Category: Book reviews

Silas Marner

As a teenager, I made a decision that my house would be filled with books someday, and I began collecting literature. If my class was studying a text, I would buy my own rather than use a classroom copy. If I had a few extra dollars, it would often go toward the purchase of a classic. My efforts have continued all these years, depending on circumstances. As we packed up the house, I realized that we amassed around 7 bookshelves of books while we were in Arizona. Many of these books were for home school, but since we were so literature-focused, it means that most of our books are useful for everyone.

I have my library.

Have I read all of the books in my library?

Not yet.

This week I picked up the copy of Silas Marner by George Eliot (a woman) that I bought 20 years ago but never read. My maiden name is written in the cover. I read somewhere that Silas Marner was a sublime tale of restoration… you know how people go on when they feel elevated by a book. I finished it today. I loved it.

I’m getting back into reading. During the move I just didn’t have time. After the move, I had no energy. I fell asleep when I tried to read. There were more naps inspired by my reading of Peter the Great: His Life and World than I can remember. Oh, those monarchs! Oh, those battles! Oh, the exhaustion! But I finished Peter in the last few days, too. Hooray.

Spring term Shakespeare

These last few weeks Paige has been studying Shakespeare. We began with tragedy.

And then we needed a break from tragedy.

Next, we read A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

She wrote and illustrated a children’s version of the story.

Then we watched the play.

It was a good time and now we’re studying Hamlet. She’s an old pro at Hamlet because we studied a children’s version several years ago when we performed the play with friends.

I’m a believer in helping kids discover simplified versions of the classics when they are young so they already know the plots and they can enjoy the language of the originals when they get older.

Good preparatory Shakespeare materials:

A picture book: A Midsummer Night’s Dream retold by Bruce Coville, illustrated by Dennis Nolan

For elementary grades: The Shakespeare Can Be Fun Series by Lois Burdett

For 5-7th grade: Shakespeare Stories by Leon Garfield and Michael Foreman

More here and here.

Quiet: the Power of Introverts

Have you heard about this book by Susan Cain? I debated about reading it because I don’t really go for psychobabble or New York Times best sellers.

Finally, I succumbed and read it. It took me a while to get through it because she gave me a lot to think about. She was writing about ME. Memories from my childhood, of my decisions, my strengths and weaknesses, and our decision about home school demanded some think time after each reading session. Through my reading, I found some validation in my choices to avoid crowds and to facilitate a quiet learning environment for my children. I repeat: this book was ALL ABOUT ME.

The words about sensitivity and brain function were interesting. Introverts appear to have more complex thinking processes. It can take a little longer for an introvert to speak, but it’s worth the wait. Too few people understand this. They mistake hesitation for timidity or worse.

Introverts are often more sensitive to sounds, lights, tastes, and the feelings of others. No wonder these sensitive people feel overloaded after a day of school, 3 hours of church, shopping, or a party.

Personality has not always been a part of our vocabulary. Schools that once emphasized character now focus on personality and social development. But what about the 30-50% of the students who do not work well in group environments? What about those students who prefer reflection over conversation? What effect does this hyper-focus on speaking as a measure of intelligence have on quiet people?

What about the 30-50% of people who are introverts who must work in offices with open floor plans to facilitate group thinking, and for whom this social environment is exhausting? Although studies indicate that decisions made by groups (or most likely, the most vocal in the groups) are poorer than those decisions made by thoughtful people in a quiet environment, it seems that our culture still values the talkers over the non-talkers.

Where do you find the introverts at a family cabin? In the nooks and crannies. They are often misunderstood as aloof, unfeeling, and antisocial. Introverts are social and need social interaction, but on a deeper level. Small talk is exhausting; a deep, private conversation about ideas fuels an introvert.

Introverts can be especially powerful. Ghandi and Mother Theresa were introverts. Their leadership wasn’t about charisma. It was about conviction. An introvert can do amazing things, especially if they feel strongly about these things.

The book’s flaws are some sweeping generalizations (although the author tries very hard to tell us she’s trying to avoid them) and a frustratingly shallow description of the strengths of extroverts. The book’s strengths are the windows into brain function research and the historical and cultural perspective on how extroversion became the Western Ideal.

Here’s my soap box message:

A quiet child is not necessarily scared or confused and those labels, such as “timid” and “shy” do more damage than you can imagine, especially if that introverted child is also sensitive. And just because a quiet child doesn’t talk much doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot going on inside. We can help them express themselves without making them feel like they are less capable.

Composers

The study of music is something I leave to our expert piano teacher because she can do a better job than I can. However, I have found a few supplements which have enriched our history, language, and music studies.

My friend bought this book of composers in Europe, but I’m sure it’s not exclusive. It groups musicians by period and discusses their country of origin, family life, etc. It’s a good little reference book. As we study history I like to focus on individuals, not just events. Learning about composers is a nice way to talk about culture, history, and language. This month we are focusing on German composers for a presentation the kids will give at the library.

These books on CD are popular with the kids, especially Daniel. There is a narration of the composer’s life and excerpts from his works throughout. These are an hour long and they are easy history lessons. They are also a fun introduction to the works of the great composers. I don’t know, but there is something right about a child getting excited when he hears a famous symphony on the radio and says, “I know that song!”

Grieg, Schumann, Sousa, and Chopin are the favorites from this series.

Our kids enter a piano composition contest each year. It’s the best exercise in music theory that I know. I love hearing what they write. Paige wrote a waltz and sarabande this year. Daniel wrote a theme and variations. Timothy wrote an A-B-A theme. We get the results from the judges this week.

Now, if I can just commission a bust made of each of my own little composers, my shelf would be complete.

