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.

October and November 2024 Book Reports

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger - This was our book club read for the month, and I absolutely loved it. I read it at the airport and on a couple of flights, finishing it in just over 24 hours. I will definitely be reading it again. (purchased copy)

The 272: The Families Who Were Enslaved and Sold to Build the American Catholic Church by Rachel L. Swarns - Kansas Dad recommended I read this book. "In 1838, a group of America's most prominent Catholic priests sold 272 enslaved people to save their largest mission project, what is now Georgetown University." It echoed many of the themes in The History of Black Catholics in the United States, but with even more modern sources. It is good to be aware of the sins of the past and to think deeply about how we can be a part of the reconciliation process. (Kansas Dad's purchased copy)

Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers - This is one of the novels recommended for Level 6 Year 2 (twelfth grade) in the Mater Amabilis English plans. I read it a little ahead of First Daughter. I haven't read any other Peter Wimsey novels, but I enjoyed this one. As I neared the end, I certainly neglected some of my chores because I was eager to read more. First Daughter loved it and promptly checked out every Peter Wimsey book she could find at the library. (shared by a member of PaperBackSwap.com)

Paul for Everyone: Romans Part One by N. T. Wright - I read the older version of Romans for Everyone, and am not entirely sure I should count it as its own book since there's a Part Two. (I'll get to that one, too.) I'll quote what I wrote about a different book in the Paul for Everyone series:

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)

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

December 2023 Book Reports

 

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

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

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

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

February 2023 Book Reports

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

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

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

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

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

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.

February 2022 Book Reports

Family Grandstand by Carol Ryrie Brink - link to my post (purchased new)

My Antonia by Willa Cather - link to my post (from a member at PaperBackSwap.com)

The Edge of Sadness by Edwin O'Connor - This book was recommended to me by a dear friend when I first mentioned my son was considering seminary. Thinking about the priesthood reminded her of it, a book she thought encapsulated so much of what being a priest was about. It's the story of Father Hugh Kennedy and his return to parish work after treatment for alcoholism. Through his renewed relationships with childhood friends he discovers how broken he is, and that startling discovery allows dramatic spiritual growth. This is a book I would like to read again and again. (inter-library loan)

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie - I generally dislike mysteries; I can never guess the twist! But I was inspired to read this one because I wanted to listen to the episode about it on The Literary Life podcast. I enjoyed it immensely! Kansas Dad was out of town, so I let myself stay up all night reading it, and then regretted it tremendously the following day when the power went out in the wee hours of the morning as a blizzard raged outside. Being the sole adult in a house of many pets without power or heat was far more difficult without a good night's sleep. The kids and I made it through, and Kansas Dad made it home safely that night. I would say I've learned my lesson, but I probably haven't. (No, I haven't seen the movie yet, but I will someday.) (library copy)

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

Literary Scaffolding: Heroes and Legends

Heroes and Legends: The Most Influential Characters of Literature

Professor Thomas A. Shippey

from The Great Courses

This is a series of 24 lectures, each about thirty minutes, that covers nearly all of Western literature in a quest for heroes that have stood the test of time. Nearly all of the characters were familiar to me already, at least nominally. I think the professor had to reach a little to include a few women as they didn't seem quite as "influential" to me. In later lectures, Professor Shippey described the characters and their stories as part of the basic understanding of our lives. For example, it's almost impossible to write a mystery story without incorporating some aspect of Sherlock Holmes because he has become the quintessential investigator for the modern mind.

The very first lecture is on Frodo Baggins and how a hobbit's type of understated heroism was a direct outcome of Tolkien's experiences in World War I, celebrating a kind of hero who does what is right even when alone or hidden.

I was also particularly interested in the lecture on Winston Smith from 1984 who is a kind of hero-opposite. I have read 1984 a few times, but I'm not sure I ever connected the story to the post-World War II world in which it was written.

Overall, this was a fascinating series of lectures and a convenient way to cover a great swatch of literature history. It brings together characters my children are encountering over the years in their education and prompted me to contemplate connections between them. I didn't agree with all of his conclusions. I heard other ideas on Cressida, for example, in a lecture series on Shakespeare, that I found more persuasive.

