The Big White Farmhouse

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Last week, I tried to read 1,000 pages in seven days!  (Around this time last year, I tried to read 24 out of 48 hours, so this has become an unofficial winter tradition.)   1,000 pages equals about 143 pages a day, which is a lot!  I knew going in that I probably wouldn’t be completely successful due to all of my other commitments, but still figured it would be a fun way to spend a chilly winter week.  Here’s how it went:

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14

Day One and a strong start to the challenge!  I started out the day reading two chapters of our school read aloud for January, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming.  Really cute so far.

Later in the afternoon, with school finished and everyone off doing their own thing, I focused on a book I promised to read and review for Netgalley called Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson.  I’ve been reading it off and on since October and have had such a hard time getting into it.  Today was the day that I pushed through and finished!  Thankfully, it started to pick up some speed at about halfway through.  It was a decent story and had some thought provoking moments.  I’m sure I’ll have more thoughts with my end of month wrap up.

Before bed, I chose The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life by Father Charles Arminjon.  How about that for a bedtime pick me up, ha!  St. Therese of Lisieux, my Confirmation saint, is quoted as saying that this book was one of the greatest graces of her life, so I’m happy to finally read it for myself.

Total pages read: 214

SATURDAY, JANUARY 15

A big storm was in the forecast for Sunday, so I spent the morning in preparation mode: getting the animals warm and ready, moving fencing, loading up on firewood, and doing all of the laundry in case we lose power.  I finally sat down with a cup of coffee in the afternoon and read a chapter from Let Them Eat Dirt: Saving Your Child from an Oversanitized World by B. Brett Finlay, PhD and Marie-Claire Arriera, PhD.  I can already tell that this one is going to be a catalyst for further research.

At bedtime, I tried to keep reading but promptly fell asleep after five pages.  Oops!

Total pages read: 39

SUNDAY, JANUARY 16

After debating the odds of getting to Mass and back before the snow, we ultimately decided to play it safe and stay home.  That turned out to be the right decision since the snow started thick and heavy and didn’t let up all afternoon!  In the morning, I pulled out The End of the Present World again so I could finish the second chapter.  This one was all about the Antichrist – whew!

Later, I picked up my book club book for January, The Violent Bear It Away by Flannery O’Connor.  (I need to get moving on this one; our meeting is next week!)  I read off and on all afternoon into bedtime and got a significant chunk finished.

Total pages read: 108

MONDAY, JANUARY 17

A day off of school and work for our family!  I spent the morning keeping busy inside while everyone else shoveled the driveway or played in the snow.  (This snowfall wasn’t quite as fun as last time – very icy and crunchy.)  I was able to read a bit more from Let Them Eat Dirt and I’m learning so much about the pros and cons of antibiotic use and the importance of probiotics.

At bedtime, I went back to The Violent Bear It Away.  I wanted to finish the last half, but my eyes were drooping with forty pages to go.  Tomorrow!

Total pages read: 116

TUESDAY, JANUARY 18

Day five!  With just three days to go, I calculated that I would now need to read 174 pages a day to get back on track.  A tall order!  I started the day with two more chapters of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for read aloud.  The kids beg for more, but my voice can only hold out for so many pages.

When the kids went out to sled in the afternoon, I finished the last few chapters of The Violent Bear It Away.  I closed the book and my first thought was, “What in the world did I just read?!”  I know there are many Catholic themes and imagery throughout, but I think I need someone to fully flesh it all out for me.  Really looking forward to book club next week.

Later, I cozied up in bed early and started All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner.  This is a historical fiction novel about a family during the Vietnam War era.  I read about 90 pages before falling asleep.  Solid three stars so far.

Total pages read: 166

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19

For school, I finished reading the last two chapters of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with the kids.  We really liked it!  I ordered the 1960s movie of the same title (with Dick Van Dyke) and we look forward to seeing how accurately it follows the story.

The rest of Wednesday was a blur.  So much going on and no time to sit down and read!  Such is life… I feel like this week is a pretty accurate representation of how I fit my reading in those little pockets of free time.  Sometimes there’s a big stretch, sometimes there are only a few minutes, sometimes I don’t pick up a single book until bedtime.  Every day is a little different.

At bedtime, I read about half of a chapter from Let Them Eat Dirt and then returned to All Manner of Things.

Total pages read: 128

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20

A cold, overcast winter day seemed like the right kind of day to wrap up this challenge.  We picked a new read aloud for school, Ben and Me by Robert Lawson.  The book is about Benjamin Franklin and a mouse named Amos and it has a bit of a Ratatouille feel!  While the kids did their math, I was also able to read a few more pages in Let Them Eat Dirt.  I’m learning so much!

I had high hopes of getting into bed early and hitting that 1,000 page goal by finishing All Manner of Things.  Ahh, you know what they say about best-laid plans…

Total pages read: 110

FINAL THOUGHTS AND STATS

With a little bit of planning and a blind eye to chores, I definitely think I could accomplish this 1,000 pages in a week goal someday.  I think the key is finding another small pocket of time in the afternoon, since I often fall asleep quickly while reading at bedtime.  Maybe next year!

Total pages read: 881
Books finished: 3