I’m reading again.
I can’t believe I ever stopped, but I did. I hardly read anything (maybe completed one book on my own, and read one out loud to Jordan?) in the first two and a half years of marriage. That’s sad.
Before I got married I used to read so many books I would run out of ‘new’ things to read at home. (and we had a lot of books in our house!)
Then, after the wedding all my books were packed up and things were busy, especially after one then two babies arrived. I obviously just ‘didn’t have time for reading’.
Well, when all my books were finally unpacked and properly shelved this summer, I definitely had the urge to read again. I even started a book, but wasn’t able to fit much in because I still just had ‘no time’.
It took a bit of inspiration to really get me going again. That came in the form of some delightful podcasts on the subject of reading aloud. I got very enthused about finding quality children’s books and reading to Marian and Alan more. In the process I just got excited about books in general, and wished I had time to read several titles that were in the back of my mind.
Some where along the way a few things changed –
I decided that reading is important. It wasn’t just a fun, frivolous hobby I used to do back when I had ‘time’. It is important for me to keep growing my mind – not only for my own good, but for the good of my kids. How can I expect to teach them and fill them up with knowledge and new thoughts if I am never filling up myself?
Instagram and Pinterest, while both are a great source of inspiration to me, they do not really feed me in the way that good solid books do. I realize more and more I can’t rely on a few minutes online here and there to give me the nourishment my mind needs to parent well and grow. (inspiration won’t get me anywhere without nourishment to back it up!) I can’t even describe the difference of my mood and overall feeling since I’ve started seriously, intentionally, reading again. I’ve just felt so much lighter and happier, with a much broader range of good thoughts to ponder about as I’m busy with my daily chores.
I’ve completed six titles since the first of the year, and I’m quite happy with that!
Here are a few of the books I have been enjoying lately:
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Bones of Contention by Marvin L. Lubenow
The Invisible Woman – When Only God Sees
The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaffer
For Women Only by Shaunti Fieldhann (a re-read)
Wild at Heart by John Eldridge
The Genesis Record by Henry Morris
Teaching from Rest by Sarah Mackenzie
As you can see there is not a single title of fiction on my list – this is not intentional because I love a good novel. My problem is I own and have read so many wonderful fiction books in the past, that I’m starting to ‘run out’ of my current knowledge of good titles. (I don’t like really any modern ‘chic-lit’ novels because they are just too shallow) So, if you have any good, solid recommendations in that area, please share!
I have also started a ‘book journal’ again. I kept a running list throughout my teenage years of all the books I read, and it was a lot of fun to see how many books you did or didn’t read in a given year, and what type of books shaped the year. This time the list has it’s own little book, and I have space to also jot a few notes about my thoughts after reading the book while it’s still fresh in my mind.
What are your reading habits?
Wow, good for you! I finished up the Screwtape Letters this month as well, such a good book. I enjoyed Hind’s Feet in High Places as well. I really want to read a book called “Shut It” about the power of words and when not to speak! Take care Atlanta,
Lexi
http://oldfashiondolls.blogspot.com/
Ooh! Sounds like some good titles! Thanks for the recommendations!
I recently got the book I mentioned, the full title is “Keep it Shut” and it is very good so far!
What a wonderful group of books you have been reading! Edith Schaeffer’s is one of my favorites, as is Screwtape. You might try some of Elizabeth Musser’s novels. She writes extraordinarily well and her deep faith is evident without being “preachy”. Swan House is a great one to start.
Thank you for sharing life with your readers; it is a blessing, and a reminder to keep your family in our prayers.
thank you so much for the recommendation! Off to Amazon right now to look it up! Thank you for your prayers! They are deeply appreciated!
” It is important for me to keep growing my mind – not only for my own good, but for the good of my kids. ” YES! This is so important. I think we sometimes forget that to be good moms and produce good fruit, we sometimes need to tend our gardens :)
For fiction–I’m sure you’ve already read these, but if you enjoy C.S. Lewis, his lesser-known scifi trilogy is enjoyable.
My reading is currently dictated quite a bit by grad school work (not that it’s bad, but it’s not my usual habit). As such, I’ve been indulging in the occasional “binge” over breaks of something froofy, like the YA Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (which isn’t deep reading, but the vintage photos make it fun). I also have a Christian nonfiction going most of the time for my mom’s reading group (if you can find a few people to talk a book over with, I highly recommend it!) I’m going to suggest The Invisible Woman to our group based on your listing here–it looks like something we’d all appreciate.
