November 2025 Book Reports

Giants in the Earth: A Saga of the Prairie by O. E. Rolvaag - This was the book club book for the month. It's beautifully written, but I was disappointed in the ending. (purchased new)

Introductory Physics by John D. Mays - link to my post (purchased new)

And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman - This novella by the author of A Man Called Ove was written by the author as he and his family grappled with the dementia of his father. It's raw but hopeful. (library copy)

The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder - I loved this beautiful, sad book from beginning to end! (copy from a member of PaperBackSwap.com)

Wild Things and Wild Places by G. K. Yarrow - This book was recommended by a fellow Mater Amabilis mom in the Facebook group as a book great for young people interested in zoo science, ecology, and wildlife biology. It reads exactly as a memoir written by Dr. Yarrow, as if he were writing stories down for his children or his students. It's full of good advice for young people in the field or interested in working in the intersection of the natural world and communities. I assigned it to Second Daughter as a complement to her apprenticeship time at our local zoo to make a full credit zoology course. (purchased copy)

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

October 2025 Book Reports

Dream School: Finding the College that's Right for You by Jeffrey Selingo - link to my post (library copy)

Persuasion by Jane Austen - I read this with my book club. It was my third time reading it, I think, and I loved it more than ever. Anne is a woman to look up to, one who has faced disappointment and bears it quietly and bravely while responding to the nonsense of her rotten family with kindness. (I received this beautiful box set as a gift many years ago. The designs on the covers wear away if you read them, but I read them anyway.)

General Biology by Heather Ayala and Katie Rogstad - link to my post (purchased set)

Ourselves by Charlotte Mason (Home Education series volume 4) - I finished part I of Ourselves in 2021, and finally finished part II in 2025. In Mater Amabilis, we use parts of Ourselves in the high school Health course and the remainder in the high school Government and Civics courses. The book presents any of Mason's ideas about education and self-control written directly to the student. It is a little forced at times, but can be useful. One note: if you have a child or loved one who is blind, her use of blindness as a metaphor may not fit your loved one's experiences, but it is only appears in one or two places in the book. I bought this first in paperback from Living Book Press, and had some problems with pages coming out. I probably could have contacted the publisher for a refund or another copy, but instead I decided to upgrade and bought the hardcover, which is a great format.  (purchased new from the publisher)

Logic as a Liberal Art by R. E. Houser - My older daughter wanted a logic course, so I asked a colleague of my husband's for a recommendation. I read the book but didn't do all the exercises. My daughter did the ones with answers in the back. Overall, this is a good introduction to logic. It's something a motivated homeschool student can use to study independently, but it is challenging. (used my son's copy from his college class)

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

July 2025 Book Reports

10,000 Days of Thunder: A History of the Vietnam War by Philip Caputo - I have assigned sections of this book to my Level 4 students for twentieth century history from the beginning. My youngest finished Level 4 this year, and I was preparing my history resources to sell. I decided to quickly read the whole book before getting rid of it. I don't know very much about the Vietnam War, but overall I think this is an excellent overview and two-page deep dives into lots of different issues. I felt like it gave multiple points of view for lots of the issues as well. (purchased used copy)

James by Percival Everett - This was a recommendation from Kansas Dad. It's a retelling of Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the point of view of Jim, the runaway slave. In this book, slaves have much more agency over their actions and emotions, though not much more over their fates. Neither of these books rank among my favorites, but I am glad I have read them. (Kansas Dad's copy)

All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot - I always turn to Herriot when I want something uplifting. He often encounters difficult cases and difficult people, but all of his stories confirm the underlying goodness of creation and people. (purchased audiobook)

Very Good, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse - This Wodehouse is part of the Bertie and Jeeves series. I love listening to Wodehouse when I want something lighthearted and witty. Always entertaining. (purchased audiobook)

Manahatta by Mary Kathryn Nagle - This is a play interweaving the life of a Native American woman on Wall Street during the 2008 mortgage crisis with her and her family's ancestors living in the New York City area at the time the Dutch arrived. (found copy of the play online)

