September is happening. Summer will be over on September 23, 2022. I’m glad because I’m getting low on gasoline in my van. I decided, when the price of gas went up, to buy only one tank of gas for the entire summer. As of September 1, I still have more than a quarter tank of gas, but I’ll need to buy more soon. Maybe I’ll do the same for autumn. There’s more to the story, but that will do for now.
Word of the Month
Mercy
Bible Verses of the Month
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
– Psalm 23:6
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 with a daily to-do list, gratitudes and a reading list: Linda’s Life
★ – 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 September reading goals:
1. I’ll be focusing only on the 2022 Visual Theology Christian Reading Challenge – I have 23 more books to read for this annual challenge. I’ve come too far to give up now. I’ve read 81 books for this challenge this year. I’ll have to read 5 to 6 books monthly to finish the challenge by the end of the year. I’m still hoping to finish early and have time at the end of the year for my other challenges.
2. This Page – I’m trying something new this month. Instead of listing books I want to read, I’ll only list books I’m currently reading, or that I’ve already finished reading this month.
✓ Travel Memoir: Driving Miss Norma: An Inspirational Story About What Really Matters at the End of Life, by Tim Bauerschmidt and his wife, Ramie Liddle
I’m reading this for VT Reading Challenge prompt #15 – “A book recommended by a family member.” (Recommended by my sister.) I’m reading a paperback copy of the book. As of September 1 I’m on page 37, so I’m still close to the beginning. This is a very interesting nomad book with a twist – a nomadic couple decide to take Tim’s 90-year-old mom along in an RV immediately after her husband dies, and also right after she’s diagnosed with cancer. She would rather travel than have an operation!
Update, Sept. 19, 2022 – I finished reading this book a few days ago. It is the first book I finished reading this month which is a testimony to how disturbed I’ve been by local wildfires and the 2-year anniversary of the forest fire that destroyed my home. PTSD much. Anyhow, the book was fantastic. I enjoyed reading Tim and Ramie’s writing (they alternated chapters) and the story of Miss Norma’s exciting last year of life at the age of 90-91. This is an exciting travel memoir, and it contains a lot of wisdom on eldercare issues. Here’s my review. Five stars.
★ Bible Study: The Book of Romans Bible Study Journal, by Darlene Schacht
I’m reading this for VT Reading Challenge prompt #23, “A book about a book of the Bible.” I’m close to the end of this workbook now.
✓ Classic Fiction: Evelina: Or, the History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World, by Frances Burney
I’m reading this for VT Challenge prompt #31: “A book by Jane Austin or one of her contemporaries.” It is rather long, but was a favorite book that Jane Austen read, and it is an epistolary novel. I really want to read it. I have both the Kindle and audiobook versions of this novel on hand.
Update, Sept. 20, 2022 – I finally finished this audiobook classic. It was published when Jane Austin was only 2 years old, but became one of her favorite books, and was probably foundational in her writing style development. Here’s my review. Four stars. Probably deserves five.
DNF – Nonfiction Education: Battle for the American Mind: Uprooting a Century of Miseducation, by Pete Hegseth
The topic of fixing the educational system in this country is one that has interested me for many years – and I homeschooled my two youngest children for a while because I feel that strongly about educational issues. I know the author is a Fox News personality but I’m not at all certain I’ve ever seen him on TV as I don’t normally watch Fox News, or any other network news channel. I’m pretty particular about what I want to do with my time, and getting all worked up over political issues is not for me at this time in my life. However, I do want to hear about education issues, and I borrowed an audio version of this book from Overdrive. Thank God for Overdrive. I otherwise would not have access to so many books. Oh, and I will fit this into the VT reading challenge. Not sure which prompt yet. I’m currently about 30% of the way through this book.
Update, Sept. 19, 2022 – I had to DNF this book because I didn’t finish, and had to give it back to Overdrive. The first chapter was fantastic and after that he got into details of one type of homeschooling curriculum, Classical Christian… which I like, but since I’m no longer homeschooling, chapter two bored me and I failed to continue listening to the audiobook.
★ Christian Nonfiction: Braving the Thin Places: Celtic Wisdom to Create a Space for Grace, by Julianne Stanz
I’m reading this book for the publisher, via NetGalley. I’m so glad I found it there, as I love learning more about Celtic heritage, especially in relation to Christianity. I don’t yet know how I’ll fit it into my VT Reading Challenge list.
★ Nonfiction: How to Write Like a Writer: A Sharp and Subversive Guide to Ignoring Inhibitions, Inviting Inspiration, and Finding Your True Voice, by Thomas C. Foster
I’m reading this thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. I’m hoping that reading another book about writing will help inspire me to write more.
★ Christian Fiction: The Heart of the Gospel, by Pepper Basham
Wonderful… this is a Goodreads Giveaways gift from the publisher. I’m so excited to be able to read it. This kind of historical fiction is the Christian fiction I love best. It is set in 1919 in a mountain town… not sure which state. Maybe Kentucky or Tennessee? North Carolina? I just don’t know yet. So far, great story. I’ve read most of chapter one.
✓ Christian Nonfiction: Letter to the American Church, by Eric Metaxas
I read this for a challenge prompt, to read a book about the local church. I hope this was local enough. It is a challenging and convicting book. My review. Four stars. (Most people gave it five stars.)
★ Romantic Suspense: My Brother Michael, by Mary Stewart
I’m reading the Mary Stewart novels along with a group on Goodreads. Great fun.
My September 2022 Reading Diary
September 1 – As of eight days from now, it will have been two full years since a wicked forest fire tore through my neighborhood and ate my dwelling. I’m living back on my land now, in a borrowed travel trailer which is a great blessing. A GREAT blessing. I’m happy to be on my land… the land the Lord blessed me with. Hallelujah! (Hallelujah means Praise the Lord.)
Books! I have more than I need in this little travel trailer. I need to box some of them up and put them in the van or in the other trailer.
September 7 – I’ve had a traumatic start to the month. Another town in our county has been decimated by fire. Last month it was the town of Klamath River with a huge forest fire, leaving 4 dead. This month it was the Mill Fire in Weed and Lake Shastina, leaving 2 dead. They just couldn’t get out of their homes fast enough! I am so very sad and sorry, and this is bringing back my own fire trauma and PTSD. Tomorrow is the day… two years since the Slater Fire burned down my home and about 200 others and killed 2 people in our community. I don’t have the right words to express how much I’m exhausted from forest fires and all the damage and destruction they’ve done.
Now, back to reading.
Audio: Evelina, by Frances Burney, originally published in 1778.
Kindle: How to Write Like a Writer, by Thomas C. Foster
Physical: Driving Miss Norma, by her son and his wife – a travel memoir.
September 19 – Finally finished a book this month… Driving Miss Norma – Here’s my review. Five stars. Much appreciated. I read this for the VT Reading Challenge prompt #15, to read a book recommended by a family member.
September 20 – I finally finished audio-reading Evelina. It was long, but I was distracted during this time by fire concerns. Here’s my Goodreads review. Four stars.
September 24 – I finished listening to Eric Metaxas’ new book, Letter to the American Church. My review. Four stars. (Most people gave it five stars.)
Wow~ You’re doing amazing on the reading challenge.
Thanks – I’m 20 books away from finishing – and it seems I’m slowing down………….