Living Unabridged

November had some great reading but yesterday these words captured my mind and I want to share these instead of something else from my commonplace book:
from Russ Ramsey's Behold the Lamb of God. This Advent devotional is free for Kindle right now. I've only read the introduction from Andrew Peterson and the first couple of entries, but I can tell it's going to be thought-provoking.

I'm thankful for a month when thoughts turn to the Christmas story, even if just as a cultural touchstone, but how easy it is to forget that this story of God becoming man is the fulcrum of all history.

(If you're looking to add some quality music to your Christmas listening - or anytime, really - please do consider Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb of God 10th Anniversary 2-disc Set. So, so good.)

Recently Finished

The Dead Duke, His Secret Wife, and the Missing Corpse: An Extraordinary Edwardian Case of Deception and IntrigueNonfiction by Piu Marie Eatwell. Fascinating in the "truth is stranger than fiction" category. Well researched and compelling.
Villa America: A NovelFlashes of good writing, but the whole thing is rather a slog through the lives of not particularly nice or admirable people. I liked the first section best, which isn't about "Villa America" at all. I particularly didn't like the liberties taken with the stories of real people who are no longer around to defend themselves. They might not have been admirable people, but if the author wanted to write this particular novel nothing would have been lost by fictionalizing it entirely.
At Any Cost: Overcoming Every Obstacle to Bring Our Children HomeI picked this up on a whim at the library, only to find out that my husband graduated from the same college as the author. The authors live in Middle Tennessee, which is where my husband and I also grew up. So, that was a neat connection. If you liked Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet: Tasting the Goodness of God in All Things, this is similar in some ways. (Albeit with a much more practical tone and down to earth writing style.)
Food: A Love Storyby Jim Gaffigan. Appropriate reading for Thanksgiving weekend, no? Laugh out loud funny (for real). I ended up reading a lot of this one out loud to my husband so he would understand why I was laughing.
Crooked Houseby Agatha Christie. Christie is the book equivalent of "comfort food" for me. Either I've read this before and forgotten it, or I was picking up all the clues in this because I figured it out before the end, but Christie still makes it worth it. Loved these lines:

She's only thirty-four now--and that's a dangerous age.

Most people have to stop being cranks and earn a living.

"Do I go or stay?" I murmured. It sounded ridiculously like the title of a Victorian song.

Recently Added

A Curious Beginning: A Veronica Speedwell MysteryWith a few reservations, I generally enjoy Deanna Raybourn's novels. They're not perfect, but they do make good diversions.
Letters to the Lost: A NovelThe description of this one made me order it from my library. Bonus: the cover is lovely.

Current Read Aloud

The holiday weekend set us back so we're still working on The Trolley Car Family. Definitely a new favorite for us.

Current Book to Review

I didn't accept any review copies this month. But you can find my two most recent reviews (of highly recommended books) here: One More Step and The Entitlement Cure.

Current Kindle Deals

If you're following me on Facebook and Twitter (and I hope you are!), I shared several fantastic Kindle deals on Cyber Monday. There are fewer choices now, but the aforementioned Behold the Lamb of God: An Advent Narrativeis still free.
The Queen's Speech: An Intimate Portrait of the Queen in her Own Wordsby Ingrid Seward (editor of Majesty Magazine) looks like something I would enjoy. It's $2.99 right now.
52 Little Lessons from It's a Wonderful Lifeby Bob Welch is $0.99 right now. I haven't read this but I did have a chance to review his 52 Little Lessons from Les Miserablesand it was good. At this price point it's definitely worth a look.

What are you reading now?

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