Winter 2012 Books & More

January 26, 2012

Something new at FIMBY, we'll see how it goes. You'll find a link to this page on the sidebar. Currently residing under finds & favorites. You'll want to check in on this page every so often because I'll be updating it. Each new season, or as often as I think of it, I'll start a new one. Archiving the old to keep a reference for future.  

There's a lot of listening and electronic reading going on these days. And the old fashioned paper kind of reading also (especially for the younger two). A lot of Kindle downloads and searching the web for free and inexpensive books for Celine. This happens when you live in place where you don't speak the language and don't have English library service (smile).

One of the great things about owning a Kindle (or other e-reader) is that we are reading more classics because they are readily available & free.

Treasure Island, Gulliver's Travels, The Adventures of Sherlook Holmes, Frankenstein, Around The World in 80 Days, The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea are all books Celine has been reading and owns now on her Kindle. 

I don't have any great resources or sites to share yet for sourcing e-books. I'm still figuring it all out myself! There's been some Kindle talk in comments here & here. One of these days I'll write a post about the whole process we're going through of accessing literature & stories without a good library service.

I'm getting my own Kindle next month because Celine uses hers so often and I need access to my books as well (smile).

Mama's reading & listening:

Depending on my mood (the time of day and what's going on) I'll be reading one of these. 

Mama Speak & Writing:

Home Management:

Read Alouds:

  • Calico Bush
  • The Magician's Nephew - the younger two were really young when I read this aloud the first time, time to revisit the magic of Narnia
  • I Am David
  • May B - was destined to be a read aloud but Brienne just couldn't get into it. I really liked it. 

Life 3.0:

Home Education (mine & theirs):

Kid's and Family:

Looking for more book recommendations, especially children's books? Check out my bookshelves at goodreads. This is where I have kept track for years of most of what we've read.

Music:

When I think to update it. 

  • Love by Angels & Airwaves, especially loving "Epic Holiday", this gets me dancing every time
  • Ceremonials by Florence & The Machine
  • Anatomic by Afro Celt Sound System
  • Hindsight 20/20 by Arrogant Worms, welcoming us back to Canada (not g-rated, but very funny)
  • Bon Iver by Bon Iver - super melancholy music
  • My Song by Spring Gouette (my friend's beautiful music)

Video:

Filed Under

« An Open Hearted Letter To Moms of Young Children
Winter Fire & Ice »
  • Elizabeth

    Elizabeth on Jan. 26, 2012, 2:26 p.m.

    Living overseas in a non-English speaking country, I too am always on the lookout for free and/or cheap Kindle books. I subscribe to Free Kindle Books and Tips (http://fkbt.wordpress.com/), a blog that daily posts books that Amazon is offering free that day. There is a lot of junk to wade through, but I can usually tell if I'm interested or not just by looking at the book's title in my blog reader. And it has helped me find things like Wendell Berry's "The Art of the Commonplace" for free.

    I also signed up for the Kindle Daily Deal, and each day Amazon sends me a notice about a book--novel, history, etc.--that they are offering at deep discount for the day. These usually only cost $1 US.

    Of course, I'm reading a lot of the classics, too. :) I'll look forward to your upcoming post about finding literature without a library nearby!

    reply
    • renee

      renee on Jan. 26, 2012, 2:30 p.m.

      Thank you, thank you Elizabeth. I didn't know of these. Oh, I just knew readers would have more ideas for me. You rock! Wendell Berry?! Oh, I love his stuff.

      reply
  • Melissa

    Melissa on Jan. 26, 2012, 3:58 p.m.

    For free ebooks you could also look at Project Gutenberg. There is a site for the U.S. and another for Canada - all for publications that have expired copyright in their respective countries and are in the public domain. The U.S. site even has a section for sheet music, which may or may not be useful to you.

    I choose a KoboVox over the Kindle, due to the ease of use as a Canadian. Their 'store' is available to anyone in the world and is not device specific. You can also check out their offerings, both free and for whatever the publishers rates are. Even if you couldn't add the app to your Kindle, it could go on your computer(s) or phones if they support the technology.

    Another source I like for my reader is Zinio. It's great for magazines, which I consider more disposable and prefer to have on a reader. There are kids magazines there...which you may not easily find locally. And then there are comic books apps...I don't know if you can load those onto a Kindle but they must have something.

    reply
  • Jessica

    Jessica on Jan. 26, 2012, 4:48 p.m.

    This is so fun! I'd like to try a list like this as well - it would be so fun to look back and see what we were enjoying at the time, AND it's a great way to share ideas for good media. Also, I keep hearing about sparkle stories; I'll have to go take a look.

    reply
    • renee

      renee on Jan. 26, 2012, 5:10 p.m.

      Check them out Jessica but maybe hold off on a subscription. I've got a post and coupon code coming (deep discount for FIMBY readers) in the next couple weeks.

      reply
  • Jacinda

    Jacinda on Jan. 27, 2012, 4:24 a.m.

    Oow, thanks for comment on Anne....after a little surfing around I now have a pile reserved from the library. I look forward to seeing what i think.

    reply
    • renee

      renee on Jan. 27, 2012, 12:14 p.m.

      OH.. you must start with Traveling Mercies, then Plan B. I wrote a review of Grace [Eventually] (you can read it in my goodreads) - it was my least favorite. She has a new book coming out. I can't wait to read it. 

      reply
  • Kika@embracingimperfection

    Kika@embracingimperfection on Jan. 27, 2012, 3:24 p.m.

    Have your kids ever listened to Focus on the Family's "Adventures in Odyssey?". You can buy the CD sets or download them; to check them out there is one freebie aired each day. See www.whitsend.org.

    My kids (and me) have loved these over the years. Some teach about Biblical history or American history, but they all engage listeners with great stories and fun/interesting characters. I am constantly amazed at what even my 6 year old learns from these. When traveling we love to have some new ones to listen to.

    Celine may or not feel she is too old for these although my bigger kids still like them. Laurent and Brienne might love them!

    reply
  • Lillie

    Lillie on Jan. 29, 2012, 3:02 a.m.

    Hi Renee, I noticed that you had a book called "St. Francis of Assisi"to your list of books to read. Last year I read a fictional book based on the life of St. Francis of Assisi called " Chasing Francis" by Ian Morgan Cran. This was the best book I've read in a long time. I highly recommend it.

    reply
  • FishMama

    FishMama on Jan. 26, 2012, 5:33 p.m.

    I'm reading BxB also. But I haven't fallen in double love yet, or love even. But, I'll give it more attention now that I know you're reading it, too. ;)

    reply
    • renee

      renee on Jan. 26, 2012, 6:59 p.m.

      Oh my goodness. I have a huge crush on Anne Lamott. I love her non-fiction (her novels not quite so much). I love her expression of faith, I love her dreads. She's on my list of who I'd invite to a dinner party (except I don't dinner "parties" - just come over for supper type affairs). Her book doesn't apply to blogging per se, the kind of writing I do, but all the insecurity stuff she talks about rings so true for me. I get to laugh and feel comforted that I'm understood and belong to diverse group of folks that gets me and this writing passion I have. Anyway, I could go on and on about Anne. I'm just one of her adoring fan club members (smile) which I'm sure is the lens through which I read Bird by Bird.

      reply
      • Marianna

        Marianna on Jan. 27, 2012, 4:56 a.m.

        I don't think Anne does parties either! She would be a cool house guest. Bird by Bird is in my to read pile....eventually.

        reply

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