I can categorically say I only finished one of the top four books as of typing this-dismally late in early July!- but thankfully it was completed. Although this subpar photo is all I have that captures my reading in May, thank goodness for my Bookshelf and Books Read visual boards via Pinterest, or I'd never remember anything.
Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings by Joy Harjo - Although I don't remember specifics about this book, I do remember enjoying most of it. This is why I can't write reviews months after the fact (!)-I just forget specific topics, images, or themes of a book of poetry aside from the way I felt reading it. I'm sorry I can't comment on it more than that except I did like her other book, An American Sunrise, a bit better than this one.
The After Diet by Purva Brown - This is a very short little book that is a personal story of a woman who is someone I follow online. Her story involves weightlifting and figuring out macro and micro nutrients to finally reshape her body by mainly eating much more protein than she ever thought she'd need to, and lifting very heavy weights. I'm in the middle of figuring out how to eat more protein since I've gained a lot of my lost weight back in 2020 even though I exercise regularly. Ugh.
Sensing God by Joel Clarkson - This was by far my favorite book of the month that I read for myself and it surprised me by how academic and beautifully written it was, because it is a debut book. Clarkson goes through many topics including food, nature, and music to name a few, to bring about encountering God within the everyday rhythms we already engage with. There were examples throughout history including composers I'd never heard of (and was so glad I took the time to deep dive into the songs suggested!), and personal anecdotes that related to the topic. I really loved this book and think it could be a great book to read if you're going through a 'meh' spiritual time. I found it both academic in the best of way but also encouraging and gentle in tone.
Read Aloud to Kids
The Ides of April by Mary Ray - This book was a novel that the kids and I read 'back and forth' about a slave who was on trial for murdering his master; a prominent Roman in about 75AD. My kids liked this book because it was fast paced and a bit of a murder mystery, and I liked it for them because it gave a great glimpse into life of slaves and commoners, along with a few interesting subplots. It was borrowed from a friend who knew we were reading about Egyptian, Greek, and Roman histories this year, and I'm glad we made time for it.
Aristotle Leads the Way by Joy Hakim - You guys, this was a textbook. I'm writing a review on a TEXTBOOK because 1) I finished it and read it all aloud to my kids over the last school year and 2) it was so good! Growing up with boring history textbooks that were dull and dry have never been introduced to author Joy Hakim. She writes history like it's a novel with interesting characters, gorgeous art pieces placed perfectly to see the cultural references, and funny anecdotes about these historical people who moved "the great conversation" forward throughout the ancient times. We fully plan to use her next two science textbooks as our science spine; next up it's Newton at the Center and the Middle Ages.
The Ides of April by Mary Ray - This book was a novel that the kids and I read 'back and forth' about a slave who was on trial for murdering his master; a prominent Roman in about 75AD. My kids liked this book because it was fast paced and a bit of a murder mystery, and I liked it for them because it gave a great glimpse into life of slaves and commoners, along with a few interesting subplots. It was borrowed from a friend who knew we were reading about Egyptian, Greek, and Roman histories this year, and I'm glad we made time for it.
Aristotle Leads the Way by Joy Hakim - You guys, this was a textbook. I'm writing a review on a TEXTBOOK because 1) I finished it and read it all aloud to my kids over the last school year and 2) it was so good! Growing up with boring history textbooks that were dull and dry have never been introduced to author Joy Hakim. She writes history like it's a novel with interesting characters, gorgeous art pieces placed perfectly to see the cultural references, and funny anecdotes about these historical people who moved "the great conversation" forward throughout the ancient times. We fully plan to use her next two science textbooks as our science spine; next up it's Newton at the Center and the Middle Ages.
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