Lulu: My addition to what Annie's read--

Though I'm not sure I'll be going "by the book" and reading a biography this month, I figured I'd follow in Annie's footsteps and list some of what I've read/am reading--it's a lot, or at least more than usual, which I'm happy about.

HAVE READ: The Mysterious Benedict Society (oh man, I LOVED this, and the kids are loving it--I finished it ahead of them because I couldn't stop myself from reading onward each night after reading to them...)
Gregor the Overlander, books 1 & 2. I love Suzanne Collins. Simple and straightforward writing style but always a good story to back it up!
The Giraffe, the Pelly and Me. I realized just how many Roald Dahl books have slipped under our radar. We're (me and the kids are) happy to find there are several we haven't read yet! This one was short and sweet.

READING:
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
The Lacuna (the latest Barbara Kingsolver book; much about this book is new for me; I feel like it's one of those books that I read where I finish and feel like I was MEANT to read it and NEEDED to read it)

GOING TO READ:
Confronting the Myth of Self-Esteem - a recommendation from my therapist (no joke). The author uses gospel truths to take on the whole idea of self-esteem, etc.
Gregory the Overlander, book 3
Peace Like a River
These Is My Words
Mockingjay (again, love that Suzanne Collins...)

Lulu: James and the Giant Peach

The boys and I have finished The BFG, after which we finished George's Marvelous Medicine, and now we are reading James and the Giant Peach. That will be our June read, and then, depending on how fast we finish it, we will probably start on Stuart Little. I am SO enjoying reading to them each night! Reed remembers dialogue really well, and both he and Jax like to imitate the voices I make for the characters.

The library here in Saint George is WONDERFUL!! I am so relieved, as I was really not impressed with the library in Cedar City. Their children's section is gorgeous. There's a recessed ceiling with a mural painting of book characters. Jaxon spent a long time looking at them. Reed got a new card and signed his name "Reeeed". :)

I am thrilled to discover that I have gotten to the point where I can read without interruption (from my little darlings) for quite a while before I'm needed/wanted again. As a result, I have experienced a revival in the number of books I can read in a short time. In high school, I read at least 12 a month, but usually 20. We usually went to the Savannah library (which rivals many others in my memory) once a week. Now, I can read two a week, almost three. I'm really happy about it, because I thought it would so much longer before I could. I feel more like myself, more peaceful, more imaginative, more fulfilled. I also find that I'm surprised to discover just how much books are really essential to me.

Some of my side-reads: I read Blessings by Anna Quindlen just a few days ago. Honestly, I didn't really care for it. In fact, if I think about it, I almost hated it. But I couldn't put it down. She uses memories to further the narrative, and at times it was confusing/boring. And there was some language that kind of spoiled a few moments. The story was sort of good, except that I was angry at how it ended. (Very realistically.) I'm now reading another Anne Perry book, and I think I might delve into that oft-mentioned crazy-talked-up book, Eclipse. I've heard mostly good things--but then one or two people I've talked to actually hated it--so I'm mildly interested to see what I think. Mildly. Another book might easily grab my interest.