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All The BOOKS! (A Bookish Update)

I owe you a reading update. It’s been three months since I last posted about my reading life.

(I’ve been too busy reading to write a post - wink.)

All those cliche things you see about book lovers? They are all probably true about me - and I’m guessing if you’re reading this they are probably true about you, too.

My big focus for 2021 has been to cultivate a more intentional reading life. It was helpful to state those 5 goals in January because I look back at them often; they have been guiding principles for the year.

All the Books: A Bookish Update with Recommendations & More! #homeschool

Let’s go through each of those 5 principles and I’ll give you a report on how it’s going - and in the process I hope you can gain book recommendations, inspiration, and maybe some helpful tips for your reading life, too.

Note: If you are on Instagram, come follow my book account, Homegrown Book Picks. I post each book I read and a brief review. I think the #bookstagram community is a wonderful place to find books and connect with other readers. I also truly enjoy The Potato Peel Society Book Community on Facebook.

Include More Non-Fiction

I don’t gravitate towards nonfiction, but I want to be smarter (HA!) - seriously though, I do want to spend more of my reading time to intentionally learn, and I know that can come through nonfiction.

As a percentage of what I read, it still isn’t that much, but I’m getting better.

If you have a great non-fiction title to recommend to me, leave it in the comments of this post!

These are the nonfiction books I’ve read so far this year - I’ve put them in order from what I liked best to least. (I wouldn’t recommend the last three books, FYI.)

Make Time for Middle Grades

I’m loving middle (and high school) reading.

These books are DEFINITELY not just for young people. Many times it is a balm for my soul to read a beautiful middle/upper grades novel.

An author I’ve rediscovered this year is Michael Morpurgo. He has such a beautiful way of approaching difficult topics through story, and I can see his books leading to wonderful discussions with our teens in particular.

Once again - here are the books I’ve read so far this year, in order from best to least loved. There isn’t a book in this list I wouldn’t recommend!

Give Me All the Historical Fiction

Many of the books in the middle/upper grades category are historical fiction. The ones I will list here are just the books I’ve read for adults.

It’s hard for me not to read ONLY historical fiction, but I still want to read what I love. Does that make sense?

Again, they are in descending order. I don’t recommend Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds - it fell into that category of “authors trying to pander to culture by including a popular agenda in their writing”.

I always love anything by Susan Meissner, so if you want to take an author and read everything by them, she gets my vote.

Allow a Little Room for Escape

Because we’re in the homeschool world maybe I should use the term “twaddle”.

Or, maybe a better heading would be guilty pleasures?

As I’ve gotten older I don’t have much patience for foul language or sex in books, but a couple of these books did have that, and I kept reading anyway because it didn’t outweigh the actual value I was getting from the story - if that makes sense. Almost all of these are books that are (or have been) “popular” in culture. The older I get I also don’t like reading what most of the culture is reading, either.

The only one of these books that I would definitely steer you away from is Mary Jane. I couldn’t get on board with what I considered negligent child-rearing in this book.

A Little Life really impressed me, but it was full of triggers and it was a difficult read. The main character’s life was so very hard - 800 pages of hard to be exact. You have to be in a very good place if you’re going to tackle this book. That being said, I gave it four stars on Goodreads because the writing was excellent.

Tackle Those Classics

I need to get better about reading classics.

It isn’t my go-to genre, but once I am reading a good classic, I wonder why I don’t pick more!

I Capture the Castle has been my favorite, with the books by Elizabeth Goudge (where has she been all my life?) coming in a close second. Actually, I enjoyed all of the books here with the exception of C.S. Lewis’ Out of the Silent Planet (I just have trouble with Science Fiction).

Again, I could use your help with a favorite classic - leave me yours in the comments below!

A Final Confession

Do you think there is a thing as reading too much?

My family teases me that I always have a book with me - and that when everyone sits down to play a board game I would rather be reading.

So, my confession is this: maybe I am compulsive about reading. Maybe I need to put down my book and be present with the people around me. Do you have this problem, too?

Then again, I look at all of the benefits of reading and think I could have much worse habits, right?

My Favorite Way to Read

Forever and always my favorite way to read will be a physical book.

I spend a lot of time at the library, our local Goodwill, and ordering books online. I am among the legions of people who are obsessed with owning books!

