Elisabeth

Very good

Reviewed: 01-28-25

It’s never been my favorite of Narnia, mostly because it’s with mainly different people. This time through though I throughly enjoyed it!

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Excellent

Reviewed: 09-28-24

A great resource for why our kids shouldn’t get smart phones until high school. And why we should let our kids play more.

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Excellent

Reviewed: 09-13-24

I’ve been slowly re-reading some fiction books that I read as a child/YA. This one took me a long time to find (I’m terrible with names of books, and their authors) but I’m so glad I finally found it. “The Door in the Wall” by Marguerite de Angeli is a delight. I remember checking this book out from the library at least a couple of times, and sometimes touching it on the shelf as I browsed for other books. I read a lot as a child, and most of the books I’ve forgotten-- as they are forgettable-- but this one lingered and if you give it a chance it will probably linger with you also.

The story follows Robin, a young lad, whose father is away at war fighting the Scots, and whose lady mother has been summoned by the queen to be at court. He is left alone in his house with faithful servants who are carried away by the Plague. Brother Luke rescues him from his home and from his now crooked legs. His life has been turned upside down, and he has to travel along the Wall looking for the doors that will Open. I don’t want to say more and give more spoilers. But get this book, read it, listen to it, enjoy it with the whole family.

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Humorous Heyer

Reviewed: 08-12-24

IMHO this is Heyer’s funniest book. Alverstoke isn’t cruel or unkind the way some of her hero’s are, even to people who “bore him.” And Frederica isn’t young, although she is young. Her family plays a great side part that brings most of the humor, rather than she herself.

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1 person found this helpful

The Harms of Abdication

Reviewed: 05-22-24

Ok, guys, this was a great read, but it definitely will ruffle feathers. Basically, this book is on how we have ended up with weak and dependent children, and how much of it can be laid at the door of therapy and the abdication of parents as the “expert” for their children. All of it was well done, she clearly sees through the weaknesses of therapy, and also explicitly states that it is good for some people who have actually experienced trauma. Shrier isn’t a health care provider, she’s a trained journalist and writes from that perspective. She checks the sources and knows what decent data looks like. She’s a bit on a soapbox, but in my opinion she is rightly on a box and is trying to take down an idol of our day.

Even if you don’t want to read the full book, chapter three is lit. Would highly recommend it for every parent and teacher.

To whet your appetite:
“Emotions aren’t just unstable, they are highly manipulable… feelings fool us all the time.”

“Parents often transmit worry to kids. But we can transmit calm too. We can be brave for them because that is what every life, if well lived requires. We face the things that frighten us.”

“Our children enter the world howling incompetence. Why do human children take so long to grow up? Why did nature create a period of prolonged childhood? As far as I can tell, the purpose of childhood is to allow kids to take risks. Things that involve getting all kinds of hurt. And to practice the skills they will need as adults. While they are still safely under their parent’s roof. Childhood exists for kids to hazard an unpredictable friend, lose a ballgame, stand up to a bully, pick themself up and offer another kid a hand. We want them to venture out and get their hearts broken. Try and fail and to at last succeed. All while we are still in the next bedroom. That’s what a happy childhood is—experiencing all the pains of adulthood. In smaller doses. So that they build up immunity to the poison of heartache and loss.”

Worth your time.

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Heartbreaking

Reviewed: 11-09-22

These books are always heartbreaking. But I will always read them too,
They are the witness to historic atrocities and we can’t look away.

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Migraine

Reviewed: 02-08-22

Interesting. I don’t think it’s really good for people who suffer from the migraine, unless they truly think they are alone in it.
I DO think it’s good for those who have never had one. It does give a glimpse of what it’s like.

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Great December Read

Reviewed: 12-23-20

A story as predictable as A Christmas Carol, but just a fun. Armitage knocks the Reading out of the park as usual.

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Ultimately disappointing

Reviewed: 03-01-20

This memoir started strong, but ultimately I was disappointed. I very much appreciate Alinejad’s willingness to fight for her fellow Iranians and their right to chose if they will wear the hijab or not. I also realize that in truth her story is not finished. I’d be interested to read an epilogue in about 20 years. It seems like she sees the world through simple glasses, which helps her to fight her one battle, but might not help her win the war.

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A great adventure for the whole family

Reviewed: 10-08-19

While you might not want to read this to your infant, it’s really a great book for the whole family.
The root of the book is a displaced boy, who hates baseball (everything good in life). His adventure beings by being left at his crazy uncle’s house for the summer. It’s a story of redemption and love of light, and even baseball.

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