What I am Reading

In which I overshare the many ways I fit reading into my life

In an effort to get to know each other better, I am starting a series of weekly posts that aims to share a snippet of the things that I have enjoyed and can’t wait to share with you, dear reader. Things that we would discuss if we were sitting across the table from each other sipping a cup of tea.

As I wean away from my online presence on social media, these are the items that I will miss sharing. However, I feel like they lend themselves to a longer form of writing that just doesn’t have a place in the cacophony that is Instagram and Facebook.

Sometimes I will share photos and other times there will be links. However, everything that I share comes from a place of wanting to inspire and encourage you to live a life of purpose and intention - from the books that you read to the lunch you make for yourself on a busy day.

Let’s encourage and lift up one another in these full lives that we lead day in and day out!

What I am reading…

I read a lot. My kindle and the Libby app work on overdrive to keep up with me. I have found that when I read lighter novels alongside meatier nonfiction and classics that my reading life is more enjoyable. Consequently, I pick up a book more often than my phone.

The last week of Advent I like to read a more easy to read novel set at Christmastime, something that feels a bit like a RomCom or ChickLit. This last week I read The Wishing Bridge by Viola Shipman. It is a delightful, chaste romance set in an idyllic town in Michigan (that really exists!).

Last year when my youngest was sick, diagnosed, and treated for a Lymphatic Malformation, I stumbled upon Viola Shipman’s Christmas novels. Reading both The Secret of Snow and A Wish for Winter while holding and nursing my struggling babe. They were the escape that I needed during an extremely challenging season.

This week I began reading Home Education by Charlotte Mason with Leah Boden’s Modern Miss Mason Collective Community. This will be my first time Charlotte Mason’s volumes from beginning to end. Years ago, I was part of a small online group of home educators who were reading portions of the Volumes, but we didn't make it to the end. I asked for the Living Book Press physical books (with the flower covers) as well as the audiobooks for Christmas. I have been listening in 10 minute increments and then making an effort to write down my reflections.

On my way to write today I began listening to the audiobook of Pride and Prejudice, which is a re-read for me. It is the current Mama Book Club selection for Sarah Mackenzie’s Read Aloud Revival Premium Community. When I read P&P for the first time, I remember feeling overwhelmed with the language and slow nature of the story. However, after digging into several classics since then, I have found that the story is much more enjoyable this time around. I plan to listen to the audible narration performed by Rosamund Pike as well as read a physical copy of the book. Switching between the two as it suits my needs.

If you struggle to read and follow classic literature, like I did, I recommend buying the audiobook and kindle version of the book with Whispersynk. A lot of classics are available this way at a reasonable price through Amazon/Audible.

I listen while I do things around the house (or drive) and then read on my Kindle during nap time or before bed. The audiobook and ebook will automatically sync with each other so that whenever you open the app, whether Kindle or Audible, you are in exactly the place that you left off. You can do the same thing with a physical book and an audiobook, which is what I did when I read Little Women for the first time and what I plan to do with P&P this time around. I own several beautiful copies of classic literature and am more motivated to pick them up to read because they are beautiful.

This method works exceptionally well as a means to learn to read classic literature, as you do not have to do all of the heavy lifting yourself, the skillful narrator is helping you along. Think of it as interval training for your mind. Learning to pay better attention to the slower pace of the story. I have been known to speed up the audiobook narration to 1.2x, which drives my teenager crazy, but helps to get through the book in a more manageable amount of time. I also recommend watching the movie or, even better, the BBC mini-series prior to reading classic literature. It makes the story come alive and helps you to make it through some of the longer descriptive passages that are a hallmark of classic literature.

What are you reading this week? I would love to know!