Books Kara read in 2013

 With our new little boy, Zephaniah.

Total read: 36

Fewer than in 2012, but I had other fun things to do, like growing a baby and living with an energetic toddler!

So here they are, with occasional comments. I've only linked to reviews, this time.

The Island of Adventure by Enid Blyton

Already Gone by Ken Ham and Britt Beemer

The Lord our Shepherd by J. Douglas MacMillan

They Found a Cave by Nan Chauncy

Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity by Mark A. Noll (my review here)

Thunder on the Right by Mary Stewart

Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement by Kathryn Joyce (John's review here)
Maddeningly unreferenced and anecdotal. Misunderstands her subject on key points, particularly missing the point of Christian self-sacrificial living.

Leepike Ridge by N. D. Wilson (John's review here)

The Puritan Experiment in the New World (1976 Westminster Conference papers)

My Brother Michael by Mary Stewart
I liked it until the last couple of chapters. Not recommended.

Talking About Dragons by William Chad Newsom
Nothing much new here.

Fit to Burst by Rachel Jankovic
Excellent, gospel-centred mothering book. I like her sense of humour and imaginative illustrations.

Standing on the Promises by Douglas Wilson
Best parenting book I've read.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Ride Like an Indian by Henry V. Larom
Children's book that reads like it was written by a health and safety committee. What kid sterilizes his knife before becoming blood brothers with his best friend?

Evening in the Palace of Reason by James Gaines.
Fascinating double biography of J.S. Bach and Frederick the Great.

Asterix the Gladiator

Asterix and the Actress

Family-Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham (John's review here)

Wordsmithy by Douglas Wilson

The Four by Peter Leithart

The Light Princess by George MacDonald

Classical Education and the Homeschool by Wes Callihan, Douglas Jones and Douglas Wilson
Short, helpful introduction to the subject.

Monet by Jude Welton (Eyewitness Art series)

The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

The Autobiography of G.K. Chesterton

Crunchy Cons by Rod Dreher

The Dean's Watch by Elizabeth Goudge
I fear she didn't believe in the resurrection.

Aunt's Aren't Gentlemen by P.G. Wodehouse

A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola
Charlotte Mason isn't God. Sometimes Andreola sounds like she thinks differently.

The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield

Empire of Bones by N.D. Wilson (John's review here)
This series keeps getting better. Fascinating incorporation of theology into story.

The Last Judgement by Iain Pears

Death By Living by N.D. Wilson
If you read Empire of Bones, you need to read this too.

The Classical Cookbook by Andrew Dalby and Sally Grainger

The Lord's Service by Jeff Meyers
Not uniformly convincing, but still very helpful in thinking through liturgical matters.

Kara's Reading Goals for 2014

It's that fun time of the year again. Book lists! Here are twelve books I plan to read in the coming year.

Books that are presents from my husband:

True Companion by Nancy Wilson Finished in June
This is a reworking of the Pastor's Wife e-mails that Nancy has been writing for the past few years. I find her advice biblical and practical.

The Book Lover's Cookbook
A present for our fourth anniversary.

Devotional books:

The Pastor's Wife by Sabina Wurmbrand
I'm reading this as a companion to John's Lenten reading.

Pulpit and Communion Table by John Duncan
This will be my Sunday book.

Books on Raising Children:

Instructing a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp

Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum by Laura Berquist Finished in March
I like to read one book on homeschooling every year. This one is from a Catholic perspective.

Christian Living:

Say Goodbye to Survival Mode by Crystal Paine Finished in March
This is written by a childhood friend.

Holy is the Day by Carolyn Weber Finished in January
This looks like another book about motherhood burnout, which seems a popular topic these days. But I'm interested because her book Surprised by Oxford was so good.

Children's books:

Black Ships Before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff  Finished in February
Illustrated by Alan Lee.

Boys of Blur by N.D. Wilson Finished in April
I like this author so much that I think I'll be reading anything he writes from now on.

Bible Study:

How to Read the Bible as Literature by Leland Ryken
I attempted this last year. Maybe I'll finish this time!

Exegetical Fallacies by D.A. Carson
This book is about things like the etymological fallacy.

A published author

I'm excited to announce that John has just had an article published by Tyndale Bulletin! It's called 'May the Lord Make the Woman like Rachel': Comparing Michal and Rachel. Tyndale Bulletin happens to be one of Galilee's favourite reads--at least, she's always taking our old copies from the shelf! Once the new issue arrives, I can tell her "your daddy wrote this".

Here's the abstract:
"The portrayal of Michal in the book of Samuel is similar to that of Rachel in the book of Genesis. Both have an older sister who is their rival for the affections of their husband. Both have an erratic father who pursues their husband. Both possess household idols called teraphim, which feature in the story of their deceiving their father. Both have at least a period of barrenness. Yet there are also differences between the two women, which can be explained in terms of the portrayal of Michal as an even more tragic figure than Rachel. Careful consideration of the points of similarity and difference yields the conclusion that the allusions to the Rachel story in the book of Samuel are intentional."

The whole article can be read here.

