Monday, October 8, 2012

September 2012 Book Reports

Alfred of Wessex by Frank Morriss is a hero tale of Alfred the Great. It's not perhaps perfectly historically accurate, but it gives a good idea of life in his time and the fear of the Danes in England. The battle is portrayed as more of a fight of Christians (Catholic, of course) against pagans. I should have started our year with this one as a read-aloud in our world history, as we were reviewing the Vikings, but instead it will be our second read-aloud. I think the children will enjoy it. (purchased from Bethlehem Books as the free ebook of the month earlier this year)

Heroes of God's Church by Father P. Henry Malimore, S.J.D.

The Wright Brothers (Landmark Books) by Quentin Reynolds is a great little biography of Orville and Wilbur Wright. It's enjoyable and includes a great amount of information on the physics of flight as a natural part of the story. I think First Son can read this on his own. I intend to assign it as independent reading during our flight studies this year in physics. (library copy)

The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Short reads like a newspaper account of the implosion of the subprime mortgage market and the subsequent collapse of so many financial corporations. Reading it made me angry over and over again at the absurdity and immorality of those who held the financial fates of so many Americans in their hands, but the author's style is remarkably enjoyable for all that. I can't say how much of his analysis of the situation is true, not being much interested in financial markets, but it seemed intelligent to me. (Kindle version, borrowed for free from the Kindle Owners' Lending Library)

Lumber Camp Library by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock is the story of a young girl who must quit school to care for her ten siblings after her father dies. After reading it, I decided against giving it to First Son for independent reading. The girl sacrifices much for her family and does treat their next-door neighbor with kindness, but she also steals and lies in the story and it's not clear she's entirely repentant. Also, the appearance of a bird that may be the soul of her father is integral to the story. It's probably not a big deal but was enough with the other things for me to set this book aside. (library copy)


Books in Progress (and date started)
Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , ,