January 2025 Book Reports

Some homeschooling moms proposed a bingo card reading challenge for the year. We all picked some categories and made a card. I was inspired and started reading a lot more!

My God and My All: The Life of Saint Francis of Assisi by Elizabeth Goudge - This was my book club book for the previous month, but our group pushed the date back because of Christmas, so I finished it in January. The beginning seemed slow to me, but it was a comforting read. Goudge writes beautifully of the landscape of Italy, especially around Assisi. I was disconcerted by her style, though. The book is historical fiction, as she imagines St. Francis's life unfolded, but she wrote it like a biography, so I was constantly thinking to myself, "She's just making all this up!" It would have been easier for me if it had been more obviously fictionalized. (purchased copy)

The Little Juggler by Barbara Cooney - We've had this book for many years, and I read it to the children when they were younger. When I realized they didn't remember it, I read it aloud to my teens this Christmas season. This delightful French tale retold and illustrated by Barbara Cooney is out of print, and vastly more expensive than when I picked up a used copy solely because I love anything Cooney and (for a time) bought anything with her name on it. In the tale, Barnaby (also the name of one of Cooney's sons) is a young orphan who knows only one thing, performing acrobatics and juggling, which he does to earn a few coins. In the winter-time, no one wants to watch a juggler, so he is cold and hungry, but a kind monk invites him to the a monastery, where he receives shelter. In imitation of the monks, and in gratitude for the love of God, he performs before a status of Mary and the Christ child as his Christmas gift. God wants nothing more from us than that we return his gifts out of Love. You can more easily find other versions of this tale, like The Clown of God by Tomie de Paola, but Cooney's will always be my favorite. (purchased used)

The Blackbird and Other Stories by Sally Thomas - link to my post (purchased copy)

You Carried Me: A Daughter's Memoir by Melissa Ohden - Melissa is an abortion survivor. She tells her story of self-destruction, redemption, forgiveness, and hope with great compassion for her mother and all who seek an abortion. (free e-book for Plough subscribers)

The Pearl by John Steinbeck - I read this with my book club. I do not like Steinbeck's books. He writes beautifully, but his characters suffer terribly, both of which are as true of this book as of the others I've read. I dreaded reading this book because I remembered enough of it to know it was tragic. Kino is assaulted on all sides after he finds The Pearl, and his life is destroyed through little fault of his own. I don't think there's a way to read this story and find a way to live or a way to make the world better or the truth of our redemption. (purchased copy)

The Basic Book of Catholic Prayer: How to Pray and Why by Lawrence G. Lovasik - This book gives many examples of the results of productive prayer and examples of actions you can take to begin praying or move more deeply into prayer. I still like The Hidden Power of Kindness better, but this would be a good option for someone interested specifically in prayer. (purchased used)

Just Stab Me Now by Jill Bearup - My daughter has followed the author of this book for a while. I borrowed this book from her to fulfill a Bingo card category for a reading challenge I'm doing with some homeschool moms, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It's funny, sweet, and has happy endings for all the good guys and unhappy endings for the worst of the bad guys. It's a good thing I read it when we were still slowing transitioning out of winter break, because I finally just gave up on all the things I should do and read until I finished the book. (borrowed from my daughter, who pre-ordered it)

Just Don't Fall: A Hilariously True Story of Childhood, Cancer, Amputation, Romantic Yearning, Truth, and Olympic Greatness by Josh Sundquist - The author shares his story with humor and heartfelt thankfulness. I can understand why he made a young reader's edition; there were a few parts with references and language I wouldn't want to share with younger kids, but the story itself is wonderful. The author seems like a down-to-earth, hard-working, fun guy. (You've probably seen his Halloween costumes, even if you don't know who he is.) He endured a year of chem after the amputation of his leg, cancer scares later, and then his mom had chemo for her own cancer. His family is amazing. His faith stays strong, and he is brave enough to seek therapy and treatment when he needs it. Making an Olympic or Paralympic team takes enormous amounts of perseverance, practice, and money, and is worth celebrating, even when an athlete doesn't earn a medal. One of my favorite parts is in the acknowledgments, "I wish to acknowledge my many Winter Park and Paralympic teammates and coaches, all of whom I will never forget, and all of whom will be justified in their inevitable doubts as to whether my short and lackluster skiing career deserves to be recorded in a book."  (PaperBackSwap.com)