Turning Points by Mark Noll

Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity by Mark A. Noll, Second Edition

I found this a very interesting overview of church history. Noll has taken what could be an overwhelming subject and made it manageable by using twelve important events  (e.g. the Council of Nicaea) as springboards to talk about the details of people and places. Each chapter begins with an appropriate hymn of the time period and ends with a prayer.

In a book of this kind, the interpretive role of the historian becomes evident, and Noll is generally careful throughout to acknowledge his bias as an evangelical protestant. During the last couple of chapters, however, I found that he was not as aware of his presuppositions. For instance, he unquestioningly accepts that Bible translation and evangelism must be adapted to cultural idiom.

Turning Points tends to focus on the positive effects of various people and events. This may be a failing. For instance, Noll writes extensively about Methodism and its stepchild, Pentecostalism. Surely there is scope here for discussing the effects of a theology of Christian perfection, and how it has changed the face of Christianity.

 
I don't know enough about church history to be sure, but I wonder whether Noll, in his effort to write a balanced, non-Western, non-Americo-centric history, has missed some important bits. The absence of a mention of the Great Awakening in his chapter on the Wesleys (aside from a token mention of Whitefield) struck me particularly.

All in all, I found this a helpful introduction to church history, which, as a good introduction should, left me wanting to learn more.

Books Kara Read in 2012

These are the books I read in 2012, with occasional comments.

1.  Finding God Beyond Harvard by Kelly Monroe Kullberg
2. Hollywood Worldviews by Brian Godawa
3. Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl by N.D Wilson
4. To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis Creative and hilarious.
5. To Train Up a Child by Michael and Debi Pearl  Deeply flawed theology, but not as bad as some say.
6. Eat this Book by Eugene Peterson Found this frustratingly inconsistent.
7. Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze by Elizabeth Foreman Lewis
8. 100 Cupboards by N. D. Wilson Mysterious cupboards in a Kansas farmhouse. Great story!
9. Family Practice, ed. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
10. Through New Eyes by James Jordan An important book that I will be reading again. So much to think about on each page.
11. Masterchef Australia, Series 3: The Cookbook
12.  Letter from New York by Helene Hanff
13. Joy in the Morning by P.G. Wodehouse
14. Dandelion Fire by N. D. Wilson My favourite of the 100 Cupboards books.
15. What I Saw in America by G.K. Chesterton Still relevant for America today, I think.
16. The Chestnut King by N.D. Wilson
17. Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford Fascinating reading.
18. The Crisis of '77 by Bob Thomas Important in helping me understand the history of my denomination here in Australia.
19. At Large and at Small, Confessions of a Literary Hedonist by Anne Fadiman I really enjoyed this book of essays.
20. The Secret of the Unicorn by Hergé
21. Martin the Warrior by Brian Jacques
22. Reading the OED by Ammon Shea This is the only book I reviewed on the blog this year, thereby artificially heightening its importance.
23. The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge
24. Brown Sunshine of Sawdust Valley by Marguerite Henry Disappointing book by one of my childhood favourite authors.
25. Lit! by Tony Renke
26. Great Books of the Christian Tradition by Terry W. Glaspey
27. The Naked Chef by Jamie Oliver
28. Happy Days with Jamie
29. Jamie's America
30. Jamie at Home
31. Jamie's Italy
32. The Well-Trained Mind by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer
33. Red Rackham's Treasure by Hergé
34. Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
35. The Christ of the Covenants by O. Palmer Robertson I read this introduction to covenantal theology with a friend.
36. Piano Lessons by Anna Goldsworthy I read this after hearing an excerpt on the radio.
37. The Canons of Dordt I was struck by how the authors of this document so obviously loved the doctrines.
38. The Bride's Treasure by Faber, Meijerkink, Trimp and Zomer A very helpful history and explanation of the Canons of Dordt.
39. Saraban by Greg and Lucy Malouf
40. The Warden by Anthony Trollope Upon Suzannah's recommendation.
41. Early Christian Writings: The Apostolic Fathers, trans. Staniforth, ed. Louth
42. Mother Kirk by Douglas Wilson
43. The Minnow on the Say by Philippa Pearce A mystery with boys and boats. Fun.
44.  The Silver Branch by Rosemary Sutcliff
45.  1 is One by Tasha Tudor
46.  Anytime Prayers by Madeleine L'Engle
47.  I Was Just Wondering by Philip Yancey
48.  Warm Bread and Honey Cake by Gaitri Pagrach-Chandra
49.  The Dragon's Tooth by N.D. Wilson An excellent start to a series and very interesting thematically.
50.  The Drowned Vault by N.D. Wilson
51.  Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman
52.  Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart Suzannah motivated me to read Stewart. Austria, the circus, a mystery and Lippizaner horses. What's not to love?
53.  Luther and His Katie by Dolina MacCuish Frustratingly unreferenced.
54.  The Moonspinners by Mary Stewart
55. Medieval Celebrations by Daniel Diehl and Mark Donnelly
56. The Repurposed Library by Lisa Occhipinti Some bibliophiles might find the ideas in this book scandalous.
57.  Felt by India Flint and Toyoko Sugiwaka My new interest, thanks to my sister-in-law.
58.  The Gabriel Hounds by Mary Stewart
59.  The Case for Covenantal Infant Baptism, ed. Gregg Strawbridge Some very helpful essays addressing one of my passions, the status of children in the church.
60.  Scout: The Secret of the Swamp by Piet Prins
61.  The Operations of Divine Grace, trans. from the German

Kara's Reading Goals for 2013

Here are twelve books I plan to read in 2013, paired in categories.

