September 2025 Book Reports

The Song at the Scaffold by Gertrud von le Fort - This book of historical fiction imagines the life of Blanche de la Force, who enters a convent full of fear, a fear that is perhaps her very gift to God as the French Revolution's Reign of Terror comes for the convent. It's based on the true stories of the Carmelite nuns of Compiègne, who sang as they were taken to the guillotine, offering themselves as a sacrifice. (purchased copy)

A Jesuit's Guide to the Stars: Exploring Wonder, Beauty, and Science by Brother Guy Consolmagno - Brother Guy is one of my heroes. I've read many of his books and they all speak eloquently of the wonder of creation, and how science can lead us to a deeper relationship with God. This book is full of gorgeous photographs and a bibliography of more wonderful books. Highly recommended. (received as a gift from my son)

The Rule of St. Benedict - Excerpts of the Rule are included in the second volume of the Mater Amabilis religion readings, but I decided to read the whole thing as it's not very long. This is a foundational text for the Catholic faith. (Kansas Dad's copy, but freely available online)

The Modern Scholar: Tolkien and the West: Recovering the Lost Tradition of Europe by Michael Drout - Professor Drout is an enthusiastic and enjoyable lecturer. I picked this up during a sale after listening to his another lecture series from the Modern Scholar, The Anglo-Saxon World (which is one of the honors texts for Mater Amabilis high school history). I enjoyed learning more about Tolkien, especially since I had recently read his essay on fairy tales. (purchased audiobook)

1066: The Year That Changed Everything by Jennifer Paxton - This is one of the Great Courses available on Audible. I'm sure I picked it up during one of the 2-for-1 sales (love those). This series is only about three hours long, but was fascinating as someone who has studied English history with my kids through many levels. (purchased audiobook)

Ode to Saint Cecilia - a Radio Theatre production from the Augustine Institute. I bought a few of these radio dramas during a sale because I thought the kids might enjoy them. It's well written, well performed, and well produced. Recommended! (purchased audiobook)

Martin Rising: Requiem for a King by Andrea Davis Pinkney - I listened to this as an audiobook based on a recommendation. It's a poem describing the end of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life. To be honest, it's not my favorite book from the Pinkneys, but it might make a good complement to a fuller study of Marting Luther King, Jr. (purchased audiobook)

Othello by William Shakespeare - I do not assign Othello to my high school students, but I have always wanted to read it myself. So I did! You can find lots of excellent information on Shakespeare and Othello online, so I won't try to write anything fancy. Read Shakespeare! The more you read, the better it gets! (purchased copy)

The Ballad of the White Horse by G. K. Chesterton - I've had this book on my shelf for ages after picking it up at a library book sale. I think I was finally inspired to read it by references in the Drout lectures on Tolkien I listened to earlier this month. Chesterton wrote this epic poem as a romance, a story to inspire a love of country and of faith. It's not my favorite epic poem (I suppose that would have to be The Odyssey, though I don't read epic poetry much for fun.), but I'm glad I read it. (purchased used copy, available free online)

Andy Catlett: Early Travels by Wendell Berry - This is a short novel set in Berry's Port William community when Andy Catlett is nine and takes a trip by himself to his grandparent's house. Told from his point of view at the end of his life, it's a book steeped in family and gratitude. I think Berry glosses over many of the difficulties in the small community life he champions, but he writes beautifully and it is still good to be reminded of what we can appreciate and value in times past and in modern times. (Kansas Dad's copy)

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

All About Awareness: Everything Is Tuberculosis

Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection

by John Green

My older daughter is a huge fan of the Green brothers, so she pre-ordered this book to get an autographed copy. She took it with her to college, so I had to read one from the library.

Mr. Green alternates personal stories of tuberculosis patients (past and present, but most often a young man named Henry from Sierra Leone whose cheerful tour of a hospital focused Mr. Green's interests on tuberculosis) with historical facts and numbers about the disease. His treatment of about everything is necessarily broad rather than deep. 

One omission, for example, is an acknowledgement of the complex process of drug development: basic research, detailed studies, approval, and manufacturing. He argues there's a problem with the way markets drive the pharmaceutical industry:

When markets tell companies it's more valuable to develop drugs that lengthen eyelashes than to develop drugs that treat malaria or tuberculosis, something is clearly wrong with the incentive structure. (p. 130)  

And thinks we should have a different system: 

And so we must fight not just for reform within the system but also for better systems that understand human health not primarily as a market, but primarily as a shared priority for our species. (pp. 174-175) 

I agree there are real conversations we should have about our modern decision to leave all drug development and manufacturing in the hands of for-profit companies, but this book doesn't do more than say we should have the conversation.

My daughter assures me Mr. Green has done extensive videos covering these kinds of questions. I think his decision to mention these issues in the book without providing an in-depth analysis was therefore a strategic one. Those kinds of conversations can happen after he gest people to even care enough to ask the questions.

