To be completely honest, not much has been on my nightstand since Benny was born (three weeks ago today! Unbelievable!). I’m having a hard time focusing on anything right now, mostly because I’m terribly distracted by my iPad and Pinterest. I could feel really guilty about that, but I’m choosing not to. Seasons, right? Instead, I’ll just list what I’ve read since last month’s Nightstand post and link to the reviews I’ve written:
- All three books from the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series by Maryrose Wood: The Mysterious Howling, The Hidden Gallery, and The Unseen Guest
- The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (re-read)
- The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart–I didn’t review this one because while I really enjoyed it, I didn’t think I had anything else to say about MBS that I hadn’t already said in my original review. Plus, I quit reading after this book. I tried to read the next one, but I just couldn’t. I felt like I had already been through so much with Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance, what more could possibly happen? Oh, I do love the stories, but I’m just not much on finishing series. (Except maybe The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place–I really do want to find out what happens to them!) I don’t consider this MBS situation a failure, though, because I have since hooked–completely, irrevocably hooked–my girls on them. It started with Louise, who’s not adverse to reading recommended-by-mom titles (yet!). She started reading the first story a few weeks ago, and for a seven year old she made really steady progress, finishing it within a week. She has since gone on to read the subsequent two titles and is currently working through The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict. Score! Lulu finally picked up the series after watching Louise read them for a couple of weeks, and she’s hooked now, too.
Maybe the fact that she’s had her nose stuck in these books the whole time we’ve been on this baby break from school counts for something in the first grade. 😉
Right now I have a couple of nonfiction titles in the works: Unglued by Lisa TerKeurst and The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer. I’m reading the first for my own edification; the second I’m reading along with Cindy at Ordo Amoris for a bookclub. (Well, I’ve always wanted to read it, so Cindy has provided the impetus.)
This next month I plan to read Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell for the Reading to Know Bookclub because I’m the hostess! 🙂 We’d love to have you join in and read this Newbery winning title.
Since last month’s Nightstand, I’ve shared my thoughts on a couple of read-alouds I’ve read to my children: The Brave Little Toaster by Thomas M. Disch and The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald. I’m currently reading aloud The Story of the Treasure Seekers by E. Nesbit, and I hope to have it finished in time to share my thoughts about it this Read Aloud Thursday.
Beyond this, I won’t even venture a guess. Either I’ll while away all my extra time (of which there is plenty since I’m nursing Benny every 2-3 hours) pinning all sorts of neat home projects I’d like to tackle, or I’ll rediscover my self-discipline and do some actual reading. We shall see. 🙂
Awww, congrats on your new baby! Enjoy him — it really does go by quickly (in retrospect :). I loved MBS too, haven’t read beyond the first one though. I know what you mean about sometimes not wanting to finish a series. My 16-yr-old and I still enjoy recommending (or non-recommending) books to each other! Books are one of the favorite bonds we share. Have a fun day with your baby … awwww!
I enjoyed the first MBS, but just haven’t been motivated to read others in the series.
I’m looking forward to Blue Dolphins, especially as I just saw this morning that the same author wrote The Hawk That Dare Not Hunt By Day, which I read several years ago.
I just saw the read-along of Edith Schaeffer’s book yesterday and want to jump in on that, too. I read it in early married years and have been wanting to revisit it.
I just heard The Princess and the Goblin quoted in a funeral, of all things, likening a mom’s battle with cancer as holding on to the golden cord of truth while descending into the goblin’s den. My interest is piqued in reading the book — I don’t think I’ve read anything by MacDonald yet.
Congratulations on Benny! Exciting times. I have read The Hidden Art of Homemaking more than once and loved it, even though I don’t agree with all of it. It inspired me to add more beauty to my home (I can be quite a minimalist).
Enjoy your sweet baby!
I own MBS, but before I owned them, I listened to them on audio. Very good that way. But my husband didn’t like the follow up books as much, though he really liked the prequel. 🙂 I’m reading book 2 in Incorrigible Children. 🙂
I plan to read with you next month for Island. I *think I remember some mature stuff, so I’ll do it on my own instead of with the kids.
I think next year when M is 7 would be a good time for her to read MSB, too. 🙂
Island of the Blue Dolphins has been on our “to-read” list all year but we haven’t gotten to it yet…maybe by sometime next month we can fix that situation. We’re finally just about done with our Civil War read (Rifles for Watie) and Miss M has requested we read “Chickadee” by Louise Erdich next…so maybe Blue Dolphins after that. 🙂
Congrats!! And yes– nose in a book definitely counts for something!!
I had to click over to your review of the Incorrible Children. I have never known what to make of them. I think I checked one out for my daughter when it first came out years ago, but I’m not sure if she ever got to it. Even though she’s 14 1/2 now, we both still love a good middle-grade read aloud. It sounds like we’d like this series together, so I’ll put it on our list. It takes us a loooong time to get through 200 or 300 pages in our brief fits and spurts of reading aloud, but that’s okay.
Jennifer
I enjoyed hooking my girls on the MBS books too, and they’ve since become part of our family language, so to speak. We quote or refer to them like other loved stories. There is a book of MBS puzzles Stewart put out that the girls enjoyed too:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Mysterious-Benedict-Society-Perplexing/dp/0316181935/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366812623&sr=8-1&keywords=mysterious+benedict+society+puzzles
All that said, I enjoyed the sequels less than the first book because of the cruelty of the “ten men.”
I can’t believe it’s been three weeks either. He’ll be walking and talking before you know it!
Then I shall not consider MBS a fail in your household if your girls devour it (in your place). 😀 ha!
I kind of agree about MBS. I loved the first one and then got a little tired by the third one. But I really like the prequel about Mr. Benedict as a boy, it’s a very different book and I think has more heart to it. You might try it one day. 🙂
I had to laugh about the MBS. I read the first two and then I was done, but not my kids. They love them.
Thanks for the suggestion of Unglued. I actually have it on my Kindle, but forgot about it.
It’s DEFINITELY okay for a new season in life to change your reading habits (at least, it had better be, or I’m in trouble! :-P) I guess many adults have had the same sort of reaction to MBS. I read all of them, but definitely enjoyed the first the most–and had waning attention with the last. I *did* enjoy The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict rather a lot, though.
I think I need to read Unglued. I even have it on my kindle read to go. I’ll be eager to see what you think of it. And I’ve had Hidden Art, etc. on my shelf forever and have never cracked it open. Now I’m intrigued to pick that one up and join you as well! : ) (So many book, so little time…) ; )