Two books on unfamiliar topics:

The Four by Peter Leithart Finished in July

Referring to the gospels, of course.

Joy at the End of the Tether by Douglas Wilson

This is one of three books the author recommends one read to figure out what makes him tick. It's about the book of Ecclesiastes.

Two books that were presents:

They Found a Cave by Nan Chauncy Finished in January

A children's story, set in Tasmania.

The Dean's Watch by Elizabeth Goudge

When I read this, I will have completed the City of Bells series.

Two books about writing:

Wordsmithy by Douglas Wilson Finished in July

I love the subtitle: "Hot tips for the writing life".

The Writing Life by Annie Dillard
 

Two books about parenting:

Standing on the Promises by Douglas Wilson Finished

Perhaps this should be in the "ought to have read" category. Somehow I skipped this when I first read the family series.

Fit to Burst by Rachel Jankovic Finished

Rachel's first book, Loving the Little Years, was full of humour and practical tips. I look forward to more of the same in this.

Two books I ought to have read before:

The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan Finished

I have decided that practically memorizing a dramatized audio version when I was a child still doesn't count as reading the book.

Leepike Ridge by N. D. Wilson Finished in February

Because after reading  the 100 Cupboards trilogy and the first two installments of the Ashtown Burials, I want to read everything Wilson has written.

Two memoirs:

Chesterton's Autobiography  Finished

A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken

Reading the OED by Ammon Shea

I find the concept of this book slightly annoying. On the front cover of my edition is the boast, "I have read the OED so you don't have to." Is this meant as a dare? Because any word lover worth his salt isn't going to be satisfied with such a claim. How are we to know that the author has found the most interesting words?  I feel like going to the library right now and taking down Volume 1: A to Bazouki.

The book is the story of the author's reading through the massive Oxford English Dictionary in one year. The chapters are titled according to the letters of the alphabet and contain a smattering of the  words he discovered along the way. This brings me to my second criticism. Half the fun of the OED is the detailed histories of words. And all that is missing in this book. The definitions provided are sadly brief, and occasionally misleading. (At least Shea admits to this in his introduction.) The entry for Balaamite is particularly disappointing. It seems to be an attempt at humor at the expense of the Bible, and it's quite evident that Shea didn't bother to look at the story in any depth. But this was mild in comparison to the worldly-wise anti-marriage scoff tagged on to the definition for opsigamy.

These gripes aside, I still couldn't resist a book about reading books, and it was a fun read in the main.

Will I add any of the words I read about to my vocabulary? Probably not---well, maybe abluvion. I see that a lot.

Kara's Reading Goals for 2012

Here are twelve books which I hope to read this year.

Two books outside my comfort zone:

The Elements by Theodore Gray

The Histories by Herodotus (or something else about ancient history)

Two memoirs:

An American Childhood by Annie Dillard Finished in May

Finding God Beyond Harvard by Kelly Monroe Kullberg Finished in January

Two books about parenting:

To Train Up a Child by Michael and Debi Pearl Finished in February

Instructing a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp

Two books out of curiosity:

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

My brother-in-law, and now my sister, keep talking about this! Finished in February

God So Loved the World by Elizabeth Goudge Gave up!
Maybe this will help me understand her theology.

Two books by Wilsons:

Mother Kirk by Douglas Wilson Finished

Notes from the Tilt-a Whirl by N.D. Wilson
Finished in January

Two lonely books in need of a mate:

Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon Gave up.

The Green Earth by Luci Shaw Finished

2011 In Books (Kara's List)

These are the books I read this year, with occasional comments in italics.

Brave New Family by G. K. Chesterton

Three Men on the Bummel by J.K. Jerome
I didn't find this as funny as Three Men in a Boat. But it was pleasantly diverting.

Maggie's Harvest by Maggie Beer

Why Johnny Can't Preach by T. David Gordon

Untune the Sky: Occasional Stammering Verse by Douglas Wilson

Jeeves in the Offing by P.G. Wodehouse

Finding God at Harvard, ed. by Kelly Monroe

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard

There is a lot to be said about the things one sees down at the creek, evidently. As I read this, I began to see the outdoors in a different way. Highly recommended!

Better Birth by Lareen Newman and Heather Hancock

Four Faultless Felons by G. K. Chesterton

Redwall by Brian Jacques

I read this when I was feeling a bit sick during early pregnancy. A fun story, with short chapters.

What to Expect When You're Expecting

The New Experience of Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger
I liked her emphasis on joy.

Multiple Blessings by Jon and Kate Gosselin

The Pilgrim's Inn by Elizabeth Goudge

The middle book in "The Eliots of Damerosehay" series, and the best. Also known as "The Herb of Grace".

