nightstand notes/ wanna view some reviews?

Oh boy.  A whole lot has happened since last month's nightstand post, and as a result, I'm more than 350 miles away from my "nightstand."  Several of its contents are with me on what will likely be a two week stay with my parents, while my dear hubby gets some significant repair projects done back at home... because a wall of leaking pipes is just no fun to live with, as is trying to hang with three kids in a house with no water and a main level with completely torn up flooring.

Ahem.  Enough about our impending sinking into eternal debt, and time for the books.  I have to admit that my TBR list got shuffled and reshuffled a bit last month, so of the eight books listed last month, only five were completed while others were added and subtracted at times, and the other three are still on my shelf, so you'll see some repeats here:

* Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error by Kathryn Schulz-- Okay.  The fact that I've had my bookmark advance only mere pages in this book since last month is definitely more of an indication of my ability to get into nonfiction than a statement of the quality of the book itself.  I'm trying.  But with lots on my mind lately, I tend to do much better with fast-paced fiction, so I'm not sure what's going to happen with this one for now.

* Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare-- I'm probably going to miss all discussions of this supposedly hilarious play on my online book club, but I do have the book and the movie with me.  I hope to find time this week to simultaneously read and watch and technically be able to cross this off the list.

* The Center of the Universe by Nancy Bachrach-- This memoir is up next, and I'll probably dive right into it as a distraction from what lies ahead in the next couple of weeks!

* 32 Candles by Ernessa T. Carter-- I'm looking forward to the escape that this novel will hopefully provide, as well!

* The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain and illustrated by Robert Ingpen-- Yes, yes, this has magically reappeared on my nightstand!!  Now that baseball season is finally over, JAM and I are back to reading together each evening, so we've restarted Tom Sawyer.  The coolest thing?  We're getting to enjoy looking at Robert Ingpen's illustrations, but mostly, we're reading this together on a Nintendo DSi XL!  (More to come on that very soon!)

Not much has changed, but I'm hoping that by the time next month's nightstand rolls around, I'll be looking at a new pile of books on the shelf in my dining room that just happens to have all new NON-LEAKING pipes in the walls and a beautiful new tile floor installed with love.  Hope, hope, hope.

Whatcha reading these days?  Hook up with us on 5 Minutes for Books' What's on Your Nightstand?

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If you're so inclined, you can check out my reviews from the past few weeks:

* The Secret Lives of Princesses-- a truly unique picture book for older children.

* Struts & Frets-- a new hip, musical YA novel.

* You're Not the Boss of Me-- a comprehensive, logical and VERY useful parenting guide.

* Children's Classics Award Winners Challenge-- you know you want to join me on our new 6-month challenge all about award winning children's books!!  Click it!!

* Summer Bridge Activities 2010-- a fabulous series of workbooks for summer usage combining math, language, physical and character development activities- and the giveaway closes tonight!

* Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon-- a neat advice book with tips for a wide variety of topics.

* The All-American Jump and Jive Jig-- a really fun picture book perfect for July 4th reading.


With love of books and hope for smooth home repair projects,