Blog

May 2020 Reading Recap

As a home educating parent I believe reading MUST be an integral part of our life.

“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.” - Jane Austen (Northanger Abbey)

Don’t you just love Jane Austen’s blunt way of seeing into our souls - and her keen observations about so many social situations? I think there is a lot to be said for the above quote. If we want to be educated, able to converse well, and able to transport ourselves to different worlds it is essential to READ.

Reading widely and well is something I want my children to observe in me. Reading has also been a very necessary lifeline and method of escape for me during the past few years - years that have included so much personal change, loss, and evaluation.

A good book always has the power to right a topsy turvy world!

May 2020 Book List - Homegrown Learners

I always share what I’m reading on my reading Instagram account. I want to share it more here on the blog because I am realizing that so many of your share my love of reading - so these bookish updates are most certainly homeschool related.

What Guides The Book Choices

Serendipity

Truth be told, I don’t often plan what I will read. I am a firm believer in book serendipity. Books find me at the thrift store, the Little Free Library, GoodWill, or through friends. Last year I found a beautiful Elisabeth Elliot book (signed nonetheless) at our local Good Will. Of course, I read that one right away!

Book Clubs/Podcasts

I am a member of the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club and also an in-person book club. (That’s two books each month that are already chosen for me).

My two favorite podcasts are What Should I Read Next? and Currently Reading. There are so many great podcasts out there!

Homeschool Curriculum

I also make sure what I am reading is preparing me for my son’s upcoming Challenge assignments, so that we can discuss those books together.

We also have a read-aloud going at all times - it gets harder with the teen boys, but I’m not giving up!

May 2020 Books

May was a wonderful reading month.

There was just one book I disliked. All Adults Here just wasn’t for me - too many social agendas not so cleverly disguised as a novel. It honestly made me ANGRY how many social statements the author was trying to cram down my throat.

I also don’t have much tolerance for cursing in a book - unless it adds to the story. The cursing in this book just added to the already low opinion I held of each character!

May Book Notes:

Historical Fiction

If you’re a historical fiction fan, anything by Isabel Allende is sure to please. A Long Petal of the Sea takes us to the time just after the Spanish American War and details the lives of a family that has immigrated to South America. I had just finished Ruta Septys’ The Fountains of Silence earlier this year, and this novel was a great way for me to learn more about this part of history.

Heart Favorites

Jane Eyre and Christy will probably be in my favorite books of all-time list.

Jane Eyre was a book I never fully appreciated until this moment in time. I’m not sure why that is - but I know it’s book serendipity. It’s on my son’s reading list for 10th grade and I wanted to be able to discuss it with him - well, I’ll be able to do that and more. I am addicted to the Bronte’s use of language and Jane’s perseverance no matter what.

I’m not sure how I missed knowing about Christy for this long, either. Wow. There is such a community of fans surrounding all of Catherine Marshall’s works! A friend of mine also loaned me the Christy DVD’s, so that’s next on my list.

Audio Favorite

Audiobooks allow me to read a lot more.

Thanks to Libro.fm, I was able to get my hands on The Jane Austen Society before it came out. Oh my! If you choose any book on audio, make it this one! Richard Armitage narrating this book was such a treat for the ears!

Feel-Good Books

The Confession Club, The Lost and Found Bookshop, and Thunder and Rain were simply books that made me happy. If you’re looking for pure escape without a ton of thought, I think you could pick any of these and be happy.

Read-Aloud

We loved Freak the Mighty and followed the reading up with a movie night watching “The Mighty”. This is a great read-aloud for a teen boy!


Check out Homegrown Book Picks on Instagram for more details on each book I’ve read.

I’ll see you back here in a month for another reading update!!

May 2020 List of Books Read - Homegrown Learners

Making Time To Read - Recent Favorites

The goal this year has been to read widely and well.

I’ve noticed an improvement in my ability to home educate because I am making time to read.

Not only am I improving my knowledge (which can then be passed on through home education), but I’m also improving my general feelings of happiness and well-being. Books are a worthwhile escape - my faithful friends at all times.

(If you’re the bookish sort I’m sure you can relate.)

Making Time to Read - Current Favorites

Let’s get to the update - the last time I updated you was in May - an entire summer has gone by and I’ve done a lot of reading!

I’ll keep the categories the same as I did in the May update - so that you can see my efforts to read widely and well - and my efforts to include more nonfiction in my reading life.

There are probably only one or two books on the list that I wouldn’t recommend to you: The Martian (I just didn’t care for it - and too many f-bombs throughout) wasn’t up my alley. Additionally, I listened to Nora Ephron’s Heartburn on a road trip and have mixed feelings about this one. I’m not sure I recommend you spend your time on it.

Read-Alouds/For Homeschool

This year (9th grade) my son is studying American History.

I’m trying to incorporate some interesting stories from American History, as well as stories of faith.

I had never heard of Steve Sheinkin until this summer, and both of his books have been excellent! You’ll want to check them out (especially if you have older boys).

I also received a huge box of books from Voice of the Martyrs this summer - and in that box was a Christian Heroes book about Adoniram Judson. We have loved all of these missionary biographies, and this one didn’t disappoint us.

Personal/Professional Development

A lot of my reading the past few months has centered around my oldest leaving home for college.

The anxiety and grief I felt was surprising to me. I honestly thought I would be “ok” - but her leaving threw me for a bit of a loop. Listening to Anxious for Nothing and then reading Release My Grip were truly helpful during this period of time.

Mere Motherhood was a re-read for me. This is just such a beautiful book. I remember it giving me peace when it first came out, and reading it again instilled that same sense of educational peace in me again.

Historical Fiction/Classics/Memoir

My husband challenged me to read Lonesome Dove after our trip out West this summer. Well - I read it. I’m glad I did, but it’s not my favorite thing ever. I would say read it if you ever have time, but it’s not one I will heartily recommend.

I do think, however, that everyone needs to listen to Sissy Spacek read To Kill a Mockingbird. This is probably my favorite literary experience of all time!

I am also very thankful I read The Gown (a Modern Mrs. Darcy book club selection this summer) - such a great piece of historical fiction and just a lovely book in general.

Literary Fiction/Other

I had a lot of light reads this summer - probably you could categorize them as “fluff”. As I look back I think I was just escaping into my books as I prepared to send my daughter to college. I simply needed easy and fun - and there are a lot of those books in this list.

I think my favorite of the fluff was Jane of Austin - pure enjoyment.

Once Upon a River was probably the best book I’ve ever listened to - Juliet Stevenson is a brilliant narrator and I highly recommend listening to this book if you get a chance!

Susan Meissner is quick becoming one of my favorite authors. I’ve read three of her books now, and I think Why The Sky is Blue has been my favorite. This one tugged at my mama heartstrings and was just such a beautiful story of hope and redemption.

I’d love to talk books with you.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you’ve been reading and if you have a recommendation for me!

You might also like:

The 50 Books I Read in One Year

Three Reasons to Read