March is the month of Booktube readathon madness. There are so many group reading activities, nobody can keep up or do them all. I’ve decided to do none of them. I’m doing my best to just keep up with my own list of reading challenges. I will explain in this reading report.
On Knowing Yourself
How does one really know him/her self? This idea of knowing myself reminds me of the process of sanctification I went through in the early weeks after becoming a Christian in 2013. The Holy Spirit Himself taught me by reminding me of things I’d done that I’d want to pray about. It was an enlightening process, and in some ways, frightful. In other ways it was hopeful. I was given a chance to be forgiven and reborn as a child of God. If you really want to know yourself, become a Christian. Trust in the process and in Jesus Christ. You will see what I mean.
Word of the Month
Sanctification
Bible Verses of the Month
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
100 Day Project
On February 18 I joined with hundreds or thousands of others in doing a 100 Day Project. Everyone gets to choose their own project. My project is to create an ink painting on 8×10 canvas every two days. On the first day I start it and on the second day I finish it and put it aside even if it really needs more work. I can do more on it later after the 100 days are finished.
This month’s illustration is one of those 2-day paintings created with two types of ink. It is also my first-ever attempt at doing a self-portrait. (I know, what took me so long?) I’m hoping that by the end of the 100 days my painting skills will improve. There’s plenty of room for improvement!
This self-portrait doesn’t look much like me, but who is surprised? You can compare with my video. But I tried, and I’ll probably try again. I have ordered three books about portrait painting so I can learn to do it better. More about that below in the book list for this month.
I’m keeping an ongoing record of my progress on another blog. #100dayproject
This month’s reading diary is at the bottom of this page, after the book list.
My Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/lindajm
★ – I’m reading it.
✓ – I finished reading it. Yay!
⇗ – Still reading at the end of the month.
⇓ – I did not like it or finish it.
∅ – Stalled – I started but didn’t finish.
Book Challenges I’m Involved In For 2024
As usual, I started the year thinking I would never get involved, but it hasn’t turned out that way. Here is a list of my current challenges.
1. The Visual Theology Reading Challenge – This year is my third attempt at this challenge. I aced it the first year and didn’t try very hard the second year. There are 104 prompts and I really don’t think I’ll do them all but it doesn’t hurt to try to do a lot of them.
2. The A to Z Challenge – read books with words in the title that start with A to Z. (I’ve already read “The Quiet Zone.”)
3. The USA Roadtrip 2024 – read a book set in each of the US states plus DC.
4. TBR Takedown – I’ve listed 20 books I own that I’d like to read this year. Each month a number will be chosen to tell me which of the books to start next. So far the chosen books are Moms in Prayer (January) and The Miracle Answer Book (February). I’m still reading both of them.
5. Around the World in 1001 Books – Ongoing attempt to read 1001 books from a specific reading list. I can’t list every book I’ve read from a certain country or state because most of them aren’t on the list called Boxall’s 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. This is a multi-year project, very open-ended.
6. Buddy Reads – I’m doing a buddy read of Les Miserables on Goodreads and am planning to participate in a three-way buddy read of the Letters of Van Gogh in May.
Finished Reading This Month
✓ Memoir: An American Childhood, by Annie Dillard
My mother gave me this book years ago and I didn’t read it. Now I’m making up for lost time.
I finished the book on March 30 and it was awesome. I can recommend it. Review
✓ Christian Fiction: A Lasting Impression, by Tamera Alexander
This is my Tennessee book for the USA Roadtrip Reading Adventure.
Finished March 18. What a great story! Five stars. Review
✓ Christian Nonfiction: Life Lessons From James, by Max Lucado
This is a consumable workbook I’m reading and writing in along with a local Bible study group.
I finished my reading and writing in this book on March 12. The group I’m in still has about 1+1/2 chapters to cover, but I’m ready with my answers. Loved the book and the Bible study experience has been wonderful, with a potluck dinner and fellowship. Five stars. Review
✓ Essays: I’d Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life, by Anne Bogel
Purchased in a friend’s bookstore. I’m enjoying the essays.
The essays in this book were cute and enjoyable – good for people who love reading. Three stars. Review
✓ Novellas: A River Runs Through It and Other Stories, by Norman Maclean
This is my Montana book for the USA Roadtrip reading challenge I’m doing.
I am impressed by the quality of Norman Maclean’s writing but some of the subject matter I was not happy with. The fishing scenes were fine. Three stars. Review
✓ History: 1776, by David McCullough
I’ve been reading this for months, just a little at a time. I’m expecting to finish it very soon now.
