Category: The Sesquipedalian Speaks

Below are some of the books I’ve been reading this month; note that the following may contain spoilers:

Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child’s Heart to the Beauty of Learning, by Sally Clarkson – This book, written by one of the authors of The Life Giving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming, is full of anecdotes, stories, and encouragement. The focus is on reviewing the practices the Clarkson family had as a family that helped create an environment where their children could be imaginative, playful, and thoughtful. It offers ideas to implement in daily life to help children grow holistically and is a very enjoyable read.

Calm My Anxious Heart, by Linda Dillow – A gentle read, this book with twelve-week study questions included is full of anecdotes, Scripture, and quotes from people within Church history. The reader is encouraged to memorise Scripture passages and change their focus from their circumstances to God, His Sovereignty and Word.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, by J. K. Rowling – The fifth novel of the Harry Potter series offers much insight into the characters and plot that has been building through the previous books and makes the reader excited for more. Introducing new characters like Dolores Umbridge, Nymphadora Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Kreacher, the reader is thrust into a world of politics, rebellion, betrayal, and death. This is a great read aloud.

Below are some of the books I’ve been reading this month; note that the following may contain spoilers:

North! Or Be Eaten, by Andrew Peterson – The second book in The Wingfeather Saga is much darker than the first (quite a few bits could be rather scary), and there is less humour, but the characters still remain the same and the tension from the first book carries into the second. In my recommendation of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, I mentioned that there was the death of a beloved character, but it turns out, happily, that this character is still alive; however, another beloved character, through an act of selfless bravery, is killed and mourned. This is a great read aloud, but I would recommend reading it alone first, just to make sure the scary bits aren’t too scary for your audience.

The Joyful Christian: 127 Readings from C. S. Lewis, by C. S. Lewis – I’ve enjoyed reading through this anthology of Lewis’s writings. Most of the excerpts are short, so it’s easy to get a taste of what his writing style is if you’ve never read him before. Of his non-fiction works, I’ve only read Mere Christianity (review here) and The Screwtape Letters (review here), so this book does a great job whetting my appetite for more of his works!

The Monster in the Hollows, by Andrew Peterson – The third book in The Wingfeather Saga follows the Wingfeather family as they seek refuge among Nia’s people in the Green Hollows. Every few chapters the reader is taken back to the Fork Factory to learn about what is happening with Sara Cobbler and the children there. There are instances of bullying and a few scary bits, and there were a number of parts where tears were shed. This is a great read aloud, but I would recommend reading it alone first, just to make sure the scary bits aren’t too scary for your audience.

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen – I can see why this is one of the most beloved books of all time. There is so much going on and yet the story moves along easily. I very much enjoyed getting to know the Bennets, the Darcys, and the Bingleys. If you’re interested, you can read our conversations over this book here.

Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia, by C. S. Lewis – The fourth in chronological order but the second in publication order of The Chronicles of Narnia, this tale (usually referred to simply as Prince Caspian) follows the rise of Caspian the Tenth of Narnia as he reclaims his throne. We are reunited with Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, and meet many new friends such as Trumpkin the dwarf, Trufflehunter the badger, and the well-beloved Reepicheep the mouse. Perhaps a little dark at times, I find that this tale reads more like a mystery-adventure than perhaps some of the others. This is a great read aloud.

The Warden and the Wolf King, by Andrew Peterson – You know a book series is a great one when the housework piles up and you simply cannot be bothered to do anything about it because you must find out what happens to those characters to whom you’ve become attached! The fourth book in The Wingfeather Saga finds the Wingfeathers united with the peoples of the Green Hollows and those in Kimera united with the people in Skree against Gnag the Nameless and his Fangs. This book holds a bittersweet place in my heart. The themes of sacrifice and love are woven throughout the series and culminate in the final pages of this book. Bravery, duty, honour, and loyalty resonate strongly. There is death and heartbreak, new friends are made and old friends reunited, and some parts that could be scary, but over all the story is inspiring and very much worth the read (the tears shed only add to its lasting impact). This series will definitely be one that I’ll read again. This is a great read aloud, but I would recommend reading it alone first, just to make sure the scary bits aren’t too scary for your audience.