I actually have read the first two in the Lewis sci-fi triology, I haven’t yet started on the last one cause the 2nd one scared me too much! Isn’t that terrible!? I need to finish it though, the first two were definitively thought provoking, though somewhat freaky. :)
Atlanta, so excited to see your article on reading, and I do so relate. I kept a reading journal many years, and besides basic info, I added quotes I loved from the book- if any. It is fun to read back through these quotes and if I ever want to calligraphy one, I easily know who to credit. Of note, the quotes from 10-15 years ago move me as much today as they did then. I read after everyone else has gone to bed. It is “my time” and for me. it works well. After keeping a Journal I realized I read about 75 fiction (mostly historical fiction) and about 50-60 non fiction, read through, another 30 skim-read. Before you buy any childrens books, check to see if I have it. I am getting rid of a lot and would send you a box. Like all of time, there are really good and really dumb childrens books out there today. As a Childrens librarian, I was amazed at current trends…. I also wanted to recommend a fascinating youtube video series for farming that I am watching. I KNOW you and Jordan would enjoy it. It is called BBC Wartime Farm. A series of 8 videos about Britains struggle to Double farm production during ww2 because of the German blockade. Two historians and an experimental archeologist live on this farm in Eng. reenacting for a year the challanges of the time period. Even the equipment is fascinating. I have learned so much. I am on episode 5. Thes same three people have done 2 more series, Victorian Pharmacy, and Secrets of the Castle, an ongoing 27 year project of building athirteenth century castle, just as it was done, about 100 miles south of Paris (they do 6 months worth on year 17.. lv Aunt Mary
Thank you so much, Aunt Mary! I have heard of the Wartime Farm series, but haven’t seen it yet. We did see ‘Edwardian Farm’ that is I believe the same people, it and it was really good! I am glad to know they are on Youtube, we will have to make time to watch them! They are so enjoyable and informative!
The BBC Wartime Farm is excellent, I’ve viewed the first two series. You’ve got a great list of books here, Atlanta. ‘Bones of Contention’ sounds great. I never thought of keeping a reading journal, what a wonderful thing to refer to. My reading habits are haphazard, but I do love to read. Right now I’m reading ‘Womens’ Diaries of the Westward Journey by Lillian Schlissel. I picked the book up for 50 cents at our library. They regularly have a cart of books for sale, and I’ve found that sometimes buying a book rather than checking it out is better for me–gives me the time to read the book as I have returned unfinished books in the past. Have a great day Atlanta and I just love your name.
Hi Atlanta! I can so relate to what you wrote about reading taking a back seat with a busy family life, and also how important and nourishing it is to take it back up again! For fiction, have you read any of Christa Parrish’s books? She’s an amazing Christian author (and attachment parent) and a friend of mine. Her books are modern Christian fiction, but definitely not shallow (IMHO). You can find her books here: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_15?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=christa+parrish&sprefix=Christa+Parrish%2Caps%2C214
Thank you so much for the recommendation!! Going to follow your link right now!
Her novel, Still Life, was recently awarded Christianity Today’s 2016 Book Awards “Award of Merit” in fiction. :-)
Have you ever read Elizabeth Gaskell’s Wives and Daughters and Jean Webster’s Daddy-Long Legs? As far as nonfiction goes, I love A.W. Tozer’s The Pursuit of God and Howard and Geraldine Taylor’s Hudson Taylor biography set.
I have read Wives and Daughters! (LOVE both the book and miniseries), though I have not read the other three! Thank you for the recommendations – off to put them on my wish list!
As a mom I got so tired my eyes were too tired to read. I switched to audio books to feed my brain. They have had the added benefit that it calmed the children, and they associated it being on with me doing dishes, and it was their cue to go play with their toys. Kids also get to hear and absorb tons of words. And I have listened to many books I never would have been able to have the uninterrupted time to read. And when your doing chores, sometimes it’s really pleasant to focus on a book while your working.
I so related to this post, I never before motherhood have had a shelf of unread books.
Audio books are great too, definitely! It’s certainly restful to be ‘read’ to!
You will think this recommendation for truly wonderful literature is an odd one for one woman to give to another woman but if ever there was a case of not judging a book by it’s cover (or it’s titles), it’s this series of books: the Aubrey/Maturin novels of Patrick O’Brien. The first book in the series is “Master and Commander” and the series is about the British naval experiences of Captain Jack Aubrey and his ship’s surgeon, Stephen Maturin, during the Napoleonic Wars. Now I realise that such a sentence is enough to put any woman off a book, but please do try these books. Beautifully written by someone who truly understands how to produce great prose, but much more than that – over 20 books of small society doings, brilliant characterisation and amazingly funny as well and a sweeping depth of knowledge of world history, food, cultures and music. I only started to read the first novel of the series because my older sister told me I should and she was right even though the first book sat around for months and got shoved around from pillar to post before I cracked the cover only to discover how right my sister was. By the time I got to page 50, I was in the local library and ordering the next 3 books on inter-library loan and I went into mourning when I reached the end of the series and knew there would be no more because of the death of the author. I know now why O’brien is so loved by readers right round the world.
Thank you so much for the recommendation! My brother has the whole series, and I never did quite get around to reading them at home. I will have to make it a point to get my hands on them now! Thank you!
I recently read Some Luck by Jane Smiley and you might enjoy that. It’s a story of a farm family told through each generation.
I’ve been catching up on your blog tonight, enjoying seeing how your family has grown. I especially liked this post. I graduated my youngest from homeschool and now find myself struggling with reading books again, something I used to love to do. It’s definitely a commitment, and a worthwhile one.