#OpenBook for May 2026

 

Welcome to #OpenBook. I'm joining up with Carolyn Astfalk who hosts an #OpenBook Linkup on CatholicMom.com. Here's what I've been reading this past month. The dates indicate when I finished the books. Thanks for stopping by!

 4-7-26 Prayer Book for a Domestic Priest: Essential Prayers for Husbands and Fathers - Andrew Schmiedicke - This collection of prayers would make a lovely Father's Day gift for the Catholic husbands and fathers in your life. It offers daily prayers, prayers for the liturgical seasons, blessings, prayers for special needs, etc. It even includes a funeral rite for a pet. Small in size, it is easy to have on a nightstand or carry in a laptop bag for easy access. 

4-8-26 Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives - Daisy Fancourt - Fancourt is a professor of psychobiology and epidemiology at University College London. This book contains a lot of scientific information and statistics, but the TL/DR version is that art is good for your body and mental health no matter your age and there are scientific studies to prove it. So, pick up the paintbrush, sing a song, go to a theater performance or art museum and help your health at the same time. 

4-10-26 52 Weeks with Saint Faustina: A Year of Grace and Mercy - Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle - A couple of weeks before Lent I was searching for some spiritual practice to work on for the season when this book came in the mail. I don't know why it was sent to me - there was no message and it was published in 2018 so it wasn't a review copy, but I decided it was a sign I should read it for Lent, reading one chapter per day rather than one a week. I finished on the Friday before Divine Mercy Sunday. I've long had a devotion to the Divine Mercy message. I pray the chaplet daily and pray the Divine Mercy Novena each year from Good Friday to the day before Divine Mercy Sunday. This book examines St. Faustina's life and the Divine Mercy message. It is very well-written and encourages readers to practice works of mercy in their lives as well as to trust in Jesus' mercy. It also served as a vivid reminder of all the ways I fall short in my spiritual life. It is well worth reading. 

 

4-10-26 The Joy of Slow: Restoring Balance and Wonder to Homeschool Learning - Leslie M. Martino - I read this one to review on my homeschooling site (TodaysCatholicHomeschooling.com). The author worked for ten years as a classroom teacher and brings that experience, as well as that of homeschooling her children, to this book. She discusses the way children learn and emphasizes the importance of following student-led interests and cultivating an environment of learning in your home. 

4-12-26 - 12 Unforgettable Men of the Gospels: Reflections and Portraits of the Apostles - Melanie Rigney - I've never really spent much time thinking about the 12 Apostles, but Melanie Rigney changed that for me. These 12 portraits (Yes, Judas is included) highlight their role in Scripture and what is known of their lives after the Resurrection. Her goal was "to get the men Jesus chose off the stained glass and into your heart and soul." Rigney also includes a personal anecdote that relates to the Apostle, a prayer, and an additional, more recent saint who embodies some of the same character traits as that particular Apostle. If you've ever wanted to know more about this band of men who walked with Jesus, this is a great place to start.  

4-27-26 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee - I reread this classic with my fifteen-year-old daughter. It is a powerful tale of racial prejudice in a small southern town, as well as a portrait of people trying to do the right thing, told from the perspective of young Jean-Louise Finch, aka Scout.  

4-19-26 A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness - Michael Pollan - This work explores what it means to be aware. Starting with plants, moving to animals, and then focusing on humans, it looks at what makes us aware from both a philosophical and scientific viewpoint. It also investigates whether AI could be considered conscious. It raises some interesting questions without coming up with any conclusive answers, a fact the author admits. 

4-21-26 A Heart that's True - Mark Guillerman - While this book had some minor editing issues, it was a powerful story of two young Lakota Sioux fighting to preserve their culture when they are sent to the Carlisle Indian School in 1910. Another storyline features a mixed-breed Newfoundland / wolf pup who has a bounty on his head. (Read for a book review publication.)

4-27-26 Twilight Tactics - Lynette Eason - This is a suspense-filled story with danger at every turn. A federal agent, Sully, and his partner are trying to protect a teen murder witness by taking her to a secluded ranch that helps vets recover from PTSD. There, Sully meets the beautiful Elena Thompson, who works at the ranch. She grew up in the prepper community that lives nearby but escaped as a teen. It soon becomes evident that someone is out to kill both the murder witness and Elena. This one definitely kept my adrenaline going as I read it.   

4-29-26 Storybook Ending - Moira MacDonald - This story is set in a bookstore, which is being used to film a movie, causing disruption but also increased interest. It has a "You've Got Mail" vibe in some parts, which the book acknowledges, and features some mistaken identities and secret love letters that end up in the wrong hands. It was a fun, clean leisure read that is ultimately about the importance of friendship and community. As a content note, there are some gay supporting characters in this book. 

5-1-26 The Darling's Daughter - Sydney Schmied - This is the first in a series of books based in an old-time theater in Ohio. This one is set in 1912. A young woman takes a job at a theater to try to solve the mystery of her mother's death. She enlists the help of a construction foreman, who soon becomes a love interest. While it had a couple of minor plot problems, it was an entertaining romantic suspense. (Read for a book review publication.) 
 

5-3-26 Training the Hard to Train Dog: Effective Training Techniques for Working With Shy, Controlling, and Stubborn Dogs - Peggy Swager - My exuberant/high-maintenance dog has definitely made progress since we first adopted him over a year ago from a shelter, but he certainly is not going to win any awards for his manners and going for a walk is still a full-body workout, so I got this from the library in the hopes of helping train him more. It had lots of good ideas. We shall see if it helps.   
 

 

Since the spring of 2019, I have been making my way through the Great Books Curriculum of Thomas Aquinas College (I'm currently working on the readings for senior year). 

4-13-26  On the Trinity (Summa Theologiae Part I Q.27-43) - St. Thomas Aquinas - When I was in graduate school, I took a whole course on the Trinity. There is no quicker way to make your head hurt than to try to understand the mystery of the Trinity, but St. Thomas Aquinas gave it a valiant effort (and no doubt understood much more than I do). These were his thoughts on the procession, relations, and characteristics of the Divine Persons.  

 

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#OpenBook for April 2026

 

Welcome to #OpenBook. I'm joining up with Carolyn Astfalk who hosts an #OpenBook Linkup on CatholicMom.com. Here's what I've been reading this past month. The dates indicate when I finished the books. Thanks for stopping by!

3-6-26 The Girl From Tomorrow's Town - Naomi Musch - This is an interesting historical romance set against the backdrop of a real-life circus train accident that occurred in June 1918. A young woman who was sent away on an orphan train after her father died and her mother couldn't take care of her goes in search of her mother, despite not even remembering the name of the town she was from. En route, she meets a visually-impaired circus worker, who convinces her to work for the circus and helps her with her search. (Read for a book review publication.)

 

3-7-26 Exploring American Girlhood through 50 Historic Treasures - Ashley Remer and Tiffany Isselhardt - This is a fascinating work of social history that looks at the lives of notable girls (up to age 21), some more well-known than others, who have lived in America from the earliest days until today. It takes 50 objects as jumping-off points and then explores the lives of the girls who owned them. This is well-worth reading for anyone who enjoys social history or is interested in how girls/women helped shape America.   

3-9-26 Letters to a Stranger - Sarah Mitchell - Cassie is a single mother in lockdown with her medically fragile son during Covid. When her son is paired with a 96-year-old woman as a pen pal by his school, Cassie begins writing to her, and she shares her own experiences of living through World War II. This is an epistolary novel, told through emails, letters, texts, and diary entries. I enjoyed the format and the story. 

3-9-26 50 Strategies for Integrating AI into the Classroom - Donnie Piercey - AI seems to be turning into one of those things that we will simply need to know how to use in order to function in the world. I've been looking for resources to tell me how to use it. This one is actually very helpful with prompts to use for various educational tasks, including grade-specific activities. 

3-15-26 The Woman in the Moon: How Margaret Hamilton Helped Fly the First Astronauts to the Moon - Richard Maurer - I found this book on the "Women's History" March display at my local library. This is a biography aimed at ages 10-14 (although I found it informative and well-written as an adult) about Margaret Heafield Hamilton (1936-), who worked for NASA and helped program the computers that sent astronauts to the moon. While I didn't understand some of the math and science in this book, I enjoyed reading about her education and unlikely career path. People who liked Hidden Figures will appreciate this book. 

