I was happy and lucky enough to be able to stop at the library this morning on my way to work. I returned last months books about 80 percent read, which I consider quite an accomplishment for me. If you question that statement, then you should know that while I am an avid reader, I am actually quite slow at the task (recreation). I am also easily distracted and my life is usually lived in 15 minute increments, having often so many jobs and all. I rarely have a whole hour to sit down and read–not that I can last that long anyway. Even if I’m sitting by the fire reading, I don’t last long because I’m constantly worrying about the fire going out. I really hate failing at the fire. And yet, I continue to pursue this passion and hope to do so with greater intention and peace this year.
Here’s my reading list so far for this month:
- James Merrill’s “The Country of A Thousand Years of Peace and other poems“
- Roethke: Collected Poems
- The Poems of Emily Dickinson as edited by R.W. Franklin
and in keeping with February’s theme of sending and inviting love,
- Jane Austen’s Sandition.
I would like one more non-fiction book, so recommendations are welcome. I greatly enjoyed reading from the desert fathers and mothers last month, so anything in that line of thinking would be great. I need words to create peace and a rooted state of mind.
Naphtalia 
I’m reading “Take this bread” by Sara Miles. Its a wonderful memoir.
“Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” is Barbara Kingsolver’s account of her family’s venture into eating locally for a year. They grow almost everything they eat and find what they can’t grow themselves at farmers’ markets. It’s a joy to read and it has changed my thinking about food forver.
“A Year in Provence,” by Peter Mayle, is the memoir of a husband and wife from the UK spending their first year in Provence, France. The focus is never on a thrilling plot, but rather on people and food and wine. It’s absolutely delightful. I might also add that it is an easy book to read just a couple of pages in and then put back down until tomorrow. Thought you might like that about it.
Thanks! I’m happy to say that I’m looking into these recommendations. I have read portions of “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” in the past. The other two books sound intriguing. My library does not have “Take This Bread” for some reason, but they do have another book by Sara Miles. It’s called “Jesus Freak.” Hm.