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Lissa
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Looking for a good read? These are the books
people have recommended so far:
* C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy
* The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander
McCall Smith
• Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris
• Look Back All the Green Valley by Fred Chappell
• Possession by A.S. Byatt
• Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
• The Scarlet Pimpernel
• How Green Is My Valley
• The Egg and I
• Beethoven's Hair
• The Young Liszt
• The Lord of the Rings 
• The World's First Love by Fulton Sheen
• Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne
• Habit of Being, the letters of Flannery O'Connor
• Kristin Lavransdatter and other Sigrid Unset titles
• The Sound of Paper by Julia Cameron
• Witness to Hope by George Weigel (autobio of the
Pope)
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Lissa
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Elizabeth
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Ummm...Lissa, I recommended Across the Puddingstone Dam 
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Lissa
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Lissa
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Leonie
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Oh, I am really enjoying Witness to Hope right now ( the biography of the Pope by George Weigel).
Also The Sound of Paper by Julia Cameron.
Is it all right that my suggestions are non fiction?  It seems to be where I am right now.
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Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School
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Chari
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For Lenten reading:
What Jesus Saw from the Cross by A. G. Sertillanges
from Sophia Institute Press
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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Faith
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I have been discovering light fiction again. My sisers and I formed a book club this year. We did it to stay close because our mother died 4 years ago and she was pretty much the center of the universe. Then our father passed away this past April after we had spent the previous 3 years caring for him in his declining health. So we decided to form a book club and meet once a month for discussion and dinner. Our choices so far have kind of honored our parents. The first book we read was part of the Jane Austen Mystery series by Stephanie Barron. We read the first in the series, The Mystery at Scargrave Manor (I think that is the title). I am a big Austenite and I thought it was very cleverly done. If you are familiar with Austen's books you can enjoy many of the references. Our mother was a big Austen fan, so we thought she'd enjoy it!
We actually aren't going to meet in Feb. because two of my sisters who room together are moving to a new condo and couldn't make it. So our Feb. book has gotten moved to March. We are reading the latest book in the Rumpole of the Bailey series. I made a mistake and bought the first collection so I have been reading those. There was a PBS series based on these books and my father who was a lawyer and judge thoroughly enjoyed it. I can recommend them. Very clever and well written.
Another light fiction series I have enjoyed recently are by Alexander McCall Smith. The first in the series is The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. I have read them all except the most recent The Full Cupboard of Life. That is actually sitting on my side table waiting for me to finish Rumpole!
I really had given up on lighter stuff because so much of it is crass and shallow. I was doing the children's lit. or adult classics only too (and not very many of the latter). So I am finding it refreshing to read light adult stuff.
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MEBarrett
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Thanks for the recommendation of the No 1 Ladies.... I really enjoyed it.
Lately I have also been enjoying an author called Kathryn Lively she writes murder mysteries with Catholic chracters and themes. The two I read, Pithed and Saints Preserve Us were very good if you are a mystery fan.
I also like Nancy Atherton's series about Aunt Dimity. You really have to begin with the first one to know what is going on but they are delightful mysteries. Not murderous or criminal more like pleasant puzzles involving a small village in England.
Enjoy...
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Blessings,
Mary Ellen
Mom to seven beautiful kids
Tales from the Bonny Blue House
O Night Divine
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Leonie
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Mary Ellen,
The Aunt Dimity books are light and fun, aren't they?
I also enjoyed The Sunday Afternoon Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith. I haven't read the Ladies Detective series.
Leonie in Sydney
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MEBarrett
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Leonie:
Aunt Dimity is fun. I just read the most recent one and it was a great way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon. I want to live in Finch! A small country village where you know everyone and the children can run around in the pastures. I love it.
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Blessings,
Mary Ellen
Mom to seven beautiful kids
Tales from the Bonny Blue House
O Night Divine
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Mary G
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A great series -- very light, rainy day reading -- is the Daisy Dalrymple series by Carola Dunn (a Brit who now lives in Eugene Oregon). Her character is a writer in the post WWI England and the stories are relatively clean and wonderful reading.
I've also started re-reading Ralph McInerney's series which are usually subtitled "a Notre Dame mystery" -- his characters are Roger Knight a erudite professor and his sports-fanatic brother Phil (who is a private detective). Many of the books are play on words and lots of puns and just fun reading! Of course, his Fr. Dowlings are good too.
Enjoy!
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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Leonie
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Mary Ellen,
I wish I could live in Finch, too! When I lived rural it wasn't at all like that! lol!
Mary, thank you for reminding me about the Ralph McInerney books - have you read his Noonday Devil. Very intriguing .
Leonie in Sydney
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Chari
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Okay, Ladies, it is time to make a decision for our summer book reads. I have taken over as moderator of this forum ......so, I went perusing the topics........and see that it is time.
I think we should start with an Elizabeth Goudge book. Anyone in favor?
I have a recommendation for any of you who have not yet read Jane Austen's work.......make this an Austen summer!
Some way or another, I missed out on her books......until four years ago.......when I devoured them all. So did my oldest dd. We had such fun trading the books. I am reading a compilation of her short stories, written as a teen. They are SO, SO funny! I am really enjoying them.