33 Days to Merciful Love: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Divine Mercy Consecration by Michael Gaitley - I read this on the recommendation of a friend. Hopefully I can put some of it into practice. (gift copy from my friend)

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie - Some of the local homeschool moms came up with a reading challenge bingo game for the year. One of the categories was a classic detective book and this one was recommended. I didn't remember reading it, but had a solid guess for the murderer within a few chapters...which means I did read it before, probably in high school, because I am terrible at guessing the murderer. It was fun to read, though, especially when I was sick and wanted something to distract me without being too heavy. (library copy)

The Father's Tale by Michael D. O'Brien - This enormous (and relatively expensive book) was a book club selection. It was far longer than it should have been. Some paragraphs impressed me, but the writing was not as excellent as one would hope given it's enormous length. In the book, a rather distant father, with sons who seemed shockingly uncaring, abandons his safe life to follow his younger son, fearing he has been caught up in a cult. He travels through Europe and into Russia on his trail. When he's finally about to give up and go home, he's attacked and ends up stuck in Russia after his long recovery. Then he gets stupidly sucked up into international intrigue. Before he makes it home, he experiences a profound closeness with the crucified Lord and learns God may have used him to save oblivious Western countries from Russian military forces, somehow. I was so anxious early on for his son I almost couldn't keep reading, so be assured his son is alright. I'm not entirely sure I recommend this book. There are those moments of insight and brightness...but it's so very very long. (purchased copy)

The Gods of Winter by Dana Gioia - I like to think of myself as the kind of person who reads poetry, but I rarely pick up a book of poems collected, prepared, and published by a single poet. It's a different experience than an anthology, and probably one I don't understand as well as I could. Dana Gioia is a prominent American Catholic poet, so this book seemed a good one to try. I liked some of the poems more than others, but they all made me think. (purchased used)

Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley - This is a re-read of a book I adored as a girl, and it did not disappoint. It's a lovely retelling! (borrowed First Daughter's copy)

Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene - I picked up this book because I suspected it was one I remember from my teens that I haven't been able to identify. It wasn't, and there are some hard parts of the book. Patty is abused and neglected by her parents. She finds solace in the friendship and kindness of an escaped Nazi soldier. (library copy)

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde - A re-read, and a delightful one. (discovered in a Little Free Library)

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

June 2022 Book Reports

The Hearthstone of My Heart by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino - link to my post (purchased used copy)

Three Men in a Boat: To Say Nothing of the Dog by Jerome K. Jerome - This book is the source of the title, and much of the plot humor, of one of my absolute favorite books, To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis. When I found out, I had to listen to it and then follow it up with another re-listen of the Willis book. Jerome's original book was intended as a useful travel book, but was instead loved for its hilarity. It was a wonderful summer listen. (Audible audiobook)

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate and The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly - These are the first two books about a clever young girl living in a time when her career options seem limited. The books are full of exploration of the natural world of Texas. In the second book, the family is touched by the effects of the hurricane that his Galveston in 1900. If you are reading aloud to young children, you may want to be prepared for chapter 24, in which two of the family's hunting dogs have to be shot after a rattlesnake attack. Calpurnia's hopes for a career and education are still out of reach. We must wait for another installment in the series. (library copy)

Peter Duck by Arthur Ransome - The kids and I listened to this together. In this third book in the series, the Swallows and Amazons join their uncle for a cruise around the British isles, but instead end up following the trail of buried treasure when a wise old sailor joins the crew. This tale is meant to be an imaginary one, but it's full of summertime fun. Alison Larkin is the narrators of all the Swallows and Amazons books we have from Audible, and I could listen to her all day long. (Audible audiobook)

