My brother called this weekend to tell me I would be an Aunt in September. After the initial You’re Too Young and Is This Even Legal panic, I remembered he has a very steady job, he is married to the nicest person I’ve ever met, and he’s 32 now. So, sure. You can have a baby. But you’ll always be 14 in my mind, Brotha. Congratulations to you both.
Claire had her baby, sweet William. So did MC. And Steph (Pat’s daughter and my bff) is pregnant, too. Abbey’s little Zoie came home from the Congo yesterday. It’s been a bit of a wild weekend to say the least. Everyone needs to just settle down, ok? I canna handle all the excitement.
So very much to celebrate, and I am thankful.
•
Are you a reader? I’m a reader. I spent most of my early childhood in a library reading books from A-Z in order. I won every summer book club award that was offered. I earned at least five Pizza Hut mini-basketballs. I read everything I could get my hands on… still do, though my time is significantly different now. As an ARMY brat living overseas, books were a comfort in the absence of American tv and children my age in the neighborhood. I fell into the stories and made friends and family out of the characters there. I read in the on the long drives to school, I read under the sheets at night. I still am a slave to story. My favorites of all time are listed in the right sidebar of the blog. The people and places in those books are like a second part of me.
I bought myself a Kindle just before Abby June was born In December. As an extreme book-lover, it was a difficult decision. I felt like I was killing Kathleen Kelly’s dream all over again. But getting to the library is increasingly hard these days (we are not quiet) and my bookshelves are full to the brim (even after multiple trips to Goodwill). It was a good option for me. Just the book version… no movies or games or extra options, lest I find even more ways to waste/kill/suck time.
Here are my Kindle archives thus far (yes, since December… I know, it’s a sickness):
All were checked out from our local library using the ebook feature except Peace Like a River, which I bought and am happy to own.
[I have zero, nada, no affiliation with amazon.com.]
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
finishing: Parrot and Oliver in America
on deck: Expecting Adam
I’m keeping a list here of books others have loved or suggested I try out. Am I missing anything?
Apple pie, anyone? 
February 27th, 2012 at 8:16 am
Our book club just finished The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. I’m recommending it to everybody I see…and I think you would really love it.
February 27th, 2012 at 11:38 am
I’m on it.
February 27th, 2012 at 1:39 pm
I was going to recommend that one, too! Hauntingly beautiful and well-written tale of redemption.
February 27th, 2012 at 8:32 am
Oh thank you! I am in need of some books to add to my kindle! I needed a little help to! I just got done with Snow Flower and the secret Fan.
February 27th, 2012 at 9:03 am
I am a book lover but am a horrible suggestion person. I don’t keep track of what I’ve read. Probably should start since the memory is not what it used to be. I recently talked with a co-worker about books and she suggest signing up for goodread.com. I haven’t signed up, but it’s a resource for reading and book suggestions.
February 27th, 2012 at 11:26 am
That’s another reason to love the Kindle! It keeps track of what I’ve read. I would NEVER remember otherwise.
February 27th, 2012 at 9:04 am
Oh – congrats on the Aunt news. That is very exciting!!!
February 27th, 2012 at 11:38 am
It IS exciting! That’s gonna be one cute kid, I tell ya.
February 27th, 2012 at 9:16 am
I, too, LOVE to read… I just discovered Jennifer Haigh…I just started Mrs, Kimble and have The Condition on the nightstand waiting… We seem to have the same tastes in books. I have read many on your Pinterest board, but there are several I will checking out…
I have the Kindle app on my iPad…did you know you can check books out from your local library and read them on your Kindle…i actually download mine right from Amazon…
February 27th, 2012 at 11:27 am
Every book on that list has been checked out from out local library except Peace Like a River, which I bought while in the hospital. LOVE the way you can check things out from the library on ebooks!
February 27th, 2012 at 9:57 am
Oh girl, we need to talk books this summer! I have a LONG list of books I love and can’t stop talking about!
February 27th, 2012 at 11:38 am
It’s a date. I would LOVE to chat books with you! Also, I spaced out on your Facebook beef questions… I’ll email you later today 🙂 Please hold. Thank you for your patience. The next available representative will be with you shortly.
February 27th, 2012 at 10:04 am
I’m a little late to the game on this one, but. Just finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Fabulous.
p.s. Are you telling me that you’ve read all that since December?
