**1. The Silver Chair by CS Lewis Continuing the Narnia series with #4
**2. The Horse and His Boy by CS Lewis #5 Such a great book about a boy, a girl, two talking horses, protecting a kingdom from a bully, protecting queen Susan from a terrible marriage, and in brief visit to Narnia.
*3. St. Clare of Assisi by Bret Thoman, OFS We read this aloud. It is a pretty well written, biography, almost told in historical novel form of the life of St. Clare of Assisi. We follow her from childhood, following St. Francis, establishing her order, fighting to make it an acknowledged order, and her end of life. It was a good choice.
**4. The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin What a wild story! Lara was a typical PTA mom who got addited to drugs and stole from her neighbors. She ended up in jail and eventually got out, reclaimed her boys, and rebuilt her life. This is her story, and it is fascinating to see how someone that I have more in common with than you can imagine, has lived many lives I can't. A strong look into what makes our justice system unjust as you watch her and her now ex-husband get two totally different outcomes, and how impossible it is to succeed when you get out of jail.
**5. The Magician's Nephew by CS Lewis #6 Another great one in the Narnia series!
**6. The Final Battle by CS Lewis #7 A heartbreaking, but not, story of the end of the world and a beautiful glimpse of heaven to come.
7. $10,000,000 Marriage Proposal by James Patterson and Hilary Liftin A fast read romance (called a BookShot) that has a very rich man putting up $10M to find a bride. The three finalists (process happens in just days) become friends and, of course, it appears all will work out in the end.
*8. Sergei Rachmaninoff by Antoni Gronowicz A children's novel about the composer from his childhood, rise to fame, family life, and death in the US. Prep for Skylark this term.
*9. Too Good to be Altogether Lost by Pamela Smith Hill an academic look at the Little House series, breaking down Laura's process, the history of the series, dealing with the problematic themes, and addressing the relationship between Rose and Laura as mother and daughter, contemporary authors, and an editorial partnership. Mom saw her speak and bought the book for Mary there, and it was interesting to read. The change in tone in The First Four was something to learn about, as it was likely written before she made Little House a series, it was written as an adult book, and it was written in the style of Rose's Let the Hurrican Roar. So Rose took Laura's Pioneer Girl work, reworked it, and sold it as her own, then Laura tried to copy that style and continue the story. Years after they both died Roses adopted son had his secretary retype and edit it and added it as the "last Little House" book, which is definitely never what it was meant to be.
*10. Sweet Home Alaska by Carole Estby Dagg A middle grade novel about a family who moves from Wisconsin to Alaska as part of Roosevelt's Palmer colony settlement. Ironically, there is strong tie in to Laura and Almonzo, which is what the pumpkins are named, and grown using the same milk feeding method as Farmer Boy. Trip, the main character, is very Laura like as well, starting the first library, working hard to make her mom want to stay in Alaska, her dad is very like Pa, and there are siblings who are annoying and close. A great little book and fun to read as we prepare for our Alaska trip.
*11. The Tip of the Iceburg by Mark Adams A really interesting travel memoir that follows his trip around Alaska, following the same trip from the late 1800s that featured John Burroughs, John Muir, and so many other great scientists. That trip was one of the definitive ones that led to the national parks and the knowledge of Alaska that led to the tourist industry. Lots of history over the years and lots of current information. Really liked it!
*12. Find the Good by Heather Lende The obituary writer from Haines, Alaska shares what she has learned about living and loving through her life in a small town, and the time she spends with people who have just lost their closest friends and family. Good, quick read to remember we only get one time around this life.
*13. The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan One of his earlier books, looking at the world from a plant's point of view. He follows apples, potatoes, marijana, and tulips looking not just at how we use plants, but how plants use us to become strong contenders in the survival of the fittest. Lots of evolutionary talk, obviously drug discussion in the marijana chapter. Talk of everything from economics (tulipmania) to ecological impacts (potatoes, genetic modification) and overall a really good read. I had not read any of his earlier works, and enjoyed it overall.
**14. Little House in the Big Wood
**15. Little House on the Prairie
**16. On the Banks of Plum Creek
**17. By the Shores of Silver Lake
**18. The Long Winter
**19. Little Town on the Prairie
**20. These Happy Golden Year
**21. The First Four Years
*22. Let the Hurricane Roar by Rose Wilder Lane Rose's fictional novel that features Charles and Caroline, mixing some real stories with a different plot.
*23. On the Way Home by Laura Ingalls Wilder Her diary and Rose's commentary on the trip from South Dakota to Missouri.
*25. West From Home by Laura Ingalls Wilder Letters Laura wrote home to Almanzo while she visited Rose and her husband and attended the Pacific World's Fair. So interesting to see her worrying about him and the farm while she was gone, learned that she and Manny had loaned Rose money, and overall just an interesting book of letters.
*26. Rose Wilder Lane, Her Story by herself and Roger Macbride A fictionalized autobiography, according to the intro by Macbride. This one feels a bit more like the Little House writings, but is definitely not the real story of her life. We see her leave home, making her way in California, following a boy she loved who also left. However, she doesn't go with him, she leaves to do a school that is a basically fake. The book follows her through her marriage, and what cad her husband was. We see her be a victim, a simpleton, and eventually a strong willed woman who excells in land sales and business, eventually reconnecting to Paul, the boy she first loved.
**27. All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot Read aloud to Kelby and Evan. Delightful as always! His early days in Skeldale house and in the field, and meeting of Helen, ending with their marriage.*
*28. Hooked: How crafting saved my life by Sutton Foster I read this on the Westerdam in Alaska. It was a good book, about her life and career; focusing a lot on the development of crafting as a coping skill for her. We learn about her mom's mental health challenges, and how that impacted her and her brother. She's a very talented Broadway and TV actress, but for all her love of her 2nd husband in this book, she's already divorced him and is engaged to Huge Jackman, after he divorced his wife. Hard to respect her for some of her choices, including multiple divorces.
*29. Cody's Wish: A Boy, a Racehorse, and a Fight for Life by Paul K. Halloran, Jr. The real life story of the boy (Cody) and the famous racehorse (Cody's Wish) who developed a bond and never quit. Cody was not expected to live to 2, but lived until just shy of 18. He met a foal who went on to be one of the best racehorses. Lots of tears over the story, just wish this first time author had a better editor, as it could have used a lot of tightening up.
WOWZA, I am moving slow this year. Too many reels? Too much distraction? It is mid-July and I'm only this far.
*30. The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold A very sweet, Christian novel. A woman with no family and pretty extraordinary life is entering a hospice facility. A young girl who wants to climb the reporting ladder is reprimanded, and also given an incredible opportunity by her editor, who seems rough, but has a heart of gold. They connect for a week and they both are in a completely different place by the end.
**31. Rembrandt is in the Wind by Russ Ramsey Such a good book! Art study on multiple famous artists and prints, with theology and philosophy and general discussion mixed in. Such a different book, but definitely worth reading and perfect for art study.
32. Windfalls by Jean Hegland This was the weirdest book, but I couldn't stop reading it. Mom found it in a LFL and I cannot believe she suggested I read it. It involved alllllll the triggers--abortion, abuse, toddler's death, self harm, runaway teen, homelessness.
*33. Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See Fascinating novel in some ways, horrifying in others. The book starts in 1469 and we see everything from a family that breaks the societal norms in China, to those who follow them strictly. Shocking to read about foot binding, really shocking. The medical care was wildly terrible for women. It was interesting to read many of the ways life worked for women of different classes and it definitely made me grateful for the time and place I live.
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