Saturday Book Musings: Episode 2

[@amyd9821]

I love these Saturday Book Musings! Our oldest daughter has chronic fatigue - her main symptom left from Lyme disease - she has many of the Adventure in Odyssey episodes practically memorized because they were such a comfort to her to listen to while in bed. My book for non fiction book for November is The Kingdom, the Power and the Glory by Tim Alberta. Very interesting book by a well respected journalist.

[@josmith5992]

I think you have something for every reading mood there Kate! Some heavier non fiction, some fantasy, cozy reads, essays, children’s books and Victorian, you alone must keep your librarians busy! I don’t know much about ancient Egypt either so the Egyptian Queen book sounds fascinating. I wont be reading much of anything in November but can still live vicariously through my reader friends!

[@protagonistspub]

Kate, your enthusiasm is jumping off the screen, and I love it! I missed Adventures in Odyssey, and we don't have kids. But I grew up falling asleep to Old Time Radio growing up, and I can fully appreciate the joy audio stories bring. 😊

[@jensreadinglife]

I am so impressed that you are reading through the presidential biographies! I’ll be looking forward to seeing my how it goes for you. And Adventures in Odyssey sounds lovely. I’m going to check it out. Such a lovely video as always Kate! ❤

[@rebeccaharris4823]

Adventures in Odyssey 🥰🥰🥰 I've been listening since the first episode and it was definitely over 30 years ago!!! 😁

[@katehowereads]

@@rebeccaharris4823 So fun that you love it too!

[@grandmaliciastorytime]

I love this video! So fun. I just listened to Confronting the Presidents by Bill O'Reilly and it was fascinating, with a chapter on each U.S. president. I think you might enjoy it. Caddie Woodlawn was my FAVORITE read aloud when my children were little. In the old days, our audio books were cassettes from the library. I had checked out Caddie Woodlawn to listen to on a road trip with the kids, and my cassette player ate one of the tapes. So I had to pay the library for the whole set of cassettes. But then I got to keep them. Whenever I had a child sick on the couch, they listened to Caddie Woodlawn! We still quote it today ("If at first you don't fricasee...")

[@myreadinglife8816]

💯 agree that it is comforting to read about these historical presidents and the cyclical nature of things. This is much needed! So interesting that the McCullough biography of Adams didn’t work for you. JQA is the coolest! So glad you picked up the project!

[@katehowereads]

@@myreadinglife8816 I was so glad that just finding the right book reinvigorated my energy for the project! I am so eager for Teddy Roosevelt's three part biography but I have quite a ways to go 🤣

[@MarcelaChandía]

I love this format!!! It is like sitting with a friend and talking about books ❤

[@katehowereads]

@@MarcelaChandía Aww, thanks so much!!

[@ishah4714]

Enjoyed your library haul and your journey reading through presidential history. I too have an interest in history, and a desire to read and learn all the things!! The struggle to not get piles of books out from the library ( or order them ) is real 😂 Thanks for sharing ❤

[@katehowereads]

@@ishah4714 Thanks! There are just so many fascinating things in the world.

[@meghanthestorygirl4581]

I love Adventures in Odyssey!! It's been a while since I've listened to them, but I love that your whole family is into it now! Also, that makes me so happy you're reading Rilla! I adapted it for the stage a number of years ago and played Rilla 😊

[@katehowereads]

@@meghanthestorygirl4581 I finished Rilla today and it gets a huge 5 stars from me!

[@rebeccaharris4823]

I'm just smiling so much listening to you describe the episodes. ❤️❤️❤️ Do or Diet is such a favorite... Relatively Annoying is a huge family favorite of ours. 3 generations of our family just love it. We loved it before my siblings and I married and had children and now our children love it.

[@katehowereads]

@@rebeccaharris4823 It is the most fun to share it with my boys! We have just entered the Novacom era and I am having the most fun seeing their big eyes while we listen.

[@sandra3616]

I smiled when I started watching this post today. One of my sons called today from university, and we were talking about All Saints and All Souls Days. We were trying to figure something out, and he said that they had said (whatever it was) on Adventures in Odyssey. It's amazing how often little things like that come up.

