July Book Reviews

The Home-Maker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher (audiobook) ★★★★☆ 

Published in 1924, yet it reads like a contemporary novel. A compulsive, demanding housewife named Evangeline Knapp is disgruntled and her husband and three children get the brunt of her controlling, unhappy attitude while others in the community think she is the cream of the crop, always perfectly put together with a clean home and the best advice and ideas. But when her husband has a tragic accident, she replaces him at work and their roles are reversed, which surprisingly works great for everyone. No one is stepping on their tiptoes, trying to keep the house clean and organized anymore since she is so exhausted and passionate about her work when she gets home, she doesn't notice a bit of dust or new stains on furniture. And the dad is happy to finally have time to get to know his children, read the poetry he hasn't had time to read since he was always stressed with work. But when her husband seems to be improving, everyone's a little uncertain they want things to return to how they were before the accident. I was very annoyed with Evangeline and her prideful attitude and controlling way she managed her home, specifically her disrespectful way she spoke to her children and husband in the beginning of the story. The change in the second half of the book was interesting to see, especially since it was a reminder what a big different it makes on our attitude as moms when we make time for things we are passionate about what we do. Even though she was an exceptional housewife from the sense of organization and cleanliness, she hated what she was doing and it flowed into her relationships with her family. I personally love being a stay-at-home mom and housewife, but not every woman wants this life, and a balance of home and work is what brings them alive, gives them purpose, and helps them be the best moms and wives to their families. So, even though I couldn't relate to Evangeline in a lot of ways, I enjoyed reading this perspective and seeing how the author worked through a strained family dynamic and how it changed for the better. 

Classics Club Reading Challenge:  - 41st book (out of 75). See my whole list HERE

The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn't, and Get Stuff Done by Kendra Adachi (audiobook and physical book) ★★★★☆ 

I had heard Kendra speak about her Lazy Genius philosophy on a few podcasts before (though I haven't listened to her actual podcast yet), so I knew the general idea: "be a genius about what matters and lazy about what doesn't". This was a useful guide to digging deeper into how to apply this message to different areas of life to help calm down the "chorus of shoulds", enjoy everyday moments more, and avoid overwhelming feelings of not doing enough or never getting it quite right. We are obviously finite, limited creatures, so we cannot do it all and we shouldn't place that pressure on ourselves. So, being "lazy" (not as uptight or consuming as much time) on things that don't matter to our overall goals can be laid aside while we focus on the things that do spark our joy, give us life, and make our everyday easier and more manageable. She shares thirteen principles and how they tie into the Lazy Genius Way, including: Decide Once, Start Small, Build the Right Routines, Set House Rules, Put Everything in its Place, Essentialize, Schedule Rest, and Be Kind to Yourself. I found the stories she includes about each principle to be helpful and helped me see how I could apply the wisdom. It was not a life-changing book since I feel I am already implementing a lot of what she's written about, but it still gave me ideas to try.

The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried To Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore (audiobook) ★★★★☆ 

The year was 1860 and Civil War was breaking out in the U.S. In her home, Elizabeth Packard has entered into her own personal civil war when her husband has her committed to an insane asylum because of her differing religious views. It didn't take much more than a husband's word and a sham trial to force Elizabeth into her home for the next seemingly endless season of her life, the Illinois State Hospital. Dr. McFarland is in charge. Charming at first, Elizabeth trusts him until that faith is shattered for many different reasons, most of which his denial of her sanity, which she felt was obvious to anyone willing to really examine her. She witnesses various abuse committed against the women in the insane asylum, driving her towards a hope to one day get out and rescue them somehow.  In a world dominated by men, two in particular made her life a living hell. And yet, she fights and becomes a voice for the many other women in similar situation, becoming a political advocate and author later in life. This is narrative nonfiction, which is a type of biography that reads like fiction because of the expert research that uncovered details and actual conversations (from copious journal entries of different people) to make the story flow rather than just dropping historical data. 

Content Rating: PG (descriptions of violence in the insane asylum are disturbing but not gratuitously gory) 

How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7  by Joanna Faber and Julie King (audiobook) ★★★★★ 

Written for younger children, this is a companion book to the bestselling How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk, written by Adele Faber (one of the author's moms). This is an incredible resource that provides countless practical examples for various areas of childrearing. From dealing with tantrums to picky eating and sleep refusal, there is a ton of great info, presented in an engaging style that is easy to read (or listen to, on audiobook). The book starts with a section on validating emotions, then moves to engaging cooperation, resolving conflict, tools for praise and appreciation, food fights, dealing with the morning rush of getting out the door, shopping with kids, tattling, cleanup, doctor visits, shy kids, what to do when kids hit, sleep issues, and a great troubleshooting chapter when things just don't seem to be working. There are even a few chapters on parents' feelings and what to do when you get really angry with your kid. And there is a chapter specially for kids who have special needs and how to apply these methods with them. There is a pdf I found online with the summary of each chapter that is pure gold. I will use this to remind me of all I learned from this useful book. This is a great resource for parents looking for alternatives to spanking and time-outs. 

Content Rating: G