#OpenBook for February 2025

 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!

 

1-11-25 - Welcoming Your Puppy from Planet Dog - Kathy Callahan - I continued my reading on how to care for / train a puppy. I really enjoyed this book. It was very helpful. But I really think that I am not up to getting a puppy. I need a year-old dog that knows how to be a dog. Now, if only I can convince my daughter of that . . .

1-12-25 Hidden Libraries: The World's Most Unusual Book Depositories - DC Helmuth - I'm always eager to read a book about libraries. This one features lots of interesting libraries from around the world, including some Little Free Libraries, one that straddles the U.S. / Canadian border, some in tiny villages, and others in remote regions of the world. I enjoyed reading about these libraries and viewing the lovely photos.
 

 

 

1-18-25 How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days - Kari Leibowitz, Ph.D. - As someone who suffers from seasonal depression, I was interested in reading this book. As the same suggests, it is primarily about changing your outlook on winter and trying to appreciate the good things about it instead of focusing on the bad. Dr. Leibowitz examines the cultures of places that have very long, cold winters to see how they embrace winter to offer advice for the rest of us. It was interesting and she does have some valid points. At times, it got a bit repetitive in the sense that I felt like she was just repeating the same point with different examples, but it was interesting from both a psychological and cultural perspective.

 

1-25-25 The Secret Lives of Color - Kassia St. Clair - This was a fascinating look at the history of color - how various pigments were developed and how they were used. This is a subject I never really thought about before. We tend to just take color for granted. Even when using paints, I never considered where they got their names or how they were developed. This book was was full of interesting facts and anecdotes and I recommend it to anyone interested in history or art. 
 

1-26-25 Matrescence: On Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood - Lucy Jones - I was beta-reading a lovely manuscript about becoming a mother from a Catholic perspective and came across the term "matrescence" which I had never heard before. It means the process of becoming a mother. In searching for that term online, I found this book. Lucy Jones, a mother in the UK, shares her own pregnancy / birth / early motherhood stories against the backdrop of the larger societal expectations / lack of support that new mothers face. She also delves into how the minds and bodies of mothers change as a result of pregnancy and giving birth and the the mental challenges many women face. 

While the author is pro-choice and references trans men giving birth, please do not let that keep you from reading this important work about motherhood, especially if you or someone you love is having a difficult time with that transition or if you are in the position to help a new mother. It's been a long time since I've given birth, but this book spoke to me and the young woman I once was, trying desperately to take care of myself and a new baby while feeling alone and completely lost. 

1-27-25 Jumping into Joy: Caitlyn and Peter's Rosary Adventures - Theresa Linden - This is an innovative way to teach children age 6-9 about the mysteries of the Rosary. In the tradition of the Magic Treehouse and Chime Travelers series, nine-year-olds Caitlyn and Peter time-travel to witness the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary as they happen to Mary and Jesus in order to better appreciate saying the Rosary. Further books about the other sets of mysteries are planned.  

1-27-25 Green Saints for a Green Generation - Libby Osgood, CND, editor - This is an academic work that features eleven essays highlighting various members of the communion of the saints (some canonized; some not) who have worked to care for the earth and inspire others to do the same. The final essay is a call to action for all of us to become green saints. This is definitely not a leisure read, but it was thought-provoking. (Read for Catholic Library World)

1-30-25 The Marriage Pact - Kathleen Fuller - This is a sweet Amish tale about a fake romance that turns into something more. Perry is a confirmed bachelor, a problem his mother is determined to fix. Daisy thinks she is in love with Maynard, who is not interested in her, so her mother sends her to her aunt's house in the hope that she might meet someone new. Conveniently, her aunt lives next-door to Perry, and when the two become friends, they decide to pretend to date each other to keep both their mothers happy. This book is perfect for when you need a light read. (Read for a book review publication)

2-2-25 The Backyard Bird Chronicles - Amy Tan - Tan records over five years of what happens with her backyard birds that she feeds daily. It features beautiful full-color drawings that she did of the birds. I enjoy watching the birds and squirrels that frequent my own backyard soup kitchen, but Tan knows way more about the birds that visit hers. Her drawings are amazing as well. This is an interesting book for anyone who enjoys bird watching or who has kept a Charlotte Mason style nature journal.

2-3-25 In Plain Sight - Leslea Wahl - This was a great Catholic teen/YA read about Emerson and her father who moved from Arizona to Minnesota in the midst of a freezing January. As they and their charming dog, Zuri, adjust to their new environment, Emerson makes new friends, including the handsome Reid, and there are mysteries to solve involving secret rooms and what Emerson and her father are doing in Minnesota in the first place. Emerson also wrestles with her faith in a meaningful way.

 

 

Since 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). 

