June 2023 Book Reports

Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh - Our book club selection this month. Well-written, but I just couldn't feel comfortable reading about family life from a woman who had so much privilege. How lovely to have two weeks alone at the beach to contemplate your life as wife and mother! How much easier it would be for the rest of us to see the beauty in our lives if we could get away from it and have as much help as she did. I actually loved this book when I first read it, many years ago, perhaps before I had children. (purchased used)

Eric Sloane's Weather Book by Eric Sloane - link to my post (purchased new)

Lives from Plutarch (Hillside edition) - This is a great early introduction to Plutarch, suitable for middle school readers. It's part of the Mater Amabilis lesson plans for Level 4 (eighth grade), but I assign it differently, so that my student finishes it in one year. (purchased new)

Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters by N. T. Wright - The newer edition of this book is called Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon for Everyone. 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. (purchased used)

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini - This is the fourth book in the Inheritance series. If you read the first three, you will probably read this one. It's a satisfying end that also leaves a lot of questions unanswered to ponder, discuss, and hope for more books. (First Daughter's purchased copy)

The Diary of a Country Priest be Georges Bernanos - First Son was reading this in Kansas Dad's class in college this year, so I decided to read it as well. This was my second time reading this book, and it was less confusing than the first time. It's a powerful argument for grace in a quiet life and the love of God, but it is a difficult read. The priest's thoughts aren't always well connected (though this makes the diary more authentic). I also often felt like I didn't understand everything the people were actually saying. I think this book is one of those that benefits from additional readings and gets better each time you read it, especially as the reader matures in years and faith. It's worth reading even if you don't understand everything. (Kansas Dad's copy)

Judges and Ruth (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible) - I read this alongside one of my high schoolers. She wanted more context than just the text, and the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible has extensive notes at the bottom of each page as well as some commentary before and within the books. I think my preferred series would be the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, but they haven't gotten to Judges or Ruth yet. (purchased new)

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro - In this dystopian, but not futuristic, England, children are raised merely for their organs. The question I saw woven quietly throughout the book is, "What is it to be human?" (library copy)

Delta Wedding by Eudora Welty - In this languorous novel, a young woman gets married amidst the love and chaos of her large family. I should have made a list of all the family members as they appeared, because I had trouble remembering which one was which. I loved how no matter what happened, the family members just kept right on preparing for the wedding and loving each other. (library copy)

I have not received anything in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

Making Monterrey Home: My Heart Lies South

My Heart Lies South: The Story of My Mexican Heritage (Young People's Edition)

by Elizabeth Borton de Treviño

This was a delightful light-hearted book I enjoyed so much, I promptly found some more books by the same author to add to my shelves. (We already own and love Nacar: The White Deer.)

After an exceptionally short courtship, Elizabeth Borton gave up her life in the States to marry a young man in Mexico. She moved to Monterrey in the 1930s and, with the generous help of her husband's large family, adopted the ways and life of her new homeland. She writes of her mishaps as a young bride in an unknown culture with wit, hope, and warmth. An insert in the middle shows many wonderful photographs of the author and her family.

Many of the anecdotes feature the Catholic faith, integral to the lives of the author's friends and neighbors, though perhaps experienced differently than in America today. 

This is the Young People's Edition printed by Bethlehem Books. I have never seen a non-young person's edition and cannot speak on the differences between them. This edition is not diminished by adaptation and is just as enjoyable by adults as by young adults. I think the focus on a newly married young woman means the book is most appealing to teenagers or adults rather than younger readers. There are also references to courtship rituals, pregnancy, drinking, and smoking.

There is one episode early in the book (pp. 26-27) in which a young maid threatens to kill herself. The story is told as if young woman was merely being melodramatic with no intention to actually harm herself, but you might want to preview that scene before sharing with a young person who has lost a friend or family member to suicide.

This is one of the books recommended in the Mater Amabilis curriculum for high school geography when studying North America. I think it would be a wonderful choice for a free read, though it's difficult to know how much has changed in Monterrey since the 1930s. It's as a memoir of an earlier time, not necessarily an accurate depiction of life today.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. I purchased the book directly from the publisher during one of their frequent sales. Links to Amazon are affiliate links.

Rediscovering Home: The Long-Legged House

The Long-Legged House

by Wendell Berry

This is a book of essays written between 1965 and 1969. The first two sections are rather depressing commentaries on strip mining, the degradation of natural habitats through misuse and ignorance, war, poverty, and the startling greed of corporations that choose profit over neighbors and communities. It is unpleasant to consider how little has changed in the decades since they were published.

Berry sees most government efforts to address poverty as demeaning and counter-productive.

Unable to live by his work, the furniture maker is dependent on the government's welfare program, the benefits of which are somewhat questionable, since if he sells any of his work his welfare payments are diminished accordingly, and so he stands little or no chance of improving his situation by his own effort. 

Many of Berry's essays describe the tourists he encounters in Kentucky, those who escape from the city to the lakes and rivers. He senses and uneasiness in them. They continue to rush, filling the lakes with gears and motors on their swift boats.

