CatholicMom-booknotes-logo In one week, we'll be on the cusp of school starting.

I'd say it's hard to believe, that summer has flown by, but really, in my world, that's no different than any other time. Keeping busy has its benefits...

book talk pencils

After the Sharpening Of The 48 Pencils, a task we will NOT be referring to ANYMORE, I'm okay with some book talk. I have a slew of books and oh wow! It's time for the fall releases! Hold on, folks, Book Notes is about to get REALLLLLY busy. {Insert a big smile.}

Recent Reads

Barefoot Summer: A Chapel Springs Romance, by Denise Hunter (fiction, Thomas Nelson, 2013)

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Not a bad, quick read. I found it predictable, but well-written in many ways and entertaining. I think this book is the very definition of beach read, and though I wasn't on a beach, it was pretty enjoyable.

Current Reads

Finding God in the Bible: What Crazy Prophets, Fickle Followers, andDangerous Outlaws Reveal about Friendship with God, by Darren Wilson (Chosen Books, 2013)

Oh, don't be fooled: I still have a whole pile in my currently reading stack. I dropped them all to try to start and finish this one, though, and it's been an interesting journey. I'm finding it jarring in many ways, and I'm sort of surprised that I enjoy it. I'm hoping to finish it today or tomorrow so that I can post about it yet this week at my blog. We'll see how THAT plan goes...

New to My Review Shelf

cover-walkingwithmarySRI

Walking with Mary: A Biblical Journey from Nazareth to the Cross, by Edward Sri (Image Books, 2013)

Oh, oh, oh, am I ever excited about this one! The last book I read by Dr. Sri was about the new translation of the Mass and it was eye-opening and quite a treat to read. (If you're interested, it's called A Biblical Walk through the Mass and I suspect it will transform your Mass-going experience.)

Here's the official blurbage about this latest gem:

Mary appears only a few times in the Bible, but those few passages come at crucial moments. Catholics believe that Mary is the ever-virgin Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven and Earth. But she also was a human being--a woman who made a journey of faith through various trials and uncertainties and endured her share of suffering. Even with her unique graces and vocation, Mary remains a woman we can relate to and from whom we have much to learn.

In Walking with Mary, Edward Sri looks at the crucial passages in the Bible concerning Mary and offers insight about the Blessed Mother's faith and devotion that we can apply in our daily lives. We follow her step-by-step through the New Testament account of her life, reflecting on what the Scriptures tell us about how she responded to the dramatic events unfolding around her.

What have YOU been reading lately?

*Are you on Goodreads? I'll see you there!

Curious about what my ratings mean? Here's an explanation of what the stars mean to me.

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Copyright 2013, Sarah Reinhard