August 2025 Book Reports

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

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley - A friend and I both read this book in preparation for the Netflix movie. Then she and her husband came and watched with my and Kansas Dad, which was fun. I was surprised to realize I had never read it before. It's a much more philosophical book than I expected, with relatively little "action." There are a lot of important questions raised by the book about moral development, scientific advancements, responsibility, mercy, and forgiveness. I'm glad I read it. (library copy)

The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder - I picked this up at a library sale years ago. I was thinning our easier chapter books and decided to read it myself. April has to deal with some pretty heavy topics (neglect and a murderer on the lose), which surprised me. Overall, my younger son and I agreed that it was just an ok book, and not worth the shelf space anymore. (purchased copy)

The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Deah - This book was recommended by a local bookstore owner for a summer reading challenge. He actually recommended it for my 17 year old daughter, but I ended up reading it instead. I think I would let her read it, if she wanted, but I didn't hand it over to her. The book alternates between Leningrad in 1941 and modern day America. Marina, a Russian immigrant, is suffering from Alzheimer's, and her past and present become more confused in her mind. It's beautifully written, though tragic. (purchased copy)

Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan - This is a lovely book tracing the path of a magical harmonica through the hands of three children during the second world war. I listened to the audiobook edition, and the inclusion of musical performances throughout elevate the audiobook; it's one of the few books that are truly better as audiobooks. I was so absorbed in the story that I found myself hiding in my bedroom long after I finished folding clothes to keep listening. Though this book is enjoyable for all ages, it's definitely written at more of a middle grade level. Highly recommended. (purchased audiobook)

Humility Rules by J. Augustine Wetta - link to my post (parish library copy)

Travelers to Unimaginable Lands: Stories of Dementia, the Caregiver, and the Human Brain by Dasha Kiper - This book, written by a therapist for caregivers of loved ones with dementia, explores how the healthy functioning of the human brain in the caregiver can exacerbate friction in the relationship, mainly by preventing the caregiver from reacting "logically" to the actions of their loved one. It's written with great compassion for caregivers and their struggles. (library copy)

Memory is so integrated into every aspect of life--from thinking, to communicating, to forming and sustaining relationships, to creating continuity, meaning, and coherence--that its disappearance is incomprehensible. We simply have no cognitive framework that allows for its absence in others. (p. 19)

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.

Spiritual Battles: The Space Trilogy by C. S. Lewis

The Space Trilogy

Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, That Hideous Strength

by C. S. Lewis

The Space Trilogy is C. S. Lewis's foray into science fiction, but the other-worldly locations and experiences allow Lewis to explore our relationships with each other, society, and God.

In Out of the Silent Planet, Professor Elwin Ransom is kidnapped and taken to another planet. He suspects he is to be a human sacrifice. Once there, he escapes his captors and wanders the alien world, making friends with some of the creatures and being introduced to angelic beings who are able to reveal truths about his home planet and its captivity by a malevolent being.

Ransom is returned to earth, but has now a higher purpose. He is transported to Venus in Perelandra. Here, he meets a beautiful woman, a kind of Eve. When evil follows him to Perelandra, he believes he must convince the Lady to reject the arguments of evil, but an exciting and unexpected twist brings him physically into battle.

Finally, in That Hideous Strength, modernity is feeding the growing evil on our own Earth. Ransom leads a community of believers who make themselves available to the Oyéresu, the angelic beings, who (presumably) battle through intergalactic space and all of time on behalf of the one true God.

If you are interested in action, the theological and philosophical discussions will slow down the plot, but they are, of course, the main point as far as Lewis is concerned. 

As always, I liked the books better once I read a paper my older son wrote for a philosophy class about That Hideous Strength. I also found this essay by Dr. Stephen Stallard interesting, especially his point about living in counter-cultural communities (churches, or perhaps, The Church), forming ourselves for our mission in the world, whatever that might be.

I may have mentioned before that C. S. Lewis is not my favorite author, and these books haven't changed my mind. However, I rarely regret reading anything he's written. There's always something I hadn't considered before.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links. I bought these three books years and years ago with a gift card.

October 2023 Book Reports

Charis in the World of Wonders by Marly Youmans - This was the second time I read this book (first review here). This time I wasn't recovering from Covid and I was able to read it with my book club. I enjoyed it just as much. Charis is able to see the glory and beauty of Creation, and to feel God's loving presence, even in the midst of pain, suffering, and abandonment. I know she's not real, but she is my hero. (received as a gift)

I, Robot by Isaac Asimov - This was another re-read for me, but I hadn't read this one since I was in high school. It was thoroughly enjoyable. Writing this little review now, more than a year later, I am reminded that I wanted to read more of the robot books. Asimov is a master storyteller and a giant in the sci-fi genre. Everyone should read at least some of his books. (library copy)

Goodnight Mind: Turn Off Your Noisy Thoughts & Get a Good Night's Sleep by Colleen E. Carney, PhD, and Rachel Manber, PhD - This is a nice helpful book on the importance of sleep and the strategies for assessing your sleep and improving it. The part I remember best was the research that showed a person's impairment after a restless night is almost always not as bad as they thought it would be. I have felt so much freer when I can't fall asleep to stop worrying about it, and even sometimes to get up and read a book or watch a little show. I wanted to share it with my kids, but then I found one geared toward teens. I bought that one and my kids will read it as part of their high school Health course, but I actually haven't read it myself. I would also suggest recommending prayer to kids who can't sleep, which isn't mentioned in this book. (library copy)

