A Well Read Life

The Star That Always Stays with Anna Rose Johnson

It was a delight to chat with Anna Rose Johnson about her new middle-grade novel, The Star That Always Stays. I read this book at the beginning of the summer, and it has remained a favorite read of the season. We talk about Anna Rose's inspiration for the book, a bit of the behind-the-scenes process, and many book recommendations. If you're a fan of Maude Hart Lovelace's writing, you will want to get your hands on a copy of The Star That Always Stays. 
Anna Rose Johnson's website
The Star That Always Stays
Book recommendations from the episode (some titles include my affiliate link to bookshop.org):
Treasure for Debby
Emily of Deep Valley
Jane of Lantern Hill
Heidi
Whose Waves These Are
Up From the Sea
Rosetown
Just Jenifer by Janet Lambert
From Anna Jean Little
 

The Betsy-Tacy Books

Today we continue the series on Reading Like Kathleen Kelly. Up first, I'm featuring Maude Hart Lovelace's delightful series, The Betsy-Tacy books. It was my first time reading the semi-autobiographical stories of the world of Deep Valley and these dear best friends, and I hope you will be as enchanted by them as I was.
 
Affiliate link to the first four books on Bookshop.org:
The Betsy-Tacy Treasury

Reading Like Kathleen Kelly

We start a new series on the podcast today---Reading Like Kathleen Kelly. Think favorite girlhood classics inspired by You've Got Mail and its iconic character bookseller extraordinaire, Kathleen Kelly. Throughout the series, I'll search for the elusive qualities that make up good children's literature, share why they should be read by all ages, and share a couple of debut writers. I hope you'll join me on a topic dear to my heart.

Motherhood and Reading with Katie Marquette

Today I am thrilled to welcome Katie Marquette of the Born of Wonder podcast to the show. Katie is a delight to talk to, and I had the best time chatting about motherhood and reading. We share some of our favorite books, shifting perspectives on re-reads, and books we can't wait to share with our daughters. I hope you enjoy our conversation too!
Born of Wonder
The Genesis of Gender
Bookshop.org affiliate link to books mentioned in the episode:
The Betsy-Tacy Treasury
The Screwtape Letters
In This House of Brede
The Life You Save May be Your Own: An American Pilgrimage
Dr. Zhivago
The Lost Words
The Awakening of Miss Prim
The Scent of Water

The Yearling Part II

It's the last episode in The Yearling series today. I hope you have enjoyed your reading journey with this well-loved classic.
 
Affiliate link to Bookshop.org:
The Yearling

The Yearling Part 1

How can The Yearling inspire us to long for the new heavens and earth? Find out in today's episode.
 
Affiliate link to Bookshop.org:
The Yearling
Cross Creek

The Yearling: An Introduction

I'm back after my months-long hiatus. Today I'm excited to share the first episode in a series about Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' classic, The Yearling. It's a moving story of the year in the life of one family and their farm in rural North Florida in the 1870s. If you haven't read it yet, grab a copy, and join me in reading it this July.
Affiliate link to Bookshop.org:
The Yearling
The Life She Wished to Live
 

Spring Reading

I'll be taking a short break from the podcast during May, but before I do, I wanted to share the books I'll be reading this spring. I hope you'll join me in reading some of these delightful books!
 
Books mentioned this episode with affiliate links to Bookshop.org:
The Miracles of Jesus
Heidi
Henrietta's House
Vows
Til We Have Faces
The Hidden Art of Homemaking
After Prayer
George Herbert

A Tribute to Shirley Hughes

On February 25 of this year, Shirley Hughes, the incomparable illustrator, passed away at 94. Her illustrations are a delight and joy to behold, and her passing leaves a hole in the picture book world. Today I'm sharing a brief tribute to the irreplaceable Shirley Hughes.
 
Shirley Hughes- What Do Artists Do All Day? Pt. 1
Shirley Hughes- What Do Artists Do All Day? Pt. 2

Kristin Lavransdatter: The Cross

I'm back after an unintended short break. Today I'm talking about the last book in the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy, The Cross. Oh, it's a good book, and we finally get to see Kristin's story come full circle. There will be a lot of heartbreak as the trilogy comes to an end, but we will also see beautiful pictures of redemption.