What I hope--and it is not an easy hope--is that people will begin to come into the countryside with a clearer awareness of why they come, of what they need from it and of what they owe it. I assume--and it is not an easy assumption--that the world must live in men's minds if men are to continue to live in the world.

One of the chapters is the text of a speech Berry gave, a statement against the war in Vietnam. I intend to assign this essay to First Son in 8th grade as part of his Twentieth Century History course, found in Level 4 of Mater Amabilis™.

Does the hope of peace lie in waiting for peace, or in being peaceable? If I see what is right, should I wait for the world to see it, or should I make myself right immediately, and thus be an example to the world?

I don't necessarily agree with everything he says in the speech, but I hope it will lead First Son to consider multiple sides of the issue of war.

To a country where we have so much and suffer relatively little, Berry offers "Some Thoughts on Citizenship and Conscience:"

Because so many are hungry, should we weep as we eat? No child will grow fat on our tears. But to eat, taking whatever satisfaction it gives us, and then to turn again to the problem of how to make it possible for another to eat, to undertake to cleanse ourselves of the great wastefulness of our society, to seek alternatives in our own lives to our people's thoughtless squandering of the world's goods--that promises a solution. That many are cold and the world is full of hate does not mean that one should stand in the snow for shame or refrain from making love. To refuse to admit decent and harmless pleasures freely into one's own life is as wrong as to deny them to someone else. It impoverishes and darkens the world.

The third section focused more on autobiographical essays describing the relationship of Berry with his native land. These were much more hopeful and pleasant, a demonstration of what life can be if we allow ourselves to be rooted to a place. After their wedding, he and his wife lived at his camp in the woods without electricity or running water for the summer.

Marriage is a perilous and fearful effort, it seems to me. There can't be enough knowledge at the beginning. It must endure the blundering of ignorance. It is both the cause and the effect of what happens to it. It creates pain that it is the only cure for. It is the only comfort for its hardships.

The last essay, "Native Hill," Mr. Berry shares his response to the reactions of his literary circle when he decided to leave New York City to live and teach in Kentucky. In a word, they were horrified, convinced his writing would suffer and that he would be miserable. Though certain of his decision, he still held himself uneasily for a while, questioning regularly whether his writing suffered.

I have come finally to see a very regrettable irony in what happened. At a time when originality is more emphasized in the arts, maybe, than ever before, I undertook something truly original--I returned to my origins--and it was generally thought by my literary friends that I had worked my ruin. As far as I can tell, this was simply because my originality, my faith in my own origins, had not been anticipated or allowed for by the fashion of originality.

Instead of being thwarted, Berry rediscovered his home, gaining more depth in his knowledge of a country he already knew intimately.

We must change our lives, so that it will be possible to live by the contrary assumption that what is good for the world will be good for us. And that requires that we make the effort to know the world and to learn what is good for it.

Berry often expresses a distrust of religion. He argues that faith in a Creator and the goodness of Creation should have cultivated a people who protected the world, the environment. Instead, their focus on an eternal future caused them to treat the created world as a means to an end.

It has encouraged people to believe that the world is of no importance, and that their only obligation in it is to submit to certain churchly formulas in order to get to heaven. And so the people who might have been expected to care most selflessly for the world have had their minds turned elsewhere--to a pursuit of "salvation" that was really only another form of gluttony and self-love, the desire to perpetuate their own small lives beyond the life of the world. The heaven-bent have abused the earth thoughtlessly, by inattention, and their negligence has permitted and encouraged others to abuse it deliberately.

The kind of attitude he describes is the one that causes consternation amongst the faithful when presented with words of stewardship from Pope Francis in Laudato Si' - On the Care of our Common Home.
 
On suddenly coming upon a glade of bluebells:

For me, in the thought of them will always be the sense of the joyful surprise with which I found them--the sense that came suddenly to me then that the world is blessed beyond my understanding, more abundantly that I will ever know....If I were given all the learning and all the methods of my race I could not make one of them, or even imagine one.

Work and Marriage: Dispossessed

The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin

In this science fiction novel, a man from an anarchist society leaves his world to pursue his own scientific research and to attempt to persuade his people to reconnect with the worlds outside their own.

He looked up, and as he stepped off the ramp onto the level ground he stumbled and nearly fell. He thought of death, in that gap between the beginning of a step and its completion, and at the end of the step he stood on a new earth.

I have read a few books by Le Guin, and every time I find myself wondering what I'm supposed to take away from them. While reading this one, I often considered rewards and punishments, and the purpose of Work. Why do people do hard work? This book suggests a few answers: because it is pleasant to change our work sometimes (in the anarchist society, the more dangerous and unpleasant jobs are rotated between people ); for the challenge in doing something difficult; to show off; to earn the respect of others in our community.


The final response of the protagonist was the most compelling.

But really, it is the question of ends and means. After all, work is done for the work's sake. It is the lasing pleasure of life.

In the Odonian (anarchist) society, work therefore became more than just a job or some task to be accomplished and ended.

For her as for him, there was no end. There was process: process was all. You could go in a promising direction or you could go wrong, but you did not set out with the expectation of ever stopping anywhere. All responsibilities, all commitments thus understood took on substance and duration.

Against the norms of their society, the protagonist and his partner established a "long-bond," essentially a marriage.

