January Reading

January is one of my favorite months to read.  Maybe it’s because I’ve been too busy to pick up a book in what seems like an age.  The chance to read seems like a gift come January.

Nothing’s better than reading a good book on a cold and stormy afternoon under a warm quilt.

And even if this January has been sadly lacking in stormy afternoons, at least the books have been wonderful.

Here’s what my family is reading:

I’m reading aloud Moon Over Manifest to the kids.

I knew, in the first few paragraphs of the book, that I was going love reading this book.  The book is set mainly in 1936.

The story begins with the young protaganist, Abilene Tucker, on a train, traveling to a small (ficticious) town in Kansas called Manifest.

She is thinking of, and missing, her father.  She describes listening to the stories he would tell of Manifest, a place she’s never been before, “His words drew pictures of brightly painted storefronts and bustling townsfolk.  Hearing Gideon tell about it was like sucking on butterscotch.  Smooth and sweet.  And when he’d go back to not saying much, I’d try recalling what it tasted like.  Maybe that is how I found comfort just then, even with him being so far away. By remembering the flavor of his words.”

Oh my, reading this book is like sucking on butterscotch too.  Smooth and sweet.

We are only 10 chapters in and we all can’t wait to read each night.  The story is not only beautifully written, the characters are colorful, interesting, and complex and the plot is full of mystery and intrigue.

The book on my night table is Battle Cry of Freedom– a nonfiction about the Civil War.  It’s thoroughly fascinating and well written.  And while not a page turning fiction, I am loving this book.

Lily is reading Island of the Blue Dolphins. Which she describes as being really good and really sad.

Emma just finished War Horse. Emma takes after me in loving historical fiction. She loved learning more about World War I and any book with a horse in it… well it was a big hit.

Ben is reading and loving the next installment in the Heroes of Olympus saga, The Son of Neptune. We were so happy at our house that our buddy Percy Jackson and the adventurous kids from Camp Half Blood were back for a new series. This time around we get the twist of learning more about the Roman gods. According to Ben, the new book is “awesome.”

When he is done reading this book, Ben is begging to read the Hunger Games, which neither my husband, nor I have read. I’m a little worried it’s too old for an eleven year old based on the subject matter.  Has anyone read it? If so, what do you think?  I’m pretty sure it’s one of those books we’ll need to read first… but anytime my kids are excited about reading something, it’s hard to say no.  Luckily, so far, my kids have only gotten excited about reading good books.

Are you reading something wonderful?  I’d love to hear.