Shakespeare study

 

It’s almost the end of third term and I am so excited to read Shakespeare next term. I found this series to be helpful for the young children. I’ve added a few more favorites to my Shakespeare how-to list.

1. The Oxford School Shakespeare Series: Wow. This series is excellent. Within each book, you’ll find introductory materials which cover relevant historical matters and some commentary about themes, as well as a detailed synopsis of the play. The play itself has excellent side notes and illustrations (which are easier to access than footnotes) and scene summaries. After the play, there are additional notes for further study and classroom discussion and projects. For secondary school years, this is very, very helpful.

A disciplined student who studied all of the introductory material could tackle Shakespeare’s plays on their own and be conversant about themes, characters, and history. I’m always looking for something which will require significant effort from the students but also make it possible to successfully navigate on their own. Of course we’ll probably read the plays aloud and we’ll definitely discuss themes and I will ask for essays, but excellent learning needn’t require constant lecturing from me.

2. William Shakespeare by Rosie Dickins: For elementary students, (and I admit I learned a lot, too) this illustrated history of Shakespeare’s life and times is just a joy. It’s accessible for young people, the illustrations are delightful, and it makes history fun. Timothy really loved this during his second grade year.

3. The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt: For the Shakespeare faint of heart. And most of us are. This Newbery Honor book takes place during the Vietnam War and follows a young man in Junior High who finds himself the only Protestant student in his homeroom, which means he and his teacher must find something to do when all of the Catholics and Jews leave school early for religious studies. His teacher decides that they will study Shakespeare. As told by this young man, the story is full of preteen angst and attitude, but through his study of Shakespeare (The Tempest, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, and Hamlet), he discovers that these plays help him better understand humanity and find his way through his problems. My older kids loved this book. It makes you excited to read Shakespeare for yourself and not just for your teacher. Thanks, Mom, for the recommendation.

Angie’s Book

Do you have an unlikely treasure hidden in plain sight at your house?

Here’s mine:

My house is full of binders just like this, but this is one of my favorites.

Last year I decided to collect the notes I have taken from literature since moving to Arizona and compile them in a book for easy reference.

It’s an odd assortment of stuff; some of it is personal religious study; some of it is evidence of curiosity; many books I have studied so I can teach them. I don’t take notes on everything that I read. More often you will find my notes scribbled in the margins of my books. But there are some books which require a little more effort. This is where I keep the evidence of those efforts.

I read The Republic twice last year to make any sense of it. I made notes in columns to show the dialogue.

After reading The Aeneid and making careful summaries, I decided not to use much of the work in Paige’s study plan.

This book is evidence of many elements of my life which coincide with my studies. I was a mother of a toddler at the time I was studying a text on the American Revolution.

My notes from Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith were left on a chair at Spring Lake and received a good soaking from the sprinklers.

After I read a book, I decide whether I want my children to study it. If so, I will often make a study plan, research commentaries, and write essay questions and sometimes worksheets. It’s not very often that I read something and discover that I can’t use it in some way in our classes.

I gave up personal reading during high school and college. It took me years to revive the hunger for ideas which was stamped out during those busy years. I didn’t like much of what was assigned to read during those years. I became weary from ideas of authors I didn’t admire and books I had not chosen. Of course these reading experiences had value, but I am grateful to be in a new phase of study.

This time of my life is a little bit like being back in school, but I love the freedom to read what I want and study as little or much as I please.

She didn’t explain away the miracle.

I decided to read the book club favorite, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. I delayed it for months, not sure if I wanted to read about the atrocities of a WWII Japanese POW camp… or about B-24’s… or about a rebellious punk who makes good.

I was caught almost immediately by the author’s style and the dynamic Louie Zamperini. I told Richard that I couldn’t believe it, but the author had made me enjoy reading about war planes. I caught him reading over my shoulder and he said, “You’re right. This author has a very readable style.”

However, it should have been no surprise that I enjoyed this. Memoirs are some of my favorite reads.

My favorite part is when Louie and Phil are stranded on an inflatable raft in the ocean with no food or water. The description of silence, stillness, and the accompanying sharpening of the senses and memories was profound to me. I think Louie’s journey to peace began here, long before he was taken as a prisoner of war.

Through scrunched-up eyelids, I endured the POW camp descriptions and the tales of the sadistic guards, especially The Bird. I was dismayed but not surprised when Louie came home and slipped into alcoholism and violence. I saw the book coming to an end too quickly to resolve his angst and be worthy of the title, “Unbroken.” Louie Zamperini seemed pretty broken to me.

For a week I have stewed about Louie’s amazing turn-around. At first I thought that if the author took the time to describe in detail the planes and maps and biographies in Louie’s life, the least she could have done is describe the religious awakening of Louie Zamperini with a few more words. I felt like for all the pain and trouble Louie had suffered, the solution should have taken years, not days.

But then I decided to think about things in a different way. The only real solution to problems IS simple. It’s the Savior, Jesus Christ. The author could write pages and pages about the anatomy of a man-made plane, but the process of conversion, forgiveness, and renewal are not so easily described. I’m grateful the author didn’t try to explain the miracle, making common the divine and profound.

The two friends, Louie and Phil are great foils to one another. While Louie depended on his determination and spunk to get through his trials, the author asserts that Phil’s strength came from a deep religious belief. In the end, however, Louie’s determination alone is insufficient to heal the wounds of the war. It is deep religious belief that ultimately saves each of them.

The Savior makes a change of heart possible. Changing your heart means that you choose to look at things a different way. For Louie, this meant that he now looked at his accident as a miracle because HIS life was spared. It meant looking at his tormentor with pity, not hate. Conversion propelled him into a life of service, which is also a great healer.

So, thanks, Ms. Hillenbrand for not explaining away the miracle and for the great telling of the life of Louie Zamperini.