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

November and December 2021 Book Reports

Calvary Hero: Casimir Pulaski by Dorothy Adams (American Background Series) - I picked this book up used at a big sale because my grandmother was Polish. I remembered stories she would tell about celebrating Casmir Polaski Day at her Polish school (in Illinois) when she was a little girl. This book is from an older series, well-written and enjoyable, though his life story has many tough times. It's a good supplemental book for a Revolutionary War study, if you happen to be particularly interested in Polish war heroes. (purchased used)

Anthony Burns: The Defeat and Triumph of a Fugitive Slave by Virginia Hamilton - I'm not sure where I heard about this book, but I wanted to add it to Second Son's history reading for the year (Level 2 Year 2, when he was still reading This Country of Ours, because I rearrange our history). It provides an interesting perspective of a slave's life in the years before the Civil War, when the patchwork of laws in different states were confusing to everyone, especially to the enslaved. (purchased used)

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison - This book is on the Mater Amabilis high school schedule for English in Level 6 Year 2 (twelfth grade). First Son was starting his senior year, but because he started high school on the beta plans and was taking a college writing course in the spring, I adjusted his English assignments. I pre-read this book, planning to assign it to him. It's a tough read, because the language is sometimes fluid and fast, the action is alternatively slow and shocking, and the subject matter is difficult to absorb. It's a masterpiece, but in the end I decided not to overwhelm First Son's schedule by adding it. (He did a semester of English with me in the fall in addition to a whole credit's worth of writing in the spring at a local college.) I feel like most high school students would be overwhelmed by this book without a wise teacher to walk through it with them, and I am probably not that teacher. If First Son continues in the seminary, he will read it in college, and that's probably a good plan. (Kansas Dad's course copy)

Lights in a Dark Town: A Story about John Henry Newman by Meriol Trevor - link to my review (purchased copy)

30 Poems to Memorize (Before it's too Late) edited by David Kern - link to my review (purchased copy)

Rainbow Valley by L.M. Montgomery - I've read this book many times, of course, but it's been decades. I think I enjoyed this book more now that I'm a mother; I found it easier to keep the children separate in my head. I encouraged Second Son to read it, even though he hadn't read the books between this one and Anne of Green Gables. He's always on the search for relaxing bedtime reads. He laughed at all the words they considered bad. There are a number of funny stories. If you're reading aloud to younger kids, this is a good book to follow Anne of Green Gables. (gifted copy)

Home by Marilynne Robinson - This is a slow gentle book I found a bit more depressing than Gilead by the same author, but still beautifully written. (library copy)

Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad by Ann Petry - I can't remember where I first found this book, either, but it was a good fit for Second Daughter's American History study in seventh grade (Level 3 year 2). I wanted something on the Underground Railroad. This is a well-written biography for middle grade readers that covers Harriet Tubman's life in slavery and freedom. (purchased copy)

Woman and the New Race by Margaret Sanger - link to my review (available free online)

My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse - I wanted something funny and light-hearted to listen to while riding in the van with First Son. Neither of us had read or heard any Wodehouse. This had some truly hilarious moments, and we both enjoyed it in our little thirty minute increments. (purchased audiobook)

King Lear by William Shakespeare - This was First Son's final Shakespeare play. He read all three of his senior year plays in the first semester (to finish them before his college writing class in the spring), so it was a quicker read than we usually do. King Lear is an excellent choice for twelfth grade; it's one of the more referenced Shakespeare plays, and therefore a good one to read before going to college, but it's also grim and depressing. So, read it, but save it for your older high school students. (purchased copy)

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

February and March 2021 Book Reports

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight; Pearl; [and] Sir Orfeo translated by J.R.R. Tolkien - link to my post (Kansas Dad's book, purchased audiobook)

Charis in the World of Wonders by Mary Youmans - link to my post (received as a gift)

The Planets by Dava Sobel - link to my post (received from a member of PaperBackSwap.com)

He Leadeth Me: An Extraordinary Testament of Faith by Walter J. Ciszek, S.J., with Daniel L. Flaherty, S.J. - link to my post (purchased copy)