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

June 2025 Book Reports

Rhetoric Alive! Senior Thesis Student Workbook by Alyssan Barnes - First Daughter used this workbook as a guide while writing her senior honors thesis. It provides a structure and a plan to tackle a large project. It's an optional resource scheduled in the Mater Amabilis lesson plans for a senior thesis. I know a lot of families in the group that don't use it, but we found it helpful. (purchased copy)

Piccadilly Jim by P. G. Wodehouse - Wodehouse is my go-to when I need something witty and fun to break up my school or serious reading. I collect them on audio because they all have narrators with lovely English accents. (purchased audiobook)

Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell - I read this with my book club, and we had a fascinating discussion about personal responsibility, forgiveness, and mercy. It felt a little more preachy to me than I remembered from the first time I read it, but I still enjoyed it. (purchased copy)

The Secret Garden: A Graphic Novel adapted by Mariah Marsden, illustrated by Hanna Luechtefeld - The Secret Garden is one of my very favorite books of all time. I have it on audiobook and play it at night if I am feeling too anxious to sleep. I don't think a graphic novel could live up to the original, but that's probably my bias. The biographical information at the end about Frances Hodgson Burnett was interesting. (library copy)

The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love by St. Augustine - You can find this book online. I won't link to any copy because I can't tell which of the reprints are decent. I read an old copy of Kansas Dad's translated by J. F. Shaw, but I don't know if the translations differ much. It's a very good summary of the faith. We use excerpts of it in the Mater Amabilis high school religion readers, but it's not too long so I read the whole thing. (Kansas Dad's copy)

Perelandra by C. S. Lewis - link to my post about the whole trilogy (received as a gift from my brother-in-law)

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

May 2025 Book Reports

The Complete Stories by Flannery O'Connor - I received this book as a gift years ago and have only read stories here and there. This year, I decided to read all of the ones I had never read. Flannery O'Connor shocks, and that's true in every one of these stories. Some are definitely better than others, which is probably why there are a few I've read a dozen times while others remain relatively overlooked. My favorite story is still "Revelation," but O'Connor isn't the kind of author I could read all day long for weeks on end (like Jane Austen). (copy received as a gift from my husband)

King Lear by William Shakespeare - This was my second time reading King Lear, this time with my book club. We had a lively discussion of this play, with its depictions of flawed relationships between fathers and children. It is one of the most violent and depressing of Shakespeare's plays, so my children read it in twelfth grade. I read my No Fear Shakespeare copy, which is the series I've mostly collected for my kids. Now there's a revised/updated Folger series I really like, though we only have one or two of them. Look for the larger paperback size (about 5.5" x 8.25") rather than the mass market paperback size. I'm not sure every play is available in the larger size yet. (purchased copy)

Paul for Everyone: Romans Part Two by N. T. Wright - I read the older version of this edition. This is the second half of Romans. (I finished the first half back in 2024.) The Paul for Everyone series covers a lot of the New Testament books. (purchased used) Here's what I wrote about the series before:

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.

Out of the Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis - link to my post about the whole trilogy (received as a gift from my brother-in-law)

The Mindful Catholic: Finding God One Moment at a Time by Dr. Gregory Bottaro - I read this book far too quickly, trying (and failing) to stay ahead of my daughter who read it one chapter a week. I included it in our Health course in high school because it does a great job presenting mindfulness from a Catholic standpoint, showing how it is compatible with the Catholic faith and a robust prayer life. I should really return to it and take the time to put the practices into action. (purchased copy)

We Have Never Been Woke: The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite by Musa Al-Gharbi - link to my post (library copy)

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

March 2024 Book Reports

The Art of Conflict Management: Achieving Solutions for Life, Work, and Beyond by Michael Dues (Great Courses audio lecture series) - When First Daughter and I met for lunch with a local lawyer to learn about law school and law careers, the lawyer recommended learning conflict management skills. I found this series of recorded lectures from the Great Books program to add to her civics course. The 24 lectures cover a wide range of strategies for understanding conflict and communicating within relationships (or as a mediator) to find win-win solutions. I personally found it helpful in my own relationships and thought it was a great addition to the civics course. (purchased audiobook)

