What We Are Reading

Reading List for the start of 2015:

The Screwtape Letters (CS Lewis)  Screwtape, a seasoned demon, writes letters to his nephew,Wormwood, a demon in training.  In the letters, the reader finds out how Screwtape encourages his nephew in his training as a tempter.  Wormwood's training will hopefully result in his "patient's" succumbing to temptation and thus lose his soul to "our father below".  The reader will learn much about his/her own weaknesses.

I'm reading this book along with my high schooled kids.  This book is NOT an easy read.  I'm keeping up with this one due to the fabulous study guide that I bought to go with it (Progeny Press:  The Screwtape Letters).  The study guide is complete with vocabulary exercises, comprehension and analysis questions, and essay prompts.  The best part about the guide is the fact that the answers are in the back!  We are all learning a lot from The Screwtape Letters, and I've been pleasantly surprised at how much the kids are understanding and enjoying it.

Give Them Grace (Fitzpatrick and Thompson)  I love this book!  I'm learning so much about myself in addition to learning productive ways of dealing with conflict in our home.  Parenting isn't about rules and formulas that if followed, will turn out perfect children.  This book is intended to show the reader that life is all about grace.  The grace that comes from God.  A grace that alone can transform a life through the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I've read lots of good parenting books, but this one goes to the top of my list!

The Mortification of Sin  (John Owen)  I'm reading this one with a small group of ladies that I get together with every other week.  The content is difficult and even though I've read it before, I'm not sure that I like it any better the second time around!  It's more of  a "this is good for you, so just read it anyway" kind of  book---like eating your fruits and veggies even though you'd really rather eat a chocolate chip cookie or a piece of pie.  :)

Florence Young  (YWAM)  Chloe has loved every YWAM (missionary book) that we have read---until now.  We made it to about chapter 19 and decided we were both bored to tears!  Young couldn't make up her mind whether or not she wanted to minister in China or Australia, so the book became a tedious and endless list of her travels and technical difficulties.  So, without further hesitation, we put this one aside and decided to read something totally different for our history studies.

Detectives in Togas  (Henry Winterfeld)  This book was our "something totally different".  A fast-paced mystery that takes place in ancient Rome, Detectives in Togas invites the reader into the ancient Roman world through the lives of a group of boys who are caught up in the problem of whether or not their friend deserves to be sitting in a Roman prison for the crime of desecrating a temple wall.  A fun way to learn about the culture and politics of the ancient Roman world.  Chloe loves this one!

Cappyboppy  (Bill Peet)   Bill Peet wrote and illustrated this picture book based on the true story of a capybara that his son kept as a pet.  Chloe's science book covered rodents in one of the chapters, and when I realized that the capybara was considered a rodent, I knew we had to get a hold of this book. I did not know that a rodent, especially one as large as a capybara, could be so adorable, and Chloe fell instantly in love with Cappyboppy!  The pencil-drawn illustrations are excellent.  I have to admit that Cappyboppy is pretty cute, and the story that goes along with it is precious.  Don't miss this book, and learn a little bit about "rodents of unusual size" at the same time.