So his mutual commitment with Takver, their relationship, had remained thoroughly alive during their four years' separation. They had both suffered from it, and suffered a good deal, but it had not occurred to either of them to escape the suffering by denying the commitment.

Given our current society, it was refreshing to read about why someone would establish a marriage in a society that did not value it.

For after all, he thought now, lying in the warmth of Takver's sleep, it was joy they were both after--the completeness of being. If you evade suffering you also evade the chance of joy. Pleasure you may get, or pleasures, but you will not be fulfilled. You will not know what it is to come home.

The marriage enriches their lives, provides a base for everything else they do. Of course, he leaves her to return to their ancestral planet, but perhaps her love and commitment is partly what makes it possible for him to journey into an alien society.

Camping Mishaps You, too, Could Survive (and Lots of Fun You, too, Could Have)

In October, we took a fall camping trip to Roaring River State Park in Missouri.

On the winding highway between our rural Kansas home and the rural Missouri state park, we were trapped behind a gravel truck that dropped a monster of a rock on our windsheild about five minutes before it turned off the highway. The cost of the trip immediately doubled as that windshield was a complete loss. Thankfully, things improved after that.

Kansas Dad's parents and brother and sister-in-law joined us for part of the trip as well. It's no Great Sand Dunes, but we enjoyed ourselves.

Kansas Dad and Missouri Uncle supervised the fishing. We saw lots of fish, but didn't catch any.

There were plenty of hiking options. We found three trails perfect for our family and probably could have done more with more time.

For some reason, I love pictures of my family hiking off into the woods.

The hatchery fascinated the children, too, so we spent some time there feeding the fish and marveling at the sizes and numbers.

Second Son is about a foot from where we saw a monstrous snapping turtle. This little waterfall was just over the bank from our camp site.

I kept hoping the kids would learn something about geology.

But they mostly wanted to play in the water.

"Don't worry, Mom. We won't get wet..."

Don't worry, kids. There's a laundry room.

It was actually a lovely trip, with lots of time for the kids to just revel in natural settings. Then one of the kids got sick in the tent on the last night. While not enjoyable, we survived the ordeal and learned you can handle just about anything camping. (We also learned to pack Chlorox wipes which are worth purchasing for camping even though we don't use them at home.)

Oh, and we were all reminded why Kansas Dad is my hero. Real husbands crawl out of snug warm sleeping bags in near-freezing weather at 1:30 am to clean up vomit in a tent, not that you should mention it at your wedding.

February 2015 Book Report

Stout Hearts and Whizzing Biscuits: A Patria Story by Daniel McInerny is the first is a series (of two novels and one novella, so far) that has been highly recommended to me from a variety of sources. I was a little nervous because it looked like they might be self-published and sometimes those books were refused by publishers for good reason. I thought it was pretty fun and offered it to First Son (11) who declared it fantastic and read it in a few hours (over two days). First Daughter (8) is reading it now and also enjoying it. It seems to be just challenging enough for her. I had to request it through inter-library loan, but after I suggested it to the library, they have ordered both of the books. My kids are really excited to read the second one! (inter-library loan)

Happy Times in Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren is a sequel to The Children of Noisy Village (recommended by Mater Amabilis for Level 1A and a truly delightful book). I learned only recently about the sequel and was thrilled when the library purchased a copy. It's just as delightful. The first book includes a bit more than a hint that Santa Claus does not actually deliver presents which I modified a bit when I was reading it aloud because we like St. Nicholas around here and I didn't want to ruin the fun too early for the girls. There's nothing like that in this book, so I'm comfortable handing it over to First Daughter (8) who will read it independently for her lessons when she finishes the Patria book. (library copy)

The Call of the Wild by Jack London was a book I was going to pre-read for First Son, but decided we'd just listen to it when I saw the library had it on audio CD. I have never read anything by Jack London myself. There were a few scenes in which animals were cruelly treated (most often by other dogs) and one fairly gruesome scene at the end where Buck attacks and kills a large number of people. As far as I know, it was all historically accurate (though fictionalized) and it was certainly beautifully written, but I probably would not have let my girls (6 and 8) listen to it if I had read it myself beforehand. They handled it without comment or gasp, though. It would have been worthwhile independent reading for First Son (11) either for school or summer reading. (audio CD from the library)

The Little Oratory: A Beginner's Guide to Praying in the Home by David Clayton and Leila Marie Lawler - my review. (purchased copy from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts)

The Bad Beginning: Or, Orphans! (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 1) by Lemony Snicket
We listened to the audio CD read by Tim Curry. It was delightful. Though awful things happen to the children, just as promised, there are frequent moments of laughter and ridiculousness. We love Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, and can't wait to hear more about them. (audio CD from the library)

The Bible Compass: A Catholic's Guide to Navigating the Scriptures by Edward Sri was recommended as background reading for Volume 1 of Connecting with History (Ancient History). I read The Drama of Scripture, which Kansas Dad recommended, but thought it would be nice to read this one as well for a Catholic perspective. The first part of the book was a little frustrating as I felt like he was telling me only what the Catechism would tell me about the Bible (which I could look that up myself), but as the book progressed there was more detailed information about Scripture and how to read it. Overall, I feel like it's a good overview, especially for someone who is feeling intimidating about reading the Bible. (purchased copy from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts)

