My Favorite Books

This topic for this week's Heart of the Matter Online Meme is Your Favorite Books.

Of course, the Bible is at the top of my list of favorites. As much as I love to read, that is the only Book I cannot do without.

It would be very difficult for me to choose only my favorite books, so how about my favorite authors, as well as some favorite titles and series?

When I was a child, I read everything I could get my hands on by Louisa May Alcott; we have also read at least one out loud as a family. The Anne of Green Gables series is definitely a childhood favorite. We are currently reading Anne of Green Gables as a family. I also loved Heidi, by Johanna Spyri and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, by Kate Douglas Wiggin.

Other favorites in the classics genre include The Lord of the Rings trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien; The Chronicles of Narnia , by C.S. Lewis (as well as his nonfiction books); Around the World in Eighty Days, by Jules Verne; The Swiss Family Robinson, by Johann Wyss; Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky; War and Peace and Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy; Ivanhoe, by Sir Walter Scott; and most of the George MacDonald novels I have been able to find. My current favorites are books by Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. Persuasian is my favorite by Jane Austen; I cannot pick a favorite by Charles Dickens. I recently discovered Elizabeth Gaskell's novels and enjoyed North and South and Cranbrook.

Favorite homeschooling books: A Charlotte Mason Education and More Charlotte Mason Education, by Catherine Levison;The Three R's and You Can Teach Your Child Successfully, by Ruth Beechick; and Beyond Survival: A Guide to Abundant-Life Homeschooling, by Diana Waring.

Favorite child-rearing books: How Children Raise Parents: The Art of Listening to Your Family, by Dan B. Allender and Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens, by Paul David Tripp.

My favorite homemaking book is The Hidden Art of Homemaking, by Edith Schaeffer. I also like Frugal Luxuries: Simple Pleasures to Enhance Your Life and Comfort Your Soul, by Tracey McBride.

As far as other nonfiction books, I like to read about whatever we happen to be studying or whatever our pastor gives us to read. I always have a stack of books that I am reading. Two recent reads that stick out include Families at the Crossroads: Beyond Traditional and Modern Options, by Rodney Clapp and Deep Justice in a Broken World: Helping Your Kids Serve Others and Right the Wrongs Around Them, by Chap Clark and Kara E. Powell.

I could add more, but this post would turn into a series! If you would like to participate in the Your Favorite Books meme, go to Heart of the Matter.

HomeschoolBlogger Comments
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May. 2, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by rcelliott (

I am amazed at how you condensed the list to that small of a blog.
I love you.

May. 2, 2008 - Love them

Posted by cricket

Oh, you listed some of my favorites also. I had to contain myself for this post!
Be blessed!
Terri Sue

May. 2, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Momtofivekids

I'll have to check out some of those! Thanks for sharing.

May. 2, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Princess Momma

You have several on your list that are favorites of mine as well.

(I'm not on HomeschoolBlogger anymore, but you can visit me at http://princessmomma.wordpress.com)

May. 2, 2008 - Books

Posted by Morning Rose

I only recently discovered the Anne of Green Gables series and loved reading all 8 books. I was sad to finish Rilla of Ingleside and have no more to read. I also love the Ruth Beechick homeschooling books and find them very encouraging and informative.

May. 2, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Margaret

You've got some great books listed. And some I'll have to look into! :-)

Margaret
http://2kidschoolhouse.blogspot.com

May. 3, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Shari Ellen

We've been listening to Anne of Green Gables as an audio book online. I haven't read Around the World in Eighty Days yet. I think that would be a good one to do this summer (during the traveling season).
http://ellenfunlearning.blogspot.com/

Spring Reading Thing 2008

Since I had so many books that I didn't finish on my Winter Reading Challenge Wrap-up post, I'm really excited that Katrina at Callapiddler Days is hosting the Spring Reading Thing 2008! The challenge goes from March 20th, through June 19th. One random participant will win a $10 gift certificate from Amazon.com, but you have to post your initial reading list by midnight (EST) tonight and post a recap by midnight on June 24th. You can join the reading fun anytime though - the deadline is only to be eligible for the prize!

Here's my list (leftover from my Winter Reading Challenge list. I noticed that a lot of people added their Bible reading goals to the Winter Reading Challenge. I thought that was a great idea, so I added my Bible reading goals to this list. I'll hopefully add some more books, but I would like to get most of these finished up first. Books I'm currently reading are in red; books I have completed will be crossed off.

Fiction:

Martin Chuzzlewit, by Charles Dickens (free online)

Helen's Temper, by Mrs. George Gladstone (with the HSB Literary Club - free online)

Nonfiction:

Awakening Youth Discipleship, by Brian J. Mahan, Michael Warren, and David F. White

What is Form Criticism?, by Edgar V. McKnight

Deep Justice in a Broken World, by Chap Clark & Kara E. Powell

Soul Searching, by Christian Smith with Melinda Lundquist Denton

From the Bible:

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

Daniel

Romans (current family Bible study)

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Happy Reading!