Below are some of the books I’ve been reading this month; note that the following may contain spoilers:

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, by Andrew Peterson – The first in The Wingfeather Saga, this story introduces us to the land of Skree, an ancient supposedly fantastical kingdom called Anniera, and a dark being named Gnag the Nameless. We follow siblings Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby, and their mother and grandfather, as adventures suddenly find them in their small town of Glipwood. The writing is a little silly at times, but the world building is a lot of fun and, although there are some parts that could be scary (including the death of a beloved friend), it is a good introductory book to the series. It is a great read aloud.

Who Sang the First Song?, by Ellie Holcomb – This picture book is wonderful. The illustrations are imaginative and soft, full of life. The story answers its own question, reminding the reader that God the Creator sang the first song ever written. It is a great read aloud.

Today officially marks the first day of Summer! I had placed quite a few books on my Upcoming Reads – Spring 2021 list, but during that time life unexpectedly began to fill up again, and I discovered some other books that I decided must be read, so I was only able to get through a quarter of my previous list:

• By the Shores of Silver Lake, by Laura Ingalls Wilder (review here)
• The Life Giving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming, by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Clarkson (review here)

Some of the books I hope to read (or finish reading) this quarter are:

• Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child’s Heart to the Beauty of Learning, by Sally Clarkson
• Calm My Anxious Heart, by Linda Dillow
• In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart: Hope for the Hurting, by Ruth Graham, with Stacy Mattingly
• Lies Women Believe: And the Truth that Sets Them Free, by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
• The First Four Years, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• These Happy Golden Years, by Laura Ingalls Wilder

I’m going to set aside and return later to:

• Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
• The Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can’t Get Their Act Together, by Jared C. Wilson
• Perelandra, by C. S. Lewis
• Sensing God: Experiencing the Divine in Nature, Food, Music, and Beauty, by Joel Clarkson

Below are some of the books I’ve been reading this month; note that the following may contain spoilers:

The Life Giving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming, by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Clarkson – Two of my favourite authors, this mother and daughter, respectively, teamed up to give to the world a wonderful resource packed with anecdotes and encouragement for the homemaker. No matter where you are in life, single, married, divorced, widowed, you have the ability to make your home a safe haven for those who step into its doors. The first part consists of four chapters that give a bit of background on the authors (be sure to read the introductory chapters, too!), and the second part consists of twelve chapters, one for each month of the year. There is a companion workbook, The Life Giving Home Experience: A 12-Month Guided Journey, that Sally Clarkson wrote with son, Joel Clarkson, and more information at the website dedicated to this book.

Little Town on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder – The seventh book in the Little House series finds Laura growing quickly from young girl to young woman. I really enjoyed reading through this book; there was less of a feeling of ‘survival’ and more of ‘growth’ both for the town of De Smet and for Laura. Note that there are some uncomfortable bits to read: instances of bullying and gossip, the men in town put on a minstrel show, and mention again of Ma’s racism. There is also, though, mention of Bible teaching and hymns, and Laura and Mary have a discussion about God’s goodness. This is a great read aloud.

The Anne of Green Gables Devotional: A Chapter-by-Chapter Companion for Kindred Spirits, by Rachel Dodge – This has become one of my favourite devotional books. Written by the author who wrote Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen, which I reviewed here, (we also went through this book in a series of posts) this 40-day devotional is filled with quotes from the lovable Anne Shirley, questions to ponder, prayers to pray, and verses to meditate upon. The illustrations and insights make me want to read the chronicles of Anne and be reminded of the joy life can bring. This is a wonderful resource for adults as well as for children, and could easily be read aloud as a family.

The Horse and His Boy, by C. S. Lewis – The third in chronological order but the fifth in publication order of The Chronicles of Narnia, this story follows the talking horse, Bree, his boy, Shasta, the talking horse, Hwin, and her girl Aravis as they travel from the realm of Calormen back to Narnia and Archenland. Each time I read The Horse and His Boy I find myself wishing I had read this book years ago. This is a great read aloud.