Miss Happiness and Miss Flower by Rumer Godden is recommended by Mater Amabilis in year 2 of level 1A (third grade) for People and Places. I did not consider it for First Son when I saw the plot focused on Japanese dolls, so this is the first time I've read it. A family comes together to create something beautiful and perfect, in the process providing a path for a young girl to establish herself in a new home. First Daughter is going to love it! (library copy)

In Her Kitchen: Stories and Recipes from Grandmas Around the World by Gabriele Galimberti - my review. (review copy from Blogging for Books)

Bleak House by Charles Dickens - my review. (library copy)

Priest on Horseback: Father Farmer, 1720-1786 by Eva K. Betz is a book I read about but was always daunted by the high price as it is out of print. I was delighted to discover it on LibriVox coincidentally as we were studying colonial American history. First Daughter loved the story but the others were not as interested. This book gives a look at what colonial life was like for a traveling priest at a time when many people distrusted or outright hated Catholics. The reader is not my favorite, though I am glad she recorded this book. (listening with the children on LibriVox)

Marriage: The Mystery of Faithful Love by Dietrich von Hildebrand - my review. (inter-library loan copy)

Books in Progress (and date started)

• Open Mind, Faithful Heart by Pope Francis (January 2014) 
• The Education Of Catholic Girls by Janet Erskine Stuart (February 2014)
• Norton Anthology of English Literature Vol 2 (sixth edition) (August 2014)
• The Religious Potential of the Child: Experiencing Scripture and Liturgy with Young Children by Sofia Cavaletti (September 2014, with a book club at our parish)
• Good Poems ed by Garrison Keillor (October 2014) 
• Evangelizing Catholics: A Mission Manual for the New Evangelization by Scott Hahn (January 2015, with our adult education class at our parish)
• For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay (January 2015, with my Start Here book club)
• The Story of the Amulet by E. Nesbit (February 2015, listening with the children on LibriVox)
• The Story of a Bad Boy by Thomas B. Aldrich (February 2015)
• The Best of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (February 2015)
• The Sinner's Guide to Natural Family Planning by Simcha Fisher (February 2015)
• Humility of Heart by Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (February 2015)

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). My homeschooling budget is always grateful for any purchases. 

Links to RC History are affiliate links.

Links to Sacred Heart Books and Gifts are not affiliate links.

These reports are my honest opinions.

Book Review: Marriage: The Mystery of Faithful Love

Marriage: The Mystery of Faithful Love by Dietrich von Hildebrand

This book is slim -- only an introduction by the author's wife and two chapters. Written by a philosopher, it examines the richness of marriage, a richness sometimes forgotten in the ordinariness of married life.

...above all, they must beware of an indolent indifference and of simply floating down the stream of everyday habits. They must recall anew every hour the unspeakably precious gift which God gave in the form of the soul of the beloved. Never must they lose the sense of the wonderful mystery that the other person whom they love loves them too, that the other lives for them, that they own something far above all other earthly possessions.

Beautiful! (Though I can't help wondering how often he did the laundry or changed a diaper.)

Sometimes the language was a little stilted. The lofty ideals of the quote above remained prominent through much of the book. It's much more of a treatise on the idea of marriage and the overall goals than a help in developing and maintaining a relationship. If, however, you have ever questioned the importance or relevance of marriage, this book may be a good place to start.

We must never forget that we do not live in paradise, but that as a consequence of the fall of man, we live in a world which is permeated by a deeply tragic element, where happiness is necessarily wrapped up with tribulation. The redemption of the world by Our Lord has not suspended disharmony and banished suffering, though He gave a new meaning to suffering by making it a means of penance and sacrifice.

The Amazon links above are affiliate links. I borrowed a copy through inter-library loan. This review is my honest opinion.

Book Review: The End of the Affair

The End of the Affair by Graham Greene

This book is heart-breaking, but wonderful, startling in its honesty, beauty, and unwanted hope. You can read many reviews on Amazon telling about how deep and meaningful it is. Instead, I'll share a few of my favorite quotes.

I have never understood why people who can swallow the enormous improbability of a personal God boggle at a personal Devil. I have known so intimately the way that demon works in my imagination. No statement that Sarah ever made was proof against his cunning doubts, though he would usually wait till she had gone to utter them. He would prompt our quarrels long before they occurred: he was not Sarah's enemy so much as the enemy of love, and isn't that what the devil is supposed to be? I can imagine that if there existed a God who loved, the devil would be driven to destroy even the weakest, the most faulty imitation of that love.

From Sarah's diary:

I said to God, 'So that's it. I begin to believe in you, and if I believe in you I shall hate you. I have free will to break my promise, haven't I, but I haven't the power to gain anything from breaking it. You let me telephone, but then you close the door in my face. You let me sin, but you take away the fruits of my sin. You let me try to escape with D., but you don't allow me to enjoy it...What do you expect me to do now, God? Where do I go from here?'

 A priest responding to a comment about intercessory prayer for something small:

'Any sort's better than none. It's a recognition of God's power anyway, and that's a kind of praise, I suppose.'