A Severe Mercy: A Story of Faith, Tragedy, and Triumph by Sheldon Vanauken - I read this with my book club. It was my second time reading the book, and I still didn't like it. Vanauken writes of the tragic loss of his young wife to illness after their conversion to Christianity, a conversion he didn't experience fully until after her death. More than anything, I think their love was flawed from the beginning when they decided children would come between them, so they wouldn't have any (though I acknowledge that decision might have changed after they became Christians if Davy hadn't already been suffering from her long illness). I guess it seems like the book is inward focused rather than other-focused, which is odd for me for such a *Christian* book. My favorite part is the afterward in which the author reveals Davy gave a baby up for adoption before their marriage. It completely changed my perspective on Davy and made me wish to understand her better from her own point of view, rather than her husband's. Overall, I think there are better books exploring the meaning of our faith in the face of suffering. (purchased copy) 

Two in the Far North by Margaret E. Murie - Murie was the first female graduate of the University of Alaska in 1924. She married a biologist, Olaus Murie, and together they worked and traveled in the wilds of Alaska. In later years, they traveled all over the world. In this book, she writes lovingly of their adventures in Alaska and the wilderness. Sometimes she and her husband traveled and worked alone; other times with colleagues and even their children. I am not an adventurous woman, but I love to read these kinds of adventures. Murie's describes the natural world with joy and a great thankfulness to be a part of it, even when they struggled. This is a classic of the conservation movement. (an older edition from PaperBackSwap.com)

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez - This historical fantasy romance was recommended in a local book group I follow just when I was looking for a light read for between book club books, so I requested it from the library. A young woman travels to Egypt after hearing of her parents' tragic deaths and ends up attacked by those who seek to pillage Egypt of its ancient treasures. Honestly, I found the writing painful, the plot convoluted, and the characters uneven. I suffered through the book to give myself closure, only to be disappointed because the author is planning a sequel (or a series). (library book)

Transforming Your Life through the Eucharist by John A. Kane - I have recommended this a number of times since I first read it. I didn't find it quite as striking the second time through, but it's still a good solid book on the Eucharist. (purchased copy)

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

February 2024 Book Reports

The Red Address Book by Sofia Lundberg - I came across this book at a library used bookstore. In this novel, an elderly Swedish woman, Doris, writes her life story in order to inspire her niece, Jenny, who is struggling in the throes of motherhood. It was an engrossing read, but ultimately not one I recommend. The woman's one true love is unreliable and untrustworthy, which always annoys me. And Doris mostly lives a selfish and self-centered life. (purchased used)

True Grit by Charles Portis - This was my book club book for February. It was such a fun read! I have a lot of questions about the reliability of Mattie Ross's account, not to mention reservations about her decisions, but thoroughly enjoyed the book. My book club chose the John Wayne version for our annual summer movie night, another fun event! (purchased copy)

O Pioneers! by Willa Cather - I love Cather's writing; I find it achingly beautiful, and love how it often reminds me of the landscapes of Illinois, my birth state, and Kansas, my current home. I am slowly collecting and reading all of her books. This novel is one of sacrifice, hard work, and tragedy. (PaperBackSwap.com)

Call the Doctor: A Country GP Between the Wars: Tales of Courage, Hardship and Hope by Ronald White-Cooper - This is a book of bits and pieces of writing by a British doctor collated and organized by his granddaughter and intermingled with letters he received from his patients. His personality shines through the candid stories. I didn't always like what he had to say, but it was honest. It's a fascinating book, a bit of primary source material, for anyone interested in British life and specifically the medical field in Britain in the interwar period (and a bit beyond). (purchased used)

Fides et Ratio by St. Pope John Paul II - This encyclical is scheduled in the Mater Amabilis lesson plans for Level 6 Year 2 (twelfth grade). I assigned it to First Daughter in eleventh grade because she had read one of the earlier ones. (We assigned some Vatican II documents her seniors year.) I love that encyclicals are included in the lesson plans. They become much less intimidating for students once they start reading them. I hope it helps them feel confident and interested enough to keep reading new ones after they go on to college. Fides et Ratio is such an important one for our times, as it discusses the relationship between faith and reason, something much misunderstood amongst many young people. (free on the Vatican website)

How to Listen to and Understand Great Music by Robert Greenberg (Great Courses audio lecture series) - link to my post (purchased audiobook)

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

December 2023 Book Reports

 

Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World by Devorah Heitner - link to my post (library copy)

Enter a Murderer by Ngaio Marsh - I don't read many mysteries because I can never figure them out, but I enjoyed another one by Marsh so thought I'd read more. I didn't figure it out! But it was a fun read. (PaperBackSwap.com)

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence - I read this book back in 2020, but this time read it with my book club. This book is easy to read in short snippets. It's also good to be reminded that we can (and should) turn to God throughout the day, that anytime our mind wanders, it would be better to pray than to pick up our phones. (purchased copy; I bought the Well-Read Mom edition, which is fine, but I find it frustrating that independent booksellers are not allowed to carry it, so I've linked to another edition.)

