How has your summer been? For me, the garden is in bloom, the kids have found some wonderful activities that they are really enjoying and I have already passed my last year’s read list.
When I was young I read all summer long. It was just my mom and I and she worked so summers for me were trips to the library each Friday, coming home with a tower of books that I would read all week long and then returning next Friday to do the same. I would buy the books in my favorite series: The Babysitters Club, Sweet Valley Twins, then Sweet Valley High, anything by Christopher Pike (I still go back and re-read one of my favorite books by him-Sati) who was probably my all time favorite author.
Occasionally I would sell some of my books-the least favorite ones-to the used book store in town so I could buy another brand new book-or a bunch of used books depending on the selection. The books I sold back would almost never be from any of my series books as the natural born collector in me couldn’t bare it.
On average I read a book a day in the summer and still read a lot when the dreaded school year returned. Once the excitement of new school supplies wore off and the reminder that I was once again spending the bulk of my time focusing on things that had little to no interest in the school year would drag on. Reading, visiting worlds of imagination and creating ones for myself were always my favorite creations. I almost never read the books assigned in school-dark depressing books that I could not comprehend and always made me sad were ignored-usually with an eye roll or two.
Still I read voraciously until I found work, driving and college. I still read but not as much as when I could easily fill my days with books.
Having children I found myself reading hardly at all-unless you counted board books. It’s been the last few years where I have really made an effort to bring back reading on a daily basis.
Of course I read loads all day but for me, reading an actual book is an activity all to itself. I listen to audiobooks-usually spiritually based ones before bed. Books that have a meditative quality and align me with Source, with peace. I have listened to audio books when working on my art as well and while I am counting these on my book list they feel like something completely different than reading. Even reading on my kindle has a different feel to it and I tend to read different types of books that way. Usually my cozy mystery books-quick reads that are usually a long series of books with fun characters and unusual circumstances fill my digital library.
The books I hold in my hands though? Those are the magical books. Those are the ones that transport me to worlds, make me smile and leave me feeling inspired and uplifted. Those are still my favorite books. Some of my favorite things are when an audio book or a digital book gets added to my physical library because it made me that happy. That always feels like I’ve been given a special gift.
As I am growing as an artist and writer I thought it would be fun to make The Book Club Series here on the blog a weekly share. Some weeks I may not make much progress but at the very least I’m sure I would have one or two new book additions on my TBR list 🙂
The last post I shared dedicated to Book Club was in March. I had a large stack of books sitting on my shelf waiting to be read or finished. If I am honest, I secretly believed I would finish them all in a month making way for new ones.
I didn’t, but thankfully I still added new books anyway.
The following books are ones I purchased with my own money or borrowed from the library. The links provided are affiliate links for Bookshop.org a site that supports local bookstores. If you use the links provided it does not cost you any more money but I earn a small commission. If no link is provided it’s simply because it wasn’t availble.
As a quick update-here’s the list and where I am at with each book:
The Bhagavad Gita: I haven’t started this one yet. I feel I want to finish A Course in Miracles before delving into this work.
A Course in Miracles: I haven’t read much in the book but I was listening to it on audio for a while. I started it from the beginning on the audio and would listen a bit each night before going to sleep. I don’t feel this is a book you just read and are done. It feels like something that I will be forever reading and I am really alright with that.
Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist: I finished this book and really enjoyed it.
Buddhism for Mothers by Sarah Napthali: Another book I am enjoying but haven’t made much progress with.
The Dance by Oriaha Mountain Dreamer: This was a good book as well but I just lost interest at some point. I am sure I will finish it but for now it’s on the sideline
Lessons in Truth by Emilie Cady: Another wonderful book-I even purchased a used copy of her complete works-but I haven’t made much more progress in this as well. I am thinking it might be nice to bring these books to the studio to read a bit before recording my daily energetic attunements or beginning my creative work.
Hiring the Heavens by Jean Slatter: Another book that I am enjoying but haven’t been reading. I am wondering if writing this post will bring me back to some of these books that I am so close to finishing.
