I didn't read as many books in June as I'd planned, and most of them are smaller books. The reason being, that although I went on vacation and had plenty of time to read, I started reading
War and Peace![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sCK2jyqBCgMdOb0vWEGXGG4TZvpi-54_Ewl7q4EcnRLDQsD_eFuzU0VVN7EY2IddjdSrkxydBSol_iVQEFz_Prb_965elg0GUxJdggtp_XKUZmxdzP0hx1_d6kF6qF-9TWRLg9uW-69J_ahL3pRh9XlN4wxQ9U5YEsoyEmk6FpkKdluQ=s0-d)
instead of some of my smaller books. This is what I finished:
The Hope Within![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_t56vpPm3h6jh0c-AZFx1FA2ABUACssFi7CLl3epTbXycVOBAPGQBo-WVyLxww8-TyOzQdIfCDY3-YtXC5yIAErIXok6LuFU4Q4qNSdSkpe8CUO4PpI1AKkM1ZTKqHDWPN1CAWQ2iH8Cio9qVWAdH2HsqpQSmL0TJLLa5Dm_7IuwWaj2K0=s0-d)
, Tracie Peterson. This was the 4th (and last) book in a series. This last book meant more to me than the other 3, in that I could identify with some of the struggles. I am glad that I read the series, and felt that it had more substance than many other Christian historical fiction books do. It was, however, a bit more troubling than other Christian books. There are many hard things that happen to the characters...be forewarned!
![Loving Frank: A Novel](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vM8VfBQefgxsdKfn111ek33_O7SUogaih2jcsLXUPOXEXVrckdiG8vqjEWVoKT7PfwHqoSNoOeE2dOiQjXvRZ_yrx_qQWC8-x7XUi7o2Z1ZfeisS99IMOc0_6Irekz1BSxZANhKoPFd8a8qCPE44Gb_3d9b4VNX8iYMZbOBiQLU9x3zzUUAD0nHEBrVwm9opEltK2JqT6grxpAOTSDu_FkD31iSSFbS_xG=s0-d)
Loving Frank![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_stp48P7snmOu_fwIejnyj2i7KhrhsG-sLAUflGkza4_rd096L8Nd_ubhG-quUxIIpU3qsg3cE-yPhSw_06XRSfD3jpE2FptszyNRbBB_OVsqcrUEXZOYfXcwEjx0ljF3a4PfMzgGrfzCJzPIR-P0QAYWZMJRExAUZt_cOzexINdbwAUsg=s0-d)
, Nancy Horan. This novel is about Frank Lloyd Wright, and a love affair that absorbed years of his life. I was irritated through most of the book, because I don't understand how any mother could leave her young children. Though the subject irritated me, I felt that it was written well, and wasn't overly sympathetic. If you enjoy a good surprise ending, then this book may be just up your alley--I definitely didn't see it coming.
The Cricket in Times Square![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uRscJ1ypswCkS45Ge256sy8Qrx9eYMzZkuDAC3GP72dxeVE7iFFmYFd4Pa7GQpF9r0nz_JXY_ko9ryBC35aTSHZvktNZ_8JyrR_FNNJksMJMqVp0clHp9f9VyOIM4aZQJzhW5LNIblpENDxDuuy1knNgLHmseyA02jDvxV7gd-QEc0bQ=s0-d)
, George Seldon. This was the last book that we read aloud for school, and it ended up being one of the favorites. It's a neat story about a cricket who makes wonderful music, and the search for the perfect balance between friends and family, and home.
The BFG![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vSWRVE2hzLUayV2eI-9YgS9gEUJaZAxEIRVEuU5ZeYQT5JMv6ppSh6ZVYTcwx23c4cm1IJESY4fSZpCGjGzsXFgVv62BucnfYgorEDqNo68F-9bjsSZWn5bfEfE72wAPkQyQmo0G2gL-TmpMKz77SDEbXEHUw7b9y293BG1Me5r2YqGnk=s0-d)
, Roald Dahl. Oh my goodness, what a fun book! How is it that I'd never read this book before? I got to read it aloud to my girls, and we loved it.
![A Voyage Long and Strange: Rediscovering the New World](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vzikMefDvFNO_d7b374TN846jmh72QJLAawwvA9S9ACXSAPP5fGihyvhfRkZiecaiFGuwU6H0rUnhAp6HIpQQ7vpgtEbeHqsPnZlZFFHEZ4kml6vDCMXb-yqaHwiQzlGPEEpLtZUOx0ODefem-kfcQG1BMNF5lxNiDtHRNRa6_TABJr0nBFJ8LfVHxq0GTZxkeHI27Dj9pZKW5kHmX6BSCeaGaOPG02oor1Q=s0-d)
A Voyage Long and Strange![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_u2_t9n1GDNKek4y6ZJTc7l-mPz-V_Sus7Ye-_qpBOnzHvFlqQpbRdBIbSKEiuxZy8UXzSkyiViexdG4ozhswOtB_nKEoIQEJdmR4L_2l8KzoSAwz6hTVop18UAHzoI9L-l2POm6WrVHfubMWLGaAdtqzBw3yOV2ojYtBQN5pOlZmDcMzI=s0-d)
, Tony Horwitz. This book relates American history before the arrival of the Pilgrims. I enjoy American history, so this book was fun to read--although it did stall out in the middle. I liked how he mixed history with his personal travels and discoveries; it made the history portions come alive.
Tirzah![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_t3hzZJrokUWZjKIs7qtx0VW0YBhgr68rAifbRgmT5nCkNdT9pSO7XWsaaoNAgC4sRwsI0L0a_AVRYSYJS-40W3CZl8Vq-yQ22D-HjLuddg2s6V2qWxSwmRzKrG8nFQg6hwUdzjyU78cJiYvr4I1a3OB0hAUOt8viflBw_0p-g_e9X0hg=s0-d)
, Lucille Travis. I pre-read this book for next year's studies and was very pleased. It relates, in novel form, the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. I liked how it portrayed the character of God, and showed the story from a point of view we don't typically see. I'll probably be reading this aloud in the fall.
Beauty in the Fields
, Anne Tyra Adams and
A Place in the Sun![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vGN7yCYFf9kzZ1yDu0RLoT9s4Y1clJi4apMM2bVhE4ssQDNDcTqmq0PdTKsSdKa7nlQzUsvqUsL6ErCyNBJdfJrRmm1pOq1_EQN6-WrRBeYI42eFXSpxxgiF8ajoOURICyybgFGyTMm4RkIoDgcy7mNt8gQJQ5MYxhSskVifzVtxB3HOY=s0-d)
by Jill Rubalcaba. These two books get to share a spot because they were both very short books. These I also pre-read for next year's studies, and I don't know if I'll be using either of them. In both of the books I had a hard time connecting to the main characters, and never really discovered any purpose or point to the books.
Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_teJPMoejKiFmk7Rz12MSSaMiyl00nyEYXBYZTYS01cA-O-EvTcqYrBfvJss2rKu-dh6Zx67IvDImnCDgP0FQS4ngDD_McUKF3jdhefYR4bX0yMoLgcxVsuG3zDvAI5Ba1XX58FP7E21r98zI4bscu2Y431SFRoIG0G30P4BgqFdkNLprc=s0-d)
, Susan Gregg Gilmore. This was the book chosen for my book club this month. It was fun to read, and very heartwarming. It was sort of a coming-of-age book set in the south. I loved the characters and the writing style; made you feel like you were there, like you knew the people. Fun summer read!