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October started out so warm that it definitely didn't quite feel like fall, but we've definitely made it to fall now. Here's a little glimpse of part of our front yard (& our in-progress, yet already amazing front porch) so you can enjoy a peek of our New Hampshire fall colors.
Homeschooling has filled up my time as we get into the thick of the school year. That made this a little lighter of a reading month on books that I actually finished, but we still read a lot in this house!
I have grown up with an appreciation for the arts--theatre, paintings, music. So, I bought this book based on the description, even knowing nothing about the author. Each chapter takes a different aspect of what we can learn from the arts. The author pulls from modern & ancient examples of the arts. He highlights Christian artists, but also shows how the work of unbelievers also points to the timeless Biblical truths that Christians hold dear. With lots of descriptions as pictures to emphasize his points, the reader can find a deeper understanding & breadth of appreciation for the creative arts. But we can also see how our God is reflected in the beauty & creativity they exhibit.
Yes, the same author who writes all of those angsty YA novels is writing nonfiction. John Green covers the history of the world's deadliest disease, but this isn't just a dry history book. It is a book about that appeals to the humanity inside all of us. Why is a disease as deadly as tuberculosis still a problem when we have so many ways to treat it? Nonfiction books will have bias & authors tend to give evidence for the points they want to make. Knowing that, I am still not surprised at the answers to that question--racism, corporate greed, classism, etc. The usual suspects. History really does repeat itself. John Green is a gifted writer & tells the story with his usual wit, making the times that he speaks seriously stand out even more. (I listened to the audiobook & would definitely recommend it.) Everything is tuberculosis & it matters that we care about this deadly disease.
This was a weird one! I bought this book at a used book sale in the "antique" section because my son who loves rabbits happens to have a stuffed blue rabbit that he's loved from day one. The main character is a little boy named Luke who has many pet rabbits but meets a blue rabbit with the magical powers to "jump" people to another realm that is one's own idea of paradise. Luke's is a cottage with a nicely laid meal of his favorite treats. He jumps into other paradises of friends & even some adults like his mother & his governess. There's some really trippy part about Father Time. It was one of those antique books that probably is better in theory than in reality. I almost quit it a few times but my son wanted to finish.
While I am not currently a person with anxiety, I definitely felt this book would be helpful to read. I listened to the audiobook which was read by the author. Blair Linne just also happens to be a spoken word artist, so she is an engaging narrator. It also lends gravity to the book as you hear the emotion in her voice as she relives some of the lowest parts of her journey with anxiety. She does not claim to be an expert on the mental health aspects of anxiety & wisely points her readers to those resources. However, the spiritual side is something she has become very well-versed in as she's battled the effects of crippling anxiety. Scripture runs richly throughout the book, pointing to the hope of the Gospel at each turn, culminating in the worshipful tremble that will overcome us all when our faith is made sight! We are all "made to tremble" so we bear with each other in love!
I always appreciate Bible studies that break down a whole book into small sections. It helps make the study feel more doable, even in the margins of your day. This is my first study by this author, but I feel like I could safely recommend her other studies, too! (There's one on the Psalms of Ascents that I have my eye on...) She takes the passage verse-by-verse, guiding your study with practical helps. She includes charts for organizing certain information & historical context as needed. So, if you want a super practical, not too time consuming deep dive into the book of Romans, this is a great option for you.
I know people LOVE this book. But I did not. My kids also were disappointed. (One of them mostly because he thought the rabbits were not as important as they should have been!) I understand that the book is about the kids & most classic books have had uninvolved parents because that's just how things were in those days! But this is supposed to be a more modern story, making the total lack of involvement seems unrealistic & even neglectful. That's just the tip of the iceberg in this book. The girls are disrespectful & keep secrets from adults. The adults are terrible. The kids are terrible. The storyline about the oldest daughter & the gardener is borderline inappropriate. I skipped over most of those parts. All of the kids desperately need parental involvement! Do not recommend this book at all. It's just awful. Lazy writing. No real lessons being taught. Big no from us. I really don't understand why this is on every single chapter book list!
Have you ever hated a book that others love? Or had to secretly love a book that everyone hates?
How was your October? I hope it has had many cozy bookish moments.
Cheering you on!
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