Fun Friday…a book recommendation

I don’t often have (or maybe take) the time to read books just for fun. It isn’t that I don’t read. I read aloud to and preview books for the children, my devotionals, my Bible, parenting, and other Christian resource books. However, books just for my pleasure are few and far between.

This summer, I found a series that I fell in love with. I read the first book in a single day. Before small children, this would not have been an unusual occurrence, but it is quite rare these days. Two things were at play, the book was really good, and we were at the beach with family, so the children were otherwise engaged.

I enjoyed the first book so much that I promptly ordered and devoured the second book of the series. I’ve actually ordered books three through six though I don’t expect I’ll read them as fast once we are back to the day-to-day.

The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter

The series is The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter by Susan Wittig Albert. They are funny and engaging, include bits of Victorian English culture and charm, and are loosely based on the life of Beatrix Potter. The stories tell some real facts about her life but add lots of extra people and adventures from the author’s imagination. They are charming books written for adults but with fun and whimsy (and a few talking animals) included.

While there is a touch of romance here and there, they are mostly mystery and adventure stories set in early 20th Century England. It would not be an inappropriate book for children as it does not contain any inappropriate material, but the language and writing level would be difficult for many children. She also uses some dialects and British spelling.

The Value in Reading for Pleasure

As mothers, we often don’t take the time to refill ourselves. We pour out to our families and our communities but forget that we need a full cup from which to pour. Taking a bit of time to read or pursue something that is relaxing and refilling is good for us from time to time. Do not misunderstand, we get our strength from the Lord, but our minds still benefit from a bit of rest and engagement in activities that are fun. I highly recommend this series if you are looking for a great read that is fun without being twaddle.

The first book in the series is the Tale of Hilltop Farm.

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What book/s are you reading right now that are just for fun? Let me know in the comments.

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