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

November 2022 Book Reports

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte - I had read this book a few years before we had kids, so it had been almost twenty years when I read it again with my book club. It seemed a little more trite to me this time around, though generally I think the main protagonist is a much more virtuous person than I would have been in her situation. (read free Kindle copy)

Out of Many, One: Portraits of America's Immigrants by George W. Bush - link to my post (borrowed copy from my dad) 

A Mercy by Toni Morrison - I read this as I was deciding on an African American literature selection for senior year. This book presents the stories of a single 1680s household from the differing perspectives of the master, mistress, and slaves. It is often difficult to read, both because the text can be challenging and because the events are harsh and tragic. Few people of privilege, wealth, or power are portrayed positively. But it is beautifully written. I think a high school senior could read it, though some will struggle in understanding some of the voices. There are also some pointed criticisms of Catholics that, while I think they are valid, would need context for a teenage Catholic reader. That is all in addition, of course, to all the content considerations you might imagine: rape, violence, slavery, witchcraft, intimacy outside of marriage and with people of the same gender, etc. (library copy)

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis - This was my second time through this audiobook and I loved it just as much as the first time. I picked up on many more of the jokes this time through because I had recently listened to Jerome K. Jerome's original travelogue, Three Men in a Boat. Back in 2020, I wrote:

This may be my favorite audiobook of all time. I enjoyed every single minute of it, invented chores so I could listen to it, and was both delighted with the ending and sorry it was over. It's a quirky tale of time-travel, Victorian England, the Blitz, and romance, "to say nothing of the dog" (and cat). (purchased from Audible during a sale)

 I'm sure the book is good, but the audiobook is an absolute delight.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie - I've never been much of a mystery reader; I can never guess the murderer! But so many people rave about Agatha Christie, I thought I'd give a few of her books a try. I enjoyed this one, though of course I didn't figure out the solution until it was revealed. (library copy)

Leona by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino - I was looking on PaperBackSwap for books by this author because I love her book My Heart Lies South. This little out of print book about a brave but often over-looked woman in Mexico's history was available. It's written at about a middle school level, though the romance means it might be more interesting to older children. I enjoyed it, but I don't know that you have to seek it out. (received from another member of PaperBackSwap.com)

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston - link to my post (library copy)

Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival by Velma Wallis - I read this with my book club. The story tells of the perseverance of two women left alone in the Alaskan wilderness, the revival of their skills to survive, and the flourishing of their friendship. It's also a story of the healing of family relationships. I added this book to my Geography of the Americas shelf in case any high schoolers want to select it as a free-read (Level 5 or Level 6). (purchased used)

The Yellow Fairy Book edited by Andrew Lang - I have read fairy tales aloud to all my kids regularly since the very beginning of our homeschooling journey, but we don't read one every day, or even every week, so it can take a long time to get through a book. Fairy tales seem to be enjoying something of a moment, especially in the homeschooling crowd, but nothing can teach you about the wonderful and the weird as much as reading through a collection from beginning to end. I picked something different to read aloud after this one, but I'm considering returning to the Blue Fairy Book after that because my younger kids don't remember it. (purchased used)

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

March and April 2020 Book Reports

Strangers in a Strange Land: Living the Catholic Faith in a Post-Christian World by Charles J. Chaput - link to my post (inter-library loan copy)

The Collected Tales of Nikolai Gogol by Nikolai Gogol, translated and annotated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky - link to my post (Kansas Dad's copy)

Why Buddhism Is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment by Robert Wright - This book would probably be better titled "How Successful Mindfulness Meditation Practices Seem to be Explained by Recent Scientific Research" but that's not quite as catchy. While the author takes some time to explain Buddhist philosophy, he's really only interested in the aspects of it that define and direct mindfulness meditation. Anything "religious" (Buddhist/Christian/etc.) is set aside, though respectfully. The supporting relationship between recent research and scholarship and mindfulness medication practices is fascinating. Kansas Dad (who was the first to listen to the book) was immediately asking questions about the Truth found in this modern research and how it might be related to what we know is True through our Catholic faith. He also found interesting lines of thought in considering past failures and potential successes in evangelizing amongst those who follow Buddhist philosophies. I am still thinking about this book and its implications. (purchased Audible book)

The Stand by Stephen King - Believe it or not, I didn't seek this book out in the midst of the impending pandemic. It literally just happened to be next on my list. I enjoyed reading it and found some scenes presented in unexpected ways. Overall, however, my view of the great battle between Good and Evil varies considerably from that of King which led directly to a feeling of dissatisfaction with the ending of the novel. I also know just enough biology and genetics to be distracted by what are probably inaccurate predictions of how such a deadly epidemic would happen. Of course, he didn't have the "luxury" of coronavirus in his past at that point. (library copy)

Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life by Steve Martin - I picked this book up at our library sale. I thoroughly enjoyed it, though it's certainly not for the young or sensitive reader. I was surprised at how thoughtful Steve Martin is and at the honesty with which he shared some of the difficulties in his life while still being respectful of the privacy of some of those closest to him. It was a good read. (purchased used)

Something Beautiful for God by Malcolm Muggeridge - This book is Mr. Muggeridge's comments on Mother Teresa and his interviews and television recordings with her. It's more a collection of thoughts than a focused book. It was interesting to read as a glimpse into how St. Teresa of Kolkata was viewed and understood in her own lifetime, but it's not a comprehensive book on her life or her philosophies. I enjoyed it, but it will not be the book I offer to my Level 4 student next year. (library copy)

The Last Whalers: Three Years in the Far Pacific with a Courageous Tribe and a Vanishing Way of Life by Doug Bock Clark - link to my post (library copy)

