Recent Reads

There are 3 hugely motivating factors to keep me nursing Clara despite the big commitment it is:

1. It's such a sweet way to bond with my girl. [To many others nursing is awkward and uncomfortable to hear about and see because it involves breasts - and in our society boobs are supposed to be accessories, not God's perfect way of ensuring our children receive the nutrition they need. I do find it very strange that it's okay to see tons of cleavage in the movies because an actress has a low cut top on, but it's considered rude to breastfeed in front of people, even covered up. Makes zero sense to me.] However, despite pressure to switch to bottles, I love cradling her, soothing her when she's scared or unhappy, knowing that I grew her in my body and am still capable of helping her to grow. I get to see her pretty face at it's most relaxed and contented. It's awesome.

2. It's highly recommended for her health. Although the highly nutritious formula we have now is such a gift to so many - those who have a hard time maintaining a supply of milk, children who have lost their mommies or their mommies are sick and unable to nurse them, for those that never have their milk come in - a whole host of people benefit from it, and I love that we have it available! However, it still can't be a 100% perfect substitute for the food our babies are designed to eat. 

3. It's *me* time. Not in the easiest sense, of course, because it's a huge time commitment, it means never being away from her for long, and I can only do so much while nursing, but I can read! And I do. I love, love, love to read, and in the past 5 months I've had the chance to read many books for fun! I can't work on lesson plans with only one hand, I can't write papers for grad school, but I can hold my kindle :)

Here are some books I've read recently that depending on the genres you like to read, you may want to look into. I love just about everything, so it may seem like a weird mix:

 

Lillian's Story by Sally Patricia Gardner is what I consider perfect historical fiction. Lillian, the main character, lives through the 1900s - through the Industrial Revolution, WW1, WW2 and everything before, in between, and after. She's a forthright, no-nonsense, funny woman with a gift for seeing the world the way it is. If you enjoy a fun story loaded with history, you will love this book.

 

Francine Rivers has had me hooked since I read her Mark of the Lion trilogy (which I've re-read several times now. They are FABULOUS. Easily in my top 10 favorites - if you haven't read them, I highly recommend them!). So every time she has a new book come out, I read it immediately and The Atonement Child is her latest. This is a sweet story about generations of pain and ultimately redemption for an entire family. She's such a beautiful Christian writer.

 

Calling all Hunger Games, Lord of the Flies, 1984, etc. fans - here is another perfect society gone wrong. Veronica Roth paints a picture of a perfect society divided up according to primary values, but of course it's not really perfect. Lots of action and a few fun twists. A little too much teen-romance for my particular taste, but still an overall enjoyable read! Looking forward to the 3rd one coming out in about a year.

 

Another perfect society gone wrong! (I can't help myself :). I actually went into this trilogy expecting to not to love it - and while I don't love it, I did certainly enjoy it. This society has every thing down to a science (not an art!). They know how to keep people in perfect health, how they should dress, what job would suit them best, and even who they should marry - it's all a matter of statistics after all. Unfortunately, one simple glitch starts Cassia on a journey to discover just how unable the society is to know everything little thing after all. Not as action packed, but a little romance, and science thrown in. Bonus - all 3 are already out so I didn't have to wait to find out what happens next!!

 

This was such a fun book to read!! Classic Robin Hood turns into .... a woman?! A great twist on a classic tale. I was really bummed when it ended, because of course I want to know what happens next! Not hard to read at all, but not childish either. You'll want to be friends with the characters.

 

Thank you Laura Hillenbrand for writing this book and bringing this story into my life. This writer does her research, and it makes the story so much more compelling. I found myself doing even more research on POWs during WWII - and I may even have my history class read it. So, so, so, so good. If you love history (and even if you don't), you will have a hard time putting this down.

 

The movie is about to come out, but I never like to see a movie before I see the book it's based on. I'm glad I didn't, because this was hilarious! Bryan kept asking me what I was giggling so much for. An awkward teenage boy telling his story in a series of letters - brutally honest. [Warning: sex, drugs, alcohol, homosexuality are all mentioned.] So much fun (not the drugs & sex, but all the other stuff :)!! I think I may reread it over the break :)

I also read 4 or 5 other books, but they were all meh. I don't want to recommend any of them. But if any of the above sound good to you, I would read them all again!!

I'm currently in the middle of the first book of the series Open Minds, and I'm reserving judgement, but I'm having a hard time putting it down. Maybe the net one will clear it up?