3 hours ago
Showing posts with label Musings of a Bookworm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Musings of a Bookworm. Show all posts
Remember when I said I was going to share books in smaller, more frequent posts this year? Well, 2025 has had different plans, so this is a round-up of everything I've read so far this year, in the order I read them (and I'm in the middle of about ten more books, so stay tuned).
A Woman Underground by Andrew Klavan
I've read the other books in this series, and the thing that makes me keep coming back is the main character, Cameron Winters, a college professor who used to be an assassin for a government agency, and is tortured by the things he has done and by his sad childhood - which he always ends up discussing with his therapist. In this one he must track down his childhood love, who has gone missing and whom he suspects may be in trouble.
Content Notes: Aside from bad language, the main beef I have with this series is that in a few of the books there is pretty graphic violence and brief, sometimes crude descriptions of "adult" situations (ahem). Not every book in the series includes these things, but some have been too explicit for me, and this book was one. Because this series toes that line, I don't necessarily want to recommend it. I only keep picking up the books because I'm invested in the overarching story now, and I skim those pages so I can find out what happens to the main character. I just want him to find happiness, darn it! If this book were a movie I would say it's probably closer to an R rating, and I'm not sure if I'll keep picking them up since the level of the content is iffy for me. I like my books to stay PG-13 or below. (Also, why aren't books rated like movies are? Who do we need to talk to to make this happen?)
The Heir And The Spare by Kate Stradling
No, this isn't about Prince Harry.
In this fantasy book, Iona is tormented by her evil older sister, Lisenn, who is in line for the Wessett throne. A delegation from nearby Cambria arrives to make a deal for Lisenn's hand in marriage - but Iona is surprised to see that their prince is one of the classmates who tormented her when she was sent away to school. The author explained the political tensions between the different countries in a a really interesting way in this book that didn't feel contrived at all. Those tensions are interwoven with Iona's personal feelings for the prince as they develop from contempt to romance. I really enjoyed it, and this book was also clean!
Content Notes: The only content note I have is {spoiler}, the sister and another important family member end up being quite evil, and there is some death in the end.
The Road To Roswell by Connie Willis
Francie is traveling to Roswell to talk her best friend out of marrying a UFO nut, when she ends up being kidnapped by an alien! What follows is a wacky road trip with a collection of characters picked up by the extraterrestrial, and it all wraps up in a very satisfying way. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire journey of this book - every character was so quirky and colorful, and the story was creative! This book reminded me of some of the stories my sister and I used to write with our high school friends, but in a grown-up, full-novel way. I loved it.
Content Notes: Some descriptions of skimpy shorts that Francie is forced to wear, mentions of some of the things that aliens do to people in stereotypical alien abduction stories, and some bad language, including Jesus's name in vain.
Crosstalk by Connie Willis
After really enjoying the above book by Willis, I picked up Crosstalk. This book is a mix between a rom-com and science fiction - Briddey and her fiancé are going to go through a revolutionary procedure that will allow them to sense each other's feelings but something goes wrong and instead Briddey discovers that a random co-worker can now read her thoughts! The rest of the book is about sorting out this mess. I thought this was a really creative plot, and the ending was very satisfying!
Content Notes: I'd rate this book PG-13 if it were a movie - bad language, and some sexual content (no scenes but talk about it).
Really Very Crunchy by Emily Morrow
I read this book purely to fulfill a prompt on the reading challenge I am working through this year, which was "a book about health or nutrition". I also follow Emily Morrow on Instagram, so this seemed like an easy introduction to a genre I rarely read. Morrow tells you how to start dipping your toes into being a "crunchy" mom, but with no judgement or guilt and many humorous stories. I wouldn't consider myself crunchy, because I refuse to let myself get stressed out by toxins or pesticides or whatever, but I end up doing alot of crunchy things on accident (homeschooling, canning, sourdough, gardening, trying to buy more clothing with natural fibers). This book gave gentle advice and interesting suggestions and was entertaining, so I give it 4.5 stars.
