A few more reads from this summer and fall:
A Dog Called Kitty, by Bill Wallace: A children's book. Very sad (in the spirit of Old Yeller or Where the Red Fern Grows) but very sweet.
The Five Love Languages of Children, by Gary Chapman & Ross Campbell, M.D.: Very useful in determining the best way to express our love to our individual children. While we may love them, they may not feel loved if we are not expressing our love in ways that are meaningful to them. Also deals with issues of respect, anger, unconditional love, discipline, etc. I still am discerning, but I think that boy #2's main love language is physical touch and boy #1 is either words of affirmation or quality time.
Teenage Boys! Surviving and Enjoying these Extraordinary Years, by Bill Beausay: While this probably will not be my "go to" book on parenting, there were some wise nuggets in here. One of the main ideas that I took away is that our attitude towards our teenagers will be self-fulfilling. If we think that teenagers are nothing but trouble then they will be. Our hidden beliefs subvert us. But our hidden beliefs can also work for us. If I believe that teenagers are fun and vibrant people, worthy of my respect, and trying to successfully navigate through storms to reach adulthood, then I will treat my teen in a way that makes our relationship enjoyable (but not easy).
Romancing Your Child's Heart, by Monte Swan: I enjoyed this book, but I have to warn you that it is very possible to read this book and feel guilty as a parent for not doing all the cool stuff that he has done with his kids. The main idea is that we may give our kids the right training, the correct theology, lots of knowledge, but we may lose them both personally and spiritually because we fail to romance their heart and woo them towards us and ultimately a relationship with God. One issue that this book brought up that I am trying to deal with: how encourage my child to find those things that spark his interest and the things that he is good at. I need to be my child's advocate and champion not only to others, but also to himself.
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
I may not have been blogging, but I HAVE been reading...
Wow! I can't believe it has been so long since I have posted a blog. Summer just flew by and now we are fully into fall. So I will try to recap the books that I have read in the interim (if I can remember)!
The Star of Kazan, by Eva Ibbotson: This is a youth selection with an intriguing plot. I read it to see if my son might enjoy it; and while I think it is not up his alley, I enjoyed it very much. The writing is probably more appealing to girls, but I think many boys would like it as well (just not mine). The possibility of an illegitimate birth plays a factor in the plot, and one character's past includes living with a man without marriage. While these subjects are dealt with tastefully, they are pretty major plot points and should be taken into consideration when deciding the age suitability of the reader. I would still overall recommend for mature enough youth.
Caddie Woodlawn, by Carol Ryrie Brink: I started this as a read aloud for the boys. While I thought it was fascinating it did not hold their interest. But then again, the "Little House" books did not have enough action for my boys either, and this book falls squarely into the same category of books. For the record, I loved the "Little House on the Prairie" books when I was a kid. Of course, maybe that had something to do with being a girl or that my last name was Ingalls just like Laura and Mary. Anyway, that same affection did not pass on to my humor-and-adventure-book loving boys. BUT that said, I still think this is a great book and cannot believe that I didn't read it as a child.
Capyboppy, by Bill Peet: Another read aloud for the boys, especially the youngest one. My oldest loved it and it had been a few years since I had read it to him so I thought the time was prime to read it again and let the younger one enjoy it. They did love this one. They seem to love all books by Bill Peet, but this is our favorite and I think the only true story that he has written.
Glues, brews, and goos: recipes and formulas for almost any classroom project, by Diana F. Marks: Lots of fun science ideas.
The New Read-Aloud Handbook, by Jim Trelease: Great for read-aloud ideas. I will refer to it again if I can EVER finish the read-aloud that we are currently doing.