Though the lectures are in a series and build on each other a little over the course, it would be possible to listen to just one or more of the lectures. In fact, my husband happened to be preparing for a discussion on Dracula for one of his classes and we listened to that chapter together just for fun even though he hadn't listened to any of the others.

Here's a list of the heroes (with asterisks for those that are appropriate only for mature listeners):

1. Frodo Baggins
2. Odysseus
3. Aeneas
4. Guinevere *
5. The Wife of Bath * (very mature)
6. Cressida *
7. Beowulf
8. Thor
9. Robin Hood
10. Don Quixote
11. Robinson Crusoe
12. Elizabeth Bennet
13. Natty Bumppo and Woodrow Call
14. Uncle Tom
15. Huckleberry Finn
16. Sherlock Holmes
17. Dracula *
18. Mowgli
19. Celie *
20. Winston Smith
21. James Bond
22. Fairy-Tale Heroines
23. Lisbeth Salander *
24. Harry Potter

There's a PDF available to download with the purchase of the audiobook with notes from every chapter.  I've marked above the lectures I remember being particularly suited for mature listeners only, but it would be a good idea to at least preview the notes before listening with teens or younger listeners as many of these stories include themes of sexuality and violence. I don't intend to listen to any of them with my children but I found them interesting for my own education and enjoyment.

Short Stories of Murder and Mayhem: The Innocence of Father Brown

The Innocence of Father Brown by G. K. Chesterton

I read this book with a book club. It's the first book of Father Brown stories and includes twelve short stories. We read four stories for each of three meetings.

I enjoyed these stories, and much of the writing was wonderful. The very first sentence of "The Blue Cross" reads:

Between the silver ribbon of morning and the green glittering ribbon of sea, the boat touched Harwich and let loose a swarm of folk like flies, among whom the man we must follow was by no means conspicuous--nor wished to be.

A few of the stories didn't make much sense, given what we know now after a few decades of crime television shows. In more than one, it seems like Father Brown figures out the mystery, but allows the murderer to go free. In at least one, he claims he will keep the secret but encourages the murderer to turn himself in, but it's not always clear the guilty party does so. Perhaps the debate within a guilty conscience is part of the consideration of the stories.

The final story in particular seemed to allow a guilty party, one guilty of leading an army to its death to cover his own misdoings, to remain unsullied in public opinion. The mystery unveiled seemed contrived compared to the events described and the person's character as he was remembered and described. It seemed unlikely to us that someone who be so misconstrued but it was another time.

There are bits and pieces within the stories that encourage the reader to consider more than just the events within the plot. In "The Sins of Prince Saradine," Father Brown considers justice.

"I mean that we here are on the wrong side of the tapestry," answered Father Brown. "The things that happen here do not seem to mean anything; they mean something somewhere else. Somewhere else retribution will come on the real offender. Here it often seems to fall on the wrong person." 

So, fun to read. Perhaps not the best choice for our book club, which was much more interested in chatting for a few hours a month than actually discussing anything. Though I hear that's pretty often true so perhaps it doesn't matter what book we choose.

November 2016 Book Reports

Peter and the Shadow Thieves by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson is the second in the Peter and the Starcatcher series. In it, Peter travels from his warm island back to England to save Molly and her family from a dark and looming threat. There are two deaths in the book, one which happens in the backstory and involves cannibalism at sea and a second that happens before the eyes of the children to an old friend of Molly's family. So I suppose it's a little darker than the first one. I still think it would be acceptable as an audiobook for our whole family (youngest is 6), but I'm going to hold off until reading the third installment. (library copy)

Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith was on First Son's list for historical fiction in the time of the Civil War, recommended in Connecting with History. Jeff's experiences in Bloody Kansas and along the Kansas-Missouri were an excellent read for our Kansas son. Trapped behind enemy lines, Jeff learns to respect and admire the Confederate Cherokee forces. There's a little bit of romance and plenty of death, so probably best for the older students. First Daughter (4th grade) asked to read it and I allowed it once First Son had finished. (library copy)