And, to finish, a quote from near the end:

What I chiefly felt was less hate than fear. For if this God exists, I thought, and if even you -- with your lusts and your adulteries and the timid lies you used to tell -- can change like this, we could all be saints by leaping as you leapt, by shutting the eyes and leaping once and for all: if you are a saint, it's not so difficult to be a saint. It's something He can demand of any of us, leap.

In Sarah's experience, I see the desire to do what we are told is right even though it feels all wrong, and to struggle to act on the new knowledge and to persevere even when you want desperately to give it all up and go back. Only there's something...something that pushes us on. Is it love? Is it God?

I almost want to read it again immediately.

August 2012 Book Reports

Pearl Harbor Is Burning!: A Story of World War II (Once Upon America) by Kathleen V. Kudlinkski is a short chapter book of the attack on Pearl Harbor as seen through the eyes of a young boy, a haoli newly arrived in Hawai'i. I will probably have First Son read it independently during our study of World War II this year in American history. We're spending two full weeks on Pearl Harbor and he should have plenty of time to read this on his own as a supplement. (library copy)

Celebrating the Holy Eucharist by Francis Cardinal Arinze is a book I bought to read myself last summer before I prepared First Son for his First Holy Communion. Since he received for the first time last March, you can see that I was a little late in reading it, but I found it a clear and rich resource in refreshing myself on the purpose and place of the Eucharist in the Catholic faith. Cardinal Arinze, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments at the time the book was written, is widely respected. There are a lot of books you could read on the Eucharist and the Mass; this is certainly one of the good ones. (purchased copy)

The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Gary Chapman. In this book, Mr. Chapman proposes there are five "languages" through which people can feel loved and that one of them (say, "quality time") is the most important to any individual person. If we can figure out the "love language" of our spouse, we can make sure he or she always feels loved. Some of the language in this book is just plain silly (like "keeping the love tank full") and I'm not sure I'd agree that people have only one love language, but there is some value in thinking about how to show a spouse (or anyone) love. There's nothing wrong with asking your spouse what you can do for him or her (and then do it). If reading this book gives you some ideas on how to talk about it together, how to respond, or ways to show love, then all the better. There was one story of a woman who seemed to be in an abusive relationship who the author encouraged to spend six months catering to her husband in an effort to save the marriage. I can only assume it was not described well as surely a counselor would have sought to stop the abuse first, but I would be cautious about recommending this book to anyone that might be abused or mistreated in a relationship. (borrowed free from the Kindle Lending Library)

Tikta'liktak: An Inuit-Eskimo Legend retold and illustrated by James Houston is the tale of a young Inuit out hunting for food for his family during a time of hunger. He finds himself separated from the mainland on a bit of ice and heading out to sea. With skill and courage, he makes his way to an island and fights for his survival. It's wonderfully written and exciting, an intimate look at life for Inuit-Eskimos in the Arctic. I intend to put it on the list for independent reading during First Son's Arctic study in third grade. (library copy)

Turn Homeward, Hannalee by Patricia Beatty was a book I previewed thinking we might read it during our Civil War studies. I think we'll wait a few years for it as there's a description of a Civil War battle that would be a little too violent for the little girls (who will only be five and four when we start the year), but it's an excellent book written around the little-known effective deportation of mill workers from two towns by General Sherman. Young and old, the workers were separated from their families, shipped to Indiana and auctioned off as servants to mill owners or families there. In this book, a twelve year old girl escapes and journeys home. It shows clearly the deprivation of families in the South and the horrors of war. There are good people and bad people on both sides. It's on our list for the next time we cover the Civil War in American History, when the girls are older. (library copy)

Longing for Enough in a Culture of More by Paul L. Escamilla seemed promising, but I just could not enjoy it. The style seemed to be struggling to be poetic, the constant quotations interfered with the flow of the text, and it was overly preachy as if written to convince people to long for more rather than showing us how to live in such a way. Overall, not impressed. (inter-library loan)

Saints and Heroes by Ethel Pochocki (purchased copy)

A Grain of Rice by Helena Clare Pittman is recommended in volume 3 of Connecting with History. It's an illustrated retelling of the fable in which a peasant cleverly yet quietly overcomes the Emperor of China. It's a wonderful version and I intend to assign it to First Son as independent reading this year in third grade. (copy from PaperBackSwap.com)

The Indian School and Night Of The Full Moon by Gloria Whelan. I found The Indian School too preachy for my taste, but Night of the Full Moon (a sequel to Next Spring An Oriole) was better. The tale around the forced relocation of the Potawatomi Indians from Indiana and southern Michigan to Kansas will be a good short chapter book for our study of the 1840s when the girls are a bit older (First Daughter in first or second grade). It's not great historical fiction, but it's good and I like having something for the young readers. (library copies)

Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark is the tale of Cusi, a young Incan raised in a secluded and secret valley. In the course of the book, he learns much about the history of his people and their current conditions, as well as the state of his own heart. It's beautifully written and gives a wonderful glimpse into the quiet life of the Andes Mountains. Not very much happens, however, so I'm not entirely sure the children would enjoy it. Personally I found the ending a little underwhelming. I think we'll try it as a family read-aloud next year as it has great merits in its descriptions. I'd be open to other suggestions, though, if anyone has any. (library copies)