The Lightening Thief, by Rick Riordan (and all the rest of the series): My oldest boy just flew through this series, so I wanted to check it out. I ended up reading the whole series as well. They are very well written, especially for the junior high age. It is pretty interesting how skillfully he weaves all the stories and history of the Greek mythology into the books. I think that I remember more mythology just from reading these books than I do from studying it in school. (Although you have to give me a break - I think I was in like 7th grade when we studied it, which is AGES ago.) The books sparked an interest in the Greek mythology in boy #1 and he read through a couple of Usborne books from the library to learn more. I was concerned at first about the whole idea of reading about false gods. But I quickly realized that it was a great conversation starting point for discussion about the difference in Greek gods versus our belief in God. For instance, the Greek gods are not really any nicer or any more moral than humans, in fact they seem to have all the failings of humans to an even greater degree; whereas the God we worship is the definition of goodness and morality. We understand what is good and what is moral because of His character. There are lots of talking points such as this. Besides, most kids understand the idea of fantasy versus reality more than we give them credit for. And if my kid sees the real God as fantasy then it is probably a reflection of how I am living my life.
Confessions, by Jean-Jacques Rousseau: I'm sorry, I just couldn't make it through this book. I got almost half way and then just could not go on. My disdain for Rousseau just grew with each chapter. My impression of the part I did read was that it seems like he is confessing his faults, but then goes on to justify and/or gain sympathy for them. He was aimless, let life push him about, and refused to take any sort of responsibility for his own actions. Perhaps I should be more merciful to him, but I must admit that it is hard for me to feel mercy towards him. I have read (or tried to read) his autobiography and think him a dishonorable man, therefore I guess I ought to be choked.
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin: Rousseau and Franklin were contemporaries of each other and their autobiographies were not written too far apart in time. They also shared some similar life experiences, with both men being put out "on their own" from partially-finished apprenticeships in their teens. However how the two men act from these similar circumstances is almost polarly opposite. Ben Franklin charts a course of industry and pursues it. While reading Rousseau I began to dislike him more and more; while reading Franklin I began to respect him more and more. The Franklin of this book is neither perfect nor a saint, and he is a very different person than the historical image that I previously had in my head; but he is generally a man of integrity and honor and I enjoyed reading this book as much as I disliked reading Rousseau.
Walden, by Henry David Thoreau: Yawn. Sorry, I am feeling a bit sleepy. I tried to like it better than when I had to read it in high school. I thought maybe my more advanced age and my appreciation for simplicity and nature would cause me to like it now. But I just fall asleep when I try to read it. I even agree with the heart of his ideal: simplify...we are ruined by luxury and heedless expense... reconnect with nature. But I seem to find that the real value of this book is as a sleeping aid.
The Star of Kazan, by Eva Ibbotson: This is a youth selection with an intriguing plot. I read it to see if my son might enjoy it; and while I think it is not up his alley, I enjoyed it very much. The writing is probably more appealing to girls, but I think many boys would like it as well (just not mine). The possibility of an illegitimate birth plays a factor in the plot, and one character's past includes living with a man without marriage. While these subjects are dealt with tastefully, they are pretty major plot points and should be taken into consideration when deciding the age suitability of the reader. I would still overall recommend for mature enough youth.
Caddie Woodlawn, by Carol Ryrie Brink: I started this as a read aloud for the boys. While I thought it was fascinating it did not hold their interest. But then again, the "Little House" books did not have enough action for my boys either, and this book falls squarely into the same category of books. For the record, I loved the "Little House on the Prairie" books when I was a kid. Of course, maybe that had something to do with being a girl or that my last name was Ingalls just like Laura and Mary. Anyway, that same affection did not pass on to my humor-and-adventure-book loving boys. BUT that said, I still think this is a great book and cannot believe that I didn't read it as a child.
Capyboppy, by Bill Peet: Another read aloud for the boys, especially the youngest one. My oldest loved it and it had been a few years since I had read it to him so I thought the time was prime to read it again and let the younger one enjoy it. They did love this one. They seem to love all books by Bill Peet, but this is our favorite and I think the only true story that he has written.
Glues, brews, and goos: recipes and formulas for almost any classroom project, by Diana F. Marks: Lots of fun science ideas.
The New Read-Aloud Handbook, by Jim Trelease: Great for read-aloud ideas. I will refer to it again if I can EVER finish the read-aloud that we are currently doing.
