We begin our homeschool schedule in August, which will bring LESS time for reading.
(I think I read a lot in July to make up for that!)
When people ask me how I can read so much I remember what I heard a few weeks on a podcast - you make time for what you love.
Not only have I been learning so much, but I’ve also been living the lives of other people - having a variety of human experiences. This month I also chose some books that would strengthen my faith and prepare me for what I suspect is going to be a more challenging time in general.
Our local library opened (squeal!) and I also had the opportunity to check out a few of my favorite thrift stores for books.
This month I decided to categorize the books for you - books to strengthen your faith, help you escape, learn about history, and read-alouds.
I love chatting books. Come follow me on Instagram @homegrownbookpicks, where I share what I’m reading on a regular basis.
Books to Strengthen Your Faith
I enjoyed each of these books very much!
If you’re not familiar with Sean Dietrich (Sean of the South), you should be! I have been listening to his podcast and following his Facebook page this month. His memoir, Will the Circle Be Unbroken, was one of my favorites!
Life Together - the classic by Dietrich Bonhoeffer - is a primer for living in Christian community.
Love Does, by Bob Goff is a funny, touching book that made me laugh out loud.
Finally, Eve’s Daughters - by Lynn Austin - will go own as one of my favorite works of Christian fiction. I will definitely be reading more by Lynn Austin in the future!
![Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community (Edition 1St Edition) by Bonhoeffer, Dietrich [Paperback(1978£©]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41wPsIvuqSL._SL500_.jpg)
Books to Read for an Escape
These three books - all of them page turners - get high marks from me this month.
Susan Wiggs is one of my go to authors when I just need something light and romantic. Lakeside Cottage did not disappoint.
Friends and Strangers, a new release by J. Courtney Sullivan, was more intense, but still a quick read. It is a popular book right now - if you like stories about strong females struggling to find their place in the world you’ll like this book.
Finally, I read The Night the Lights Went Out by Karen White. Wow! I would categorize this one as a mystery/thriller. It takes place in a fictitious suburb north of Atlanta and has so much that rings true if you’ve ever lived in the South. Super good!
Historical Fiction
This is my favorite genre by far. If I can learn something about history from a book I feel like it’s been time WELL spent.
The Last Train to Key West centers around the Flagler Railroad that ran to Key West. Because I grew up in SW Florida it was very interesting to me. Chanel Cleeton is one of my favorite writers, too.
I had to read another book by Julie Berry this month (I read one by her last month, too!) - The Passion of Dolssa took us all the way back to Medieval France and included mystery, romance, and more! This book is categorized Young Adult - I think it would be great for your high school girls.
I listened to Americanah and would highly recommend it on audio! This sweeping story takes us from Nigeria to the United States and back again. It taught me so much about life in Nigeria, life as an American African, and the perceptions we have of people - most of them often false.
Read-Alouds
We had one read-aloud this month.
In my son’s Challenge 2 curriculum this year we are focusing on British Literature. In order to prepare him we’ve been looking at some of the adaptations of assigned books.
Michael Morpurgo gives us a great retelling of Beowulf which I highly recommend. My son also read Sir Gawain & The Green Knight (also retold by Morpurgo) on his own this month.
