“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.”
― Groucho Marx
That sure sums it up for me lately.
I was a big reader as a child and as a young adult. But I have been finding myself reading fewer books these last few years, and I know I can blame some on my age induced ADD, I think the rest of the blame lies on the TV. {or my habit of it :-)}
As the channels increased, so did my watching.
Then add in blogging...no time for books.
So, I have cut out TV.
Not entirely, that's for sure, but I can honestly say that days go by and I have watched nothing.
{except for an DVR'd episode of Frasier at bedtime :-) }
And, Bob and I like to watch movies, so often on Friday or Saturday night we will watch a movie. I have a collection of oldies from the $5 bin that we haven't watched.
But really that's about it, and I don't miss it a bit.
I have seen my pile of unread books begin to dwindle and I love that! It feels so good to be back in the reading habit again.
And you know what? That's what reading is...a habit.
Here are a few of the latest.
My new classic is The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James.
I have just begun so this will take me awhile. Remember I just read a few pages every morning.
It begins with a sentence that I have always loved, and didn't know it came from this book.
"Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."
This is my new devotional. It was a gift from a friend and I have not read it before. The language is rich, and so far, I have underlined several passages. For me that is the sign of a good book with a spiritual message just for me.
I so appreciate the gift of a devotional that someone else has found to be meaningful. I am going to remember that in the future when I want to give a gift.
Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon
I just finished this book ~ another WW2 story, but this one is a true story about the American Ambassador to Germany at the beginning of Hitler's rise to power. One of the things that intrigues me about WW2 is how something so horrific could take place in a "civilized" country, with people who are really a lot like us.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
attributed to Edmund Burke
Recently finished this book, that is part cookbook and part table decor.
This was our book club book for April and it was very good. I really liked the writing and there was a lot of discussion about the book which is always a sign of a good book, or of one we didn't like!
In this case we all liked it.
Another decorating book. Loved this one.
I am currently reading this one ~
Country Living Simple Country Wisdom by Susan Waggoner
My copy doesn't look like this one, but I believe it is the same book.
The subtitle is 501 old-fashioned ideas to simplify your life.
I am always intrigued by titles like that. I lead a fairly simple life, but I know I have a lot of stuff ~ and I think that might be one of the biggest hindrances to simplicity.
~ The Children's Page ~
Just read this very sweet story about a larger than life Grandpa who begins to lose his memory.
These are some of my very favorite books for little ones. The Brambly Hedge books by Jill Barklem. I have the Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter books, and then 2 or 3 other titles. They are charming little stories about mice that live in, of course, the Brambly Hedge, and have all sorts of delightful adventures. The illustrations are so much fun, full of lots of detail and homey touches. They are the kind of books that make you feel warm and cozy and ~ perhaps you should make a cup of tea!
Elizabeth loves them as much as I do, and the boys do sit and listen too.
These books are a blast from my past. I was browsing way up in Northern Wisconsin in a Scandinavian shop when I spotted these books. I suddenly remembered sitting on the floor of the little library of my small town when I was a little girl and reading these stories about the triplet girls Flicka, Ricka and Dicka. I loved them!
I hadn't seen them since, and totally forgot all about them.
I bought several that day and my grands love them too.
These are the little blond boys, Snipp, Snapp and Snurr.
Let me know what's on your nightstand!
― Groucho Marx
That sure sums it up for me lately.
I was a big reader as a child and as a young adult. But I have been finding myself reading fewer books these last few years, and I know I can blame some on my age induced ADD, I think the rest of the blame lies on the TV. {or my habit of it :-)}
As the channels increased, so did my watching.
Then add in blogging...no time for books.
So, I have cut out TV.
Not entirely, that's for sure, but I can honestly say that days go by and I have watched nothing.
{except for an DVR'd episode of Frasier at bedtime :-) }
And, Bob and I like to watch movies, so often on Friday or Saturday night we will watch a movie. I have a collection of oldies from the $5 bin that we haven't watched.
But really that's about it, and I don't miss it a bit.
I have seen my pile of unread books begin to dwindle and I love that! It feels so good to be back in the reading habit again.
And you know what? That's what reading is...a habit.
Here are a few of the latest.
My new classic is The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James.
I have just begun so this will take me awhile. Remember I just read a few pages every morning.
It begins with a sentence that I have always loved, and didn't know it came from this book.
"Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."
This is my new devotional. It was a gift from a friend and I have not read it before. The language is rich, and so far, I have underlined several passages. For me that is the sign of a good book with a spiritual message just for me.
I so appreciate the gift of a devotional that someone else has found to be meaningful. I am going to remember that in the future when I want to give a gift.
Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon
I just finished this book ~ another WW2 story, but this one is a true story about the American Ambassador to Germany at the beginning of Hitler's rise to power. One of the things that intrigues me about WW2 is how something so horrific could take place in a "civilized" country, with people who are really a lot like us.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
attributed to Edmund Burke
Recently finished this book, that is part cookbook and part table decor.
This was our book club book for April and it was very good. I really liked the writing and there was a lot of discussion about the book which is always a sign of a good book, or of one we didn't like!
In this case we all liked it.
Another decorating book. Loved this one.
I am currently reading this one ~
Country Living Simple Country Wisdom by Susan Waggoner
My copy doesn't look like this one, but I believe it is the same book.
The subtitle is 501 old-fashioned ideas to simplify your life.
I am always intrigued by titles like that. I lead a fairly simple life, but I know I have a lot of stuff ~ and I think that might be one of the biggest hindrances to simplicity.
~ The Children's Page ~
Just read this very sweet story about a larger than life Grandpa who begins to lose his memory.
These are some of my very favorite books for little ones. The Brambly Hedge books by Jill Barklem. I have the Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter books, and then 2 or 3 other titles. They are charming little stories about mice that live in, of course, the Brambly Hedge, and have all sorts of delightful adventures. The illustrations are so much fun, full of lots of detail and homey touches. They are the kind of books that make you feel warm and cozy and ~ perhaps you should make a cup of tea!
Elizabeth loves them as much as I do, and the boys do sit and listen too.
These books are a blast from my past. I was browsing way up in Northern Wisconsin in a Scandinavian shop when I spotted these books. I suddenly remembered sitting on the floor of the little library of my small town when I was a little girl and reading these stories about the triplet girls Flicka, Ricka and Dicka. I loved them!
I hadn't seen them since, and totally forgot all about them.
I bought several that day and my grands love them too.
These are the little blond boys, Snipp, Snapp and Snurr.
Let me know what's on your nightstand!
3 comments:
Well let's see: Right now, pain pills and some icy hot are on my nightstand.
That wasn't what you were asking, was it?
I have a different devotional book but it's also by Charles Spurgeon. He is my very favorite of what I call the "wise, dead, men."
I just started "The Whisper of the River" by Ferrol Sams. (Yes, I know quotation marks aren't for books. I don't know how else to do it in a comment because of the lack of options. Ugh.)
I use that book to decorate/vignette because the setting is the college where the girls went/go,but I have never read it or any of his books. My daughters tell me that I will not like it. We'll see.
I am REALLY interested in that one you are reading about simplicity.
You got some great reads there, Sue! My nightstand has some new devotionals that were gifted to me, from friends at church. One is "A Woman After God's Own Heart", by Elizabeth George. The other is "Same Life, New Story", Change Your Perspective to Change Your Life, by Jan Silvous. It's a 10-week Bible Study for Women.
I just read Cane River, give it a try.
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