This Week’s Book Notes (or, Sarah still finds time to read)

This Week’s Book Notes (or, Sarah still finds time to read) October 6, 2012

It is possible to be insanely busy. I’m okay with that.

It is also possible to be so busy that you have no time to read. I am NOT okay with that.

This week, despite comparing myself more than once to a one-armed paper-hanger (isn’t that such a lovely expression?), I still managed to read a bit. Not much, but a bit.

(We hereby interrupt this for a shameless plug: visit my book’s blog tour and you’ll find the chance to win a Nook tablet. Today it’s being kicked off right here at Patheos by the Anchoress herself.)

Now, on to this week’s book jottings…

The Good Pope and His Great Council: A Biography of Saint John XXIII and Vatican II, by Greg Tobin – Biography, 4 out of 5 stars

I reviewed this over at my place.

I really liked it. My review tells you the rest.

Princess Academy (Princess Academy, #1), by Shannon Hale – YA Fiction, currently reading

This should NOT be taking me THIS LONG to read. Except I’m not picking it up much, and then not until I should be going to bed.

Truly, a delightful story. I’m hoping to finish it this weekend. (Fingers crossed, breath held.)

Seven Glorious Days: A Scientist Retells the Genesis Creation Story, by Karl W. Giberson – Science/Spirituality, currently reading

Though I’m enjoying it, this one is down until I finish Princess Academy…because a girl needs her fiction, and if you can only have one, I’m pickin’ the fiction!

And speaking of fiction…

Ora et Labora et Zombies, by Ryan Charles Trussell – Fiction, currently reading

He made a splash at the Catholic New Media Conference, though I somehow missed it until Julie told me about it.

The concept is this: it’s a story told in letters which are hand-written and mailed.

Dickensonian? Yes. Wonderfully so. It’s so old school, it’s new and fresh and wow.

And then I listened to the first three letters (and you can too, read by one of my very favorite readers ever!) and I was hooked.

I ordered the first packet, and then went so far as to email the author. He offered to mail me the first six letters all together. Which was a.w.e.s.o.m.e.

(He also agreed to an interview. Seems like a nice guy. REALLY wish I had met him in Dallas!)

This morning, to bribe myself into being more productive, I read one of the letters. (#4, as a matter of fact.) I’ve been thinking all day about how I’m going to read the next one as my reward. In fact, it’s right beside my keyboard. It’s all I can do not to read it.

Highly, HIGHLY recommended. The writing is beautiful and the packaging is brilliant.

It reminds me of my excitement about the Harry Potter books when they were coming out. Except sorta better. Cuz it’s a letter. IN THE MAILBOX.

You’ll hear more about these from me. (And everyone else in the Catholic blogosphere, near as I can tell.)

The Imitation of Mary, by Thomas a Kempis – Catholic classics, currently reading

This has been in my Adoration bag for a while, and I’m enjoying it immensely. I haven’t read any Kempis (or do I call him a Kempis?) (and how do I get the little doohickey over the a?) before, and wow. He’s good. Down-to-earth. Makes me love Mary even more.

It’s a small book, 160 pages, but easy to read in short spurts or maybe not for weeks. Sometimes during Adoration I am inspired to write in my journal longer, other times I sit, and lately, I’ve been reading a book of the Bible.

How about you? What have YOU read this week?


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