Originally Posted by cadybh 
I'm also rereading Anna Karenina. I read it first in high school and didn't really get it because I didn't have enough life experience. It's been fascinating to reread as a married adult who has a child. It's slow going though. :)
Did you see there's a movie adaptation coming out with Keira Knightley?
Jumping into this thread--I've heard good things about the Anna Karenina movie from a reviewer in the UK! Can't wait to see it here, although I don't know why Keira Knightly is the go-to actress for every literary movie these days!
Right now I'm reading Drop Dead Healthy by A.J. Jacobs, subtitled "One Man's Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection." It's a really funny book and perfect for anyone who enjoys reading books about health, scientific studies, etc!
I just finished Garment of Shadows by Laurie R. King--is anyone familiar with her? She's created a great spin-off series of Sherlock Holmes and his much younger female partner, Mary Russell. The first book in the series is The Beekeeper's Apprentice; if anyone is looking for a smart, fun mystery read, check it out!
I noticed some of you are reading homeschool books--me too! I have Elizabeth Foss's book, but haven't gotten too far in it yet. I start to lose motivation when I am reading books that seem too far down the road to be applicable...but I want to read that one! I'm currently reading The Year of Learning Dangerously: Adventures in Homeschooling by Quinn Cummings. It's a funny memoir of a woman's experiences when she first pulled her daughter out of school and tried to figure out the right homeschool style for them.
I'm about to re-start reading The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson, which I haven't opened since I was pregnant with DS 3 years ago! I always have bookmarks in half a dozen books or more, but I am trying to stay more focused on 1-2 at a time so I can actually finish them in a timely manner! =)
I read a ton of pregnancy & birth books last time around, not sure which ones I will revisit. I didn't read Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way last time, may do that this time as my Bradley refresher...
I read Pushed by Jennifer Block over the weekend. A great read for anyone contemplating a OB/Hospital birth so they can go into it knowing what they are up against.
I also got Husband Coached Childbirth by Robert A Bradley and am nearly finished it too. I did like a few things he mentioned, but also found him very prescriptive and at times contradictory. I am not completely comfortable with the notion that only "properly trained" women can birth naturally, and he still seems to favor birthing positions that are easier for the doctor rather than the mother. That said I do think it was an interesting read, and glad I've spent the time on it.
The 3rd book (I borrowed them all from the library on Friday) which I hope to get to later this week is Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering by Sarah J Buckley. I tried to get a copy of this book during my last pregnancy and couldn't find a copy anywhere, so I was very excited to see it at the library. I love Dr Buckley's website and looking forward to reading a book from a doctor who has done this all the way she has written about.
I'm also rereading Anna Karenina. I read it first in high school and didn't really get it because I didn't have enough life experience. It's been fascinating to reread as a married adult who has a child. It's slow going though. :)
You are a brave, brave woman. I can't read Tolstoy, I would never finish reading another book! I attempted, but failed, twice. Then I decided there were too many other things to read. Of course, I detest Hemingway, and I read 3 of his books for school of course. Maybe I'll try it again, it's been 15 years.
I read Pushed by Jennifer Block over the weekend. A great read for anyone contemplating a OB/Hospital birth so they can go into it knowing what they are up against.
The 3rd book (I borrowed them all from the library on Friday) which I hope to get to later this week is Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering by Sarah J Buckley. I tried to get a copy of this book during my last pregnancy and couldn't find a copy anywhere, so I was very excited to see it at the library. I love Dr Buckley's website and looking forward to reading a book from a doctor who has done this all the way she has written about.
I am interested in reading both of these books, I hope I can find them to borrow while I am stateside in November.
I'm rereading Mayo Clinic's Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy - it has little week by week synopses of what's going on with fetal development.
I'm also rereading Anna Karenina. I read it first in high school and didn't really get it because I didn't have enough life experience. It's been fascinating to reread as a married adult who has a child. It's slow going though. :)
I am looking for something LIGHT and FUN and FICTIONAL for afterward. Was thinking maybe of Swamplandia! Has anybody read that? I also really want to read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Weeks (or whatever her name was) but I worry it's not going to be enough of a fluff break after Tolstoy.
OMG cadybh, this is my FAVORITE book! I've read it about 5 or 6 times now. 
Jackie, if you have an interest in exploring Tolstoy, I suggest picking up an anthology of his short stories (actually, I wouldn't be surprised if you can get some of his short stories free or very very cheap if you have an e-reader. Happily Ever After and The Cossacks are both really good! (I'm a Tolstoy junkie if you couldn't tell.)
I'm reading three books currently; Pregnancy Sucks (DH picked it up at the library for me), Dead Pan on my phone/ipad, and Double Dexter on my kindle. I highly suggest reading the Dexter series as there's just something about reading about a serial killer that seems to ease the homicidal urge one may or may not experience thanks to morning sickness...or maybe that's just me...
I'm torn on pregnancy books. On the one hand I need to know this stuff, on the other Pregnancy Sucks may have caused a slight 'OH MY GOD I CAN'T DO THIS!' freakout two nights ago. How does one balance the need to be informed while not freaking out about the whole 'this is going to get worse!' and 'how the hell am I supposed to give birth' thing?
I'm torn on pregnancy books. On the one hand I need to know this stuff, on the other Pregnancy Sucks may have caused a slight 'OH MY GOD I CAN'T DO THIS!' freakout two nights ago. How does one balance the need to be informed while not freaking out about the whole 'this is going to get worse!' and 'how the hell am I supposed to give birth' thing?
