Summer Reading

Here's what my view has looked like for a good portion of this week:

I was sitting behind the computer at the church library, getting more books entered into our electronic system, and out on the shelves for a few hours each day.

I have always loved the atmosphere of a library. It's just so peaceful when it's quiet and filled with so many books! As I was sitting there working on things, it obviously put me in the mood to read. Just last night, I spent hours and hours reading. And even though I have three books at home I wanted to read, I couldn't help but check out one book for myself at the library, too.

In honor of the library opening and my passion for reading, today I thought I'd make a list of all the books I hope to read this summer.

1. Here Burns my Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs

This book took forever to get into. I've literally been reading it since March. By about page 200, I was finally interested, and since then, I haven't been able to put it down. It's a historical fiction novel set in Edinburgh, Scotland in the mid 1700s. I won't give too much away, but it is based upon the Old Testament story of Ruth and Naomi. I plan to finish it today!

2. Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge

I read "Wild at Heart" by John Eldredge last winter when I found it for $1 in a thrift store. It was great, and helped me see into the male psyche. When I was unloading books from boxes yesterday at the library, I came across this gem. I knew I had to check it out, because I had heard so many great things about it! I believe it's about women and embracing our femininity.

3. So Long, Insecurity by Beth Moore

I decided to read this book because when it came out, the Christian blogger community was just abuzz about it. I can't wait to read my first Beth Moore book, and I know it's going to be amazing.

4. Something Blue by Emily Griffin
I read "Something Borrowed" this winter, and couldn't put it down. I knew I had to read the sequel, "Something Blue!"

5-9: The rest of the books in the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling (from The Prisoner of Azkaban on)
I've been planning to read these for years, and just haven't gotten around to it. So I'm making it a priority this summer! I want to finish before the last movie comes out.

10. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
I found this book at a thrift store for $.50. I had heard great things about it, and obviously couldn't pass it up at that price! I bought it in January, but I'm glad I finally have time to read it now that school's out.

11. The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory
This Philippa Gregory story comes chronologically next in line after "The Other Boleyn Girl." I read both "The Constant Princess" and "The Other Boleyn Girl" about two years ago, and LOVED THEM! TOBG is now my favorite book of all time. I found "The Boleyn Inheritance" at Goodwill for a couple dollars (are you seeing a theme here? I don't buy books at full price :-P) and it's just been sitting on my bookshelf for months! I can't wait to read it :-)

12. The Shack by William P. Young
I read half of this book awhile ago, and I'm not sure why I never finished it! I tend to be ADD with my reading, and I read more than one book at a time, so most likely I got too caught up reading something else and never finished it. It's such an interesting story, and really makes you think. So I definitely need to see how it ends!

That's 12 books...one for each week. It remains to be seen whether or not I can read that many books! But with all my free time, It's possible.

Oh, and there are a few more books I'd love to read again if I get the chance:
I watched the trailer for Breaking Dawn: Part I and got sooo excited, I just HAD to read the whole series again. It comes out in November, I believe, so maybe I'll have time to read them in the fall.

What's on your summer reading list?