Tag: book club

My (Slightly Ambitious) Summer Reading List

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Is summer winding down already?? The schools supplies have taken over Target, fall sports are starting up again and yes, kids are going back to school. Our summer break ended just a couple of week ago and I’m still working on my summer reading list. Before my summer got all crazy, I wrote up this blog post. So can we just pretend that I posted this blog post when I wrote it, way back in June?

Mmmm, okay? Great.

I’ve got so many great books to share with you but first……… let me be honest. Or rather, let me be honest with myself. I’m not going to finish all these books this summer.

I would absolutely love to; but since it’s a struggle to get my one book read for book club each month, 10 books seems a bit of a stretch. Granted I’ve already started a few, one is super short, and I’ve finished one on the list already.

But let’s be real.

I have kids. Laundry. Feeding of said kids. A husband. Netflix shows to binge watch. Blog posts to write. Instagram feeds to keep up with, (check me out at theaccidentaldomestic on Instagram) Friends. Playdates. You get the idea.

But still….I dream.

Whether I finish these books this summer or this year (or next summer), here is the line up. Enjoy.

Have you read any of these? Share your thoughts. Are there any on the list you’d like to read?

Books I’ve Started And Set Aside And Would Now Like To Finish

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

I started this book months ago, maybe even last summer. I had to set it aside to keep up with that month’s book club book and never got back to it. So, I’m picking it back up. This is a fiction read that seems pretty interesting so far.

Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Make for Strong, Confident and Capable Children by Angela J. Hanscom

I’ve enjoyed this non-fiction read every time I pick it up. I go highlighter crazy when I get into it.

Books I’ve Just Begun This Summer

You Carried Me by Melissa Ohden

This is the book club book we will be discussing in August. I actually just finished this one. It’s a memoir of woman who knows that she is adopted, but finds out that she miraculously survived an abortion. This was a quick read and I enjoyed it. Being Pro-Life, I really appreciated this woman telling her story so honestly and sharing how God redeemed relationships in her life and brought healing.

Daring Greatly by Brene’ Brown

So far, I’m loving this book. Brene’ Brown is all about research and backing her findings with years of collected data. While very straightforward; it really dives deep into how shame can and does control our lives, our decisions and relationships. It’s been a very thought provoking read so far.

Looking for Lovely by Annie F. Downs

I listen to Annie’s podcast, This Sounds Fun and really enjoy that. Reading her book is a lot like listening to her talk. I’m enjoying it so far; and am sure I’ll have more thoughts on this as I get closer to finishing it.

Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World by Kristen Welch

This book.!!!! This book is a must read for every parent. Absolute Must. So far, this has been the best book I’ve read so far this summer.

Books I Haven’t Started Yet

Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson

This is a non-fiction/ parenting book. Seeing as the previous book is a parenting book as well, I may push this book to the fall.

Because He Loves Me by Elyse Fitzpatrick

She spoke at our Womens’ retreat this past spring and it was one of those moments where my thinking about and view of Christ really changed for the better. I saw my relationship with Him in a way I hadn’t before, so I really wanted to read the book that our retreat was based on.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

This is another book club pick for the summer, so I’ll start reading this closer to the end of summer. We will be discussing it in September.

Oils of the Bible by Erin Rodgers

This book is super short and more of an educational one for me. I can read this in one sitting; but wanted to include it in the list. I’m going to Young Living’s Convention this week, so I’m going to take it on the plane and probably read it then.

Not Pictured But Would Still Like To Read

I have a lot of non-fiction on my list and really feel like I need another good fiction book in the mix. I can only read so many non-fiction books in a row before I need a break.

Also, I’d love to read a good biography.

If you have any suggestions for a fiction or biography, drop them in the comments.

Follow me at theaccidentaldomestic on IG or Facebook and to see how I’m doing on my stack of books and reviews of them as I finish.

Update: At the time of posting this these are the books I’ve read: You Carried Me, Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World, Looking for Lovely, Oils of the Bible, and the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (almost).

Humble Roots: Giveaway !!!

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Every year God seems to give me a book that really speaks to me and changes the way I see Him. Changes the way I see myself. Changes the way God sees me.

He gave me this book, Humble Roots (by Hannah Anderson), earlier this year. I am so thankful.

As I read this book, I seriously felt like I was talking to a good friend, while sitting around my dining room table with coffee in hand.

I thought I was a humble person. I thought I knew what being humble meant. The perspective I received through reading this book really changed my thinking, in the best way.

It talks about what is at the root of our anxiety and unrest, why we endlessly seems to strive and are never at rest.