3-17-26 Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier - I first read this book as a ninth grader and remembered enjoying it, so I requested it from the library to read to my ninth-grade daughter as part of her English curriculum. It was every bit as good as I remembered with the haunting figure of Rebecca (the first Mrs. de Winter) and the chilling housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, looming over the lives of Maxim de Winter and his second wife, the narrator, who is never named. Perfect for those who enjoy psychological thrillers. 

 3-19-26 Quirky Catholic Kids: Navigating Neurodivergence with Faith and Joy - Ginny Kochis - This is a must-read for any Catholic parenting children who are neurodivergent in any way (autism, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, etc). Kochis covers all the basics, from striving to understand your child's behaviors to coping with stress as a parent, navigating social situations, managing screen time, and teaching your children the Catholic faith. There is also a wonderful section on patron saints for quirky kids. This is a book I wish I had twenty-five years ago when I was starting my own parenting journey!

3-20-26 A Life So True - Tracie Peterson - This is the second book in a series, but it works as a stand-alone. Evie Turner has always wanted to be a nurse and work alongside her father, Dr. Roman Turner. But there is a problem - medical issues make her sick to her stomach. How can she ever tell her parents that nursing isn't her calling after all? Max Garrison meets Evie at a charitable function and is quickly enamored with the young woman, but he has family problems of his own. This is a feel-good story about finding your place in the world, even if it doesn't turn out to be what you expected. (Read for a book review publication.)

3-21-26 The Great Divorce - C.S. Lewis - I saw this book mentioned recently (I don't remember where) and decided to request it from the library. It is about a bus trip where a soul travels from hell to heaven. meeting various souls along the way, some of whom have more trouble letting go of the things of this world than others. 

3-22-26 The Great Shadow: A History of How Sickness Shapes What We Do, Think, Believe, and Buy - Susan Wise Bauer - I am always in awe of Susan Wise Bauer's breadth of knowledge and research abilities. After all, this is a woman who has written books on the history of the world. This was an interesting (if at times stomach-turning) look at sickness through the centuries, including theories of what caused it and how it was treated. After reading this, I'm very thankful for modern medicine.  

3-23-26 A Catholic Pilgrimage through American History: People and Places that Shaped the Church in the United States - Kevin Schmiesing - This book is fascinating for anyone interested in Catholic history. Dr. Schmiesing introduces several places in the country that have been key places in the story of Catholics in America. He shares these twenty-seven stories/places/people in chronological order (with some overlap), beginning with the early explorers and ending with the NASA space program. It is all well-researched with lists of sources for each chapter for those who would like to learn more about a particular topic. While I most likely will never get to visit these places, it was very interesting to learn about the people and stories connected to them. 

3-26-26 The Unexpected Caller (The Amish Widows Club Book 1) - Shelley Shepard Gray - If you enjoy Amish fiction, you will want to read this lovely tale about a widow who suffered through nineteen years of a childless, unhappy marriage and is in no rush to get married again. When she is invited to join the secret Amish Widows Club, she finds comfort with a group of like-minded women. However, Evan Keim comes calling, giving her a second chance at love, but choosing him would mean leaving her beloved widows club behind and taking a step into an unknown, possibly painful, future. (Read for a book review publication.)

 

3-28-26 The Weedy Garden - Margaret Renkl - This is a lovely picture book designed to show children the value of a native wildflower garden for the local ecosystem. I appreciate that because I have a messy front-yard flower garden. However, I wish they had given it the name The Wildflower Garden instead. 

3-29-26 The Correspondent - Virginia Evans - I was well over #1000 on the hold list for this NYT fiction bestseller when I requested this from the library, but it finally came in! I read it quickly so that whomever is next on the list can get a copy. Sybil Van Antwerp has written letters all her life. The book shares her correspondence from 2012-2020, when she is an older woman. Through those letters, one learns about her life, including some painful chapters she can't forget. It's well-worth reading.   