The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare (No Fear Shakespeare) - This is one of the recommended Shakespeare plays for high schoolers in the Mater Amabilis™ curriculum. (See the English course here.) While this play is much lighter-hearted than Hamlet, which First Son and First Daughter just finished reading, it still surfaces questions about marriage, fidelity, trust, and responsibility toward children. I'm not sure I'd consider it one of the top ten plays a student should study in high school, but if you've already read many of the more common ones, it's a good option. It's not too long and contains one of the most unusual stage directions of all time: "Exit, pursued by bear." (purchased copy)

Mother Teresa of Calcutta: A Personal Portrait by Fr. Leo Maasburg - link to my post (library copy)

It's Not What It Looks Like by Molly Burke - This was one of the better Audible originals offered free to members. I've never watched the author's YouTube channel, so her story was entirely new to me. I enjoyed her youthful voice and her ability to speak authentically for the blind and other disabled people. Her story includes some tough struggles with depression, anxiety, and suicide ideation, which could be difficult for some people to hear, but are shared to support and encourage others. (offered free to Audible members in August 2019)

Theatre of Fish: Travels through Newfoundland and Labrador by John Gimlette - I read Gilmette's Wild Coast and requested this because I enjoyed that one so much. Theatre of Fish is a little more depressing overall, though it has similar moments of witty remarks and insight. There are quite a few references to multiple instances of terrible abuse at the hands of priests or religious. (requested from PaperBackSwap.com)

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez translated by Gregory Rabassa - link to my post (requested from PaperBackSwap.com)

I have received nothing for this post. All opinions are honest and my own. Links to Amazon or PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

February 2020 Book Reports

Mother Teresa: An Authorized Biography by Kathryn Spink - link to my post (from PaperBackSwap.com)

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - This is a beautifully written book with a dissatisfying ending. I felt only sadness for the characters at the end. Endings don't have to be happy, but if unhappy, they must be meaningful. I suppose it might work as a commentary on war, but I felt only disappointment. (library copy)

How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer - I was considering adding this to our health reading for high school, which First Son is doing right now in tenth grade. It covers some useful information about how emotions and intuition can be beneficial when making decisions and when to set them aside and focus instead on more mathematical or logical considerations. The later chapter on morality was more problematic, mainly by discounting the possibility of natural law and an absolute truth. While not unexpected, it makes the book incomplete. Much of the earlier information is covered by other books and readings I have already scheduled, so we'll skip this one for school. (library copy)

The Merchant of Venice (No Fear Shakespeare) by William Shakespeare - First Daughter is reading this play now (seventh grade) and I wanted to refresh my memory by reading it again, if I ever read the whole thing. I do remember seeing it performed when I was in middle school. I think First Daughter will (mostly) love Portia. Shylock remains a baffling character. (purchased copy)

To Say Nothing of the Dog: Or How We Found the Bishop's Bird Stump at Last by Connie Willis - This may be my favorite audiobook of all time. I enjoyed every single minute of it, invented chores so I could listen to it, and was both delighted with the ending and sorry it was over. It's a quirky tale of time-travel, Victorian England, the Blitz, and romance, "to say nothing of the dog" (and cat). (purchased from Audible during a sale)

A Mind of Her Own by Paula McLain - This was one of those free audiobooks Audible offers to members each month. It is the fictionalized tale of Marie Curie as a struggling student in Paris. Frankly, I found it frustrating to listen to the narrator tell me how Marie Curie was feeling rather than showing me through action. I have no idea what it was really like for Curie in Paris as she met and finally married her husband, but I rather hope it wasn't like this book describes it. (free Audible book in March 2019)

Come and See: A Photojournalist's Journey into the World of Mother Teresa by Linda Schaefer - This photographer is more talented at photography than writing. While the pictures are a fascinating peek into Mother Teresa's work in India, the book overall falls short of what I would want to give my children for the Level 4 twentieth century biography. (library copy)

West with the Night by Beryl Markham - link to my post (library copy, then requested from PaperBackSwap.com)

I have received nothing for this post. All opinions are honest and my own. Links to Amazon or PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

January 2020 Book Reports

Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II by Robert Matzen - This book tells the experiences of Audrey Hepburn under Nazi occupation for five formative years in the Netherlands. It's a fascinating description of life for the average person during the war and shows how Hepburn's feelings and actions during her adulthood as a Hollywood star and celebrity were shaped by that time. (library copy)

Food: A Cultural Culinary History (The Great Courses) by Ken Albala - link to my post (purchased from Audible)

Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland - This book of short stories highlights important moments in the "life" of a hidden Vermeer painting, moving backwards in time. Parts of it were lovely. (library copy)

Golden Gate by Valenti Angelo - This is a sequel to Nino. Nino travels with his mother and grandfather to join his father in California. I believe it's based on his own experiences as a child so there are some episodes that might seem jarring or inappropriate for children in today's culture. For example, Nino and his friend discover the body of a deceased Chinese man on his boat, a man they considered a friendly neighbor if not actually a friend. There are also many descriptions of Native Americans and immigrants that don't conform to modern standards. All that being said, I just love the voice of the story and the delightful illustrations. I would happily read it aloud to my children and will allow them to read it on their own. We have lots of discussions that would address anything inappropriate. (purchased copy)

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo - link to my post (library copy)

Burmese Days by George Orwell - link to my post (copy from Paperbackswap.com
PaperBackSwap.com)

Doomsday Book by Connis Willis - The young historian, Kivrin, is mistakenly sent back to the time of the Black Death in the environs of Oxford. Her experiences illuminate the extraordinary in ordinary lives. This was my second time reading it and it was just as wonderful (and sorrowful) as the first time. (library copy)

