I'm sad to say that the Spring Reading Thing has come to an end. I was really plowing through the books this time!

Here is my original Spring Reading Thing list. The first six...well, I didn't touch the first four and numbers 5 & 6 are partway finished. But in addition I read the following by Karen Kingsbury:

A Moment of Weakness
A Thousand Tomorrows
A Time to Dance
Divine
Even Now
Waiting for Morning
Where Yesterday Lives
Halfway to Forever

Can you tell I really love her writing? I actually have two of her other books currently being held at the library for me right now!

I also read:

Dispatches from the Edge by Anderson Cooper
The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
Child of Grace - Lori Copeland
A Slender Thread - Tracie Peterson
Ships of Mercy - Don Stephens & Lynda Rutledge
The Church Ladies - Lisa Samson

Katrina, the wonderful soul who organizes these great reading events, suggested answering some questions to sum up our Spring Reading Thing experiences...and so I shall!

What was the best book you read this spring?

I absolutely loved Divine by Karen Kingsbury. I saw it on the reading lists of so many people but thought its subject matter might be too much for me right now. But I am so glad it was available at the library when I was trying to read absolutely everything Karen Kingsbury has ever written. It was beautifully written and I simply could not put it down.

What book could you have done without?

The Secret Life of Becky Miller. It was ok - the story itself was good - but I had a terrible time with her fantasies/daydreams. I got to the point where I was just skipping them all together. I'm not a daydreamer, so I guess I couldn't relate!

I also could have done without Anderson Cooper's book. I absolutely love him but I felt like I had heard most of the stories contained therein either when he was interviewed on Larry King or other shows to promote the book. There was little that was new to me.

Did you try out a new author this spring? If so, which one, and will you be reading that author again?

I actually tried a few. I think I would ready other books by Alice Sebold, Tracie Peterson, and possibly Lori Copeland.

If there were books you didn't finish, tell us why. Did you run out of time? Realize those books weren't worth it?

I think those I planned on but did not finish (first few on my list) just did not appeal to me when it came down to it. I have been struggling through a very stressful time in the last few months, especially the last few weeks, and reading, frankly, is my escape. I read so that the stress will leave me, so that I can think about someone else's life for a time...and the books I chose and read in this time allowed me that.

Did you come across a book or two on other participants' lists that you're planning to add to your own to-be-read pile? Which ones?

I'm looking forwarding to checking out the links to see what others read - I did pick Divine & the Secret Life of Becky Miller from other's lists originally, but I think that's it.

What did you learn -- about anything -- through this challenge? Maybe you learned something about yourself or your reading style, maybe you learned not to pick so many nonfiction books for a challenge, maybe you learned something from a book you read. Whatever it is, share!

I so love to read. I always have, as long as I can remember. But this time I felt strongly that reading was my only escape - and a desperately needed on.

As for what I learned from a book, I learned a great deal about Mercy Ships organization. One of my dear youth who just graduated is leaving in August for a 6 month mission with them and I wanted to learn all I could about it. I am so proud of her and so pleased that she picked such a wonderful organization to journey with. The book is very moving and well worth the read.

What was the best part of the Spring Reading Thing?

I love its mere existence! And Katrina is such a blessing to all of us who love to read - thank you so much for organizing this again!

Would you be interested in participating in another reading challenge this fall?

I wouldn't miss it for the world!







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