Reads of Late

This following picture has nothing in particular to do with this post. I just dislike publishing a blog entry without some sort of photo attached. And since I'm writing about me and what I've been reading lately, it seems as worthy a time as any to include a picture of myself.

Note that this is a "no makeup selfie." Aren't I trendy?

 Mostly because 3/4 of the time I don't wear any makeup anyway.

I've had a bit of a slow few weeks when it comes to reading. I've been making progress on Til we Have Faces by C.S. Lewis -- it is stirring and sobering but it is much slower going than anything else I have read by him -- and of course, joining the masses and reading The Benedict Option (which I appreciate in its aim, but am already getting sick of. Because... enough already. Hasn't anyone else written something worthwhile this year?)

So here is my compiled reviews of books completed since March.

*****

The Lifegiving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming

by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Clarkson

I enjoyed this book, and it sparked some great conversations between me and Patrick about the traditions we hope to create for our children, and the meaning and purpose of home.

In this book, Sally and her daughter, Sarah, go through every month of the year and discuss family traditions they maintained that related to that month. I really love getting glimpses into other people's family traditions and culture -- that's precisely why I became so interested in reading blogs years ago and why I still maintain my own. So I enjoyed that aspect of this book very much. I also appreciated the fact that it involved Sarah as an adult reflecting on her childhood, as well as Sally explaining her mothering experiences.

I have realized, though, that I find Sally Clarkson's writing style a little grating. How many times must she seek out synonyms for "hot" when she refers to tea? Likewise, she regularly describes her husband "munching" or "nibbling" on food {I am a big Strunk and White enthusiast; unless he is actually a chipmunk, just say "eat"}. I know, I know, this is a nitpick, and perhaps not entirely charitable, but the vaguely juvenile language distracted from her wonderful message. The difficulty of collaborating with another writer is that it becomes obvious who has the superior writing style. Sarah Clarkson's writing is decidedly more mature and possesses more depth than that of her mother, as akward as it is to say.

I do consider this a worthwhile read, to inspire the reader in his or her quest to create a home worth returning to when their children grow up. I don't, however, think it is the most profound reflection on home and family life. Thankfully, I don't think the authors were intending that. Perhaps a breezy, pleasant read is a nice fit for the subject.

A Brush with God

by Peter Pearson

This lovely book walked me, and my children, through an introduction to iconography, in terms of its theological significance, its history, and especially, in practical terms of reproducing. I was uplifted by the author's explanation of prayer as gaze towards Christ. I was especially uplifted observing my boys' reverence for icons increase in our little catechism lesson of sorts that this book inspired. If nothing else, I think it's an incredibly worthy read because the author helps you realize that you can, in fact, paint icons even without intense artistic mastery. It is still a contemplative exercise for the trained artist as well as the novice.

Karlson on the Roof

by Astrid Lindgren

We loved the Noisy Village stories. We especially loved the Pippi Longstocking series. Oh, how we laughed and laughed together over her antics. When I saw "Auntie Leila" recommend Karlson, and even say she prefers the rest of Lindgren's corpus to the Pippi series, I eagerly bought Karlson on Amazon.

Well.

I found this book maddening. It wasn't charming like the Pippi books are; when she gets into ludicrous scrapes, it's riotously funny. And understandable. After all, she's a child. The character of Karlson, however, is infuriating and even a bit creepy. I mean, a strange man keeps popping into a child's bedroom window, but never lets himself be introduced to his family. Isn't that a tad disturbing?

I had to keep pointing out to my kids as I was reading it that Karlson was a bad influence, and wasn't this naughty, et cetera et cetera. It seems to me in properly ordered literature, the children should get into mischief and the adults should be the stable, trust-worthy ones. If not, they should be clearly depicted as villains, in a fairy tale-like method, where good and evil are clearly delineated. I am decidedly not a fan of moral nuances when reading aloud to a five year old.

Thumbs down.

Mere Christianity

by C.S. Lewis

I have been meaning to read this for years. I am so glad I finally did! It really is a classic work of apologetics for a reason. So many pithy quotes leapt out from the page at me. So many complex theological ideas were presented in simple digestible analogies. Plus, Lewis has a charming sense of humor. 

Thumbs way, way up.

(If I can make a quick caveat, which I suppose I can, it being my blog after all, I did disagree with him on a few key points. I assume one realizes that my endorsement of a book does not mean I think exactly like the author?)

Happier at Home

by Gretchen Rubin

I will sum up my disappointment with this book by the following statement: if you have read one Gretchen Rubin book, you have read them all. I loved Better than Before, I liked The Happiness Project, I lost interest almost entirely with her by Happier at Home. I also found myself becoming irritated by her. I really can't recommend you use up your valuable reading time on this.

**********

And... here are the picture books that have made their way into my heart and my children's imaginations most recently.

Wendel's Workshop

by Chris Riddell

This book is funny and clever, with amazingly detailed pictures that children love to pour over. It's a pleasure to read aloud, too. We all enjoy it immensely.

Melisande

by E. Nesbitt, pictures by P.J. Lynch

We stumbled upon this by accident at our local library, and I feel like we found buried treasure amidst the typical library twaddle. E. Nesbitt is famous for her Railway Children story (confession: I have not read it) but what especially intrigued me about this book was that the pictures were by the same illustrator from "The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey," one of my favourite Christmas read-alouds.

Although the language of this book is lofty and dense -- it is more suited to a mature five year old and up -- Anna herself requested it twice (today) because she was so taken in by the beautiful illustrations. It's a new fairytale, but without the mark of being "modernized;" the familiar fairytale archetypes remain. Yet it incorporates amusing tidbits of wit, logic and even a mathematical formula in the denouement. It's hard to capture how this actually flows into a cohesive children's book, but truly, it does. 

Into the Sea, Out of the Tomb: Jonah and Jesus

by Maura Roan McKeegan, illustrated by T. Schluederfritz

This lovely book was new to us this Lent and it presents to children in a thought-provoking, appealing way how Jonah is type of Christ. When I had read a review of it some time ago, I was skeptical how a children's book could present typography in a way they could grasp, but I think this book does so deftly. A week or so after first encountering this book, the Gospel reading at Mass was from Matthew when Our Lord compared himself to Jonah being in the belly of the whale (Matthew 12). Isaiah, who appeared to be not paying attention, suddenly perked up and said to me, "hey! Like in the book you were reading to us!" I love witnessing the connections they make, and I would not have thought to bring out this connection myself without the influence of this lovely book.

The Miracle of the Red Egg

by Elizabeth Crispina Johnson

This is my favourite Easter book I have come across yet. The story focuses on Mary Magdalene's joy over the Resurrection of Christ, and how she spread the Good News to even an unbelieving emperor at a feast at his home. He challenged her, saying that Christ rose from the dead no more than an egg he shows her could be red. To the amazement of the guests, the egg turns bright red.

The simplicity of this tale, and the beauty of the illustrations are touching and edifying. Too many Easter books are so saccharine (I made the mistake of buying a few of these this year based on some reviews I read on other blogs) and they cheapen the message of the Resurrection and make it seem cartoon-y -- that is, not real. This book conveys the wonder of supernatural through beautiful language and art, and highlights one of my favourite saints as well.