What to read this winter

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My family does a lot of reading. Of course, we devour the Countryside Magazine. But as for books, what do you guys read? My favorite authors are Orson Scott Card and Neil Gaiman. My DH loves Anne McCaffrey books. And we'll both read just about anything we can get our hands on. My 11 year old daughter enjoys books about mythical creatures (dragons, unicorns, etc.) and of course, Animorphs, and R.L. Stine books. I'm steering her towards more grown up books. She recently read Call of the Wild, and Where the Red Fern Grows, and loved them both. Any suggestions? I'm a FIRM believer in buying used books! Used books stores, thrift stores, and garage sales are my favorite places to find books. What about you?

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), October 04, 2001

Answers

Some of our favorite authors are Harold Bell Wright, Gene Stratton Porter, and G.A. Henty. My husband and two oldest sons always like ...Clancy, can't think of his full name at the moment (he wrote Hunt for Red October). Not a large list of particular authors we like but a HUGE list of titles of books we have read and enjoyed. Right now I am reading aloud the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder to our youngest son because he does not remember the first reading we had with the two older boys when they were young. We like to read biographies and historical fiction. I read mostly non-fiction these days - homeschooling and homesteading related magazazines and books.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), October 04, 2001.

For the kids how about Nancy drew or Hardy Boys, also the Box Car children books are good. Seems like kids like things that continue on and on. I'm the same way when I read a good book I don't want it to end. My daughter said once that she wished there was a book that never ended!! I like to read money saving books, and humor is my favorite. I love Becky Freeman, Erma Bombeck and many others. I like to read older books, seems like they have a better style of writing.

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), October 04, 2001.

O I love the Little House books. I had the whole set as a kid but only still have 3 or 4. Have you seen the picture books based on them? Really nice. My son got one at the library and we read it over and over. I think thats where my desire for the country life began..with Laura, Mary, and young Almanzo in those first few books as a child. DH is a fantasy/sci-fi guy and I'll read just about anything. I loved to Kill A Mockingbird..maybe your kids would like that one too if its not too old for them in subject matter. We were reading a Fantasy series by George Martin this past summer from the library and it was SO good. Never wanted it to end and yet we can't find the last book!! So frustrating.

-- Alison in N.S. (aproteau@istar.ca), October 04, 2001.

I love to read!! Sometimes gets me in trouble because I hate to stop reading and do my chores. I read anything, especially of a historical nature. Just finished reading Charlie and The Chocolate Factory with the little boys (9 & 7). We are on school break starting tomorrow, so we have to find a new book to read. My oldest (13) is reading Tolkien and loves CS Lewis, also. Besides Nancy Drew, I think anything by Madeline L'Engle is great. We try to read fiction and non-fiction so the boys will learn to enjoy reading anything. (Right now we are reading about Mummies!!). Also good for parent and child is a series of Amish books by Carrie Bender. It is fiction, but does a great job portraying their faith and family life. These are available from Harold Press, website www.mph.org..

-- Ivy in NW AR (balch84@cox-internet.com), October 04, 2001.

Little House series again and the scriptures-always. =)

-- Jennifer (none@none.com), October 04, 2001.


We recently received an almost new set of Anne of Green Gables, which we are going through, reading 2 chapters aloud at a time. Historical fiction and biographies are our number one favorite, also animal stories such as those written by Meindert deJong and Jim Kielgaard (sp?). The little house series got me started on homesteading as well; I still refer to them occasionally for ideas. We find some of the best books at the library, although taking them back is sometimes hard. I don't have a lot of time for shopping around, but we have found some good picks at Goodwill. The best thrift stores are those near military bases or in the ritzy section of town. For younger readers, I second the boxcar Children, especially the first 19 books which were written by the original author (she allowed the children to grow up more than the later authors). Also the Beezus and Ramona books by Beverly Cleary. Other favorite authors for children are Patricia M. St. John, Carol Ryrie Brink, and Lois Lenski. I like my children to read "older" books also, but some of the "younger" books are classics that they never seem to grow out of.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), October 05, 2001.

I usually read a couple of Jane Austen's books a year as she is my favourite author for fiction. Pride and Predjudice is the absolute best. This is interspersed by The cat in the hat comes back (5th time this week) and sleeping beauty ( everyday for the last three weeks). I also managed to get two of JD's books recently and I am trying to get through them as quick as I can.

God bless

Alison

-- Alison Homa (alisonhoma@aol.com), October 05, 2001.


For those of you that like to read pioneer novels: A Latern In Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich is so good. Other books by her too, These books were written in the early 1900's and are hard to find but not out of print. The Foxfire books are great too. Can't learn too much Homestead stuff.

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony@countrylife.net), October 05, 2001.

I forgot to mention earlier that one of our favorite series was written by Ralph Moody about his life growing up. They begin with "Little Britches". Boys will especially like them. His parents had such good character and adults will enjoy the books too. A word of warning though - I read them outloud to our children as occasionally there will be a "swear" word in them.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), October 05, 2001.

For the kiddies, I highly recommend the book by ? George, named "My Side of the Mountain." "Far Side of the Mountain", same author (can't for the life of me remember the first name), but it's a classic.

"Earth Abides" by George R. Stewart is another really good book, really spiritual and started my on questioning my perspective of life, for the better.

For adults, I like Bill Bryson's books. He is extremely funny (and profane) and writes of his many travels. The latest one is on Australia; don't you miss this one, it is extremely informative and hilarious. Backwoods Homes Anthologies, like Countryside, keep me motivated and learning new tricks for homesteading. Other than older Homesteading books, (Scott and Helen Nearing, ? Robinson, J. D. Berlanger, Tobe, Langer, etc.) that is the short list.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), October 05, 2001.



Anne Rice, Stephen King, and Thomas Harris are my favorites though I read almost any fiction. Husband reads all science fiction. Son loves the Dune series, which I got for 10 bucks on Ebay, all of Tolkein and of course him and his friends are closet Harry Potter fans, they are to young for the books (17) but love the story anyway. Son and I both read Michael Crichton, oldest daughter is of the trash novel set and Danielle Steele, middle daughter now in college, much the brightest of the bunch hates to read! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), October 05, 2001.

Harry Potter (1-2-3-4), Artemis Fowl, Where the Fair Winds Blow, Sea Star, How Much For The Planet?, Rebuilding Corporate America, Better Toys For Girls and Boys.

(K)

-- It's OK to be an INDIVIDUAL as long as your JUST like everyone else! (healthwizard@surfbest.net), October 08, 2001.


Duh j.r., maybe the Bryson book might be easier to find with a title? Sorry, the name of the book is something like "In a Sunburned Country".

Another GOOD book my aunt lent me is "Ava's Man", by Rick Bragg. If you are interested in the old time Appalachian ways, this book is definitely for you. It is a story of the author's grandfather and is very well written. I had a hard time putting it down.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), October 10, 2001.


The Far Side of the Mountain and My Side of the Mountain were written by Jean George. My boys read them a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed them. My oldest wants to try living like that himself.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), October 10, 2001.

I've been a voracious reader since childhood. Mostly fiction, until after I was born-again. Then Christian apologetics,( I read, read, and reread CS Lewis' books), teaching, testimonies. Seems like the longer I walk this path the more I realize I still have to learn and grow. Sometimes all I want is the Bible. Rarely do I read poetry. For some reason it just seems like "work"! However, several years ago I came across this quote by Rudyark Kipling that I could not forget: "God gave all men all earth to love. But, since our hearts are small, Ordained for each one spot should prove, Beloved over all." Stef.

-- Stef (sbrogers@csonline.net), October 12, 2001.


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