Fiction:
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
I'm continuing on my journey of reading Jane Austen's work. This was a new to me read and I'm very glad I looked up some extra resources. They really provided the background information I needed to fully appreciate the author's satire and voice. In this novel, we follow innocent Catherine Moreland as she emerges the protective covering of childhood and into the wider world of friendship and acquaintances. In this world, she meets "friends" who are not always as they appear. She must navigate social expectations and her own overactive imagination in an attempt to find worthy and fulfilling relationships. Definitely an underestimated work of Austen's especially considering how young she was when she wrote this one.
A Mrs. Miracle Christmas by Debbie Macomber
I needed a light fun read so I decided to skip to Christmas in my audiobook selections. This delightful tale from Debbie Macomber follows a young couple and their grandmother as they navigate an infertility diagnosis and the grandmother's dementia. As Ms. Miracle arrives to help take care of the grandmother, strange things start happening... and the magic of Christmas ensues. It's a predictable storyline, nothing too dramatic. But the perfect comfort read for the holiday season.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
This was my 2nd audiobook selection and just the right length. If you're looking to get into Dickens' writing, I would highly recommend starting with this one. The storyline is well known enough that even if the language trips you up, you can still follow along.
Daddy Long-Legs by Jean Webster
This book of letters tells the story of Judy Abbott, a young woman who has spent her life in an orphanage. Through the generosity of an anonymous benefactor, she is able to attend college and pursue an independent future. His only request is that she write letters to him and share her experience. Through her letters we get a glimpse into her spunky personality, as she emerges into adulthood. I don't typically read books of letters, but this one was sweet, endearing, and had a fun ending. It's a quick read, and clean enough for preteens and older.
A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg
This was the Christmas book I didn't know I needed. When Oswald T. Campbell faces a grim diagnosis from the dr, he makes a call into Lost River, Alabama to escape the damp air of Chicago. Once in Lost River, he gets wrapped up in a whole bunch of wild characters, including a quirky redbird and a little girl who needs a family. As the town rallies together for this little girl, Oswald discovers has might be finding a family as well. Whitty, heartwarming, ... funny in all the best ways... This is the Christmas book that will keep you laughing from cover to cover.
Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock
As a first year law associate, Sydney can't afford to lose her current case. The firm is downsizing and she has to prove her loyalty. So when her grandmother becomes sick, Sydney calls a cab to take her to her doctor's appointment. Unfortunately for Finn Parrish, he is that cabbie. After that first trip, Miss Callie adopts him as "that sweet boy," calling him for every errand, from Christmas shopping to purchasing a Christmas tree to setting up a date for Sydney. Miss Callie is the star of this book. She brings together all these people that she loves and love her in return. But as far as a happy Christmas book, this one was pretty sad. I kept waiting for the story to lighten up and it just didn't. The message was good and appropriate for the holidays, but it was just a little sad for me.
Non-Fiction:
The Promised Christ by Sherri Hughes-Gregg
See my full review here.
Cherish by Gary Thomas
To Love, Honor, and Cherish... we all say those words when we get married. The love and the honor are pretty self-explanatory, but what does cherish look like in a marriage? What is we really cherished our spouse? Sacrificing, prioritizing, praying with intention... learning to put their needs ahead of our own.... cherishing means helping them shine in their strengths. Very good and very well worth reading for any marriage that wants to stay strong and healthy.
Our Homeschool Read Aloud:
A Kidnapped Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
This cute little story tells the tale of how Santa was kidnapped by the daemons so that he missed Christmas Eve and his delivery route. It's a classic tale of good vs evil and how Santa's community rallies to make sure the children get their presents. It's a fairly mild story with no major action, but just the right taste for a younger audience. L.Frank Baum uses his beautiful gift of storytelling to bring this one to life. I would absolutely recommend this one for PreK-3rd grade.
The Hour that Changes the World by Dick Eastman
Eastman challenges his readers to commit to a hour of prayer each day, broken down into 12 5-min increments. We read this book as part of our morning time, slowly working through the 12 steps and taking notes about how to use each one. It's a challenging book to read. I found myself getting lost in the details at times. But it's also very useful if you're wanting to take your prayer time up a notch. For our homeschool high school, we're going to be implementing this system in a shorter time periods as a way of refreshing our prayers.
What are you reading?
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