The RAHM Report for 7/9/18

What I Finished Reading

• The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis by Max Shulman ⭐⭐⭐
  I finally finished the last story in this collection this week. The stories were pleasant diversions and it was fun to see the inspiration for the sit-com, but the jokes are all very similar and after a while, they did get old. I don't feel the need to read anymore Max Shulman. 
• One Beautiful Dream: The Rollicking Tale of Family Chaos, Personal Passions, and Saying Yes to Them Both by Jennifer Fulwiler ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  This is my new favorite book. Jennifer Fulwiler's sense of humor really resonates with me and I related to her struggle to balance her interest in writing with the demands of a young, growing family. I both laughed and cried while reading and I think every Catholic mom should read this book.  (Also, the negative comments about natural family planning in the Goodreads reviews make me cringe. NFP Awareness Week is coming up, and apparently we need it!) 
• So Done by Paula Chase (ARC) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  This forthcoming middle grade novel is really excellent. I will have a review on the blog in August after my reviewing break is over.
• Revolutionizing Education in America: The TOTIL Method by Doris Leclerc Ball ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  My husband read this and then suggested I read it quickly as well. The author focuses on time on task and the ability of students to learn mostly independently once they can read. It was interesting information to file away for future homeschooling use. 
• The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen, audiobook read by Stina Neilsen ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  I loved this book much more on the second reading. There was so much I didn't remember, including the amazing character development and the issues between Macy and her mom. 
• The Happy Hollisters at Sea Gull Beach by Jerry West ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  I started reading this aloud to my four-year-old in May, but we sort of forgot about it for a while. Finally, I sat her down and read her the last three chapters in one sitting so we could finish it out.  

What I'm Currently Reading

• Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen, audiobook read by Rachel Botchan 50%
  I'm on a roll with these Sarah Dessen audiobooks. Because it has references to both Keeping the Moon and The Truth About Forever, which I just read, it wound up being the perfect follow-up to those even though I mostly just chose it because there were no holds on it at the library. 
• A Mothers Rule of Life: How to Bring Order to Your Home and Peace to Your Soul by Holly Pierlot 19%
  Book club is coming up a week from Thursday, so this book will be more of a priority as that gets closer. I really like it, but I don't want to finish too early and forget everything by the time the discussion takes place. 
• The Rolling Stones by Robert Heinlein 18%
  The dialogue in this book is really great, and the story moves quickly. I hope to be able to devote enough time to it in the next couple of days that I can finish it.  
• Decked by Carol Higgins Clark 8%
  This has been on my nightstand for months, and I finally picked it up over the weekend. It's decent so far.
• Midnight Snacks Are Murder by Libby Klein (ARC) 6%
  I started this because I thought I was ready to dive right into another cozy after finishing Italian Iced But it turns out I need a bit of a palate cleanse. Hopefully I'll be more in the mood for it by the end of this week.

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