This year, I've set a goal to read at least one biography, one classic, one Newberry book, one non-fiction book, and one "just-for-fun" book each month from my collection and/or wishlist. I've also set a goal of reading the entire Paddington Bear series out loud to my youngest child. I think it's his favorite part of his school day. The rest of my reading consists of books related to our history studies in school.
The total this month was 24 books (7 for my benefit, 17 for the kids or school related), 3 magazines, and 0 books abandoned.
Biography
Champion of Liberty: The Story of Roger Williams
by Norman E. Nygaard
A book that's been on my shelf for more than 30 years...a biography of Roger Williams, who started Providence Plantations (Rhode Island) as a haven for people of all religious beliefs. It portrays him as a sincere and admirable, though certainly not perfect, character. Some good quotes to ponder.
While discussing the burning of men accused of heresy in England, his father told young Roger: Remember, son, if people disagree with you, you must not punish them to secure their agreement. That is not God's way of dealing with those who are mistaken.
About Roger's beliefs and "non-conformism": He had learned enough about the changes in religious thought which had taken place in the space of one century to realize that there were many aspects of Christian faith in which Christian people were not in agreement. Why should each generation be expected to conform to a religious pattern merely because that was the way of thinking espoused by the reigning monarch? And how could one mode of thinking be right for fifty years and then another mode, diametrically different from the former, become the way in which people should be forced to think?
Regarding his views of the natives in America: Roger regarded the Indians as fellow human beings. He refused to take advantage of them or regard them as members of an inferior race. Long before he came to Providence he had told [John] Winthrop that that which had attracted him to the Massachusetts Colony was the clause in the charter which had piously asserted that the basic purpose of settlement in the new country was "the conversion of ye natives." If the average colonist forgot this clause, Roger did not.
In a discussion about whether to allow a Jew to settle in their colony: What kind of example have we and other Christians set for him? Christians persecuting each other, few of them loving their fellow men as He taught us...if Jews were to be won to the Christian faith, it would have to be through a Christlike example set by their Christian neighbors.
Classics
A Girl of the Limberlost
by Gene Stratton-Porter
Elnora Comstock lives in the Limberlost swamp in Indiana in the early 1900s with a mother her resents her because her father drowned in quicksand when she was a baby. Elnora earns the money she needs to go to high school in the city by collecting moths and other nature items. Her mother is a hateful and bitter woman who opposes Elnora at just about every turn. Finally there comes a crisis in which Mrs. Comstock learns the truth about her husband (he was planning to commit adultery with a neighbor the night he died). She repents of her bitterness, Elnora forgives her, and they learn to be loving mother and daughter. The second half of the book deals with a sweet romance between Elnora and a young man from Chicago who shares her love for nature. A beautiful story of love, forgiveness, and grace. The romance focuses on character and friendship, rather than mere physical attraction like so many modern books emphasize. I started listening to an audio version read by Anne Makoto. It was horrible. She made all the characters sound whiny. I switched to a version read by Christina Moore, which was as excellent as the other was horrible. She gave the characters recognizable voices and read with perfect inflection and feeling. I'd recommend this book for older teens and adults. If you or your child like the sequels to Anne of Green Gables (where Anne grows up and wrestles with her feelings about various suitors), then you may like this one.
The Bronze Bow
by Elizabeth George Speare
A young Jewish man has sworn vengeance against the Romans who occupy his country and killed his father and uncle. He lives in the mountains with a band of outlaws working toward armed resistance. However, when his grandmother in the village dies, he reluctantly moves back to town to care for his demon-oppressed sister. He has encounters with a carpenter-turned-teacher who he hopes will be the Messiah who will lead them to revolt and liberation. If you've read many of my past book reviews, you know that I'm not a big fan of Biblical fiction. This is a notable exception. An excellent story, worthy of the Newberry Medal it won in 1962. We are listening to the audio version with the kids. I have loved all of Elizabeth George Speare's books that I've read so far. (Others included The Witch of Blackbird Pond and The Sign of the Beaver.)
Nonfiction
World Religions and Cults: Counterfeits of Christianity
by Bodie Hodge and Roger Patterson
The first of a three volume set discussing many of the world's religions, big and small. This volume deals primarily with those who embrace some parts of the Bible and/or Jesus's teachings.
How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare
by Ken Ludwig
I read the first few chapters about A Midsummer Night's Dream and another chapter about Shakespeare's life. If you want to teach your kids Shakespeare, this might be a good place to start. There's a recent interview with the author at Read-Aloud-Revival. And also a transcript of an earlier podcast.
Christy
by Catherine Marshall
Nineteen year old Christy Huddleston leaves her pampered life in Ashville, North Carolina to teach school in an Appalachian community. There she eventually learns to love the people, seeing past the filth, feuding, and superstitious fear. She also deals with questions of faith and romance. There are a couple of discussions about rape, and there are some theology issues (seeking guidance by looking to an "inner light"). It was an interesting story, but I didn't like it quite as well as I did when I first read it many years ago.
