Finished: Life of Pi

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Finished: The Light Princess and Other Fairy Stories

The Light Princess and Other Fairy Stories by George MacDonald

Finished: The Princess and Curdie

The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald

Finished: The Princess and the Goblin

The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald

Finished: Les Miserables

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Finished: Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Finished: The Count of Monte Cristo

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Finished: Fierce Women

Fierce Women by Kimberly Wagner

Dead Sneakers

In case you're ever tempted to leave your sneakers at the bottom of the steps in a dark place:  don't.

It will feel strangely similar to what you think stepping on a dead animal might feel like, and you just might have adrenaline shooting through you for a very brief, heart-pounding moment.

Not that that's happened to me, or anything.

Prayer-Wish

I am finding it a struggle to not treat praying like wishing.

Brundibar

There is an essay written here that relates Maurice Sendak's worldview.  Because it touches on his strange book, Brundibar, which I own, I am including here for future reference.

Application of Motherhood

I was encouraged by this blog post today. Here is an excerpt:

Imagine yourself in your kitchen trying to make dinner for a group of little kids who are tired and should have eaten a half hour ago. Imagine that things are going wrong beyond that — maybe you are out of something you assumed you had, children are fussing with one another, and maybe your littlest is still at the age where they come stand on your feet and pull on your pant leg. Bonus points if you are wearing maternity pants and this little person is actually capable of pulling your pants down. You are hot, you are tired, and you are sick of it.

This is no time for a gospel presentation. There isn’t time. There isn’t anyone to lead the discussion around the felt board, because you are still scrambling to figure out dinner. This isn’t a time for a gospel presentation because it is a time for gospel application. This is a time to take the grace that God has extended to you, and feed your children with it. Apply what you believe about God’s mercy and kindness and long suffering towards us, and pour it out to them — in a form they can believe in.

Holiday Shopping

OK. I seriously spit my soup out all over my computer while watching this.

Finished: Singing in the Fire

Beautifully written brief biographies about those who persevered under suffering. I was able to read one a night before bed.

Singing in the Fire, Faith Cook

Finished: The Sound of Trumpets

Beautifully written brief biographys about believers who made a difference in their lives until the Lord called them home.

The Sound of Trumpets, Faith Cook

Finished: Growing Up Amish

Growing Up Amish relates in a very real and readable way the author's wrestling with direction and future in his life, his struggles with the Amish church, and his eventual decision to leave the church and cling to Christ. Perhaps it is because I know Ira on the other side of Amish-ness that drew me to the book to begin with...but he writes with such eloquence and candor that it was almost as though it was not the Ira I knew. But then again, much of what he wrote was about the old Ira - not the new creation.

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation." 2 Corinthians 5:17

Growing Up Amish, Ira Wagler, 2011

Finished: Miriam

Definitely a book for girls - probably seventh or eighth grade due to the girlfriend/boyfriend references of two 16 year olds. Not heavy on the romance, the story is more about the friendship of two girls, one of whom is a Jew, and is forced to leave her home as the Gestapo sweeps through Norway during World War II. The book relates, in a simple yet impacting way, some of the sufferings that Jews - and their friends - endured, without being frightening. It is a good book to begin to open our children's eyes to some of the atrocities, without terrifying them.

Originally published in Norway and translated by Pat Shaw Iversen.

Miriam, Aimee Sommerfelt, 1960

Finished: The Small War of Sergeant Donkey

This book is a heroic reminder of those that did small works to defeat the enemy in 1945...even young boys and their donkeys. Wholeheartedly recommended to 5th grade boys and girls alike, with some clarification being provided on some of the Catholic references contained within.

The Small War of Sergeant Donkey, Maureen Daly, 1966

Finished: Blue Willow

A real treasure written in 1940, this book is on par with the themes of Lois Lenski's Strawberry Girl, and the like.

Janey is a young girl, having to travel from place to place as her father finds work to support her and her mother. He is altogether hard-working and provides well for his family, under the circumstances, but Janey yearns for a place to call home.

I'd recommend it primarily to fifth grade girls, although boys would do well to understand the hardships of this era, and the ways fathers provided for their families through hard work.

Blue Willow, Doris Gates, 1940

Finished: The Secret of the Disappearing Sultan

A fun book, wherein a normal girl is taken along as an attempt to abduct a young sultan transpires. The plot is altogether unlikely, which is what makes the book fun to read. Like that could ever happen.

I'd say say a 6th grade reading level for content. Most likely will interest a female rather than a male, as the girl is more the heroine of the book, and it is told from her viewpoint. It is in no way girly, however.

The Secret of the Disappearing Sultan, Margery Warner, 1975