However, as of now, with this round-up of books below, I'm at 43 books read for the year and 9 books I considered did-not-finish.
And, remember, I started 2019 like this, so any books is progress. Also, I 100% credit the amazing library system in Pittsburgh. It's been so easy to find the books I want, not just browse for books I may want to try.
Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella ebook c/o Netgalley
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn audio via Scribd
Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser audio via Scribd
When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O'Neal ebook (cheap on Amazon one day)
The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware audio via Scribd
DNF:
Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First 3 Years Matters by Erica Komisar
I quit this after about 3 chapters because I realized it wasn't going to do anything for me. I've been going back and forth over the idea of looking for a teaching position when we move to our next location. That falls out of line with my initial "wait until Wells is in kindergarten" plan, but it's not because I want to climb the ladder or pad my resume or make a bunch of money. I truly just miss being in the classroom. And, in my defense, I can't think of a more mom-friendly job than that of being a teacher.
I saw this book recommended for someone in my position by a blogger I actually really like, but maybe can't relate to after all.
So, unfortunately, no. I would not read this book if I were you.
I hate throwing around the word privilege, but this private-practicing counselor/psychoanalyst who was able to take years off during her children's infancy/toddlerhood, while living in NYC, is coming from an enormous place of privilege.
She kind of lost me when she talked about how breastfeeding is best...and didn't follow it up with "bottles are fine though!" because that's normally the accepted statement/rhetoric: bottles are FINE.
She just said breastfeeding is best. Full stop.
Then, she really lost me when she threw in that adoptive parents weren't as good as birth mothers. Sure, birth mothers are important (and she included birth fathers in the same category as adoptive parents: good but not integral), but I would say that anyone willing to sustain the growth, development, and care of an infant/child is the best parent for that child.
And the one point that many readers I've seen on Goodreads take issue with: if you have trouble bonding with your baby or don't want to stay home with him/her, it's because you had issues with your own mother. No. My mom was as kid-friendly as a mom could be. ANYWAY. She also cited study after study after study for the entire book (or at least as much as I skimmed) so there was very little practical advice happening within the chapters. It was just data.
Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family by Paul David Tripp
Obviously there's a theme for my DNFs this month. I thought this would help me? It didn't. Part of the issue is that I'm not wishing desperately to go back to work to fulfill some fictitious lifestyle requirements of excess. I. just. like. teaching. The author makes the point that it's worth giving up the new car or the bigger house or the extra money if you can stay home with your children. I 100% believe this is true. I. just. like. teaching.
And part of the Christian perspective, I've found, is that by staying home with your children, you can teach them all that a school cannot. And that homeschooling is a more viable option to public school if you can at all make it work. But it's not something I've ever felt the drive/desire to do. I believe in traditional school. And I'm a product of the public school system. I would TOTALLY jump on board with sending my child to private school if that was the best fit at that time. But I don't like that argument that public school teachers don't know what they're doing with your children. If you feel strongly, get involved, put them in private school, etc. ANYWAY. I could probably revisit this book in the future, so I'm not saying it's awful. I am just not in the space for non-fiction (or parenting books) apparently.
When I feel strongly about why I don't like books, I could talk about them all day.
Also, I'm not counting these as DNF, but I took You've Been Volunteered by Laurie Gelman back to the library unfinished and I took The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams back to the library unfinished. Not because I didn't like the characters or the stories but I just couldn't get into them. I needed more mystery I think. That seems to be what drives my reading these days. I'm historical-fictioned myself out this year already (with 2 HF books) and basic "funny" fiction or chick lit doesn't hold my interest.
My goal is to make it to 50 books by the end of December. I think I can do it.
Did you hit a reading goal this year? Did you *set* a reading goal this year? I'm betting some of you readers already have 2020's goal in place :)
Linking up with Jana and Steph!
