On My Nightstand {or Currently Reading}

It seems that I'm rarely reading only one book at a time. I have a somewhat unfortunate habit of beginning to read many books at a time. Usually there's a reason for this - one fiction, one nonfiction, and perhaps one audiobook. At the moment, though, my currently-reading stack looks a bit like this:

The one exception is that the book in the middle, Home by Marilynne Robinson, is a recently completed book that I just couldn't leave out of this post. I had read a different book by Marilynne Robinson a few years ago and was not particularly fond of it, so I had stayed away from her other novels until this fall, when a friend gave me Home. I'm SO glad she did - this book just gripped me and made me feel like I really knew the characters. It doesn't feel like fiction - Robinson has such a rich understanding of people and relationships that this just feels real. It's not a particularly quick read - I needed to savor it.

As for my currently reading list:



Lila is Robinson's newest novel, about a character who is also in Home. Also a very rich novel. I'm fairly close to finishing this one, and it's what I'm picking up most nights before bed.







Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches is the book I'm picking up every now & then when I'm looking for some encouragement as a mom of 2 little ones. The short chapters are perfect for a quick dose of perspective. I'd like to make it through this one all the way. It has come highly recommended from several friends, and I'm definitely enjoying it.







Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce mysteries are pretty popular right now. I read the second book, The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag, this summer, and am ready to enjoy more of the precocious 11-year-old detective's adventures. Bradley's books are definitely quirky, and it took me a little while to really enjoy the first book I read. The characters are all extreme - a far cry from Robinson's characters. But, my husband and I occasionally enjoy reading a book together out loud, and this is our pick for that. We haven't made it terribly far, though, as we're both reading other books at the moment.


The bottom "book" in my stack is actually my Kindle. And my current Kindle read is Found: A Story of Questions, Grace & Everyday Prayer by Micha Boyett. This book came highly recommended to me by a friend who has a daughter close in age to my son. Her description of this book captured my attention - as a busy mother of little ones, prayer often takes a backseat. The author's journey to renew her prayer life is something that I desire, as well, and I'm really looking forward to diving deeper into this book. 



Bonus book: I've also recently begun Whose Body? by Dorothy Sayers on audiobook. I love listening to audiobooks while I'm doing dishes, folding laundry, and sewing! I have yet to read a Sayers novel, but she is recognized as an excellent British novelist known for her Lord Peter Wimsey detective novels. This particular one does not have quite as high of reviews as some of her other Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries, but it was available from the library when I was looking!

Whew, I think this is enough to keep me busy for a while! Happy reading!

I love hearing what other people are reading and am always looking for a new book recommendation, so feel free to leave a note in the comments! 

Book Review: The Secret Keeper

I recently finished The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton. Historical fiction is my favorite, and I'm especially partial to WWII books. So, I was pretty sure I'd enjoy this book before I ever started!

The Secret Keeper switches between present-day, seen through the eyes of Laurel Nicolson, and the 1940's, as experienced by her mother, Dorothy. Books that switch time periods are hit-or-miss for me. I usually find myself enjoying one half of the story more than the other half, but not so with this one. The characters are vivid, and the story lines twist together in a really engaging manner. As Dorothy is gravely ill, Laurel is determined to uncover pieces of the past that will lay to rest questions she has regarding her mother.

The Secret Keeper did not disappoint - there were surprising turns in the plot throughout the book, and Kate Morton's writing had me really believing that I knew the characters. I listened to this one as an audiobook, and it was rather long, but the narrator was fantastic.

Verdict: Highly recommended!