November 2025 Book Reviews

November is an underrated month, right? Sure the days get shorter & the sun goes down way too early. But it is also a much-needed breath between the chaotic end to October & the chaotic beginning of December.

Well, I did some reading & here are my short & sweet reviews!

Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell

Ruth is the story of a woman who grows from a naïve orphan to a respected woman. Ruth's is a story of redemption. But that doesn't necessarily mean a fairy tale ending. At the beginning, we meet Ruth. She's an orphaned teenager working as a seamstress. She longs for something better, but her friend at the shop helps her to find gratitude in her situation. However, when she loses this friend, she has no one to check her discontent & it eventually leads to her ruin. But all is not lost thanks to the kindness of a dissenting minister & his sister. Moral quandaries abound in this story, along with many moral sermons from people from all walks of life. We also get to see a variety of mother-son relationships that vary widely in their outcomes. The proud are humbled & the poor are lifted up. If you enjoy period novels that are a bit more realistic than those shiny Jane Austen adaptations but without the creepy gothic elements of the Bronte Sisters, you should definitely give Elizabeth Gaskell a try.

In His Image: 10 Ways God Calls Us to Reflect His Character by Jen Wilkin

Jen Wilkin starts this book talking about God's will. We can tend to become paralyzed as we overthink the decisions we face. She opines that the better question isn't "What is God's will for my life?" but "Who would God have me to be?" The following 10 chapters each deal with one of God's traits that we are also called to share. (Her book None Like Him addresses 10 of God's traits that only He can possess--a great companion to this book.) Holiness, love, justice, patience--these are just a few of the topics Jen covers with much Scripture & practical stories. I always appreciate how very practical she makes such grand theological ideas. The chapters are short & the book overall is very easy to read, making it ideal for busy ladies who also want to bring more theology into their daily lives.

The Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Peter Frankopan

I read this because my oldest son kept talking about it. (He's 13, but he asked for this book for his birthday.) Centering world history around the Silk Roads is a far more accurate picture of the development of the world picture than the more Euro-centric histories western schools tend to teach. The most ancient of civilizations were born right along this trade route that took its name from the valuable fabric brought along its dusty miles. While much of Europe was uninhabited or peopled by barbaric clans, these cradles of civilization had sophisticated languages, legal codes, industries, societies, & more. Soon, silks & spices & slaves weren't the only commodities traveling in the caravans. Religion plays a major role along this route with most of the major world religions beginning along the Silk Road. The book even travels into more modern times when the most valuable item in the world's economy is found at the western end of the Road--oil. It's a fascinating book for those proud history nerds. Or the not-so-proud history nerds.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I'm sorry to anyone who likes these books, but WHY?! The main character (I almost forgot her name--that's how memorable she is) is Avery. She receives a mysterious summons to an estate in Texas where a billionaire has left her his fortune. His family, mainly his grandsons, have some feelings about this decision. I didn't like a single character. The family dynamics are so strange. There are teenage boys going through secret passageways to spy on teenage girls. The mom of these boys walks around naked much of the book. The "games" seem like a side quests compared to Avery's confusion over her feelings about these selfish, vapid boys. Ugh! Can we please publish some quality books for teens? Without all this romantic angst? Or incompetent adults? Or ridiculous dialogue? Like authors know how actual people talk, right? I won't be continuing this series.

Homegrown: Guidance and Inspiration for Navigating Your Homeschooling Journey edited by Amber O'Neal Johnston

This collection of essays about homeschooling in its many forms & seasons is just the encouragement a homeschooling parent needs. From seasoned veterans whose kids are long graduated to second-generation homeschoolers, you will find something that helps meet a need or answer a question or spark a new idea. Many of these authors have their own books or blogs or homeschooling organizations. And many of them also found their inspiration for their own philosophy in Charlotte Mason's writings. (I always find it ironic that I never heard of CM in my years of getting an education degree at a Christian college despite her being a Christian educator. Not even a brief mention of her in a lecture. I'm glad I found her anyway & have been able to take some aspects of her designs into our own home. She also was not a HOME educator necessarily, so it's so strange that so few Christian schools use her methods!) I also like the idea of a collections of essays because you get lots of viewpoints in short readings. You can pick up the book as you get a chance without missing a beat. Lifelong learning at its best.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 1 by Beth Brower

I jumped on a bandwagon & read the first in this series. While most people were raving about it, I also saw criticism that it was too slow & didn't really get anywhere until you start reading further into the series. I tried to have an open mind. It's supposed to be a journal, so it only covers a short space of time. I can see where the "not much happened" people are coming from. However, I think the writing is pretty good & the characters seem more interesting than most contemporary fiction. I was assuming it would be during the Regency era in England since that seems to be the trend, but it is actually set during the late 1800s. Many characters are mentioned without fully covering their backstory, but I think that's purposeful. Again, it's a journal. The main character herself is witty & self-aware (something most main characters in recent novels are not; she fully admits when she's done or doing something that might be considered untoward). I will continue waiting for the next volume of this series to become available through my library. It better be worth it!

Considering Sparrows: What Birds Teach Us About Who We Are, Where We're Going, and the Joy of Following Jesus by Kevin Burrell

I read this book through NetGalley, but I will be preordering a physical copy. It is just that good! Kevin Burrell is a PCA minister & also an avid birder. (He combines those 2 aspects on his blog Ornitheology.) Burrell walks you through the truths found in Philippians, illustrating his points with a variety of interesting (& admittedly uninteresting) birds. This book is such a fun read. I was laughing out loud multiple times. At one point, he's guessing what each American denomination would choose as a their avian mascot & assigns the Baptists "a diving duck...the sort of bird that's most comfortable in an environment that allows full immersion." As a current member of a Baptist church, I thought that was particularly funny. Oh, and the illustrations are Aeden Peterson's artwork! The humor, the Gospel-rich insights into Paul's letter to the Philippian church, the lessons from nature--all of it make this a book I would highly recommend!

Have you jumped on a series bandwagon only to be disappointed (like me with the Inheritance Games) or maybe intrigued (like me with Emma M. Lion)? Do you prefer series or standalone books? Tell me in the comments!

Cheering you on!

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