Dear Mama,
In a Parent’s Review article written in the 1800s, Lady A recommended having three books going at the same time: a stiff book, a moderately easy book, and a novel. Using Lady A’s recommendation, I’m reading the following:
Bible/Devotional: Every morning, I begin with the Secret Garden Devotional by Rachel Dodge. I love how she includes a prayer for the day.
Stiff book (non-fiction book): Currently, I’m reading Teaching from Rest by Sarah Mackenzie. This book is excellent to help us focus on what matters in homeschooling. I typically read/listen to this book in the morning while I’m getting ready for the day.
A moderately easy book/magazine: This book is something easy and for fun. For this selection, I’m reading the magazine Learning Well Journal. I read this when I have time, but typically at night.
A novel: Currently, I’m reading Once Upon A Wardrobe by Patti Callahan. I am loving this novel. It is actually helping me see the value of the Chronicles of Narnia. I’m very similar to the narrator of the story. I read this book in the afternoon during our quiet reading time or at night before going to bed.
Purse book: A purse book, for me, does not come with an audiobook. I take this book with me to appointments or when I sit and wait for my children during practice. Currently, I’m reading Pocket Full of Pinecones by Karen Andreola.
What’s in your reading basket?
Your warmly,
Mirley
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My 3 books are: The Joy of Slow: Restoring Balance and Wonder to Homeschool Learning by Leslie Martino. My novel is The Princess and the Goblin by MacDonald (reading with the Close Reads podcast) and I need to pick up a third, as i just finished a quick and fun whodunnit mystery this afternoon.
I got into a Catherine Project class, so I'm reading excerpts from a lot of old Greek stuff. This week I'm trying to work on Oedipus the King. Next week, I think it's Plato. So that's my Stiff book. I'm in a Bible Study Fellowship group so I have the daily homework, which isn't quite a devotional, but helps me dig into the Word, so I don't feel like I need a devotional on top of that. And the novel I'm reading is pretty dense, so I would count that as being more moderate. But I'm trying to read The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu, which is the sequel to The Three Body Problem. So then my light/novel category is mostly books I read with/to my kids, whether that’s read-alouds I'm listening to on audio with the older kids, or picture books I'm enjoying with my toddler. But then there's also my shower book, which is something I'm listening to on audio while I shower. Sometimes, I listen to podcasts. But I've also been enjoying The Notebook by Roland Allen. I also sometimes throw 52 Ways to Walk into the mix.