An Introduction to the Universe: The Big Ideas of Astronomy by Brother Guy Consolmagno - link to my post (purchased from Audible)

I have received nothing for this post. All opinions are honest and my own. Links to Amazon or PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

September 2019 Book Reports

Look at the Sky and Tell the Weather by Eric Sloane - link to my post (purchased copy)

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare (No Fear Shakespeare) - Apparently, this is one of the Shakespeare plays most read in high school, but I'd missed it. Lots of blood and famous lines. First Son is reading this in tenth grade, but I'll assign it to the others in ninth grade (matching up with our study of ancient Rome in history). (purchased copy)

Out of Africa and Shadows on the Grass by Isak Dinesen - link to my post (copy from PaperBackSwap.com)

Hamlet by William Shakespeare (No Fear Shakespeare) - Both my tenth grader and my seventh grader will be reading this play. It's quite long so they won't read an entire act each week. We're right in the midst of memorizing lines from the play using How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare so I thought it was an appropriate choice for the year. (purchased copy)

The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt (Landmark Books) by Elizabeth Payne and The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone: Key to Ancient Egypt by James Cross Giblin - link to my post (purchased copies)

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - This classic was different than I remembered it, a little less exciting, a little more depressing, and a little more contrived. I think I skimmed over a lot of the "boring" conversations when I read it as a teenager. Those same conversations strike me as disturbingly prescient today. Though it was easy to pick apart the inconsistencies and the instances where the plot seems unlikely, there was something, as always, lovely just in listening to Bradbury's language: lyrical and powerful. (purchased Audible book)

Stanley: The Impossible Life of Africa's Greatest Explorer by Tim Jeal - link to my post (library copy)

Lady Susan and The Watsons by Jane Austen - These two books, one Austen never published and a second she never finished, were recommended by Audible because they know I love all things Austen. I enjoyed listening to the stories, though obviously they are not her best. Lady Susan is written as a series of letters and sometimes it was more difficult in an audiobook to tell who was writing each one. (purchased on Audible)

Not So Fast: Parenting Your Teen Through the Dangers of Driving by Tim Hollister and Pam Shadel Fischer - link to my post (library copy)

The Creed in Slow Motion by Ronald Knox - link to my post (purchased copy)

After Anatevka: Live by Alexandra Silber - This is an Audible original offered as one of the free books of the month. Ms. Silber created this stage performance melding readings from her book, After Anatevka, and performances of songs from Fiddler on the Roof and new compositions written to complement her book. It was enjoyable with some delightful music. (free from Audible in October 2018)

The Rise and Fall of the British Empire (The Great Courses) by Patrick N. Allitt - link to my post (purchased audio book)

Elizabeth II: Life of a Monarch by Ruth Cowen - This was another Audible original offered as a free book of the month to members. I thought it would be interested as a supplement to my recent audiobook on the British Empire. It was kind of an interesting take on Queen Elizabeth's life, but it wasn't a complete biography. There were quite a lot of lurid details of the other royals' love lives. (free from Audible in April 2019)

In Ethiopia with a Mule by Dervla Murphy - link to my post (purchased copy)

Folsom Untold by Danny Robins - This audio book on Johnny Cash and his Folsom album is a little melodramatic, but it was interesting to hear something about the album, how it came about, and what happened later. It looks like it's no longer available on Audible, but if you're interested in all things Johnny Cash, you may want to see if you can find it elsewhere. (free from Audible in February 2019)

I have received nothing in exchange for these posts. All opinions are my own. Links to Amazon, PaperBackSwap, and RC History are affiliate links.

November and December 2018 Book Reports

Lots of reading, not lots of time at the computer when I can write about what I've read. Here's a quick look at November and December, not including all the school pre-reading I'm trying to juggle in between getting kids to their activities and appointments.

Ship's Boy with Magellan by Milton Lomask - link to my post (purchased copy)

On Blue's Waters, In Green's Jungles, and Return to the Whorl by Gene Wolfe - These three books make up the Short Sun trilogy, which follow the Book of the Long Sun (mentioned in the last book report). Overall, I enjoyed the trilogy more. If I had more time, I'd write an entire post about some of my thoughts on the series. Wolfe's story is enjoyable, but also dabbles in ideas of what it means to be human, how to worship that which is superior, and how to be good and loving when so much of existence is not. Ultimately, I think he fails to describe the complete answer, but I suppose he might point in the right direction. (As much as books "say" what an author "wants" them to say, that is.) (two books from our local library, one from inter-library loan)

History's Great Military Blunders and the Lessons They Teach (from The Great Courses) by Gregory S. Aldrete - I listened to this course with the children in the van (ages 14, 12, 10, and 8). There were a few references to adult themes, but mostly this went over the younger one's heads and were few in number. There is, of course, a great deal of death, much of it unnecessary and therefore more tragic. The professor had an annoying habit of over-emphasizing every third of fourth word for no explicable reason. My children never complained about that, but I found it distracting. I was surprised at how interested the kids were, even the younger ones, and at how much they picked up. After one lecture, my 8 year old asked me to get out an atlas and show him the former boundaries of Prussia as the Russian army would have encountered them in the battle described. My 12 year old enjoyed them so much, she has listened to the entire series again.  As with many of The Great Courses, there is a PDF with lecture notes. It has some illustrations, but I wish it included some maps. (purchased with an Audible credit)