I did appreciate the following quote. The young preacher asks the older Quaker lady, "Why aren't people changed more drastically by today's preaching?" She responds: Could be because we don't often have the courage to give the good news to people straight. Most of us are still talking religious theory that we haven't begun living, and talking in worn-out clichés at that. A watered-down message is as futile as applying rose water to a cancer. When your heart is ablaze with the love of God, when you love other people -- especially the rip-snorting sinners -- so much that you dare to tell them about Jesus with no apologies, then never fear, there will be results. One of two things will happen. Either there'll be persecutions, or the fire will leap from your heart to catch and blaze in the depths of other men's beings. And then when the blaze starts, the reforms will follow as surely as the flower follows the bud, or the fruit comes after the blossom on the tree.
Swallows and Amazons
by Arthur Ransome
A wonderful story written in 1930 about four English children having adventures sailing and camping on a "deserted" island while on vacation. The children have wonderful imaginations, pretending to be sailors, pirates, explorers, Robinson Crusoe, etc. I love the freedom the mother gives the children to be "free-range" (in today's terminology), but she (and other adults) are still around to give the right amount of supervision and support and guidance. There are 11 or 12 other books in the series, but unfortunately this is the only one the library has in hard-copy form. I'm sure my kids would enjoy this series.
Read-aloud
More About Paddington
by Michael Bond
Somehow in my childhood I missed out on these delightful stories about the misadventures of a young bear from "Darkest Peru" as he lives with the Brown family in London. This is the second book in the series.
Paddington Helps Out
by Michael Bond
Paddington is only trying to help his family and his neighbors, but things always seem to turn his good intentions into disasters. But he always seems to "land on his feet."
History
I have learned so much the last two months about Hannibal, Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, and their time in history. After reading or hearing about them several times in our history curriculum and reading the library books described below, I feel like I finally understand a little bit about this period in history.
Hero Journals: Hannibal of Carthage
by Sean Stuart Price
A diary format describing Hannibal, his life, his world, and his battles. Pretty good. Some pictures might be a little too graphic if you look too closely. I set this out for the kids to read if they were interested.
Hero Journals: Julius Caesar
by Nick Hunter
Similar to the above book about Hannibal, with sidebars and pictures. I set this out for the kids to read if they were interested.
Who Was Julius Caesar?
by Nico Medina
A basic biography for kids about Julius Caesar, including extra background information and line drawings. We always enjoy books from this "Who Was..." series. We read aloud the main text.
Maccabee! The Story of Hanukkah
by Tilda Balsley
Just as it says, a nice picture book explaining the historical origins of Hanukkah. We read this aloud.
Hanukkah at Valley Forge
by Stephen Krensky
A Polish soldier at Valley Forge tells George Washington the story of Hanukkah. Nice story, beautiful illustrations. We read this aloud.
You Wouldn't Want to Be Cleopatra!
by Jim Pipe
Lots of engaging illustrations and informative sidebars. We read aloud the main text.
Cleopatra : Serpent of the Nile
by Mary Fisk Pack
Mostly food info, but several pictures of immodest statues. I returned it to the library after previewing it.
Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen
by Susan Blackaby
Quite interesting, but very detailed for a children's biography. Too long to read aloud. No immodest pictures. It dealt discreetly with all the adultery and immorality. I set this out for the kids to read if they were interested.
Cleopatra VII : Daughter of the Nile
by Kristiana Gregory
Written in a diary form. Describes Cleopatra's life from age 12 to 14 during her exile with her father in Rome. I set this out for the kids to read if they were interested. We might read it aloud or listen to the audio.
The Roman Catacombs
by Enzo George
Lots of photos and text describing the catacombs (underground tombs) under the city of Rome. We will either read this aloud, or I'll leave it out for interested parties to read on their own.
Nero
by Pete DiPrimio
A mixed format of factual biography and narrative. Informative. Lots of pictures, some of which show violence and nudity.
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Roman Gladiator!
by John Malam
Lots of details about the life and training of Roman gladiators. Not for sensitive readers.
You Wouldn't Want to Live in Pompeii!
by John Malam
Good book about Pompeii and the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79.
Picture books, just for fun
The Dead Sea Scrolls
by Ilene Cooper
An interesting history of the discovery, deciphering, and interpretation of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Mostly text. I took exception to a couple of statements near the end, stating something to the effect that John the Baptist "developed his own philosophy" and that Jesus "incorporated John's message into his own." No, John preached the message he was given by God and, as the Son of God, this was Jesus' message all along.
The Book of Mistakes
by Corinna Luyken
An artist makes a mistake while drawing, then finds a way to incorporate the mistake into the drawing. And it just builds from there. Fun!
Magazines
I read two World news magazines and one Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine.
Videos
As a family, we've enjoyed watching a couple of nature shows available from Answers.TV. Out and About With Buddy Davis, and Hike and Seek by Peter Schriemer. Both very fun and highly recommended! The yearly subscription price for Answers.TV has been well worth it to get these nature shows from a Biblical worldview.