HomeschoolBlogger Comments
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Mar. 25, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Looks good, Andrea. You've got some heavy (but intriguing-looking) books on your list. Thanks for being part of SRT '08!
- Katrina, Callapidder Days

Mar. 28, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Great reading list! I saw the Homeschool Lounge logo on your blog. I'm there too as Renee'. I'll try and stop your nook soon!

Renee'
http://rmboys2.wordpress.com/

Apr. 21, 2008 - Great List

Posted by ltjewel

You are the second person I have seen with Bible readings on the list. I may have to go add that.

Winter Reading Challenge Wrap-up

It's time for the Winter Reading Challenge Wrap-up. Thank you to Trish at A Joyful Heart for hosting this. Congratulations to Gretchen, who won the $25 Amazon gift certificate!

I tend to read several books at a time, so I knew my list was probably a little ambitious to actually finish. I never started What is Form Criticism?, by Edgar V. McKnight. Otherwise, I did okay, considering the length and content of some of my book choices. My original post is here.

Completed Books:

Little Dorrit, by Charles Dickens (free online): I really enjoyed this one, although I have only come across one Dickens book that I haven't liked (and I didn't finish it, so it really doesn't count). :-)

Cranford, by Elizabeth Gaskell (free online): As soon as I started this I realized that I had already read it! I read it again anyway. It is quite different from other Gaskell novels that I have read, but the characters grow on you, especially Miss Matty.

The Practice of the Presence of God, by brother Lawrence (free online): I highly recommend this one. Brother Lawrence almost seems too good to be true, but his insights on focusing on God (really "praying without ceasing) are invaluable. His humility really captured me.

Families at the Crossroads, by Rodney Clapp: This is another one I highly recommend, although many American Christians will be offended by some of what Clapp has to say. This book caused me to take a good look at how much American culture has impacted my thinking (and I thought I already had a pretty good grip on that). If you decide to read it, make sure you read the whole book to get the big picture.

Life Skills for Kids, by Christine M. Field: This is a great book to help you plan teaching some of the skills your children will need. Some of the author's ideas about preparation for adulthood seem a little bit over-planned for me, but that is a very natural reaction from the way she was raised. I found the book to be very helpful. It would be a great reference to keep on hand.

Currently Reading:

Martin Chuzzlewit, by Charles Dickens (free online): This one hasn't been a favorite for me, although the satire is brilliant (of course). I'm plugging away at it though. I'm almost halfway through it.

Awakening Youth Discipleship, by Brian J. Mahan, Michael Warren, and David F. White: This short book is pretty scholarly, so I have to read it when I can really focus on it - not too often around here! I'm only about a quarter of the way through this book, which I had hoped to finish.

Deep Justice in a Broken World, by Chap Clark & Kara E. Powell: I skimmed through "Deep Justice," as we will be using it for a youth/family book study. I still have to go through the book and do a thorough reading. This book is addressed to youth leaders, but it is very practical for anyone with children. It's another book that is probably controversial among American Christians, but, in my opinion, the book is an excellent tool for youth leaders and/or parents who would like to introduce their children/students to some of the wrongs in our culture and do something about them. It's all about serving the hurting.

Soul Searching, by Christian Smith with Melinda Lundquist Denton: This book has been on my shelf for quite a while, and I still haven't made much of a dent in it. I added it to my book list, but it is one that I will keep plugging away at in between other books. The subtitle is "The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers." As you can see from that, it is mostly statistics and commentary on those statistics. I'll be finishing it, but it probably won't be for a while.

HomeschoolBlogger Comments
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Mar. 26, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

You had a great book list and even getting half way through is an accomplishment! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Are you doing the Spring challenge?

Renee'
http://rmboys2.wordpress.com/

Winter Reading Challenge

Trish at A Joyful Heart is having a Winter Reading Challenge. Since I have several books that I've been plugging away at, I decided to join.Here's the list, although I might add to it if I do well. Books I'm currently reading are in red; books I have completed are crossed off.

Fiction:

Little Dorrit, by Charles Dickens (free online)

Cranford, by Elizabeth Gaskell (free online)

Martin Chuzzlewit, by Charles Dickens (free online)

Nonfiction:

The Practice of the Presence of God, by brother Lawrence (free online)

Families at the Crossroads, by Rodney Clapp

Awakening Youth Discipleship, by Brian J. Mahan, Michael Warren, and David F. White

What is Form Criticism?, by Edgar V. McKnight

Life Skills for Kids, by Christine M. Field

Deep Justice in a Broken World, by Chap Clark & Kara E. Powell

Soul Searching, by Christian Smith with Melinda Lundquist Denton

If you are interested in joining, you can get the information here. The challenge ends on March 17, 2008. Sign up by February 11, and you might be the winner of a $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com!

Guess what?

I won The White Seneca from a Homeschool Minute Newsletter contest! This book will fit in well with our history studies this spring. You can read a review of the book here if you're interested. The sequel, At Seneca Castle, is available as a free download here.

The newest contest in the Contest Central section of The Homeschool Minute is for The Adventure of Missionary Heroism, which also looks wonderful. If you are interested in these monthly contests and you don't already receive The Homeschool Minute, go here to subscribe (scroll down).

Thank you to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine for sponsoring this contest!