One Beautiful Dream by Jennifer Fulwiler - I bought this Kindle book during a sale and then let it sit on my Kindle until I suggested it to my book club. At first I wasn't sure how this book reflected my own life, but after contemplating it for a while, I came to a new understanding about my life as a homeschooling mom: I love planning and organizing our homeschool lessons. It is unfortunate I cannot monetize it as Fulwiler has her writing (or, perhaps I could, but I'm not willing to take those steps). I also haven't managed to balance my desire to plan our lessons with the way those lessons play out in real life, but at least I have an idea of how I might be able to prioritize my focus to be more balanced in the future. I figure I'll hit that stride right about the time Second Son, my youngest, graduates from high school. Ha! (purchased Kindle copy at a sale price)

Nature's Everyday Mysteries by Sy Montgomery - link to my post (purchased copy)

How to Read and Understand Shakespeare (from The Great Courses) by Professor Marc C. Conner - link to my post (purchased with an Audible credit)

Hi Bob! by Bob Newhart and friends - This is a kind of series of podcasts by Bob Newhart during which he interviews a bunch of famous comedians. It was one of the free books offered to Audible members in recent months and I picked it thinking I might be able to share it with First Son, who appreciates humor more than any other medium. I'm not sure how much he'd enjoy it, given the number of references to older movies and shows, without more context. There were many references I didn't quite catch myself. It was an entertaining book, though, and I often laughed to myself while listening (and folding laundry or washing dishes). (one of the free monthly selections with Audible membership)

Black Panther: The Young Prince by Ronald L. Smith - I purchased this during an Audible sale for a deep discount because I thought the kids would enjoy it. They did! It was a middle-grade kind of fan fiction novel full of inconsistencies. Sometimes I couldn't stop myself from pausing the playback to tell them about how school would really work (being homeschooled they wouldn't have known) and I was gratified to hear them counseling T'Challa to tell his father all or talk to another responsible adult. Even with all its problems, they all enjoyed it and would probably gladly listen again. (Audible, purchased during a sale)

Links to Amazon are affiliate links. As an affiliate with Amazon, I receive a small commission if you follow one of my links, add something to your cart, and complete the purchase (in that order). Links to RC History and PaperBackSwap.com are affiliate links. Any other links (like those to Bethlehem Books) are not affiliate links.

These reports are my honest opinions.

July and August 2018 Book Reports

The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise by Robert Cardinal Sarah with Nicolas Diat - link to my post. (library copy)

In the Steps of the Master by H. V. Morton - link to my post. (purchased used)

Calde of the Long Sun by Gene Wolfe - I'm reading this series again and enjoying it more the second time around I think. Sometime in the past few years, the library copy of the last book was damaged or lost so here's hoping they buy another one for me. (library copy)

Echoes by John Ciardi - I picked this book out of the library catalog when I was searching for poetry books for the children. (How to Tell the Top of the Hill is delightful.) This book is beautifully printed on lovely paper. Many of the poems seemed melancholy or dispirited to me, but a few near the end of the book appealed to me. I liked Ten Minutes my Captive in which he describes a turtle he allows to escape "into the green flecked edge of water and home." (library copy)

Joan of Arc by Hilaire Belloc - link to my post. (purchased Kindle version)

Ember Rising by S.D. Smith - We started listening to this audiobook with Kansas Dad, but he asked us to finish it without him because he found it upsetting that the main characters seemed to suffer worse and worse fates as the book progressed. I'm going to have to go against the current on this series and admit I often find the writing almost painful. There's far too much alliteration and minute descriptions; I'm always thinking there should have been more editing. The story is reasonably good, though, and the children enjoy it. I bought it thinking it would be the last of the trilogy, but it's not. I suppose I'll buy the rest of the books for the children to read but I think I'll pass on the audiobook. (Audiobook received from our contribution to the funding page.)

Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe by Robert Matzen - This incredibly researched book tells Jimmy Stewart's wartime story based on extensive interviews and governmental reports. It gives detailed accounts and descriptions of life for bombers living in England and flying missions over Europe. Stewart's life in Hollywood (with all his exploits) is described just as openly as the often graphic scenes of carnage and struggle in war, so this is a book for mature readers, but it could be a fascinating read for anyone interested in World War II. (borrowed from my dad)

The Blood-Red Crescent by Henry Garnett - link to my post. (purchased used on Cathswap)

Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw - One of the historical fiction books recommended by RC History for Connecting with History volume 1, this is an exciting story of an inadvertent double spy in the time of Queen Hatshepsut. There's a Novel Inquiries guide for the novel which I own, but I haven't decided if we'll use it. First Daughter (sixth grade) is going to read this for independent reading and I might not ask her to do anything in particular other than reading it. It's a good choice for a middle schooler or older student as there is some violence and romance. It's exciting and I enjoyed the story, but I was a little upset at some of the scenes where she flirts with a guard (to get him to let her out of the gate) or her love interest because they reaffirm stereotypes, but First Daughter hears me talk about those things enough for me not to be concerned about her reading them here and there. (purchased used)

Baptism of Fire by Andrezej Sapkowski - This is the third book in the Witcher series. After I read the second book, I wrote that I wouldn't recommend them due to the use of the rape myth in the plot line. Of course, I kept reading them myself and discovered this book has a surprising pro-life message. Entertaining fantasy and moral questions for a mature audience. (library copy)

Crosstalk by Connie Willis - This is a light-hearted science fiction book set in the near future when the instant messaging and texting creates a constant bombardment. I read this book in the twenty-four hours before and during my daughter's surgery. It was nothing major, just pins in a broken finger, but I was worried and this book was the perfect companion as I tried to relax and waited for the results. (library copy)

The Burgess Seashore Book for Children by Thornton W. Burgess - link to my post. (purchased used)

