It’s the first day of Spring…and time for Katrina‘s Spring Reading Thing! You can find more details here, and the link-up post is here, but the main idea is to set some goals for reading during the spring season. It’s not meant to be pressured: you can change goals along the way. I’ve always enjoyed it both for incorporating into my reading some of those books I keep meaning to get to plus visiting with other readers to get some good recommendations.
So, here’s what I have planned for the next few months:
Fiction:
A P. D. Wodehouse books for Carrie’s book club in April; haven’t decided which one yet (any recommendations?)
A book by Charles Martin. A couple of years ago I read When Crickets Cry and thought the writing was beauitful, but one particular element in the story really bothered me, and I never did get around to writing a review of it. I haven’t decided whether to reread that one or try another.
In Every Heartbeat by Kim Vogel Sawyer about three friends from the same orphanage awarded a scholarship to college just before WWI, the different routes they go, temptations they face, etc.
Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin about a young woman who lives in a bookish dream world when real life comes crashing down around her.
Loving by Karen Kingsbury, the last of the Bailey Flanigan series.
The Fiddler by Beverly Lewis.
Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey, about Swiss OSS agents trying to keep the famous painting from German hands.
Nonfiction:
Infinitely More by Alex Krutov about an abandoned orphan in Russia whom God brought to Himself.
It Is Not Death to Die: A New Biography of Hudson Taylor by Jim Cromarty. This is, as the title says, a new one. The two-volume set by Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor, Hudson Taylor: Growth of a Soul and Hudson Taylor: Growth of a Work of God are the premier biographies of him, but they might be a little daunting for many people and might be hard to find.
Grace for the Good Girl: Letting Go of the Try-Hard Life by Emily P. Freeman. I had seen this mentioned here and there but then forgot about it. Recently Bobbi posted some quotes from it that reminded me and convinced me I needed to read it.
When Christ Was Here: a Woman’s Bible Study by Claudia Barba. I’ve immensely enjoyed and been blessed and convicted by hearing Claudia speak several times: I’m looking forward to this Bible study. I’m in the gospels in my regular devotional reading, so this will fit right in.
Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching, and Appreciating Boys by Hal and Melanie Young.
Feminine Appeal by Carlyn Mahaney. I’ve have this on my nightstand for ages.
Everyday Battles: Knowing God Through Our Daily Conflicts by Bob Schultz, with my youngest son.
Audiobooks:
I hope it is okay to include these thought they’re not technically being read. I posted some general thoughts on audiobooks here, but basically though I prefer physical books, audiobooks are great for driving and other times when hands are busy but my mind is free.
Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott. I’m less than a third of the way through this now.
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell.
That’s more nonfiction than I usually get to, but that’s one thing SRT is good for. If I should happen to get through all those in the next three months, I have plenty both on my nightstand and my TBR list to choose from, and I am sure I’ll be adding to the latter as I visit other participants!
Great list! I’m going to look up Raising Men. I think audiobooks count. I wish I had thought of adding a few to my list. Happy reading and good luck on your goals.
I didn’t include any audiobooks on my list this time around, although if they would happen to be available from the library for the titles I have chosen I might “read” one or two selections that way. I think it makes for a nice change of pace, and some books are even better enjoyed that way. Enjoy working your way through your list.
Haven’t read any Wodehouse or Martin – I’ll look forward to seeing your reviews. Chasing Mona Lisa was good, and the rest of your fiction choices sound right up my alley as well!
Happy Reading!!
Great list! I’m intrigued by Wonderland Creek and Chasing Mona Lisa – both sound very interesting! Happy reading!
Oh, I just love, love, love North and South! I’m rereading it for the challenge. Have you seen the movie?! It is so wonderful!!!
Wonderland Creek is a wonderful book too!
That title by Kim Vogel Sawyer sounds good. I read “The Heart Remembers” by her and really liked it. I might just have to look for this one! Enjoy your list! Lots of non-fictions on there.
I have “Grace for the Good Girl” on my list too but haven’t gotten a copy of the book yet (always a good place to start, huh?). “When Christ Was Here” sounds like a good study.
I have a couple of audiobooks going too–I always forget to add them to my list. I’m currently listening to Joni Erickson Tada’s “A Place of Healing” and “Churched” by Matthew Paul Turner.
You will love the book Infinitely More. It is well-written and a wonderful account of God’s grace and His leading. I felt it was a challenge to be more involved in helping others (however God leads us to do so) and not to give up when someone stumbles. A great read!
I read Wonderland Creek and Grace for the Good Girl last winter. Both were good reads.
I have so many books that I’m reading right now, I just hope that I can get through them all by the time summer comes. Thanks for sharing your list!
Oh there are some on your list that I really want to get to. I’m a fan of Lynn Austin, so I’m pretty near positive I’ll like Wonderland Creek. Kim Vogel Sawyer is pretty popular, isn’t she? I guess I better hop on board and read one of her novels sometime. In Every Heartbeat sounds particularly interesting; I like historical novels. And I really want to read Chasing Mona Lisa; I’ve heard it is a good one! And The Fiddler by Beverly Lewis looks good too. Basically, I’m interested in all the books on your list!
Happy reading this spring, Barbara!
I have Wonderland Creek on my shelf…should get to that soon!
Love Lynn Austin’s books!
Happy Spring! Have fun reading!
I REALLY want to read Grace for the Good Girl and North and South! Great list!
I have only watched the BBC renditions of North and South and Ivanhoe. My hats off to you for actually tackling the books!
[...] hard to choose which book from my Spring Reading Things list to read next, but I am leaning [...]
[...] blog. I had missed the fact that it was almost 500 pages long. This might put a kink in my Spring Reading Thing plan, but oh well — I’ll get to them [...]
[...] the last two weeks. I happened to finish several recently and I’m trying to finish off my Spring Reading Thing before it [...]
[...] is what kept this book on my nightstand for ages before I finally determined to include it in my Spring Reading Thing. But it’s good to remind ourselves from time to time of truths we already know. We can get [...]