Who Was Robert E. Lee? by Bonnie Bader was a substitute I made for Connecting with History's recommendation of Robert E. Lee: Gallant Christian Soldier, which our library did not own. It was a fairly easy read for First Daughter (age 10) and gave a respectful biography of this heroic man even though he fought against the Union in the Civil War. (library copy)

Augustus Caesar's World by Genevieve Foster - link to my post (purchased used)

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a relatively new book set in Germany during the second World War. A young girl is left with a foster family after her father's disappearance and her brother's death. Her obsession with books and her kind and loving foster father anchor her in a tumultuous time. Her father also shows great courage in the midst of a fearful populace rather than in the horrors of a battlefield. It's mostly depressing, as you might expect of a wartime novel. Death as the narrator allows insertions on the greater events of the war and a lot of commentary on humanity and war. It seems like a decent enough young adult book, though the choppy flow and casual insertions early in the plot line of the eventual deaths of certain characters annoyed me. (library copy)

The Bat-Poet and The Animal Family by Randall Jarrell - link to my post (inter-library loan and PaperBackSwap.com)

The Ides of April by Mary Ray - I almost didn't buy this book recommended in Connecting with History's volume 2, but found it at a deep discount directly from the publisher (a great way to get Bethlehem Books) and I'm so very glad I did! I enjoyed this story of murder, intrigue, courage, and justice based in Rome at the time of Nero. Though Christianity is not a major part of the story, a Christian plays a pivotal role and explains that he does so because of his faith. (purchased from the publisher)

Lincoln, in His Own Words edited by Milton Meltzer is a compilation of much of Lincoln's own speeches and correspondence, gathered and presented as a coherent whole by the work of the editor. First Son will read this during independent reading as we study the Civil War. I myself have read little of his words and appreciated his wit and wisdom. I kept thinking more of us should read Lincoln on a regular basis. I think this was recommended in Connecting with History volume 4, but I couldn't find it on their website. (library copy)

The Long Road to Gettysburg by Jim Murphy is a riveting account of the Battle of Gettysburg with quotes from a Confederate soldier and a Union soldier. Interspersed with the text are clear maps and illustrative photographs showing the hardships of the soldiers and the immense casualties. I wish I had read this book before I visited Gettysburg as a high school student. First Son read this (7th grade) and, while I would not have encourage it, I would have allowed First Daughter to read it as well (4th grade). (library copy)

My Several Worlds by Pearl S. Buck - link to my post (purchased used at a library book sale)

Books in Progress (and date started)

• Norton Anthology of English Literature Vol. 2 (sixth edition) (August 2014)
• Transforming Your Life through the Eucharist by John A. Kane (June 2016)
• The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton with my book club (September 2016)
• Between the Forest and the Hills by Ann Lawrence (October 2016, with the children)
• Simon Brute and the Western Adventure by Elizabeth Bartelme (September 2016) 
• The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis (October 2016)
• The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy, with First Son (October 2016)
• The Wright Brothers by David McCullough (November 2016)
• Three Short Novels by Wendell Berry (November 2016)

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

Any links to RC History and PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

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

These reports are my honest opinions.

September 2015 Book Reports

Mind to Mind: An Essay Towards a Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason and Karen Glass - Read my review. (promotional copy from the author)

The Children's Charter by Mother Mary Loyola was written for catechists of First Communicants. Always searching for the imagined better sacrament preparation materials, I gingerly read my inter-library loan copy as it nearly crumbled in my hands, hardly believing the lending library would send it out. Thank goodness it survived! If you haven't read anything on preparing students for First Communion, you might find much good advice here. (It is available in newer copies, as you'll see if you follow the link to Amazon.) I intend to incorporate at least one new idea into Second Daughter's preparation next year. This is not, however, a book to read aloud with your First Communicant. (The Good Shepherd and His Little Lambs Study Edition: A First Communion Story-Primer is my favorite so far, which I purchased from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts.) (inter-library loan)