Little Stories of Your Life by Laura Pashby:
I finished this book and it is really beautiful and inspirational and has made me really appreciate the art of blogging
The Writing Life by Annie Dillard:
I haven’t started this one and I think it’s because I thought I had finished it on audio! Does that ever happen to you? Turns out I finished another book on writing and haven’t started this one. Ah the problems of readers…
Cool Flowers by Lisa Mason Ziegler
I haven’t finished this one but imagine I will be picking it up towards the end of August or September to prepare my fall sowing of flowers. This year the garden has been so full of flowers that I have pretty much identified my have-to-grows for next year. And I’m sure I’ll find a few dozen more. Flowers are like books-you can never have too many around you.
The Darling Dahlias & The Silver Money Bush by Susan Wittig Albert
This book I finished and also read the next one in the series and have picked up 2 more from the library-I’ll share those below
Alright so that’s an update on all the books I had from last year. I think for this go around I’ll only share the books I am actively reading and the ones I have finished recently so here goes:
Finished:
Amethyst Witch by Barbra Annino: I am really enjoying this series about a family of witches. It’s fun, light and your cozy mystery small towns and quirky residents. This is one I have been reading on my Kindle Paperwhite and have been really enjoying.
Opal Fire by Barbra Annino: Another book in the series and again-an enjoyable cozy mystery read.
Bloodstone by Barbra Annino: Well, you get the idea-I like the series 🙂 I also love the Kindle for this since I can download the next book immediately if I want to keep reading.
The Darling Dahlias and the Unlucky Clover by Susan Wittig Albert: A historical fiction series taking place in the small town of Darling in the 1930’s. It’s about a local gardening club and all the mysteries that turn up in their quiet hometown. One of my favorites.
The Darling Dahlias and the Poinsettia Puzzle by Susan Wittig Albert: This is a Christmas book so if it bothers you reading about Christmas in summer you may want to add it to your winter TBR list. I enjoyed it very much, as I do all her stories. And this was one I purchased on Thrift Books. Sometimes if I can’t find her books at my local library I will buy them second hand.
The Life and Teachings of the Masters of the Far East Volume 1: This book was one I listened to each night before bed. It felt so peaceful and wonderful and I really enjoyed it. I was disappointed that I couldn’t find the other volumes to listen to as well but I am quite sure I will be purchasing physical copies anyway. For me, these feel like A Course in Miracles-I will be reading and re-reading these throughout my lifetime.
Currently on Loan from the Library:
The Darling Dahlias and the Voodoo Lily by Susan Wittig Albert: Next in the series and available at my local library I stopped in to pick it up with the kids-which led to lots more books-isn’t it wonderful? In fact my 2 oldest each picked out a chapter book and I offered them each a fish (which they have both been asking for) if they finished the books by the time they were due back. My oldest finished hers in 2 days and my son is working on reading the same book my oldest borrowed since he didn’t find his all that interesting. Looks like I will be getting fish this weekend 🙂 I am thinking of getting one for the studio-what do you think? My daughter advised me that I had to finish this book before I got a fish though.
The Darling Dahlias and the Red Hot Poker by Susan Wittig Albert: Since I was requesting books I had requested the next one in the series as well.
The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer: I saw this in the kids section and it really looked interesting. I’m not familiar with the book but anything that has magical lands and stories I adore. Plus it’s a series so that’s always a plus for me.
Stuart Little by E.B. White: I mean I saw it and how could I not? We may even have this book at home but when I saw it there on the shelf I just had to check it out and read it again.
TumTum & Nutmeg: Adventures Beyond Nutmouse Hall by Emily Bearn: I may have been in the children’s section a bit too long. Another new to me book it just looked like a story I would enjoy-similar to The Heartwood Hotel series we used to read with my oldest (I highly recommend).
Well, that is a full Book Club for this week don’t you think? I won’t be writing as much going forward (I think) since I will be updating this weekly. Please do share what you are reading below or books you want to read or how you like to read. I love hearing.
Until next time…
-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante
I am slowly moving into my hibernation week taking a bit extra care of myself as-in my haste to clear out some weeds-ignored the poison ivy that was growing amidst the dead nettle at the base of the oak tree. As a very clear reminder of the virtue of moving slowly the left side of my face is now covered in poison ivy. It looks worse than it feels (thanks to calamine lotion) still I believe it’s taking it’s toll in other ways.
The snow that fell so beautifully yesterday is already melting. Typical March snow here in Northern NJ.
I have always loved to read. One of my earlier memories with books was sitting on the cool basement floor in my childhood home with a book in my lap. I couldn’t read then so I made up stories based on the photos and wove tales that lasted much longer than the original story.