October Book Reviews

 

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Five Children and It by E. Nesbit (audiobook) ★★★★★

After reading (and adoring!) Edith Nesbit's The Railway Children last year, I knew I would need to read more books by this classic author. She was a prolific author, writing and collaborating on sixty children's books, though The Railway Children and Five Children and It are likely her most well-known. The title seemed a bit odd, so I hesitated to read it for awhile, but I am so glad I finally read it. Similar to The Railway Children, the story focuses on siblings who mostly get along.  They embark on a magical adventure when they meet a sand fairy who grants them one wish per day. This seems like it would be a dream come true, but they continually end up regretting each wish when they find themselves in various trouble. It is a children's book, yet it is witty and humorous for adults too; a perfect read-aloud option for older kids that I think parents would thoroughly enjoy too. 

Content rating: G

Classics Club Reading Challenge:  45th book (out of 75). See my whole list HERE

The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan (audiobook) ★★★★★

I have read different children's versions of this classic, most recently the phenomenal Little Pilgrim's Big Journey, which made me want to read the original story. It was more readable than I expected for a book written in 1678. A Christian allegory about sanctification or the way towards heaven, it is made of two stories or books, the first of which is the most well-known, focusing on Christian, and the second book on his wife and their children. They all embark on the journey to the Celestial City when beckoned by the King through a letter. They meet various challenges on the way, almost perishing many times, from people who want to confuse and derail them to the beast called Apollyon, who is the enemy of the King. Along the way, they all learn important truths about the King and his way, which help them on their journey. This was a powerful book that explained so many doctrines of the Christian faith in understandable ways through the allegory. 

Content rating: G 

Classics Club Reading Challenge:  46th book (out of 75). See my whole list HERE

Address Unknown by Katherine Kressmann Taylor (audiobook) ★★★★☆

At barely an hour of audiobook time, this short story about two friends packed a punch. A classic that has recently been rediscovered, it was a bestseller when first published din 1938 since it gave a unique perspective and accurate view of the German propoganda and dangers that would soon unfold with WWII.  Written in epistolary fashion, entirely from letters between business associates (one a Jew and the other a German) who were close friends when they were art dealers in San Fransisco. But when one of them moves back to Germany, he seems to be falling for Hitler's lies and he changes dramatically. The afterward, which is about the author and how she got the idea to write this story, was pretty fascinating. 

Content rating: G

Classics Club' Reading Challenge:  47th book (out of 75). See my whole list HERE 

To Sir, With Love by E.R. Braithwaite (audiobook) ★★★★☆

A little-known classic about a Black man from British Guyana, previously a British Royal Air Force pilot in WWII who meets his new challenge: forty-six unruly students from an East End London secondary school. Rough-around the edges, these teens treat each other and their teachers with disdain, yet he breaks through their hard exteriors and leaves a lasting imprint in their lives as they finish their last year of school before they enter the real world. The first thing that turned the tide was his insistence in them calling him and the other men in the class "sir" and the ladies "miss". A small change that helped them see the dignity and worth of classmates as well as their Black teacher, for whom they first showed discrimination and disrespect. For those who enjoy a good story about teachers making a difference in students lives, this is great. It also had me thinking of the show, Call the Midwives, since that was also set in East End London. I am interested in watching the film adaptation. Originally published in 1959, it is still relevant for today, easy to read and great on audiobook.

Content rating: PG (a few sexual references and language, but nothing too bad)

Classics Club' Reading Challenge:  48th book (out of 75). See my whole list HERE 

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised Ten Kids on 25 Words or Less by Terry Ryan (audiobook) ★★★★☆

A fun, inspiring story about a stay-at-home mom who used her skill and passion for writing to earn some cash on the side to help raise her ten kids and support her alcoholic husband. During the 1950s, companies held contests to chose jingles and slogans and to help with marketing. Evelyn Ryan entered hundreds of these contests, mailing in jingles, poems, and essays, and won very many of them. Some prizes were monetary, which were the best since the Ryans were constantly living paycheck-to-paycheck and the father was wasting the money on his alcoholic tendencies. But she also won random household appliances, sports cars, and all-expenses paid vacations (many of which she then sold for cash to pay bills and clothes for her kids). This woman didn't let her difficult circumstances beat her down, but instead, showed her children what a tough mom looks like, from her often humorous contest entries to the ways she raised them and managed their home. Written by her daughter, this was very enjoyable to read and reminded me a bit about The Color of Water by James McBride (which is a tribute to his mother as well). 

Content Rating: PG  (I think there may have been a cuss word? But overall a clean book from what I remember)

Mothering By the Book: The Power of Reading Aloud to Fight Fear and Recapture Joy by Jennifer Pepito (audiobook) ★★★★★

I am using Jennifer's wonderful Peaceful Preschool homeschool curriculum this year and LOVING it, so I kept hearing about her new book through newsletters and Instagram. I was so glad to find an audiobook copy and listen to this awesome memoir + Christian living book. She shares her experience with battling many different facets of fear and how reading aloud to her children was one of the powerful ways she worked through the issues that caused that fear. Ultimately, her faith in God permeated through many broken parts of her heart and difficult experiences were refined by His love as she surrendered herself to His will and His care. Each chapter focuses on a different fear that is common with moms. She chose a children's book for each chapter that had a lesson or theme related to that specific chapter, which was really fun since I recognized many of the books and the ones I didn't went straight on my To-Be-Read list (which is already too long!). Her study guide questions at the end of each chapter were really helpful for me to journal and pray through as I worked through various fears while reading the book. You definitely don't have to be a homeschooling mom to enjoy or glean from this book. It was a powerful read for me. I loved her honesty and vulnerability in sharing so much of her family's story.