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

September 2023 Book Reports

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, written by Himself - This classic of American history is now one of our assigned books in American history. (You could also include it in civics readings.) I assign it in Level 5 Year 2 (tenth grade) in addition to the Mater Amabilis readings. (purchased used)

The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm: Tales from Alagaesia by Christopher Paolini - I'm a new Inheritance Cycle fan and had to check this book out from the library. The stories are fun little dips back into Eragon's world. (library copy)

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens - I love Dickens! David Copperfield is an orphan who seeks his own fortune, sometimes making mistakes, but always meeting interesting people, some of which turn out to better or worse friends than you might first suspect. This book is assigned in the Mater Amabilis lesson plans in Level 6 Year 1 (eleventh grade). My daughter and I both got so invested in the story we couldn't limit ourselves to the assigned readings. (purchased used) (The inked copy is not the one I own, but is probably a safe edition. Be cautious in your edition; many of the reprints are poor quality.)

Seek that Which is Above by Pope Benedict XVI - This is one of the recommended spiritual reading books for Mater Amabilis in Level 6 Year 1 (eleventh grade). It's the shortest of the recommended books and a good option for a student that wants to complete the readings at adoration. (purchased used)

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

April 2023 Book Reports

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest J. Gaines - This was one of my book club books, and one of my favorites for the year. It revealed a world I didn't know in a beautiful way. I would like to read more books by the author. (purchased used)

Winter Holiday by Arthur Ransome - This is the fourth book in the Swallows and Amazons series and my absolute favorite so far. The children from the first three books are joined by a Dorothea and Dick Callum, who blend right in with the world of adventure and imagination. They spend the whole winter vacation planning a race to the Pole. It's almost ruined by an extended illness, but instead ends with more excitement than anyone expected. I was delighted! (purchased copy)

Persuasion by Jane Austen - It had been years since I last read Persuasion, so I decided to join in when the Close Reads podcast read and discussed it, though of course I was still a few months behind. Anne Elliot is Austen's most mature protagonist, and one of my favorites. Her quiet consideration of others is an inspiration. Frederick Wentworth is a bit of a fool, but he's my favorite love-interest in Austen's books. He admits when he's wrong, and he's willing to do what is right even when it's hard. As a side note, I own and read the Clothbound Classic copy linked. It's gorgeous, but be warned that the design on the covers comes off when the books are handled. When, for example, you are reading them. I don't mind, because it shows they've been read and loved, but I wasn't prepared for it. (received as a gift)

The Doctor's Sweetheart and Other Stories by L.M. Montgomery - This was a continuation of my reading of books off my shelf that I thought would be light and enjoyable. (It was a tough spring.) I hadn't read this since I was very young. It was fun to revisit the stories, most of which I'd forgotten. (received from a member of PaperBackSwap)

What Are Christians For?: Life Together at the End of the World by Jake Meador - link to my post (purchased copy)

The Peacock Spring by Rumer Godden - This is another Godden book set in India, concerning a young woman who believes she finds love. It's a book of thwarted love, abandonment, and suffering, though beautifully written. Some older teens might appreciate it. (received from a member of PaperBackSwap)

Eragon by Christopher Paolini - Second Son chose this series for me when I asked him his favorite book. This is the first of four in a series (with a fifth recently added in a later story arc and another book of short stories). Eragon finds a dragon egg and is catapulted into the heart of his world's events. I enjoyed this book, but at one point I thought to myself, "It almost seems like a teenaged boy wrote this." Then I found out, a teenaged boy did write it. He benefited greatly from an editor after his family had first self-published it. (Later books in the series improved.) There are elements of all the great dragon and magical stories - Narnia and Lord of the Rings, for example - but Paolini creates characters that aren't always good, though they want to be, and who are willing to sacrifice their safety and happiness for the good of...Good. Read them all. (First Daughter's purchased copy)