Much Ado about Nothing by Shakespeare - First Son is reading this as his first Shakespeare play of high school so I read it to help myself be prepared. I read the No Fear Shakespeare version (linked) and the one he will read. It helps a lot to have the modern translation and some editorial helps to understand the references. It doesn't include any essays on the meaning, but I found a Cliff's Notes with a bit of information for him to read after he reads the play. (I just requested whatever was available on PaperBackSwap.com.) Reading even those short notes gave me some added dimensions for understanding the play, the characters, and the themes. I am absurdly excited to be reading Shakespeare with First Son and First Daughter this year. (They'll be reading different plays.) I've scheduled three plays for each of them this year, but even if we only make it through two of them, I'll be thrilled. Realizing I didn't encounter Shakespeare at all in college, I've decided this must be a priority for us in middle school and high school. It might be their only experience with the Bard. (purchased book for the play, requested book for the supplementary reading from
PaperBackSwap.com)

The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson - link to my post. (purchased used)

Usually here I list all the books I'm reading, but that would take too long because I'm reading everything First Son is reading for high school. Yikes! It's a lot.

June 2018 Book Reports

Our Lady's Feasts by Sister Mary Jean Dorcy - link to my post (own copy, probably purchased used)

Animal Farm by George Orwell - link to my post (own copy, probably received from my mom)

Know and Tell by Karen Glass - link to my post (purchased copy)

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Over the Moon by Frank Cottrell Boyce - This is the third of a recent trilogy about the original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It was fun, and delightfully read by David Tennant, but I think Kansas Dad and I were happy when it was over. The very best part of the audiobook was the censored bit. (purchased Audible book)

Middlemarch by George Eliot - link to my post (library copy)

The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge - The children loved this book which is kind of like a fairy tale. It bothered me how often they criticized the main character for being curious and talked about how it was a common fault of girls and women. There are also a couple of adults in the town who ask Maria to keep secrets from her guardian and her governess; that sort of thing always makes me feel uncomfortable, even when the secrets are innocuous. Also, the heroine is thirteen years old but marries her cousin at the end of the book (maybe a year older?), which was weird. The book we owned also ruined the surprise of the white horse by putting a unicorn on the cover. I would say it's an acceptable book, but I wouldn't read it aloud again. (purchased used)

Litany of the Long Sun by Gene Wolfe - I took this book on vacation with us and was dismayed to realized I'd already read it. However, I had nothing else to read and, once I started, was entertained enough to finish it. (Kansas Dad's copy)

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman - link to my post (library copy)

Books in Progress (and date started)

• Norton Anthology of English Literature Vol. 2 (sixth edition) (August 2014) 
• A Century of Sonnets edited by Feldman and Robinson (May 2017) 
• The Power of Silence by Robert Cardinal Sarah (December 2017) 
• In the Steps of the Master by H.V. Morton (February 2018) 
• History's Great Military Blunders and the Lessons they Teach from The Great Courses (February 2018, listening with the older two or three) 
• Ember Rising by S.D. Smith (March 2018, listening with the kids) 
• Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe by Robert Matzen (May 2018)
• Beauty for Truth's Sake: On the Re-enchantment of Education by Stratford Caldecott (May 2018)
• Echoes: Poems Left Behind by John Ciardi (June 2018)

The italic print: Links to Amazon are affiliate links. As an affiliate with Amazon, I receive a small commission if you follow one of my links, add something to your cart, and complete the purchase (in that order). Links to RC History and PaperBackSwap.comare also affiliate links to their respective stores. Other links (like those to Bethlehem Books) are not affiliate links.

These reports are my honest opinions.

May 2018 Book Reports

World Peacemakers: Mahatma Gandhi by Michael Nicholson - link to my post. (library copy)

The Korean War (Snapshots in History) by Brian Fitzgerald - link to my post. (library copy)

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (and the Grisha trilogy) - link to my post. (gift copy of Shadow and Bone, library copies of the second and third books)

The Singing Tree by Kate Seredy - link to my post. (purchased used copy)

10,000 Days of Thunder: A History of the Vietnam War by Philip Caputo - link to my post. (library copy)

The Time of Contempt by Andrzej Sapkowski - This is the second book of the Witcher series and the third featuring him. It's politics and fantasy and ethics and mostly enjoyable, but contains an episode centered on the rape myth so, though I do intend to read the remaining books, I'm not going to recommend it. (library copy)

The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting - link to my post. (received from a member of PaperBackSwap.com)

1984 by George Orwell - I enjoyed revisiting this classic with the audiobook. It was more interesting for me after listening to the lecture on Winston in Heroes and Legends. I was able to place the story in context of post-World War II England much better than I had understood previously. (purchased on Audible)

Afghanistan (Global Hot Spots) by David Downing, September 11: Attack on America (Snapshots in History) by Andrew Langley, and The Arrival by Shaun Tan - link to my post. (all library copies)

Nino by Valenti Angelo - link to my post. (purchased used)

How Great Science Fiction Works by Gary K. Wolfe, one of The Great Courses - I thoroughly enjoyed these lectures on science fiction. It is a broad overview of the field. There's one lecture, for example, on science fiction and religion, but Kansas Dad co-teaches a science fiction and theology course that examines only Christianity in science fiction and lasts an entire semester. I recognized many of the authors, stories, and books mentioned, but also discovered many new ones. Hopefully I find some time to read some of them. (purchased on Audible with a credit)


Books in Progress (and date started)