Content Rating: G 

Amberwell (Ayrton Family #1) by D. E. Stevenson (audiobook) ★★★★★

Published in 1955,  Amberwell is the fictional estate on the west coast of Scotland, owned by the wealthy Ayrton family for many generations. The story focuses on five Ayrton siblings in the years before, during, and after WWII, as they grow from children to adults. They are close when they are young, then they each embark on their own paths, some straying farther than they could have ever imagined from Amberwell as well as relationally from one another. Their parents are cold and distant, focusing on their social class and how to beatify Amberwell much more than on the needs of their children, which was interesting to see the effects as the siblings grew up.  I loved the slow-paced and atmospheric writing that brought me into the lush Scottish setting. I enjoy family stories, especially set in affluent British (or in this case, Scottish) homes, since this is an entirely unfamiliar story to my own. Old money of the Scottish gentry, secret gardens for children to play in, and a house full of gossiping servants all weave the setting of the seemingly idyllic environment at Amberwell.  I loved Nell, the shy, socially awkward second youngest daughter (and main protagonist), who matures into a leader in the home when everything seems to fall apart during and after WWII. The loyalty and love she has for her family -- even when it is not  returned -- was beautiful. If you enjoy shows like Downton Abbey, this may be up your alley. I am looking forward to reading the next two books in the series.

Content rating: G 

Classics Club' Reading Challenge:  49th book (out of 75). See my whole list HERE 

The Ragged Edge of Night by Olivia Hawker (audiobook) ★★★★☆

It is 1942 in Germany and a Franciscan friar named Anton is stripped of everything familiar and dear to him when his school of disabled children is shut down. A dark memory of regret and stabbing guilt plague him when the children are taken away. After seeing an advertisement in a newspaper, he marries a destitute widow from a small village to help financially provide for her three children. This is his way to atone for his sins, so he thinks. He gets involved with some secretive work for the Resistance and endangers his own life as well as his new family, but he will do anything to help take Hitler and his Nazi cronies down. Loosely based on the author's husband's grandfather, this is an intriguing WWII novel. It was set apart from some of my other favorite WWII novels since it is set in Germany and follows people who are part of the Resistance against Hitler. I had not heard much about Germans opposed to Hitler (and risking their lives in that opposition), so it was a very interesting plot. I found it heartbreaking that Anton felt he had to redeem himself for past regrets, which (from my understanding) was part of his Catholic faith. As a Protestant Christian, I believe we cannot atone or redeem ourselves with good works, not matter how hard we try. Only through Jesus' atoning work at the cross could we truly receive forgiveness for past mistakes, sins, regrets. The heavy burden Anton carried because he felt he needed to make up for his perceived wrongdoing cast a dark shadow over his life and kept him from experiencing self-forgiveness and love from others for a long time. Beautifully written with complex characters like Anton and his new wife, it was a great read! 

Content rating: PG (maybe one derogatory term. No sex scenes. Some references to violence of the Nazis, but nothing graphic).

Rembrandt is in the Wind: Learning to Love Art through the Eyes of Faith by Russ Ramsey ★★★★★

I love learning about artists and the stories behind their masterpieces, so I was sold on this book as soon as I saw it recommended by a friend on Instagram. Russ Ramsey is the author of Behold the King of Glory, which I enjoyed, so I was excited to read another book by him. I loved how he extrapolated Christian truths from each artist's lives, even when their stories included brokenness, loss, loneliness, and plenty of bad decisions (Caravaggio, I am looking at you and your countless tavern brawls and public outbursts). Each chapter focuses on one artist and one specific masterpiece. From Rembrandt's The Storm on the Sea of Galilee (which sadly has been stolen and never recovered!) to Van Gogh's The Red Vineyard (the only painting he sold in his lifetime) to Henry Ossawa Tanner's Annunciation (my favorite rendition of Mary) to Michelangelo's enormous  David statue (at least two other artists tried and failed the project, and decades later, he finished the job from limitations in the stone and created a masterpiece recognized around the world). The appendix has useful tips for appreciating art, though I wish there was more! This book reminded me of the much heftier (and more textbook-ish) 75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know, but it was definitely more approachable for someone who is curious about how art and the Christian faith intersect. 

Content rating: G 

The Incredible Winston Browne by Sean Dietrich (audiobook) ★★★★★

Winston Browne is the sheriff  (and little league coach) in the teeny-tiny town of Moab, Florida (population 912) in the 1950s. He is generous, courageous, kind, and basically the town depends. When he is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he decides to live life to its fullest, throwing (most) caution to the wind. His decision to YOLO has ripple effects on multiple townspeople, including Eleanor, the dependable and rule-following town spinster, who make drastic changes in her life as well. A young tomboy with a mysterious past lands in town amidst all this change, and she fits snuggly into their lives, though danger is constantly at her heels as people from her past are trying to track her down. This novel was a delight. Small town Southern culture, hilarious dialogue and bantering, and just an overall feel-good novel. I was cheering for all of the supporting characters, but Winston Browne was definitely incredible.  

Content rating: PG (mild references to violence)