[@insearchofwonder]

I didn't grow up on Adventures in Odyssey, although I was familiar with it and did hear some episodes. But when my kids were little, we listened to it all the time, and we were club members for quite a few years, until very recently in fact. They loved Odyssey!

[@darrylfriesen]

Kate, I love the eclectic nature of this new series of videos! AIO forever!! It’s so funny-as a Canadian, each time you referenced a president as “controversial,” I was like, “Huh! Why so?!” 😂😂😂 I know SO little about American presidential history!!

[@katehowereads]

@@darrylfriesen Thank you, Darryl! Haha! I was forgetting about my international audience!

[@insearchofwonder]

I LOVE Rilla of Ingleside. My favorite of the series after the first one.

[@lorenwarnemuende3555]

Rilla of Ingleside-one of my favorites! I hope you love it. Re: Andrew Jackson-I had to read a biography in 11th grade. No idea which one, but I sort of slogged through it. I had no great interest or grasp of that part of history; somehow I think I’d appreciate it much more now!

[@Movingthebookmark]

The President project is fascinating. You will have SO much knowledge On American history. Very very cool!

[@katehowereads]

@@Movingthebookmark It is such a fun way to learn! I have trouble staying attentive to topical nonfiction so learning through biographies is perfect for me.

[@faithbooks7906]

I just read One Man’s Meat this past winter. I really enjoyed it. Not only for the New England farmer vibe but it was so interesting looking at historical events as they happened through his eyes. I love James Madison. He was such a genius! I have seen both his and Monroe’s homes which are nearby each other and both were not too far from Monticello. I read a pretty good biography of him by Brookhiser. My husband read that Rimini book on Jackson. A few years ago I stalled out after Monroe. But I think Polk sounds pretty interesting. I would like to read about him.

[@katehowereads]

@@faithbooks7906 So good to hear your endorsement of One Man's Meat! I desperately want to visit the Monroe and Madison houses and Monticello some day!

[@mitzireadsandwrites]

I've been wanting to read through the presidents, too. I think I'll start that as a project next year. I love American history, so I'm not sure why I don't pick up more of these!

[@katehowereads]

@@mitzireadsandwrites It would be so fun to hear what you think about different biographies and presidents!

[@lindseyreads5450]

I love EB Whites writing! I discovered his nonfiction writing last year and want to read more from him. 😊

[@protagonistspub]

Presidential biographies are fascinating glimpses into history. Adams was definitely a grump but his relationship with Abigail is one of my favorite of historical figures.

[@katehowereads]

@@protagonistspub Yes! Such a great way to get an in depth look at the timeline of America. Totally agree that I loved their relationship! Isn't actual love being committed to someone despite their character flaws?

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

I only read Introductions in nonfiction books. (I forget to read them in fiction books but usually they spoil books i haven't read yet). I've found they (at least the ones I've read) give me background or info i need to know to understand the meat of the book. I love your enthusiasm for the Presidential biographies. I don't want to take the time to read all of them so i like hearing what stands out for you. I'm hoping I love Framley Parsonage. I got hooked last night now that Lucy AND Griselda are in the story.😅 I know I'll love Hannah Coulter! (At least I hope so).

[@katehowereads]

@@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD So glad you enjoy getting to hear my takeaways from the biographies! Can't wait to hear what you think of the rest of Framley Parsonage!

[@heatherinoklahoma]

I enjoyed your book chat! I miss our chats after church about books! I am going to look for the Hugenot book. I really enjoyed reading about that period in history. The book that I am hoping to read in November is After Anne a novel about LM Montgomery. ❤

[@alldbooks9165]

I hope you enjoy Emily Wilde. I was highly skeptical but ended up delighted. It was one of those books that I immediately checking the pub date of the sequel as soon as I finished the first (and second).

[@katehowereads]

@@alldbooks9165 I hope I go from skeptical to delighted as well! I do love it when I have new releases to be excited about.

[@AmberLee-ge7eh]

I love reading about the founding fathers!

