March 2025 Book Reports

The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by David Graeber and David Wengrow - Kansas Dad picked this book and encouraged me to listen to it. The authors present a preponderance of evidence to show that early civilizations throughout the world are not what we were taught. Early people organized themselves in myriads of ways. The forms of government did not lead inexorably to the "states" that we have today. Besides the obvious interest in learning what life in early societies was like, this is a fascinating proposition, because it shows that the way our governments work (like representative voting in democracies governed by majority rule) are not the only ways for large communities of people to live in harmony, and may even reveal ways to increase harmony. The other really startling aspect of this book is how researchers for generations, faced with the same evidence presented in the book, were constrained by their initial impressions and assumptions, unable to see how the evidence did not fit the stories they were telling themselves, and all of us. Frankly, the examples were so numerous, it was almost redundant and repetitive listening to them all, but that just struck home this point more forcefully. You may think, this book could have been much shorter, and yet, many of the assumptions crushed by the book are still commonly taught. It took me ages to listen to this whole book, but it was worth it. (Audible audiobook)

Emma by Jane Austen - I listened to this with my daughters. You can never go wrong with Austen, though Emma is one of my least favorite heroines. I do love how more than most, she grows in self-understanding and compassion through the events of the novels. My girls and I have listened to three Austen novels together, but I fear this is the last as my older daughter goes away to college in the fall. I cannot recommend enough listening to Austen with daughters, such a job. We will watch a movie version of Emma soon, and good options abound. (Audible audiobook)

Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton - This book, of course, was read with my book club. It was at least my third time reading this book, and it honestly gets lovelier every time. I wept for the fathers and sons, for the lives gone astray, and for the strength of those who try to quietly follow the will of God amidst great uncertainty of the best way forward. (purchased copy)

The Fair American by Elizabeth Coatsworth - This is the third book of the Sally series. Every once in a while, I like to pull a book off the shelves that will just brighten my heart. I read the first of this series aloud to the kids, but I think only my older daughter read them all. They are perfect for an elementary age reader. In this one, Sally and Andrew sail with Andrew's father to France and end up rescuing an aristocrat's son. It's a brief little introduction to the French Revolution without being too upsetting. (purchased copy)

The Gift of Peace by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin - Cardinal Bernardin wrote this brief little book as he was dying of cancer. It is a book of great love and comfort. I picked it up at a library sale years ago. When I heard two different people mention it within a few weeks of each other, I decided I should read it. I can imagine revisiting it again and again. (purchased used)

Laurus by Eugene Vodolazkin - Kansas Dad bought this book when it was new, but I didn't get around to reading it until I needed a translated book for my homeschool mom reading challenge bingo card. (I got a blackout in the first quarter!) I had so many questions when I finished it! I overwhelmed Kansas Dad with all the big ideas roiling around in my head. Sadly, it had been too long since he read it for him to really talk with me about it. I would love to read this book again with a group of people. (purchased copy)

Pat of Silver Bush by L.M. Montgomery - I thought I had read every L.M. Montgomery book in my youth, but I didn't remember this one at all. I think Pat is slightly less loveable than Anne, but it is always nice to spend some time filling my mind with Montgomery stories. I am looking around for a copy of the sequel, because I'm sure I haven't read that one, either. (PaperBackSwap.com)

February 2025 Book Reports

Gilgamesh retold by Stephen Mitchell - I picked this book off my shelf for a reading challenge of my local homeschool friends for "a ballad or epic poem". The introduction of this book gives some good background information on the epic of Gilgamesh, but it often treats Biblical stories as if they were mythical or legendary rather than true, just like Gilgamesh. The version is a retelling, but it sounds like it flows better than a more literal translation. Interestingly, Mitchell doesn't read any of the original language of Gilgamesh and has instead relied on a wide variety of translations. I suppose that means this isn't the edition you want if you are looking for a more academic version, but his extensive notes (more than 80 pages) probably provide more information that most readers care about. (I didn't read them myself.) I ended up with this edition because it's the one that came available on PaperBackSwap, and it was quite enjoyable. There are some versions of Gilgamesh appropriate for children; this is not one of them. We don't even assign Gilgamesh to high schoolers, but I suppose I would allow a mature teen to read this retelling if he or she was particularly interested. (PaperBackSwap.com copy)