The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat - This is a middle grade novel of mystery and adventure. A young girl must shape her own future and decide what she's willing to sacrifice for what she believes is right. Highly recommended. (library copy)

The Nursery by Szilvia Molnar - A new mother descends into post-partum depression and struggles to resurface. This book is disturbing in all the ways it should be and confusing for the reader (as it must be for a new mother in this situation). I'm not sure I enjoyed it exactly, but I think there are benefits to reading books like this, an important reminder to be compassionate and supportive for new families and new parents. Not recommended if you are currently pregnant or nursing a baby. (library copy)

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

March 2023 Book Reports

The Drovers Road Collection by Joyce West - link to my post (purchased used)

Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn - I don't always love novels written in letters, but this one was excellent. As an additional challenge, the plot of the story requires certain "letters" (like p, z, q, and so on) be avoided as the story goes on. I can't imagine how difficult it was to accomplish it! I thought it was excellent and passed it right on to my teenage daughter who agreed. (library copy)

The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, and The Death Cure by James Dashner - This series was recommended as a fun dystopian series, but I did not enjoy them that much. The whole plot seemed unlikely and so many of the scenarios contrived. I didn't bother reading any of the other books. (library copies)

Therese by Dorothy Day - link to my post (purchased copy)

Talking with God by Francois Fenelon - This is one of the spiritual books recommended in the Mater Amabilis high school plans for religion. I read it ahead of my older daughter. It's a good book on prayer, but not my favorite. My older daughter felt the same way. I probably won't assign it to the other kids, though it will be on the shelf if they choose it for themselves. (purchased used) 

Apologia Pro Vita Sua by St. John Henry Cardinal Newman - link to my post (purchased copy)

Mission to Cathay by Madeleine Polland - This is a lovely fictionalized account of the first Catholic mission to mainland China. It would appeal to a wide range of ages, even into the teens. (purchased copy)

Round Building, Square Buildings, and Buildings that Wiggle Like a Fish by Philip M. Isaacson - This is a fantastic book for introducing architecture to young students. It's full of gorgeous photographs illustrating the concepts explained in the book. My kids were a little over the age range, but they enjoyed it anyway. I read it aloud as a break from more traditional picture study. (PaperBackSwap.com)

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

February 2023 Book Reports

A Man Lay Dead by Ngaio Marsh - Based on a recommendation from a good friend, I requested this book from another member at PaperBackSwap.com. I don't read many mysteries, but this was a fun little book to distract me at the end of stressful days of unpacking at a new house. (PaperBackSwap.com)

They Loved to Laugh by Kathryn Worth - This book is one of the many historical fiction reprints from Bethlehem Books. I wanted to love it. I chose it to read because I wanted something relaxing and easy during our move. Sadly, I think it hasn't aged very well. There were far too many remarks about how women shouldn't be too smart or too educated. The delightful heroine was chastised for bothering to learn French, painting, and how to play an instrument. I'm fully in support of learning how to bake bread and cook well, but there's also value in culture. Worst of all, the young men of the Gardner household practically abuse her with practical jokes from the beginning of her time with them, when her parents have only been dead a few weeks. I was a little horrified. There is one delightful chapter on the raising of silkworms, but it is not enough to redeem the book for me. (purchased new)

Judith Lankester by Marjorie Hill Allee - Judith's mom frees the slaves and moves the family to her father's Quaker home. Judith is angry and resentful; she wants to return to her grandmother's house and a life of ease. Instead, she moves in with another Quaker family and begins to learn how to care for herself, a home, and a family. It's a sweet story of growth and virtue. (purchased new)

East of Eden by John Steinbeck - I was excited to see this on the book club list, because it had been on my shelf for many years, but I hadn't yet read it. Now that I have, I can fairly confidently say, I do not like reading books by John Steinbeck. He's brilliant and writes beautifully, but it all seems to have such a sardonic unhappy tone. This book is supposed to be a kind of retelling of the story of Cain and Abel with two sets of brothers in two generations, but the man who is supposedly the best person anyone has ever met is a dreadful father, and I just can't believe a person is truly good who so completely fails at his primary vocation. I spent most of the book angry at him. Everyone should read one or two books by John Steinbeck; he's a master novelist and an influential American literary figure, but I will not be seeking out any more of his books myself. (purchased used)