The Trailblazing Life of Daniel Boone and How Early Americans Took to the Road by Cheryl Harness is recommended in Connecting with History (find it here at RC History's store). Enjoyable and informative. I love the timelines at the bottom of the pages of these Harness books because they help me place events in the context of world events. First Son (in sixth grade) is reading this book independently, mostly for fun and without narrating it. (library copy)

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo - Read my review. (library copy)

Helena by Evelyn Waugh - Read my review. (library copy)

The Father Brown Reader II: More Stories from Chesterton adapted by Nancy Carpentier Brown is a companion volume to The Father Brown Reader: Stories from Chesterton which I started reading to the children when my parents were in town because they (my parents, not the children) love to watch a television series about Father Brown. The second volume is more serious in that in contains stories of murders rather than just thefts. Additionally, there is a suicide. My children were confused by that idea at first. Apparently, it's the first time they noticed a suicide in a book I've read to them. (It may be the first suicide; I can't recall another.) A few times, too, I had to walk my eight year old through the conclusion as often it is not explicitly written out. (read aloud to the children, borrowed from a friend)

The Extraordinary Journeys: Around the World in Eighty Days (Oxford World's Classics) by Jules Verne, translated by William Butcher - Read my review. (purchased copy used on Amazon)

How to Babysit a Leopard: and Other True Stories from Our Travels Across Six Continents by Ted and Betsy Lewin is a new book from these renown picture book authors and illustrators. It's a collection of bits and pieces from their journals, dating back decades in their lives together of travel and adventure. Illustrated with drawings and photographs, it's a fantastic example of observation and sketching I'd like to encourage in my children's nature journals as they grow. It may be best to wait until children have matured a little before sharing the book. Experiences described include a shaman's prophetic trance and blood gushing at a bull fight, among other things. The authors mostly refrain from making too many environmental or disparaging comments (about minority or majority populations), but there are some. This will be a book First Son can choose this year for independent reading (sixth grade) and I would have been comfortable with him reading it last year. I think it could appeal to boys and girls. (library copy)


Books in Progress (and date started)

• The Education Of Catholic Girls by Janet Erskine Stuart (February 2014)
• Norton Anthology of English Literature Vol 2 (sixth edition) (August 2014)
• Good Poems ed by Garrison Keillor (October 2014) 
• 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)
• Humility of Heart by Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (February 2015)
• Towards A Philosophy Of Education (Charlotte Mason's Original Homeschooling Series) by Charlotte Mason (May 2015)
• Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition by Karen Glass (June 2015)
• Little Men: Life at Plumfield with Jo's Boys by Louisa May Alcott (September 2015)
• Laudato Si -- On Care for Our Common Home by Pope Francis (September 2015, with our parish's adult education class)

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.

March 2015 Book Reports

The Sinner's Guide to Natural Family Planning by Simcha Fisher is a book of essays on NFP that won't tell you anything about how to practice it. Instead, it's a humorous but real look at what life is like for those who try to follow the Catholic church's teachings on contraception but find themselves more frustrated than enlightened. It's so easy to find lots of people spouting the fabulous benefits of NFP on their marriage and relationship with their spouses, but the truth is that NFP can be hard. I appreciated reading Simcha's essays because they revealed the struggles that others have had as well as insight into how the benefits might simply be delayed. (borrowed from a friend, but also purchased for the Kindle)

The Story of a Bad Boy by Thomas B. Aldrich is one I pre-read, wondering whether we should listen to it together on LibriVox or if I should put it on a Kindle and let First Son read it. I think he'll enjoy it because he loved Tom Sawyer so much and this book is similar. It does include some tragedy (the death of a friend and the death of the boy's father), but much of it is pure fun. There are a few missing "diagrams" from the text, so now I'm also considering purchasing a copy of it so we can see those. Either way, I think I'll give it to First Son (11) to read rather than listening to it with the girls. On a side note, I never knew what to say when someone asked what I was reading with this book. Given the recent press on an extremely popular movie, I was a little afraid the questioner would get the wrong idea. (purchased for free for the Kindle)

