July + August Book Reviews
Heartfelt Discipline: Following God's Path of Life to the Heart of Your Child by Clay Clarkson ★★★★★
I love reading books by the Sally Clarkson, but for a few months, I read this book by her husband. It was a dense book, so it took my a long time, especially since I journaled what I liked and what I wanted to apply from each chapter. Mr. Clarkson focuses on three areas of discipline in raising children: directive discipline (guiding a child to live a life that honors God through encouragement, sympathy, nurturing, and instruction), corrective discipline (spiritual, verbal, and behavioral correction) is re-directing when a child has veered off the path, and protective discipline (discerning how to protect them from unhealthy desires, relationships, media, and influences). He also spends a few chapters discussing why he doesn't believe the rod verses in the Bible are about spanking children. There was a ton to think and pray through, and I can see myself returning to this book as a reference. It was mostly high-level or a birds eye view to this way of parenting that honors God and honors children as they are pointed daily to Him rather than practical tips, but I was still able to apply several things to my discipline toolbox to try out, and save other things for when the kids are older.Content rating: G
Teatime Discipleship: Sharing Faith One Cup at Time by Sally Clarkson ★★★★★
This was a delightful read that felt light because there were a ton of beautiful photographs and recipes, but still packed a punch with great theology and encouragement. It felt like having a cup of tea with Sally as she encouraged you to be an encouragement to those around you, one tea cup at a time. Sally has used the simple pleasure of sharing a pot of tea to foster opportunities to share the gospel, encourage a friend who was going through a hard time, pour into her children's lives (she would occasionally steal away with her pre-teen daughter and have tea in a room while the younger boys would be running around doing their thing), and overall just instill a bit of beauty within a normal day. Content rating: G
This Beautiful Truth: How God's Goodness Breaks into Our Darkness by Sarah Clarkson (audiobook and print) ★★★★★
Sarah's testimony of God breaking through the darkness, guilt, and loneliness of her long battle with OCD and anxiety was a difficult but powerful read. I am still processing it. She struggled as a young woman with crippling symptoms that kept her from living a full, independent life and threatened to shatter her faith in God. But as she studied at Oxford and later married and had two children, she has learned many lessons of God's beauty amidst the ugliest of circumstances. She shares how focusing on the beautiful things of life, not in a superficial and materialistic way, but in a deep recognizing, awe, and focusing on God's beautiful creation (from crashing waves at the seashore to a masterpiece in a museum to a Bach concerto to a baby in a mom's arms), her faith was restored to the God who is present even in the pain of miscarriages, death of loved ones, mental illness, and failed or delayed professional plans, and broken relationships. I listened to this one one audiobook first and then re-read it in print so I could journal my favorite parts. Content rating: G
Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare for Children by E.Nesbit (audiobook)★★★★☆
I enjoyed several of E. Nesbit's children's classics and I have been wanting to familiarize myself with Shakespeare for years, so this seemed like a perfect way to dive into the world of Shakespeare while not entirely ready to tackle his actual words. Her summaries of each of his plays helped me get the gist of the stories and often times made me curious to read or listen to a bit of the original plays. I feel like I understand many more Shakespeare-derived expressions and references now that I have rudimentary knowledge of each tale. Content rating: G
A World Lost by Wendell Berry (audiobook) ★★★★☆
Berry's novels are such a quiet retreat for me. The agriculture setting of the farming town of Port William reminds you of simpler times, yet his characters are anything but. This one has a somber tone as a man, Andy Catlett, looks back to when he was nine years old and his uncle was murdered. His view as a child processing this heartbreak of an uncle who was very close to him but also was elusive and sketchy at times, brings up memories for Andy of the family, farming on his dad's land, and his own maturing through the years. My favorite Berry novel remains Hannah Coulter, but I have been enjoying the occasional visit back to Port William to meet new townspeople. Content rating: PG (I can't remember for sure, but there may have been a few swear words and mild sexual references).
The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta von Trapp ★★★★★
This book will definitely make my top reads of 2023. I grew up watching The Sound of Music, but was not familiar with the real Trapp family, so it was fun to see how much of their lives really made it into the movie. Maria's writing style, filled with humor (she was a bit of a prankster at times) and discussions about her Catholic faith and how it shaped all their decisions, helped tell the tale full of adventure, struggles, and of course, a ton of singing. I loved how close the family remained over decades of singing together, how they worked together and loved one another when they were wealthy in Austria and poor refugees in America and a busy, traveling family of musicians balancing the rigor of running a farm, non-profit aid ministry for post-war Austria, and their summer singing camps on their property. They were a busy, intentional, others-focused family who radiated God's love through all circumstances. I was inspired by Maria as a mom in many instances. Now I need to make time to re-watch the movie! Content rating: G
Wonder by R.J. Palacio ★★★★★
I first read this in 2016 and adored it, so I was excited for a re-read for book club this month. August is a ten-year old embarking on his first day at a private school after growing up homeschooled. In some ways he is ordinary, he tries to convince you. He likes Star Wars and playing with his beloved dog Daisy. But in other ways, he is extraordinary. For August was born with cranial abnormalities that cause people to do a double-look and often turn away in disgust. He sees it and he has grown accustomed to it. Multiple surgeries have helped his overall health, yet he still has a lot of challenges, from his hearing to his inability to eat neatly because of a repaired cleft palate. Well, if middle school wasn't hard enough, August enters in the cliques and bullying and awkwardness that challenges him and propels him to grow. Through the book, told from multiple perspectives, including August, his sister, and several friends, August's story, often humorous as well as heartbreaking, tugged at my heart. I just adore August, his supportive and loving family, and the brave kids who gave him a chance and ended up realizing just how "cool beans" Auggie was. This would be a great read-aloud for elementary to middle-school kids and would bring up great discussion.Content rating: G
The Harvester by Gene Stratton-Porter (audiobook) ★★★★★
Content rating: G
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Elle Alice