Bookish Thoughts for September
September was a glorious book month! I had fun money to spend so, of course, new books were added to my home library. Two of my favorite authors had new releases which I pre-ordered for signed copies. I’m apparently that reader now. I picked up The Giver Quartet after reading the series this month and watching the movie on Netflix. I can see myself reading the books again and passing them along to my boys when they are older. I purchased Mr. Malcom’s List – both the book and the movie. I borrowed the book a few years ago from a friend and enjoyed it. I wanted to read it again before watching the movie.
I’m just a few books away from reaching my updated reading goal for 2022. I’m currently at 194 books. Three of those books I’ve read twice this year, so I will have read to 203 in order to get 200 different books read this calendar. I’m curious what my total for 2022 will end up being! I was telling my husband that I don’t plan to read as intensely after 2022. I would like to re-watch a few TV shows in 2023. He started laughing at me saying no one says “watching more television” is their goal for the future. We all know that if I read less next year, I will still read a lot! No worries there!
Top Picks for September
Fiction: Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child’s Heart to the Beauty of Learning by Sally Clarkson. I appreciate Sally Clarkson as a resource for not only homeschool moms, but also as an inspiration for the spaces we create in our homes and the way we raise wholehearted children. She is full of grace and encouragement. Her words are soul-stirring and bring out the hopeful best in me. This book took a while to read because I started it at the busiest time of my month, but it was worth every page I could sneak in here and there. This is one I’m sure to add to my home collection eventually!
Non-Fiction: Dear Mr. Knightly by Katherine Reay. I read this book last September and gave it 4 stars. I read it again this month and decided to bump it up to 5 stars. It has so many things I love in it! The main character is smart and well-read. She had a rough childhood and found survival in books. There is so much compassion, intrigue, and literary goodness in this book. It rose to the top this month!
I couldn’t pick just one book this month! I’m adding The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber to my top picks this month. Originally, I gave the book 3 stars after the first reading. I was so surprised by the ending that I read the whole book again in the same week to catch elements I missed the first time through. Upon a second reading, I changed my opinion to 4 stars. The end of this book is such a doozy. I’m still reeling! I can’t stop thinking about what comes next in book three of the series!
Book List for September
1 Star = I did not like it. 2 stars = It was okay. 3 stars = I liked it. 4 stars = I really liked it. 5 stars = It was amazing.
Non-Fiction:
- Wild + Free Book Club: 28 Activities to Make Books Come Alive by Ainsley Arment – 4 stars
- Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms by Justin Whitmel Earley – 4 stars
- Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child’s Heart to the Beauty of Learning by Sally Clarkson – 4 stars
- Raising Emotionally Strong Boys: Tools Your Son Can Build On for Life by David Thomas – 4 stars
- Adventuring Together: How to Create Connections and Make Lasting Memories with Your Kids by Greta Eskridge – 4 stars
Non-Fiction:
- How to Kiss Your Best Friend by Jenny Proctor (Sweet Rom-Com) – 3 starrs
- Just One Chance by Jenny Proctor (Sweet Rom-Com) – 3 stars
- Her Last First Date by Jenny Proctor (Sweet Rom-Com) – 3 stars
- The Christmas Letters by Jenny Proctor (Sweet Rom-Com) – 4 stars
- The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (Animal Fiction) – 2 stars
- Maude: A Novel Inspired by the Life of L.M. Montgomery by Melanie J. Fishbane (YA Historical Fiction) – 4 stars
- The Giver by Lois Lowry (YA Sci-Fi) – 3 stars
- Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry (YA Sci-Fi) – 3 stars
- Messenger by Lois Lowry (YA Sci-Fi) – 3 stars
- Son by Lois Lowry (YA Sci-Fi)- 4 stars
- Worthy of Legend by Roseanna M. White (Historical Fiction) – 4 stars
- The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber (YA Fantasy) – 4 stars
- Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay (Literary Fiction) – 5 stars
- Mr. Malcom’s List by Suzanne Allain (Historical Fiction) – 4 stars
- Miss Lattimore’s Letters by Suzanne Allain (Historical Fiction) – 3 stars
Amy Scott's Thoughts 