Books I am Reading

I have been trying to start this blog post for several days.  I would type out a few words and then delete, try a different sentence….delete….wash, rinse, repeat.   It wasn’t just a lack of an opening, I could not figure out what I wanted to write about.  No topic “sparked joy” to borrow a popular phrase.  Did I want to review the musical Hamilton? Been done to death.  Did I want to write a composer biography?  Not enough time to do it justice.  Explain a musical concept?  I could, but I really haven’t been exploring musical education pedagogy recently.  Well, what have I been doing?   The short answer….reading.  I love to read and I go through seasons of devouring books.  This summer has been a summer of books.  That’s when I hit upon what I wanted to write about….I want to share the books I have been reading.  None of them have to do with music education but this is my blog and I can write about what I want!  

Faith

Talking with Your Kids about Jesus: 30 Conversations Every Christian Parent Must Have by Natasha Crain

          This is a great introductory foray into apologetics.  Apologetics is just a fancy word for being able to defending your faith.  Whether or not you are a parent, this book is very helpful in laying out the reasons for the Christian faith.   The book is divided into 5 parts: The Identity of Jesus, The Teachings of Jesus, The Death of Jesus, The Resurrection of Jesus, and The Difference Jesus Makes.  Each part contains several chapters answering different questions like “Is Jesus a Myth?” or “Did Jesus Teach That He’s the Only Way to God?”  Each chapter succinctly lays out the argument presented in the question, gives simple and straightforward answers, reviews the key points of the argument, and provides conversation starters to help apply the newly learned answers to the questions.  The chapters are short enough to cover an entire chapter during a small group session.  I will say the “target” kid age is probably middle school and high school but parents of young ones will still benefit from practicing these questions, answers, and applied conversations. 

Educational Philosophy

          As I’m sure most of you are aware, I am a homeschooling parent.  Though I have always wanted to home school my children, I am constantly learning about different home school philosophies and approaches.  After two years in a classical home school style, I have started to branch out into this new-to-me philosophy called Charlotte Mason style.  If you are interested in learning about a gentle, peaceful, good habit forming, living-book filled approach to homeschooling, check out these following books. 

Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition by Karen Glass

          This book will be helpful for anyone who has participated in a classical school approach.  Glass does not disparage the classical method, but she puts it into proper context – demonstrating the difference between a truly classical approach vs. the current neo-classical approach.  She demonstrates how Charlotte Mason’s philosophy is not opposed to the classical approach but works with some of its tenets.

Charlotte Mason Education: A Home Schooling How-To Manual by Catherine Levison

          The title is pretty self-explanatory, a great resource for anyone looking to home school this year.  It provides philosophical underpinnings with concrete ideas.

Charlotte Mason Topics Book One: Habits by Charlotte Mason

          This has probably been one of favorite books I’ve read all summer.  It has been empowering and motivating me on how to set up my home.  Who wants to live or do school in a chaotic and angry environment?  Habits showed me a picture of a peaceful, gentle, loving home, encouraging me as a person to grow in personal self-control and discipline, and empowering me as a parent to set loving expectations for my children.  I cannot recommend this book enough. 

History

A Student’s Guide to U. S. History by Wilfred M. McClay

          This short book (less than 100 pages) is a philosophy of history.  Rather than presenting historical dates and timelines, McClay delves into the big question “What is History?” He explores history as a laboratory and as memory.  History is a window into the “drama of incomparable importance, where all the great questions of human existence converge”.  If you are a history teacher, studying history in school, or just want to make better sense of what is going on in the world, this book provides a great framework of understanding.  I highly recommend this book.

Right Side of History by Ben Shapiro

Shapiro walks us through the timeline of American History starting all the way back in Greece and Jerusalem. To understand the founding of America, we need to know what came before it and what the alternatives are.  The Right Side of History does a wonderful job of placing American History in context of world history and emerging worldview philosophies.  The biggest revelation of this book for me was the destruction of the twin pillars of civilization, faith and reason, due to the massive devastation of World War II.  What emerged as a fledgling philosophy – existentialism – the exaltation of the self.  It is fascinating to see the application of the Self as the only knowable and good institution start off in our universities and radical fringe movements in the 60’s into a permanent ideological battle in our current political/philosophical culture.

Personal Entertainment

Anne of Green Gables (the entire series)

When my brain is tired or my soul is sad, I have turned to the Anne of Green Gables Series.  I had read the first book in the series by the same name when I was a little girl.  And like every girl of my generation, I fell in love with Anne, Diana, and Gilbert (oh Gilbert, I will never love another like my first love, Gilbert Blythe) in the 1985 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation made for TV movie.  But when I am tired of history, philosophy, and politics, Anne has been there for me beautifully.  L. M. Montgomery’s writing style is beautiful and ornate but substantial.  I am not consuming empty calories.  My soul is nourished by beautiful landscapes, well developed characters, hilarious adventures, uplifting themes of friendship, loyalty, imagination, and love. 

Children’s Books

Home in the Woods by Eliza Wheeler

Home in the Woods is a sweet book, based on the story of her grandmother who lived through the Great Depression.

"A small tar-paper shack deep in the woods doesn't look like much of a home to six-year-old Marvel, her seven siblings, and their mom, but it is all they have. Starting over in this new place feels like a struggle at first, but each season in the woods reveals marvelous delights and blessings."

The watercolor artwork is delightful and homey. If you are looking for a great book to read to and snuggle with your kids, I highly recommend Home in the Woods.

Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Anderson

          This summer, I took a free online college course on children’s literature.  One of the stories covered was the Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson.  The professor helped me see the deeper meaning within the story underneath the vivid imagery.  It made me want to read the story so I bought a beautiful hardback collection of Anderson’s fairy tales (guys, it even had the gold edging along the pages, I’ve never had a book like that.  I felt so fancy.)  Anderson is quite adept at description, especially of landscape and flowers.  He gave me an appreciation for the flowers in my natural environment, to the point that I have attempted sketching them.  Though the language is a bit advanced and flowery (excuse the pun) for my daughters, I am still reading it with them anyways.  They delighted in the adventures of Gerda going to rescue Kay from the Snow Queen; cheered when Thumbelina escaped marrying the horrible mole, and marveled at the child pointing out the obvious “the emperor isn’t wearing any clothes!”