How To Slay a Dragon (The Journals of Myrth, Book1) by Bill Allen is the first book of a series aimed at young readers in which a gangly 11 year old is magically transported to another world in which he's told he's going to fulfill the prophecy and slaw a dragon. It was fun but mostly followed an expected course. I would not be opposed to First Son reading it, but I don't think I'll hand it to him. For those worried about dragons in general, they're certainly not good in this book, but they are not written entirely evil. There is some parlaying with the enemy. (borrowed for free from the Kindle Owners' Lending Library)

The Catholics Next Door: Adventures in Imperfect Living by Greg and Jennifer Willits (a review for The Catholic Company)

Twelve Greeks and Romans Who Changed the World by Carl J. Richard is a wonderful, readable, informative book on the Ancient World. The author manages to cover pretty much all of Greek and Roman history in twelve chapters on each of twelve men who shaped their world and ours, including Homer, Plate, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, St. Paul, and Augustine (among others). The details are dense, but the writing is lively and spattered with little jokes and asides. The author is Christian, but I think it would read well as a secular text. I have every intention of putting this aside to use myself as a resource and to share with my children when they are teenagers (some of the material is for mature readers - we are talking about the politics of Rome and the Empire) in the course of our history reading. (purchased used at a library sale)

June Book Reports

Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield

Johnny Tremain by Ester Forbes is the story of a young apprentice in Boston as the revolutionary thoughts are brewing. Johnny is intimately involved in the plots and participates in the Boston Tea Party. The setting describes many historical figures and events vividly but the fictional characters are engaging in themselves. I was contemplating it for our study of the Revolutionary War in second grade, but I think it would better suit older children. I'll make a note of it for the next time we study it.

Silas Marner by George Eliot is the story of Silas Marner, a weaver wronged by his fiance and best friend who loses faith in God and humanity. He wanders to a new land and discovers hoarding money gives him a security he lacks. The book, of course, is the story of his redemption, when a young girl with golden hair wanders into his hut shortly after his gold is stolen. I hadn't read this book since I was in high school and it's much better than I remembered.

And all as we've got to do is trusten, Master Marner--to do the right thing as fur as we know, and to trusten. For if us as knows so little can see a bit o' good and rights, we may be sure as there's a good and a rights bigger nor what we can know--I feel it i' my own inside as it must be so.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving is clever and fun. I hadn't read it, though I can't think why since it's a short tale. I'm delighted to find the Kindle is encouraging me to read many of the classics I have always wanted to read.

The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting is another children's classic I had never read. It's a pretty fun and exciting book, but was anyone else disturbed at the part where the poor black prince in Africa wants to be white and they kind of trick him by painting his face with a weird concoction of chemicals? I'm not sure I'll avoid reading it with the kids just because of that, but I have to admit I'm not sure how I feel about it.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. Hmm, how many classic children's books can I read for the first time in a month? This is another one I missed when growing up. (I really read all the time, really and truly.) This one is very enjoyable, but I think its puns and cleverness is better suited to an independent reader with a bit more grammar and spelling knowledge. I think I'll set it aside and let First Son read it on his own later, perhaps in third or fourth grade.

The Princess and the Goblin by George McDonald. This is one classic children's novel I did read, but I'd forgotten most of it. I enjoyed it thoroughly and think we'll probably listen to it together this summer or next year. It's available for free for the Kindle.

Bound for Oregon by Jean Van Leeuwen tells the story of nine-year-old Mary Ellen Todd, who travels the Oregon Trail with her family. I was considering reading this aloud to the children next year as we study westward migration, but I'm not quite sure. I'm not too concerned about all the people who die; such things happened on the Oregon Trial and I'm hopeful my children will not fear death. No...what concerns me is the story of the other father in their group who, in the midst of hallucinations, attempts to stab his children with a knife. It's one thing if parents die (as this father did), but to physically attack his own children...I'm not sure I want my children thinking of such things, especially the girls. I do think it would be a better choice than On to Oregon! for us, but at the moment I think we'll wait until the next time we study the Oregon Trail to read one of these books.

Marriage: Small Steps, Big Rewards by Dr. Ray Guarendi (a review for The Catholic Company)

Plants on the Trail with Lewis and Clark (Lewis & Clark Expedition) by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent is recommended on Serendipity's Along the American History Trail for Lewis and Clark. Though I intend to use many of Serendipity's book recommendations for our American History next year (because This Country of Ours did not work for us at all last year), I don't plan to incorporate everything like nature study, science, and music. We're going to read American History. However, this book is surprisingly good and has the distinct advantage of mentioning and picturing many wildflowers and plants that continue to grow here in Kansas, some in our own front meadow. So I'm considering...I'm thinking of flipping through it a bit with them here and there and then bringing it out again in the spring and summer to identify some of the plants in person. (I think we'll finish Lewis and Clark before the spring flowers really appear.)

