Reading Journal - September

 

Books read in September:

Non-fiction

• The 4:8 Principle: The Secret to a Joy-Filled Life by Tommy Newberry - I liked the premise of this book, but overall I think there are better books on this topic. This had a feel of if you always think happy than you will be happy. 
• The Conversation: Challenging Your Student with a Classical Education by Leigh Bortins - While we are not a part of Classical Conversations, I have enjoyed all of Leigh Bortins books. The strength of this book, especially for non-Classical Conversations homeschoolers, is the beginning chapters that deal with homeschooling in high-school. If you are unsure about homeschooling high-school I highly recommend picking this up. 
• Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave by Joanna Gaines - Let's just say I enjoy watching Joanna Gaines and I loved The Magnolia Story. This would have probably been a better read if my home style at least fell in her 5 different styles, but unfortunately homeschool book style wasn't listed. For some reason this book was more readable on Kindle than in book form. 
• Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will by Kevin DeYoung - Can I park right here and say you need to read this book. Even if you don't struggle with the will of God it will help when talking to others on the topic. Excellent, excellent read!!!!!!
• Know and Tell: The Art of Narration by Karen Glass - I read this over the summer for my Charlotte Mason Reading Group. I am a big believer in narration and it was fun reading and discussing this.
• The Library Book by Susan Orlean - When I started this book I thought I was going to really enjoy it. This tells the story of the fire that happened at the Los Angeles Public Library in 1986. There were some interesting parts, but by the end I was really frustrated with the story. The author jumps around a lot jumping from the fire to the history of the library to the arsonist (though she has a whole section at the end arguing that it may not have been arson????). The author also puts a lot of speculation (hers and others) in the book which is not my favorite thing in a book. I want the author to tell the story and not put their 2 cents in every other paragraph or so. Can you tell this isn't a favorite?
• Roots & Sky: A Journey Home in Four Season by Christie Purifoy - An okay read. I realized I had this book on my Kindle after I heard about her new book Placemaker: Cultivating Places of Comfort, Beauty, and Peace. I recently started listening to her podcast Out of the Ordinary that she does with Lisa-Jo Baker. Her writing reminds me a little of Ann Voskamp which I find a little hard to follow, so I can't say I loved this book. I have enjoyed the podcast. 

Fiction

• After the Armistice Ball by Catriona McPherson - I was on the lookout for a new book to read. This would be considered a cozy mystery, but I wasn't impressed.
• A Common Life: The Wedding Story by Jan Karon - I'm re-reading the Mitford series and this tells the story of Father Tim's wedding day. A light and enjoyable read.
• A Gentleman's Murder by Christopher Huang - For some reason it took me a long time to read this book. I thought it was a good read for a first time author.
• The Heretics Apprentice by Ellis Peters - Another Bro. Cadfael mystery.
• Othello (No Fear Shakespeare) by William Shakespeare - I read this along with The Play's the Thing podcast. 
• Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes - I'm not sure how I heard about this book, but I am sure glad I did. I really, really enjoyed this story. It is set in current day, but the story does flashbacks set during World War II. This is considered a Christian Historical Romance which I don't read much of anymore, but even though there was romance throughout the book the story really shone brighter.

Books I listened to:

• About My Mother: True Stories of a Horse-Crazy Daughter and Her Baseball-Obsessed Mother by Peggy Rowe - I have watched a few of Mike Rowe's Returning the Favor and he is always talking about his mom and her book so I decided to check it out. It's sweet and there are some funny laugh-out-loud moments.
• The Call of the Wild + Free by Ainsley Arment - I'm not sure where I was when the Wild + Free Communities started, but I started hearing about them about 3 years ago. I have heard a couple of interviews with Ainsley Arment plus I'm always up for a good homeschool book so when I saw this was available on Hoopla I went for it. I could see if you were a new homeschooler and felt like curriculum was restricting that this book would appeal to you. As a veteran homeschooler I found much of the material very redundant--curriculum styles (though only those that were appealing to this style of learning) and love languages (honestly, does this need to be covered in every.single.book?) I still wasn't too sure exactly what the Wild + Free method is and I'm sure everything discussed in there has been said before in a different way. I don't mean to offend anyone who loves Wild + Free because many of the speakers are speakers that I personally love to listen to, but I honestly don't think this book has much to offer to a homeschool mom who has been able to come up with her own method of education for her family. On a side note: The narrator to this book was NOT a favorite. I did not like her voice or reading at all. On another side note: I also had checked the book out from the library and it is a beautiful book! If this book is high on you list to read get the book and avoid the audio.
• Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery - Well, after two years or more I made my way through the Anne Series again. Rilla ranks up there as one of my favorites in the series. 
• The Secret of the King's Tomb by Garrett Drake - I was interested in this book since it featured the adventurer and author (The Complete Book of Marvels), Richard Halliburton. This probably isn't the best book ever written, but hey, it's Richard Halliburton and you have to appreciate anyone who enjoys him so much that he writes a fiction series about him.