[@katehowereads]

@@AmberLee-ge7eh It is so fascinating!

[@AmandaJHMorton]

I'm right there with you about so many interesting things to learn and explore through books. One book at a time. I need to focus on what I'm currently reading.

[@anniehaynes6564]

Jan Karon's Mitford books are absolute treasures. I agree that they are balm for the soul. ❤ Are you aware that she's currently writing a new one? I love your channel and I'm so glad this new format is working well.

[@katehowereads]

@@anniehaynes6564 Oh my goodness!! This is the most exciting news!

[@marshacasner1800]

Love your videos, no matter which kind you do!!! I always watch but never comment, but your videos are so great.

[@katehowereads]

@@marshacasner1800 So lovely that you took the time to leave a comment! I'm so glad you found my channel. 💜

[@msrichardsreads]

Green rider is a fun series. I’ve read all but the last one out, and I would give the series 4 stars overall.

[@msrichardsreads]

I am loving these updates! ❤

[@katehowereads]

@@msrichardsreads Yay!! Good to hear you enjoyed it!

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

I'm sorry David McCullough wasn't for you, because that was one my favorites, but I want to read John Adams: A Life by John Ferling now. I enjoyed reading about the relationship Adams and Jefferson and how complicated it was. I recently purchased Thomas Jefferson: A Life by Willard Sterne Randall and Abigail Adams by Woody Holton.

[@Mrs.E_78]

There’s an Adventures in Odyssey time travel book series! I think it’s called Imagination Station. My kids read them when they were young.

[@katehowereads]

@@Mrs.E_78 Yes! I definitely want my boys to try some of the books.

[@Lucy-z8h5g]

Hi Kate, I love the format and casual vibe of these car videos :) Adventures in Odyssey sounds great! I (like many others) was negatively impacted by purity culture, which Focus on the Family played a big role in, so I'm ambivalent...super interested in AIO but apprehensive as to whether it explores any purity culture style topics in similar ways to FotF. Also, super random, but you remind me a lot of Rachel Denhollander! I don't know whether you know of her - she's a trauma survivor I really look up to - a person whose faith has grown and developed in the midst of much suffering. She's articulate and intelligent like you. Someone I don't know personally: she's a public figure and does a lot of work advocating for survivors of sexual abuse.

[@deblawrence8341]

Hi Kate! I so enjoy these car chats with you. I cannot help but think if I was sitting in the passenger's seat and we were talking face-to-face, that we'd be there all day. 😄 This collection of books is amazing! I love that you're reading all those biographies on the presidents. I think you'll find with Andrew Jackson that he had to make hard decisions and didn't have much leeway. That's one of the things about being a leader: having to make the tough decisions. But that's also why we read about history, to see why things happened the way they did. I don't read fantasy personally, but adored "Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries," and picked it up because of the whole fairy exploration story line, but also because it's about a young lady who's a social bumble whose best friend is her dog. What's not to love? I went into the book very open mindedly with the hope of getting lost in another world and enjoying the characters. I did! And Poe. Sad little Poe. I just loved him. Two more things, if you don't mind! I live very close to Harriet Tubman's home in Auburn, NY, and was just saying to my husband that we should revisit it as we haven't gone in quite sometime. Also, in New Paltz, NY, there is what's called Historic Huguenot Street. Here is their website in case you're interested: www.huguenotstreet.org/home P.s. I read the Introductions last. 😉

[@katehowereads]

@@deblawrence8341 Thanks so much! I am so glad this style of video is enjoyable for you!

[@karenbird6727]

I have read several books by Chernow, including Alexander Hamilton, and his book on Grant. They are so good. I highly recommend Doris Kearns Goodwin's Presidential biographies. One note on John Adams, he encouraged John Quincy to start his diaries.

[@katehowereads]

@@karenbird6727 I would definitely be interested in his Grant biography! That is so cool about John Adams!

