A little book talk

For 2020, I had a goal to read and study at least 6 books.

That would be beyond what I read for pleasure -- which is usually done only on vacation or just before bed.  For that type of read, I had an informal goal of just keeping track of what I read and reading quite a few different kinds of books this year.  Each month I thought I would at least take note here on the blog of what I've read, and hopefully share a few of my thoughts about the books I finish. At least, that's what I thought when I started this post quite some time ago.

I have been keeping track of books I finish, at least.  I had the idea of jotting down completed reads on the back of my Best of My Days calendar cards.

That has worked out well and I have actually followed through with doing so.   So far, I have completed eight books in the "pleasure reading" category.

In January, I finished reading five books.  Most were short, and some had been started in December: Shepherds Abiding (which I read every December) and Esther's Gift, both by Jan Karon; The Quiet Little Woman, by Louisa May Alcott; A Fine Romance, by Susan Branch; and Homemade Hospitality, by Barbara Sims.

I had only dipped into A Fine Romance before,  but thoroughly enjoyed it.  It will make a fine resource if we ever take a dream trip to England.

In February I read Mama's Homemade Love, by Barbara Sims and My Neck of the Woods, by Louise Dickinson Rich.

 Homemade Hospitality and Mama's Homemade Love were both interesting, short reads -- bargain books I've had for some time -- but they went to the thrift store to hopefully bless someone else.

My Neck of the Woods is definitely a keeper, a riveting first-person true account of life (and especially people) in the Maine wilderness in the 1940s and early 1950s.  Louise Dickinson Rich is a wonderful writer.  My hubby read this after I did, then I passed it on to my walking partner.  I'm keeping it because we really liked it, and someday would like to try and visit the area where the story took place.

I didn't complete any books in March, but in April I got through Morning Was Starlight: My Maine Boyhood, by Ernest Dodge.

This was also a good read, but nowhere near as fascinating as My Neck of the Woods.  It was interesting reading and in places quite humorous, but the print was smaller than I like and I'm unlikely to read it again.  Passed it on to a family member.

As far as reading and studying 6 books goes, I have started just one.  The prevailing unrest of the pandemic, plus the fact that my hubby is now working again more days than not, has kept me in what often feels like survival mode.  Even though many things have been closed due to the virus, I've still been working at my appointed task of cleaning out the old homestead, and mostly doing it solo at that.  I've still been walking pretty much every day, as well.  Being out of the house for several hours each day means that keeping up with Bible reading and studies, a meaningful prayer life, laundry, meals, and some daily housework is just about all I can do.  Hopefully that will change and I will actually be able to read and study some books.  I'd thought that setting a goal of six would work well, allowing me to take two months to finish a book.  But here we are in May and I haven't even completed one, so ... we will see where that goes.