket and list the books I've finished tomorrow. I love reading!

I am starting up a Book Club next week. Any suggestions for books to read? We've got four of us that will get together once a month. I think I'm the only one that reads fiction mostly by Christian authors. So, if you have ideas, both Christian and non, feel free to leave them in the comments.

Spring Reading Challenge

Spring Reading Challenge

"If you would tell me the heart of a man, tell me not what he reads
but what he rereads."
~Francois Mauriac

I love to read. I always have. Since my sister taught me to read before I ever started school, reading has been a part of my life. I read constantly. If a book is good enough I will reread it , sometimes many times. Several of these books are rereads. I seem to reread certain books seasonally. For example, The Secret Garden is a perfect book to read in Spring. I reread the Mitford series each Fall, and Little Women in the Winter. Some books I've reread so many times that I've completely lost count.

The Secret Garden and The Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Private World of Tasha Tudor and Springs of Joy by Tasha Tudor
Desiring God by John Piper
What Every Mom Needs by Elisa Morgan & Carol Kuykendall
The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
*Deception by Randy Alcorn (to be published April 17th)
*Living Simply: Choosing Less in a World of More by Joanne Heim
*Taking Care of the Me in Mommy by Lisa Whelchel

***These three I need to buy.

Plus whatever random fiction stories & gardening books that catch my eye at the library...

What are you reading, or rereading as the case may be?

Pansies by Koyaanis Qatsi