My reading list this month is heavy on the children's books as I'm trying to read my way through a bunch of them in preparation for next year. Kansas Dad has been encouraging me to read some more challenging material as well so I've also been reading through Towards A Philosophy of Education which I actually bought for the Kindle. It wasn't very expensive and doesn't hurt my hand to hold it open like my copy (which is not the one in the link).

On a related note, we listened to Justin Morgan Had a Horse by Marguerite Henry this month. If I had remembered more of it, I would have saved it for next year's American history. It's set in Vermont (mostly) in the 1790s and continues past the War of 1812. Ah well, we enjoyed it now.

The Catholic Company Review: Marriage: Small Steps, Big Rewards

Marriage: Small Steps, Big Rewards by Dr. Ray Guarendi

Kansas Dad and I think we have a pretty strong marriage, but I imagine the marriage relationship is one that's never standing still. In this book, Dr. Ray Guarendi provides ten small steps to improve a marriage, particularly one in distress. These steps are indeed small, actions as small as touching your spouse, but being small does not make them easy.

For each step, Dr. Guarendi gives a short explanation, usually no more than two or three pages. Then he provides responses to a few anticipated "Resistance Rationales," reasons you or your spouse may give to avoid implementing the step. Finally, he provides a brief scenario, showing how the step may play out.

I found the tone of the book very accepting and encouraging, but still blunt enough to push you toward taking a chance and trying the step. He didn't promise immediate results, either, which is good because you are less likely to become discouraged before seeing a change and give up too soon.

My favorite step was directed at fathers in particular: Protect. Dr. Guarendi tells fathers they must step in when mothers are being overwhelmed in arguments with children. After reading the chapter, I noticed how often Kansas Dad does this. He never lets the children talk back to me, yell or become aggressive toward me in his hearing without responding immediately. More than feeling protected, though, his actions make me feel like we are a team in disciplining and training the children. It is such a blessing to tackle this monumental task with him.

I cannot say how beneficial these steps would be in a troubled marriage, but they all seem like solid steps to improve a relationship. I would certainly encourage anyone interested to give them a try, especially if your marriage is not quite struggling but not quite as well-supported as you would like it to be.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. In exchange for an honest review, I received a free copy of this book. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Marriage - Small Steps, Big Rewards. They are also a great source for a Catechism of the Catholic Church or a Catholic Bible.

Unexpected

Fifteen years ago, as I was finishing up high school (and now you all know how old I am), I never would have believed in 2010 I'd be standing barefoot in my kitchen in front of a hot stove, 7 months pregnant with my fourth child, stirring jam made from strawberries my husband had picked in our own garden. In Kansas.

But I wouldn't have it any other way. (Well, maybe it would be better if someone else did the actual stirring for the one minute of boiling jam bubbling all over.)

What He Loves

I don't try to see things from my husband's perspective because I want a "good relationship" with him. I want to see what he sees because of something I learned from Sheldon Vanauken years and years ago: I love him (my husband, not Vanauken). Because I love him, what he sees is worth seeing, his perspective is worth knowing, and what he loves must be worth loving.

Because I love him, I will learn to love like him, and he like me, over time.

If our method doesn't pour forth from a heart full of love, it is nothing but an empty technique, or an interesting experiment in perspective.

Read more here.

On Husbands

It took me a few days to get to this one, but it's worth reading.

Ordering My Life to God

A Mother's Rule of Life: How to Bring Order to Your Home and Peace to Your Soul

In case you can't tell from the quotes I've posted recently, I found much to value in this book. Mrs. Pierlot is a Catholic homeschooling mother who developed a Rule of Life, similar to that found in monasteries or convents, to guide her daily life as a wife and mother. In the book, she provides practical questions and suggestions for developing your own rule.

It all began when she felt like everything was falling apart. Eventually, Mrs. Pierlot remembered the words of a wise priest who told her about

the Five "P's" of Married Life -- the five priorities of the married vocation:

First P = Prayer
Second P = Person
Third P = Partner
Fourth P = Parent
Fifth P = Provider

The order is important; there is a hierarchy. Prayer (spiritual life) includes setting aside time for prayer, adoration, and the sacraments, as well as study for spiritual growth. Person includes all the daily stuff we mothers must do like showers, but also exercise and time to address mental health. Partner is the time to focus on and develop the relationship with your husband. Parent for the kids. Last (and least), Provider would include a job (to provide money), but also financial stewardship and keeping house.

There are lots of books out there on how to organize your home and schedule your daily or weekly chores. What sets this one apart is how Mrs. Pierlot takes the same approach to scheduling the chores (properly in the place as the least important) to scheduling time for our relationships with God and our families. After giving her own story within each priority, she provides a list of questions that can help walk you through the process of determining what you and your family need to accomplish, what your goals may be and how your time can be focused.

As this quote shows, this is not just a book about how to keep your house clean and dinner on the table. It's about ordering your life about what is most important. As everything falls into place, the vocation of Marriage and Motherhood are avenues to a closer relationship to God.

I did not have time to go through all the questions myself, as I have to return this book to inter-library loan, but I hope to institute some of her ideas in our home. For example, she mentions a realization that she and the kids do not need to be doing the same thing at the same time, so I've been trying to take clothes out to hang on the line while taking the kids out for their outside time. (Mrs. Pierlot sends her kids out to play and has quiet time indoors for prayer time, but my children aren't old enough to be outside without me.)