My Dear Hemlock by Tilly Delahay
This book is inspired by The Screwtape Letters, only in this fresh version, a demon learns how to tempt a female subject. Delahay has so many insights into the female mind, and I found myself convicted at so many points while reading this book - and also amused and encouraged as the woman grows old and ultimately overcomes. If you haven't read The Screwtape Letters, you won't know what to expect, but once you get your bearings this book is fantastic for any Christian reader. Highly recommend.
Fellowship With God by Martin Lloyd-Jones
This book was my devotional book this spring, and is based around sermons that Lloyd-Jones preached on 1 John 1. I picked it up because I was doing a study on 1 John at church, and this book provided some additional insight. Lloyd-Jones was a fantastic preacher in his time, and his sermons are so relevant today as well. These thin volumes are not a bad place to start with his writings.
Rembrandt Is In The Wind by Russ Ramsey
I do not know much about art, but I saw this book all over social media last year and I was intrigued. Each chapter talks about a different artist by exploring one of his most famous works, and woven throughout each introduction are deeper themes of faith. Not all these artists are necessarily believers, but Ramsey manages to turn your mind to things above through art appreciation. It was a beautiful book, and probably something I'll have my kids read in future years.
Content Notes: Some mentions of sexual failings of various artists.
A-typical Woman by Abigail Dodds
I won't go into a full review here since I posted my review a couple weeks ago, but this book was another lovely devotional read. One thing I didn't mention in my official review was how thoughtful the chapter on single women was, and it made me think about how so many single women have wonderful wisdom to share with everyone, married women included. I quite enjoyed it, and will probably re-read parts of this book in years to come.
The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes by Suzanne Collins
I wasn't a huge fan of The Hunger Games books when I first read them over 10 years ago, but for some reason I became invested in the books/movies again recently and picked up this back-story of President Snow.
I'm not going to lie, this one was dark. I noticed a lot of people online hate it or didn't even finish it. It's not a happy book, but I found it so well-written, and the plot was well-done. This book isn't meant to have a happy ending, but the way Snow's selfishness was woven throughout was masterful. You kept wishing he would recognize the error of his ways, while knowing he wouldn't. You were never rooting for him, which I think was why I didn't mind this book. I don't like when villain backstories attempt to gain sympathy for the villain, but this book didn't do that. We see Snow slide into being a villain through this book, and it all starts with an over-concern with what other people think, pride, and looking out for his own interests over everyone else, even the girl he fools himself into thinking he loves. For me, this book provides a vivid picture of the deceitfulness of sin. Not sunshine-y, but impactful in its own way.
Content Notes: Some pretty gruesome violence.
The Mother Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick
This book follows four 6th graders as their mothers force them to participate in a book club reading Little Women. I picked up this book to see if my 12 year old might like it, since the characters in the book are about the same age. I think there is too much drama surrounding boy characters for me to want to hand it to my daughter right now. That said, I quite enjoyed it, and it reminded me of what it's like to be a middle school girl - in good and bad ways. Middle school is the worst.
Content Notes: Nothing serious, but a large focus on boys, lots of drama, and one very tomboyish character with some feminist plot lines.
Vera Wong’s Guide To Snooping (On A Dead Man) by Jesse Sutanto
In this book Vera Wong returns as she stumbles upon another apparent suicide that she suspects is murder - and she eventually gets the truth with her relentless spirit, and lots of mouthwatering food. Vera Wong is a very colorful character, one you can't easily forget and can't help but enjoy.
Content Notes: Bad language, including the f-word, and the author is clearly a liberal socially. Not too in-your-face, just annoying mentions of different issues.
The Mysteries Of Life In Children’s Literature by Mitchell Kalpakgian
Andrew Pudewa recommends this on his reading list for educators, so I finally picked it up. Each chapter addresses a different theme that is explored in children's literature, with a heavy focus on fairytales. We learn how classic children's literature teaches about the mysteries of love, children, home, friendship, etc. This is a great introduction to some of the symbolism in certain stories that may otherwise seem too weird or go over one's head - but I could see as I read each chapter how children would still get the message, even though these "lessons" are never outright explained. And teaching through a story can be more effective than just making statements, can't it? Sometimes the writing got a little repetitive or felt like an academic essay, but the points were sound.