I do enjoy reading at night (and don’t want to keep my husband awake!), so I read a lot on my iPad.

My membership to Scribd has been invaluable to me. There are so many audiobooks and ebooks available, and it is only $9.99/month! So far this has been the most cost-effective (other than the library) way for me to get my hands on a lot of books.

You can try Scribd free for 30 days if you use this link.

I mentioned audiobooks, which I also find on Scribd and through the library. I listen in the car, while I’m doing laundry, and sometimes when it’s quiet at home and I’m just doing chores. There’s something about the audiobook experience I really enjoy, especially if I know the narration is done well.

Until the next reading update, I wish you much enjoyment and pleasure from your books.

And, if you get a chance, would you please recommend a book to me in the comments below?

You might also like:

Reading Widely and Well

Three Reasons to Read

Continuing Education for the Homeschool Mom

The homeschooling mom is ALWAYS learning.

Not only are we learning at a break-neck pace to follow our child, we’re also trying to stay abreast of methods, philosophies, child development, and more.

There are “tried and true” resources, and then there are also new resources being published constantly.

It can all be overwhelming - to the point of debilitating. Too many choices = too much confusion.

This post will outline for you how I approach continuing education, and some of my favorite resources. I don’t promise that is an EXHAUSTIVE list of all the latest and greatest (or even all the tried and true), but I DO promise each resource has been used and loved by me throughout our 12 year journey in home education.

I do know this: don’t try to skip this part of your homeschooling life. You owe it to your children to be the very best homeschooling parent you can be!

Continuing Education for the #Homeschool Mom

Continuing Education for the #Homeschool Mom

For me, continuing education has always been the grout of my homeschooling life - it fills in all the cracks. I’m always searching for time in my day when I can learn something new.

Podcasts, books, and in-person connections are the three best ways I’ve learned throughout our homeschooling tenure.

The easiest way for me to do this when my children were little was through podcasts. It’s easy enough to pop in your earbuds while making dinner or folding laundry - (you can leave one earbud out so you can be present if someone needs you)

I don’t have many, but those that I DO listen to I love and listen to faithfully.

Favorite Homeschool (and learning) Podcasts

Simply Charlotte Mason Podcast

Homeschool Conversations with Amy Sloan

Simply Convivial: Pep Talks for Homemakers & Homeschoolers

Homeschooling 365 Podcast

Read Aloud Revival Podcast

It’s Not That Hard to Homeschool High School Podcast

And, if you’re feeling like geeking out a bit and have more time, I recommend these:

The Literary Life Podcast

Classical Stuff You Should Know

Homeschool Books for Continuing Education

At the risk of inundating you with so many books, I’m limiting this to just TEN books.

You may even want to invest in these books (maybe one a month?) and add them to your library. I find them helpful to read during the summer because it always reinvigorates me and helps me remember my WHY.

During my first year of homeschooling I was in a wonderful book study group - facilitated by more experienced homeschooling moms. If you can find something like this, it is such a blessing. If you can’t find one - maybe ask an experience mother you trust if they would like to lead a group?

I’m also always filling up notebooks with what I’ve learned. I will look back at these notebooks for ideas - and taking notes while I am reading really helps cement the ideas for me.

Brainstorm With Your Tribe

For several years I had a trusted group of friends with who I could learn from and share ideas.

We were on the same page for our children and could share what had worked and what hadn’t worked. We could share resources (easing the financial burden). This “in the field” learning is probably the best by far!

Nothing compares to a personal connection - and now that our world seems to be opening up a bit more we can get back to gathering with friends.

A Final Thought About Continuing Education

And - one other important thing: be sure your family knows that you will need time and resources to fulfill your calling as a homeschooling mother.

This might mean a weekend away on a retreat with friends. It might look like dad taking over dinner time and bedtime routine once a week so mom can escape to a coffee shop to read.

It might mean the kids watch a movie once a week during school time while you sit down to read or listen to a podcast.

This time for continuing education is important, but YOU are the only one who can make it happen. Train your people!

What has been your most successful way to keep learning as a homeschooling mom?

Do you have a book, podcast - or something else you’d like to share?

Leave it in the comments below!

You might also like:

Curriculum We Have Used and Loved

When Family Criticizes Your Decision to Homeschool