If you're interested in learning more, the author maintains a blog and website here.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough to all Catholic mothers (homeschooling or not). Christian mothers (homeschooling or not) may also find much of value. (The Prayer chapter in particular focuses quite a lot on the sacraments of the Catholic church, but I believe the heart of the meaning can be translated, with the help of a spiritual mentor if necessary.)

Quote: A Mother's Rule of Life

[A] Rule of Life is...about personal balance and loving relationships and intimacy with God. After a very intense first year or so, I began to notice a real improvement in my ability to meet the demands of my vocation. Things weren't so hard anymore. After two years, I realized that somewhere along the line, without my noticing it, I'd experienced a real calming of my person; I no longer had big ups or downs. I'd get up in the morning, and I'd be ready to start my day without any of the earlier reluctance or difficulty. My home was usually in satisfactory order, and the kids' schooling was coming along very well. That has continued until the present time, and it's coming on four years...

But most important, I've time for God and for my family. I can truly love them and attend to them. I know now that the most important things are the relationships God has placed in my life. I could say a whole new world has opened up for me, one that I had never discovered before, and I like it. Not that everything's perfect, but it's better. It's good.

And at the end:

God may well be asking you, in this era of marital and family decline, to make this conscious, wholehearted commitment to him and to your family as part of a renewal of the world. May God be with you.

Holly Pierlot in A Mother's Rule of Life

Protection for Our Hearts

** This review was originally posted on a now hidden blog on January 16, 2006 **

A RETURN TO MODESTY: Discovering the Lost Virtue

It's easier to propose this book as a married woman and as a devout Catholic than if I'd suggested it ten years ago (unlikely as that would be since it was published in 1999), but I hope you don't discount it for that reason. This book is an insightful look at society today and how its standards for sex education and sex itself damage the very souls of women and girls. Essentially, she says that men and women are different, biologically and psychologically, in the way we view sex and its meanings. Modesty, particularly in women, is the natural, innate female response to that difference, and our culture has been battling it (partly unsuccessfully) since the 1960s.

You can read some excellent reviews of the book by clicking on the link above or by going to Eighth Day Books (where Kansas Dad first learned of it).

Instead, I'll quote a few sentences from the book I found memorable.

Women had a special vulnerability in the past, we are told, only because there was a risk of pregnancy. Now that we have the Pill, all vulnerability is abolished. But we seem to be learning that there is more to sexual vulnerability that the risk of pregnancy. (page 91)

Modesty is a reflex, arising naturally to help a woman protect her hopes and guide their fulfillment--specifically, this hope for one man. (page 94)

At least when there is a risk of pregnancy, there is a physical corollary to the emotional risk--so you are careful. And because the women had to be careful, the men were careful too. Our bodies naturally protected our hearts....I'm talking about the young woman who hopes for marriage and is essentially waiting for "the right guy"; I think for her the Pill is seductive and, I would go as far as to say, dangerous, holding out the promise of sex without consequences, and without any "irregularities." (pages 207-208)

Now, I'm not sure I agree with all of her assertions. It seems to me that there are other causes to the struggles of young women (anorexia, cutting, rape, stalking, etc.) than just a lack of modesty. I do think, however, she makes a strong case for a better world for our daughters, and ourselves, with a return to modesty. There's also a good chance Kansas Dad and I will decide to pull our kids out of sex education when the time comes (even if they are in Catholic schools). [A book read long before the thought of homeschooling surfaced.]

And don't forget to read the appendix. Trust me; some real gems only appear there.

Sometimes, It's as Simple as Asking

Kansas Dad and I have been married for over ten years now. I remember when ten years seemed an age and yet now I feel we've barely begun. (That's a good thing; I'm so excited about our future together!) My husband can still surprise me. For example, I always knew he enjoyed flipping through home maintenance books. I never imagined he would attempt a massive resuscitation of our water softener (saving potentially thousands of dollars, but certainly hundreds). In fact, he's tackled almost every single one of the tips in this post over at The Simple Dollar.

A few months ago, Kansas Dad mentioned that he really only likes strawberry and raspberry yogurt. What? Really? Ten years and he never mentioned that? I eat yogurt because it's good for me, not because I particularly like it. When I do eat yogurt, I like a little variety -- mostly berries, but different ones. So at the grocery store, I was picking a few of these and some of those, a variety.

Well, once I knew what he liked, it was easy to accommodate his request. Now our fridge is stocked almost exclusively with strawberry and raspberry yogurt. (Kansas Dad has been doing most of the grocery shopping recently, with my list in hand, and has been choosing variety for my sake. How sweet is that?)

A few weeks later, Kansas Dad remarked, "It's so nice to reach into the fridge and always pull out a yogurt I like."

Since then I've been struck a number of times by how easily we could have the desires of our heart if we just opened our mouths and asked. If you think about it, it's an obvious concept that applies to every aspect of marriage. (Yes, every aspect of marriage. Your spouse cannot read your mind.)

I wonder if it would also apply in our prayer lives. Of course, God knows exactly what we're thinking and dreaming and hoping...but perhaps sometimes he's waiting for us to ask.