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

December 2022 Book Reports

The History of Black Catholics in the United States by Cyprian Davis - link to my post (purchased copy)

A Separate Peace by John Knowles - I was reminded of this book when I recently read The Chosen by Chaim Potok, a story of the friendship between two young men during World War II. I read A Separate Peace in high school, but didn't remember it well. The friendship in A Separate Peace is more volatile and uncertain. The book is less satisfying in its conclusion, though perhaps it better exemplifies the feelings of many of the young men who were preparing for war even as they completed their usual high school studies. If you're only going to read one, read The Chosen. (library copy)

The Girl with All the Gifts by M. R. Carey - I selected this book from the library because I thought it would be a nice easy read for visiting my parents over the holidays. Not that I generally recommend zombie-esque dystopian books for Christmas reading, but it was the kind of book I thought I could read while kids tumbled and roared around me. The main protagonist is a young girl at a special school, learning about a world she never sees or experiences for herself because much of it has fallen into ruin and (essentially) enemy hands. After her world turns upside down and inside out, she travels with a few companions toward an unknown destiny - for herself and the world. I was so engrossed in the book, I hid in my bedroom to finish it while the rest of the family watched football, long before we left for my parents' house. Not for the faint of heart, but a surprisingly well-written and enjoyable horror tale. (library copy) 

The Ruins of Gorlan: Book One in the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan - I'm going to make a post about the whole series soon. (borrowed from my daughter)

The Girl Who Helped Thunder and Other Native American Folktales retold be James Bruchac and Joseph Bruchac - link to my post (purchased used)

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

October 2022 Book Reports

Deuteronomy and Joshua, both from the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible series - This series gives the text of the Bible using the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition along with an introduction for each book, annotations on the text, word studies, topical essays, and study questions. I think it's a decent series. I prefer the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, but that's not available for the Old Testament. I read these because I had planned for my older daughter to use them in her Scripture study. Mater Amabilis schedules readings from the Bible so that a student will read the entire Bible over the course of the four high school years, with some books read more than once. My daughter always has lots of questions when reading the Bible, and I thought these books would give her more context. We ended up dropping Scripture as a school subject because she reads her Bible every night, so she hasn't read these yet. (purchased copies)

Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather - This is one of my favorite books. This was my second or third read-through. It's a gentle story of quiet strength and courageous faith, surrounded by exquisite descriptions of the American southwest. Highly recommended. (copy from a fellow member of PaperBackSwap.com)

Australian Legendary Tales collected by Mrs. K. Langloh Parker - link to my post (purchased copy from Living Book Press)

Paul for Everyone: 2 Corinthians by N. T. Wright - I think the new edition of this is now called 2 Corinthians for Everyone. N. T. Wright is Anglican, not Catholic, but he's a leading authority on Paul. I like how he translates the letters himself, which makes them seem fresh and new to me. He breaks the letter down into little chunks. Following the Scripture excerpt, he provides connections to our own modern lives with personal stories and in-depth explanations of his translations, including connections to other verses of Scripture. (purchased used)

Knights of Art: Stories of the Italian Painters by Amy Steedman - I bought this book from Connecting with History to give us a break from picture study in First Son's last year or so at home. Once a week or so, I would read the story of one of the Italian painters. They were mostly enjoyable stories, though the kids were always excited when there would be one with a happy life; there were lots of illnesses and early deaths in those days. (purchased from Connecting with History; link is not an affiliate link)

Chatter: The Voice in our Head, Why it Matters, and How to Harness It by Ethan Kross - link to my post (library copy)

Everything Sad Is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri - link to my post (library copy)

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

September 2022 Book Reports

Talking Leaves by Joseph Bruchac - link to my post (library copy)

