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.

March 2023 Book Reports

The Drovers Road Collection by Joyce West - link to my post (purchased used)

Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn - I don't always love novels written in letters, but this one was excellent. As an additional challenge, the plot of the story requires certain "letters" (like p, z, q, and so on) be avoided as the story goes on. I can't imagine how difficult it was to accomplish it! I thought it was excellent and passed it right on to my teenage daughter who agreed. (library copy)

The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, and The Death Cure by James Dashner - This series was recommended as a fun dystopian series, but I did not enjoy them that much. The whole plot seemed unlikely and so many of the scenarios contrived. I didn't bother reading any of the other books. (library copies)

Therese by Dorothy Day - link to my post (purchased copy)

Talking with God by Francois Fenelon - This is one of the spiritual books recommended in the Mater Amabilis high school plans for religion. I read it ahead of my older daughter. It's a good book on prayer, but not my favorite. My older daughter felt the same way. I probably won't assign it to the other kids, though it will be on the shelf if they choose it for themselves. (purchased used) 

Apologia Pro Vita Sua by St. John Henry Cardinal Newman - link to my post (purchased copy)

Mission to Cathay by Madeleine Polland - This is a lovely fictionalized account of the first Catholic mission to mainland China. It would appeal to a wide range of ages, even into the teens. (purchased copy)

Round Building, Square Buildings, and Buildings that Wiggle Like a Fish by Philip M. Isaacson - This is a fantastic book for introducing architecture to young students. It's full of gorgeous photographs illustrating the concepts explained in the book. My kids were a little over the age range, but they enjoyed it anyway. I read it aloud as a break from more traditional picture study. (PaperBackSwap.com)

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

Becoming who God Wishes: Holiness

Holiness: A Guide for Beginners
by Dom Hubert van Zeller

This is a short little book, perfect for my Level 4 (eighth grade) daughter's Advent reading this year. The ten chapters are short but rich. It is deceiving in its simplicity. I will assign it to my Level 4 daughter this year, but I think I will also assign it to my Level 6 Year 2 (twelfth grade) son next year. I'll leave it on the list for my daughter when she's a senior in high school because I think it's the kind of book that improves with repeated readings. I look forward to reading it again myself.

van Zeller begins with a description of what holiness is, and what it isn't, but it's not an easy definition. Though we can recognize holiness in others (Jesus and the saints, for example), our own path to holiness may look different, because we are called to be holy in our own unique way.

[W]hat is is that the saints do that makes them into saints? The answer is that they do two things: on the one side they keep clear of anything that they think is going to get in the way of grace, and on the other they head directly for our Lord. The only thing to be added to this is that they do it for the glory of God and not for what they can get out of it.

Holiness is not something only for the saints, the martyrs, those in high places or religious orders. Holiness is the standard for every single person and is therefore attainable in every interaction and choice we make. This is, of course, a lesson we know but which can never be repeated too often. van Zeller compares our goal of holiness with that of Jesus as a boy. His obedience to his parents gave glory to God just as much as the miracles.

And just as the little works He did were not little in the eyes of the Father because they were being done perfectly by the Son, so the little ones we do are not little to the Father because we are trying to do them perfectly with the Son.

As I said above, I'm assigning this to my eighth grader this year and adding it to the list for my twelfth grader next year. It would be perfect for anyone to read slowly during an adoration hour or as preparation for Mass.

This book was previously published under the title Sanctity in Other Words.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. I requested this book from another member of PaperBackSwap.com (not an affiliate link). Links to Amazon above are affiliate links.

How to Listen to and Follow God's Will: Discernment Do's and Don'ts

 

Discernment Do's and Don'ts: A Practical Guide to Vocational Discernment

by Fr. George Elliott

This excellent book is exactly what it says: a practical guide. It's not exactly literary, but a solid faithful book of advice, cautions, explanations, and questions to ask yourself.

While this book is probably best suited for times of transition -- approaching high school or college graduation, for example -- the author also addresses those who are not yet ready to make vocational decisions. I intend to assign it to my son, entering eleventh grade this fall, but it is also appropriate for my eighth grade daughter. She has often expressed anxiety about not knowing what God wants her to do with her life. Fr. George explains that God often does not give us directions when we cannot act on them. So while she should continue to pray about her vocation, she should meanwhile do what is expected of her now without worrying so much about the future.

He also encourages the reader to begin immediately to develop a strong prayer life, a relationship with the Lord, and relationships with people who are wise in the faith. I particularly liked that, how the author doesn't provide all the answers but would say things like, "You should ask someone you know about a book recommendation." Making connections with Catholics you know in real life, in your parish or community, will make a tremendous difference as a young person matures and seeks a vocation.

Anytime I thought to myself, I would say this or that to my son after he reads this chapter, the author would say that very thing before the end. I can think of nothing I feel like he omitted. 

There is some special attention to vocations of the priesthood or religious orders, but it's a universally applicable book. Married and single (non-religious) vocations are included in every chapter. Young men and young women alike will benefit. 

