What I'm Reading

If you remember my 2015 resolutions post, I've been working on my time spent reading. I used to love reading all through school but once I got married and busy with grown up life, I kinda let it go. So this year I'm diving into books again, rediscovering my love for stories, and so far it's been going pretty well! We're six months in (can you believe it?!?), I've read five and a half books and I thought you might like to know what my eyes have been devouring.

Mrs. Robert E. Lee by John Perry - This is the half I mentioned above. While the story about Mary Custis Lee is pretty interesting, it is a lot to wade through. I spent two months making myself read another chapter and got half way before I decided to take a break. I'm determined to finish it before the year is out but I probably won't pick it up again till the summer is over.

Captain Wentworth’s Diary by Amanda Grange - If you know me at all, this one doesn't surprise you. I read Mr. Darcy's Diary a long time ago and fell hard for Amanda Grange's style and storytelling talent. This one is a retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion from Captain Wentworth's point of view. I think I read it in a week.

Edmund Bertram’s Diary by Amanda Grange - This one was a little bit slower than the one above, but it was still good. It's the story of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park from Edmund's perspective. The whole time I kept thinking "Duh, Fanny...... Duh, Fanny...... DUH, FANNY!!!!!" Thank you Lord that JA was a writer of happy endings.

Domino: The Book of Decorating - So I'm counting this because I actually did READ it and not just flip through it. It was so interesting! The book progresses room by room, giving you lots of decorating tips and ideas. My favorite part was the encyclopedia in the back that tells you the names of curtain styles and tile patterns and stuff. It was very informative.

Mingling of Souls by Matt Chandler - I think Dearest Carl got tired of hearing how amazing this book is. While it's not what I expected when I bought it, I think it will be one that I recommend to everyone. Matt looks at all the stages of a relationship, from attraction through the legacy of a long marriage, in the light of Song of Solomon. I had never heard that much about that book of the Bible so it was fascinating to see the progression through it in relation to our romantic relationships today. Seriously, whether you're single, dating or married, you should read this book.

Masquerade by Nancy Moser - This was my fiction while I read the book above. It was an easy read and I was surprised that I couldn't predict the ending. While it wasn't "overly Christian", it did have some Christian themes that I could take from it while being just a good old story. If you're looking for a summer read, this would do it.

Just this week I've started on my next two books, Just Jane and The Hidden Art of Homemaking. I've discovered that it's easier to read non-fiction when I'm also reading a fictional book so I can switch back and forth. And here I never thought of myself as a more-than-one-book reader. Ha! My goal is to finish these two by August and then indulge in an old favorite while I'm on vacation. 

Okay now it's your turn. What's on your stack at home? Any suggestions for summertime reads?

(Image via Grace Easton)