• Norton Anthology of English Literature Vol. 2 (sixth edition) (August 2014) 
• A Century of Sonnets edited by Feldman and Robinson (May 2017) 
• The Power of Silence by Robert Cardinal Sarah (December 2017) 
• In the Steps of the Master by H.V. Morton (February 2018) 
• History's Great Military Blunders and the Lessons they Teach from The Great Courses (February 2018, listening with the older two or three) 
• Ember Rising by S.D. Smith (March 2018, listening with the kids) 
• Know and Tell: The Art of Narration by Karen Glass (April 2018) - I've finished this but lent it out to first one and then another friend so I haven't written about it yet. To sum up: If you want to use narration in your homeschool, read this book. 
• The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge (April 2018, aloud to the children)
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Over the Moon by Frank Cottrell Boyce (May 2018, listening with Kansas Dad and the kids)
• Middlemarch by George Eliot (May 2018)
• Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe by Robert Matzen (May 2018)
• Beauty for Truth's Sake: On the Re-enchantment of Education by Stratford Caldecott (May 2018)

The italic print: Links to Amazon are affiliate links. As an affiliate with Amazon, I receive a small commission if you follow one of my links, add something to your cart, and complete the purchase (in that order). Links to RC History and PaperBackSwap.comare also affiliate links to their respective stores. Other links (like those to Bethlehem Books) are not affiliate links.

These reports are my honest opinions.

January 2018 Book Reports

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - I read this book many years ago, while in high school, and decided I didn't like Charles Dickens. Now I know better, having rediscovered Dickens and enjoying his books immensely. I thought it appropriate to return to this book to see if maturity improved it. It did, though it is not my favorite Dickens novel. It's quite long with most of the "action" taking place in just a few chapters near the end. It did give me a chance to ponder how education separates us from those we love, though Pip's separation begins not with education but with embarrassment and covetousness. One thing I don't like about the Audible books is how much more difficult it is than in print or even an e-book to mark passages. I tried with the bookmarking, but it's just not the same. So I don't have nice passages for a post or for my commonplace book. I did, however, get to listen to the book when I didn't have time to read it. (purchased Audible audiobook, though I think it's quite inexpensive if you have the Kindle version)

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, translated by H. T. Willetts - link to my post (purchased used copy)

The Inexplicable Universe: Unsolved Mysteries (The Great Courses) by Professor Neil deGrasse Tyson - I'm sure I picked this out during one of the many Great Courses sales Audible has. I listened to it recently when I wanted something short between novels. This course is six lectures of about thirty minutes each, during which the professor chats about mysteries of the universe particularly focused on quantum physics and astronomy. Though he wasn't always entirely respectful of a belief in God (or any higher power), the lectures themselves were interesting. I haven't had any real physics since high school, so much of the material was new to me. I learned more about quarks, anti-matter, and black holes than I knew before and was pleased. (purchased during an Audible sale)

The Island of Dr. Moreau by H. G. Wells - The actual science of Dr. Moreau is impossible, but the prospects for blending the human and the animal are more possible than ever with modern science. The tendency of scientists to continue along a line of inquiry without contemplating the consequences in a moral sense is also present. While the book is a kind of horror adventure story, the depictions of animals a little like humans and humans a little like animals hover in the thoughts much longer. (found on my shelves, maybe from a book sale?)

Hide the Children: A Story of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux by Brother Roberto, C.S.C. - link to my post (purchased new)

Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kastner - link to my post (received from a member at PaperBackSwap.com)

The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski - This is a fantasy book of short stories by a Polish author. It's for mature audiences and involves plenty of magic, but I thought it was fun. (library copy)

Report from Calabria by A Priest - link to my post (library copy)



Books in Progress (and date started)

• Norton Anthology of English Literature Vol. 2 (sixth edition) (August 2014)
• A Century of Sonnets edited by Feldman and Robinson (May 2017)
• The Complete Ramona books by Beverly Cleary (July 2017), listening with the kids
• The Power of Silence by Robert Cardinal Sarah (December 2017)
• Tremendous Trifles by G.K. Chesterton (December 2017)
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (January 2018), listening on my own
• To Light a Fire on the Earth by Robert Barron with John L. Allen Jr. (January 2018)
• The White Stag by Kate Seredy (January 2018)
• Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell (January 2018)

The italic print: Links to Amazon are affiliate links. As an affiliate with Amazon, I receive a small commission if you follow one of my links, add something to your cart, and complete the purchase (in that order). Links to RC History and PaperBackSwap.com are also affiliate links to their respective stores. Other links (like those to Bethlehem Books) are not affiliate links.

These reports are my honest opinions.

July and August 2016 Book Reports

Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child by Anthony Esolen - link to my post. (Kindle edition)

The Bee-Friendly Garden by Kate Frey and Gretchen LeBuhn - link to my post. (book review for Blogging for Books)

The 101 Damatians by Dodie Smith is a delightful story; I'm sorry I never read it as a child myself. This will either be a family read-aloud for us or First Daughter will read it during her independent reading. I'm dismayed the Amazon link says it's "abridged" as the book I read from the library has the same cover, though it doesn't say it's abridged anywhere. I may invest in the Audible book, just to see if there's a noticeable difference. (library copy)

Hilary McKay's Lulu series - link to my post. (library copies)

Julian, Secret Agent by Ann Cameron is an early reader, and one in a series. Julian and his best friend start a detective agency with his little brother and learn it's best not to jump to conclusions. His father takes their escapades in stride and allows them the freedom to explore and investigate in a way that's probably impossible in today's world, but commendable. This will be an option for Second Daughter in her reading aloud to me. (library copy)

A Traveller in Rome by H. V. Morton - link to my post. (borrowed copy)