I Will Repay by Baroness Orczy

A silly historical romance, part of the Scarlet Pimpernel series.

To a Thousand Generations by Douglas Wilson

I found this a very helpful explanation of infant baptism. It's written with a Baptist audience in mind. I came away remembering that baptism is more about God than me.

The Case for Covenant Communion, ed. by Gregg Strawbridge

A mixed bag of essays in favour of paedocommunion. The most helpful one for me was an exposition of I Corinthians 11:28 by Jeff Myers. I'd recommend that, even to people not interested in the larger subject of the book.

Jamie's America by Jamie Oliver

An English chef travels through the U.S. in search of new recipes.

1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up by Julia Eccleshare

Edith Head by Jay Jorgenson

Appallingly edited bio of the costume designer.

The Bird in the Tree by Elizabeth Goudge

The first book in "The Eliots of Damerosehay" series.

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Maybe I should have read this as a child. As it is, I found Toad completely annoying.

Loving the Little Years by Rachel Jankovic

I found this so helpful that I'm re-reading it. Maybe a review will follow.

In Xanadu by William Dalrymple

This sort of travel is fun to read about, but not the sort I'd attempt myself. Sneaking into Communist China sounds a bit too risky to me! The author retraced the steps of Marco Polo, in the 1990's.

The Water Birth Book by Janet Balaskas

Supernatural Childbirth by Jackie Mize

Linnets and Valerians by Elizabeth Goudge

Goudge has her ups and downs, but this is the first time she's made me mad. The first half of the book is a lovely tale with wonderful, humorous characterization of small children. Then suddenly we find that all the plot tension is the result of voodoo. Why?! It was completely unnecessary. This isn't the only thing--one of her characters, an Anglican priest, tells his young relatives that they are free to believe in the "old gods". (Pan, etc.) He would like to, but can't because of his position. Bad advice!

The Heart of the Family by Elizabeth Goudge

The last book of "The Eliots of Damerosehay" series.

Supper of the Lamb by Rober Farrar Capon

The Road to Yesterday by L.M. Montgomery

Greenmantle by John Buchan

The Moon by Night by Madeleine L'Engle

Eggs, Beans, Crumpets by P.G. Wodehouse

A House Like a Lotus by Madeleine L'Engle

Not recommended.

The Waiting Place by Eileen Button

Operation Black Fang by Jake MacKenzie

Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling

The Baptized Body by Peter Leithart

I particularly liked the essay in the appendix, "The Sociology of Baptism".

The Titian Committee by Iain Pears

Biggles of 266 by Capt. W.E. Johns

The first Biggles I've read. This is one time my little brother is ahead of me!

Realms of Gold by Leland Ryken

A discussion of classic literature which rehashes arguments which are made much better elsewhere, such as Tolkien's "On Fairy Stories". However, it does contain a provocative chapter on what a Christian classic is.

What to Expect: The First Year

The Field Guide to Natural Phenomena: The Secret World of Optical, Atmospheric and Celestial Wonders

I really enjoyed reading about things like lunar eclipses, superior mirages and will o'the wisps.

Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber

This is a fat book. So I initially expected it to be a memoir in need of a lot of pruning. Such is not the case. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. It's a spiritual memoir in the style of Girl Meets God-- a story of a bookish person struggling with the big questions of life and ultimately coming to believe that Christ has the answers.

There are many things to like about this volume, from its structure around the Oxford academic year to the way Weber weaves quotations from various classics throughout her narrative. Most striking and helpful to me was her description of life as a new Christian in the midst of academia. Many of her friends thought she was crazy. Some even told her she had lost all academic credibility. Not only did she struggle with friends feeling betrayed, she also struggled to fit into “churchianity”. Things like finding the correct page for the Bible reading and singing in public seemed like almost insurmountable difficulties. She felt she could never catch up to those who had been steeped in the Bible and Christianity from youth. As one of the latter, I found the chapter “Church Going” a very helpful description of how a new Christian might feel coming to church for the first time.

One thing that surprised me about Weber's memoir was how little she mentions C.S. Lewis. Given that the book is set in Oxford, that was something I expected. But her road to faith in Christ was guided primarily through reading the Bible (all of it!) and conversations with Christians.

Surprised by Oxford is funny, articulate and thought-provoking. It's a title I'd read again, and will be recommending to others.

-Kara

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Four weeks ago...

With thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Kara and John
are thrilled to announce the birth of
a baby daughter:
Galilee Lavender Dekker
Born on Saturday, 1st October at 5:28am (AEST)

Where my tastes lie at the moment

Or, what happens when a newly expectant mother goes to the library.

Some brief thoughts on the two books that stand out.

Better Birth was a helpful, balanced discussion of the varying philosophies of birth. The best chapter was filled with birth stories from mothers reflecting on what went well and what they would like to change about their experiences. The stories pretty much cover all the options of "place": hospital, birth centre, home, etc.

What to Expect has been the most useful on a daily basis. Any time I have a weird symptom, the book comes out and then I say, "ah, yes. this happens to other people, too." I especially like the week-by-week descriptions of what's happening with the baby.

