But the stomach knows best and calls you up. You feel a bit dizzy when standing upright. The shock of coming back into the real world wakes you up too quickly. You left part of yourself behind in between the binding and the covers, in the world of the impossible.
Because it was a reading day. A glorious, adventuring reading day.
Some people may call this madness, others may call it heaven. But really, is there much of a difference? Maybe heaven is a glorious mystery of impossibilities and head-spinning truths waiting for us. Maybe pieces of heaven can be found in a good book (most of all THE good book, the Bible).
I've always loved to read. From fairy tales and American Girl as a little girl to Ella Enchanted and Jane Austen later on, I would spend hours under the blankets with nothing but a book and a peaceful afternoon.But then things changed. I started getting busy. My days filled with school, ballet, family, and more. I started spending more time writing, thinking, and studying God's Word. As my mind flew from one thing to do to the next, I forgot the feeling of reading. I forgot the joy of being overloaded with words.
I do not call busy-ness bad. I do not want to avoid work or productivity, in fact, I embrace it. Hard work and full schedules are an integral part of the life God's given us to live on earth. And so I do not regret how I abandoned reading for the past couple of years. Well, not a lot. In that time of my life, I needed to learn how to work hard. I needed to learn how to adjust to the new aspects of life, and that took all of my sanity, concentration, and time. I couldn't give as much of it to books.
But I'm ready to come home. I'm ready to lose my mind again to the wonder of words. I'm ready to read again.
Reading may not be the most productive thing to do. Reading may not be the most logical thing to do. But reading is good for my soul. Reading is peace for my mind. And reading is rest for my body. I'm ready.
I've already started this journey home by spending a few afternoons just reading, something that I haven't done in ages. The rain danced outside as I delved into The Help. Quiet filled the room full of sleeping campers as I turned many pages. Everyone sat around the living room Sunday afternoon as I picked up Winter to read a chapter or two.
Or the whole book.
Because, it's Winter. fdskalfsjlfnlksdnflksajfsdlkf. (Please comment if you understand my excitement in the form of attacking a keyboard.)
These afternoons refreshed me more than I understood. They reminded me of who I am and how much I've changed from that little girl under the covers with a book. These changes aren't bad but are for God's glory! But I'm still Hannah. I'm still the girl who read all of the Nancy Drew books the library owned. I'm still the girl who had to go the bookstore on the second week of her summer trip because she ran out of books. I'm still the girl who writes her own stories. I'm still that girl, even if my use of time has changed and my place in life is different and always changing.
Hello, book world. I've missed you. But I'm coming home.
With all of that said, I NEED BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS!!!!!! Right now I'm reading The Help and some nonfiction books (a post about my newfound love for nonfiction coming soon). Next up is Anne of Green Gables, but after that... THE POSSIBILITIES!!!!
I'd like to say that I'm not picky, but that's not true. I love all kinds of books, but my moods like to swing around and pick random things. Therefore, I ask for ALL of the favorites. Fantasy. Mystery. Historical. Christian. Contemporary. I'd love to read something kinda quirky and unique. Obviously, good writing is key. Once I learned how to write my own book, my standards became much higher.
Anyways, I know that y'all will bombard me with a plethora of fantabulous books, and so I send my thanks you way. Comment books (obs), but also if you have struggled with finding time to read. How do you enjoy a good book even in the midst of a busy life? I really could use all of the suggestions.
(Also, check out my newest Odyssey post: To the Reader Too Busy to Read!)
Thanks bunches, and God's grace be with you,
Princess Hannah
I have a couple---
ReplyDeletethere's the wingfeather saga by Andrew peterson (super good) and of melanie dickerson's books (oh my goodness amazing) and Lynn austins books are super good. I really liked Hidden places. Song of albion trilogy by Stephen lawhead......
and if you want more there's always goodreads!!!!!!
//hannah
furiouseverafters.blogspot.com
Oh oh oh. Forgot these. This quiet sky and To get to you by Joanne Bischof. This quiet sky is in my top ten favs. One is historical and the other contemp
DeleteI CAN'T WAIT TO CHECK THEM ALLLL OUT!!!! They sounds super duper! Thanks bunches!
