Miscellany #3
in which I complain about and praise Lent in the same sentence and update you on what's going on
Hello Reading Friends,
A blessed Lent to you all. This week was Ash Wednesday which means that we are not even a whole week into Lent yet. Here is where I am at: about 50% thankful for this fast and feeling great about it and 50% annoyed that Easter isn’t here already. So I hope you are having holier thoughts, but I think it is always good to remember that the feelings shift from moment to moment and remembering to rely on Christ through the fast is so important. Those moments of weakness are probably the whole point anyway!
It does seem like the perfect time to keep on keeping on with Kristin Lavransdatter, so I hope lots of you are reading along with us! Remember it is not too late to jump in because this book is a page turner. Virtual Book Club meets on Monday for The Wreath and then we are all off to read the second book, The Wife, for March!
In other literary news, I started listening to Time of the Child (too) late last night and it is SO good! I cannot get enough of Niall William’s prose. I do not understand how he crafts such poignant sentences over and over again. If you want the correct liturgical book for this Lenten season then definitely read This is Happiness with Close Reads Podcast HQ . But, if you are like me and already read that recently, are listening to the podcasts, and still want some more Niall Williams in your life…then maybe just read Time of the Child out of season with me!
What’s New(ish) Around Here
On the Podcast
Last Year- ep. 42: Bookish Bio of a Bookstore Owner
Coming Up- This week we had a Book Draft to decide on the Bracket for March! We have narrowed the VERY LONG list down to only sixteen books! Make sure to listen to find out which are going to the playoffs (is this the right Sportsball term for a bracket?)
Everything Kristin Lavransdatter
New Essay: Why Read Fiction-Kristin Lavransdatter Edition by Jessica Risma
VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB IS MONDAY NIGHT!!!! (Message me for a link!)
Everything Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost Book One (Paid Subscribers only)
Other Goings On
Miscellany #1 (Lots of Details)
Miscellany #2 (Very Quick)
February Book Club Book
Don’t forget that we are a group of actual book clubs (in person and virtual), not just a podcast/substack. So we’d love you to read along with us and join or start a group! This month we are starting Kristin Lavransdatter…hope you join us!
Up Next
Here are the next 3 books we’re reading in case you want to get ahead and order your copies! If you were going to order them new anyway, this is a good way to support us.
March- The Wife by Sigrid Undset (Kristin Lavrandatter Book Two)
April- The Cross by Sigrid Undset (Kristin Lavransdatter Book Three)
May- The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Random Things I’m Enjoying
The Substack Print by danielle (𝓇𝒶𝓌 & 𝒻𝑒𝓇𝒶𝓁)…Danielle made a website that will literally turn your Substack articles into a personalized newspaper! It is so easy (but do not use Safari or it will not print well). All you have to do is copy and paste the url for the articles you want to read and then it generates it for you. Then you can save as a PDF or print and be on your analog way!
While it is a week late, I am still going to share this essay by Lane Scott about Valentine’s Day. I tend to be a bit of a Grinch (Scrooge?) about little holidays so this was a great reminder of why these days are important and SO easy to make the little people happy. I am literally going to copy the link into my calendar for next year so I can reread it and hype myself up to be a fun mom. Maybe you will want to join me! I also really enjoyed Lane’s thoughts on reinventing the wheel vs. imitation and how that will affect your energy levels and family culture!
I finally read an essay by Curious and Capable Kids that I had pinned back in October 2025 this week. See above for how I finally got around to it…thank you Substack Print! The essay is called Choice Architecture, But Make it Parenting and it has me rethinking some of my more annoyingly orderly tendencies in the name of having a kid friendly house. Definitely check it out and let me know if you’re inspired!
In my “other life” I am a birth doula so I always appreciate a good Ann Ledbetter essay. This week I read her take on the American Hospital System and Breastfeeding. Do check it out if you’re interested in a nuanced take on birth!
If you need more Lenten reads, definitely check out this Liturgical Living Literature Guide from Elise Boratenski
That is all I have for this morning. Get back to your books and your brunch and whatever other relaxing plans for have for this first Lenty Saturday. May Easter come soon and may we all be changed for the better by then!
Till next time,
Kelsie Hartley
Until next time, keep revisiting the good books that enrich your life and nourish your soul.
What We’re Reading:
February-April
Kristen Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset
Paid Subscriber Read-Along
Paradise Lost by John Milton
A Few Reminders:
If you are wanting to get in on the in person or virtual community please contact us!
We have turned on paid subscriptions which will allow you to support the work we are doing here.
If you would like to make a small contribution to the work we’re doing here at Reading Revisited, we invite you to do so with the Buy (Us) a Coffee button below. We so appreciate your support!
*As always, some of the links are affiliate links. If you don’t have the books yet and are planning to buy them, we appreciate you using the links. The few cents earned with each purchase you make after clicking links (at no extra cost to you) goes toward the time and effort it takes to keep Reading Revisited running, and we appreciate it!
Thanks for including my post in your roundup, Kelsey! You've got some great things here, I'm gonna click through!
Thanks for the shout-out, Kelsie!