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

Inos Biffi and Franco Vignazia for Advent: The Life of Mary and The Way to Bethlehem

The Life of Mary

edited by Inos Biffi

illustrations by Franco Vignazia

The Way to Bethlehem

text by Inos Biffi

illustrations by Franco Vignazia

These two books are recommended by Mater Amabilis™ for Level 1A for Advent reading. I've mentioned them in the past when I've blogged about our Advent plans in general, but I thought I'd highlight them in their own post.

The Life of Mary is focused almost entirely on the illustrations, drawn to resemble stained glass windows. The limited text focuses the reader on the events of the life of Mary as they are related in the Gospels, pulling from (Roman and Ambrosian) liturgy, hymns (including at least one of the Eastern Church), and Scripture.

The meditations cover:

• The Annunciation
• The Visitation
• The Nativity
• The Presentation in the Temple
• The Flight into Egypt
• The Loss and Finding of Jesus in the Temple
• The Wedding at Cana
• The Crucifixion
• The Ascension
• Pentecost
• The Assumption or Dormition

The Way to Bethlehem contains more text than The Life of Mary. Based on the Gospel stories leading up to the Nativity and through the infancy of Jesus (coming of the Wise Men, flight into Egypt, return to Nazareth), it provides the same kind of contemplative artwork. The second section provides information on the saints of the season: Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, Elizabeth, John the Baptist, Angels and Shepherds, Wise Men, the Innocents, Simeon, Anna, Nicholas, Lucy, Stephen, John, Thomas Becket.

I was afraid the children would be upset by the page on Herod's killing of the Innocents, but they seemed less saddened than I was. Perhaps my response was stronger because I had little babies myself when I first read it.

These are two beautifully illustrated books. The illustrations are stylized (much as you see on the covers) with brilliant colors.

When First Son was in Level 1A, I read both of these books aloud, a few pages a day, while the children ate breakfast. (That's our Morning Time / Morning Basket / whatever it's called now.) Reading aloud allowed me to control the reading rate, encouraging contemplation and a prayerful attitude.

As families change, so did our time all together, so the other three children read it on their own. In some ways, independent reading provides a great opportunity for a child to immerse themselves in these meditations, but I wasn't able to see whether either of them really took advantage of that opportunity. It's possible they were more focused on just finishing the reading for the day. (One way to combat that hastiness is to follow the Mater Amabilis™ recommendation to cut back on some of the other readings during Advent; the children then really have more time to appreciate the liturgical year readings.)

Here's the schedule I used for the those who read on their own. You might need to adjust the readings a bit to match the time you have in Advent and time you want to be off school for the season. I did not ask them for narrations.

Independent Reading Schedule

Second Grade: The Way to Bethlehem

Week 1
1 - pp. 8-11
2 - pp. 12-15
3 - pp. 16-19

Week 2
1 - pp. 20-23
2 - pp. 24-27
3 - pp. 28-31

Week 3
1 - pp. 32-35
2 - pp. 36-39
3 - pp. 40-43

Week 4
1 - pp. 44-47

Third Grade: The Life of Mary

Week 1
1 - pp. 6-9
2 - pp. 10-13

Week 2
1 - pp. 14-17
2 - pp. 18-21

Week 3
1 - pp. 22-25
2 - pp. 26-27

I intend to keep these books on our shelves because I do think they invite and encourage prayer for all ages. I hope the children will revisit them.

I've linked to Amazon above, but I have frequently found these books available directly from Liturgy Training Publications at reasonable prices.

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

A Continuous Turning to God: The Practice of the Presence of God

The Practice of the Presence of God

by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection

I'm trying something new with this post - an affiliate link to Bookshop.org. I didn't read this exact copy, so I can't speak to its quality. I checked this book out from our local library.

This is a book gathered from conversations and letters by Brother Lawrence, who lived in the 1600s, on how he developed and maintained his relationship with the Lord. He called his method the practice of the presence of God. In this practice, he would focus his thoughts on God at all times: while working and at leisure as well as in prayer.

That our thoughts spoil everything, all the trouble begins with them. We must be careful to reject them immediately we see that they are neither necessary to our occupation at the moment nor conducive to our salvation, and return to our communion with God, wherein is our only good.

With continued focus on the presence of God, Brother Lawrence found his will conforming to that of God's in all things.

I have no troubles or doubts about my state, because I have no wish but God's will which I try to fulfill in all things; I want not to pick up a straw from the ground except in accordance with God's order and sheer love of Him.

He does not pretend it's an easy practice, but it is one he claims becomes easier over time.

I advise you to avoid much talking in prayer; long speeches often induce distractions. Hold yourself in prayer before God like a dumb or paralysed beggar at a rich man's gate; rivet your attention on keeping your mind in the presence of the Lord. If it wanders away from Him, don't get upset; to worry about it serves rather to distraction than to recollection: let the will bring back the mind quietly. If you persevere in this way, God will have pity on you.

Interestingly in this time of our own pandemic, his letters often offer comfort in times of physical or mental suffering, but not for healing.

I do not pray that you may be delivered from your sufferings, but I ask God earnestly to give you strength and patience to bear them so long as He pleases to afflict you.

He follows up with advice to seek no physician but God, which was undoubtedly better advice in the late 1600s than it is today.

