Here’s what I’ve been reading lately:
Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo
Kate DiCamillo perhaps at her very best. And that’s saying something. Exquisite. A few days after I finished, Raymie made the National Book Award shortlist.
Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist
I ended up typing page after page of quotes from this one. I loved the reminder that I am my own boss and the only thing I’m truly responsible for in this world is my own body and soul. I plan to re-read this book next fall.
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport
Cal Newport suggests that most of us are engaged in shallow work — putting out small fires and meaningless wheel-spinning — that keeps us from engaging in the focused, planned-for time that true work really needs. I especially like his suggestion to have a close down ritual at the end of the work day, allowing your mind to recharge because thoughts and tasks have not been left hanging. Compelling stuff.
Presenting Buffalo Bill: The Man Who Invented the Wild West by Candace Fleming
I love that Candace Fleming, who is such a master with children’s non-fiction, was writing a Buffalo Bill book while I was writing mine. We exchanged emails last week about our mutual interest in this larger-than-life man, and what was true in his history and what was not (hint: The topic of my book is almost certainly in the legend category). This would have been invaluable to me while doing my research. Now it’s a darn good story I can dig into and enjoy.
Among the Shadows: Tales from the Darker Side by L. M. Montgomery
Anne Bogel mentioned this book on her blog last month, and I was immediately intrigued. A Maud book I’d never read before! I found it on Amazon for $1.oo and took it with me during my book travels toward the end of last month. I’m a self-proclaimed wimp, so I can soundly say there’s nothing scary here. As a fan of Maud’s journals, I could definitely see parts of her in these stories that she didn’t necessarily reveal in her lighter work.
Jasper and the Riddle of Riley’s Mine by Caroline Starr Rose
I had to include ol’ Jasper here, as I finally got a read through in ARC form. My gosh, I love this book, but even more I love this kid, who from the start was my guide through the tumultuous experience of drafting and tossing, drafting and tossing. Jasper makes it into the world February 7, 2017. To that I say hooray!
Up next: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, because I only have a few more weeks before hitting 43.
What are you reading?
Find more great reads at Modern Mrs. Darcy.
I love Among the Shadows! It’s hard to find slightly-spooky-but-not-scary or graphic books., and these stories fit the bill nicely. Will you watch the new Anne adaptation airing Thanksgiving night? I’ll give it a shot, but the version from the 80’s was pretty deeply ingrained in me as a child. Your Jasper looks great, I’m always looking for books for my boys. We’ll keep an eye out for it in February!
Oh my gosh, thank you for the Anne reminder! I am one of those funny people who has a hard time watching any adaptation of a beloved book. The first movie was wonderful, but even so, I think I’ve seen it once. But last summer I was in PEI with my dear friend, Jamie, and we saw Anne and Gilbert, a play loosely based on the first two Annes. It somehow made me open to other interpretations. So, yes, watching on Thanksgiving with an open mind and heart.
Thanks for considering Jasper for your boys. He’s based on Huck Finn, so expect dialect. My thirteen-year-old is reading it right now. He likes it but has told me I’ve used “ain’t” too much. 😉
I keep trying to read Deep Work and getting distracted – horrible I know. I just got it from the library again and I’m hoping I can get through it.
That’s actually a teeny bit funny, considering the subtitle! The first portion is a bit dry, as I didn’t deeply relate to the stories featured. But once it got into the nitty gritty, it really spoke to me. I’m trying to apply a lot of what I learned there (email / Internet limits, shut-down routine) into my everyday work life.
Present Over Perfect is definitely on my list of books to read!! Thank you for sharing the books you’re reading. I have read some Kate DiCamillo before but haven’t heard of Ramie Nightingale, so I think I’m going to add it to my list too!!
You won’t be disappointed with either. I’d love to hear what you think.
Deep Work and Present Over Perfect have been on my TBR list all fall! I’m happy to hear your good reviews — I need to put those both on hold at my library!
Do it!
Hey Caroline … I love that we both scooped us Present Over Perfect this month … I’m pretty sure that a re-read will unearth even more truths to ponder.
So good to connect with you today via Anne’s place …
I hope so. It feels like a book meant to revisit. So nice to connect with you, too!
What a great list! I’ve heard such good things about Deep Work and have been meaning to check it out. And I hadn’t heard of that L.M. Montgomery book either! It seems like a good find.
I wrote about the books I recently read right here: https://calmlybykimmie.blogspot.com/2016/11/recently-read-november.html
I had no idea the book even existed. It felt like completing something I started a long time ago.
Deep Work sounds like a book I could benefit from: I definitely feel that way right now with my writing and other things that I want to go deeper with but always seem to be just getting by.
I reviewed Present Over Perfect this month, too: wow, I was so taken with this book. I had many dog-eared pages when I was done, wanting to go back and savour some of her insights.
For me, deep work applied to writing means a lot of sitting, thinking, and sometimes fretting. Absolutely there are breakthroughs and “easy” days (glorious days), but not always or even usually. I appreciated what the author had to say about straining to our limits in deep work, that these are the moments we are able to make connections and do significant things (perhaps not big things, but significant things). This aptly describes the writing life, at least in my experience!
I think Raymie Nightingale might be the best book I’ve read this year (so far). It is a masterpiece! The characters, the plot, the setting — all so fully realized!
I also recently read from the library, and then had to purchase my own copy of, “Manage Your Day-to-Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus, and Sharpen Your Creative Mind.” Some great nuggets in there about time management and focus, even for a non-writer like me.
Jasper is next on my list!
Isn’t it spectacular? I listened recently to a podcast with Kate DiCamillo (I think it was The Yarn) that I appreciated post-reading.
Manage Your Day to Day sounds wonderful! Essentialism, which I haven’t yet read but sounds like it falls in line with your book and Deep Work, is next on my non-fiction list.
My younger son is reading Jasper right now and is really enjoying it. High, high praise.
Present over Perfect sounds great, I’ll be adding it to my to-read list!
I hope you enjoy!