The Lightening Thief, by Rick Riordan (and all the rest of the series): My oldest boy just flew through this series, so I wanted to check it out. I ended up reading the whole series as well. They are very well written, especially for the junior high age. It is pretty interesting how skillfully he weaves all the stories and history of the Greek mythology into the books. I think that I remember more mythology just from reading these books than I do from studying it in school. (Although you have to give me a break - I think I was in like 7th grade when we studied it, which is AGES ago.) The books sparked an interest in the Greek mythology in boy #1 and he read through a couple of Usborne books from the library to learn more. I was concerned at first about the whole idea of reading about false gods. But I quickly realized that it was a great conversation starting point for discussion about the difference in Greek gods versus our belief in God. For instance, the Greek gods are not really any nicer or any more moral than humans, in fact they seem to have all the failings of humans to an even greater degree; whereas the God we worship is the definition of goodness and morality. We understand what is good and what is moral because of His character. There are lots of talking points such as this. Besides, most kids understand the idea of fantasy versus reality more than we give them credit for. And if my kid sees the real God as fantasy then it is probably a reflection of how I am living my life.
Confessions, by Jean-Jacques Rousseau: I'm sorry, I just couldn't make it through this book. I got almost half way and then just could not go on. My disdain for Rousseau just grew with each chapter. My impression of the part I did read was that it seems like he is confessing his faults, but then goes on to justify and/or gain sympathy for them. He was aimless, let life push him about, and refused to take any sort of responsibility for his own actions. Perhaps I should be more merciful to him, but I must admit that it is hard for me to feel mercy towards him. I have read (or tried to read) his autobiography and think him a dishonorable man, therefore I guess I ought to be choked.
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin: Rousseau and Franklin were contemporaries of each other and their autobiographies were not written too far apart in time. They also shared some similar life experiences, with both men being put out "on their own" from partially-finished apprenticeships in their teens. However how the two men act from these similar circumstances is almost polarly opposite. Ben Franklin charts a course of industry and pursues it. While reading Rousseau I began to dislike him more and more; while reading Franklin I began to respect him more and more. The Franklin of this book is neither perfect nor a saint, and he is a very different person than the historical image that I previously had in my head; but he is generally a man of integrity and honor and I enjoyed reading this book as much as I disliked reading Rousseau.
Walden, by Henry David Thoreau: Yawn. Sorry, I am feeling a bit sleepy. I tried to like it better than when I had to read it in high school. I thought maybe my more advanced age and my appreciation for simplicity and nature would cause me to like it now. But I just fall asleep when I try to read it. I even agree with the heart of his ideal: simplify...we are ruined by luxury and heedless expense... reconnect with nature. But I seem to find that the real value of this book is as a sleeping aid.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Reading update
I have not been reading as much lately. I am still waiting to get my next book club book from the library. It has been on hold forever! I may miss this month. (They probably only have one copy and another book club gal has it checked out!) Anyway, here are the two most recent reads:
The Red Glove Collection, by Karen Kingsbury - Four short Christmas stories. As always, I love her stories. Easy reading after reading the older classics.
Its a God Thing, Inspiring Stories of Life-Changing Friendships, by Larry Baker with Becky Lyles - Becky is in my Bible study this year and she was the author who wrote down Larry's story. Challenging and inspiring. He definitely has a ministry that God has called him to. It reminds me that we each have our own place to which we are called. While we are all called to a ministry of friendship, it will look different for each of us. The type of ministry that Larry does could be unwise for someone younger or with a different set of strengths. So don't try and do what someone else does, but what you are called to do.
The Red Glove Collection, by Karen Kingsbury - Four short Christmas stories. As always, I love her stories. Easy reading after reading the older classics.
Its a God Thing, Inspiring Stories of Life-Changing Friendships, by Larry Baker with Becky Lyles - Becky is in my Bible study this year and she was the author who wrote down Larry's story. Challenging and inspiring. He definitely has a ministry that God has called him to. It reminds me that we each have our own place to which we are called. While we are all called to a ministry of friendship, it will look different for each of us. The type of ministry that Larry does could be unwise for someone younger or with a different set of strengths. So don't try and do what someone else does, but what you are called to do.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Recent reads:
To Kill a Mockingbird - I read for book club and we had a very good discussion. I can't believe that I have never read this book before! Very good. Sad, but highly recommend.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
More books for my library list
Here is what I am reading right now from the library:
1) All New Square Foot Gardening - by Mel Bartholomew - This is the updated version and is WAY better than the first version. Lots of colored pictures. Simplified information.
