Kathleen posted an invitation on my classical home educator's list for a winter reading challenge, and I've decided to join in. Now, for me, this is a courageous step. I am wading in with the big girls, who read fast, read lots, and are a whole lot smarter than me... but here is my humble list...
In the category of needing to finish, and hoping this will help me do it:
Resurrection by Tolstoy. I am listening to this in audio format: it is my folding laundry reading... and so far, is pretty typically Tolstoy, and keeps giving my flashbacks to Dickens' Bleak House.
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett. This was recommended by my son and his friend Josh. It is very funny, and very strange, and quite a change of pace for me.
A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin. I have been reading little chunks of this for a year, but I keep getting interrupted. I NEED to finish it...
Life at the Bottom by Theodore Dalrymple. I read the first 2/3 of this a year ago, and had to set it aside for a while. He writes in an interesting and compelling way about a depressing subject, but it is excellent, and I need to finish off the last few essays.
Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. Almost finished with this one, too.
And in the category of on the near-future list, and hoping to read by the end of February:
Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card. We recently enjoyed the first book in this series as an audio book on a family trip (Ender's Game), and were taken by the sparse style and interesting plot of this science fiction/fantasy book (recommended by ds Ben). So on to the next in the series.
The Writer's Workshop by Gregory L. Roper. I am hoping this newly published ISI book will get me excited about teaching composition next year.
Bonfire of the Humanities by Hanson, Heath and Thornton. To feed my passion for classical education.
That will be a challenging list for me. Here we go!
7 comments:
Great list. I think if you make the statement "typical of Tolstoy" you're pretty smart in my book! I don't read that fast either- my list is quite hopeful on my part.
I've heard of Life at the Bottom I look forward to hear more about it and the others.
LOL Deb! I am not that smart- just recognize drama and heart-break when I see it!
And it's nice to know there's at least one other "hopeful" reader doing this challenege :-)
Great list. After you finish Life at the Bottom, you should read Dalrymple's Our Culture, What's Left of It. It was even better.
And you are too smart! :-)
Hmm, I don't know if I'd call your list humble when it includes Tolstoy--and so casually, at that. :) At any rate, my list is certainly humble AND hopeful. And short. So don't worry.
P.S. I think my husband read and enjoyed the Orson Scott Card books you mentioned. (He's the science fiction fan between us.)
Chris, there is no requirement to post a review, though that's always nice. It is great to post a wrap-up at the end of the challenge, though ;-)!
I have laundry book also. It's great because then I don't mind doing housework so much.
Is Tolstoy reader any good?
My blog: Just Say These Words
Shoshana,
Yes, the reader is very good, I think. At least I am enjoying it, though there are LONG passages about the legal system abuses, or the prison system abuses, that I must admit I can find myself tuning out on!
www.Christianaudio.com offers a free download each month. Sometimes they are novels, sometimes historical or theological works. This Tolstoy is one of their monthly free items. I have also downloaded The sermons of Jonathan Edwards, Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton, and The Life of David Brainerd by Jonathan Edwards. At their site you can sign up to be notified of this monthly free download. You may want to check it out!
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