The RAHM Report for 6/25/18

What I Finished Reading

• Our Library by Phyllis R. Fenner ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  This was a fascinating look at schools and school libraries of the 1930s. I enjoyed reading all the anecdotes about using the card catalog, luring kids to the library with the victrola, and storytelling. Though times have changed, much about libraries has not, and it was fun comparing the similarities and differences between then and now.
• Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren ⭐⭐
  I tried a few times to read this as a kid and never got into it. As an adult, I just flat-out disliked it. Pippi is an obnoxious child and I don't find any of her behavior funny. My kids, however, loved her, and I had to read the entire book aloud. The rest of the series they'll have to read on their own when they're ready because I don't plan to read anymore myself.
• Back Yard Angel by Judy Delton ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  I found this book on Open Library after seeing a post from @yearlingreads on Instagram. It's a little slice of life story about Caroline, known as Angel, who must often look after her brother, Theodore, who is nicknamed Rags, because their mother is a single mom who is very nervous about her kids' safety. Angel was a believable and sympathetic character, and I'm excited to read more from this series.
• My Backyard History Book by David Weitzer ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  I read this book in two sittings as part of my preparation for homeschooling kindergarten starting in the Fall. We're going to introduce history by exploring our family tree and the memories of our relatives.

Did Not Finish

• The House that Lou Built by Mae Respicio
  The writing style in this book was just too flat and straightforward for me. I didn't feel any warmth or humor, and then the main character and her friends started lecturing the boys in their class about the contributions of women throughout history, and it began to feel too preachy. I wasn't invested enough in the story by that point to stick it out, so I put it on the DNF shelf.

What I'm Currently Reading

• The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis by Max Shulman 76%
  These stories are clever, but a lot of them at once gets old, so I'm still just reading a story now and then. I expect to finish the book this week. 
• Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen, audiobook read by Stina Neilsen 49%
  Listening to this audiobook has been such a great dose of nostalgia for me. The story really holds up well, and I'm remembering how much I loved the book the first time I read it, almost 20 years ago. 
• Italian Iced by Kylie Logan (ARC) 34%
  This is a well-written and tightly plotted mystery. I haven't read any others from the series, but that hasn't been a problem so far, and I'm enjoying all the characters.  I've been curious about this author for a while, and I think I'll be looking for more of her books after this one. 
• The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny 28%
  I haven't been in a Louise Penny mood lately, but I am intrigued by this mystery and will get back to it soon. 
• The Sparrow Child by Meriol Trevor 17%
  This is not my favorite Trevor book so far, but it does seem to forecast the themes that make her The Rose Round  such a perfect book. I'm enjoying it mainly because of that connection.

I'll be linking up today with Unleashing Readers/Teach Mentor Texts and Book Date for It's Monday! What Are You Reading?