2) Lasagna Gardening for Small Spaces - by Patricia Lanza - I actually meant to get her regular lasanga gardinging book, but this one still has all the useful information. I will be trying a modified form of this in a few beds this year.
3) How to Build Your Own Greenhouse - by Roger Marshall - Brad has found this very helpful and informative. Good for helping you decide how you really want to use a greenhouse and what type you need. I am sure that I will be checking it out again in the future.
4) Chickens in Your Backyard, A Beginner's Guide - by Rick & Gail Luttmann - Good information, the most concise I have seen so far. It answered a lot of questions for us.
1) All New Square Foot Gardening - by Mel Bartholomew - This is the updated version and is WAY better than the first version. Lots of colored pictures. Simplified information.
2) Lasagna Gardening for Small Spaces - by Patricia Lanza - I actually meant to get her regular lasanga gardinging book, but this one still has all the useful information. I will be trying a modified form of this in a few beds this year.
3) How to Build Your Own Greenhouse - by Roger Marshall - Brad has found this very helpful and informative. Good for helping you decide how you really want to use a greenhouse and what type you need. I am sure that I will be checking it out again in the future.
4) Chickens in Your Backyard, A Beginner's Guide - by Rick & Gail Luttmann - Good information, the most concise I have seen so far. It answered a lot of questions for us.
Book update - The Orchid Thief
I am finally back after losing internet access for a week - which was probably really good for my productivity but made me feel sort of out-of-the-loop about life around me. Perhaps to permanently disconnect would be good for my sanity, but I just don't think that I can go back to life offline without some sort of serious calamity to force me into such an existance. (I know I CAN exist without internet, but I really don't WANT to give up online bill paying, ability to look up recipes, and daily blogs, and e-mails, and googling any subject that crosses my mind....)
Anyway, I promised an update on The Orchid Thief and here it is:
First off I must say that this is just such a strange little book. It is a non-fiction in the gardening section at the library with the feel of a novel. It is a story, but a true one. The author slowly meanders thru the story and weaves in tons of information about Florida, botany, architecture, orchids, etc. Unfortunately she meanders a little too slowly for my taste and caused me to lose the drive of the plotline by mid-book. I am afraid that this book will be a halfer for me.
I am ashamed to say that I have read a lot of "halfer" books. These are books that I get half-way thru and then never finish for some reason. Many times it is just that the book loses its compelling plot by midway, or rather, that by midway thru the book I have lost my initial curiosity about the book and the book has failed to establish a compelling enough plot for me to finish it. For me the plot of a book is like the engine on a train and all the other stuff is the cars. A strong enough engine (plot) with little else to pull will go fast and furuious to the end. A strong engine with lots of "cars" in the form of meanderings and information will slow the book down a little but still pull steadily and strongly to the conclusion. But a weak engine with too much to pull will just get bogged down. Usually I bail on the ride before reaching the end. This is what happened for me with this book. I will return it to the library half-read.
Anyway, I promised an update on The Orchid Thief and here it is:
First off I must say that this is just such a strange little book. It is a non-fiction in the gardening section at the library with the feel of a novel. It is a story, but a true one. The author slowly meanders thru the story and weaves in tons of information about Florida, botany, architecture, orchids, etc. Unfortunately she meanders a little too slowly for my taste and caused me to lose the drive of the plotline by mid-book. I am afraid that this book will be a halfer for me.