While I think it's pretty normal to freak out from time to time during pregnancy, I also think that if the book is making you feel that way then maybe it's not the best choice...I think you'd get a lot more out of a book that gives you information and makes you feel empowered, not like you can't do it. There are many options for books that are informative but also that give you confidence in your body and the fact that you can do this.
You could check out for example: "Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering" (very empowering and the book that made me truly committed to a natural birth for DS) or some of the other books that have been suggested here.
You are made to make babies and give birth mama, your body is powerful. Don't let a book make you feel otherwise. 
Amandalynn, ditto to the recommendation for Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering. That was probably my favorite book out of all the ones I read last time. It was good explaining the science/health aspects of it but also had such a warm feel and I loved reading the author's birth stories (although I wouldn't want to copy some of her birth experiences!). Anything that leads to freaking out should be tossed immediately!
OMG cadybh, this is my FAVORITE book! I've read it about 5 or 6 times now. Jackie, if you have an interest in exploring Tolstoy, I suggest picking up an anthology of his short stories (actually, I wouldn't be surprised if you can get some of his short stories free or very very cheap if you have an e-reader. Happily Ever After and The Cossacks are both really good! (I'm a Tolstoy junkie if you couldn't tell.)
OK, you'be twisted my arm. I did not even know he had short stories, I will check those out, especially since I have an ereader.
I bought Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering online last night. There is a e-version. Spectacular! Started reading it today...
While I think it's pretty normal to freak out from time to time during pregnancy, I also think that if the book is making you feel that way then maybe it's not the best choice...I think you'd get a lot more out of a book that gives you information and makes you feel empowered, not like you can't do it. There are many options for books that are informative but also that give you confidence in your body and the fact that you can do this.
You could check out for example: "Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering" (very empowering and the book that made me truly committed to a natural birth for DS) or some of the other books that have been suggested here.
You are made to make babies and give birth mama, your body is powerful. Don't let a book make you feel otherwise.
I think it's my general wussy disposition that makes me feel like I can't do it.
Seriously, HUGE wuss here! I'm 8.5 weeks in and already convinced that this will be my only biological child because I'm not enjoying pregnancy one bit and I haven't even gotten to the really icky part.
I think it's my general wussy disposition that makes me feel like I can't do it.
Seriously, HUGE wuss here! I'm 8.5 weeks in and already convinced that this will be my only biological child because I'm not enjoying pregnancy one bit and I haven't even gotten to the really icky part.
Oh, all of that will change when you hold that new baby in your arms the first time. There is something very empowering about birthing a baby, no matter which way you do it. Read better books, though, and it will help. You are also going through one of the worse parts of pregnancy in my opinion. I'll take awkward and uncomfortable in the last months over MS any day.
I'll take awkward and uncomfortable in the last months over MS any day.
Amen!
Oh, all of that will change when you hold that new baby in your arms the first time. There is something very empowering about birthing a baby, no matter which way you do it. Read better books, though, and it will help. You are also going through one of the worse parts of pregnancy in my opinion. I'll take awkward and uncomfortable in the last months over MS any day.
Me too!! At least people are sympathetic then. With MS, most of the time no one even knows you're preggo so you have to suffer in silence! lol.
Of course, I say that now, we'll see if I think the same thing 5 or 6 months down the line! lol
It's comforting to know that this is the worst part. Only 2.5 more weeks to go. I just am battling the compulsion to run over to the TTC boards and yell "DON'T DO IT! PREGNANCY SUCKS!"
But I won't. Mainly because I'm too tired.
It's comforting to know that this is the worst part. Only 2.5 more weeks to go. I just am battling the compulsion to run over to the TTC boards and yell "DON'T DO IT! PREGNANCY SUCKS!"
But I won't. Mainly because I'm too tired.
I can't start thinking about birth until at least my 2nd trimester, then I have to process it and prepare. In my first trimester, I'm not ready for processing all that yet (and this is my 5th, lol!)
I just finished reading Lovely Bones (dropped off at my house by a friend). It was slightly out of my normal genre, but although eery, it was captivating to see where the author's imagination was taking the storyline. I also just finished Evidence of Harm (I was pushed into thinking about vax again by my soon-to-be-exOB's pushing of the flu shot). I really want to get and read Ina May's new book, and watch the new Business of being Born dvds.
One thing I read during my last pregnancy, that I had to go through very slowly, but would recommend for anyone who loves science is "Having Faith" by Sandra Steingraber. It isn't about religion whatsoever, despite the title. She takes her pregnancy down and examines it down to a cellular level with what is happening with the baby, and juxtaposes it with environmental things that can affect development, and at the same time poetically weaves it into her pregnancy experience. I found it enlightening and moving, and really eye opening. Whoever mentioned reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks-it is very interesting, but not fluffy. The science is positioned into a storyline with what is happening in the family's life at the same time as the discoveries are being made, and it moves quickly. HIghly recommend! Two other great books for science junkies are Origins by Annie Murphy Paul (about epigenetics) and Survival of the Sickest- I read both of those last pregnancy and really liked them. Something about being pregnant makes me reach for nonfiction, but I'm always into pop science.
I'm all ears for a good fluff read when I need a break though! The problem with mind-candy easy reads is that I can't put them down, so I will read a book in a night and neglect everything (or not sleep) to finish. :-P Things that take longer to page through I can pace myself.
Follow Mothering