I’m an introvert nerd.
I am admitting it to you right now. My daughter just said to me the other day, ”I want to be like you when I grow up. You never go anywhere, you are always home, and you don’t stay up late because you always want to read”. Hmmmm……. I guess it should make me feel good that she wants to be like me. She also said I am always home spending time with my family, so that made me feel a little better too! But I am a homebody. I love being home and I love going to bed as early as possible. I would have my pjs on and in bed reading every night at 7:00 if it wasn’t for my poor husband that actual does like to get out and be amongst the world.
I have a word document with all the books I have read, the date I finished the book, and my own little short summery of the book. I keep every book I read and if you ask to borrow one there is a form you have to fill out and a short routine procedure you will have to go though. I usually read what I find at yard sales or thrift stores, but sometimes I do treat myself and buy a brand new book at the bookstore. Buying a book at the bookstore makes me feel like a little kid in a candy store. This is usually how I reward myself if I have reached a goal, accomplished something hard, or if I just feel the need to spend some money!
My goal in January was to read two books a month. Yes if I read as much as I say I do this should be no problem and my list should be much longer. However I am a VERYYYYYYYYY slow reader. I have even looked into taking one of those courses that teaches you how to read faster (not really……. yes I have). I usually fall asleep three pages after I start, so finishing a book does take me some time. This is what I have read since the beginning of the year:
- The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Little Bee, Chris Cleave
- Crank, Ellen Hopkins
- Parched, Heather King
- Fear not tomorrow God is Already there, Ruth Graham
- Me talk Pretty one Day, David Sedaris
- The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
- Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins
- The Mocking Jay, Suzanne Collins
- Half Broke Horses, Jeannette Walls
- 50 Shades of Grey, E. L. James (yes I went there)
- Gift from the Sea, Anne Morrow Lindbergh
- The Perks of Being a Wall Flower, Stephen Chbosky
- Bossy Pants, Tiny Fey
- Seven, Jen Hatmaker (one of my favorites)
- The Light Between Oceans, M.L. Stedman (Splurge at the bookstore and worth every penny)
- The Reader, Bernhard Schlink
- Soul Detox, Groeschel
I love when The Nester takes a photo of “what I am reading now” on Instagram. Here is my “what I am reading now” photo!!!
I am on the hunt for Gone Girl, Unbroken, The Kitchen House, The Book Thief, and Divergent. If you see any of these at a yard sale call me!!!
I’ve talked about my sister in love Beth before. I love her. She is also a I’d rather be at home reading kinda girl. I swear I am going to get t shirts made with that printed on the front. We are going to the beach together just the two of us in a couple of months. Watch out Charleston!!! The two of us together are going to be wild and crazy!! There won’t be a book untouched! In our PJ’s reading and asleep by 8:00 WOO HOO! Any who Beth gave me the BESTTTTTTT gift for Christmas last year. One Story.
(From the website): One Story is a non-profit literary magazine that features one great short story mailed to subscribers every three weeks. Our mission is to save the short story by publishing in a friendly format that allows readers to experience each story as a stand-alone work of art and a simple form of entertainment. One Story is designed to fit into your purse or pocket, and into your life.
For only $21.00 you can receive a little book in the mail every 3 weeks for a year. When I go to the mailbox and see the One story envelope I get all super excited! The stories are great and totally different every time. I am reading all sorts of great pieces that I may have never picked up.
What is your favorite book? What would you recommend I put on my book hunting list!??!! I would loveeeeeeeeee any suggestions!!!
Also the winner of the Mason Jar Painting is…………Dottie!
“Mason jars were part of my educational experience, My mother and my five aunts gathered to harvest and can or freeze the fresh produce from my grandparent’s farm. They made it into a party for themselves, and I found the laughter, the comraderie, the female gossip, and their fun irrisistible. I was constantly hanging around, snooping when necessary, outright joining in if permitted. I learned everything a girl could want to know and probably some things I shouldn’t have known at that age from that crew of wonderful women. So, in addition to the delicious contents of those old mason jars, I got myself some delicious womanly knowledge. I have a few of those old Ball jars in my kitchen and the sight always reminds me of those good times”.
My name is Angela Statzer and I love to incorporate just about anything into my artwork. Ranging from recycled materials, vintage items, wood, jewelry, other people’s junk, buttons and fabric, my style is fun and diverse. You can find me smiling at any yard sale, thrift store or flea market. I am a momma to two amazing kids and wife to one hot husband. 
Blushing and tearing up all day at the tremendous gift of winning the Mason Jar painting. It means so much to me. Thank you….and I am so proud that I will have a beautiful Beth Meadows art piece.
I have just recently found your art and blog and they are like a feast for the eyes and soul. I’m looking forward to a little road trip to visit Sanctuary in Davidson. The website looks like a candy store for art junkies.
Oh so happy for you!!! you will have to email me a picture of where you hang the painting! I hope to buy one soon! Do you live close to Davidson!?!? You have to visit the Sanctuary! It is such an amazing gallery and she only sells things made by local artists!
Congrats and hope you have an awesome weekend!
Angela
I love to read too! I recommend anything by Francine Rivers or Stephen Lawhead. Both are amazing writers. I’m sure I could think of many others. I’ve recently been reading my son’s books – the Ranger’s Apprentice series by John Flanagan – great adventure series for upper elementary and middle school boys.
Thank Jenn!
My son is 6 and loves to lay in bed at night while I read to him. We have been reading the Magic Tree House books, but I will keep these others in mind for later!! I will also check out the authors you mentioned!
