What with Christmas Break and snow days and Covid cancellations and William’s semester starting midway through the month, I had another fruitful reading month!

The Grey King by Susan Cooper

I continued reading this series that I began re-reading in December. This one won the Newbery Award! I learned how to sort of pronounce Welsh from reading it, which is a plus.

The Girl Who Remembered Snow by Charles Mathes

A quirky mystery with a poignant heart. I had read it years ago but did not remember it at all, so that was fun!

Silver on the Tree by Susan Cooper

Last in the series, which always leaves me melancholy and wishing for more. This one finally brings all the main characters together for an adventure.

Autopsy by Patricia Cornwell

I was a little worried going in, because Cornwell’s books have declined in quality in recent years. I had a couple of problems with this one, chiefly with the way-too-rapid conclusion and neat tying up of loose ends, but over all it was the best one in awhile and hard to put down.

Certain Women by Madeleine L’Engle

I’m a L’Engle fan from way back, and I am always delighted to find something of hers that I have not read. The conceit of this novel–intertwining the story of King David and his wives with a more modern David and his–was pleasing to me since I just finished listening to the Bible in a Year podcast so I could really understand it.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

I read this again because I convinced my book club to read it. They loved it, and so do I. It’s an absolutely delightful book and if you have not read it you should. I cannot explain it without spoiling it so you need to take my word for it.

Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie

I have almost every Agatha Christie book painstakingly collected from used book stores and salvaged in a sooty condition from our fire. For some reason I got a hankering to read one (they are a comfort read for me) and this one is one of my favorites.

The Messiah Comes to Middle Earth by Philip Ryken

I mostly enjoyed this examination of the threefold office of Jesus (Priest, Prophet, and King) as exemplified by various characters in The Lord of the Rings. However, it does rely on a Protestant understanding of some of the theology which feels strange to me since Tolkien was not only a devout Catholic but is on record writing that his book is profoundly Catholic.

The Hermit of Eyton Forest by Ellis Peters

I always squeal with delight when Emily brings one of these home from the library for me. I am sad to report that I am more than halfway finished reading these. I have loved them all.

Saints around the World by Meg Hunter-Kilmer

Every Catholic child should have this book. I wish I’d had it to teach my kids about the saints when they were young. But it is also pretty cool to read as an adult, because it is full of saints I have never heard of, from all over the world, chosen for diversity, and indexed to help readers find ones they can relate to.

The Art of Advent by Jane Williams

This was part of our family’s Advent devotions but since it goes through Epiphany I could not finish it until now. It includes a painting for each day, a reflection, discussion questions, and a prayer, so it is great for a family activity. We loved looking at the paintings but wished the book was larger so we could have seen the details better. This was written by an Anglican so there are a few minor theological differences from a Catholic understanding.

As ever, I am linking up with An Open Book, which you can visit by clicking below.