The Art of Dying Well by St. Robert Bellarmine - This was a pre-read for a four-year series of religion readings Kansas Dad is compiling. Hopefully we'll include it in future Mater Amabilis high school religion plans. It's a brief book exploring how we should live so that we are prepared to die well, prepared to be closer to our Lord. (free online)

Dune Boy by Edwin Way Teale - I read this back in 2010. It's a delightful book, but it's currently showing as $50 at a number of online bookstores; don't pay that! This is Teale's wonderful memoir of his youth, mainly focused on the time he spent working, dreaming, and learning on his grandparents' farm near the sand dunes in Indiana. It's nature study, natural history, memoir, writing treatise, and American history. I read it aloud to the kids over the past few years. (Finding time to read all together is much harder when they start taking classes at college and participating in so many sports and activities.) (received from a member of PaperBackSwap.com)

Women of the Catholic Imagination edited by Haley Stewart - I received this as a gift for Christmas. This book includes essays about twelve different authors who were either Catholic or wrote in the Catholic tradition, all from the past two hundred years. I was unfamiliar with three of them entirely and learned a great deal about the lives and writings of the them and the others. Of course, the major problem with a book like this is that is expands your to-read list exponentially, but at least you know the books you are adding are worth your time. As a side note, this Word on Fire edition is beautiful. It's well-made and a joy to read. There's an art to printing a good book; Word on Fire is always a quality publisher. (gifted copy)

Shadows on the Rock by Willa Cather - Our reading Bingo included a white elephant category. We each recommended a book which was put on a randomized wheel online. Then we each spun to get our white elephant read. (I put The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery on the list.) My selection was Shadows on the Rock, which was perfect because I'm slowly reading my way through all of Cather's novels. In this one, we trace the life of one girl of Quebec in 1697 as she grows from a girl into a woman. It's beautifully written, though it does have the flaws you would expect of a novel of early America in respect to the Native Americans. There were also a few times when I thought to myself, "I would never send my daughter on an overnight river trip with a grown man." But those are flaws partly imposed by our modern eyes rather than inherent in the novel. I did not like it as well as Death Comes for the Archbishop, but still lovely. I really like the Vintage Classics editions of Cather's novels. (purchased used)

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff - Multiple people in different parts of my life happened to recommend this book around the same time. Looking for something lovely and short, I bought the audiobook. First, I was surprised to find it a series of actual letters (and not a work of fiction), and epistolary books are always questionable to me. Though her letters to a London bookseller begin as relatively benign requests for worthy books, Helene's vibrant personality soon breaks through to become friends with the employees. She shares in their joys and sorrows. It's sweet, but like life, it doesn't always have neat and tidy endings. People come and go, and sometimes you never learn how they ended up. Parts were funny, much was uplifting. I'm not sorry I listened to it, but I don't know that I'd overwhelmingly recommend it. (Audible copy)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

January 2025 Book Reports

Some homeschooling moms proposed a bingo card reading challenge for the year. We all picked some categories and made a card. I was inspired and started reading a lot more!

My God and My All: The Life of Saint Francis of Assisi by Elizabeth Goudge - This was my book club book for the previous month, but our group pushed the date back because of Christmas, so I finished it in January. The beginning seemed slow to me, but it was a comforting read. Goudge writes beautifully of the landscape of Italy, especially around Assisi. I was disconcerted by her style, though. The book is historical fiction, as she imagines St. Francis's life unfolded, but she wrote it like a biography, so I was constantly thinking to myself, "She's just making all this up!" It would have been easier for me if it had been more obviously fictionalized. (purchased copy)