The Best of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle includes The Adventure of the Speckled Band, Silver Blaze, A Scandal in Bohemia, The Adventure of the Dancing Men, The Final Problem, and The Adventure of the Empty House. I picked this up at a library sale because the children had listened to Sherlock Holmes for Children by Jim Weiss and wanted more. I wasn't sure about the content of the stories, having never read them myself, so I pre-read the book before sharing it with them. For those that are interested, these stories include a reference to a mistress (though no explanation to what one is), a mention of "drug-created dreams" though no actual drug use, and a number of murders. I intend to put the book out where the children (11 and 8) can read it if they want, but the vocabulary might be a little daunting for them. (purchased used at a library sale)

Ben and Me by Robert Lawson is listed as a possible family read aloud for American History in volume 4 of RC History. It's the supposed autobiographical story written by a mouse named Amos who lived with Benjamin Franklin. Amos, it turns out, was the source of some of Franklin's best ideas. It was a little silly for my taste, but the children loved it (especially the great battle scene). (library copy, read aloud with the kids)

Who Was Daniel Boone? by Sydelle Kramer is an early reader chapter book recommended by RC History for volume 4. I read it this month anticipating giving it to First Daughter (8) to read, but then decided to finish a unit early. It'll be one of the first books she reads next year. I don't know much about Daniel Boone, but it seemed interesting and well-written. (library copy)

I Saw Three Ships by Elizabeth Goudge is a sweet tale of Christmas. A small girl spends her first Christmas after her parents die with her spinster aunts. There's a friendly but distraught French man, a wandering uncle, and an open window for the angels. Of course, three ships arrive on Christmas morning amidst great rejoicing. I hope to read this to the children in Advent. (inter-library loan)

Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims: Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans by Rush Limbaugh was a gift from my parents to the whole family a few years ago. First Son (who was, I think, nine at the time) read through it speedily and loved it. He laughed out loud often and has since read it many times. He asked me often if I would read it and I finally agreed, mainly because it seemed right and proper that he should share his favorite books with me just as I love to share my favorite books with him. I'm sad to say, it's twaddle. It's not particularly well-written and it devotes much space to indoctrinating the reader to the astounding benefits of a free enterprise economic system. I don't necessarily disagree, but it certainly wasn't like he describes in the book. It also irked me a little as he so often proclaimed the righteousness of the Pilgrims who established this country for the freedom of all when the Puritans had no desire at all for freedom for other religious groups (Catholics among them). I don't actually think this book did my children any harm and, because I love my children and they have asked, I will read the other two books. I'm afraid I won't enjoy them very much, though. (received as a gift)

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Young Readers Edition by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer - my review. (library copy)

The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye is a delightful fairy tale about a princess given a fairy's gift to be ordinary. She steals away from her castle and ends up working in another where she (of course) meets a man of all trades and falls in love. Princess Amy is diligent, joyful, and lovely. This book will be on First Daughter's summer reading list (between second and third grade). (library copy)

The Religious Potential of the Child: Experiencing Scripture and Liturgy with Young Children by Sofia Cavaletti - my review (purchased copy, I think from the National Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd)

The Reptile Room (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 2) by Lemony Snickett, performed by Tim Curry. The children experience more sorrow, but are courageous and loving throughout it all and there are moments of humor along the way. (audio CD from the library)

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)
• 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)
• Humility of Heart by Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (February 2015)
• Mysteries of Life in Children's Literature by Mitchell Kalpakgian (February 2015)
• Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry (February 2015)
• My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier (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.

August 2014 Book Reports

The Nesting Place by Myquillyn Smith (library)

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is a current hit amongst teens and others, especially with the movie recently being released. I found it a well-written account of the love that develops between two teenagers with fatal cancer diagnoses. While it's not particularly religious (some may even say anti-religious), I found the response to the question of the meaning of life to be wonderfully consistent with faith and even intriguing. It's definitely a book for mature teenagers, but I think it would be quite interesting to read and talk about with young adults. (library copy, reviewed on another website)

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is another teen book I reviewed for another website. It was also fun to read, though the ending is quite dramatic and terrible. Again, this would be a book for older teens, though not one that had quite as much interesting questions to discuss. (library copy)