4-6-26 The Bachelor Spy - Pepper Basham - This romance/mystery is set in 1915, during WWI. Stephen Blake, who works as an English spy, is shot by a fellow spy on the Lusitania shortly before the ship is torpedoed. He survives the sinking, but is reunited by the very attractive spy who shot him when they are both on the hunt for a traitor in an estate now being used as a convalescent hospital. Meanwhile, the owner of the estate, Lady Grace Astley, is an amateur sleuth and is working to solve the mystery of some thefts on the property while her husband is away fighting in the war. This is the fifth book in a series, but it has enough backstory to keep new readers informed and able to follow the story. Basham always keeps her books a bit lighthearted, even as she puts her characters in danger It was a fun read. (Read for a book review publication.)

 

Since the spring of 2019, I have been making my way through the Great Books Curriculum of Thomas Aquinas College (I'm currently working on the readings for senior year). 

3-22-26 The Lincoln-Douglas Debates (edited by Harold Holzer) - The Abraham Lincoln/ Stephen Douglas debates took place in 1858 as they campaigned for the Illinois Senate seat (Lincoln lost but would go on to win the presidency in 1860). The debates focused a great deal on slavery. The version I read was innovative in that it relied on the opposite newspaper's reporting of each man's speeches, providing notes on how the pro newspaper's account differed, to provide a balanced view of what they actually said at the debates during a time when people relied on stenographers to record the speeches. While some of the speeches were repetitive (they gave seven debates, often covering the same information), I found this book very interesting. And with it, I completed the readings for junior year!

 

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Three Essential Works of American Literature

 

I’ve been a reviewer of inspirational fiction for Publishers Weekly for ten years. As one of their reviewers, I was sent a survey yesterday to nominate books for a list of essential American literature from 1776 to now in honor of our country’s 250th anniversary. I was only allowed to nominate three books, an almost impossible task.

My mind has been racing since I received that email. What would I choose to put on the list? They could be from any genre and for any audience. I looked up a list of top 100 American books to get some ideas. Interestingly, their number one was To Kill a Mockingbird, which I am currently reading with my ninth-grade daughter.

I decided to go with some choices that I thought might be overlooked.

Common Sense - Thomas Paine

Published on January 10, 1776, this pamphlet just makes the cut-off date, but it was the first American bestseller, and without it, we might not have a country at all. It changed how colonists viewed themselves and set the stage for the American Revolution.

Little House on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder

Published on September 19, 1935, this is the third book in the Little House series but the most well-known due to the television program by the same name. While they have fallen out of favor a bit due to the depiction of Native Americans, Wilder's books were essential reading for generations of American children and provided a portrait of life on the western frontier, emphasizing American self-reliance in spite of hardships.

The Cat in the Hat - Dr. Suess (Theodor Seuss Geisel)

Published on March 12, 1957, The Cat in the Hat revolutionized how children learned to read. With its 236 words, fun rhymes, and innovative illustrations, it replaced earlier primers and changed children's literature forever.

Obviously, a case can be made for so many books. My runner-up was Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. What would you have chosen if you were limited to only three?

#OpenBook for March 2026

 

Welcome to #OpenBook. I'm joining up with Carolyn Astfalk who hosts an #OpenBook Linkup on CatholicMom.com. Here's what I've been reading this past month. The dates indicate when I finished the books. Thanks for stopping by!

2-5-26 The Ultimate Blindside - Leslea Wahl - This third book in an exciting series for teens continues the story of Jake Taylor, a world-renowned snowboarder, and his girlfriend, Sophie. A movie is being made of Jake's life and rise to fame, but even as their lives are playing out for the screen, they continue to deal with intrigue. Jake saves a woman and her daughter from a car trapped in icy water, but the woman is on the run from her dangerous husband and needs to stay in hiding. Jake and Sophie try to figure out who she is hiding from while striving to keep her and her daughter safe. Jake also has to deal with "friends" from his past and Sophie's laptop is hacked, wreaking havoc on her life. Teens and up will enjoy this fast-moving tale. I definitely recommend reading the whole series, starting with The Perfect Blindside. 