This is a very short, easy book to read. It would be perfect as spiritual reading during an adoration hour.

I'm trying something new. Links above are to Bookshop.org, a relatively new way to shop for books online from independent booksellers. I am an affiliate with Bookshop and, in theory, earn a commission if you follow a link and make a purchase. I have received nothing in exchange for writing this post.

Beauty, Prayer, and Silence: Report from Calabria

Report from Calabria: A Season with the Carthusian Monks

by A Priest

This book is written as a series of letters from an American priest (who chooses to remain anonymous, as Carthusian writers do during their lives) to his friends and family while living in a Carthusian monastery in southern Italy for four months. Carthusians live in a community, but each resides in his own house. Even most meals are served through the wall to be eaten in solitude. Many liturgical prayers are prayed at the same time, but each monk remains in his cell, praying alone. As difficult as it is for most of us to understand the vocation to a religious order, ones such as the Carthusians seem even more extreme. There is a film, Into Great Silence, that shares more of the Carthusian life, but I've only seen parts of it.

The letters describe the lives of the Carthusians from an outsider's point of view, but also from the point of view of someone who is living with the monks, praying as they pray, and trying to immerse himself in their solitude. He is able to connect their prayers to our lives in a meaningful way.

He believes there are three "products" of a Carthusian monastery: praise, intercessory prayer, and union with God. Speaking of the second, intercessory prayer, he wrote:

Certainly there are physical evils that must be combated, but at root the world is wounded spiritually, and prayer is the medicine that can heal spiritual wounds. Reflection on this has shaped my prayer somewhat here. For example, some friends of mine have a son who is serving with the Marines in Afghanistan, and I am praying daily for his safety. But I am also praying for something else: his heart and soul, which must experience tremendous emotions given what he and his comrades are going through. Many soldiers return from combat with terrible physical damage, but even those who are spared this must be wounded in other way, and no surgeon can deal with that--God's healing grace can. That is one reason why communities dedicated to prayer are so vital to the life of the Church. Otherwise, as Pope Francis keeps saying, we end up just being another nongovernmental organization striving to deal with people's material welfare.

As he prays and interacts with the monks, the author ponders the life of solitude, the benefits of it for individuals, for the monastery, for the Church, and for the world. He quotes a Carthusian monk:

The purpose of this life is to silence the outer voices so that you can hear the inner ones; then you can begin to uproot those that draw you away from loving God and others, and encourage the good thoughts to grow. 

He talks about learning silence as it if were a language.

The gift of silence here is precisely an invitation not to think and not to do--and that is not easy, at least not for me. It is a language I must struggle to learn.

It is really a matter of learning God's language, of attending to his still, small voice.

My favorite letter was the last one. He writes:

"Stat crux dum volvitur orbis" -- The Cross stands firm as the world turns. This is the motto of the Carthusian order, a reminder that while some may consider these men to be "halfway to heaven", they see themselves as plunged into the heart of the earth, with all its joys and sorrows. In their solitary prayer, in their struggles with loneliness, in their mellow chant that pierces the stillness of the night, they proclaim a message, eloquent in its silence, that the Cross of Jesus is the axis upon which all creation turns.

After the priest's letters, there are appendices of some of St. Bruno's words (the founder of the order), the text of a letter written by Pope St. John Paul II to the order, and a homily of Pope Benedict XVI on one of his visits to Calabria. There is also an extensive list of further reading and resources that seems thoughtfully collected.

This is a book of beauty, thoughtfulness, and the heart of prayer. Because our family has a devotion to St. Bruno, I intend to read it aloud to our children. I hope it will give them a greater insight into the Carthusian order and the diversity of the practices of our Catholic faith. I checked this book out from our library, but I would like to have one of our own.

I checked this book out from our library to read it and have not received anything to write this post. Links above are affiliate links to Amazon.

Reading 2016 and 2017: Two Years in Review

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

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

Favorite Books

2017: The Wright Brothers by David McCullough

2016: Gilead by Marilynne Robinson 

Best Fiction

2017: The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier


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

2016: The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene

Best Non-Fiction

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

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

Best New-to-Me-Authors

2017: Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol

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

Best Classic Books I'd Never Read Before

2017: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

2016: Ivanhoe: A Romance by Sir Walter Scott

Best Books I Pre-Read for School

2017: Years of Dust by Albert Marrin

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

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

Books that Made Me Laugh

2017: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

2016: Pegeen by Hilda van Stockum

Best Homeschooling or Education Books

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

2016: Let's Play Math by Denise Gaskins

Most Challenging

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

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

Best Books I Read Aloud

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

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

2016: The Bat-Poet by Randall Jarrell

Best Memoirs

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

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

Best Biographies

2017: The Long-Legged House by Wendell Berry

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

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

Best Sports-Related Book

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

Most Surprising Book (in a Good Way)

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

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

Best Books on Faith

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

2016: The Little Flowers of Saint Francis by Brother Ugolino

My Other Favorite Books
(alphabetical order by title)

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

Beowulf, in various forms - my post in 2017.

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

Enemy Brothers by Constance Savery - my post in 2017.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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