My Virtual Bookshelf

     Reading is something I have enjoyed since childhood. I appreciate good books, make notes when authors are particularly interesting, and enjoy discussing books with others who have read the same ones. My friend Lynn shared a twist on another blogger's challenge, and I'm following her example of sharing a growing list through the year on my blog.

     Because of the Hallmark series, my girls and I borrowed the When Calls the Heart books by Janette Oke at our local library. The first one is the only one I completed so far. It differed a bit from the television version. I remembered reading the details about the mice when I read it years ago.

     So far I have already finished reading several books this year. John Grisham is a somewhat local author if you allow me to stretch "local" to cover the two states I call home. A friend recommended his books when we were in college years ago. On my internship further away from home than I ever lived before or since, the movie based on his book The Pelican Brief came out. I saw it with a friend and cried at the Louisiana scenes even though the movie is far from a tearjerker, because I was so homesick. His latest book had a surprising inclusion not present in any of his other books that made me wonder about changes in the author. Sycamore Row does have some rather gruesome parts, so if you aren't a fan of the author or others with a similar style, it may not be your cup of tea.

     Several things intrigued me about the book The Amethyst Heart enough to re-read it. The circumstances between the grandmother and granddaughter were the first thing that made me wonder how my life might have turned out if I didn't go to college and instead had stayed home and cared for my grandmother. It wasn't an option, but I still wonder "what if."

     I'm currently reading a few books. Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption
 is the current selection for our homeschool group's high school book club. I started it, but the girls claimed it to read for their class. Another blogger shared a giveaway that I won for How to Be a Great Wife . . . Even Though You Homeschool by Todd Wilson which somehow makes my son laugh.

     My non-fiction selections include A Novel Idea: Best Advice on Writing Inspirational Fiction and Woman's Guide to Reading the Bible in a Year, A: A Life-Changing Journey Into the Heart of God. Following the plan in that book, my kids and I are reading about 3 chapters in the Bible each day, alternating between books from the Old and New Testaments. So far we have completed Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

     Beginning in just a few weeks,  I'll also be joining Poppins Book Nook and sharing with you about books that I enjoy reading with my children.

     Books that I complete in 2014 will be added to my virtual bookshelf. Let me know if you recommend a book for me and be sure to share what you like about it, too. If you have any good mystery book recommendations, please share those with me, too.

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