The Little Juggler by Barbara Cooney - We've had this book for many years, and I read it to the children when they were younger. When I realized they didn't remember it, I read it aloud to my teens this Christmas season. This delightful French tale retold and illustrated by Barbara Cooney is out of print, and vastly more expensive than when I picked up a used copy solely because I love anything Cooney and (for a time) bought anything with her name on it. In the tale, Barnaby (also the name of one of Cooney's sons) is a young orphan who knows only one thing, performing acrobatics and juggling, which he does to earn a few coins. In the winter-time, no one wants to watch a juggler, so he is cold and hungry, but a kind monk invites him to the a monastery, where he receives shelter. In imitation of the monks, and in gratitude for the love of God, he performs before a status of Mary and the Christ child as his Christmas gift. God wants nothing more from us than that we return his gifts out of Love. You can more easily find other versions of this tale, like The Clown of God by Tomie de Paola, but Cooney's will always be my favorite. (purchased used)

The Blackbird and Other Stories by Sally Thomas - link to my post (purchased copy)

You Carried Me: A Daughter's Memoir by Melissa Ohden - Melissa is an abortion survivor. She tells her story of self-destruction, redemption, forgiveness, and hope with great compassion for her mother and all who seek an abortion. (free e-book for Plough subscribers)

The Pearl by John Steinbeck - I read this with my book club. I do not like Steinbeck's books. He writes beautifully, but his characters suffer terribly, both of which are as true of this book as of the others I've read. I dreaded reading this book because I remembered enough of it to know it was tragic. Kino is assaulted on all sides after he finds The Pearl, and his life is destroyed through little fault of his own. I don't think there's a way to read this story and find a way to live or a way to make the world better or the truth of our redemption. (purchased copy)

The Basic Book of Catholic Prayer: How to Pray and Why by Lawrence G. Lovasik - This book gives many examples of the results of productive prayer and examples of actions you can take to begin praying or move more deeply into prayer. I still like The Hidden Power of Kindness better, but this would be a good option for someone interested specifically in prayer. (purchased used)

Just Stab Me Now by Jill Bearup - My daughter has followed the author of this book for a while. I borrowed this book from her to fulfill a Bingo card category for a reading challenge I'm doing with some homeschool moms, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It's funny, sweet, and has happy endings for all the good guys and unhappy endings for the worst of the bad guys. It's a good thing I read it when we were still slowing transitioning out of winter break, because I finally just gave up on all the things I should do and read until I finished the book. (borrowed from my daughter, who pre-ordered it)

Just Don't Fall: A Hilariously True Story of Childhood, Cancer, Amputation, Romantic Yearning, Truth, and Olympic Greatness by Josh Sundquist - The author shares his story with humor and heartfelt thankfulness. I can understand why he made a young reader's edition; there were a few parts with references and language I wouldn't want to share with younger kids, but the story itself is wonderful. The author seems like a down-to-earth, hard-working, fun guy. (You've probably seen his Halloween costumes, even if you don't know who he is.) He endured a year of chem after the amputation of his leg, cancer scares later, and then his mom had chemo for her own cancer. His family is amazing. His faith stays strong, and he is brave enough to seek therapy and treatment when he needs it. Making an Olympic or Paralympic team takes enormous amounts of perseverance, practice, and money, and is worth celebrating, even when an athlete doesn't earn a medal. One of my favorite parts is in the acknowledgments, "I wish to acknowledge my many Winter Park and Paralympic teammates and coaches, all of whom I will never forget, and all of whom will be justified in their inevitable doubts as to whether my short and lackluster skiing career deserves to be recorded in a book."  (PaperBackSwap.com)

33 Days to Merciful Love: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Divine Mercy Consecration by Michael Gaitley - I read this on the recommendation of a friend. Hopefully I can put some of it into practice. (gift copy from my friend)

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie - Some of the local homeschool moms came up with a reading challenge bingo game for the year. One of the categories was a classic detective book and this one was recommended. I didn't remember reading it, but had a solid guess for the murderer within a few chapters...which means I did read it before, probably in high school, because I am terrible at guessing the murderer. It was fun to read, though, especially when I was sick and wanted something to distract me without being too heavy. (library copy)

