August 2022 Book Reports

 

River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candace Millard - link to my post (purchased copy)

The Skeptic's Guide to American History by Mark A. Stoler (Great Courses) - This is one of the honors selections for high school history in the Mater Amabilis lesson plans. It's a good kind of myth-busters course, with plenty of context and background in each lecture. It's a 24 lecture course that is assigned over a couple of years (interspersed with lectures on British history and world history). I wouldn't use it instead of our textbook (Land of Hope), but it's a useful supplement if you have a student eager and willing for an honors course. (It's not really harder than the other resources we use. It's honors because it's more.) (published audiobook)

Nordic Gods and Heroes by Padraic Colum - This is one of the books of myths and legends added recently to Mater Amabilis's Level 3 lesson plans. This particular edition has the same style of illustrations by Willy Pogany as Colum's The Children's Homer, one of my favorites. In this book, Colum introduces children to the tales of Loki, Thor, and other Norse myths, names many might already find familiar from a series of recent movies. Thoroughly enjoyable. (purchased copy)

Searching for and Maintaining Peace: A Small Treatise on Peace of Heart by Father Jacques Philippe - link to my post (received as a gift from my son)

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

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

Laughing at Thor: Norse Mythology

Norse Mythology

by Neil Gaiman

Kansas Dad listened to this on CD from the library and recommended it to me. When it showed up on an Audible sale, I bought it.

It's magnificent.

Gaiman recorded the book himself and, unlike other authors, has a wonderful reading voice. His immense enjoyment of the myths shows in his reading. The myths are exciting and engaging, but more than anything else they are humorous. I think Kansas Dad may have cried he laughed so hard in a few parts.

The myths themselves are not appropriate for children. Gaiman isn't afraid to include all the shenanigans and violence, but mainly it's the romantic entanglements of the characters that makes it for mature audiences only. We loved it so much, I imagine we'd let our older high schoolers listen to it, but it's definitely not one we'd just turn on in the van while the eight year old was riding along.

Listen to the audiobook or read the book. Even if you never read anything else by Neil Gaiman.

I received nothing in exchange for this brief blog post. All opinions are my own. I purchased this book with an Audible credit. Links above to Amazon are affiliate links.