 

2-6-26 Circe - Madeline Miller - I read this one with my fifteen-year-old daughter. She had started reading it for school in the fall, and when she returned to homeschooling after the Christmas break, she wanted to continue with it. It is a mythological work told from the perspective of Circe, the witch best known for her appearance in the Odyssey. Fans of Greek myths will enjoy this one. Rated PG-13.

 

2-8-26 The Forget-Me-Not Library - Heather Webber - This is a feel-good story about a small town where people who need healing tend to end up because their cars break down as they are passing through. In the library is a cat who knocks books off the shelves to help people remember key moments from their past. Juliet Nightingale arrives in town grieving her grandfather and with a large chunk of her memory missing after being hit by lightning. Tallulah Mayfield is a single mom of two young daughters who recently began working at the library. Tallulah and Juliet become friends and help each other heal. They also discover love along the way. 

 

2-9-26 God Chose Me: Celebrating Who God Made Me to Be - Lexa Hale - This is a sweet board book celebrating how God makes each of us unique and loves us for who we are. 

 

2-10-26 Blossom as Saints: The Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary as Invitations to Awe and Wonder - Allison Ramirez - This is the final installment of this lovely series on praying the Rosary. This one focuses on cultivating awe and wonder in our lives as we contemplate the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary. I recommend the full series!
 

 2-11-26 When Will There Finally Be Peace: Answers to Questions about War, Violence, Refugees, and Reconciliation - Elisabeth Raffauf - This is a children's book on a difficult topic. It includes quotes from children from war-torn countries and provides an honest and age-appropriate look at the difficulties of war. It is published by Paulist Press, but it is not a faith-based book. 

 

2-17-26 Daughter of the Rebellion - Jamie Ogle - This isn't one I would have picked up on my own, but it was a fast-moving action-packed story about a gladiatrix in Rome and the Christian medicus who helps her realize her true value as a child of God. (Read for a book review publication)
 

 

 2-18-26 This Little Light of Thine - Susan Joy Bellavance - I admit I don't think much about the sanctuary lamp when I go to Mass, but this is a picture book that celebrates that light and how it reminds us that the True Presence of Christ is there. The illustrations by Byron Hamilton are magnificent. They are so warm and bright. They really have a heavenly feel to them! It is a lovely book to help teach children about the True Presence of the Eucharist.

2-21-26 Somewhere, a Boy and a Bear: A.A. Milne and the Creation of "Winnie-the-Pooh" - Gyles Brandreth - This is a biography of A.A. Milne (and to a lesser extent, his son Christopher Robin), who wrote the famous Winnie-the-Pooh stories. I had known little about Milne before reading this and found it interesting, even if the text meanders a bit. Milne was an accomplished playwright and novelist. The author had known Christopher Robin, and the work is well-researched. It shows the messiness of families and strives to be an honest portrayal of Milne's life. 

2-28-26 These Empty Places - Sarah Loudin Thomas - This story is set in 1930 in the Lake Toxaway region of North Carolina and highlights a strong friendship between two women. Claire Roth is a wealthy widow with a second chance at love. Lena Hawkins is a former socialite whose husband lost everything in the stock market crash. Claire and Lena become friends and Claire hires her to be her personal assistant and help establish a library in their community. (Read for a book review publication)
 

 3-2-26 Let Him Lead: An Invitation to Let Jesus Guide Your Heart & Your Life - Jeremiah Myriam Shryock, CFR - This is a collection of 27 powerful essays on living a God-centered life. Fr. Jeremiah wrote these "while living as a hermit at the Monastery of Bethlehem in Livingston Manor, New York," where he ministered to a group of sisters as chaplain. He often said Mass for the sisters and those on retreat, and these essays grew out of the homilies he gave. They are well-worth reading and reflecting on. 

3-1-26 Canticle - Janet Rich Edwards - This is a fictional account of an invented medieval saint, whose story was inspired by actual medieval saints. Aleys longs for God. She rejects marriage and joins the Franciscans, but they have nowhere for her to live, so they put her with the beguines, an independent group of religious women, in the hopes that she might gain recruits. However, she begins to have visions and perform miracles, which puts her in danger. So, she ultimately becomes an anchoress, living on her own. This is a well-written, deeply researched book. While relying on Catholic sources, at the end, it dips a bit into teaching that would not pass orthodox muster (and indeed, the subject of heresy comes up). I did enjoy it, however, and it made me think about the challenges that holy women faced during the medieval period. 
 