The Father's Tale by Michael D. O'Brien - This enormous (and relatively expensive book) was a book club selection. It was far longer than it should have been. Some paragraphs impressed me, but the writing was not as excellent as one would hope given it's enormous length. In the book, a rather distant father, with sons who seemed shockingly uncaring, abandons his safe life to follow his younger son, fearing he has been caught up in a cult. He travels through Europe and into Russia on his trail. When he's finally about to give up and go home, he's attacked and ends up stuck in Russia after his long recovery. Then he gets stupidly sucked up into international intrigue. Before he makes it home, he experiences a profound closeness with the crucified Lord and learns God may have used him to save oblivious Western countries from Russian military forces, somehow. I was so anxious early on for his son I almost couldn't keep reading, so be assured his son is alright. I'm not entirely sure I recommend this book. There are those moments of insight and brightness...but it's so very very long. (purchased copy)

The Gods of Winter by Dana Gioia - I like to think of myself as the kind of person who reads poetry, but I rarely pick up a book of poems collected, prepared, and published by a single poet. It's a different experience than an anthology, and probably one I don't understand as well as I could. Dana Gioia is a prominent American Catholic poet, so this book seemed a good one to try. I liked some of the poems more than others, but they all made me think. (purchased used)

Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley - This is a re-read of a book I adored as a girl, and it did not disappoint. It's a lovely retelling! (borrowed First Daughter's copy)

Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene - I picked up this book because I suspected it was one I remember from my teens that I haven't been able to identify. It wasn't, and there are some hard parts of the book. Patty is abused and neglected by her parents. She finds solace in the friendship and kindness of an escaped Nazi soldier. (library copy)

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde - A re-read, and a delightful one. (discovered in a Little Free Library)

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December 2024 Book Reports

The Aeneid by Vergil, translated by Sarah Ruden - I read this with my book club. I'm certain I read it back in 2019, or rather, listened to an audiobook version, because First Son was reading it that year, following the beta version of the Mater Amabilis high school English plans, but I can't find it on my blog. (Shock!) It was nice to have a refresher a year before Second Son will read it. I thought Ruden's translation was lovely and readable. The Odyssey may still be my favorite, however. (purchased copy, though I later found my son had a copy of this translation for his college Great Books class).

If you are looking for help in understanding The Aeneid, I highly recommend Elizabeth Vandiver's The Aeneid of Virgil, which also isn't on my blog but should be!

Still Alice by Lisa Genova - This novel portrays an active intelligent Harvard professor who suffers from early onset Alzheimer's disease. It's tragic but also hopeful. (from a fellow member of PaperBackSwap.com)

Strange Gods Before Me by Mother Mary Francis - I love A Right to Be Merry and was happy to see this book back in print when I had some birthday money to spend. Mother Mary Francis wrote this book in the years following Vatican II, as contemplative communities (and the whole Church) grappled with its ramifications. She writes against the "strange gods" of the modern world who distract us from our devotion to God and his will. I found this a fascinating book to be reading alongside a brief study of Vatican II with our adult ed church class and reading some of the Vatican II documents with my older daughter. Anyone discerning a religious vocation will find much to ponder in the book, especially those interested in contemplative orders. The insights into a rich spiritual life, though, are useful to anyone, not just someone in religious life. This book is worthy of its own post, but I am squeezing it in here because I'm trying to catch up! (purchased copy)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

October and November 2024 Book Reports

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger - This was our book club read for the month, and I absolutely loved it. I read it at the airport and on a couple of flights, finishing it in just over 24 hours. I will definitely be reading it again. (purchased copy)

The 272: The Families Who Were Enslaved and Sold to Build the American Catholic Church by Rachel L. Swarns - Kansas Dad recommended I read this book. "In 1838, a group of America's most prominent Catholic priests sold 272 enslaved people to save their largest mission project, what is now Georgetown University." It echoed many of the themes in The History of Black Catholics in the United States, but with even more modern sources. It is good to be aware of the sins of the past and to think deeply about how we can be a part of the reconciliation process. (Kansas Dad's purchased copy)

Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers - This is one of the novels recommended for Level 6 Year 2 (twelfth grade) in the Mater Amabilis English plans. I read it a little ahead of First Daughter. I haven't read any other Peter Wimsey novels, but I enjoyed this one. As I neared the end, I certainly neglected some of my chores because I was eager to read more. First Daughter loved it and promptly checked out every Peter Wimsey book she could find at the library. (shared by a member of PaperBackSwap.com)

Paul for Everyone: Romans Part One by N. T. Wright - I read the older version of Romans for Everyone, and am not entirely sure I should count it as its own book since there's a Part Two. (I'll get to that one, too.) I'll quote what I wrote about a different book in the Paul for Everyone series:

N. T. Wright is an Anglican priest and an expert on Paul. Using his own translations, he provides Scripture in short selections (but with nothing missing) and then thoughtfully reflects on them, always including a relevant story from his own life. For the most part, Wright's commentaries have nothing contrary to the Catholic faith, but it is good to have a knowledge of the major differences between Anglican and Catholic beliefs when reading, like the differences between the recognized books of the Bible and those of Jesus' immediate family. (purchased used)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Bookshop and Amazon are affiliate links.

August and September 2024 Book Reports

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - I had read this book before, perhaps during my high school or college years, but I wanted to read it again before First Daughter did. It is one of the novels scheduled for English in Level 6 Year 2 (twelfth grade). It was at least as depressing as I remembered, but I found myself appreciating how it highlighted the malaise and aimlessness of the wealthy 1920s crowd. I think many of the same symptoms are still thriving in American society. I'm glad we have it scheduled. First Daughter thought all the characters are terrible, as she should. (purchased copy)

On Writing Well by William Zinsser - This is another book from the English course for the Mater Amabilis curriculum, though it's from Level 6 Year 1 (eleventh grade) and I finished it after First Daughter. I love how we have writing books scheduled for Level 6. They are good companions to the more basic writing guides we use in Level 5. (The Level 6 Year 2 book is The Office of Assertion. Zinsser's book is full of good advice the student can incorporate immediately into narrations and the longer essays assigned in the course. (PaperBackSwap.com)

The River and the Source by Margaret A. Ogola - I have seen this book recommended so many times over the years as a free geography read for Africa. For many years, it was out of print in the United States. Unlike many books available for geography, it was written by a Kenyan woman (not an American or Britain who lived in Kenya, or even a Kenyan who moved to the US or Great Britain). The author drew on stories told by her mother and grandmother about her great-grandmother. The book follows generations of the family through colonization and modernization. It's an excellent choice for a high school geography student, though given the time periods covered, a parent may want to pre-read. There are definitely some difficult topics. I was surprised at how small the printed pages are inside the book compared to the size of the book itself. I think the margins on all four sides are at least 2"! (purchased copy)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Bookshop and Amazon are affiliate links.

July 2024 Book Reports

The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis - Read on the recommendation of Kansas Dad and just about everyone, this is a metaphorical book about heaven and hell. Risking alienating all of my friends (though luckily not many of them read this blog), I will admit that I don't love reading Lewis. (I can't even read the Narnia books anymore, though I do like to listen to them.) This book was fine. I have no real argument with it. (First Son's copy)

No Bullet Got Me Yet: The Relentless Faith of Father Kapaun by John Stansifer - link to my post (purchased new)

A Pound of Paper: Confessions of a Book Addict by John Baxter - This book was kind of fun, especially if you know a lot of authors in science fiction or in Australia, but he spent too much time collecting books of the sort I wouldn't allow in our home. I do not recommend it, and I've decided not to link to it. (purchased used)

The Borrowed House by Hilda van Stockum - This is the author of some of my favorite middle grade books like the Mitchells series and The Winged Watchman. This book is also set during World War II. Janna is the daughter of actors who are living in the confiscated home of a Jewish family, though Janna doesn't understand that at first. Janna must confront her German indoctrination when she meets a member of the Dutch underground. This book provides many perspectives and helps us ask of ourselves, how would we behave in a situation like this? I have often thought it likely that I would not be as brave as I might hope. (purchased copy)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Bookshop and Amazon are affiliate links.

