An example of how Chesterton can write magical paragraphs.

This was such a fantastic book that I'm not quite sure where to begin. The author speaks of her experience recovering from trauma and an induced coma. But how do you process such an event and the reality that you are different from what you were before? The author has a great voice, full of humor and also able to bring you to tears, though with some odder sentence structures. A great book.

#24in48 readathon clock: 5 hours 39 minutes

Couldn't one want to kiss the stars at the thankfulness of still living, at not having terminal anything, at not drooling in the corner, at not begging for crumbs in Calcutta, or sleeping on the cold, hard dirt of a Nairobi garbage dump ghetto, at not... well, just read the news or live in community because everybody has... something.

Can't we kiss the stars and still hurt?

I am just starting a new book in the #24in48 readathon, though it is not one I can show in my #shelfie since it is an ebook. It sounds good and is on the reading list for a conference I am attending soon. We'll see how it goes!

Speaking of #shelfie my poor shelf is a bit overwhelmed and each layer is stacked two deep. I might need to get another shelf soon...

Just finished my first book for the #24in48 readathon. This was a really neat look at the Inklings and how simply being a community as they were meant that their work was different than it would have been without the Inklings. It also gave more information about the individual members of this incredible group.

Readathon clock: 48 minutes

My #24in48 pile is a bit deceptive since so much is in e-book form this time around. Goal 1: finish up The Company They Keep, a really neat scholarly look at how the Inklings influenced one another.

Not a bad look into the American Revolution, although I wanted more on several areas. It wasn't precisely a biography on Washington because it really only spoke of the Revolution, but at the same time, it didn't cover large portions of the Revolution - only the parts related to Washington's leadership. Good at what it was covering but limited.

As one who is increasingly interested in education, not just to teach facts but to help a young person learn to choose virtue, this book was incredibly interesting. It is a scholarly work which presents Lewis's ideas on the ideal education, though it is a bit short on the practical how-to elements I was hoping to see. A good read for the theories, anyhow.

While this wasn't at all what I was expecting, this was a great read. There are a ton of unanswered questions and the only question answered didn't seem to arise until two thirds of the way through the book but I guess that is okay in the first book of a series. I'll definitely have to grab the next in the series sooner rather than later.

Not a bad examination of the Chronicles of Narnia by a scholar who seems to have discovered the underlying theme connecting the seven novels. I think I would be more interested in the more I depth version, called Planet Narnia, but this is the one my library had so we'll go with it for now. An easy and thought provoking read.

While this is definitely a lighter read, it was also a great continuation of the series. I'm looking forward to reading more of there series to see what happens to Will and his friends.

And thus you pass the outer girdle of ramparts, but then you are attacked by infantry of the Books That If You Had More Than One Life You Would Certainly Also Read But Unfortunately Your Days Are Numbered.

This is a wonderful story. I first saw the movie and then knew that I had to read the book. There is so much to say about this one and so many themes: the evil of violence against others, hope, joy, sacrifice, and the list goes on. This one is written for children but also wonderful for adults.

I usually enjoy #ya stories and think of them as my guilty pleasure- the candy of my literary diet. That said, I couldn't force myself to care on this one. While I was moderately interested in the mythology, the characters were terrible: a male Bella and a female goth Edward. Only I actually enjoyed reading Twilight. I'd still like to find out why what's-his-name can do what he does but not enough to actually keep reading. Don't waste your time.

Such a great book. This is one of my favorites on any day but also perfect for the #readathon for its brevity. I wholeheartedly recommend this to everyone: it is well-written and easy to read but wonderful at provoking thoughts, especially as an examination of conscience.

This was a strange but interesting read. Lots of magical realism- this is the author who made the style famous, after all. I know the point is for time to be a bit slippery but I found it hard to deal with at times. Thank goodness my copy provides a family tree because otherwise I would have been completely lost among the various generations. I was also bothered by most of the relationships between family members. And yet I think I liked it...

Here is another book that I finished a while ago but have simply forgotten to note. It was an interesting story, though I had to get used to the style, but I am still confused by some of the connections Woolf is making, specifically between Mrs Dalloway and Septimus. I know something is there but don't know what Woolf is trying to say about that connection.

I think I liked this one but I am still not sure. The first book, The Princess and the Goblins, was so different and this one was so much darker. I enjoyed the themes but this was less of a children's story. I'll have to keep thinking on this one before I come to a decision.

