Homeschool Memoirs - Reading List
In recent weeks I have begun recording our homeschool reading highlights in a weekly wrap up at the close of each week, and of course, the kids' records have all the books that they read, we read together, or we listen to together. All told, I suppose I spend about three hours each day reading either outloud or silently, not counting reading blogs, lessons and instructions.
This year Ambleside has provided our reading list (years 0, 2, 4, and 6), some more memorable than others.
Some of our favorites there have been:
The Little Duke by Charlotte Yonge (year 2)
Every book by Holling C. Holling -- Paddle to the Sea, Tree in the Trail, Minn of the Mississippi, and now Pagoo and Seabird (years 1-4)
Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher (year 2)
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder (and the rest of the series) (years 1-4)
Trial and Triumph by Richard Hannula (if you haven't heard me rave before, this is an amazing book! Really opens your eyes and inspires your faith by looking at the great cloud of witnesses that surround us in the last 2000 years).
It Couldn't Just Happen by Lawrence Richards (science book showing weaknesses of the theory of Evolution) (year 4)
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson (year 4)
Gone Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright (we all loved this one, as well as the sequel)
Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare (year 4)
Secrets of the Universe: Discovering the Universal Laws of Science by Paul Fleisher (year 6)
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (WWII era) (year 6)
Some that didn't fair so well:
Jack and Jill by Alcott
School of the Woods by William J. Long (some parts were fascinating, and others, um, not so much)
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (I know, a great classic, but we did not really light any fires with this story.)
And, for my own reading . . .
I don't have a proposed list at this point, but in recent months I have read these books:
Genesis and Exodus
Age of Opportunity by Tripp (a great book on parenting teens/pre-teens. This helped me examine the genuineness of my own faith as lived out in the raising of my children. Lots of great motivation and practical advice from and for real life experiences.)
You Matter More Than You Think by Dr. Leslie Parrott (interesting book, but not one of my favorites. Her writing was somehow a bit too disjointed for me to follow and appreciate. She made a lot of great points about the impact we unknowingly have on other lives and I was encouraged in what I have done and in what I can do through the book, so I guess she got her point across.)
Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis (Very heavy book -- short, but intense! I read this while on vacation and had to read most sentences twice to really absorb what he was saying. Maybe my brain wanted to be on vacation, too. Lewis talks about the loss of honor in our society, of "men without chests" that have warped our thinking and our values. His words could have been written yesterday! Very timely read).
Hidden Art by Edith Schaeffer (I enjoyed this easy read, and found great encouragement to tap into my "creative" side. God is the Creator, and He imprinted us with His image. We need to let this shine in who we are and how we create the environment of our home. At times I felt a bit overwhelmed and out of my league, but came away with lots of practical tips to let out the hidden art in my own life).
I am currently reading these books:
Hinds' Feet in High Places by Hannah Hurnard
Upgrade by Kevin Swanson
Leviticus (I'm reading through the Bible in a year along with a group blog - 66 books).
Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian (pretty much a constant for me)
Beautiful Girlhood with my nine year old
Anna Karenina by Tolstoy (my one and only truly fiction book)
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom (reading during Bible time during the school day -- we are thoroughly enjoying this book. Seeing her faith in the face of the harsh realities of racism taken to its extreme causes us to really think about our own priorities and the boldness of our faith).
Other books that I have gotten recommendations for and hope to read:
Heaven at Home by Ginger Plowman
Disciplines of a Godly Family by Kent and Barbara Hughes
Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother by Carolyn Mahaney
(I try not to plan too far out as I just started quite a few new ones already).
I have enjoyed looking at others' lists and look forward to many more. I think I have room for a few more good books here.
Comments
We liked Kidnapped, too, but after reading Treasure Island this year I noticed a trend with RLS that disappointed me, in the end there was no justice served against the main evil character. I'll have to read more of his stuff to find out if this is true for all of his works.
JM,
I agree with that theme in what I know of his writing. My husband and older son especially enjoyed it, but we did talk about that lack of justice also. I might need to pry into his life and see if there is a root for this hidden somewhere.
Thanks for the insight,
Erin
The Wind in the Willows was another read aloud. We didn't like it either.