Alkelda, thanks for the tip on The Sparrow and sequel. That’s another one I have on my shelf, and it’s good to know I needn’t despair if the ending isn’t to my liking.

Adrienne, vacuuming is SO overrated. Sheesh. Are we keeping a list of rooms vacuumed this year, or books read? Priorities!

BJ, how interesting that the USSR book reminds you of what’s going on in the current administration. And I see parallels in The Once and Future King. Proving once again that there are only a few stories that just keep repeating themselves–whether in fiction or real life.

Dylan, that’s cool that your mom is doing the Eckhart Tolle classes. I’d be really interested in knowing whether you like them, too. I don’t think I would have been ready for them when I was your age, but I think the current generation is already far more advanced in many ways than mine was.

Heather, I’ve never read any of Joanne Harris’ stuff. Where would you suggest I start?

Lady S, that bipolar book sounds really good. I know what you mean–it’s such a relief to find an “issue” book that doesn’t slam you over the head. And I love your point about how lovely it would be to discover Pride and Prejudice for the first time. But it still holds up with each new reading!

Becky, I see you’re still on your mega-reading kick. I love the idea of going all-out Arthurian! But how can anything really compare to T.H. White’s? Maybe I need to expand my horizons.

Shai, glad to see you’re still losing yourself in Pride and Prejudice. That really does insulate you from a lot of nasty stuff in real life.

Katie Sis, is An Earthly Knight about an Arthurian-like knight, or something else?

Lady T, how weird that you’re reading all these forced servitude books, and all dealing with different places and times. I like to read those–they build up a good sense of outrage, and remind me how fortunate I am to have my freedom (and how much work still needs to be done in those places where girls aren’t free. Like the Texas polygamist compound . . .)

Elizabeth, quite a list for one week! All of those sound like so much fun. Don’t you just love kids’ and YA lit? But I agree it’s also nice to feed the brain here and there with some non-fiction. Feels like a nice balance.

Jone, let me know what you think of A New Earth. That first chapter is a little theoretical (and a little slow), but after that it really picks up makes a lot of practical sense. IMO.

Patrick, did you read anything this week besides your mortgage contract? Like maybe some new appliance brochures?

Children of God, sequel to the Sparrow–Mary Doria Russell (pretty good, and necessary after the disturbing ending of the Sparrow)

A Tree Falls at Lunch Period, by Gennifer Choldenko– meh (and I like her other works)

Ordinary Jack, by Helen Cresswell–quite good!

Though after reading this very weighty series I’ll probably read some fluff or trash next . . .

Aw, Robin, you ALWAYS give me HUGS!

I’m reading The Luxe, The 10th Sweep book, The Vampire Lestat, and a sweet fan fiction here…http://psymommy.livejournal.com/

It’s so amazing! lol Then I’m also reading The Diary of Anne Frank, Farenhight 451, and much more… XD

Anyway, for me, I finished The True Meaning of Smekday, finished the last bit of The Foreshadowing, and lost a couple of night’s easy getting-to-sleep to Leslie Connor’s Waiting for Normal, which blew me away. (My daughter has bipolar, so it really hit from both perspectives.) Such an amazing job of breaking your heart for this kid without playing the angst card at all heavily.

Currently reading Rosemary Sutcliff’s Dawn Wind, but the latest Catherine Gilbert Murdock arrived today, so who knows how long I’ll manage to resist that!