[@lisabailes1065]

Awwwwww! I used to listen to Adventures in Odyssey during the 90s - both on the radio and on cassette. I loved Whit!! I’m so glad you are enjoying it again. And you make me want to read about John Quincey Adams. I know very little about him. Lastly.. “SOME PIG”!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@katehowereads]

@@lisabailes1065 Whit is the absolute best 😍😭😍😭 He feels so real to me. Some pig indeed! 🐷

[@protagonistspub]

The audio for the Green Rider series is terrific! I'm making my way through the series and thoroughly charmed! You will enjoy it. 😊😊

[@katehowereads]

@@protagonistspub Oooh! Maybe I'll have to try it on audio!

[@marenlatham4349]

I am loving this style of video!!

[@the_bookish_took5348]

I love AIO!!! It's so cool that you're talking about it!

[@katehowereads]

@@the_bookish_took5348 It's the absolute best!

[@dianameister475]

I loved listening to AIO with my son years ago - hope to find them now to share w/ my grandkids. Im also involved w/ presidential bios, but not necessarily reading consecutively altho I really enjoy the ones I’ve read. I’m also trying to read First Lady bios.

[@katehowereads]

@@dianameister475 That's fun that you also read First Lady bios!

[@kimhoot2044]

I was wondering how your president biography project was going. Thanks for the update!

[@mitzireadsandwrites]

I'm so glad you mentioned the David McCullough book! I've tried a couple of his that were highly recommended and never finished either one! Hmmm, maybe he's not for me.

[@katehowereads]

@@mitzireadsandwrites I was surprised to not get on with his writing. Glas it wasn't just me!

[@katsbooks2631]

I loved One Man’s Meat when I read it a few years ago. I really enjoy reading E.B. White’s nonfiction and wish it got more attention.

[@katehowereads]

@@katsbooks2631 I'm really enjoying it so far!

[@ashgarstin4307]

I love the low key videos! I'm hoping to finally get to A.A. Milne's Peace With Honour for non fiction November.

[@katehowereads]

@@ashgarstin4307 Thank you, Ash! I would love to hear what you end up thinking of Peace with Honour.

[@BorderCollieInALibrary]

What a fantastic list of biographies. I will be looking for a copy of Jefferson's biography. Hopefully, my library has one. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Emily Wylde 😊

[@katehowereads]

@@BorderCollieInALibrary I hope they do! It was absolutely fascinating.

[@RaineyDayReads]

I love these cozy car chats! And don’t worry, I keep forgetting my new channel name too. 😂 I can’t wait to chat some more about Hopes and Fears!

[@katehowereads]

@@RaineyDayReads Thank you, Rainey! Lololol

[@darrylfriesen]

Rilla!!! ❤❤❤❤

[@theresas709]

That is very interesting about the Vice-President. I didn't know that either. I am really looking forward to The Lord God Made Them All. I also want to finish some books I have had going for a while

[@mitzireadsandwrites]

Have you ever read Onward and Upward in the Garden by Katharine White, EB White's wife? My favorite read this past spring.

[@katehowereads]

@@mitzireadsandwrites oooh! I am intrigued!

[@ladytaliastorm8882]

Please, once you read Emily Wilde's E. of F. - get the audio book. My suggestion is to definitely read the book first - than all those names and places will make sense on the audio. The reader(s) are superb!

[@katehowereads]

@@ladytaliastorm8882 I do love audiobooks!

[@nugswhite4645]

Adventures in Odyssey has a podcast.

[@darrylfriesen]

Hopes and Fears!!! ❤❤❤❤

[@katehowereads]

@@darrylfriesen 💜🎉💜🎉💜

[@protagonistspub]

For non-fiction November the book I am looking forward to is Shakespeare's Sisters by zramie Targoff

[@katehowereads]

@@protagonistspub It would be interesting to learn about his family!

[@protagonistspub]

@katehowereads It isn't about his family, rather it is about published women contemporary authors of his. It is in large part a refute of Virginia Wolf's misguided belief that women were to involved being subservient to men to write, let alone publish.

[@katehowereads]

@protagonistspub ooh! Interesting!

[@carrie-leehurzeler7413]

Just wait until you get to Warren G Harding! 😳

[@katehowereads]

@@carrie-leehurzeler7413 Can't wait!