I have ordered some of the Jane Austen mysteries recommended earlier in this thread.........the reviews on Amazon were surprisingly favorable.
I have heard only wonderful things about Elizabeth Goudge's books..............and have yet to read one. My oldest read a few and found them quite favorable.
What say you?
Let's plan to read one book mid-May to mid-June.......mid-June to mid-July.....etc........so we can be done before school starts.
God bless your weekends! I have a CCM friend coming for the weekend...  ...can't wait to play with her! 
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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Lissa
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Chari wrote:
| Okay, Ladies, it is time to make a decision for our summer book reads. I have taken over as moderator of this forum ......so, I went perusing the topics........and see that it is time. |
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Yay, Chari! Thanks for accepting the baton! 
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Lissa
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Chari
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oops.....did I accidentally post this on THIS thread?????? Ay! MEANT to post it on the summer book reading thread....let me paste and copy it there.
Anything for you or Elizabeth :),
your humble and obedient servant ,
(Saint Francis de Sales signs many of his letters this way..........I wanna start, too.....to remind me of my place )
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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Rachel May
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I found a recommnedation for Who Gets the Drumstick by Helen Beardsley (the movie Yours, Mine and Ours is loosely based on it) on another thread, but it made sense to post it here too.
I read the first chapter of the Right Stuff this summer and was struck with Helen's experience as the wife of a pilot compared to the ladies of the Right Stuff. Her faith (and her husband's) is so integral to the story. It flows in naturally and elevates the book beyond a fun read to an inspiring one, in my humble opinion.
I got it off Amazon used books, and now my husband is enjoying it too.
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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Kathryn UK
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Faith wrote:
We are reading the latest book in the Rumpole of the Bailey series. I made a mistake and bought the first collection so I have been reading those. There was a PBS series based on these books and my father who was a lawyer and judge thoroughly enjoyed it. I can recommend them. Very clever and well written.
Another light fiction series I have enjoyed recently are by Alexander McCall Smith. The first in the series is The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. I have read them all except the most recent The Full Cupboard of Life. That is actually sitting on my side table waiting for me to finish Rumpole! |
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OK, I'm nine months behind here, but as the thread has resurfaced ... I'll put in another vote for The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency for light reading. I've just started the third book in the series. I haven't read the Rumpole books, but I've been watching re-runs of the TV series recently. Think I'll add the books to my reading list!
I noticed The Egg and I on the list. I don't think I ever read The Egg and I all the way through, but it reminded me that many years (decades!) ago I really enjoyed The Plague and I by the same author (whoever it was!). This one was a humorous account of her time in a TB sanatorium.
Ah! Just looked it up on Amazon. The author is Betty MacDonald, who wrote the Mrs.Piggle-Wiggle books.
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Kathryn
Dh Michael,  Rachel(3/95) Hannah(8/98) Naomi(6/06)  (11/07)
The Bookworm
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fsuadamson
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I don't know if this book has been mentioned yet but if you are need of some good laughs with that quickly approaching "burn-out" time of the home school year then I highly recommend "Please Don't Drink the Holy Water" by Susie Lloyd by Sophia Institute Press.
For the past two weeks I have purposely made myself read only two or three chapters a day which have left me on occassion hysterically laughing!! This author has a fantastic sense of humor!!!
Blessings,
Leslie in Woodstock GA
SAHSM to 5
Commemorating 25 years!!
http://www.ewtn.com
"Please Don't Drink the Holy Water"
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TracyQ
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Leslie,
I got it for Christmas, and can't wait to read it. Now to find the time! I only read the introduction so far, and was laughing hysterically just from that! GREAT book for this time of year with the winter homeschool blahs!
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Blessings and Peace,
Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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Kelly
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Loved the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, too. FWIW, my cousin, who lived in Botswana for five years, said it really really captures the Botswana spirit, warts and all (BTW did anyone know that the quote, "warts and all" came from the historical figure we all love to hate, Oliver Cromwell??? But I digress...)
Another light but literate series to read is the series by Lillian Beckwith, starting with "The Hills is Lonely" Very enjoyable, and funny, about a single lady who moves to a small island community in the Hebrides, I think. Well-written and a good chuckle. Highly recommended.
Faith, I loved the Jane Austen mysteries, too, they ARE clever, aren't they? Your parents would surely have highly approved of all your selections!
Am I the only wierdo on this loop who reads things like "Zorro"? I just finished Isabel Allende's version and loved it, and am now reading the original "Mark of Zorro" and also loving it. Not that they're the books of choice for a ladies summer reading list, but they are both rollicking good reads.
En garde! Kelly in FL
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Kelly
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Oh Kathryn, I missed your post, but had to comment on it once I saw it. I *love* Betty MacDonald's book, "Onions in the Stew", about the author and her husband who move to a beach cottage on Vashon Island off the Pacific Coast, with their two teen daughters. It is a a riot. She's so upbeat, and FUNNY. I read that book when I was in my teens and still remembered portions of it. Re-read it a few years ago and still loved it (which isn't always the case, alas...) A great summer read.
Kelly in FL
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4Real Forums : Book Club
Topic: Our running list of book recommendations