1-10-25 Leviathan - Thomas Hobbes - This was a long book with tiny print so it took me a while to get through. It was fairly interesting, however. Thomas Hobbes was born in 1588 and wrote this in 1651. His central concern was to keep peace and avoid war, especially civil war. He advocates for the natural rights of man. He is for all-powerful sovereigns who protect the rights of the people and allow them to make the most of their lives. He also felt that people should only claim rights they were willing to give to others. The last portion of the book discussed the Bible and the Church and was very pro-Protestant. 

1-29-25 Treatise on Theology and Politics - Benedict Spinoza - Spinoza was a Dutch philosopher whose aim was to free government and individuals from ecclesiastical authority. He published this work anonymously in Latin in 1670. In it, he does some examination of Scripture, attempting to determine who actually wrote which books and trying to decipher what the true meaning of Scripture is. He takes a look at the Hebrew state and how it was run. He also argues that the secular ruler should be in charge of religious practice in a given state. Yet, he is also for freedom of opinion and worship. 

 

My fourteen-year-old daughter and I read the following book this month:

 

In progress - The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - Ann Brashares - I had seen the movie of this years ago, but it is my first time reading through the book about four fifteen-year-old girls who find a pair of magic jeans that fits and flatters all of them. They agree to share the pants, sending them to each other as they spend the summer between their sophomore and junior year apart from each other.

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#OpenBook for January 2025

 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!

 

12-5-24 The Chronicles of Sir Rolland Paterlot is an innovative series that teaches children about conquering sin and practicing virtue. It is a seven-book series that focuses on a young boy (Rolland) who is sent to the Woodshire Academy of Dragon Slaying, where in addition to academic subjects, he will learn how to slay the dragons of sin. The story was interesting and it teaches valuable lessons in a conversational style. Even adults can learn while reading this with their children. I read books one and two in the series and enjoyed them!

12-8-24 The Christmas House - Victoria James - This is a Christmas romance, but it also features a whole lot of generational family trauma, coping mechanisms, and learning to heal and trust again. Charlotte and Wyatt knew each other as preteens when they were both growing up in dysfunctional families, but then Wyatt and Charlotte's father both left town on the same time, and Charlotte built a wall around her heart. When Charlotte's grandmother invites her to come see her for Christmas, Wyatt happens to live next door. He's now a single father with a challenging preteen daughter of his own. There is still a spark between them, but Charlotte has had her walls up for so long, it is hard for her to even entertain the idea of letting anyone in. I appreciated the way James treated trauma and complicated family dynamics.

12-12-24 Young Saints: Fifteen Extraordinary Lives from Blandina to Carlo Acutis - Charlotte Grossetete

Do you want to offer the young people in your life some inspirational stories of holiness? This book provides engaging profiles of children, teens, and young adults who made a difference and lived exemplary lives in the short time they were on earth. For each saint, there is a full-page illustration, a story featuring important moments in their life, a one-page graphic depiction, a timeline placing them in historical context, and a prayer.

12-15-24 Christmas in Bethel - Richard Paul Evans - I always look forward to reading Richard Paul Evans' Christmas stories and was happy this came in on my library hold list before Christmas! It is about a woman in her thirties who finally gets to meet the author whose books changed her life. As I started this book, it reminded me of another one of his stories (I don't recall which one) and I was a bit disappointed that he seemed to be rehashing an old plot, but then he took it in a different direction. The story made me cry in that feel-good Christmas book kind of way, and all was well.  

12-15-24 Williamsbrug Christmas - Libbey Hodges Oliver and Mary Miley Theobald - This is an older book (1999) that I picked up from the library that talks about the history of Christmas decorations in Williamsburg, VA (where unlike my own state of MA Christmas was celebrated from the earliest days). It was an interesting history and I enjoyed the beautiful photos.  

12-19-24 The Rancher's Unexpected Bride - Lauralyn Keller - This was an interesting suspense-filled romance set in 1887 Montana about a marriage of convenience that turns into more. Ella Mountbatten escaped her abusive father and fiance in Boston and headed for Montana. Cody Brooks is a rancher who was recently entrusted with the care of three young children after his best friend died. He needs a wife and she needs someone to protect her, but her father and ex-fiance aren't going to let her go easily. (Read for a book review publication.)

12-19-24 Signs of Hope: The Revolutionary Art of Sister Corita Kent - Mara Rockliff - I had never heard of Sister Corita Kent before reading this book, but in looking on Amazon, it appears that there are several books about her. She lived from 1918-1986 and was a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary sisters, although she left the order after Vatican II. She was a Pop Art artist who was also involved in using art for social justice. This is a picture book designed for young children, told from the perspective of children in her art class. The author's note provides some background on her life for older readers. I enjoyed learning about this remarkable woman!

12-22-24 Christmas at America's Landmark Houses - Patricia Hart McMillan and David Strahan (2nd Edition) - This was a beautiful book full of large photographs of beautiful Christmas decorations at historical house museums around the country. It also featured some historical background on the houses and their holiday celebrations.

