The weekly Booking Through Thursday question for today is:

Okay–here was an interesting article by Christopher Schoppa in the Washington Post.

Avid readers know all too well how easy it is to acquire books — it’s the letting go that’s the difficult part. … During the past 20 years, in which books have played a significant role in both my personal and professional lives, I’ve certainly had my fair share of them (and some might say several others’ shares) in my library. Many were read and saved for posterity, others eventually, but still reluctantly, sent back out into the world.

But there is also a category of titles that I’ve clung to for years, as they survived numerous purges, frequent library donations and countless changes of residence. I’ve yet to read them, but am absolutely certain I will. And should. When, I’m not sure, as I’m constantly distracted by the recent, just published and soon to be published works.

So, the question is his: “What tomes are waiting patiently on your shelves?“

I have Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey and a book of Washington Irving’s short stories as well as a biography of Scottish poet Robert Burns that I have not read yet but have had for years. I got them all as good deals, the book on Burns an older used one, the others new. I really would like to get to the Burns’ biography but just don’t usually think of it when I am trolling for reading material. I don’t know if I’ll ever get to Homer’s books. Maybe I’ll skim through them a bit.

I also have a few books that are compilations of family stories that I had thought I would read out loud to the kids, but after we stopped home schooling, we just didn’t read out loud all together any more. I regret that. I have thought about passing them on, but can’t quite let them go yet. Maybe I will some day read them to grandchildren.

I also have several Christian non-fiction books by authors whose other works I have read and enjoyed — Spurgeon and C. S. Lewis, for example — but I just haven’t gotten around to these. Maybe some day…

So many books, so little time!!

I read Sweet Dreams Drive by Robin Lee Hatcher last year, not realizing at first it was the fourth book in a series about residents in a small town in Idaho. But earlier this year all four novellas in the series were released in one book, Home to Hart’s Crossing.

In the first book, Legacy Lane, Angela Hunter had left the town of Hart’s Crossing years before to pursue bigger and better things and to escape her mother’s urgings to come to faith in Christ. But after being passed over for a promotion in her job, she quits and offers to come take care of her mom after surgery. Her mother, Francine, has learned in the intervening years to wait on the Lord’s leading and trust Him to work in hearts all the while earnestly praying for them. So, though Angie approaches the return to her home town with some dread, the Lord has more in store for her than she could have imagined.

In Veteran’s Way, the second book, Jimmy Scott had moved away years before after going into the service. marrying, and raising a family. After his wife’s death he decides to return back to his family’s home in Hart’s Crossing. He unexpectedly crosses paths with his former high school sweetheart, Stephanie, who is also widowed after a 50-years marriage…and a relationship develops from there. They then have to convince their children that they are both in their right minds and in a relationship for all the right reasons. This was convicting to me, with my mother-in-law now living near us: there does come a time when parents are no longer able to make good decisions for themselves, but we wrestle maintaining her dignity and respecting her choices and desires as much as possible. Though Jimmy and Stephanie aren’t to that place yet and are fully functioning adults, seeing their adult children’s reactions through their eyes gave me a glimpse of some of the frustrations “seniors” face.

In Diamond Place, ten-year-old Lyssa Sampson has her heart set on pitching for her Little League team. When her coach doesn’t think she’s quite ready, she begins to think a little match-making between the coach and her mother might help her cause.

And, finally, in Sweet Dreams Drive, Al and Patti Bedford struggle with a lack of sleep caring for infant twins, mounting debt, and communication problems, all of which begin to wear on their marriage. I particularly liked the switching of the point of view between the two in the story which gave a glimpse of how differently the same situation looks from each side. I enjoyed that the resolution wasn’t one-sided, but each one had to change their thinking and focus and take steps to heal their relationship.

Another thing I liked about these books, personally, is that my husband is from Twin Falls, ID, which is mentioned in some of the stories. 🙂 The names of some of the other towns were also familiar to me.

The back of the book says that “Celebrating family, faith, and forgiveness, Home to Hart’s Crossing will warm your heart and soothe your spirit.” I found that to be quite true and really enjoyed these stories.

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(In other news, I have a dreaded dentist’s appointment this afternoon in reference to the problems I’ve been mentioning this week. Actually last night another problem began, a recurring situation from one crown which doesn’t seem to be fitted right. I don’t know if that is the cause of all the other — this tooth wasn’t painful through all of this til last night — or maybe the other set it off. But I hope it can be taken care of quickly and easily. A pharmacist told me once “There’s no pain like tooth pain,” and I think I agree!)

The weekly Booking Through Thursday question for today is actually a series of questions:

What was the last book you bought?

I bought three: The Longing by Beverly Lewis, Sunset by Karen Kingsbury, and Summer Breeze by Catherine Palmer and Gary Chapman. I’ve finished the first one and I am in the middle of the second one.

Name a book you have read MORE than once

Little Women and its sequels, the Little House series, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, Changed Into His Image by Jim Berg, Winning the Inner War by Erwin Lutzer, Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur by Frank Houghton, several of Isobel Kuhn, Rosalind Goforth’s, and Elisabeth Elliot‘s books.

Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it?

The Bible primarily, and other Christian books have enhanced the way I see life, especially missionary biographies.

How do you choose a book? eg. by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews

All of those have influenced my choice of books, cover design probably the least. Cover design may catch my eye if I am browsing in a store, but if the summary doesn’t sound interesting, I won’t get it. But recommendations and reviews often cause me to seek out particular books.

Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction?

Christian fiction and biographies are my favorite genres.

What’s more important in a novel – beautiful writing or a gripping plot?

Seems like we’ve discussed this one before, but if you don’t have a plot you don’t have a story. Yet the writing has to be engaging to some degree or else it doesn’t draw you into the plot.

Most loved/memorable character (character/book)

Oh, so many…Beth and Marmee in Little Women, Jean Val Jean in Les Miserables.

Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment?

My Bible and Daily Light for the Daily Path devotional book.

What was the last book you’ve read, and when was it?

The Longing by Beverly Lewis October 4.

Have you ever given up on a book half way in?

I did with The Tale of Two Cities a couple of times — probably less than halfway in — before I finally completed it. It became one of my favorites and I immediately read it again.