I always use these reading challenges as an opportunity to “force” myself to get through some non-fiction. Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy non-fiction. I just have trouble actually finishing non-fiction. Challenges give me just the motivation and accountability I need. And so, For Fall Into Reading 2007, I’ll be trying to get through reading and finishing the following non-fiction books:
When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box by John Ortberg. I’m about 1/4 of the way through this. It’s good, but I need to keep going until the end.
The Bible Jesus Read by Philip Yancey. This book has been on our bookshelf for almost two years, and yet I have not so much as cracked open the cover. It’s been highly recommended to me, and I’m looking forward to it.
The Little Red Book of Wisdom by Mark DeMoss. I thoroughly enjoy books with little vignettes, lessons, essays, etc. and this book falls into that category. I received it from a friend and I think I’ll really enjoy the nuggets of wisdom and encouragement that it contains.
The Parent You Want to Be by Les & Leslie Parrott. Though this book isn’t officially out yet, I was able to snag an advance copy through a Zondervan giveaway. Since I’m a parenting-book addict, it looks perfect for me.
A Dash of Style by Noah Lukeman. Confession: I am a geek. A nerd. Whatever you want to call it. But yes, I am planning to read an entire book about punctuation. So there. (Oh and tomorrow, September 24th, is National Punctuation Day. So really, I think I’m being very trendy by reading this book.)
The House that Cleans Itself by Mindy Starns Clark. Sigh. I won’t kid myself into thinking that my house will actually clean itself after I read this book. But I’m always game for tips and tricks that will make housecleaning less tortuous miserable time-consuming, and this book claims to do just that. I’ve enjoyed Clark’s Million Dollar Mystery series and was glad to see that she struggles with keeping a clean house, just like I do.
and was glad to see that she struggles with keeping a clean house, just like I do.And now for the fun stuff: fiction. I breeze right through fiction, reading one book after another, all the time. There’s always a fiction book on my nightstand, and I read it every night before falling asleep. When it comes to reading challenges and fiction, I usually like to mix it up a bit. Instead of being in an all-culinary-mysteries-all-the-time rut, I’ll use a challenge to add in something literary, something classic, something different. This time around, I’m mixing a little of my old stand-by genres with some books that may be a little unusual for me.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. It’s true, I’ve never read this classic. But I will this fall!
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. An award-winning young adult book that I’ve heard good things about. I’m really looking forward to this one.
Finder’s Fee by Alton Gansky. I tend to dip in and out of Christian fiction these days. This will be a “dip in,” with an author who’s new to me.
Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult. I’ve read (and enjoyed) two or three Jodi Picoult books, but not this one. It’s been recommended to me by a few friends, so it made the list.
Sweet Revenge by Diane Mott Davidson. Yes, a light culinary mystery. I can’t help it; I had to include at least one!
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. One of those “modern literary fiction” books that I’ve avoided. While I appreciate books that make me think, I don’t like to come away from a book being horridly depressed or feeling like there was lots of flowery language, but no plot. And that has happened to me more than once with books labeled “literary.” However, I’ve been assured that this one will suck me in and pull me along, so I’m going to give it a shot.
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Plain Truth is GREAT! Kite Runner is so intense…it is a great read… I love your list! I am going to have to go into more detail on my list…just not tonight
YEAH! I have not heard of half of those books so I will have to look into them and check them out! Thanks so much for hsoting again! Blessings and Happy Reading!
Plain Truth is my favorite Picoult book out of the ones I have read. I just started Kite Runner, so we can compare notes!
I’ve heard good things about the Kite Runner. I’m also curious about the Book Thief…happy reading.
I’m the same with non-fiction. I don’t think I could get through that many non-fiction books in one season. Hope you do! I’ve never read Rebecca either.
I loved the Book Thief. It is really good on audio by the way.
oh i’ve been wanting to read that mindy starns clark book. i loved both her million dollar mysteries and her smart chick mystery series where most of the cleaning tips come from
Katrina I love Mindy Clark Starns too! I have her “House that Cleans Itself” and her other series, “A Smart Chick Mystrey” Rebecca is my all time favorite book. I may have to reread that one. It is really good. thank you again for hosting this, one of my all time favorite things in blogland. Happy weekend to you!
of the books on your list, i’ve read Rebecca, Plain Truth, and The Kite Runner; i think you’re in for some good reading! i love the Diane Mott Davidson books; i’ll have to read Sweet Revenge soon! i’d also like to read The Book Thief; i’ve also heard good things about it. happy reading!
The Yancey book and the House that Cleans itself sound interesting!
Great list! I feel the same way you do about “modern literary fiction”! The Kite Runner is on my “think about reading” list! LOL
Oh, I like this list, Katrina! I’m a little late in the day getting mine up, but I did it! Thank you so much for hosting this again!
Looks like a good list, Katrina. Rebecca is on my master “to-be-read” list but didn’t make the cut for the challenge (although it still might show up later).
I’m especially interested in your thoughts on The Book Thief. I’ve heard completely mixed reviews about it, and it’s gone back and forth between my “I must read it soon list” and “Hmmm–maybe I’ll skip it.” I have a prediction about your thoughts, but whatever you think will definitely tip the scales for me. I hope you like Kite Runner.
You will LOVE John Orberg! At least, I think you will:-) Great list….this is going to be SO MUCH FUN!!!
