One of my favorite spots to stop and take a picture in Ft. Langley: Brae Island on the right hand side
I had every intention of getting all my titles together before the end of October and...here we are on November 10th. Ideally I'd love to catalog and share my two vacations from this prior year; our family one in Sooke, BC, and my girls' trip to Albuquerque I did in September. Here's hoping!
One thing I've noticed is that around the middle of summer, my book reading became 'easy' again. I had such high hopes when the lock down first started, but my attention span quickly grew frizzly within a month. My sleeping took a turn for the worst and anytime I sat down to read I just couldn't get anywhere with it. Apparently, it was a common thing with lots of book readers. The low-grade stress eked into my favorite hobby, and I wasn't pleased. Thankfully, my book reading seems to have really had a kick start these last few months, and I've been happy with the amount I've been able to get back to after over a year of sidelining so much.
September
Culture Care by Makoto Fujimura - I finished this book while on two long layovers between my girls' trip, and I'm so glad I brought it! I almost never bring a lot of reading material (I also had a few magazines I wanted to finish) with me, but with 2 6-7 hour layovers at LAX (shudder), I knew I'd likely read it from start to finish. I really love Fujimura's art and monthly newsletter. This book was a 'solid good'. It wasn't ground-breaking, but the principles he talks about within are important and will have a positive outcome on our families, and local communities, so reading how we can 'care for culture' is valuable.
Canadian Geographic (Sept/Oct) - I read this magazine cover to cover each time it comes out and learn so much about the country I (now) call home. Canada has endlessly fascinating geography, wildlife, and history, and I have many years to catch up on. The gorgeous photos always give me wanderlust. There are so many Canadian locations I want to visit because of this magazine!
Jeremiah: He Who Wept by Thom Lemmons - This was a book I finished after reading over the course of a few months with a friend who I also did a side-by-side bible study with, on the book of Jeremiah. I have been on a years-long study of the prophets after realizing I knew the bare bones (hello, Daniel and the Lions' Den) but really nothing else, and certainly not within an Israelite/Jewish context.
This book is now out of print, but you can still find it relatively cheaply online used. It's a solid 3 stars for its writing, but did I understand the context and events of the book of Jeremiah much better while reading this along with the biblical book? Absolutely yes. That's what the purpose was, and it did the trick. Am I a Jeremiah specialist now? Not even close....but now much more of the political history and events I understand much more, and the context within the ancient cultures who were living at the time.
Read-Alouds
The Dog Who Wouldn't Be by Farley Mowat* - This book was an absolute treasure. We finished it in early September right as school was starting and I'd very much consider this to be the best dog memoir I've ever read (ahem, yes...I've read a few...). I'd give this book 5 stars for brilliance in writing, humor, and geography.
I loved this book so much I wrote a review of it for my bookstore's blog (coming soon)! Reading Mowat is a pure joy and I'm on the hunt to read everything he's written. I found "Never Cry Wolf" * at a thrift store, and Lukka read it recently and loved it, too; learning so much about wolves in the meantime.
One thing I've noticed is that around the middle of summer, my book reading became 'easy' again. I had such high hopes when the lock down first started, but my attention span quickly grew frizzly within a month. My sleeping took a turn for the worst and anytime I sat down to read I just couldn't get anywhere with it. Apparently, it was a common thing with lots of book readers. The low-grade stress eked into my favorite hobby, and I wasn't pleased. Thankfully, my book reading seems to have really had a kick start these last few months, and I've been happy with the amount I've been able to get back to after over a year of sidelining so much.
September
Culture Care by Makoto Fujimura - I finished this book while on two long layovers between my girls' trip, and I'm so glad I brought it! I almost never bring a lot of reading material (I also had a few magazines I wanted to finish) with me, but with 2 6-7 hour layovers at LAX (shudder), I knew I'd likely read it from start to finish. I really love Fujimura's art and monthly newsletter. This book was a 'solid good'. It wasn't ground-breaking, but the principles he talks about within are important and will have a positive outcome on our families, and local communities, so reading how we can 'care for culture' is valuable.
Canadian Geographic (Sept/Oct) - I read this magazine cover to cover each time it comes out and learn so much about the country I (now) call home. Canada has endlessly fascinating geography, wildlife, and history, and I have many years to catch up on. The gorgeous photos always give me wanderlust. There are so many Canadian locations I want to visit because of this magazine!
Jeremiah: He Who Wept by Thom Lemmons - This was a book I finished after reading over the course of a few months with a friend who I also did a side-by-side bible study with, on the book of Jeremiah. I have been on a years-long study of the prophets after realizing I knew the bare bones (hello, Daniel and the Lions' Den) but really nothing else, and certainly not within an Israelite/Jewish context.
This book is now out of print, but you can still find it relatively cheaply online used. It's a solid 3 stars for its writing, but did I understand the context and events of the book of Jeremiah much better while reading this along with the biblical book? Absolutely yes. That's what the purpose was, and it did the trick. Am I a Jeremiah specialist now? Not even close....but now much more of the political history and events I understand much more, and the context within the ancient cultures who were living at the time.
Read-Alouds
The Dog Who Wouldn't Be by Farley Mowat* - This book was an absolute treasure. We finished it in early September right as school was starting and I'd very much consider this to be the best dog memoir I've ever read (ahem, yes...I've read a few...). I'd give this book 5 stars for brilliance in writing, humor, and geography.
I loved this book so much I wrote a review of it for my bookstore's blog (coming soon)! Reading Mowat is a pure joy and I'm on the hunt to read everything he's written. I found "Never Cry Wolf" * at a thrift store, and Lukka read it recently and loved it, too; learning so much about wolves in the meantime.