I also recommend Sheila Kitzinger's books, but don't have anything to say about the specific titles above, other than that Rediscovering Birth is more of an anthropological study and I probably wouldn't leave it lying around the house 'cause of some of the photos.

BookSneeze Review: Lee, A Life of Virtue by John Perry

I recently obtained an advance review copy of this book from Booksneeze. I was intrigued by this statement on the back cover: "Traitor. Divider. Defender of slavery. This damning portrayal of Robert E. Lee has persisted through 150 years of history books. And yet it has no basis in fact." Strong words, these. Yet I was puzzled as well, for this supposed pervasive portrayal of Lee was something I failed to identify with. To the contrary, every previous Civil War book I had read, both pro and anti-Southern, conveyed only admiration for General Lee. Had I somehow missed something? This could hardly be reason enough to write a new biography about a man who has already had numberless words written about his life. The editor's note helped me to understand the motivation for this new series about American Generals. Stephen Mansfield asserts that most that has been written about the lives of American military leaders falls into two opposing categories, hagiography and revisionist history (in which the subject is a "reviled symbol of societal ills"). He states that it is time for a balance portrayal of our leaders, one that gives honour where it is due, and yet does not gloss over human frailty. More than that, the intent of the series is to "help us learn the lessons they [these generals] have to teach". (p.x) In the author's introduction, Perry proposes to answer the questions "Who was the real Robert E. Lee, how did he become the man he was, and how is the genuine article different from the myth?"(p.xviii)

As I read the biography, I was most struck by the difficulty Lee faced in balancing his sense of duty to his country with his devotion to his family. During his more than 30 years of service in the U.S. Army, he experienced many lengthy separations from his wife and children. Some of the agony he felt comes out in some of the letters to his wife, Mary Anna Custis, which the author quotes at length. Perry also brings out the close connection that Mary Anna's family had to George Washington, whose memory was still fresh in many American minds during the early 1800's. Even at such an early date, there emerge strong hints of the popular mythology that was to grow around the first President of the United States.

Drawing heavily from personal letters and J.William Jones' biography of Lee, Perry concludes that "Lee was not an infallible commander. His recurring flaw was to assume his subordinates had the same energy, bravery, resolve, and sense of self-sacrifice he did and then plan accordingly. ... Yet, ... Lee was a great leader...because he never abandoned his personal standards, [and] never wavered from doing what he thought was right even in the face of inevitable, crushing, devastating consequences." (p. 226) I found the book easy to read, and think that Perry a fair job in accomplishing his stated goals in writing the book. However, I would have appreciated more detailed references, rather than the rather short bibliography given at the end.

2010 in Books (Kara's list)

At the start of each new year, I like to look over all the books I read in the previous year. Sometimes I post the list on the blog. So here are all the new-to-me books I read in 2010, with my favourites in italics:

1. The Paideia of God by Douglas Wilson
2. Soul Survivor by Philip Yancey
3. Asterix the Legionary
4. Asterix in Spain
5. Asterix in Britain
6. Paddington Marches on by Michael Bond
7. One Flesh by Amelia and Greg Clarke
8. The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Travel by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht
9. Asterix the Gaul
10. Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
11. Chocolat by Joanne Harris
12. Riverside Cup of Tea Recipes by Linda Lamp
13. Tolkien's Gown and other stories of great authors and rare books by Rick Gekoski
14. For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay
15. Girl Meets God by Lauren F. Winner
16. The Flying Inn by G.K. Chesterton
17. A Girl at Government House, ed. by Helen Vellacott
18. Pride and Predator by Sally S. Wright
19. Changing Planes by Ursula LeGuin
20. Bobby Brewster's Ghost by H. E. Todd
21. The Dream of Scipio by Iain Pears
22. Jane Austen by Peter Leithart
23. The Immortal Lovers, Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning by Frances Winwar
24. Henry Reed's Baby-sitting Service by Keith Robertson
25. Mudhouse Sabbath by Lauren Winner
26. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
27. Wild Yam, Nature's Progesterone by Rita Elkins
28. The Mystery of the Screaming Clock by Robert Arthur
29. Pajama School by Natalie Wickham
30. Reformed is Not Enough by Douglas Wilson
31. The Chase by Louisa May Alcott
32. Monsoon Diary by Shoba Narayan
33. 50 Great Curries of India by Camellia Panjabi
34. Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller
35. Healthy Indian in Minutes by Monisha Bharadwaj
36. Turkish Cooking by Ghillie Gasan
37. North African Cooking by Tess Mallos
38. Repairing the Ruins, ed. Douglas Wilson
39. Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt
40. Psmith Journalist by P.G. Wodehouse
41. Watership Down by Richard Adams
42. Curry (Dorling Kindersley)
43. A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle
44. A Primer on Worship and Reformation by Douglas Wilson
45. Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
46. A Walk with Jane Austen by Lori Smith
47. A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle
48. Eating with Emperors by Jake Smith
49. Around the World in 80 Dinners by Bill and Cheryl Jamison
50. An Acceptable Time by Madeleine L'Engle
51. The Age of Kali by William Dalrymple
52. Jamie's Dinners by Jamie Oliver
53. Gordon Ramsay's Great Escape
54. One Rue Tatin by Susan Loomis
55. Tarte Tatin by Susan Loomis
56. Amy's Bread by Amy Scherber and Toy Kim Dupree
57. Many Waters by Madeleine L'Engle
58. The Italian Baker by Carol Field
59. Turquoise by Greg and Lucy Malouf
60. Blessed are the Hungry by Peter Leithart
61. Cat O' Nine Tales by Jeffrey Archer
62. To Cut a Long Story Short by Jeffrey Archer
63. Lee, A Life of Virtue by John Perry
64. Heaven Misplaced by Douglas Wilson
65. Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton
66. Eddie's Big Deals by Carolyn Haywood
    