Beyond Mere Motherhood by Cindy Rollins
I try to read a homeschool book every year, and though I know Mere Motherhood is supposed to come first, I was glad I read this one. This book is like a conversation with an older homeschool mom about varying aspects of being a mother - being a thinking mother, a healthy mother, a reading mother, and many others. A lot of gentle encouragement in this book, and a lot of leads for other books I may want to read. I didn't agree with Rollins about everything, but the overall feeling I got from this book was of a kindly older woman, trying to share her experience even though she didn't do it all right. Very down-to-earth.
The Sin Of Empathy: Compassion And It’s Counterfeits by Joe Rigney
I listened to this book in one day while I cleaned my house and planted trees in my yard. Rigney talks about the sort of empathy that becomes dysfunctional, and how it can affect relationships and especially the environment in churches. I recognized so much of what he was talking about from my own experiences. I will probably listen to this book again, or read it more slowly, because there were so many good insights. I would say this book was more about diagnosing the problem than providing step-by-step solutions, but I thought his call in the last chapter to imitate Christ was impactful. As I said, I think I need to read it again to absorb it more fully.
Chernobyl's Wild Kingdom by Rebecca L. Johnson
I am reading another book related to nuclear disaster, so I decided on a whim to pick up this short book for kids - and oh my, I learned so much. This book gives a brief summary of nuclear power and the Chernobyl disaster, and then focuses on what has happened in the Exclusion Zone since then. The Exclusion Zone is an area that is restricted around Chernobyl because it still has high levels of radiation. Scientists expected that this zone would become a lifeless wasteland, but instead plants and animals have appeared to thrive there - like a radioactive nature preserve. The author talks about different theories about how the animals are being affected by the radiation, or why some of them appear not to be affected as much or at all. It was a short read, I read it in under an hour, but it was so fascinating! If you are interested at all in Chernobyl you should pick this one up.
That’s all for now!
Have you read any of these? What has been the most interesting thing you've learned through reading this year?
For the past ten(ish) Januarys I have take some time to set a reading goal for the year. Many times my goal was a number of books read - most often 52, because 1 book a week seems like a nice round number.
But recently my goals are focused less on the number of books read and more on the quality of books I’m reading. I usually hit 52 books for the year, but I haven’t always been satisfied with the books that make up that number. My goals this year are focused on finding a balance of reading quality books that will stick with me and keeping my reading momentum going, while simultaneously not neglecting to share what I’m learning from my reading.
Sharing goals provides some accountability for me, and personally, I find enjoyment and inspiration in reading about others’ reading goals, and thought you might like to read about mine! So here we go.
2025 Reading Goals
One stiff book, one moderate book, one novel going at a time.
This is an idea I came across in some Charlotte Mason forum once upon a time, and it has stuck with me as something I need to implement. While I want to read books that are challenging and worthwhile, when I have too many challenging books going at once, it is very easy for me to lose my reading momentum. When my brain is tired at night, I need something easy. Having a balance of these three categories of books will help keep my reading high quality without losing steam.
Take more notes and applications to remember what I’ve learned from the books I read.
Especially for the “stiff” and moderately challenging books, I want to make sure the time spent reading them isn’t wasted - I want to remember and apply what I’m reading. I want to develop a habit of note-taking this year to ensure that these worthwhile books stick. I anticipate it will take some time to develop a system, so this will be a year of trial and error.
To read books I own.
I don’t own a ridiculous amount of unread books, but enough that it’s slightly embarrassing when someone peruses my shelves. I have four shelves on the bottom of my bookcases that hold all the unread books that I can’t let go of, because I would really like to read them someday - this is the year I want to make that happen! So for the reading challenges I’m going to discuss below, I’d like to fill out my categories with books I already own whenever possible.
To write a review post for every 3 books read.
This is a change in how I share books I’m reading on Substack and other places on the internet. Instead of monthly or quarterly book posts, I’d like to share a reading review post for every three books I read. To me, three is the minimum number of books to round out book posts, and having less books to talk about will give me more space to explore ideas or give a more thorough review. It also hopefully means more frequent posts on here!