12-23-24 An Irish Christmas - Melody Carlson - I enjoyed this Christmas tale set in 1963. A widowed woman takes her young adult son to Ireland for Christmas in the hopes of connecting with him and finally telling him a hard truth he needs to know, but Ireland has some surprises for both of them! 

12-25-24 An Amish Family Christmas - Shelley Shepard Gray - My last Christmas story for this year was this Amish story about a young single mother on the run from her abusive ex-fiance who finds love and acceptance in a new community. 

12-28-24 Imagine the God of Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God's Revelation, and the Love You've Always Wanted - John Burke - I've always been interested in near-death experiences and what they can tell us about the life after this one. This book is from a Christian, not Catholic, perspective (although it does feature the experiences of a couple of Catholics) but shows how near-death experiences are consistent with Scripture and how even those of other faiths encounter a person they identify as Christ when they have these experiences. Overall, these experiences illustrate that love of God and love of neighbor will be what we are judged on in the next world (which is what Jesus said). I wish I could give this book to everyone who has rejected God and decided that faith doesn't matter. I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about near-death experiences.

12-30-24 Some Like it Scot - Pepper Basham - Yes, the title made me cringe, but this was a fun contemporary romantic comedy. Katie Campbell is a travel writer known for her misadventures, who has been sent to Scotland to take part in a three-week Edwardian experience. There she meets Graeme, a handsome Scotsman who has been wounded in love and has no desire to fall in love again but is yet captivated by the American. They are thrown together repeatedly, with him often rescuing her from her latest scrape, and their feelings for each other grow, but how can they have a future when they live in separate countries? I could definitely see this as a movie! (Read for a book review publication.) 

12-30-24 Every Body Wonderfully Made - Courtney Siebring - This is a sweet picture book designed to help children celebrate the body God gave them and help counter the messages of gender confusion that fill our world today. I reviewed it on Today's Catholic Homeschooling. 

1-2-25 The Ultimate Guide to Raising a Puppy - Victoria Stilwell - We had to say goodbye to my best furry friend in December (she was almost 18 years old) and so we are looking to get a new dog this spring. I took out a few books on puppy care and training from the library. It all feels very overwhelming, even having had a dog before because I know I didn't know much about caring for her when she was a puppy. I want to do better this time. 

 1-5-25 The Anthropocene Reviewed - John Green - This one was recommended to me by my twenty-two-year-old son. It is a random collection of essays reviewing various things in our modern world, such as Canada geese, teddy bears, air-conditioning, and more. It was interesting to read and I learned some new things. The author suffers from depression and anxiety so I could relate to some of his outlook on life. It was written in the midst of Covid (2020-2021) so it does come from that vantage point.

1-6-25 Entering Heaven on Earth: The Signs, Symbols, and Saints of Catholic Churches - Fr. Lawrence Lew, OP - Have you ever walked into a Catholic church and wondered what certain symbols or depictions might represent? Even those well-versed in the Catholic faith may be unsure about the iconography of certain saints or wonder why a given image is used. Entering Heaven on Earth: The Signs, Symbols, and Saints of Catholic Churches by Fr. Lawrence Lew, OP, helps educate anyone interested in learning more about the decoration of churches from the most modest chapels to grand basilicas. It is filled with information and stunning photographs to help readers appreciate the beauty and meaning of Catholic churches.

 

Since 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). 

12-8-24 Pensees - Blaise Pascal - Blaise Pascal lived from 1623-1662. At age 16, he wrote a treatise on conic sections, and at 18, he invented a computing machine. He was sickly most of his adult life and died at the age of 39. He had a deep conversion in his twenties, and from then on decided to live only for God. "Pensees" literally means "thoughts" and this work contains his thoughts on a wide range of topics including faith, reason, math, death, religion, philosophy, and more.

 

My fourteen-year-old daughter and I read the following books this month:

12-10-24 The Homecoming - Earl Hamner, Jr. - I grew up watching The Waltons on television, but I never read the books that inspired the series. I figured this Christmas story would be a good one to share with my daughter (who has never watched The Waltons), which it was. There was one short section about Clay-Boy (later known as John-Boy) experiencing lust, but other than that it was a clean heartwarming story.  It mostly focuses on Clay-Boy, who is fifteen in this tale and is sent by his mother out in a snowstorm to find his missing father. 

12-20-24 The Christmas Dog - Melody Carlson - I had read this book a few years back and was happy to reread it with my daughter. Betty is an older woman who is a bit put out by her new neighbor, Jack, who is tearing up her friends' old house and whom she thinks might be up to nefarious things. He also has a dog who keeps making his way into her backyard and doing his business on her favorite dogwood. When her twenty-something step-granddaughter Avery arrives unexpectedly to stay with her, Betty's life is further upended. This is a very sweet story about families, hasty assumptions, and a dog who brings healing to three people who need him.  

 

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