The folks at 5 Minutes For Books host What’s On Your Nightstand? the fourth Tuesday of each month in which we can share about the books we have been reading and/or plan to read.
May has seemed like an awfully long month! Here’s what has been passing over my nightstand since last time:
Completed:
The New American Standard Bible. No, not the whole Bible in a month. I like reading the Bible through, for various reasons, but on my own timetable as I feel led rather than in a year. I don’t remember when I started this time around, but I just finished reading through the NASB.
With the Word by Warren Wiersbe, again, not just since last month. I used it as my companion through the Bible this last time: it contains a few paragraphs of commentary on every chapter in the Bible. I have not reviewed it, but I quoted from it extensively when I was hosting The Week in Words.
Betrayal by Robin Lee Hatcher, second in the Where the Heart Lives series, reviewed here.
His Ways, Your Walk, focusing on Bible passages written specifically to women, newly published by my friend Lou Ann Keiser, reviewed here.
Comforts From Romans: Celebrating the Gospel One Day at a Time by Elyse Fitzpatrick, reviewed here. Mixed emotions on this one.
The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Tim Keller, more of a booklet, really, at 46 pages. Very good.
My Heart Christ’s Home by Robert Boyd Munger, another small booklet, also good.
Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture by Adam S. McHugh. Just finished it Sunday, hope to have a review up in the next day or two. Review is up here. Mixed emotions with this one, too.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, audiobook. I enjoyed it much more than I did my first time reading the book a few years ago.
Shepherds Abiding, Jan Karon, audiobook.
Currently Reading:
Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O’Dell, selected by Amy at Hope is the Word for Carrie’s Reading to Know Book Club for May. First I forgot about this, then the library didn’t have it, so I’ll be pushing to get this one done.
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas.
The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer along with Cindy at Ordo Amoris who is hosting a read-along book club.
The Greatest Thing in the World by Henry Drummond, a closer look at I Corinthians 13.
Those who know me well know that’s an awful lot of non-fiction for me! I’m aching to get back to stories!
Coming up next:
The English Standard Version of the Bible. I probably won’t mention this month to month.
Through Gates of Splendor, by Elizabeth Elliot, a missionary classic, for Carrie’s Reading to Know Book Club for June, selected by myself.
The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson.
The Duet by Robert Elmer.
Light From Heaven by Jan Karon, last of the Mitford series, via audiobook.
What are you reading?
Stray Thoughts 
Wow! what a busy month of reading you had! I just finished reading my NKJV Bible through. Took a long time but I finished. Now I plan to start the ESV. I still have to finishe Island of the blue dolphins… Hope you have a successful June!
What a great idea to read through different versions of the bible.
I’m finishing up a mystery series I’ve really been reading by Kathy Herman. I really enjoy her books. And I’m just about to start on Jesus the One and Only by Beth Moore.
I like how you’re reading through the Bibke in different versions, Barbara! I always want to read more nonfiction, but I’m a fiction girl, really, so it’s hard.
Island of the Blue Dolphins is a FAST read! I easily polished it off in a day. It moves quickly!
I’ll be looking forward to your thoughts on the Introverts in the Church book!
Wow…lots of reading. I have certainly been enjoying your posts recently, though I rarely comment anymore. You have a discerning eye and wisdom to go with it!
Glad you enjoyed Pride & Prejudice this time around, it’s probably one of my favorite books.
I’m reading a history of birding in America, called OF A FEATHER, and it’s really interesting.
I love MY HEART, CHRIST’S HOME. My husband gave me a copy soon after we started dating, so it’s been special to me for a long time.
The Hidden Art of Homemaking is a classic! A mentor gave me a copy when we first moved overseas, and I took many of the lessons to heart. I could prob use a reread! So glad you mentioned it.
And Through Gates of Splendour is another classic. That book has changed many lives. Have you read it before? It’s great. I’ve heard her speak a few times too and she’s fantastic.
Elizabeth from 5MFB
You know, I have to re-read P&P. I remember reading it as a teen or young ’20 and just not really getting into it. I bet I would now … I loved Gates of Splendour as a young person, I’m sure I’d enjoy that again as well. I want to read your post on reading through the Bible. I’ve done that many times, but I always do seem to bog down in the prophets. I’d love to read your take.
You have many on your list that I’d like to read, especially Bonhoeffer and Introverts in the Church. Great list! Happy reading!
I love your list!! My Heart, Christ’s Home is an old favorite of mine. Our pastor introduced my hubby and I to it when we were engaged. We actually led a small group study on it several years ago that was just fantastic.
Congrats on finishing the NASB. I just finished reading through the HCSB version in the OT and the CEB version in the NT. Took me almost 3 years to do it though. 🙂
I’d like to read The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness. I appreciated your review of Introverts in the Church, especially from a fellow-introvert perspective.
I totally loved Eric Metaxas book on Bonhoeffer. Hope you’re enjoying it.
I really appreciate how you review the books you have “quibbles” with–I have been pretty behind in my blog reading, but just read your reviews of Comforts from Romans and Introverts in the Church and am impressed with how you present both the positive and the negative aspects of the books you read in a way that gives your readers a good idea of whether they would or would not benefit from reading the book.