Finally! My computer had a virus so it has been getting fixed this past week. It has been killing me seeing the book threads but not being able to jump in (I can't post here with my phone.) I have finished my first book of 2014--The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin. I quite liked it and has spurred me on to find other books about and by the Lindbergh's. I am now reading: Mr. Churchill's Secretary by Susan Elia Macneal Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (re-read, I read it when it first came out) Socrates' Café by Christopher Philips

:grouphug: :grouphug: eaglei :grouphug: :grouphug: I am lifting your family up in my prayers.

double post

How horrible for you! I am so sorry. :grouphug: :grouphug:

I am so sorry, Bethany. :grouphug: :grouphug:

I tried to quote the questions from Robin's post but my blasted computer is acting up and won't let me so I will just number the questions. 1) I had a wonderful reading year this year. My best ever. I still didn't read as much as most of you here but I am happy with my number. So far (I am still reading a few) I have read 71. Since we started 52 books in a week I have only made 52 one year so 71 is good for me. 2) My top 5 (okay, 6) are: And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce The Light Between Oceans by M.L.Stedman Astray by Emma Donoghue Desiring the Kingdom by James K.A. Smith A Million Little Ways by Emily P. Freeman 3) I was pleasantly surprised by Hosseini's new book. I expected it to be upsetting and depressing like his previous 2 books--this one was but on a much lesser level. 4) Thrilling--hmmm. I don't know if I have one that I couldn't put down. Hmmm. Maybe Divergent by Victoria Roth. I didn't put this one on my top 5 because the other 2 books in this series were not as good so I feel duped by the author. But I couldn't put the first one down. 6) I thought that I would love the latest Wally Lamb book (I can't remember it's name.) I am a huge Lamb fan so I was really looking forward to it. I just could not get into it. I couldn't even get to page 20. That was discouraging. 7) There were 2 books that made an impact on me this year. 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' is a book that will stay with me for awhile. I loved Harold. Also, 'A Million Little Ways' struck deep with me. I am going through a rough time right now and reading about finding my art is what I need to help smooth out the edges. Robin, I have been doing 52 books since you started this in 2009. My reading habits and choices have changed in the past 5 years--all for the better--and it is because of the accountability that this group has given me. I have read some great books due to the recommendations of those here in this group. Thank you for doing this every week. Your consistency and love of everything books is appreciated. :grouphug:

I actively school all 3 of my kids so my days are full with teaching and preparing. My reading time comes at night when the kids are starting to wind down. I get about 1 or 2 hours of reading time a day. I think I am a fast reader but I don't read as much as many here do. This is the first year that I have read as much as I have (I am on Book 70.) I usually just make it to 52 so this was a big reading year for me.

I finished Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear this week. This was the first of a series and I am looking forward to reading the rest of these books. I am now reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. I am not too far in it but so far I am intrigued.

I can't just do one either Non-fiction: A Million Little Ways by Emily Freeman Desiring the Kingdom by James K. Smith Fiction: The Light Between Oceans by M.L.Stedman And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

Thank you for the birthday wishes, Stacia. Yes, you can read 'And the Mountains Echoed' first. All of Hosseini's books are stand alone. I should say, though, 'Mountain' could be considered depressing but in comparison to Hosseini's other books I didn't find it as bad.

I'm not good with the challenges either and it doesn't matter to me about the header. I don't have any books on my Christmas list but I do ask every year for gift cards to our local bookstore. Not very often do I get them because the people in my life think reading is a waste of time. Although last year (I am rambling here) with my birthday (which is 2 days before Christmas) and Christmas presents, I was given gift cards for the total of $200! I was in literary heaven. That will probably never happen again but I bask in the memory.(ramble over.) I finished 'And The Mountains Echoed' by Khaled Hosseini. I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was better than his other two books and I did like those as well but they were depressing and I didn't find 'Mountains' to be in that way. I am currently reading: Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear Letters to a Young Scientist by Edward O. Wilson Speak Love by Annie Downs The White Company by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

We just finished watching it. I didn't think it was that bad. I knew going into it that it was not going to be on the same level as the movie so I wasn't disappointed. The acting was bad but I thought the singing was pretty good. The guy who played VonTrapp bothered me more than Carrie Underwood.

I had checked out the author's website (thanks for the link, though) and have the next few on hold. I am looking forward to reading these books over Christmas.

I finished 'The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R.King. I loved it and will be reading other Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes books in this series. I am currently reading 'And the Mountains Echoed' by Khaled Hosseini.

We haven't read it yet but it is going to be in the Christmas book basket on Christmas Day. I'm glad that it is getting a positive review here.

:grouphug: Robin :grouphug: I am so sorry. I did the children's list and I have read 68 books. I haven't looked at the English book list...yet. I will look at it later. The kids and I finished The Iliad this week. I am trying to read The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King. I am really enjoying it but for some reason it is taking me forever to get through it.

Well, I can tell you what we are doing; dd reads 2 or 3 chapters of HoAW and then writes a summary of each chapter. She is doing a Great Books study as well but for the most part I am reading those books aloud.

For the most part I do not use teacher's guides. The times that I do use them is when I do not know the subject as well as I need to. I am finding this is happening more now that I have a high school student. But even then I read over the notes and then present the info in a way that seems natural to me. I find that many the info in teacher's guides are more complicated than they need to be (for ex. BJU math.)

My ds would love to have music on in the background while he is doing school but it gives me a headache so we have it on occasionally. When we do, we put on the classical radio station.

What a fun thread! Here is my list: Pretty Woman Princess Bride Becoming Jane Pride and Prejudice Sense and Sensibility Miss Potter Sleepless in Seattle Julie and Julia

My first thought was Tale of Desperaux.

Jane, I am so sorry. :grouphug: I am still reading 'Desiring the Kingdom' by James K.A. Smith, The Iliad (with the kids) and a book on Rosalind Franklin. The kids and I read 'Wonder' by R.J.Palaccio last week--not great writing but great story. I cried in a few spots--my kids were horrified.

I finished Book #52--The Graceling by Kristin Cashore. I didn't get to 52 last year so I am pleased with my reading this year. Graceling is a YA book but one of the better ones that I have read. I am in the process of reading "Desiring the Kingdom" by James K.A. Smith "The Art of Teaching" by Gilbert Highet, and "Rosalind Franklin: the Dark Lady of DNA" by Brenda Maddox.

I came to the boards first about 10 yrs. ago. That is how I learned about the book. Since my stumbling upon the boards, I have read TWTM many, many times. TWTM introduced me to classical education but I have turned to more of a traditional view CE rather than neo-classical.

I don't remember many of the books that I read as a child. The ones that stand out are the Bevely Cleary books and the Little House on the Prairie books. Our top 10 read alouds are: Little Britches Where the Mountain Meets the Moon A Wrinkle Against Time The Giver Number the Stars The BFG Little Princess Winnie the Pooh Understanding Betsy The Hobbit