Since the spring of 2019, I have been making my way through the Great Books Curriculum of Thomas Aquinas College (I'm currently working on the readings for junior year). 

2-7-26 Discourse on the Origin of Inequality - Jean Jacques Rousseau - In this work, written in 1754, Rousseau puts forth the idea that all men were created equal and in early times, lived in a state of that equality, but then society formed and leaders claimed power. The rich took over and the poor suffered. Among forms of government, he argues that democracy is the best because that puts power in the hands of the most people. He also maintains that man is naturally good, but became wicked due to advances in society which lead men to hate each other. The practice of virtues can help save society. 

2-9-26 Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation - I've read these before, but it was a good refresher on the founding documents of our country.  

2-10-26 The Constitution of the United States - I've read this one before as well, but it was well worth reading again, especially in light of current events.  

3-2-26 The Federalist Papers - Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay -  These were written by the Founding Fathers to help pave the way for the ratification of the Constitution. It was interesting to read the original intent of the Constitution and the safeguards that the writers attempted to put in place. 

 

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The Bellbind Letters: Inside the Devil's Plan for Your Motherhood

 

I'm honored to be part of the launch team for The Bellbind Letters: Inside the Devil's Plan for Your Motherhood by Samantha Stepheson. 

In C.S. Lewis’ classic epistolary novel The Screwtape Letters, Screwtape is a senior demon teaching Wormwood, a younger demon, the art of temptation. In The Bellbind Letters: Inside the Devil’s Plan for Your Motherhood, Samantha Stephenson takes that format and centers the instruction on how the devil, referred to as “Our Father Below,” wants to keep mothers from following God, a.k.a. “The Enemy.” According to Stephenson, “this book seeks to emulate Lewis’s rhetorical brilliance in order to highlight the temptations Christian mothers face on the road to sanctity.”

This is an extremely well-written book that sheds light on the many temptations mothers face in their everyday lives. It is entertaining to read but also forces mothers to look at their own faults and failings, which is never a pleasant experience. It is meant to be an uncomfortable book, a literary examination of conscience, designed to have you running to the Lord for mercy and forgiveness.

Stephenson acknowledges that it can be difficult to have our weaknesses exposed and encourages mothers to “resist the urge to accuse or despair.” Rather, we should “surrender all our broken pieces to the tender mercy of Christ the healer, who makes all things new.” This is true, but it is much easier said than done, and as I read the letters in this book, I couldn’t help but feel discouraged, which I suppose simply illustrates the point that the devil is at work in my life.

The letters cover a wide variety of topics and situations that a mother might face. Prayer, screen use, rest, consumerism, vanity, friendship, attending Mass, dealing with the challenges of pregnancy, the pain of miscarriage, loving one’s husband, taking care of a home, devotion to Mary and the saints, caring for children, and anxiety are some of the topics covered. In most cases, Boomslang encourages Bellbind to get the mother to follow something other than a middle virtuous path, to veer to one extreme or the other.

For example, when it comes to caring for one’s appearance, there is the temptation to put too much emphasis on it, but there is also the temptation not to care about it at all. When it comes to rest, mothers should not feel that they are so important that they can’t leave their families to take time for themselves, but on the other hand, taking too much time away is wrong. When parenting one’s children, one can be either too strict or too permissive. One can either reject the inherent gifts of femininity or embrace them so much that one looks down on those who don’t live up to feminine ideals. One can devote oneself to being a mother to the exclusion of everything else or not spend enough time and energy on motherhood.

The Bellbind Letters is a worthwhile Lenten read. While you read, you can reflect on your life and the ways you struggle as a wife and mother. It can help you recognize how the devil may be tempting you away from the holy path. You may wish to keep a list of sins to bring to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There is a discussion guide in the appendix, and Stephenson offers an additional letter and study guide at https://www.snstephenson.com/bellbind.