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little by Peggy Gifford is a humorous easy chapter book about a girl who avoids reading her assigned book the entire summer and the events that transpire the last afternoon. It's not clear to me that Moxy learns or changes much in the short book, though she does eventually read Stuart Little. It's odd that there's a much younger boy (she's 9 and he's 6) who has a "crush" on her, follows her around and does whatever she says, a boy she considers her "boyfriend." For those who are concerned about such things, she does live with her mom and stepfather, though it doesn't say anything about divorce. My girls want to read this book, because they've seen it around the house, and I will let them, but I wouldn't offer it during the school year and I won't mention it's the first in a series. (library book)

Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Children's Book edited by Anita Silvey is a series of brief essays, some only a few sentences, of a successful person from a variety of careers, though there are lots of writers and illustrators, sharing a childhood memory of a book that impacted their lives. A variety of books are features, not all of them even written for children. Many of the stories reinforce Charlotte Mason's insistence on a broad feast of excellent books, as people draw different strengths and ideas from different books at different times. Each essay includes a full page excerpt, often with illustrations, from the featured book as well as a brief introduction to the book or series (in teeny tiny print) from the editor. One of my favorite stories told how Dr. Seuss had given up publishing his first children's book and was on his way home to burn it when he met a college acquaintance who just happened to be newly assigned to the children's book arm of his publishing house. Book lists appear at the end, but there are others I like more. (library book)

The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene - link to my post. (owned copy)

Black Fox of Lorne by Marguerite de Angeli - link to my post. (PDF copy from publisher, complimentary copy of the book when published)

At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald is the story of a young boy named Diamond who is befriended by the North Wind. He learns to trust in her even when he knows she sometimes causes what seems to be evil. In our favorite chapter, Diamond observes (and understands) two horses conversing in horse language. The reader in our audio version sounded a bit like a grandmother which was a bit confusing to me when the narrator became a part of the story and was obviously male. The children didn't seem to mind, though, perhaps because they've listened to their mother read just about anything aloud to them. (audio book from Audible)

Ruby Lu, Brave and True by Lenore Look is a early reader chapter book, one of a series about a young Chinese American girl who loves performing magic tricks, adores her brother, and has a delightful family. It's cute and sweet and one I'd be happy for my young readers to enjoy. (library book)

Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott - I started to read this aloud to the kids from my Kindle when we were stranded outside Sequoia National Park. They were drawn in right away by the dog in the first chapter. We finished the book on Librivox. The girls (8 and 9) loved this book the most. First Son, I think, anticipated the ending and found it a little too "girlish" for his taste (though he loved Little Men last year). I found the Librivox reader a little perplexing in her pacing, but the children didn't seem to notice anything odd about it. I hadn't read this one myself before. It was fairly moralistic and the ending was predictable (but I still loved that predictable ending). (free Kindle book, free Librivox recording)

For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay and Towards A Philosophy of Education (Charlotte Mason's Original Homeschooling Series) by Charlotte Mason were read with my Start Here book club. We spent nearly 18 months reading through the study and I neglected to take extensive notes on the books. For the Children's Sake is an excellent introduction to Charlotte Mason and her principles. I recommend it for people who are new to Charlotte Mason, especially if her original volumes are intimidating. (purchased copy of For the Children's Sake at some long unknown time and place, purchased used copy of Towards a Philosophy of Education)

Humility of Heart by Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo - link to my post. (purchased used on Amazon)

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens - link to my post. (read for free on the Kindle, but I have an old used copy for First Son to read purchased at a library book sale)

Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin - link to my post. (library copy)

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by John Tiffany and Jack Thorne - There was really no way to avoid reading this book, which is really the script of a play. It was weird to read a Harry Potter play. The plot and character development are limited in a script; so much of that happens on stage. Many of the characters seemed like they were there just for show (especially Ron). Kansas Dad had trouble imagining Harry having so much difficulty relating to his son, but I personally think that could be managed. Really, though, I'd prefer to see this play performed. Maybe one day we will. (purchased copy, with a generous gift card from my godparents)

The Captain's Dog: My Journey with the Lewis and Clark Tribe by Roland Smith is recommended by RC History for volume 2. First Daughter read it independently and I read it just ahead of her. It seemed to do a good job of describing the trials and hardships of the journey without being too explicit for younger readers. The dog's point of view is also a benefit for more reluctant readers. It does present spirit animals (of a Native American tribe) as real and instrumental in the story, if that concerns anyone. We were fine with that as a literary technique. I linked above to the RC History website (an affiliate link), but the book is also available from Amazon (another affiliate link). (library copy)

Father Elijah: An Apocalypse by Michael D. O'Brien - In this fictional apocalypse, a Jewish convert priest does spiritual battle with an Anti-Christ who has risen to great political power in Europe. What does evil look like in the present world? How are we deceived by evil masquerading as doing good? How do we cultivate faith when the world seems so terrible? There is only minimal resolution in the book and I read recently there is a new book in the series. (parish library copy)

Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded by Simon Winchester - link to my post. (library copy)

Books in Progress (and date started)

• Norton Anthology of English Literature Vol 2 (sixth edition) (August 2014)
• Transforming Your Life through the Eucharist by John A. Kane (June 2016)
• Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson (August 2016, listening with the children) 
• My Several Worlds by Pearl S. Buck (August 2016)
• The Peterkin Papers by Lucretia P. Hale (August 2016, reading aloud to the children)
• Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott (August 2016, with First Son)

The italic print: Links to Amazon are affiliate links. As an affiliate with Amazon, I receive a small commission if you follow one of my links, add something to your cart, and complete the purchase (in that order). 

Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks - another affiliate link.

Any links to RC History and PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

Other links (like those to Bethlehem Books) are not affiliate links.

These reports are my honest opinions.