A Whole Nother Story by Dr. Cuthbert Soup is a fun book I picked up thinking First Son might like it. It's the first in a series and full of jokes and quips as well as exciting twists and turns. I think it'll be on the recommended list for next summer (between fifth and sixth grade) but I might read the others in the series first. (library copy)

The Black Pearl by Scott O'Dell is the story of a boy who finds the most tremendous pearl when diving in a cave that supposedly belongs to an unnaturally large and malevolent manta ray. What follows offers an interesting number of questions about fear and faith and presumption. I'm not sure what the right age for this book is, but it might be acceptable for First Son to read next summer (before sixth grade). I think he'd be ready to think about some of it. (library copy)

101 Famous Poems ed. by Roy Cook is a book of poems I picked from the library nearly at random. I recently decided I'd like to read a poem or two every day and just wanted something with a variety of poems. It was acceptable, but not nearly as enjoyable as other anthologies. I do like reading some poetry every day, though, and think I'll continue. (library copy)

The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story by Craig G. Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen (Kansas Dad's 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)
• Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift (February 2014)
• A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller (April 2014)
• Genesis: The Book of Origins by Albert Mary Joseph Shamon (July 2014) 
• Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus (August 2014)
• Revolutionary by Krista McGee (August 2014)
• Norton Anthology of English Literature Vol 2 (sixth edition) (August 2014)
• The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming by Henri Nouwen (August 2014)

November 2013 Book Reports

I took an unplanned vacation from the blog for Advent and Christmas. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!


Much delayed, here are the books I read last November.

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins is a classic mystery story. It's long by contemporary mystery standards (and likely considered too wordy) but it was fascinating and exciting. I don't read many mysteries but I love books of Victorian England and enjoyed this one. (free Kindle version)

The Wonder Clock by Howard Pyle (library copy)

The Secret School by Avi is a book I picked up at a library sale thinking First Daughter might like to read it aloud this year (first grade). It's the story of a young girl who secretly becomes the teacher of her school in order to complete eighth grade and go on to high school. The writing is not too difficult, so I think she could manage it, but the subject matter is a little more sophisticated. I think it would be more appropriate for late elementary or middle grade readers. So I've made a note to bring it out in a few years. (purchased copy)

Canadian Summer by Hilda van Stockum (purchased used on CathSwap)

A Donkey's Tale by Stefano Gorla, illustrated by Angela Marchetti (a review for The Catholic Company)

Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry (library copy)

The Story of a Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux (library copy)

Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan is the new book by a Catholic comedian who lives in a two-bedroom apartment in New York City with his wife and five children. It was highly enjoyable. (library copy)

Macbeth (Shakespeare Made Easy) by William Shakespeare is the second play we'll study in fourth grade. The modern version in this book has some explicit text, but First Son won't be reading it. As before, we'll read Lamb and Nesbit's versions, both of which are appropriate for all ages. Easily my favorite part of studying Shakespeare with the children is reading it myself in preparation. (purchased from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts)

Books in Progress (and date started)

• Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling (September 2013)
• How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish (October 2013)
• Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived by Rob Bell (November 2013)
• Boys Adrift: The Five Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men by Leonard Sax (November 2013)
• A Right To Be Merry by Mother Mary Francis (November 2013)

October 2012 Book Reports

Born On A Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant by Daniel Tammet is the memoir of a still-young man on the Autism spectrum. It is eloquent if sometimes stilted and provides an interesting glimpse into the world of others who may not have the verbal skills to describe their thoughts and emotions. I enjoyed reading about how his large family (lots of siblings!) forced him to develop social skills, helped him learn to cope better with noise and change, and taught him how to interact with others by providing lots of examples of social interactions. There are a few times when he expands his experiences, generalizing to others who fall on the same spectrum, with thought-provoking applications to modern society. At the end, there seemed to be some random forays into other areas like organic food and making meals from scratch. This book won and award for young adults, but I would caution about sharing it with children that are young as he shares more than I wanted to know about his relationship with his partner. I liked reading this book overall, but I did enjoy Thinking in Pictures by Temple Grandin more. I'd recommend that one if you only want to read one. (library copy)

Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling by Ross King was a highly enjoyable book focused on the painting of the Sistine Chapel. It includes descriptions of the politics, geography, artistry, and living conditions of the time. I learned a great deal and am glad I read it before we studied this time period (purchased at a bargain at a library sale)

Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope is a very long novel. Once I settled in to Trollope's style, I enjoyed it. There is much to ponder here on marriage, women (and their more limited role at the time of the novel), and British society. (free Kindle edition)

Notes from the Underwire: Adventures from My Awkward and Lovely Life by Quinn Cummings is a series of short essays. I was really looking for her new book, The Year of Learning Dangerously: Adventures in Homeschooling, which I read a bit of at a bookstore and loved, but our library didn't have a copy. I read this instead and enjoyed it. Ms. Cummings lives a very different life than I do, but I found common ground and a lot of reasons to laugh in her book. Some of the topics warrant maturity (living together outside of marriage, AIDS, openness to alternative lifestyles). I've put in a request for the newer book through inter-library loan. (library copy)

Flowertown by S.G. Redling is the fictional account of an Iowan farming community polluted horribly by a chemical spill. The government and the company responsible establish what is essentially a ghetto to minister to the survivors and contain the environmental damage. I have an arguably poor opinion of pesticide companies, but even I found the actions of this one hard to believe. Still it was an entertaining book. As with others this month, I'd recommend it only for mature readers. (Kindle edition, borrowed for free from the Kindle Owners' Lending Library)

The Great Turkey Walk by Kathleen Karr is based on the true tale of an ambitious plan to herd a bunch of turkeys to Denver during a gold rush soon after the Civil War to cash in on the lack of delicious fresh poultry on the frontier. It's pretty funny and touches on a lot of topics of interest for the time-period. I was considering reading it aloud to the kids, but there were a few too many references to ladies wearing skimpy clothes for me to feel comfortable sharing it. (Not that anything bad happens in that vein, but it seemed to imply an older audience for the book than my 8, 6, 4, and 2 year olds.) (library copy)

The Schoolhouse at Prairie View by Marshall A. Barber is the memoir of a Kansan who grew from a farm boy to an internationally-recognized chemist. It's focused on his time at school, reading like an oral history. Our little library had a copy returned recently by a man reading primary sources on Kansas history and our librarian set it aside for me; she knew I'd enjoy it. I did! (library copy)

Towards A Philosophy Of Education (Charlotte Mason's Original Homeschooling Series) by Charlotte Mason, the sixth in her series. It took me something like fifteen months to read this book! I've pondered it so slowly I can barely remember the beginning, but I think it's good to always be reading something like this as I continue to figure out our homeschool. I'm not a pure Charlotte Mason teacher, but I like contemplating her ideas and balancing them against whatever we're doing. I've now read the first and sixth books and will eventually get to the ones in between. At this rate, I expect to finish the last one about the time Second Son is graduating from high school. (I read this Kindle edition, but there are a number of them available)

Word Myths: Debunking Linguistic Urban Legends by David Wilton is one of the very few books I've purchased for my Kindle, not counting the ones I "purchase" for $0.00. I bought it when it was the Kindle deal of the day last January thinking it would be interesting. It was, but it wasn't as interesting as I'd hoped. More than anything, I liked how it forced me to think critically about some of the stories I'd heard about how words and phrases begin. It's well-researched and a valuable source of information on any of the topics it includes. (purchased for the Kindle)

Tested: One American School Struggles to Make the Grade by Linda Perlstein is the story of one elementary school in Maryland through the 2005-2006 school year as the principal and teachers struggle to prepare themselves and their students for the big annual test and what it means to make adequate annual progress for No Child Left Behind. I was so very saddened at the lives these children lead and the way they spend their time at school. I talked with a friend who is currently an elementary school principal and he says the testing situation is much better than it was at the time of this book, but this book is a great way to see how a well-intended governmental attempt to improve education for struggling students can hamper the ability of teachers and schools to do just that in unexpected ways. I also found this particularly interesting as I compared what First Son's third grade experiences were and what his skills might be in different areas with what was expected of the third graders in the book. Though in many ways he far surpassed any of the students in the class, he could never have written a "BCR" until I taught him exactly how to do so. (library copy)