(Note: Affiliate links below, to support my book habit, obviously, thank you.)
Challenges I’m Participating In
5x5 Challenge
A few years ago I came across the Schole Sisters 5x5 reading challenge - the idea is to choose five categories, and read five books within each category. You can read more about it here. Here are the categories I’m thinking about, and the books I’m considering in each category. If you have suggestions to fill these in, please let me know!
{Writing}
I have been writing online for over 15 years now, and I’ve gone through several periods where I feel my writing became a bit - sloppy. I think there is alot of room for writing improvement (there always is, isn’t there?), and so this category is about challenging myself to improve my skills. But the category is not just about writing as a craft, but about writing as a blessing to others in my real life, and to that end, I am also wanting to read books about handwriting itself, or writing letters, or any other topic that could fall under the umbrella of writing.
TBD
TBD
Other possibilities: Story Genius, The Glamour Of Grammar, How To Write Short, Improve Your Handwriting, The Art Of The Handwritten Note, The Missing Ink
{Homemaking}
My foremost job is that of a homemaker - creating a restful and loving home environment for my husband and kids is especially important to us as a homeschool and work-at-home family, since we spend so much time here. I want to gain insights on the importance of home, and also gain some practical tips and encouragement for keeping things running smoothly around here.
Mrs. Dunwoody’s Excellent Instructions For Homekeeping by Miriam Lukken
The Lifegiving Home by Sally Clarkson (I’ve tried to read through this book about four times now - perhaps this is the year I succeed, and if I don’t it’s probably time to give up on it.)
TBD
TBD
Other possibilities: Little Foxes, The Simple Home, Sink Reflections, Simplified Organization, How To Sew A Button And Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew, Home Comforts
{Historical}
History is a big interest for me, and I want to read more historical non-fiction this year, since the bulk of my unread shelves are historical non-fiction. However, I am not making this category strictly non-fiction. Anything historical will do.
Land Of Hope: An Invitation To The Great American Story by Wilfred M. McClay
John G. Paton, Missionary To The New Hebrides: An Autobiography
TBD
TBD
Other Possibilities: The Guns Of August, Jane Austen’s England, Democracy In America, Autobiography Of Theodore Roosevelt, 32 Christians Who Changed Their World
{Books About Books}
This is a flex category that may change over the course of the year. I am a bibliophile, so any books about the activity of reading, or about literature of any kind, will fit in this category.
How To Read A Book: Advice For Christian Readers by Andrew David Naselli
The Mysteries Of Life In Children’s Literature by Dr. Mitchell Kalpakgian
Writers To Read: nine Names That Belong On Your Bookshelf by Douglas Wilson
Heroes Of The City Of Man: A Christian Guide To Select Ancient Literature by Peter Leithart
Other Possibilities: Lit!, The Christian Imagination, Book Girl, The Read-Aloud Family, A Landscape Of Dragons
{Art & Music}
This is a category that could encompass books about works of art, artist biographies, or art tutorial books - I’m leaving it broad intentionally.
Frederic Remington: Artist Of The Western Frontier by John Stewart
The Gift Of Music: Great Composers And Their Influence by Jane Stuart Smith
TBD
Other Possibilities: Van Gogh Has A Broken Heart, Terri Harrison’s Watercolor Secrets, Everyday Watercolor, Modern Drawing
The G3 Reading Challenge
I almost didn’t want to tackle this challenge this year, because there are a couple categories that are going to be really stretching for me (marked by an asterisk below) - but then, that’s rather the point of a reading challenge isn’t it? So these are the categories and my tentative picks for each one so far.
{A Book About Faith}
{A Biography}
John G. Paton, Missionary To The New Hebrides: An Autobiography
{A Book About The Middle Ages}
The Year 1000: What Life Was Like At The Turn Of The First Millennium by Robert Lacey
{An Epic Poem}*
The Iliad by Homer (Fitzgerald translation)
{A Book By Charles Or Susannah Spurgeon}
Probably A Book Of Spurgeon’s Sermons
{A Book About Health Or Nutrition}*
Really Very Crunchy: A Beginner’s Guide tO Remove Toxins From Your Life Without Adding Them To Your Personality by Emily Marrow (This is a really lightweight health book, so a little bit of a cheat, but that’s okay.)