DeleteI don't know whether you have read these, but I'll just shoot, okay? ;)
ReplyDeleteLittle Women by Louisa May Alcott and Little Men
the Horse and His Boy by C.S Lewis
At the Altar by LM Montgomery
Emily of New Moon by LM Montgomery (though this does have a bit of Greek gods nonsense in it)
-Mic
OOOHHHH, great recommendations! I've read Little Women and all of the Narnia books. I don't think I've read the LMM books you listed, though, perhaps Emily of New Moon forever and ever ago. But because Anne is so great, I look forward to putting those on my to-read shelf!
DeleteAt the Altar is a collection of short stories-but it isn't ALL romance, it has some great LM Montgomery humor in it ;)
Delete-Mic
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ReplyDeleteI loved this post, Hannah. In the past year, I haven't read as much as I wished that I could. (Oh look. We're twinning. Again.) But when I was little, all that I ever did was read. And I miss it. Over this summer, I'm going to do a lot more reading!!!
As for book recommendations...
All The Light We Cannot See
Every Soul A Star
The Outsiders
To Kill A Mockingbird
Princess Academy
That's right off the top of my head- I'll have to come back with more!!
p.s. I promise I'm still going to email you;)
DeleteOoh! Secret Letters is a good book!
DeleteGrace, how did I know that you were going to say that? And yass, we should both read more this summer!
DeleteI also knew that you would put All the Light We Cannot See. So many people recommend this book, but my sister says is unnecessarily sad without meaning. So I'm kinda on the fense...
But PRINCESS ACADEMY!!! Shannon Hale was my very favorite growing up (still is one of my favorites). I haven't read the latest Princess Academy book yet, though.
I'm looking forward to that email so much that if today hadn't been so hectic, I would have beat you to it!
And I've been wanting to read Secret Letters for AGES!
Thanks for the comment(s)! You're the sweatest!
Because we literally twin on EVERYTHING. (Except Jane Eyre XD)
DeleteNot going to lie, the ending is pretty sad. But I don't know, for some reason it didn't bother me quite as much..I guess because it was like, realistically sad, if that makes sense? I don't know. It's definitely a beauuuutiful book, though, my goodness. But I would have probably given it a much happier ending had I written it. ;)
I would put that towards the bottom of your TBR list, tbh. XD It wasn't a BAD book by any means, but after the first one being so incredible, it was a bit of a letdown. I guess that it had sequel syndrome haha.
I literally keep meaning to sit down and email you but things keep getting in the way. Agh. I'm going to try to send it tonight! :D
Oh my gosh, Secret Letters is one of my current favorites. It will definitely leave you wanting a sequel, I'll warn you. Still dying for that to be written!
<3 <3 <3
I feel like I'm going to just have to read All the Lights We Cannot See for myself. I'm just so intrigued! I don't mind sad, just meaningless sorrow bothers me.
DeleteI read the second sequel of PA, but I'm glad you told me that about the third one. Come to think of it, my sisters didn't talk about that one too much.
I CAN'T WAIT!!!!
Don't you just hate books that need sequels but never get them???
Ah, I know this feeling. It's so nice to come back to the books, in the middle of busyness.. it's like a breath of fresh air.
ReplyDeleteHow are you enjoying The Help? Let's see, my recommendations would be:
Have a Little Faith
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
The Book That Made Your World
I also second Grace Anne's recommendation of All the Light We Cannot See. It's good. :)
Yes, reading is my time to regroup and relax. It is so crucial, I can hardly fall asleep without reading just a little. But that's what ended up happening, just a little. I'm ready to read A LOT. Or at least however much I can with a still-busy schedule.
DeleteThe Help is really good. After watching and enjoying the movie, I thought I'd give it a try, but I didn't know if I would like it because I've already seen the movie and didn't want to get bored. But I shouldn't have feared. The book goes into much more depth and the voices through the words make it something quite remarkable. It holds a lot of personality!
Those recommendations sound fantabulous! I've actually been wanting to read the Potato Peel Society. My mom says it's fun, and it's high on the to-read list!
I love this!
ReplyDeleteI would definitely recommend the whole Anne of Green Gables series-- they're all great. (Maybe I'm slightly obsessed, but who cares?) xD
Others I'd recommend are the Terrestria Chronicles, the Life of Faith series, and the Song of Acadia series.
