What We're Reading in October 2016

I must confess. I've got a bit of a school girl crush on vintage books. (My husband is officially on to me. He continues to feed my obsession, however, by plunking down money at tag sales and thrift shops for well-loved, well-worn classics.)

Vintage books are simple. Slow. Cloaked in rich language and contain illustrations that draw the mind to thoughts of virtue and goodness. Vintage books celebrate the everydayness of everyday life. They glorify the simple things and help to foster a thankfulness of the things that are actually right in front of me.
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This month, you'll see a little vintage on our list of lovelies. We are enjoying the rich and slow. We are savoring.

Here's what we're reading.

Read aloud- everybody

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane- This book has been lauded by all my trusted book people. It's been on my GoodReads list for quite some time. I have finally pulled it off the shelf and have cracked it open. We are about a third of the way through and I can already see a finish line of redemption and forgiveness ahead. I'm expecting great things! 

Jamie- that's me!

Loving My Actual Life- A few years ago, I hunkered down with Jen Hatmaker's 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess. Although I didn't agree with some of Hatmaker's conclusions, I really enjoyed the book. So far, Loving My Actual Life is very 7-esque. The author journaled her way through a nine-month quest to find contentment in the everyday ordinariness of life and then set all her findings down in a book. 

Great Thoughts of Great Americans- This is definitely not a sit-down-and-read-in-one-sitting kind of book. It is a compilation of excerpts from famous sayings, writings, and orations of great Americans throughout history. I don't have the time to read all of these historical works in their entirety. But, I find much value in studying the greatness of great men and women. Reading a page or two of this book each day has been an effortless way to read all the highlights and expose myself to some of the wonderful wisdom of our founders without reading multiple volumes. 

Sweetie Pea- 8th grade

Blue Willow- She's almost done with this one that she started last month. She's had a very busy month and hasn't had time to steal away to read as much as she'd like. 

Super Boy- 5th grade

Snow Treasure- (Mom-assigned book) He's just getting into the last and best parts of this one. Nazi soldiers. Hidden treasures. Courageous kids. And sledding. What's not to love about this suspenseful novel set in war torn Norway? 

The Story of the Second World War for Children- (Just-for-fun book) Are you sensing a theme with the books my oldest son chooses each month? He is a walking WWII encyclopedia. Books like this one add to his ever-growing appreciation for the greatest generation. 

 

Blonde Warrior- 4th grade

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle- (Mom-assigned book) As I watched him fall in love with the whimsy of Pippi Longstocking last month when we read it aloud as a family, I knew that my son just had to be introduced to Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. He loves delightfully silly fictions and this MacDonald classic is as silly as they come. 

The Case of the Bicycle Bandits- (Just-for-fun book) To be honest, I've lost count of the number of times my son has read this book. He continues to reread Jigsaw Jones favorites again and again. But as Oscar Wilde once said, "If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all."

Greased Lightning- 2nd grade

Tornado- (Mom-assigned book) Over the years, I have culled a short list of simple chapter books for young readers that I continue to introduce to each one of my kids in turn. This one is always near the top of the pile. 

Baltimore Orioles- (Just-for-fun book)

The Dude- Preschool

Richard Scarry's Best Storybook Ever- This is treasury of the best of Richard Scarry. It's a vintage bit o' perfection that I am reading aloud from each day. 

And what's got you hooked this month? Whatcha reading?