Awesome book, for anyone who wants to know details of the American Revolutionary War. I think as Americans this book has information we all should be aware of. Five stars. Review
✓ Christian: When to Walk Away, by Gary Thomas
This book is such a blessing!
I’m so glad I read this book. Finished March 3. Five stars. So helpful for Christians! Review
What I’m Reading Now
★ Nonfiction: Paul: A Biography, by N.T. Wright
I’m reading this for the “No Place Like Rome” readathon.
★ Christian Nonfiction: The Miracles Answer Book, by Lee Strobel
This is a short book of questions and answers. He wrote much more in a longer book on the topic of miracles.
★ Christian Fiction: The Heart of the Mountains, by Pepper Basham
This is an absolutely beautiful novel about life in the Appalachian Mountains. Second in a series.
★ Christian Art: Finding Divine Inspiration: Working With the Holy Spirit in Your Creativity, by J.Scott McElroy
I started reading this before the forest fire of 2020. My copy survived the fire. (My home didn’t.) After three years of travel trailer living I’m in a house again and I’m reading this book again. I’m feeling very lucky (and cared for by God) and am getting a lot out of reading this book again.
★ Christian Nonfiction: The Art of Prophesying, by William Perkins
This is a Puritan book about the calling of the ministry.
★ Classic Fiction: Les Misérables, by Victor Hugo
This novel is huge – 1456 pages in the paperback edition. I figure if I read 121 to 122 pages monthly during 2024 I’ll have it finished by the end of the year. Wish me luck. My intention is to read the Kindle version along with the audiobook version. Immersion reading, they call it.
★ Christian Nonfiction: Developing a Vision for Ministry, by Aubrey Malphurs
I’m reading this to learn more about developing ministry ideas and opportunities for women in my local community. I’m not talking about becoming a “minister.” I’m a believer in 1 Timothy 2:12. My aim is to have a ministry that helps others in some specific and tangible way.
★ Christian: Moms in Prayer, by Fern Nichols
One of the best books about prayer that I’ve read so far.
★ Christian: Discovering the Joy of Jesus: A Guide to Philippians, by Stonecroft Ministries
This is another consumable Bible study book. I started it in 2021 with a local women’s Bible study group and I’m finishing it now.
★ Christian Nonfiction: Mere Christianity, by CS Lewis
Reading slowly with a friend who is making videos about the chapters.
★ Christian Nonfiction: Make or Break Your Church in 365 Days: A Daily Guide to Leading Effective Change, by Paul D. Borden
I found this with my books after the new house was built and decided to read it. I have no idea when or from where I got it. It seems to be a time management book for pastors.
The Art Books I’m Planning to Read
★ Art: Portraits: Master the basic theories and techniques of painting portraits in acrylic, by Susan Miller Bradbury
☆ Art: The Art of Drawing & Painting Portraits: Create realistic heads, faces & features in pencil, pastel, watercolor, oil & acrylic, by Chambers, Goldman, Habets, & Richlin
☆ Art: Color Mixing Recipes for Portraits: More than 500 Color Combinations for Skin, Eyes, Lips & Hair, by William F. Powell
After I’ve read these three books and put the ideas into practice I’ll consider taking an online class to help me make more progress with portrait painting skills.
Books I DNF’ed This Month
DNF = Did Not Finish
⇓ Christian Fiction: The Good Dream, by Donna VanLiere
Sorry to say, I DNF’ed this book after a few chapters because there was a horrible mean man talking to a little boy as if he meant to do something sexual to him and I really could not take reading anything like that. I noticed that another Booktuber published a ravingly positive review of this book and I feel sad about DNF’ing Christian fiction. Maybe I’ll pick it up again later but for now, I really didn’t have the heart to listen to a book with child abuse in it.
⇓ Family Story: Rock Bottom Tennessee, by Kimberly Nixon
Since I still need to read a Tennessee book for my 2024 USA Roadtrip reading challenge (after having to DNF the book listed under this one) I chose this story based on family memories.
I had to DNF this book too! There are sexual situations I didn’t want to read about. Sad to think this is someone writing a semi-true story about her own relatives!
∅ Memoir: Heart in the Right Place, by Carolyn Jourdan
This is the memoir of an attorney who worked in Washington DC. When her mother had a heart problem she was forced to go home to Tennessee to help her father, a doctor.