The Foundations of Western Civilization by Thomas F. X. Noble (Great Courses audiobook) - This is one of the honors selections for high school history in the Mater Amabilis plans for Level 5 and Level 6. It provides an overview of the history of Europe from the flourishing of Mesopotamia through the beginning of the modern world. (The history plans then introduce a few other audiobooks for more recent history.) I listened to these lectures relatively slowly alongside my student and enjoyed them. (purchased audiobook)

Works of Mercy by Sally Thomas - link to my post (purchased copy)

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe - I didn't assign this book to my older three kids, but decided to assign it to my youngest in Level 3 for one of his classic books. (We recommend three a year in Level 3.) Most of the book was rather slow, compared to more modern books, but there was value in reading it. (copy received from another member of PaperBackSwap.com)

Herodotus and the Road to History by Jeanne Bendick - I read this aloud to my kids back in 2016. I never assigned it for independent reading, so I read it aloud once more for the benefit of my youngers. (purchased copy)

Post Captain by Patrick O'Brien - This is the second in the Captain Aubrey series, which begins with Master and Commander. Sometimes I think I miss half of what goes on in these novels, but I love them. They're exciting and funny, though certainly not for young ears. (copy received from another member of PaperBackSwap.com)

Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment by Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony, and Cass R. Sunstein - This book points out all the ways our judgment is flawed, and not just for the kinds of biases you anticipate. Despite finding it a bit repetitive at times, I am glad I listened to it and definitely think about how my current state of mind or circumstances can make a difference in how I'm making decisions. It's a worthwhile book to check out. (purchased audiobook)

The Pink Motel by Carol Ryrie Brink - This book by the author of Caddie Woodlawn was recently republished. I saw it shared on Facebook and asked our local library to buy a copy, which they did! It's a fun little story with a fair bit of excitement and adventure, parents who are a bit flakey, and kids who discover all the answers. There is a black character depicted in a way that is friendly, but not up to modern standards. The publishers have a little explanation and warning in the publisher's note before the story. I enjoyed this little book and encouraged my younger kids to read it on their own. (library copy)

Walking the Nile by Levinson Wood - Mr. Wood wrote this book about his attempt to walk the length of the Nile from its source to the Mediterranean Sea. His struggles with the weather, the terrain, and the people remind the reader that traveling in Africa still presents difficulties to the earliest European explorers. It's riveting. At first I was considering including it in the geography supplemental reading for my high school students, but by the end I decided the violence and griefs were a little too real. There is also a documentary, but I haven't watched it. (library copy)

Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare (No Fear Shakespeare edition) - I read this ahead of the school year because I decided to assign it to my younger daughter (eighth grade, Level 4). It was a nice change from our usual selections. (purchased copy)

Grace Can Lead Us Home: A Christian Call to End Homelessness by Kevin Nye - link to my post (library copy)

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

July 2022 Book Reports

Kristin Lavransdatter (The Wreath, The Wife, and The Cross) by Sigrid Undset, translated by Tiina Nunnally - link to my post (purchased copy)

The Genesis of Gender: A Christian Theory by Abigail Favale - link to my post (purchased copy)

One Thousand and One Arabian Nights by Geraldine McCaughrean - I wanted a substitute for a Robin Hood book in Level 3 of Mater Amabilis for Second Son, because he had read that one the year before. I found this one adaptation suggested on a number of websites and checked it out. I haven't read the original Arabian Nights, but this one is entertaining and suitable for children, if you can get past the slaughtering of so many wives before he gets to the storyteller. My son and I both enjoyed these stories. It was pretty easy for him to read and narrate a chapter at a time. (I read a library copy, but purchased one for my son.)

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

May 2022 Book Reports

Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck - The author modified a truck into a camper and took off across America with his dog, Charley. My experiences with Steinbeck in the past were mixed, but this was a delightful book. His descriptions of the Badlands, the Redwoods, San Francisco, and many other places were a joy to read. Though confirmed in most of his opinions, he relished conversations with people from all backgrounds and walks of life, listening carefully to their stories. The book is as rambling as his journey, including a protest of school integration in New Orleans along with the magnificent vistas of the west. (purchased used)

A Priest in the Family: A Guide for Parents Whose Sons are Considering Priesthood by Fr. Brett A. Brannen - link to my post (gift from our diocese)