As Lukka remarked, "{specific author} is not fit enough to shine Farley Mowat's shoes!" Once you read excellent writing...it's hard to go back.
The Thrifty Guide to Medieval Times by Jonathan W. Stokes*- This is a book I started out our new school year reading, as we're studying the Medieval Times in Socials. The kids love his books, because they are laugh out loud funny. This one did not disappoint. This series is full of books that are great introductions to famous periods in history, 10+ up for graphic descriptions.
October
Red Stilts by Ted Kooser - I saw Kooser's newest book of poetry while I was browsing a delightful bookstore, Back of Beyond Books, in Moab UT with my friends. I rarely buy two hardcover books together (talk about impulse control...) but I wanted to read Red Stilts and happy to support independent bookstores while I'm on vacation.
October
Red Stilts by Ted Kooser - I saw Kooser's newest book of poetry while I was browsing a delightful bookstore, Back of Beyond Books, in Moab UT with my friends. I rarely buy two hardcover books together (talk about impulse control...) but I wanted to read Red Stilts and happy to support independent bookstores while I'm on vacation.
Kooser's poetry is delightful, accessible, and quietly joyful. I will always read what he writes, and purchase each book to savor.
Rhinos in Nebraska by Alison Pearce Stevens - I was shocked to see this book on the shelves at the Moab bookstore, because I had taken my kids to Ashfall Fossil Beds in Nebraska a few years ago and didn't see this book there (I would have 100% bought it then), and I knew that's exactly what this title was about. A quick thumbing through and I found out why-it was a brand new release!
This is a book written for middle-grades to explain this amazing phenomenon I loved visiting when I was a child. Stevens has written a delightful book all about the history of the site, the animals, and the future of Ashfall's study and excavation.
This is a book written for middle-grades to explain this amazing phenomenon I loved visiting when I was a child. Stevens has written a delightful book all about the history of the site, the animals, and the future of Ashfall's study and excavation.
Sexless in the City by Kat Harris - I heard about Harris' book on a podcast (though I can't remember which one) and she was funny and authentic and I wanted to read her book. I have a few single friends and thought maybe it would be a good recommendation. I enjoyed reading it and digging into what she had to say, but it was an average/solid good. I'm reading less and less of these podcaster/bloggers turned author books, but they often have good nuggets of truth and wisdom to pass along.
Read-Alouds
Everybody, Always for Kids by Bob Goff and Lindsey Goff Viducich- This was Anikka's pick for a bible-focused reading this year. She loved Love Does for Kids (same authors) that we read last year. The library didn't have this, which was Goff's second book turned into a book for kids, so I purchased it. Both my kids enjoy Goff's goofiness and humor, and this book did not disappoint. He's a master at sharing funny or ridiculous stories and then tying them into how we should treat others based on what we know of Jesus in the bible. Guess what? The title is the spoiler.
Along Came Galileo by Jeanne Bendick* - This is my fourth and last (sadly!) historical biography in this series, only because I think she's only written four! Bendick takes famous people throughout history (Archimedes, Galen, Herodotus, Galileo), and writes a mini biography about them so that kids can get the main gist of their lifetime and achievements. Galileo's was the shortest of all four, but in-depth from his astronomical advancements to his call before the Insurrection. He was a devout man and decided to recant his scientific studies so he wouldn't be excommunicated. He was only given a formal pardon in the 1990s!
Famous Men of the Middle Ages by Memoria Press* - This was more of a textbook, but reads like an anthology of mini biographies of men (and women) of the Middle Ages. The short stories held my kids' attention, but quite a few of them were King X, Y, Z, and after awhile your brain can't hold onto that particular information for very long. I think it was a useful read, and I received this book for free from a relative, but took away the general theme of the overall cultures from this book, not necessarily the particulars of each individual.
*All links with the asterisk are referral links at the bookstore I work at, Classical Education Books. It's a fantastic independent bookstore in Langley (soon to be Abbotsford!) BC.
Everybody, Always for Kids by Bob Goff and Lindsey Goff Viducich- This was Anikka's pick for a bible-focused reading this year. She loved Love Does for Kids (same authors) that we read last year. The library didn't have this, which was Goff's second book turned into a book for kids, so I purchased it. Both my kids enjoy Goff's goofiness and humor, and this book did not disappoint. He's a master at sharing funny or ridiculous stories and then tying them into how we should treat others based on what we know of Jesus in the bible. Guess what? The title is the spoiler.
Along Came Galileo by Jeanne Bendick* - This is my fourth and last (sadly!) historical biography in this series, only because I think she's only written four! Bendick takes famous people throughout history (Archimedes, Galen, Herodotus, Galileo), and writes a mini biography about them so that kids can get the main gist of their lifetime and achievements. Galileo's was the shortest of all four, but in-depth from his astronomical advancements to his call before the Insurrection. He was a devout man and decided to recant his scientific studies so he wouldn't be excommunicated. He was only given a formal pardon in the 1990s!
Famous Men of the Middle Ages by Memoria Press* - This was more of a textbook, but reads like an anthology of mini biographies of men (and women) of the Middle Ages. The short stories held my kids' attention, but quite a few of them were King X, Y, Z, and after awhile your brain can't hold onto that particular information for very long. I think it was a useful read, and I received this book for free from a relative, but took away the general theme of the overall cultures from this book, not necessarily the particulars of each individual.
*All links with the asterisk are referral links at the bookstore I work at, Classical Education Books. It's a fantastic independent bookstore in Langley (soon to be Abbotsford!) BC.
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