ANNE (spelled with an "e" of course) OF GREEN GABLES IS SOOOOO GOOD! It's like my favorite book. And I've (obviously) read the entire series, but it's been a bit since I've read some of the later ones. I didn't really like the last couple, but maybe just because said things happened and Anne wasn't a little girl anymore. But she was always a little girl at heart, which comforts my soul.
DeleteI will check those out! Thanks SO much for the recommendations and the comment!
Ohh! I love giving book recommendations! =)
ReplyDeleteThe Ilyon Chronicles by Jaye L. Knight! They are SO good!
Anything by Janette Oke, but especially The Song of Acadia series
The Wilderking Trilogy by Jonathan Rogers! A childhood favorite!
The Crown and Covenant Series by Douglas Bond!!!
...I would love if you read my novella The Mystery of the Midnight Trespasser... ;)
And there are so many others! =D Lol...have fun reading away, Hannah!!
YOU HAVE A NOVELLA!?!?!?!?!
DeleteHow do I get my hands on such a thing?
And that's for the recommendations!!! You're da best!
You didn't know? LOL. It's on Amazon in Kindle and paperback format. =) It would make me SO happy if you read it!!! =)
DeleteYou are very welcome, Princess Hannah!!! (I just love calling someone a princess...because every daughter of Jesus is one!!)
I'm so glad that you enjoy using the title Princess!
DeleteOH MY SHISH KEBABS I used to read American Girl books when I was younger! I love reading childhood books for nostalgia purposes, but my reading taste was quite eccentric then. I'd read The Chronicles of Narnia in the morning, Harry Potter in the afternoon, and then Pokemon Adventures in the late night. XD Problem was, I had never read Anne of Green Gables then, not until the eighth grade.
ReplyDeleteJane Austen though! I'm hoping to read her books through the summer, as it's part of a reading challenge that is ongoing in my town! I'm super excited for Pride and Prejudice!!!
xoxo Morning
American Girl was life when I was younger! And I read all of those books except for the Pokemon... ANNE OF GREEN GABLES!!!!
DeleteAnd Jane Austin weaves a compelling story. Pride and Prejudice is great! I haven't read Sense and Sensibility yet... maybe soon.
I really don't read much, and when I do, it's usually non-fiction. Like blogging and crafty and productivity type stuff. Haha! I'm such a mom! But I recently did read a fiction book, The Phantom Tollbooth, because my sister got it for me for my birthday, and it was good! It makes you think, for sure. I'd also way recommend The Mysterious Benedict Society series. SO good.
ReplyDelete"I'm such a mom." = :)
DeleteI've never heard of that book, but will check it out! And I love Mysterious Benedict Society! Wouldn't it make a good movie?
The Phantom Tollbooth is really cute! ;)
DeleteMy new favorite is The Great Gatsby. Its an incredible portrait of the 20th century and the writing is absolutely a summer haze. (yes that's a thing! :P) I've been incredibly busy the past 6 months and have fallen into this sad book-lacking schedule as well! In my busy life, I try to make it priority to have Sunday afternoons and evenings free for relaxing. God made Sunday for that reason, and its amazing how ready you feel for a busy Monday! So I try to make sure I take advantage of having that afternoon and read as much as possible. That way I can always look forward to a time when I KNOW I can read even in the midst of a busy week!
ReplyDeleteTHE GREAT GATSBY!!!! The writing is exquisite and the story deeper than I can get from just one reading. I will have to reread that one someday.
DeleteSundays are so beautiful. And I actually really love this idea. Schedule a reading session on Sundays. I will try this.
THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU for the comment and idea!!! Let's enjoy the gift of reading together!
I was going to recommend the Ilyon Chronicles, but it was already stolen, sooo here's the rest of my list. May I be the first to recommend:
ReplyDeleteThe Makilien Trilogy by Molly Evangeline (aka Jaye L. Knight)
The Pirates and Faith series by Molly Evangeline (aka Jaye L. Knight)
The Blades of Acktar by Tricia Mingerink
And that's all . . . for now. ;)
Adding those to the list, thank you very much!!! :)
Delete