The Conscience of Israel: Pre-exilic Prophets and Prophecy by Bruce Vawter, C.M. - I thoroughly enjoyed Vawter's A Path through Genesis, which I assign to my ninth graders, so I went hunting for a few of his other books. This one examines the role of the prophet in Israel and then specifically explores the lives (such as we know them), the contexts, and writings of  Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, and Jeremiah. Vawter reveals enduring messages from these men of God beyond predicting the coming of the Messiah. I appreciated this book for myself and may offer it to my high schoolers when these books of the Bible show up in our high school plans. Unlike A Path through Genesis, this book does not contain the prophetic books discussed, so you would need a Bible for the texts. (purchased used)

The Chosen by Chaim Potok - This is one of the suggested supplemental books for Mater Amabilis's Level 4 history plans (eighth grade, twentieth century). This is the story of two young Jewish boys in 1940s New York City who become friends despite being from different (and often opposed) schools of thought. Over the years, their friendship is shaped by and shapes their families and each other in profound ways. This is a good option for the Level 4 student because it's provides insight into life in America during World War II and the creation of the state of Israel without reveling in the violence of warfare and the concentration camps. (requested from a member of PaperBackSwap.com)

Door to the North: A Saga of 14th Century America by Elizabeth Coatsworth - This is one of the many quality historical fiction books brought back into print by Bethlehem Books. In this book, Coatsworth imagines the journey of a young Scandinavian to Greenland and a grand new world. First Son read this as a complement to his early American history study this year (sixth grade). (purchased new)

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

April 2022 Book Reports

Katharine Drexel: Friend of the Oppressed by Ellen Tarry - I read an older version of this book from Ignatius Press's Vision Saints series with the subtitle Friend of the Neglected. The books in this series are written at a good level for 4th-8th grades. I pre-read it before assigning it to my seventh grader last year as part of her American history studies. The book describes the life and calling of St. Katharine Drexel, who gave her life and her great wealth to teach and care for Native Americans and African Americans at a time when many others discriminated against them. She is one of my favorite saints. I liked this book, even though I think if it was written today some of the language used would be different. (purchased used)

Rilla of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery - This was my very favorite book in the Anne series when I was a teenager. In the past few years, I've read the entire series again, looking forward to this one. It did not disappoint. A few of the incidents poor Rilla endures in the book seem to depict her less highly as a woman than I would like, now that I'm a mother myself, but the strength and courage of the people who suffered at home during World War I is inspirational. It would be an excellent choice for a sensitive young reader not ready yet for a more graphic book about the war itself. (purchased audiobook)

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry - link to my post (received as a gift)

Beowulf: A New Translation by Seamus Heaney - link to my post (purchased new)

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

March 2022 Book Reports

Books that Matter: The Federalist Papers by Joseph L. Hoffman (The Great Courses) - link to my post (purchased audiobook)

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery - I have read this book so many times, and this was the third time in the past four or five years. I own two different audiobook versions, so I picked one of those for this re-reading. This is a bright, hope-filled book that delights year after year. (purchased audiobook)

Letters from Father Christmas by J. R. R. Tolkien - link to my post (purchased copy)

A Memory for Wonders by Mother Veronica Namoyo - link to my post (purchased copy)

Psychology Handbook for a Windy World by Mary O'Keefe Daly - link to my post (purchased copy)

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard - link to my post (received from a member of PaperBackSwap.com)

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

January 2022 Book Reports

 

Wisdom from the Lives and Letters of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane Frances de Chantal edited by Louise Perrotta - link to my post (purchased copy)

Brain Myths Exploded: Lessons from Neuroscience by Indre Viskontas (The Great Courses) - I selected this audiobook thinking it would be a good contrast to our psychology book by offering a more contemporary perspective on psychology and neuroscience. In the end, I decided not to use it, mostly because we ran out of time in the course. Overall, this would be a good addition to a psych class that already had a text that covered introductory and basic information on psychology. The first few lectures were a little frustrating as they seemed to be aimed at dispelling the myth that there is a Creator and that faith is reasonable. That theme resurfaces a few times, but not as annoyingly as in the first two or three lectures. (purchased copy)

The Temperament God Gave You by Art and Laraine Bennett - link to my post (purchased copy)

The Violent Bear It Away by Flannery O'Connor - link to my post (received as a gift from a family member)

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