Then Sings My Soul: 150 of the World’s Greatest Hymn Stories, by Robert J. Morgan – This collection of hymns and short biographies of those who wrote them begins with one written in the fourteenth century B.C. and ends with one written in 2002. Hymns are a beautiful way for theology to sink in, and having a glimpse into the lives of saints who have gone before helps my faith grow stronger. I have been using this as part of my daily devotions and it’s a nice way to start the day.

Below are some of the books I’ve been reading this month; note that the following may contain spoilers:

Roar!: A Christian Family Guide to the Chronicles of Narnia, by Heather Harpham Kopp and David Kopp – This is a fun guide for a family reading through The Chronicles of Narnia. There are quizzes, discussion questions, readings for parents, a glossary for possible unfamiliar terms, activities to do, and more. Even if you are not reading through this with children it still has useful information. Be aware that the authors assume that the readers are not British and that the readers (specifically the adults) are familiar with The Chronicles of Narnia as occasionally there will be spoilers about future books. Another thing to keep in mind is that the book is designed for reading through The Chronicles of Narnia in chronological order, so if you, like me, prefer to read them in publication order there is a little more skipping around, but I don’t think it’s a deterrent to the usefulness of the book. The illustrations by Martin French are haunting – in the best way.

The Light Princess, by George MacDonald – Written in the 1800s, this cute fairy tale is filled with snarky comments and plays on words. It is a little longer than we typically think of a fairy tale being, complete with chapters, but is still a quick read. ‘Witty’ is the main word I would use to describe this fairy tale. Be aware that this tale has nothing to do with luminescence and everything to do with gravity (or the lack thereof). The copy I read includes pictures by Maurice Sendak, one of my favourite illustrators, and is a good read aloud.

The Long Winter, by Laura Ingalls Wilder – The sixth book in the Little House series begins to more directly meld the stories of the Ingalls family and Wilder brothers, Royal and Almanzo. Set during a time of flash blizzards that would last for days, the reader begins to better understand how difficult life really was for the homesteaders. The reader also sees more of the relationship between Pa and Ma. There are many songs, including some hymns, mentioned whose histories would be fun to explore. This is a great read aloud, but there are some themes that could be difficult: the tension the reader feels on behalf of the characters regarding possible death from starvation, the underlying question of what is right, and some racism.

Below are some of the books I’ve been reading this month; note that the following may contain spoilers:

By the Shores of Silver Lake, by Laura Ingalls Wilder – The fifth book in the Little House series reads as a bridge book to me between childhood wonder and growing up. A few years have passed between On the Banks of Plum Creek and By the Shores of Silver Lake and Laura has acquired more responsibility within the Ingalls family. The reader is reacquainted, albeit briefly, with some people from previous books, including Almanzo and Royal Wilder, and there are some new people, one of whom is baby sister Grace Ingalls, to whom we are introduced. There are some difficult themes such as loss of sight, murder, and theft, but this is still a good read aloud.

On the Banks of Plum Creek, by Laura Ingalls Wilder – The fourth book in the Little House series finds the Ingalls family in Minnesota. Laura’s world continues to expand, and she and Mary even have a chance to go to school and make friends. They also go to church for the first time in their lives, but the reader finds that their parents have been teaching them Scripture and hymns so their going to church isn’t unsettling for them. Also, we see more of Ma’s character in this book and I love her tenacity in the midst of changes and difficulties. This would make a good read aloud.

Preparing for Easter: Fifty Devotional Readings from C. S. Lewis, by C. S. Lewis – I have mentioned this book in the On Lent – 2020 post as well as the On March Reading Life – 2020 post; it is one that is officially on my re-read list. The ritual of reading the Scripture passages along with excerpts from some of Lewis’s works makes a nice start to the morning and something to which I look forward.