February 27th, 2012 at 11:28 am
Indeed… all that since December. BUT, nursing at all hours of the nights helps 🙂
February 28th, 2012 at 12:28 am
Holy smokes. You are my hero. (…as if you weren’t already…)
February 27th, 2012 at 12:14 pm
Congrats on your impending aunt status! My sister just had her first baby this month, and I had the same reaction as you when she first told us she was pregnant. It’s hard to think of our baby brothers/sisters as grown-ups!
Thanks for sharing your book list. I LOVE to read, and always have, but I find that, these days, I’m not doing nearly as much of it as I would like. Just too many distractions. For the past few years I have had a personal system in place where I read one “brainy” book–something challenging to read for the language or content, and which may take me quite a while to get through with all the distractions–and then one no-brainer that I can knock out in just a few days, even with the distractions. I’m currently reading “The Power of One” and re-reading (for the third time) “The Strong-Willed Child.” I also have “The Hiding Place” checked out from the library, so I’m thinking of pausing the others so I can read that one before it’s due.
I go through phases with my Kindle–loving it and using it all the time, to needing a break from it in favor of the feel and smell of real books. It’s really great for traveling, though.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
I can see myself going in phases, too. I love the smell and weight of books. But, you’re right… it’s going to be great for travelling. I really like having it in the car when I’ve got those random 20 minutes before Ry has to be picked up or whatever.
Jodi had a baby. Blow me down. Seriously. She’s 10, right 😉
February 27th, 2012 at 1:03 pm
Do this now: Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott. (Oh, and PS: I loved Peace Like a River and the Guerney Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.)
February 27th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
I bought Peace Like a River because you loved it. Can’t wait for the others!
February 29th, 2012 at 2:47 pm
Shall I send it to you? I have a copy just floating around the house…
February 29th, 2012 at 5:34 pm
Real mail?! Absolutely!
February 27th, 2012 at 1:06 pm
Katie- I regularly check your blog because I love your writing style and always enjoy your updates. However, I have only commented once before… I cannot resist commenting today because I, too, LOVE the written word and I love spreading “book love” after reading something that moved me. I do not know if you have already read or heard of any of the amazing books below, but here are some of my favorites from the past year or so:
The Forgotten Garden and The Distant Hours by Kate Morton. Both books are amazing, but The Forgotten Garden stayed with me for weeks.
Whistling in the Dark, Land of Hundred Wonders, and Good Graces by Leslie Kagen. Once again all of her books are amazing, but Whistling in the Dark is by far my favorite – please read this book if you are able – Sally O’Malley’s 10-year-old voice will linger with you. I simply didn’t want the story to end.
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons and Oh My Stars by Lorna Landvik. All of her books are good, but these two are my favorites so far from her. I really can’t choose between the two…
I am going to stop here because I could go on and on… As you may be able to tell, once I read something I enjoy by an author, I try to read anything else they have done. 🙂
I hope you get a chance to read one or two of my suggestions. Please feel free to email me if you do! I would love to have a book review “pen pal!”
From,
Ally in FL
February 27th, 2012 at 1:15 pm
So very nice to meet you, Ally! I’m glad you outed yourself in the name of books 🙂 I haven’t read ANY of your suggestions, which makes me so excited 🙂
I’m still waiting to discuss Five Smooth Stones with someone… but I appear to be the only person on the planet who was completely stunned by that book.
February 27th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
I echo the Kate Morton recommendations above. She is one of my new favorite authors. Other recent favorites: Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, Surprised by Oxford, Unbroken, and Introverts in the Church. I’ll have little write ups on each in my What I’m Into post later this week.
Congrats on the aunt front! I’m pretty sure I’ll have the same reaction whenever my brother delivers that news to me.
February 27th, 2012 at 10:15 pm
So of the books you listed here, my dear Katie Kate, which one would you recommend 1st (except for Peace Like a River, Tess of the D, or A Walk in the Woods as I have read those already)???
thanks for listing them!
February 27th, 2012 at 11:38 pm
Hmmmm. First… I would say *Unbroken*. Absolutely.
February 27th, 2012 at 11:38 pm
Then… Henrietta Lacks. So very good.
On Mon, Feb 27, 2012 at 11:37 PM, Katie Mulder wrote:
> Hmmmm. First… I would say *Unbroken*. Absolutely. > >
February 28th, 2012 at 1:16 am
I am your “Five Smooth Stones” discussion partner. Read it recently and will think about it forever.
February 28th, 2012 at 8:05 am
Hurray Hurray! Truly, the most remarkable book I’ve ever read and one of the few I re-read.
March 21st, 2012 at 12:36 pm
I just filled up my library request list! Yay!