I am ashamed to say that I have read a lot of "halfer" books. These are books that I get half-way thru and then never finish for some reason. Many times it is just that the book loses its compelling plot by midway, or rather, that by midway thru the book I have lost my initial curiosity about the book and the book has failed to establish a compelling enough plot for me to finish it. For me the plot of a book is like the engine on a train and all the other stuff is the cars. A strong enough engine (plot) with little else to pull will go fast and furuious to the end. A strong engine with lots of "cars" in the form of meanderings and information will slow the book down a little but still pull steadily and strongly to the conclusion. But a weak engine with too much to pull will just get bogged down. Usually I bail on the ride before reaching the end. This is what happened for me with this book. I will return it to the library half-read.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Recent reads
My two most recent reads that I have completed. Both books were for my reading group, which I was very faithful to for a couple of years, then I took time off when we got into the depressing novels of the 20th century. I prolonged my time off when I decided to take some college classes last year because, frankly, I could hardly get my Bible study and my required Anatomy and Physiology reading done, much less any other book. But finally I am trying to get back into it. The last three books for the reading group have been read by me, but unfortunatley I have been unable to actually make it to the meetings for a variety of reasons. Anyway, here they are. I hope to eventually post my past reads here too.
Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson by Mrs. Mary Rowlandson - very short but thought provoking. Definitely does not fit the "politically correct" view of American Indians and early settlers. Somehow I think the truth probably lies somewhere between the view that she portrays and the revisionist history view prevalent today. Since we are all part of the human race, including our desperately wicked hearts, I am sure that there is plenty of blame on both sides of the equation.
How Then Should We Live by Francis Schaffer - Loved, loved, LOVED this book! Not an easy read but SO insightful! I think I am going to have to buy it to have in my library. I bit scary though when you see the direction that we are logically headed.
Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson by Mrs. Mary Rowlandson - very short but thought provoking. Definitely does not fit the "politically correct" view of American Indians and early settlers. Somehow I think the truth probably lies somewhere between the view that she portrays and the revisionist history view prevalent today. Since we are all part of the human race, including our desperately wicked hearts, I am sure that there is plenty of blame on both sides of the equation.
How Then Should We Live by Francis Schaffer - Loved, loved, LOVED this book! Not an easy read but SO insightful! I think I am going to have to buy it to have in my library. I bit scary though when you see the direction that we are logically headed.
Gardening and cabinets and straw houses, oh my!
Here are the books I brought home from the library last night (plus a whole stack of kids books, which I will not detail):
1) Container Gardening by Anthony Atha - I'm not sure if anything new here, but many very pretty pictures for inspiration. Also contains a plant directory in the back with info regarding how they do in containers.
2) The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean - I have not started yet but this book has intrigued me for a while now. Will update after I have read it.
3) Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew - I wish the pictures were in color. But otherwise a lot of useful info. Brad got some good ideas looking at it.
4) Cabinets and Built-Ins by Paul Levine - I love this book! Who knew I could stay up until midnight reading a woodworking book! It has some really great tips and makes it seem like even I could build myself some kitchen cabinets (except for my fear of the table saw, which is another issue...) I am thinking that eventually I could use this book to design some upper cabinets for my kitchen that go all the way up to my vaulted ceiling and finally lose that dust collector that is called a plant shelf.
5) The Straw Bale House - Love this book too but once again wish more pictures were in color. It really makes want to start designing a house with straw bale construction, solar panels, root cellar, etc. Someday, sigh!
1) Container Gardening by Anthony Atha - I'm not sure if anything new here, but many very pretty pictures for inspiration. Also contains a plant directory in the back with info regarding how they do in containers.
2) The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean - I have not started yet but this book has intrigued me for a while now. Will update after I have read it.
3) Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew - I wish the pictures were in color. But otherwise a lot of useful info. Brad got some good ideas looking at it.
4) Cabinets and Built-Ins by Paul Levine - I love this book! Who knew I could stay up until midnight reading a woodworking book! It has some really great tips and makes it seem like even I could build myself some kitchen cabinets (except for my fear of the table saw, which is another issue...) I am thinking that eventually I could use this book to design some upper cabinets for my kitchen that go all the way up to my vaulted ceiling and finally lose that dust collector that is called a plant shelf.
5) The Straw Bale House - Love this book too but once again wish more pictures were in color. It really makes want to start designing a house with straw bale construction, solar panels, root cellar, etc. Someday, sigh!
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