It's Monday! (10/12/15)

It's Monday! is sponsored by Sheila at Book Journey.

 

 

Last week, I finished The Story of My Life by Helen Keller. I read only the autobiography, not the letters, etc. included in the book. I was kind of let down. I expected it to be more inspiring than it was. More complete thoughts later.

 

Killing Reagan is not what I was expecting. I've read several books on Reagan, including his memoir, An American Life, but O'Reilly presents a very different Reagan than the one I knew. It was disappointing.

 

I was not disappointed, however, with 180 More. This is one of the best poetry books I read this year.

 

 

 

This week, I'll finish:

 

 

Finding Atticus, oh my dear heaven. I don't know how it will end, but so far it's been quite a ride. It constantly undoes me and builds me back up. This might end up in my year's top ten. It's that good.

 



I've started:

 

 

Last week I began one of the oldest TBR books on my shelves, Lynne Truss's Eats, Shoots & Leaves. I'm not very far in yet, but I'm enjoying the feeling of solidarity of another picky-about-punctuation person. And it's kind of funny--in a very British-y way. 

 

Last night, I started How Eskimos Keep Their Babies Warm. I love parenting books and books about other cultures, and it seems like ages since I've read either one. This book has been on my TBR for so long, so I'm happy to have begun.

 

 Whatcha reading?

It's Monday! (10/5/15)

It's Monday! is sponsored by Sheila at Book Journey.

 

 

Last week, I finished reading:

 

 

There was a bit more neurosurgery than I'd expected, but the whole book was fascinating. In my humble opinion, it should be required reading in high school.

 

 

This week, I'll continue with 180 More and Following Atticus (on audio):

 

 

I don't want either of them to end.

 

 

My main book going into the week is Helen Keller's The Story of My Life. My copy includes letters and other misc. appendices, but I think I'll only read the autobiography since that's really the part I'm interested in.

 

 

And then I'll pick up:

 

Which finally came in the mail this weekend!

 

 

October 2015 Reading List

 

 

This month's reading list:

 

Finish up two from last month: Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story and 180 More (poems). I'd planned to read Following Atticus this month, but when I found it on audio at the library, I decided to listen to it instead. So far it has surpassed my expectations.

 

Two new books: Bill O'Reilly's Killing Reagan and Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic. Both are auto-buy authors for me, and I'm really excited about both of these.

 

And the theme of October is "Clean Up the TBR," so I chose Eats, Shoots, & Leaves (a book that's been on my TBR list perhaps longer than any other), How Eskimos Keep Their Babies Warm, Anne Lamott's Small Victories, and Helen Keller's The Story of My Life.

 

Plus, one re-read: The Reading Promise. A comfort read.

 

I tried to choose books that aren't too heavy in subject matter and that offer the potential to uplift my spirit. I could definitely go for a month of that.

 

Read anything good lately? Leave a comment.

September 2015 Recap

 

Looking back, I see that this month's reading was all over the place. I finished three audiobooks, two memoirs by authors, and an eclectic mix of "other." My favorite book was The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, followed by Voracious. I really enjoyed Tony Danza's I Want to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had, but frankly, was a little disappointed with everything else.

 

I was on track to finish 11 or 12 books this month, but I really haven't felt much like reading this past week. I'm sort of on autopilot, which makes doing much of anything difficult. I know the desire to read will come back in time, though.

 

I've included one-word reactions, per usual. 

 

 

Perfect

 

Friendly

 

Unimpressive

 

Cranky

Intimate

Strange

Lackluster

Quiet

Thought-provoking

 

And one I didn't finish:

 

 

 

I'll be sharing my October reading list tomorrow. I'm still putting the finishing touches on it.

With sadness...

 

It is with great sadness that I share with you all that on Wednesday, September 23, my father, Ray Allan Becker, passed away. He had been dealing with the effects of Parkinson's disease my whole adult life, and he spent his final years in a nursing home.

While the past few days have been difficult, they have not been unbearable. I've had my moments, and I'm not sleeping very well, but for the most part, I am doing fine. I strived for the past many years to see my father as his Father saw him, and with the knowledge of spiritual eternity, I feel a great peace.

I'm blessed with a very supportive husband and daughter-in-law. And my grandson has been sure to give me extra hugs and asked to attend the funeral with us.

I've been helping my mother with arrangements, which is a blessing in that it keeps one busy. Things have gone smoothly, and my mother is doing very well. After all the years of caring for my father, then visiting him in the nursing home, I think she feels a measure of relief now.

The visitation and funeral will be held Monday, and I plan to share some favorite memories during the service, if my poise holds out.



About my dad...

Dad grew up on a farm, the youngest of four. After high school, he spent four years in the Navy as a radarman aboard the Destroyer USS Farragut.

 

In 1967, he married my mother, Lois Hoagenson, whom he dated during his service. When my oldest brother, Bradley, was two months old, Dad and Mom took over my grandparents' farm. My brother Reggie and I were born thereafter. Shortly before I turned one, Dad lost his right hand in a farming accident, and during my childhood he wore a prosthetic hook.

Dad always called me Carrie Beth.

My folks sold the farm in the early 1990s and rented the farmhouse for another ten years until they move to a nearby town in 2001.

Dad was a quiet, humble, good man with a wonderful sense of humor. He loved sports, music, and westerns. He chewed Doublemint gum, always order the fish, and loved dessert. He was always active in his church, loved spending time with extended family, and spun a good yarn.

Dad was of the generation of fathers who had a hard time expressing his feelings, but I know he was proud of me and that he loved me without reservation. He is with me every moment of my life, and I'm proud to be his little girl.

Our family's last picture: Bradley, me, Reggie, Mom & Dad. Nov. 2013.

 

Welcome Autumn!

 

 

Top Ten Tuesday (Fall 2015 TBR)

Link up with your own list here: The Broke and the Bookish.

 

This week, the ladies at The Broke and the Bookish are asking:

What are the Top Ten Books on Your Fall TBR?

 

My fall TBR pile is stacked with some exciting things:

 

 

I'll read pretty much anything by Elizabeth Gilbert, but, Big Magic, a book about creativity seems especially exciting.

 

Golden Age is the third and final installment in Jane Smiley's Last Hundred Years series.

 

 

I'm ready for another installment of Humans of New York, and this one features the stories behind the pictures.

 

I've been patiently awaiting Killing Reagan, the next in the Killing... series by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard.

 

 

What's autumn without a book about football? The Last Season is about a father and son's last football season together.

 

 

Two books are coming out within days of each other (Oct. 1 & 6) about Rosemary Kennedy, the Kennedy sister who was institutionalized by the Kennedy family.

 

 

I adore Ruth Reichl, and I'm beyond excited for her new memoir/cookbook, My Kitchen Year.

 

I really enjoy Rick Bragg's writing, and his new collection, My Southern Journey, is a compilation of his writing about the south. 

 

 

Another Pioneer Woman cookbook? Yes, please! The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime is due out mid-October.

 

Lastly, I'm a sucker for a book about the White House, so Under This Roof is on my TBR, too.

 

 

What are you looking forward to reading this fall?