Sweet Reads

I love children’s books and plan on sharing some more of my favorites, but I thought I’d take a minute to share what I’ve read in the past few months. (Although a couple of these are children’s books. I shared them since they’re enjoyable for adults too.) These are some, for one reason or another, I thought worthwhile to recommend.

The Galway Chronicles by Brock & Bodie Thoene – I loved this series! Set in Ireland in the 1840s these four books are a perfect combination of romance, historical fiction, and faith woven together. The titles are Only the River Runs Free, Of Men and Angels, Ashes of Remembrance and All Rivers to the Sea. Once you read the first, you’ll want to finish the series quickly!

Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis – see my earlier review Mushy Brain, Big Book

Cheaper By the Dozen by Frank Gilbreth, Jr. & Ernestine Gilbreth Carey – This was a read-aloud from our Sonlight Curriculum Core 4 that had us laughing out loud. It’s entertaining with moments that are endearing. (Some mild language – you might want to edit if you read it to your kids. You’d enjoy it just as much reading on your own.)

My Antonia by Willa Cather -- captures life for the pioneer in Nebraska. I can appreciate its literary quality – it’s an American classic, but it’s not one of my favorites. However it does give a realistic, yet still hopeful, picture of a brief period of time and place, and I think it’s good to read classic books written for another time.

What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? by D. James Kennedy – This non-fiction book gives an account of the many positive contributions made in the name of Christ. Our post-modern world tends to highlight the negative events done in the name of religion, so it is refreshing to read the beneficial impact Christ has made. Some of the book is redundant, but it was encouraging to read about the positive contributions in areas such as education, medicine, science, charity, freedom, morality and sexuality. The book does not shy away from the sins of the church, but confronts them with honesty (a heartbreaking 17 million killed “in the name of Christ.”) It was horrifying to discover that so many more -- 130 million -- have been killed in the 20th century alone in the name of the State. (This number doesn’t include aborted children, although that is discussed.) This is an important read for Christians, and would be interesting to share with people that are not believers.

Little Britches by Ralph Moody -- Another read-aloud from Sonlight Core 4. It’s a real-life account of a family who moves west to live on a ranch. Full of excitement and interesting details, it is also gives a touching portrait of a positive relationship between a father and son. (Some mild language – again you might want to edit if you read it to kids.) It inspired me to buy the rest of the series.

Heart in the Right Place by Carolyn Jordan – I bought this book because I have a place in my heart that belongs to the Smoky Mountains, and this memoir was about that place and its people. The author tells of the time in her life when she left her D.C. job and returned to her Appalachian home to help her father in his country doctor’s office. It made me laugh out loud and cry some too.

The Friendly Persuasion by Jessamyn West – I love the movie, so I thought I should read the book. It’s a charming story about a Quaker family during the Civil War era living in Indiana. Jess and Eliza Birdwell are endearing characters that obviously love one another. I enjoyed the humor and gentleness of the book; however, as rare as this is, I actually prefer the old Gary Cooper movie.

Happy Reading!

Sweet Reads