Ideas Have Consequences by Richard M. Weaver - link to my post (received as a gift)

Circe: A Novel by Madeline Miller - link to my post (purchased from Audible)

God's Secret Agents: Queen Elizabeth's Forbidden Priests and the Hatching of the Gunpowder Plot by Alice Hogge - link to my post (received from a member of PaperBackSwap.com)

Is This Anything? by Jerry Seinfeld - This was a fun and easy read. If you've enjoyed Seinfeld's comedy, you'll enjoy the book. (library copy)

A Girl Called Problem by Katie Quirk - link to my post (library copy)

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

January 2021 Book Reports

The Tyranny of Merit: What's Become of the Common Good? by Michael J. Sandel - link to my post (library copy)

The Birth of the Republic, 1763-89 by Edmund S. Morgan - link to my post (library copy to start; then a copy from PaperBackSwap)

Find Another Dream by Maysoon Zayid - This audiobook was offered to Audible members, probably for free. It's hard to imagine someone more different from me than Maysoon Zayid - a New Jersey native with Palestinian parents who suffers from cerebral palsy and is an actress and comedian. Yet I enjoyed her story immensely: honest and funny. It's definitely not for children, only mature audiences. I find it helpful to listen to stories like this one, stories of people who have completely different experiences of the world than I do. In particular, I find the voices of those who are disabled to offer important insights; it's so easy to go through the world without realizing the myriad ways their every-day lives are more difficult than for me. I sought out her TED talk after listening to the book and enjoyed that as well. (Audible book)

Our Bethlehem Guests by William Allen Knight - I do not know where I got this little old hardcover book, but I'm guessing it was a library book sale. It's a short tale about an older man whose young daughter was born in Bethlehem. They left when she was young, but he continued always to regale her with tales, especially at Christmas, of the shepherds and the wise men. I read this aloud to the children this year, as I wanted something short, without having read it myself first. I think I would have anticipated their general lack of interest in the slow story. It was a nice little tale, though. (purchased used)

Words on Bathroom Walls by Julia Walton - I saw this book on a young adult list and thought it might be a good option for First Son's psychology readings this year. He's currently reading The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and is fascinated by it, but it's really more neurology than psychology, and First Son is considering counseling. I liked this portrayal of a teenager suffering from schizophrenia, and I think the format of letters to his psychologist would be a good one for First Son's interests. It's a typical young adult novel, though, with intimate activity between Adam and Maya, and some questionable comments on Catholics. I think it's more Adam's attitude and inability to understand them more than any determined malice, but it felt cavalier. Still, some good things here so I'm putting it on his spreadsheet as something to consider at the end of the year. First Son is 17 and heading off to college in a year; there's not much here he probably doesn't already know. (library copy)

Minds More Awake: The Vision of Charlotte Mason by Anne E. White - Anne White is an accomplished educator, part of the team of dedicated volunteers who have made Ambleside Online the amazing resource it is for modern American homeschoolers who want to follow in Charlotte Mason's footsteps. This book is a wide-ranging invitation to her own experiences implementing Mason's principles in homeschool life. She doesn't give a curriculum, though there are suggestions. Amid descriptions of their family lessons, Mrs. White helps to translate principles into practice, into a lifework. This would be a great book for someone young to the philosophy of Charlotte Mason. (purchased Kindle edition)

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

Raising a Child for Freedom: Born a Crime

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood

by Trevor Noah

This was a recent selection for my book club, one rather different from our usual fare, but I think we all enjoyed it more than I had feared. It's a fascinating glimpse into life in South Africa just before and after the end of apartheid. There are stories of love and abuse, mental illness and joyfulness, church and family, race and poverty.

The descriptions of how Christianity thrives and struggles in South Africa was interesting, and, according to members of my book club who are close to some African Christians (though not from South Africa), an accurate representation of the kind of blending of Christian beliefs with those of other religions.

My mother was--and still is--a deeply religious woman. Very Christian. Like indigenous peoples around the world, black South Africans adopted the religion of our colonizers. By "adopt" I mean it was forced on us. 

