Table Topics and Books I am Reading

I purchased this game at a local store last week. It is called "Table Topics" and I am surprised how fun and great it is for our family. It also looks really neat sitting in the middle of our kitchen table. I know you can buy it at Amazon as well as I am sure many other places on-line.

Anyway, the game just has questions that start conversations. For example, "When are old things, better than new things?" I have played this many times now with just my nuclear family as well as my husband's siblings and with my sister and her family. We have tried it various ways: 1. Have each person draw a question and then they get to pick one person to ask the question to. We also have just drawn one question and had everyone answer it as well as had everyone draw a card they had to answer that question. Regardless, it has been a fun game that everyone can play and I have often been surprised at the answers--especially from my own children. We own the original and family editions.

And, on this same theme, there is a book I keep in the car called, "The Book of Questions." Those questions are more philosophical and my husband and I often have had very heated debates about the topics brought up in that book. I remember in particular one drive down to California . . .

So, here is that latest collection of books I have been reading:

How I Found the Strong by Margaret McMullan: This is a youth historical fiction about the Civil War and it was a fast and good read. When my son is a little older, I will want him to read this.

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly: This is also a youth historical fiction novel and the one my friend Tess chose for Book Club this month. It uses the tragedy that inspired Theodore Dreiser's novel "An American Tragedy" (which is a great book that I read last year. I would highly recommend it) as a back drop to tell the heroine's own personal story. I found this a delightful and surprising read. Things did not turn out how I expected and I loved how the author wove past and present together.

Giants In the Earth by Ole Edvart Rolvaag: I actually read this a few years ago and decided to revisit it. I think anyone with Scandinavian heritage needs to read this to be culturally literate. Great read--even a second time.

Strapless by Deborah Davis: I just started this one and so far I am loving it. It is all focused around a painting done by John Singer Sargent entitled "Madame X".

Oh and I just purchased the Garmin Nuvi 360 navigation system for my husband. My sister owns this exact one and her husband did a ton of research on it and it is so intuitive to use! It is a steal of a deal right now and so if you are looking for a navigation system. . .