Summertime and the Reading is ...

Today is officially the first day of summer vacation for my kids.  I have to say, I don't remember being this glad that a school year was over in a while.  With my oldest finishing her freshman year in high school and my middle child finishing his first year of middle school, I am seriously done with transitions for at least a few months.

In our house, summer vacation means several things:

• movies
• swimming at the pool
• vacation bible school
• books, books and more books

I'm happy to say we're a family of readers. In fact, all of us have a stack of books we want to dive into now that we're more in charge of our schedules.  Here are some books that I've read recently, am reading or are planning to read this summer.  One genre of note is Catholic Fiction.  While it's a growing segment of Catholic publishing you may not be familiar with it.  Catholic Fiction strives to tell great stories that incorporate the characters' faith lives.  The stories don't have to be about Catholic issues per se.  Instead they illustrate the idea that you can't separate a person's life from their faith.  You might say it's Ignatian spirituality, the idea that God is active in our daily lives, applied to great prose. 

I hope you find something that you like.

(F)=Fiction; (NF)=Nonfiction

Recently read:

• The Hunger Games (F)
• Annabelle of Anchony (F)
• Catholic Family Fun (NF)
• My Life With the Saints (NF)
• Simplifying the Soul (NF)

Currently reading:

• Catholic Philosopher Chick Makes Her Debut (F)
• The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything (NF)
• The Innocence of Father Brown (F)

What's next to read:

• The rest of the Hunger Games series (F)
• Stealing Jenny (F)
• Catholic Reluctantly (The John Paul 2 High Series) (F)
• Peace Like A River (F)
• Ring for Jeeves (F)

Well, that should keep me busy!  I have a feeling that I won't get through my whole list but that's ok.  Just because summer ends doesn't mean the reading has to.

Summer Blessings,
Laura