For those who are new to the blog, and we have quite a number of new readers (Yay!), every Friday, I like to post Friday’s “Secret” to enjoying life. But today, Friday’s “Secret” is being preempted by this month’s Quick Lit post. I am thrilled, once again, to be linking up with Anne Bogel of Modern Mrs. Darcy to share what I have been reading this month.

Last month was a little sparce. The only books that I completed were the books that I was reading to Buddy Man. Thank you for the suggestions of new story board books for him. Please keep those suggestions coming.

Like last year, I have set a reading goal for 2016. I would like to read 36 books this year, which amounts to 3 books a month or 1 book every 10 days. This, I believe, is doable for me; especially if I can stay off Netflix and Amazon Prime!

I am also participating in the Modern Mrs. Darcy’s 2016 Reading Challenge. There are some very cool categories this year; I am particularly excited about “a book you previously abandoned” and “a book you own but have never read”. You can check out her other categories here.

Read:

• The Round House by Louise Erdrich: So, last month, I really didn’t have many good things to say about this one. It wasn’t one that I picked for myself; it was a book club selection. However, I must say, that my mood about it has changed and it was a very fine book: insightful, thought-provoking, and on a subject matter, the effects of a sexual crime on a family, particularly, the Native American community, that I previously knew nothing about. When I first started the book, I really liked Erdrich choice of words but as I continued, it became harder to follow. I have figured out why. Erdrich does not apply the use of quotation marks so it was very difficult for me to determine when someone was speaking. That was very annoying to me. Yet, as I continued to read, I began to follow the rhythm a lot better and in the end, I am happy that I read this book and was exposed to Louise Erdrich as an author! I especially enjoyed this turn of phrase: “The thought came again, more insistent, and this time I let it in and reviewed it. I thought this idea through to its conclusion. I stood back from my thought. I watched myself think. The end of thinking occurred.”
• The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George: A book about everything to do with books, one of my favorite type of books, this one was written wonderfully. I like to write down thought provoking quotes and beautiful phrases/sentences and this one had so many that it would be impossible to write them all here. So I will have to pick one of my favorites: “Love requires so much courage and so little expectation.”
• 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge and Found Self-Help that Actually Works – A True Story by Dan Harris: I was pleasantly surprised at how open and forthcoming Harris was in this memoir. I picked up the book for two reasons: one, in large part, due to a review by Modern Mrs. Darcy and two, the fact that title was very intriguing to me because the voice in my head is always going non-stop as well. In the book, Harris’ discusses his journey into finding and beginning a mindfulness/meditation practice. While his journalistic background was evident (he used a lot of words I know and love but rarely use in every day life but wish that I did) Harris was authentic and humorous! I read this book on the way to our annual family vacation at the beach while riding in the car with my extended family and laughed out loud so many times my dad kept asking me what was so funny. Definitely a contender for my personal Book of the Year! A quote I need to remember: “Make the present moment your friend rather than your enemy. Because many people [including me] live habitually as if the present moment were an obstacle that they need to overcome in order to get to the next moment.”

Currently Reading:

• Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World by Anthony Doerr: This is very small little memoir by Doerr about the time he and his family spent in Rome writing his Pulitzer Prize winning novel, All the Light We Cannot See. I am not yet a quarter of the way through at the time of writing, but right now I am enjoying his writing style, and his memories of what life is like with a little (and he had two) is parallel to my own right now.
• Kissing Shakespeare by Pamela Mingle: Picked this one up because it is about Shakespeare (duh, right?) and also has time travel too. Not yet into this  enough to form any lasting opinion. And since I don’t want to write another retraction (see last month’s review of The Round House), I will save sharing my opinion for the next Quick Lit.

 Paused Reading:

• Daring Greatly by Brené Brown: Paused this one in December. Will pick back up at some point this year! Still enjoying lighter fare this month.

 As always, don’t forget to stop by the Quick Lit link-up over at Modern Mrs. Darcy and check out other great book recommendations. I am on Goodreads and would love more friends, and again, please keep those story board book recommendations coming for a 15-month-old.

enjoy life…