TBR: September 2024

A new month filled with a new to-do list, new weather, and best of all, new books!

Although I'm not sure how much reading the month will contain because I'm knee-deep in garden harvests that need processing and preserving. So far I've finished pickles, green beans, tomato sauce, coleslaw mix, leeks, pickled jalapeños, zucchini, potatoes, onions, and one big batch of carrots. 

I will have more tomatoes, carrots, coleslaw, and green beans plus a blessed ton of butternut squash to contend with, but otherwise I think that's it for preserving. 

Going into the 2024 growing season, I knew that family life was going to be busier than ever and wondered if it would be best to skip gardening altogether. After throwing that idea around for a while, I decided to instead do a limited garden and stock up on whatever I didn't grow at grocery store. Instead of growing a little of everything we like, I grew a lot of a select variety of fruits and veggies. In September and October I'll have my eye on case sales in the area, hopefully filling the gaps in our pantry.

Do you stock up provisions before winter? I only started doing it when we moved to Idaho, where winter brings icy conditions and bitter wind. In addition to fruits and vegetables on the pantry shelves, I stock up on heavy or bulky items like water softening pellets, chicken feed, paper towels, toilet paper, honey, syrup, pasta, beans, oats, flour, sugar, and rice.  I try to stock enough to get us through until the spring, reasoning that every item I stock up on is one less trip to the car in the freezing temperatures of January. 

How about I give you my TBR list for September?

The Four Winds, by Kristin Hannah.

To kick things off, a great Kristin Hannah book for our September book club! I read this book three years ago and gave it five stars. I remember the subject matter was tough for me, but it was a story that stayed with me for a long time. I think it's going to be a good book for discussion and am looking forward to hearing my friends' thoughts.

These Precious Days, by Ann Hatchett.

I've been listening to Patchett's collection of essays this week and enjoying them a surprising amount. I was feeling a level of agitation over all the books that haven't worked out for me recently, but the pace and tone of the author's narration calmed me instantly. I don't often read short stories or essays, so I wouldn't say this is at all up my alley, but right now it's hitting the spot.

Viper's Tangle, by Francois Mauriac

I heard about this book on the Close Reads podcast but don't know one thing about it.  I'll be reading this and following along with the podcast from Sep 23 - October 21. It's free to listen on Audible if you have an active account.

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, by John Mark Comer.

This is a book that I tried to read about four years ago but had some trouble sinking into. I forgot that I tried it and added it again to my library holds list a few months ago. I'm about halfway through now, and wow. This is speaking to my current season of life so deeply. I'm listening prayerfully and looking forward to the rest of the book.

The Echo of Old Books, by Barbara Davis.  

This is one of the top fantasy novels of 2023 and I'm always on the hunt for a literary fantasy that I can recommend to my daughters.  I'm not a big fantasy reader but enjoyed books like "The Ten Thousand Doors of January" and "The Midnight Library."  I'm hoping this will strike the same kind of balance between fantasy and reality. And speaking of balance, that's what I'm trying to do with lighter stories in September. This looks like just the ticket.

The Sun Walks Down, by Fiona McFarlane

This book was recommended on the Close Reads "Best Books of 2023" episode.  (Hosts Heidi and David both had it on their top 5 lists.) I read the synopsis and it does look like a heavy read, but because of the enthusiastic recommendations I've heard, I'm going for it anyway.

Kristin Lavransdatter, by Sigrid Undset.  

The word "Lavransdatter" hadn't been heard by my ears even once in my lifetime, but then at the end of 2023, I encountered people talking about it nearly every time I turned around. (The first time I heard someone say the name of the title, I thought they were saying, "Kristin Lavren's Daughter.") I had my TBR plate full so I jotted it down for a later date. Then a few months ago, Anne Bogel recommended it on her podcast. It seems that this is something of a rediscovered classic that a range of readerly-types are calling a must-read. It just so happens that I've had an extra Audible credit burning a hole in my pocket, so...

Published in 1920, this is the life story of a girl living in 14th Century Norway. I plan to listen to podcasts as I go along, to hopefully give me a richer listening experience. Sometimes when I listen to books as I work, I'm not fully immersed in the storyline and can miss details. I think the podcast episodes will help me get the most out of this story, because here's the thing: The audiobook is a 3-part series that is 47 hours long. If I listen to all three books, a huge portion of my audiobook listening for September will be devoted to one story. For that reason I want to set myself up for the best possible outcome. 

So let's do this!