Despite his mother's devout faith, Noah is generally dismissive of her religion. That was difficult to read over and over, especially when there were misunderstandings of the Catholic faith from his time as a student at a Catholic school. It's not very different from what the secular culture reports in general about faith, though.

Noah's mother, a woman of courage and determination, forged her own path in the education she provided for herself and the childhood she created for her son.

When I look back I realize she raised me like a white kid--not white culturally, but in the sense of believing that the world was my oyster, that I should speak up for myself, that my ideas and thoughts and decisions mattered.

Most amazingly, his mother raised him for a world that didn't yet exist. She raised him as if they already lived in a world without apartheid when there were not yet any indications that it was going anywhere. I thought that was a beautiful metaphor for how we should all raise our children. As Catholics, we should raise our children for the world that is coming, for the Kingdom of God.

Noah and his mother are flawed people in a flawed world. His book draws connections between the South Africa that formed him and the America we live in today. This wasn't my favorite book, but it was a good book club choice and one I'm glad I read.

This post contains my honest opinions. I have received nothing in exchange for it. Links to Amazon 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.

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.

March 2018 Book Reports

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson - This is the first book of four in the Wingfeather Saga. I've seen it highly praised on many different homeschool blogs. I read it and enjoyed it reasonably well. I think the children will adore it. There are lots of little jokes in footnotes and silliness throughout. I think they'll suit our family best as independent reading. All four of them should be able to read it. (The seven-year-old read Harry Potter; he can read this.) Kansas Dad and I have decided to get all four as Easter presents for the kids. (library copy)

A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote, illustrated by Beth Peck - This book, like A Child's Christmas in Wales, is a short story of love and joy. It's a bit bittersweet as it's the last of his lovely joyful Christmas memories, but I think it's worth reading to the children even with the bit of sadness. It's beautifully written. (library copy)

The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas by Madeleine L'Engle - This little story tells of the days of December leading up to Christmas from the point of view of seven year old Vicky as she anticipates both the birth of her sibling and her appearance as the angel in the Christmas Pageant. I think the children will understand her feelings and enjoy the story, so it's on our list as a potential read-aloud for Advent 2018. (library copy)

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science by Joyce Sidman - link to my post. (library copy)

The World Wars (an Usborne book) by Paul Dowswell, Ruth Brocklehurst, and Henry Brook - link to my post (purchased copy)

A Shepherd in Combat Boots: Chaplain Email Kapaun of the 1st Cavalry Division by William L. Maher - link to my post. (purchased used copy)

James Herriot's Favorite Dog Stories by James Herriot - I listened to this collection with the three younger children. It's a collection of stories by Mr. Herriot focused on dogs, revisiting canine friends over time. We all enjoyed it, and it didn't contain any references of concern for younger ears. (purchased Audible book)

 A Tree for Peter by Kate Seredy - link to my post. (library copy)

All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot - link to my post. (purchased used copy)

Heroes and Legends: The Most Influential Characters of Literature by Professor Thomas A. Shippey (from The Great Courses) - link to my post. (purchased audiobook)

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 Kansas Dad)
• Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (March 2018, with my book club)
• Quite Early One Morning by Dylan Thomas (March 2018)
• 1917: Red Banners, White Mantle by Warren H. Carroll (March 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.

Windy, but not Windy Enough

Last week, on a blustery day, First Son was complaining about his required nature study drawing, claiming it was too windy to be able to draw anything. (After, of course, all the rest of us managed to sketch something in our journals.)

At one point, he comes back into the house* and insist it's so windy, he "literally" flew through the air because the wind picked him up when he jumped. (I sent him back outside.)

Second Daughter and Second Son overheard and immediately rushed for their shoes. Second Son told me he'd probably be back in a few hours after walking home from where the wind dropped him because he's so much lighter than First Son that he'll go tremendously far when he jumps.

Sadly, he and Second Daughter were both disappointed in the strength of the wind.