I think the only way the house is going to clean itself is if it is very computerized.
Plain Truth is an awesome book. Picoult is one of my fave authors. Happy reading!
What I want to know, and this is probably more a reflection of me than other people, is WHEN does everyone fit in time for reading??? Since I started blogging in earnest, I find all my usual quiet time (that I would have filled with reading) spent in blogging. If I’m not blogging, I’m working on other blogs or reading friends’ blogs, or maybe meeting new bloggers. Then you add to it the time needed to spruce up and maintain a blog from the technical side of things. Now that fall is here and BSF has started, I’m back to disciplined Bible study time. We won’t mention summer laziness. I find all of that leaves me a little bit of time for reading (and I read fast) but not enough to plow through books like many on the list seem to do. Please share!!
I hope you enjoy Kite Runner, I really did. And ya know, that punctuation book sounds good to me too! I forgot you’re the culinary mystery lover. I’ll get my list up by tomorrow night.
What a great list, Katrina. You’re going to love Plain Truth. By the way, it was made into a Lifetime movie, too. Kite Runner is on my list, too. You know. The list I’m working on this morning. I’m a day late of course. Good grief. But I’m proud of myself that I’m even able to participate this fall. Last spring was full of wedding plans and next spring will be full of brand new grandbaby. We’ll see how that goes. But I’m defintely on board for this fall! Wow. The participation is wonderful. Can’t wait to start my list from all the recommendations I find here.
The Kite Runner will not disappoint. I avoided it for quite some time, because I had a mistaken idea about it. However, I finally read it and am so glad I did. Yes, it is brutal and heart-wrenching, but also beautiful and hopeful.
WOW!!! What a great great list! I read Rebecca for the first time this summer, and it was amazing. Amazing amazing– I loved it, and could not believe I had not read it before. Kite Runner is on my list as well– my mental list– after being a Spring Reading Thing dropout, I’m not sure I am ready for a public list.
Thanks Katrina, This happens every time. I select 8-10 books from my huge TBR pile, and hope I’ll make some headway. Then I read other’s Challenge posts, and start adding to my wishlist. I think I’m doomed to surrender my space to books. But who’s complaining. I love books. I chose two from your list to add to my Amazon.com wishlist. So, I’m hoping for that gift card! The two books are “The Little Red Book of Wisdom” and “A Dash of Style”. Thanks for a great start to fall! I can’t wait to dive in. ~TaunaLen
“The house that cleans itself”…..well if that title doesn’t grab my attention, I don’t know what would!!!
The Kite Runner is on my list as well. I read his second novel in the spring and loved it.
Thanks for hosting again! I love the reading challenge and have been looking forward to this. I’ll also be looking forward to your reviews of the parenting book and the house cleaning book!!
You do such a good job reading nonfiction, I have to make myself do it. But I’m so intrigued by the one, The House that Cleans itself, I so actually want that!
Love your list!
GREAT list!! The Kite Runner is one of my all-time faves–and probablyfave of the last several years. Daphne is one of my classic faves!
I finally got my list up, or rather, part of it. I’ve been trying to get my readers from the Summer Reading Thing I hosted to come over here for your fall challenge. Several of them say they’re coming. Hope they do. Thanks again for doing this.
This is the first I’ve heard the term “culinary mystery”. How fun!! I’ll definitely be looking into one of those. Thanks for the tip!
Leave a Comment
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September 23, 2007 at 1:58 am
I’ve got to watch some ALABAMA football!
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September 23, 2007 at 2:03 am
Tiany
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com
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September 23, 2007 at 2:09 am
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September 23, 2007 at 3:01 am
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September 23, 2007 at 3:08 am
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September 23, 2007 at 3:43 am
Not that it’s not good any other way, it’s just that it adds a little something extra to the story. Anyway, hope you enjoy!
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September 23, 2007 at 3:54 am
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September 23, 2007 at 4:06 am
Susan
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September 23, 2007 at 7:56 am
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September 23, 2007 at 1:04 pm
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September 23, 2007 at 4:56 pm
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September 23, 2007 at 11:41 pm
And “A house that cleans itself”? I may just have to add that one to my list! LOL
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September 24, 2007 at 12:45 am
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September 24, 2007 at 2:47 am
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September 24, 2007 at 3:17 am
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September 24, 2007 at 5:17 am
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September 24, 2007 at 5:46 am
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September 24, 2007 at 8:31 am
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September 24, 2007 at 11:39 am
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September 24, 2007 at 12:41 pm
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September 24, 2007 at 2:46 pm
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September 24, 2007 at 3:45 pm
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September 24, 2007 at 4:01 pm
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September 24, 2007 at 4:32 pm
Sounds like an interesting read! Also I just bought my first Jodi Picoult book and am looking forward to reading it. Thanks for hosting this Katrina!
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September 24, 2007 at 4:52 pm
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September 24, 2007 at 9:05 pm
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September 24, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Haven’t read anything by Picoult but put My Sisters Keeper on my list and picked up The Kite Runner in the library last week but put it back, now I’m seeing it on lots of lists! Can’t wait to hear how it is!
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September 25, 2007 at 2:53 pm
I love Rebecca by De Maurier, it’s one of my favorites. I can’t wait to read your thoughts on the book.
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September 25, 2007 at 4:57 pm
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September 25, 2007 at 11:38 pm
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October 9, 2007 at 7:02 pm
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