What I’m Reading This Week #38

Each week I share books I’m reading for my 2016 Reading Challenge, as well as podcasts I’m listening to and links I love from around the blogosphere.  I love to get recommendations, so please let me know what you are reading!

Due to our 10 Days to a Tidy Home Challenge, I’ve taken a little break from sharing what I’ve been reading.  However, I’m excited to start back up again!

January’s Reading Challenge

This month as a part of our 2016 Reading Challenge, we’ve been reading books that inspire us.  (If you’re stuck, I give recommendations for 16 great books you might enjoy!).  Here are books that I’ve read:

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

The subtitle says it all:  Or, why I spent a year trying to sing in the morning, clean my closets, fight right, read Aristotle, and generally have more fun.  Gretchen Rubin spent a year focusing on habits to improve her overall happiness.  Each month was dedicated to a different area of her life (marriage, work, family, etc.) with specific habits to try to implement (no more nagging, clean out closets, write a novel, etc.).  I found it interesting and inspiring, although I liked her book Happier at Home a bit better.

Two Part Invention: The Story of a Marriage by Madeline L’Engle

I just recently discovered that there is a Madeline L’Engle book I haven’t read yet.  I certainly had to remedy that!  The book tells the story of L’Engle’s marriage, including the death of her husband.  I found the details of her courtship and marriage, of faith and hope and death, to be very thought-provoking.  However, parts of it seemed to drag and included many names of people I didn’t recognize and events that weren’t particularly interesting to me.

Other Books I’ve Read

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

I heard an interview with Ruth Ware on NPR awhile back and immediately put this book on my hold list at the library.  The premise was just too juicy.  A group of bridesmaids and guests go away for a hen party (British version of a bachelorette party) for a weekend.  Murder, false accusations, and suicide follow.  I really enjoyed the thriller/mystery aspect of the book.  However, I could definitely have done without the excessive swearing, the drug use, and sexual references.

French Women Don’t Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano

This book is filled with great recipes, practical advice, and humorous incidents.  Guiliano shares the French perspective on food and fitness–moderation in all–that help French women stay slim without extreme dieting.  I’m excited to try some of the delicious recipes!

Links I Love

Faith

Of Taper-Bearers and Altar Boys  Michelle from Orthodox in the Ozarks shares an insightful post about Liturgy–“the work of the people.”

Free Printable Packet on John 1:1-18  Michelle from The McCullums has an amazing free packet of Scripture memory, spelling, vocabulary, and coloring sheets all based on the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  A wonderful resource!

Family

The Secret to Teaching Your Shy Child to Make Friends  Little Bits of Granola has a helpful post that will give you ideas to encourage your shy child.

25 Winter Boredom Busters  Are your kids bored at home on snow days?  Take a look at these ideas from Frugally Blonde.

Frugal Living

How to Stockpile Diapers  Joyfully Thriving has a super practical post for the mothers of little ones out there.  Find out how to stockpile diapers to save money!

Can I Really Make Money on Etsy?  Have you ever thought about opening up your own Etsy shop?  If you’re a crafter or can make excellent digital products, Stephanie from Six Figures Under shows you how to turn that hobby into some cash.

What are you reading this week?

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