Wool - Omnibus Edition by Hugh Howey was another Kindle deal of the day, and probably the Kindle purchase I've most enjoyed since I bought the second and third books of the Hunger Games trilogy. It's actually five books published together, the first being no longer than a short story. They follow individuals living in a silo, buried in the ground from a toxic world. Every so often, for the greatest crimes, people are sent out to "clean" the sensors and test the suits built to withstand the environment. Or are they? You can read the first book for free: Wool. Highly recommended. I promised myself I could buy the next book in the series (actually a prequel) when I finished my most recent review for The Catholic Company. (purchased for the Kindle)

Lost in Peter's Tomb by Dianne Ahern, illustrated by Katherine Larson, is a book I read about as a great Catholic mystery for young readers. Two young children are sent to spend the summer with their aunt, a Franciscan nun outside Rome who turns out to work covertly for the Pope and the Italian police as a consultant. It's a little far-fetched and not exceptionally well-written, but it's acceptable. I'm not sure First Son will read it before it has to go back and I probably wouldn't bother to buy it for him. (inter-library loan)

Saint Who?: 39 Holy Unknowns by Brian O'Neel (a review for The Catholic Company)

The Groundbreaking, Chance-Taking Life of George Washington Carver and Science and Invention in America (Cheryl Harness Histories) by Cheryl Harness was a book I really wanted to like and started out enjoying it. Ms. Harness has interesting illustrations throughout and a fascinating timeline of George Washington Carver's lifetime, showing events around the world, along the bottom pages of the book. I was a little annoyed by her use of initials. Sometimes (not always), George Washington Carver was GWC. Sometimes (not always) Booker T. Washington was BTW. Theodore Roosevelt was sometimes TR. I really should be able to get over that. I was also concerned by the description of a black man accused of raping a white girl and then brutally murdered before Carver's eyes. The murder was horrible and my children don't know what "rape" is yet; I'd rather not explain it until after they've learned more about married life in a good and beautiful way. (The rape was not described, just the murder.) I did appreciate the discussion in the book of the differences between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. De Bois. Overall, I'm not interested in giving this book to my third grade son to read on his own and at the moment don't have any other recommendations. I'm open to other suggestions. (library copy)

The Night the Bells Rang by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock is a tale of a young boy, Mason, near the end of World War I, mainly of his struggles with a local bully and his younger brother. After an act of kindness, the bully enlists in the armed forces. Mason hears shocking news and eventually realizes how his own behavior has been damaging his relationships with his family. It's a tale that includes some historical information and a change of heart. I'm a little leery of asking First Son to read it (it is well within his reading ability) because of the examples of bullying (though they are not portrayed as good or beneficial), but I think it has much to offer, so I've put it on the syllabus as independent reading for our study of World War I. (library copy)

Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke (library copy)

Little Britches: Father and I Were Ranchers by Ralph Moody was fantastic. It reads like a fascinating memoir, almost as if the author were in the room with you, telling about his life. Ralph moved to Colorado in 1906 with his large family. The book would work well as a family read-aloud for that time, but it is also a wonderful story of a wise man and his relationship with his rambunctious son. There is much courage, perseverance, and forgiveness. I'll let you read the reviews on Amazon, which are much better than what I can write in the few minutes I have. This book is now on our family read-aloud list for this year, but I really recommend it to anyone. (library copy)


Did you notice I finished all of the books on the "Books in Progress" list last month? When I finished Can You Forgive Her?, I knew I was within an hour of the end of Towards a Philosophy of Education, so decided I'd set myself a goal of finishing the rest of them.

Books in Progress (and date started)

• Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason by Alfie Kohn (October 2012)
• The Good Shepherd and the Child: A Joyful Journey (October 2012) 
• Seventeenth Swap (October 2012)
• One Body, Many Blogs (October 2012)
• The Children of the New Forest (October 2013)