I really loved this book, at least once I pushed past the first two chapters. In the foreword, Lewis mentions that this is a fairy tale to bring The Abolition of Man to life and now, I look forward to reading that. This was a great adventure story but also full of Christian allegory as only Lewis can do. I know I will return to this one again and again over the years.

"There are a dozen views about everything until you know the answer. Then there's never more than one."

I keep wanting to mark all over this book but my copy is short on margins :(

"I happen to believe you can't study men; you can only get to know them, which is quite a different thing."

I love Sayers's mysteries and so decided to reread some of them. They are wonderfully written and I found that even though I knew how it ends, it was still delightful! Lord Peter is a great character, full of wit but also very human. Looking forward to rereading more of this series.

The Queen of Mystery never fails with her wonderful, suspenseful stories and Death on the Nile was no exception. You think you know #whodunnit and then are sure it's someone else and finally find out the real culprit and it is a delightful ride!

I may be the only one but I really hated this one... so much so that I ended up bailing. The gratuitous violence (including rape) turned me off but then I came to hate the main character, at which point, there was no reason to continue. Maybe it would have gotten better but life is too short for books like this.

So far fun but a much slower start than I am used to. I am nearly halfway through the book and the murder just happened. We'll see how Christie resolves this one.

For the virtue of prudence resides in this: that the objective cognition of reality shall determine action; that the truth of real things shall become determinative.

I had forgotten how enjoyable this book is. The analogy is a bit heavy handed, as others have noted, but it remains a great children's story, with many valuable themes for reflection.

Unfortunately, I didn't find much reading time today and definitely won't make 24 hours this time around, but I did finish two books, listened to an hour of an audiobook, and have begun my third book, returning to Narnia. #24in48 #readathon

What a charming story! This book by MacDonald tells the story of Princess Irene, Curdie, and their struggles against the goblins. Lots of fun, with several good lessons or themes tucked within. A perfect read for a young child or a children's lit focused #24in48 #readathon - I can't wait to read more of MacDonald's stories.

Here is Simon, keeping my lap warm while I read for the #24in48 #readathon - when he is not bouncing around in kitten fashion. He and his sister are my reading buddies, as I explore the world created by George MacDonald.

It's been a slow start to the #24in48 #readathon but I've finally found time to finish one book. I had forgotten how good this one is and how many wonderful themes can be found, especially near the end. A great read!

Early morning reading for the #24in48 #readathon with my favorite pup and my favorite blanket.

My #tbr pile for this weekend's #24in48 #readathon . So excited to see how this goes, especially with @Litsy ! Not sure how much I'll get through (and that with most of it being children's lit for class next year) but I know it'll be lots of fun!

I've been trying to do more #spiritualreading and so I went with this story of a young man who made an enormous impact on those around him, even though he died at 24 years of age. Not the best writing but an edifying read and a good example to contemplate.

In my children's lit class, we got the chance to explore some works that we had never heard of and this work, written originally in German was one of my favorites. It's a charming story of a bunch of boys working together to catch the bad guy. Perhaps unrealistic at points but adorable and fun.

I have been meaning to read this in the original French but never found the time. Then my children's lit class had it on the syllabus so I finally read it (albeit in English). A strange story, with some challenging ideas: I'll admit I still am not sure how I feel about it. I think I like it...

My friend has been recommending this one for years and I finally grabbed it at the used book store. A great coming of age story that many ages groups can enjoy. Lots of adventure and fun, combined with fun characters you quickly come to love. I will be searching out the rest of this series soon.

I read this for a children's lit class. It was a good story though overly preachy at times. I think it may also heavily depend on the translator. I liked the story but was annoyed at some of the heavy moralizing. A child probably wouldn't notice it as much as they would see the adventure.

Rereading this one was fun and I loved the wordplay but Through the Looking Glass became too disjointed for my taste and I didn't it enjoy it as much.

I wasn't sure about this one, based on the cover, but when a friend lent it to me, I flew through it. An interesting take on the normal YA fantasy fare, especially through Riggs's use of photography. Pleasant fluff if nothing else. Looking forward to the sequel.

We never have [truth]; at best it has us.

Being surrounded with every conceivable kind of revolt from infancy, Gabriel had to revolt into something, so he revolted into the only thing left- sanity.

"How can they meet us face to face till we have faces?"