{A Shakespeare Play}
Julius Ceasar (We will be reading this in our homeschool this Spring.)
{A Book About Quiet}
{A Novel}
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (I will 100% be reading many novels this year, but I’d like to challenge myself to read this one.)
{A Book From The Living Heritage High School Curriculum}
On Writing Well by William Zinsser
{A Book You Own But Haven’t Read}
(Any of the above will fit here.)
If I can stick to these reading plans, I think the quality of my reading will go up, and I am hoping to have alot more book posts to share here this year! If you’d like to follow along, I hope you’ll subscribe, and please leave me a comment about one of your reading goals this year. The comments and likes and subscribes make my day, truly!
What reading goal(s) have you set this year?
This whole week has been a difficult one for me - nothing big, just a lot of little struggles and failures that have thrown off my whole mood.
As I was sitting in my room this afternoon, trying to decide whether to write anything today, or what I could write, or whether to scrap this whole project, I was reminded of a book I read once that encouraged me to see the small things in life that truly matter. And when I started to think about that book, and a few others, I was also convicted again of my rotten attitude that has been adding to my troubles this week.
The attitude of the heart - such a small thing, it seems, but it really is everything. I can do the "right" things, the things I am supposed to do as a wife and mom for my family, but if my attitude is terrible that will sour everything. And is my service to my family really of value in God's sight if I do it with a grumbling heart? I can say with confidence that's a hard no.
Anyway, as I work on an attitude adjustment, I think the first book I need to go to to refocus is God's Word - verses and principles I've learned from my Bible is what the Holy Spirit was using to convict me this afternoon.
Maybe I need to read the story of the Israelites grumbling in the wilderness again, or just remember that in everything I am supposed to give thanks - especially in those moments when I am tempted to grumble instead of recognizing the blessing it is to have a family to take care of, a house to clean, children to teach. And I know I need to remember to turn to Jesus with my struggles and sinful heart attitudes, because He is the one who saved me and can help me overcome those sins now.
As I am working on an attitude adjustment today though, I thought I'd also share a few of those other books that I remembered, the ones that have made me appreciate the value of small things - especially the small thing of choosing to serve my family with love and joy and gratitude, with my eyes fixed on the glory of God. Have you read any of these?
936 Pennies: Discovering The Joy Of Intentional Parenting by Erin Lynum – This book is all about how the author filled a jar with 936 pennies to remind her how quickly the weeks with her children were going by. This book was a good reminder to make the most of every little moment that you have with your kids.
Loving The Little Years by Rachel Jancovic – I read this book when my kids were babies, and it was very impactful on me at the time. It has been years since I read it, but I know it made me appreciate those small years so much more. I think it’s time for re-read!
Roots And Sky by Christie Purifoy – This book made me appreciate little things in my life because the writing in it was just so beautiful! That’s the main thing I remember about this book. I don’t remember the points the author made so much, and it’s been a few years since I read it so I don’t know if I would still think the same way about it. But I still recall the gratitude I felt when I first read her beautiful words.
You Who? by Rachel Jancovic - This book was a case of reading the right book at the right time for me. At a time when I felt very discouraged, this book made me think about my work in the home in a new way, and the value of serving others, even when it’s not something the world tells you is important.
Beyond Bathtime by Erin Davis - I read this book when I had just one very little baby, but I still remember how this book elevates motherhood. I need to re-read this one too, because I'm sure it would still have encouragement on the importance of the work of raising kids.
Teaching From Rest by Sarah McKenzie - This is actually a homeschool book, but I am 90% sure this is where I first read the cathedral illustration that I mention in this post I wrote about when wiping faces doesn't feel satisfying (maybe I need to re-read my own words here). McKenzie has a way of making you realize how the things that seem small can make a big impact.
Glory In The Ordinary by Courtney Reissig - I read this book in the year or two after I quit working as a hygienist, and I love how Reissig emphasizes the ways in which work of all kinds is glorifying to the Lord! This is on my re-read list too.
If you have any good book recommendations along the same vein, send them my way!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