Kara's Reading Goals for 2011

Last year I listed twelve books, chosen to fill out a well-rounded set of genres . This year, I just made a list of the books I want to read, and then found categories to put them in. I intended to stop at twelve, but just couldn't. So here are the thirteen books I plan to read in 2011.

Theology:

Eat this Book by Eugene Peterson

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

For some reason, I've not yet read this.

Letters to a Diminished Church by Dorothy L. Sayers

Biblical Studies:

Through New Eyes by James Jordan In progress

Gospel and Kingdom by Graeme Goldsworthy Finished

Both books highly recommended by my husband.

Nature:

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard Finished

This got a mention in Yancey's Soul Survivor, which I read a year ago.

Humour:

Jeeves in the Offing by P.G. Wodehouse Finished

Because one must always have some Wodehouse at hand.

Three Men on the Bummel by Jerome K. Jerome Began and finished in January

Because my dear sister says this is just as funny as Three Men in a Boat.


Children's book:

Redwall by Brian Jacques Finished

Biography:

A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken

Poetry:

Untune the Sky by Douglas Wilson Finished


Travel:

In Xanadu by William Dalrymple Finished

Now that I've read everything else in the house by Dalrymple, it's time to read his account of travelling in the steps of Marco Polo.

Philosophy:

The Journey by Peter Kreeft

Kara's Spring Reading

A Walk with Jane Austen by Lori Smith

A combination travel book and spiritual memoir, this book kept me interested even though I was occasionally annoyed by the author's retelling of her love-life dramas. (I should have guessed they were coming from the sub-title, which in the British edition is something about a "search for my own Mr. Darcy." Blegh.) Smith, a 20-something girl battling chronic illness, decides to travel to England and visit all the places connected with Jane Austen. In the process, she learns more about Austen, herself, and God.

A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L' Engle

How could I help but be intrigued by a first line like this: "There are dragons in the twins' vegetable garden..."?


Eating with Emperors by Jake Smith

A collection of menus from various world leaders, from Queen Victoria to J.F.K., combined with recipes and historical trivia. Fun to read, but I don't think I'll try any of the recipes. Foie gras just isn't my kind of thing.

Around the World in 80 dinners by Bill and Cheryl Jamison

A great idea for a book is hampered by the attempt to narrate from the point of view of two people. Some of the sentences are truly cringe-worthy. It's bogged down by too many details--did I really need to know exactly what went into the suitcases? And the worst thing about this combination food and travel book is that it didn't make me hungry.

An Acceptable Time by Madeleine L'Engle

The last in L'Engle's Time Quintet, it is interesting, but too long.

The Age of Kali by William Dalrymple

Not your typical travel book. Dalrymple's tales of India are weird and heart-wrenching by turns. In this wide ranging collection of essays, he tackles the plight of widows (including an apparent modern occurrence of sati), and interviews terrorists, politicians and a cricket star. These are tales I will not soon forget.


On Rue Tatin and Tarte Tatin by Susan Loomis

Memoirs of an American food writer who moved to France, along with her husband and son, and started a cooking school. Each chapter concludes with a recipe or two. I loved these books! Loomis' rambling style is charming, and I found her observations on settling into another country and culture particularly insightful.

Amy's Bread by Amy Scherber and Toy Kim Dupree

I'm a bread lover and a bread baker on the search for the perfect loaf. Something beautiful, crusty and full-flavoured. This book is helping me reach that goal, with lovely pictures and detailed instructions.

The Italian Baker by Carol Field

Another good baking book, this one was especially helpful to me because of the sweet short pastry recipe, which was broken down into parts by weight. (making it easy to memorize)

Blessed are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper by Peter Leithart

During the past year, I've been reading this as a devotional during the weeks preceding communion. This method works particularly well with this book, as each chapter is a stand-alone meditation on a single Bible passage. Leithart helped me gain a broader understanding of the sacrament, in particular the aspect of a joyful feast. Highly recommended.

Cat O' Nine Tales by Jeffrey Archer

I came to John one day, wanting to read a mystery but bemoaning the fact that I'd already read all the Sayers, Chesterton and Christie in the house. He gave me this collection of short, humorous stories to try. Enjoyable and unpredictable.