I stopped listening to this audiobook but not because I didn’t like the memoir. It was interesting to me and I wanted to hear more, but the audiobook reader made a full stop and paused at the end of every sentence. I’ve never heard a book read like that before and I didn’t think I could take another eight hours of it. If I ever get a Kindle or paperback copy of the book, I’d be interested in reading it.
My March 2024 Reading Diary
March 1 – Another new month! I hope good things happen for you in March. My plans include the 100 day art project I’m doing, some intense book reading, and a furniture refinishing project.
March 2 – I want to tell you about my new reading corner. I moved into my new house on December 21, right before Christmas. I thought I was going to get a grant for furniture in January, but that didn’t come through for me. Right now I have a few things – a great office space which is my comfort zone… but I didn’t have a comfortable chair to read in. One gets tired of sitting in an office chair to read books, and I don’t read books in bed other than via audio or Kindle. I wanted a cozy reading corner for reading paperback and hardback books.
Well now I have that. I cleaned up one of the blue Adirondack chairs I bought last year for my grandchildren to sit in out in the yard. I washed it carefully and brought it inside and dried it, then covered it with two pillows and a blanket. This chair is so comfortable now! It is like sitting in an recliner without having to spend hundreds of dollars to get one. I put the chair right next to my bed, which is a cot sized bed, not even a twin bed. I have a lamp next to it and was reading there this last evening. So comfortable! I have a clothing bin covered with another pillow for an ottoman.
I have never owned a recliner in my entire life and I’m 71 years old now. I would really love to get an recliner one of these days, but until then I’m perfectly happy in my Adirondack chair with pillows. I feel very blessed. I really believe that the Lord has already given me everything I need – I just need to learn to make good use of the things I’ve already got. I need to improvise and be creative.
I have a table I bought at the Rescue Ranch thrift store in Yreka for 25 dollars. I’ve been unable to get a better dining table. This used table needs to be refinished and I’m determined to start on that project soon. I’m planning to take the old finish off the table top, sand everything, and then paint it dark green with some leftover paint I have out in the shed. That will have to be my dining table until I can get something better. After that I’ll probably move it into the back room for a sewing table.
I have a long TBR list this month but I’m about to finish a few of those books within the next few days. I need to shorten the list of books I’m currently reading!
March 3 – New goal: reduce my “currently reading” list at Goodreads. There are 14 books on the list right now. I really am reading all those books! I need to read fewer books at a time. Some are not getting read enough when others take priority. I finished one book today: When to Walk Away by Gary Thomas (loved it) and have one other very close to the end.
It sure is cold here! When my new home was built I got the newfangled “mini-split” heaters. Usually they are efficient but tonight, not so much. We’ve got snow and lots of it. A nearby town was without electricity for 39 hours! So far we’ve been lucky but the storm hasn’t passed yet.
March 7 – I’ve had a busy week. Most memorable is that the travel trailer I borrowed from the local tribe of Native Americans, and where I lived for three years after the fire, is now gone. It has been returned to the tribe and I am very grateful for their kindness in loaning that to me. Also I made a new video for my Booktube channel.
My art is taking a strange turn… into realistic portrait painting. So strange, considering I thought I couldn’t do it, and considering I mainly painted fantasy scenes before this. #100dayproject #100dayproject2024 My 100 Day Project
March 10 – I made a new video yesterday and it was published this morning:
March 17 – I had a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day both at church and later, in town… where I posted the Breastplate of St. Patrick on a couple local bulletin boards. That’s my celebration for the year. I had to do something, I’m about 30% Irish though I’ve never been there or anywhere else off the North American continent.
March 31 – Resurrection Sunday. (Jesus has my heart.)
Where did the time go? I’ve had a serious lapse in my 100 day project and am restarting today. I’ve been amazed at the improvement of my portrait painting skills over the 24 days I’ve participated so far. I don’t know what busy-work caused my lapse but I do know that to make progress I need to make a concerted effort to carry on.
Late in the month I *finally* created an art table in my day room at the back of the house. It would normally be used as a master bedroom because there’s an ensuite but I wanted this larger room for arts, crafts, and sewing instead. I sleep in the much-smaller second bedroom. Living alone, I can pretty much do what I want here, right? Anyhow, I can’t afford to buy furniture right now so I got a creative idea to solve my problem. I ordered 2 saw horses. I cleaned and painted a door leftover from the recent building project here. And I put 20×30″ foam boards on top to make it flat enough to work on.
Voila! An art making space!
My March Reading Wrap-Up Video
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