Linda Book Lady’s November 2022 Reading Report & Diary

Around this time of year I’m looking toward completing my annual reading challenges. I have very specific reading goals for November.

Word of the Month

Bible Verses of the Month

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
– Jeremiah 29:11-13

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 have another blog updated frequently with a to-do list, gratitudes and a reading list: Linda’s Life

My reading list codes:
★ – I’m reading it.
✓ – I finished reading it. Yay!
⇗ – Still reading at the end of the month.
DNF – I did not like it or finish it.
∅ – Stalled – I started but didn’t finish.

My November goals:

1. Reading – I’ll be focusing only on the 2022 Visual Theology Christian Reading Challenge.
2. Art – I’m working in watercolor and acrylic ink with a Christmas season project in mind.

✓ Romantic Suspense: The Moon-Spinners, by Mary Stewart

Cult-classic novel from the early 1960’s. I remember reading this when I was in high school. The only thing I remember is that it was set in Greece, and I enjoyed reading it. I’m involved in a group that is reading all the Mary Stewart romantic suspense novels in the order they were written, and this is the novel for November. We read one each month.

Update: November 10 – I’ve finished my Mary Stewart novel of the month. Great story! Recommended! Here’s my Goodreads review. Five stars.

✓ Biography: Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery, by Eric Metaxas

William Wilberforce! This amazing heroic man is a very-distant relative of mine! I need to read this book.

Update: November 30 – Finished… and what a wonderful book it is… here’s my review. Five stars.

⇗ Christian Memoir: Face to Face with Jesus: A Former Muslim’s Extraordinary Journey to Heaven and Encounter with the God of Love, by Samaa Habib

Reading for the VT Christian Reading Challenge.

✓ Bible Study: The Book of Romans Bible Study Journal, by Darlene Schacht

I’m still planning to finish reading this for VT Reading Challenge prompt #23, “A book about a book of the Bible.” Starting out the month on the last chapter!

Update: November 1 – Will miracles never cease? (Another one of those.) I procrastinated on using this workbook for much of the year. I started it on January 14 and didn’t finish until today. I guess I don’t find the study of Romans to be a page-turner. I had some legendary resistance. Anyhow, great news, I finally finished the workbook. Here’s my Goodreads review. Four stars.

✓ Christian Nonfiction: The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis

This has been on my TBR list for a long time, and now seems like a good time to audio-read it. I also have a paperback version I read while listening.

Update: November 9 – Finally! I finished this convoluted series of letters. They deserve a reread but I don’t think I’ll be doing that. Satire, much! Here’s my Goodreads review. Four stars.

✓ Christian Fiction: The Story Keeper, by Lisa Wingate

This is the second full-length novel in the Carolina Heirlooms series. There were also a couple of novellas. I’ve enjoyed every novel and novella in this series and plan to read the rest.

Update: November 1 I finished audio-reading this on the first of the month. I count them in the month finished. Very interesting story within a story type novel. Here’s my Goodreads review. Five Stars.

✓ Christian Nonfiction: How to Study Your Bible: Discover the Life-Changing Approach to God’s Word, by Kay Arthur, David Arthur, Pete De Lacy

I’m about 2/3 done reading this very detailed book about Bible study. It could be used as a textbook in a Bible college.

Update: November 5 – I honestly did not love reading this book. It was way too detailed on things like literary elements and grammar, even outlining. I knew most of that already but did pick up a few ideas to use. As usual, I’m stunned by Kay Arthur’s ability to think in such detail. I just can’t fit my mind into that box. Here’s my review on Goodreads. Three stars, for being way too tedious a read, for me.

✓ Christian Nonfiction: Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God, by Francis Chan

It is about time for me to read this. I’ve known about it for years.

Update: November 10 – Inspiring! Can’t wait to … do something for Jesus! I think it is the hope of most Christians, to want to have the Lord use us. We may or may not know what purpose He has for us, but He does have a plan. Trust Him! I finished the book today. Here’s my Goodreads review. Four stars. Or five. Maybe four and a half?