Kara's Winter Reading

I stopped reading for a while, because of sickness. Then we had company. Then we went on vacation. Lots of normal things in between. Here are a few comments on the books I've enjoyed since my last post.

Mudhouse Sabbath by Lauren Winner

A small book of meditations on things like candles, prayer, and weddings. Winner muses on how to celebrate God in a Christian way, after her conversion from orthodox Judaism.

A Wrinkle in Time and A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle

L'Engle is fast becoming my new favourite author. In both these books, I was immediately drawn in to the story by her compelling picture of homelife. She has a knack of writing about things that are so ubiquitous as to become unnoticed, i.e. the creak of a stairstep or the sound of a house when the refrigerator is off. These bits of the ordinary are what help me get into stories that might otherwise seem too outlandish.

Pajama School by Natalie Wickham

It's always fun reading books by friends. I am able to get a glimpse of another side of a person, through her writing. So because of this, I found this faith memoir hard to put down. However, the average person might not find it so engaging.

The Chase (A Long, Fatal Love Chase) by Louisa May Alcott

I expected this to be a bad book, and so was able to thoroughly enjoy it. It's one of those novels that would have been better left unpublished in an attic. It reads like a teenager's first effort, full of smudgy crayon characters, melodrama and with a plot guessable from the beginning. As long as you don't take it too seriously, it's great fun.

Monsoon Diary: Reveries and recipes from India by Shoba Narayan

This is my favourite sort of food book: half memoir, half cookbook. This gave me a taste of life in India, in more ways than one! I've added her recipe for Channa Masala to my regular repertoire.

Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller

Not nearly so good as Blue Like Jazz. He lost me a few chapters in, probably right around the spot where he starts having an imaginary conversation with an angel. Or something. I would have preferred more talk about God, and less about people.

Turkish Cooking by Ghillie Besan

Full of tasty recipes. I tried hummus, menemen and spinach salad, among others.

Repairing the Ruins, the classical and Christian challenge to modern education. Edited by Douglas Wilson

A mixed bag of essays, focused on classical education in a private school setting. One of the best talked about how to teach mathematics in a Christian manner.

Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt

I read this while on vacation in Sydney. Hunt writes winsomely about the importance of reading aloud as a family, and gives many interesting book recommendations.

Psmith Journalist by P.G. Wodehouse

Note that the 'P' is silent. :) According to Wodehouse, New York City is full of people who read newspapers non-stop. There are also swarms of thugs with guns. Sometimes the two overlap. Not having been there myself, I have nothing to say on the matter.

Watership Down by Richard Adams

I was a bit skeptical of a novel featuring rabbits. Especially rabbits who see visions. However, I kept at it, and soon couldn't stop til I reached the beautiful conclusion. This is imaginative writing at its finest. I especially like the alternating chapters of rabbit mythology.

A Primer on Worship and Reformation by Douglas Wilson

I end up reading one of Wilson's books every month or so. He makes theology and Christian living beautiful. This is a very small book advocating a return to God honouring worship as an antidote for the ills of modern, man-centered evangelicalism. Highly recommended.

Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett

I love this picture book: beautiful illustrations, not too long, and fun for adults as well.

Kara's March and April Reading

Finished:

A Girl at Government House, An English Girl's Reminiscences: "Below Stairs" in Colonial Australia, ed. by Helen Vellacott

Recently, I was talking with one of the ladies at church about Kansas and Victorian history. I gave her Pioneer Women; she gave me this. What a fun read it was! It's an edited version of a book published anonymously many years ago. Helen Vellacott found an old copy in a bookshop and liked the story so much that she researched until she found the name of the author. This edition has illustrations and photos of many of the people and places mentioned in the story. It's the memoir of a girl who left England for Australia in the 1890's, and ended up working in the kitchens of several prominent leaders of the day.

Pride and Predator by Sally S. Wright

Second in a series. Dorothy Sayers wannabe, Wright, gives us a story of a Scottish minister killed by bees. I didn't like this nearly as much as Publish and Perish. But that might not have so much to do with the book, as with the fact that I'm a minister's wife.

Changing Planes by Ursula Le Guin

This collection of short stories soon lost its attraction for me. What began as an intriguing idea (people stranded in airports visiting other "planes") soon flopped, as the stories began to look like anthropological studies. I've since been told that this probably wasn't the best Le Guin to start with.

Bobby Brewster's Ghost by H.E. Todd

Two reasons I took this took this from the shelf: I wanted to read a book that John had read as a child. And my littlest brother had just read it, and given me an enthusiastic report. It was a fun way to spend an afternoon.

Currently reading:

Reformed is not Enough by Douglas Wilson

The Federal Vision book. And I still don't see what the big deal is. I've found the discussion of living by faith in the chapter entitled "Reformation Bona Fides" particularly helpful. I'm still thinking on this: "systematic interpretations may be allowed to interpret what the Scriptures say...but they must never be allowed to replace what the Scriptures say. We can tell we have stumbled at this place when we disallow (for the sake of our systematic understanding) a phrase or statement that the Bible itself uses." (p.54) I'm afraid I've done that before.