* We had visited a river earlier in the day, but because he couldn't find anything there to draw, First Son had to complete the journal entry after we returned home.

Reading 2016 and 2017: Two Years in Review

I never did a post on my 2016 reading, but I did start one and had most of it done, so I decided to just combine it with my 2017 favorite books. Looking over my posts on books for 2017, I see an awful lot of pre-reading I did for First Son before he started Level 4, and a great many of those ended up being books I decided not to assign. So not perhaps the best year of books and therefore a good year to be combined with another.

The book covers below are affiliate links to Amazon. Underneath, I've linked to my book reviews or monthly book report where I mention the book (which also usually has Amazon links). So, you've been warned. However, my selections here are my honest opinions. You can trust me, because I have a blog.

Favorite Books

2017: The Wright Brothers by David McCullough

2016: Gilead by Marilynne Robinson 

Best Fiction

2017: The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier


2017: Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, because it's wonderful, too, and on my blog I can choose two favorite fiction books

2016: The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene

Best Non-Fiction

2017: Endurance: Shakleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing

2016: City of Saints: A Pilgrimage to John Paul II's Krakow by George Weigel

Best New-to-Me-Authors

2017: Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol

2016: The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare by G. K. Chesterton

Best Classic Books I'd Never Read Before

2017: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

2016: Ivanhoe: A Romance by Sir Walter Scott

Best Books I Pre-Read for School

2017: Years of Dust by Albert Marrin

This was a harder category to fill because so many of the pre-reads for Level 4 ended up topping out their respective categories in memoir, humor, non-fiction, etc.

2016: String, Straight-Edge, and Shadow by Julia E. Diggins

Books that Made Me Laugh

2017: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

2016: Pegeen by Hilda van Stockum

Best Homeschooling or Education Books

Apparently, I didn't read any books I could honestly put in the homeschooling or education category. I guess I know an area I need to address in 2018!

2016: Let's Play Math by Denise Gaskins

Most Challenging

2017: Transforming Your Life Through the Eucharist by John A. Kane

2016: Humility of Heart by F. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo

Best Books I Read Aloud

2017: The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien (specifically on Audible)

This is a cheat since we bought the Audible version, but it was the best read aloud we had all year, and it has the bonus of being enjoyable for every member of the family, including Kansas Dad.

2016: The Bat-Poet by Randall Jarrell

Best Memoirs

2017: John Paul II: A Personal Portrait of the Pope and the Man by Ray Flynn

2016: A Traveller in Rome by H. V. Morton

Best Biographies

2017: The Long-Legged House by Wendell Berry

This isn't really a biography, but it does contain some essays that incorporate Berry's personal experiences, so this is where it's going.

2016: Lincoln in His Own Words by Abraham Lincoln, edited by Milton Meltzer

Best Sports-Related Book

I totally invented this category in 2015 to mention a book I really loved. Now I have nothing to say about it.

Most Surprising Book (in a Good Way)

2017: The Shepherd Who Didn't Run by Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda

Nothing fit this category in 2016. Apparently, all the books I found surprising were unpleasantly surprising.

Best Books on Faith

2017: Prayer and the Will of God by Dom Hubert van Zeller

2016: The Little Flowers of Saint Francis by Brother Ugolino

My Other Favorite Books
(alphabetical order by title)

Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, and Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery - I started to read the Anne novels again in 2017 and am loving them.

Beowulf, in various forms - my post in 2017.

Between the Forest and the Hills by Ann Lawrence - my post in 2017.

Enemy Brothers by Constance Savery - my post in 2017.

George Washington, Spymaster by Thomas B. Allen - my post in 2016.

The Good Master by Kate Seredy - my post in 2017.

The Long Road to Gettysburg by Jim Murphy - my post in 2016.

Richard Halliburton's Complete Book of Marvels - my post on the second half in 2017.

Simon Brute and the Western Adventure by Elizabeth Bartelme - my post in 2016.

Teaching From Rest by Sarah Mackenzie - my post in 2016.

For those interested in even more books lists:
2015 list
2014 list
2013 list