✓ Christian Historical Fiction: The Lady’s Mine: A Lighthearted Christian Romance Novel set in the 1870’s California Gold Rush, by Francine Rivers

Excitement! Published in 2022! This is set in 1870’s gold rush California, in a small mining town. I love reading Francine Rivers novels, usually, and this one is advertised as containing humor!

Update: Noveber 14 – I finished this, only four days after I started it. Like most Francine Rivers novels, it is a page turner. Here’s my review. Five stars.

✓ Romance Fiction: Cottage By the Sea, by Debbie Macomber

I have never read a Debbie Macomber novel, and want to try one out. I have an audiobook version.

Update: November 25 – This book was way too much romance (for me) and no Christian content. Here’s my review. – Three stars.

⇗ Memoir: The Shelf Life of Ashes, by Hollis Giammatteo

A memoir about a woman working with the elderly.

⇗ Christian Historical Fiction: Until Leaves Fall in Paris, by Sarah Sundin

I’m audio-reading this. I have to have an audiobook in progress at all times, and Christian fiction works well for that. I listen while doing housework and while I’m painting, and as I’m falling asleep at night.

My November 2022 Reading Diary

November 1 – Staying strong in the love of the Lord! I published this video today:

Currently Reading:

Romans Workbook – chapter 15, just one more chapter to do.
Audio: The Story Keeper, by Lisa Wingate – nearly done with this now
Kindle: nothing, really…
Physical: Amazing Grace, by Eric Metaxas / How to Study Your Bible, by Kay Arthur and others / The Screwtape Letters, by CS Lewis

I finished The Story Keeper in the evening of this day. It is a Christian novel that taught me about Melungeons. Here’s my Goodreads review. Five Stars.

November 2 – Yay! I finished the Romans workbook today. Yay! Again I say, “Yay!” I’m glad to have this done with. It does inspire me to study Romans in other ways as well. Here’s my Goodreads review. Four stars.

I started another audiobook… Crazy Love, by Francis Chan. It is Christian Nonfiction.

November 3 – I’m not going to give up on Crazy Love but I decided it isn’t a good book for bedtime because I really want to be wide awake and taking notes when I listen to it. So I started a different audiobook for bedtime: The Moon-Spinners, by Mary Stewart.

November 5 – I finished the Bible study book. Too tedious for me. Lots of literary details! Here’s my review on Goodreads. Three stars.

November 9 – Yay, I finished reading The Screwtape Letters! I usually love reading epistolary novels, but Screwtape’s thinking was a bit much to take. Here’s my Goodreads review. Four stars.

November 10 – I finished The Moon Spinners at about 1:30am… yes, sitting up late to read a book. Here’s my Goodreads review. Five stars.

Much later in the day – I finished reading Crazy Love today. Great book with inspiration, for Christians. Here’s my Goodreads review. Four stars.

November 12 – I’m starting a re-read of the Bible, and currently am reading about Noah in Genesis 6-9. I’m using as supplementary texts: The Bible From 30,000 Feet by Skip Heitzig, and Adventuring Through the Bible, by Ray Stedman.

Then I saw this today at Twitter:

I volunteer at a charity bookshop. A few weeks ago, I discovered THIS!!!
It’s an extremely rare 1st edition King James Bible (printed 1611-13) ‘She’ Bible, one of only 150 known to exist.
Even better, proceeds of sale will go to charity.#Antiquarian #Books #History pic.twitter.com/LoKLmebDRE

— Oliver Noonday (@Olivernoonday) May 27, 2022

Many thanks to all those who retweeted my link to the auction of the rare King James Bible (1611-13) which I recently unearthed in a pile of donations.
Good news is it SOLD FOR £12,750!!!
Proceeds (after auction fees) will go to charity. pic.twitter.com/0OfbS5EyUh

— Oliver Noonday (@Olivernoonday) November 11, 2022

November 14 – Today I finished my audio-read of The Lady’s Mine – Here’s my review. Five stars.

Current Reads

Hardcover: Amazing Grace by Eric Metaxas
Paperback: Face to Face With Jesus by Samaa Habib
Audiobook: Cottage by the Sea by Debbie Macomber
Kindle: The Shelf Life of Ashes by Hollis Giammattio

November 21 – I’m still reading the above four books… making good progress.

November 22 – A new Booktube video.