Thanks so much and hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Angela
Angela – we are despite the age difference, quite alike. I read. Professionally (I am a book reviewer) as a student (I am taking an online class in Fantasy and Fiction, which requires me to read the assignment in 5 days, write and essay, and then evaluate the essays of 4 other classmates!) AND I read “just because…”
Reading opens new worlds, without ever leaving my cozy home! Looking for some suggestions? Try The ToadhouseTrilogy by Jess Lawry (first book just came out – it is a y/a novel, fantasy, about the mysteries and dangers of reading!
http://www.amazon.com/Toadhouse-Trilogy-Book-One/dp/0615644570/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345773449&sr=1-2&keywords=jess+lourey
As always, I loved your post!
Hugs
Laura
Hi Laura!!
So you read professionally!?!? Can you teach me to read faster!?!? hahahaha Thanks so much for the recommendation! I will check out that Trilogy!
Thanks for sharing!
xoxoxo
Angela
Ha! We could be twins!!!! I SO related to everything you just wrote. Also, I have read 7 of the 18 books that you’ve read this year, and 2 of the 5 books that you are looking for:). My list of books that I’ve read this year is getting long and I will for sure post it in January (I posted mine last January after seeing your list). I would totally buy that t-shirt if you ever get around to whipping some up:). Two of my favorite books from this year are: Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (true story about the history of Chicago) and Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis…oh my goodness, cried through each and every chapter! Makes you want to be a better person…another true story. I’ve really enjoyed your blog…
Hi Tiffany!!
Don’t you think that tshirt would sell like hotcakes!?!?!? Yes I have heard that Kisses from Katie is a greattttttttttttt book. Another one on my list! Thanks for the reminder! Thanks for sharing!
lots of love
Angela
I am such a homebody, too. I am content to stay at home all the time. I love to read but limit myself so I will accomplish other things. Isn’t that crazy? I do need a good read by my nightstand…thanks for the suggestions. I really miss Oprah’s book club and her suggestions to I appreciate yours.
I knew we should be friends in real life!!! Where do you live!?!? IF you want one that you can’t put down, Th Light Between Oceans is one I that I loved!!
xoxox
Angela
p.s. My kids are in school next week, will start fixing up my Etsy site!
We should be friends in real life but online friends will have to do because I live in Wisconsin. It’s so hard to balance all this shop stuff with kids isn’t it? But, I wouldn’t have it any other way!
I’m a homebody too, so if you ever get those t-shirts made, I want one too.
Books I’d definitely recommend, if you haven’t read them already:
The Last Crossing, by Guy Vanderhaeghe
The Birth House, by Ami McKay
Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon
Happy reading – I’ll have to check out some of the ones you mentioned. Thanks for the lovely blog post (and the great blog – I just discovered it!)
I could be best friends with you and all of the lovely commenters. I love , love to stay at home and I love to read. And I love mason jars.
I am making a list of all the books mentioned so I can read those too. Too bad we don’t all live closer together. We would have a great book club.
Love your art too.
Take care.
That is too funny because I have a word document with all the books I’ve read this year, too! I feel better knowing that I’m not the only one, haha! My reading list is very diverse, the last book I read was Atlas Shrugged (before Paul Ryan was picked as the VP nominee, I might add, haha) and I’m now reading Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness.
As I have told you before, I am a major homebody, too. I may even need therapy! Love to read, and that’s a good thing since I am a librarian in an elementary school. I read lots of children’s books especially from the school library K-5th. If you are interested, there is a trilogy called Boston Jane by Jennifer Holm, about a 5th grade reading level that is really good. Many others come to mind, but I think you would like those. For adult books, I also read the book by Jeannette Walls and the one that goes with it, Half-broke Horses, another true story. Have you read This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti? I read it years ago, but it was very memorable. Happy Reading.
So sorry, just realized I told you the wrong book by Jeannette Walls, it was the one you already read, it’s 1:10am, that’s my excuse for the mistake and I am sticking to it. The book I meant to say was the one that goes with it,..Glass Castle: A Memoir. If you liked Half Broke Horses, you will like it too.
I am an introvert nerd too!! I love being home, in my jammies, reading books (or blogs). I am so glad I’m not the only one, books are just so easy to get along with! As for a favorite, have you read To Kill A Mockingbird? An oldie but a goodie. Also, I just finished Wuthering Heights and it was so good!!
One of my all time favorite books is The Swan House by Elizabeth Musser. Each word is to be savored.
This might sound strange, but one thing I noticed about my reading when I was around middle school/high school age was that I tended to ‘read’ each word in my head, almost at the rate of reading out loud, which I think slowed me down a little bit. Does that make sense? lol..sorry if it doesn’t, I’m not sure how to explain it…
Ok Brittany…..I DO THAT TOO!!!!! When I was reading yesterday, I realized I was saying each word in my head, I could have been reading out loud. So I tried not to stay on each word so long and I was started reading faster!!!! Ohhhhhh if I can keep this up I owe you the world! So many books I want to read but it just takes me so long to get though them. You have helped me more than you know!!!!!!
THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
Angela
Ah I’m so glad you could see what I meant! And that you can see an improvement!
I will admit, it isn’t a habit that’s completely gone away for me, but having an awareness of it definitely helps! You’re surely welcome! 
Loved “The Light Between Oceans” as well….and have to agree that “Kisses for Katie” is a must-read for everyone. As for 50 Shades…..well, I read it. Then I felt guilty about it. As a Christian, I have a hard time defending that kind of reading. What do you think? By the way, I am new to your blog and love it!
A.