In my college days, I read books about diseases for fun more often than I read novels. I also have a degree in biology. This is not a scientific book; it's not even a history of science book. This is a chatty book with a single goal: to increase how much people in rich countries care about helping cure tuberculosis. 

This book is written at a middle grade level. There are, of course, descriptions of illness and tragedy. There are also some references to more mature topics, so you may want to have your kids wait until high school to read it. I did not assign this book to my older daughter, but I did include it in the list of resources for health in her narrative transcript. I would do the same for my other kids if they read it.

I respect Mr. Green's dedication to his chosen cause. I believe he's doing a lot to bring the tragedy of tuberculosis to the attention of many Americans. The recent dismantling of USAID has sadly derailed much of the work that was benefiting those with tuberculosis, and we can expect a drastic increase in death and suffering for many years to come from tuberculosis and other diseases. Hopefully this book helps encourage people to demand their congressmen and congresswomen return to the fight against infectious disease around the world.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Bookshop and Amazon are affiliate links. I checked this book out of our local library.

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. 

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.

April 2025 Book Reports

Elizabeth and Her German Garden by Elizabeth von Arnim - This was recommended after I enjoyed The Enchanted April. I was surprised to find it's not fiction, but rather a kind of diary of a year in a German garden. Elizabeth finds solace in her making her garden beautiful, though she must do so through the hands of gardeners. Behind the garden record are comments and frustrations of life in Germany for an English woman with many small children and a haughty husband. A love of gardening will increase your enjoyment of the book. (purchased audiobook)

Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson - This is another book I selected when looking for something light and funny. There are some absolutely hilarious stories in the book, but it's also a glimpse into the life of an amazing woman in rural Vermont with her growing family. (purchased audiobook)

September 11, 2001 by Brendan January - The library discarded the book my older children read in Level 4 (eighth grade) on the attacks on the World Trade Towers, so I had to find another one for my youngest. This is a short read perfect for one or two lessons that covers the attacks from many angles. (library copy)

Pinocchio with Reflections on a Father's Love by Carlo Collodi, reflections by Franco Nembrini - I read this with my book club. I read Pinocchio aloud to my kids back in 2016, when they ranged from 11 to 6, and it was perfect. The book club edition includes little essays after each of the chapters to make connections between the story and our modern lives. The reflections were mixed. Some comments were helpful and some less so. (purchased copy)

The Eighth Arrow by J. Augustine Wetta - link to my post (received as a gift from my son)

Tales from the Perilous Realm by J.R.R. Tolkien - link to my post (Christmas gift); read in February 2025, but left off the post, so included here.

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.

A Great Escape: The Eighth Arrow

The Eighth Arrow: Odysseus in the Underworld

J. Augustine Wetta

In The Eighth Arrow, Father Augustine imagines what would happen if Odysseus, trapped in the eighth circle of Dante's Inferno, decided to escape. He convinces Diomedes to go on another great adventure, one which might provide a path to redemption to a man who doesn't even realize his need for salvation.

My kids introduced me to Epic: The Musical which reimagines Odysseus as a man more of modern sensibilities. The Eighth Arrow doesn't reimagine Odysseus; it gives Dante's depiction of Odysseus a chance to show us what he might have learned in three thousand years in Hell.

This book was an absolute delight from beginning to end, witty and fun. If you've read the Odyssey (and you should) and Dante's Inferno (again, you should), this book will be like dessert. 

Highly recommended.

I have received nothing in exchange for this review. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links. I received this book as a Christmas gift from my son.

Fairy Stories for all Ages: Tales of the Perilous Realm

Tales from the Perilous Realm

by J. R. R. Tolkien

This book includes five short stories: Roverandom, Farmer Giles of Ham, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Smith of Wootton Major, and Leaf by Niggle. Tolkien's essay, "On-Fairy Stories," is included as well, in the appendix. I had only read Leaf by Niggle before (still one of my favorites).

The tales were fun, but the best part for me was "On Fairy-Stories." Despite hearing references to this essay often, I had never read it. We have had a book of fairy tales or folktales as a read-aloud continually for more than a decade. When we finish one, we just pick up another. And that's not counting the tales my kids read on their own or as part of their lessons.

I actually...don't like fairy tales or even folktales that much personally, but I believe they are an important part of our culture. They reveal something of our human nature, and reading tales from other cultures can show us some things that are universal and other things that are vastly different. For the most part, however, we read these tales because they were recommended by Mater Amabilis back when I was starting homeschooling (and wasn't an advisory board member). I simply accepted the wisdom of those who had gone before.

Reading Tolkien's essay allowed me to spend some time contemplating the fairy story and its place in our homeschool.

Many people, wiser and more thoughtful than I, have written this essay. Dr. Holly Ordway wrote something for Word on Fire. I'm sure there are others. So I won't waste your time by writing something less interesting myself.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links. I received this book as a Christmas gift many years ago.