“Humble Roots reveals how cultivating humility- not scheduling or increased productivity-leads to true peace.” Hannah Anderson

I love this book so much! I want to share it with you. So I am giving a copy away to one lucky follower.

It’s so easy to enter for this giveaway. Ridiculously easy.

Just subscribe to The Accidental Domestic. Easy peasy. Type in your email address. I only send you an email notice when a new post is up on the blog.

You are  entered. That’s it.

Already a subscriber? You are already entered. But would you like a  better chance to win this book?

Click on the Instagram icon and check out my post about the giveaway on my Accidental Domestic Instagram page @theaccidentaldomestic . (I’ll be posting this Monday morning). I will give you more ways to earn more entries to win this book.

Giveaway ends on Tuesday night midnight Pacific Time. Winner announced Wednesday morning.

Good Luck.

*Update: Our Winner was announced on my Instagram page but you can still get this book here.

What’s On Our Bookshelf:: Winter Edition

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what's on our bookshelf winter

This posts contains affiliate links.

 

Isn’t winter the best time to cozy up with a good book? Our winter weather’s been a little cooky this season. February felt like spring burgeoning on summer. I was wearing flip flops and getting ready to break out my shorts. Thankfully things never went that far. (These legs are no where ready for shorts!)

The end of February and March got much colder and rainier and we’ve been spending more time curled up under blankets, reading on the couch, and listening to rain patter on the roof. So, even though spring is here, I feel like winter is just hanging on.

Here’s what we read this winter:

Jen’s Bookshelf:

Hello Mornings  by Kat Lee

Three little habits everyday to transform your mornings? Yes please! This book was the perfect book to start off the New Year for me. It’s all about making small but consistent changes, forming small but powerful routines that will change your morning first, then change your whole day.  Kat Lee’s writing feels like you are chatting on your couch with your girlfriend over coffee. It’s an easy read but there is so much goodness packed into this book. I highly, highly recommend reading this book.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

First of all, I love Golding’s style of writing. I enjoyed the book as a really good piece of literature. My husband really liked it.  But the book is about a group of young boys, left to govern themselves alone on an island. It didn’t end well and most of the boys turned into little savages. I guess it just wasn’t enjoyable for me to read. Reading about small children acting in such horrible ways (though not all of them turned “savage”) was just disturbing for me. It was a book club book and it lent to really good discussion. Just not my favorite book.

The Bonesetter’s Daughter by Amy Tan

This was our last book club book and one we all enjoyed.

Humble Roots by Hanna Anderson (still reading this one)

Like the Hello Mornings book, this book is changing me. I’m reading a little bit most mornings during my quiet time. This is a short book and an easy read; but it is powerful and deep.

Lily’s Bookshelf (10 years):

Harry Potter The Sorcerer’s Stone (Book 1) by J.K. Rowling

The girl is hooked! We’ve got a serious Harry Potter fan on our hands. She just devoured the first two books. I’m on book 4 myself, The Goblet of Fire. She can’t read beyond what I’ve read and feel comfortable with because I know the end of the series gets pretty dark.

Harry Potter The Chamber of Secrets (Book 2) by J.K. Rowling

I really enjoy the movies. Now that she’s finished book 2, we will watch the movie together. I may look up the recipe for Butter Beer and have that while we watch.

Grandma’s Attic Series  by Arleta Richardson

These are great, godly, character building chapter books for young girls.

Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye  and other books from The Geronimo Stilton Book Series

Henry’s Bookshelf (6 1/2 years):

Bob Books Set 1   

I’ve got a beginning reader!!! (Insert Mama squeal here!!!) The Bob Books are just wonderful to teach reading with.

Scat Cat    by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

I read this book aloud to Henry; but this is a good type of book for those beginning readers.

Octopuses Count to Ten by Ellen Jackson

Jesus Calling Storybook Bible by Sarah Young

Read Alouds

Ramona the Pest  by Beverly Cleary (We are currently reading this one.)

So, number one, I love Beverly Cleary. Number two, my Little H is the boy version of Ramona. The first time I read this I did not have kids. Now, that I have a little “Ramona” and actually a Beezus (that would be my daughter, Lily) this book just means so much more to me. When I read it aloud to my two kiddos during school, it’s like I’m reading about what has happened in our house this week. I just love it. It also helps me to appreciate the workings of the mind of a sweet but strong willed little kindergarten boy.

The Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

This is one we are currently reading as well for our California History cirriculum this year.

Maps  by Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinska

This might be my favorite book I’m sharing today. Not only do my kids love this book, I love this book. It doesn’t feature every country; but it features several countries, each country spread out over two oversized pages. There is so much fun details and interesting facts about each country. The illustrations are excellent. I can’t recommend this book enough.