Yesterday was the first day of Spring. Isn’t it wonderful to look outside and know that the days will remain longer for quite some time, plants are blooming, and everything feels new and beautiful? Here are some of the books I’m hoping to read this quarter:

• Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child’s Heart to the Beauty of Learning, by Sally Clarkson
• By the Shores of Silver Lake, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• The Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can’t Get Their Act Together, by Jared C. Wilson
• In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart: Hope for the Hurting, by Ruth Graham, with Stacy Mattingly
• The Life Giving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming, by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Clarkson
• Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
• Perelandra, by C. S. Lewis
• Sensing God: Experiencing the Divine in Nature, Food, Music, and Beauty, by Joel Clarkson

Below are some of the books I’ve been reading this month; note that the following may contain spoilers:

Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder – Published as the second book in the Little House series and sometimes billed as the third, I suggest reading this one second as there are many similarities between Little House in the Big Woods and Farmer Boy. It focuses on Almanzo Wilder’s life between the ages of eight and ten, and because of this I would encourage it be read between the ages of six and ten. A great read aloud, I suggest reading it alone first to make sure any littles are ready for the more difficult themes, such as bullying and fighting.

Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder – Published as the third book in the Little House series and sometimes billed as the second, I suggest reading this one third. Because the first chapter starts off with the Ingalls family leaving their home in the Big Woods, I was hesitant at first to continue reading and had to put it down for a few weeks; I had so enjoyed learning about their cozy home! However, I finally picked up the book again and could not put it down. Many themes are introduced (loss of a pet, robbery, racism, and others) so that the world becomes much larger for Laura and the reader. It is a great read aloud, but if you are planning on reading this aloud to children, I suggest reading it alone first to make sure any littles are ready for the more difficult themes.

Own Your Life, by Sally Clarkson – A few years ago I was introduced to the podcast Life with Sally and have since enjoyed reading her family’s books. I was hesitant to read this book at first due to the title because I wasn’t sure how much it would actually focus on God but I need not have hesitated. Throughout the book the author continually encourages the reader to offer their life to the Lord for His use, to seek His will, and to read and memorise Scripture. The title simply reflects the idea that we have a choice to make: we can allow the cares of the world to guide our lives and our attitudes or we can allow God to do so.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis – The second chronologically but the first in publication order of The Chronicles of Narnia, this story is probably the most well-known of the series and follows some of the adventures of siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy in the land of Narnia. This is a great read aloud.

Below are some of the books I’ve been reading this month; note that the following may contain spoilers:

Little House in the Big Woods, by Laura Ingalls Wilder – The first book in the Little House series is charming and goes through a full year from the perspective of a very young child. I tried to read this book last January but only made it through the first chapter. When I began reading it again this year it was as though I was reading a completely different book – which was a very strange experience for me! Because the chapters read more like snapshots of memories rather than the typical novel story arc it may be difficult to get through, but that difficulty may also be the timing. Some books just aren’t enjoyable at certain times in life and a year may make a difference in the reading experience, so it’s okay to put down a book and come back to it at a later time; chances are, it will be much more enjoyable the second time around! This is a great read aloud.

Out of the Silent Planet, by C. S. Lewis – No one expected me to not start off the year with at least one Lewis book, right? The first in The Space Trilogy follows the story of Ransom, a philologist who is kidnapped and taken to a planet called Malacandra. It’s been so long since I last read this book that it’s as though I’m reading it for the first time.

The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories, by William J. Bennett (Editor) – This is a wonderful resource! Full of short stories, fairy tales, poetry, and more from the world over, this book helps teach children the value of virtues such as self-discipline, courage, honesty, and faith. It’s a book to read slowly and savour and that’s what I’ll be doing this year. This is a great read aloud.

The Magician’s Nephew, by C. S. Lewis – The first in chronological order but the sixth in publication order of The Chronicles of Narnia follows the adventures of Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer. I’m reading The Chronicles of Narnia in publication order this year with a friend who has never read them. Even though I personally enjoy reading a book series in publication order, it is also fun to read them through chronologically because a different perspective is gained. This is a great read aloud.