The Dream of Scipio by Iain Pears

I'm halfway through and I still don't know what's going on. But somehow I feel compelled to finish.

Immortal Lovers: Elizabeth Barret and Robert Browning by Frances Winwar

John, Tony (my brother in law) and I were out walking the other day when our attention was drawn to a sign: Book sale, 100m. A little later, there was another: Book sale, 50m. By now, we were excited! This is one of the books I came home with. (John and Tony found several useful Bible commentaries)

Prodigal Press by Marvin Olasky

Not certain one of the major premises is entirely accurate. (Did the U.S. ever have any Christian reporting? Or was it simply that newspapers used the accepted phraseology of the day?) But still a very insightful study on journalism past and present, with a helpful discussion of the ethical issues at stake.

Kara's January Reading

These will all be in the category of Finished Recently, as the month is already over...

The Paideia of God by Douglas Wilson

This is a collection of essays on classical education. Not the sort of book to spend a lot of time mulling over, rather, more bits to fit into my growing concept of Biblical education. Best essays: Title, and one discussing whether the Reformed faith and Classical education are necessary counterparts.

One Flesh: A Practical Guide to Honeymoon Sex and Beyond by Amelia and Greg Clarke

This is the first book I've finished from my list of books to read in 2010. As I read it, I asked myself whether I would recommend it to someone preparing for marriage. I've concluded that it wouldn't be my first choice. There's too much detail in some places (i.e. discussion of various positions-- possibly overwhelming, I think, for newly-weds) and not enough detail in others. I would have liked to have seen more discussion of what to expect on the wedding night, and how to prepare. Anyway, for pre-wedding reading about love making, I would recommend selected chapters from Ed Wheat's Intended for Pleasure.

My friend Sherrin has written a more detailed review of this book here.

Asterix the Legionary

My first Asterix comic. And so far my favourite. I knew I had to read these when John started making little jokes, and then remarking that they were "from Asterix". Since the "Legionary", I've also read Asterix in Spain, Asterix in Britain and Asterix the Gaul. I like the funny names and wordplay.

The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Travel by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht

If I ever need to trail a pickpocket, survive a trip down a waterfall, get out of a locked car trunk, or cross a piranha-infested river, I'll know what to do!

Paddington Marches On by Michael Bond

Not the best, but still fun revisiting a childhood favourite.

Soul Survivor: How My Faith Survived the Church by Philip Yancey

Another from the 2010 list. This one made me think. At times, there was so much food for thought that I had to put it down for a few days, just so I could digest it all. Often I found myself getting uncomfortable; other times I began having a spirited debate with some of the ideas promoted by authors Yancey discusses.

In the past year, I've learned not to be afraid to ask hard questions. Soul Survivor gave me many to ponder: What sorts of civil disobedience are Biblical? In what ways has the Church alienated people unnecessarily? What does it mean to love sinners? And many more. This is an important book for me, one I'm still thinking about weeks after I finished reading it.

Kara's Reading Goals for 2010

In past years, my reading goals have been a bit ambitious. The lists were too long for someone who likes picking most of her books on the spur of the moment, and there were too many weighty titles. So this year, I've chosen only twelve books, each in a different category. I've included only one or two difficult titles, and to make things simpler, I've narrowed my options by choosing only from books we already have on our shelves.

Church history

The Story of the Church by A.M. Renwick and A. M. Harman

I realized the other day that church history is an area I'm a bit weak in. I've read lots of bits and pieces, but have never read a full-length overview. I'm spurred on to remedy my weakness by the realization that for me as a Christian, church history is family history.

Biography

Girl Meets God by Lauren Winner Finished February 2010

Novel

Watership Down by Richard Adams Finished September 2010

Play

Hamlet by Shakespeare

I intend to read this in conjunction with the study notes from Peter Leithart's Brightest Heaven of Invention.

Poetry

Works of G. K. Chesterton

Children's Book

Scout: The Secret of the Swamp by Piet Prins

I wanted to read something that my husband read as a child, and he said this was a good place to start.

Science Fiction

Changing Planes by Ursula Le Guin Finished March 2010

Biblical Exposition

Wrestling with God: Lessons from the Life of Jacob by J. Douglas MacMillan

Education

Repairing the Ruins: The Classical and Christian Challenge to Modern Education by Douglas Wilson Finished August 2010

I read Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning years ago, and it was instrumental in forming my ideas about education. In this title, I hope to learn more about the specifics of the classical method.

Marriage

One Flesh: A Practical Guide to Honeymoon Sex and Beyond by Amelia and Greg Clarke Finished January 2010

Theology

To a Thousand Generations: Infant Baptism - Covenant Mercy to the Children of God by Douglas Wilson

Having recently joined the Presbyterian church, I want to develop my knowledge of the theology behind paedobaptism. I chose this particular book for two reasons: it is written specifically for readers of Baptist background (like myself), and it is by one of my favourite authors.

Book about Books

Soul Survivor: How Thirteen Unlikely Mentors Helped My Faith Survive the Church by Philip Yancey Finished January 2010

The mentors mentioned in the subtitle are authors such as Chesterton, Donne and Tolstoy.