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Emily C Gardner

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25 Bunny Books perfect for Spring
13 Wintery Children’s Books
A Bible Literacy Book Flight
An Advent Book Flight
An Epistolary Book Flight

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Thank you, @hqstories + @harpercollinsus for the free books. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I think Wuthering Heights is an overrated classic (*ahem* #literaryconfessions), but am I thrilled to have this gorgeous edition on my shelf - I am. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ My dislike of the entire story aside, I do think Heathcliff is an interesting character. In Ill Will, Michael Stewart imagines the past that produces such a tragic, tortured Heathcliff in Emily Brontë’s novel. This seems like a great dark, but not scary, book to pick up in October. (Hardcover is out, paperback out in Jan.) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you’ve been around here for a bit, you know that I’m an HSP who can’t do thrillers or gruesome mysteries. But I’m discovering an affinity for gothic novels, things with a slow creep and subtle chills. Maybe that’s why I loved Rebecca and have a soft spot for Northanger Abbey... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ My current read - Shadow of the Wind - also has the gothic vibe. Any other recommendations?

What a week... Work deadlines for our annual leadership conference have snuck up on me and some distracting health hiccups have made it pretty quiet around here. So I’m jumping into #fridayintroductions to say Hi! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’m Emily, SoCal native living in Eastern Pennsylvania with my youth pastor husband and two small kiddos. We love to be outdoors, find new coffee shops (like the one in this photo from a couple weekends ago), and go on road trips. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I feel like I say the exact same thing in every one of these introduction posts, so if you have a question - book life, mom life, spiritual life, whatever - throw them in the comments or in the box in my story and we’ll get to know each other that way 😊. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Have a great weekend, Book Buds!

Thrift stores are some of my favorite places to find used books. When we lived in Coeur d’Alene we were lucky to have a slew of options with huge book sections. Unfortunately, the few in our current vicinity have slim pickings. _ But last weekend, in an effort to support a thrift store where donations stay local and benefit a good cause, we found a fantastic one that’s only a little farther afield. _ It has a book room (enough said) with all books nicely shelved. This is what I walked away with for $3.98. _ See any favorites?

Sat down with my #dailyremain (more on this sometime soon because I love it) to keep moving through Jeremiah, but after a tough morning I felt like something lyrical and pretty would be more of the deep breath I needed. _ I ended up here, in Psalm 103 + 104, being reminded that the God who “established the earth on its foundations” is certainly big enough to help carry my small burdens. And when I yell at my kids and fail to be a good example of His love to others, He is there with faithful love and compassion. _ Deep breath indeed.

Dreaming of what I’d like my reading life to look like for the rest of the year (and especially in to autumn). Slow. Comforting. Contemplative. _ Harry Potter: Along with Austen and @sniequist, HP has garnered my most rereads. Feeling like it’s time for another round. _ Animal, Vegetable, Miracle was my first and only introduction to @iambkingsolver. (So good.) I’ve wanted to read The Poisonwood Bible since I saw a friend reading it in our HS English class. _ Fallen off the #missreadalong bandwagon and want to hop back on. _ The Grey Ghost is part of a mystery series mentioned in To Kill A Mockingbird. _ I only have two (series of 4) of these beautiful editions from L’Engle. Been wanting to read these forever (an @annebogel recommendation) and find the last two to complete the series. _ What are you wanting out of your fall reading?

What a great month for bookish non-fiction. Book Girl by @sarahwanders released on Tuesday and it was a nourishing read for me for two reasons. _ MY BOOKISH IDENTITY: Sarah's commentary on being a woman who reads spurred some fun personal reflection. Because I've been a life-long reader, I'm not sure I had ever specifically considered how the books I've read shaped me as a woman. Here's a couple examples from various seasons in my life: _ 1. I devoured The Christy Miller series by Robin Jones Gunn as a tween and adopted her outlook about Christian dating for the next few years (maybe that's why I didn't date as an adolescent...😂). But I'm pretty sure I was not the only girl who was faithfully waiting for her sandy haired, surfer with electric blue eyes to give her white carnations. Did I borrow the latest "married years" installment from one of our high school students a couple years ago. I did. Did I just look them up and realize RJG is still churning out the baby years. I did. Am I tempted to buy them. I am. _ 2. Heroines like Anne, Nancy, Emma, Scout, Jane, Hermione, and Christy modeled what it looked like to be a woman of integrity and intelligence, that it was valuable to be brave and curious. _ 3. I am three years in to raising my own little woman and feel both the weight and extreme pleasure of introducing her to the reading life and the women she will adopt as role models. _ THE BOOK LISTS: The well-curated and themed book lists are a treasure. I've read and enjoyed enough of the books she mentions to know our taste is similar which makes me excited about what she recommends that I have yet to read including classics like The Mill on The Floss, Pilgrim's Inn and more contemporary fiction from authors like Wendell Berry, Marilynne Robinson and Annie Dillard. I'm also excited to add a few fantasy/fairy tale titles to my TBR (something I don't read often unless it's Harry Potter). _ I would really love to know how reading and books has shaped your identity!

“Shakespeare said the eyes are the windows to the soul, but we readers know one’s bookshelves reveal just as much.” - @annebogel _ Thanks to @readbakerbooks for the copy of Anne’s lovely new release, I’d Rather Be Reading. _ What a beautiful ode to the wonders of books and reading. Not only are the cover and illustrations charming, but the essays will make any reader’s heart swell with understanding and agreement. _ One of my favorite chapters is Keep Reading, where Anne makes a case for reading the acknowledgements. Many an Author’s Note and Acknowledgment section has changed my view of an entire book and now I ALWAYS take time to read them. _ And because flowers, like books, are a joy in my life... these pictured are Chinese Forget-Me-Nots that came in a mixed cutting-flower packet I bought late in the season. They did really well in our poor soil and the longer stocks make them wonderful for bouquets.

Sorry, I’m booked... Hoping this adorable tote from @carrottoppapershop (which I won in a giveaway) reflects this Monday off.

Thanks to the tagged publishers for the free books! #partner _ All six books I finished in August were super enjoyable. Longer reviews on previous posts but here’s a quick overview. _ Christmas By Accident: Charming holiday read with fun characters and a love of books woven throughout. 3⭐️ _ Becoming Mrs. Lewis: A must read for Lewis fans and an interesting look at how others influence our lives and work. 4⭐️ _ Book Girl: My TBR explodes after reading this book-list/memoir hybrid. Made me think about how books have shaped my world-view. 4.5⭐️ _ To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (3 book series): This is my fifth day in a row with these books in a photo so you know they were loved. They weren’t all 5⭐️ books but you will absolutely want to read all of them and the series as a whole is 5⭐️. _ What was your favorite book from August?

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