Part of the Problem: We Have Never Been Woke

We Have Never Been Woke: The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite

by Musa Al-Gharbi

Musa Al-Gharbi persuasively argues that elites (those that already have access to wealth and high status) use cultural means to maintain their own status while claiming to speak for and protect those who are disadvantaged, while not actually doing anything meaningful to better the lives of those they claim to defend. In fact, many elites take actions that actively maintain the status quo or live in such a way to cause additional suffering to those more disadvantaged.

The reading level is a little challenging. (It is written for college graduates, and even more those with terminal degrees.) I decided not to actually assign it in any of the high school courses for my kids, but I am encouraging all my kids to read it while they are in college.

It's a fascinating book that challenged me in many ways. Highly recommended to anyone who has a college degree and works in a job that doesn't require manual labor.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliates links. I checked this book out from the library.

Faith in a Time of War: No Bullet Got Me Yet

No Bullet Got Me Yet: The Relentless Faith of Father Kapaun 

by John Stansifer

Servant of God Emil Kapaun is from our diocese, so I basically buy every book published about him. Stansifer's book is well-researched and delves deeply into Father Kapaun's time in Korea.

Father Kapaun was a farm boy in Kansas who enlisted as a chaplain. He served in World War II and in Korea, where he was captured while heroically staying behind with wounded men and later died in a prisoner of war camp. After the war, soldiers who knew him and those who only heard about him, told stories of a man of courage and compassion that (we believe) prove he's a saint.

Stansifer interviewed many veterans, but he also had access to some amazing primary sources with stories of Father Kapaun I'd never heard, and I try to read everything about him. 

I had a few quibbles with the text. I was disappointed the author used the term "native" to refer to the people of some Asian countries where Father Kapaun was stationed. These weren't quotes from letters or documents of the time, but author's words. It felt disrespectful to me. I also felt like sometimes it was difficult to tell if the author was quoting someone else. Sometimes there were quotation marks. Sometimes the text was indented. Sometimes an entire section seemed to be from an interview or a letter, but there weren't any quotations or indentations, so I wasn't sure. He also mentions at one point that a pope invokes papal infallibility at a canonization Mass, which is not official church teaching. (I'm married to a theologian, so I can't let that go.)

Despite my pickiness, this is an excellent book for the adults in your life. I ultimately decided my upcoming eighth grader (Level 4) would read A Shepherd in Combat Boots, which is sadly out of print. Both are good, but A Shepherd in Combat Boots is a little less graphic in its descriptions of war and the prison camp, so I thought it a better fit for a middle school student.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. I purchased this book. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

June 2024 Book Reports

Watership Down by Richard Adams - I was surprised to learn the author created this story for his daughters. Not only are female rabbits missing entirely until after the wandering rabbits establish a new warren (how did they think that would work?), but when the female rabbits appear, they generally aren't worth talking about or emulating. Mostly I found this book slow going. I listened on audiobook and eventually sped up the recording to finish it more quickly. (Audible audiobook)

The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro - I could read Ishiguro all day long. His ability to write so beautifully and yet with such dramatically different voices in all his novels amazes me. First Daughter bought this one for an honors level history course she took at a local university. They discussed it within their conversations about how not only to resolve violent conflicts in communities, but to live together peacefully after the conflict. What does forgiveness look like? How do people find a way forward without rewriting or erasing the past? (First Daughter's copy)

Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson - A lonely woman writes to a prominent person at a museum. He has passed away, but a current employee responds. They soon begin a more intimate correspondence. I enjoyed it, but was disappointed in the portrayal of marriage. (purchased used)

Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi - This novel weaves together the stories of three generations of inter-related families in Oman. I really enjoyed an introduction to the history and culture of country previously unknown to me. (purchased used)

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard - I read this with my book club. I enjoyed it much more than I did just two years ago. You can read my original review here. (received from a fellow member of PaperBackSwap.com)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.