Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis

Book #1 in the Space Trilogy.

While on a walking holiday, Ransom needs a place to stay for the night.  When he finds a home in the countryside, he stumbles upon two men about to embark on an incredible space journey.  One of the men he knew, but did not like, from the university.  They force Ransom into a space ship with the intention of giving him as a sacrifice to the leaders on Malacandra (aka Mars).  Once on the planet, Ransom manages to escape and discovers that the residence on Malacandra are not cruel nor stupid.  Can he protect this beautiful planet and its species from the evil intent of his fellow humans?  

I am not a sci-fi fan, but I did not dread reading this book.  Lewis's description of the this world and his creativity in creating this story are admirable.

-Borrowed from the library.

Warning (if kids reading it): swearing-d***

The House That George Built by Suzanne Slade illustrated Rebecca Bond*

Based on the traditional poem, This Is the House That Jack Built, Ms. Slade reveals the steps George Washington took to build the White House.  On the left hand side of the each page, the text is prose providing the story/facts about the specific step.

Personally reading the This Is the House That Jack Built poem exhausts me, so when reading this book I just read the prose! 

I found the information about the building of the White House fascinating and highly recommend reading this book when studying this period of history.  Additonal information about the White House and also its additons by other presidents is provided in the back.  

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen

Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts

Our church's ladies' Sunday school class taught lessons from this book this past spring.  

The battle is in the mind.  Mrs. Allen offers strategies to recognize and stop untrue thoughts.  All of her suggestions are based on scripture.  She even shares recent brain research that supports what scripture has stated all along!

Although she shares personal stories and weaves them into the various sections, this book is not about her.  It is about the freedom and victory we have in Christ.  

Many Christian books about parenting, marriage, "help books" etc.  do not leave a lasting impression on me.  This book, however, has made an indelible mark. 

-Borrowed from the library.

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner*

Award-winner- 1997 Newbery Honor Book

In a wine shop Gen brags that he can steal anything and lands in prison for months.  Then the king's Magus promises Gen if he can steal an ancient treasure, Hamiathe's Gift, he will not have to return to prison.  The quest involves a dangerous journey into a potentially hostile country and an almost impossible mission.  But Gen vows that he can steal anything. . . .

A surprise ending!

Readers will appreciate Gen's humor and feistiness!

Book #1 in a six book series.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Warning: swearing- gods d***, d***

Greta Gerwig's Little Women-DVD*

I really enjoyed this version of Little Women.  Jo March reflects back and forth on her life.  The actoresses who portray the March females display the different personalities well.  The scenery is beauitful.  The interactions of the family are authentic and make you want to be part of their community.  The beauty and sometimes the sadness made me cry while watching it.

My husband and I enjoyed seeing the process it took to make a book during that time period.  How they incorporated it was actually beautiful.   

The only aspect my family and I did not care for was the "back and forth" format.  If one is not familiar with the book and the storyline, it could be mega-confusing.  The productors do provide distinct differences in the plot, scenery, clothing, hairstyles etc. that a viewer can determine when the time has changed.  If you are looking for a linear storyline, you will be disappointed while viewing this version.  

This movie is definitely female-centric.  Mr. March is absent during most of the movie (serving in the Civil War).  When he appears at the end of the movie, his role is minimal. 

Rated: PG (thematic elements and brief smoking)  **Also, Laurie is drunk in a scene.  

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

40 Favorite Hymns on the Christian Life by Leland Ryken

A Closer Look at Their Spiritual and Poetic Meaning

Mr. Ryken delves deeper into the background on various hymns.  Orginally these hymns were solely poems.  Mr. Ryken focuses on them as strictly poems in order to develop a greater appreciation for their meaning.  

Thankfully, he has included a glossary of literary terms.

I won't look at hymns the same way again . . .which is a good, new perspective.

-Borrowed from a friend.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

This book captured my attention from the very first couple of sentences, "Lydia is dead. But they don't know this yet.".

The Lee family is a Chinese American family.  The favorite child is Lydia.  Both James, the father and Marilyn, the mother, are vicariously living Lydia's life.  James longs for her to be popular and not stick out.  Marilyn bestows all of her attention on her via academics, pushing the medical field on Lydia.  

Nathan, the oldest child and Hannah, the youngest child, are ignored most of the time.  Lydia carries the burden of pleasing both parents.  

Gradually the reader discovers the misconceptions each of the characters have rehearsed in their minds, which affect their perceptions and relationships.  

A very compelling family story about culture and the danger of being artifical with those you love.

Throughout the book I wanted to sit down with each charater and give them the attention and care they needed.  I felt badly for each family member.

The ending was not particularly satisfying, but it portrays how life on this earth sometimes is.  

Once again, although I enjoyed the writing and how expertly the author told the story, I was reminded why I mostly stay away from modern adult fiction (see warnings).

Warnings: Some swearing.  Premartial sex.  James has an affair with his teaching assistant.  Their intimacy is explicit sometimes.  A character has same sex attraction (slowly discovered by the end of the book).  

-Borrowed from the library.

Three Terrible Trins by Dick King-Smith illustrated by Mark Teague

When Mrs. Gray loses a third husband in one year, she vows to train her three bucks how to outsmart the cat for revenge.  Two cats reside inside Orchard Farm; four roam the grounds outside.  The trins, Thomas, Richard and Henry, soon earn a reputation of being brave.  The three befriend a Cellarmouse, named Kevin, which is stirs up the gossips since the Trins are "Atticmice"-upper class.  Kevin and the trins soon transform Orchard Farm into a pleasant place for every creature (expect the cats!).

-Humorous!

Mentor text-opening line

-Borrowed from the library.

Warnings/points to discuss: Mr. Budge, the farmer of Orchard Farm, indulges in hard cider at least three times a day.  He is basically a mean alcoholic.  The Cellarmice love sloppy Mr. Budge who regularly slops drops of cider on the floor.  The Cellarmice are known as "drunks". Mr. Budge also has a glass eye which he removes at each meal.  Sensitive readers may be freaked out by that!   Mrs. Gray and Kevin cause quite a commotion when he boards with Mrs. Gray.  

Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley

Before she leaves the city and moves to a town near the ocean, Rachel leaves a note in her best friend Henry's favorite book proclaiming her love for him.  He never responds to the specific note, so she ignores his letters over the next three years.  Rachel, her mother and brother Cal love living near the ocean.   It is a perfect location since she and Cal love to swim and also dream of exploring the deep.   Then Cal, a competent swimmer, drowns, and Rachel slips into depression.  Her mother sends her back to the city where she is forced to work at Henry's family's used bookstore.  Her job?  Record people's notes to each other in the store's Letter Library, a special section where people can write to each other in books.  Through this mundane job and reconnecting to former friends, Rachel finds healing and hope.

I enjoyed the format of the book-switching viewpoints between Henry and Rachel plus reading the letters placed in books between various people in the story.  

The world-view is definitely secular.  As the characters try to make sense of death and life's tradegies, they search everywhere but God. 

**This book is categorized as a Young Adult.

Warnings/points to discuss: lots of swearing-f***, s***, premartial sex (closed door-no details given), mentions a "hard-on",  Martin, a semi-main character, has two mums, allusion that Lola, a friend of Henry and Rachel, may be a lesbian and a comment "what is wrong with that?"

-Borrowed from the library.