Fiction Detox

It's been a fun few weeks of fiction detox. I mentioned to my librarian that I was taking a few weeks off of novel reading, and she looked at me with a blankly confused expression and asked, "Why in the world would you do that?" I gave her one of many different possible answers, the short version of which is that it's good for me. It helps me to read more diversely. It gives my brain space to listen to other narratives. And sometimes I learn about things I never would've considered learning about.

I think this has been my most successful run with non-fiction, to be honest. I'm six weeks in this time, and I'm not even dying to read the novel I picked up at the library. I'm excited about it, but I'm also excited to finish my current non-fiction read (Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker, all about sommeliers and totally weird...I'm loving it) and excited for the rest of the non-fiction works I have waiting on my To Be Read list.

A few of my favorites from the last few weeks (not including ones I've already written about):

The Next Right Thing by Emily Freeman. It's been so gentle and thought provoking. It has been a safe place for me to think and dream. The Man actually beat me to reading this, but I've still been a fantastic wife and texted him quotations off and on all week. He loves me. If you are working through a hard decision or just want to be a better decision maker in general, pick this one up.

Driving Hungry: A Memoir by Layne Mosler. A fascinating look into tango, taxis, and travel with food woven skillfully all the way through. I now want to go to Argentina even more and Germany has bumped its way up the list a little farther. Also, I was hungry the whole time I read this book.

Love, Loss, and What We Ate by Padma Lakshmi. Speaking of books that made me want to travel (India--one day!) and eat my weight in food (preferably samosas), Lakshmi's book was an interesting read with beautiful writing. I didn't know anything about her as a celebrity and have never watched Top Chef, but it was fascinating reading about another Third Culture Kid.

The Truth About Style by Stacy London. Another celebrity read, although this time I do have a few memories of watching What Not To Wear in college. I blew threw London's book, enjoying her personal stories as well as those of the women she helped style. More than clothes and body image, she talks about how we as women view ourselves. I especially enjoyed showing my boys the pictures of the outfits she picked out and asking if they wished I dressed more like that. They responded with resounding "NO"s. I too am less than thrilled about animal prints.

Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter. This has been my devotional for the last six weeks. I'm a little past halfway, and it has been so good. I haven't agreed with everything that every writer has said, but each essay has made me think, and all of them have made me pray. I'm grateful to have been reading it these last few weeks and am excited to read more of it in the coming weeks.

Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck. This book starts with a hurricane before Steinbeck sets out in a low budget version of an RV. I loved it. Steinbeck made me laugh and think and learn. It was highly accessible and a fascinating read. Not all of it was easy subject matter, but all of it was worthwhile.

Travels with Charley is sitting on the tray.
Trigger has once again stolen my place.

I did have a couple books that I started and put down before finishing. In both cases, I just got tired of feeling like I was having someone else's ideals shoved down my throat. I like reading authors who can share their differing opinions and ideas, but I don't love when authors assume that their opinions and ideas are the only ones of value...and go out of their way to mock those who disagree with them. Ain't nobody got time for that.

I do also have a few children's books suggestions, if you want to hang in there with me a little longer. First the chapter books:

Geronimo Stilton is not one of my suggestions,
but Bruiser is so terrifying that I deign to read them to the twins
even though they make me want to pull out my eyelashes.
The Geronimo Stilton books, but also sometimes the twins.

The Melendy Quartet by Elizabeth Enright. The kids and I lucked upon an audiobook version of The Saturdays a few weeks ago. We were immediately hooked. We're now starting the last book of the series, and I'm kind of sad that the end is in sight and that it took me thirty two years to discover the Melendy family. Turn of the century New York City and four precocious kids on the loose. Endless entertainment.

Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke. The Bigs took a break from Star Wars and Redwall this week to do some actual book report reading for school. I know, I know, I'm totally rocking this homeschool mom thing. Also, their book "reports" were terribly entertaining, as my version of book reports is more about engaging with the story and less about regurgitating the plot line. Littles read Igraine the Brave for his own pleasure reading a couple weeks ago and managed to talk Tiny into broadening his horizons and trying it out. Though Tiny was initially less than enthused, he couldn't stop giggling as he was writing his book report. I'd call that a win. I'm now hoping to con them into trying my favorite Funke novel, Inkheart.

Detectives in Togas by Henry Winterfield. I read this book when I was about Littles' age and got such a kick out of it. Little Roman boys running around in togas, solving crime and making mischief. What's not to love? Littles loved it too. I'm hoping to track down more of the series for him.

And then the picture books:

Just Like Rube Goldberg by Sarah Aronson. I'm always hoping to track down nonfiction picture books for the kids, and they really enjoyed reading about the man who helped inspire Mouse Trap. I was glad for the kids to see that rarely do we end up where we start out (Goldberg had a degree in engineering before he started drawing comics), but that our time is never wasted (his engineering degree helped inspire many of his silly inventions).

Where is Bear? by Jonathan Bentley. This one is a repeat library selection because it's just so darn cute. Also, there's a twist at the end that makes you feel all fuzzy inside. Kind of like an inside out teddy bear. I can't decide if that simile is creepy or not.

Too Tall Houses by Gianna Marino. Fan.Tas.Tic. Artwork. The facial expressions on the owl and rabbit are too much for me. Mostly because I can imagine what I would look like as an owl. Or a rabbit. Also, when Rabbit loses his mind and yells, "I want to be the tallest!" I had flashbacks to my childhood growing up with a middle sister who didn't love getting passed by her gigantic baby sister. (Sorry, Amanda, but I'm in desperate need of blog comments, and I thought if I called you out in public, you'd take a break from newlywed bliss and leave me a note).

Stars by Mary Lyn Ray and Marla Frazee. I loved this one because it was beautiful and hopeful and multicultural, and all those things make me happy. Also, it's about stars. In case the title didn't clue you in. Also, this face:

The Boy from the Dragon Palace by Margaret Read MacDonald, illustrations by Sachiko Yoshikawa. A hilarious take on being grateful, this book reminds us that our blessings don't always come from the most convenient (or hygienic) places. We all had a good laugh reading this book, but I went away with a little smile hiding in the corner of my mouth, remembering the many good gifts God has given...and many of them thanks to snot-nosed little kids.

Honorable mentions to Eric Carle's Animals Animals and Blue by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

So, what books are on your nightstand? Or being lugged home in library bags? Or being left all over your home by your many children?