Snow Day Reading

Normally a snowy day finds me on the slopes, but even this winter loving, Subaru snow tire driving, Northern transplant girl knows when to listen to reason and stay put.  Today's agenda?  Reading, reading, reading (with a little de-cluttering and kitchen magic thrown in for variety).

I'm an early riser, even on a day when I could sleep in, so I've already logged over an hour of quiet with my coffee and a few chapters of this gem:  Grandma Gatewood's Walk:  The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail by Brent Montgomery.  It's well written and makes me want to plan this summer's backpacking trip.

I'm also halfway through Anne Lamott's new book Small Victories:  Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace  a good pre-Lent read.  As always Lamott shines through with honest, and sometimes brutal, storytelling which leaves you thinking and working toward being a better person.

Yesterday I finished Nadia Bolz-Weber's Accidental Saints:  Finding God in All the Wrong People.  Nadia's writing provides a refreshing reminder that liberal Lutherans (and others focused on the message of love) are working hard to combat the myopic, close minded and exclusionary version of Christianity that often has the loudest voice in our society.  I'll be rereading Nadia's writings throughout Lent - her writings rank among the best sermons I've ever read.

I also have school related reading to do in preparation for next semester's English 11 Honors class, but they're all old loves - The Scarlet Letter, The Bluest Eye, Beloved, The Awakening, Ethan Frome, The Grapes of Wrath and Annie Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker Creek.  I'm so excited to teach those texts again that even though it's "work" it will be pure pleasure.

Happy reading and stay warm!