February Book Reviews

 

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Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter (audiobook) ★★★★☆

A small town is transformed by a young, optimistic girl who teaches them all the Glad Game. Pollyanna can always find something to be glad about and she tries to share this gift with others, no matter their circumstances. Her strict, grumpy aunt, who assumes custody of Pollyanna when she becomes an orphan, is the most astonishing transformation, and it takes the most dire and seemingly hopeless circumstances to get there. A sweet story for children and pre-teens that would make for a great read-aloud. 

Content rating: G

Classics Club:  57/75. See my whole list HERE

Glory in the Ordinary: Why Your Work in the Home Matters to God by Courtney Reissig (audiobook) ★★★★☆

Whether a stay-at-home-mom or a working mom, or a hybrid between the two, every Christian mom has an opportunity to bring glory to God and joy to their families and guests through the work in their homes. Even the seemingly insignificant daily tasks like laundry and changing diapers have value and a purpose in imaging God's love for His children. Reissig started with the history of the stay-at-home-mom and shared her own struggles through the transition from working woman to being primarily at home, while using Scripture to point readers to the importance of the ordinary work in the home and why it matters for both today and eternity. This was well-written, but not ground-breaking or very memorable for me, since I have read and heard many other moms talk about the same topic. I did appreciate, however, that she did not pit stay-at-home-moms vs working moms, and instead found purpose and goodness in both.

Content rating: G

Little House in the Big Woods (Little House #1) by Laura Ingalls Wilder (audiobook) ★★★★☆

I didn't read this children's classic as a child, so I was excited to read it with my book club this month. It is a sweet, wholesome story of the author's childhood, focusing on one year (when she was four years old) living in a secluded cabin in the Big Woods of Wisconsin. Each season held it's own joys as well as challenges. I probably wouldn't have noticed as a child, but now as a mom, I loved reading about Ma's cleaning schedule (wash on Monday, iron on Tuesday, med on Wednesday, churn on Thursday, clean on Friday, bake on Saturday, and rest on Sunday), her resourcefulness in using every last piece of a slaughtered pig (the girls enjoyed the pig's tail!), the simple yet thoughtful gifts she made for her girls (paper dolls with fabric scraps for clothes), her preparation for the future (canned fish, preserved meats and fish, etc), and her overall calm and nurturing demeanor. I definitely could learn a thing or two from Ma! I am looking forward to reading the series with my kids when they are older.

Content rating: G

The Postnatal Depletion Cure: A Complete Guide to Rebuilding Your Health & Reclaiming Your Energy for Mothers of Newborns, Toddlers and Young Children by Dr. Oscar Serrallach ★★★★☆

I read The Fourth Trimester a few months ago and, though it was a good books overall, I felt like something was missing. This book is a great companion, and if you have to choose one, this would be it. Covering a range of diverse topics to provide a holistic healing plan for new moms who are nutritionally, emotionally, mentally depleted, this is a great resource. Although a lot of the recommendations seem very expensive (specifically all the lab work he prescribes to his patients), there are plenty realistic recommendations that can be easily applied. The book has four parts: defining postnatal depletion, rebuilding physical wellness (focuses on rebuilding micro and macronutrients, hormones, energy, and sleep), completing physical recovery (food and exercise plans), and recovering your life (rebuilding emotional well-being, self-love, and libido).

CURRENTLY READING:

Ruth (Elizabeth Gaskell)

Year of Wonder: Classical Music to Enjoy Day by Day (Clemency Burton-Hill)

Treasuring God in Our Traditions (Noel Piper)

Journey to the Cross: A 40-Day Lenten Devotional (Paul David Tripp)

Bitter and Sweet: A Journey into Easter (Tsh Oxenreider)

Uncovering the Love of Jesus: A Lent Devotional (Asheritah Ciciu) - re-read