What books should I read for Lent 2021?

There's something about C. S. Lewis' fiction- His Narnia books, I can re-read and I remember almost every word. I might experience Narnia differently, but I know the land very well. With Til We Have Faces and the Space Trilogy, it is as I have never read them. So I'll be re-reading them in 2021. It has been awhile in any case. I enjoyed Out of the Silent Planet last week- I think of it as a prose poem filled with hope and wisdom. 

This past week, I (re) read Rumer Godden's In This House Of Brede. This book explores the lives of Benedictine nuns a bit before the Vatican II Council. The nuns are human, but most of them are holy. I would say that it is a very realistic, sympathetic view of the lives of religious. I have been blessed to know holy women and I even lived for a year in a convent in Slovakia when I was teaching there! There is a lot of truth in this book. But I don't know what God is telling me. Twice I have read this book in preparation for a book club, but I have not been able to go to the meeting because of family obligations. Ah- the life of a non-celibate!

I am continuing my daily Bible reading. Tomorrow, I begin the Book of Deuteronomy. Salvation history is quite a ride! And for Great Lent, I will add two books that I have read in past years, but I need to re-visit them- Thirty Steps to Heaven and Lent and Easter- Wisdom from Fulton J Sheen- ,reading every morning after my Bible. I highly recommend both of them. This year, I am going to read with a pen in my hand so that I can mark up the books. Both of these books are truly ones that should be read multiple times. Lent is coming soon; my soul needs this season and it comes just in time every year! 

2021 Goals- reading every day- the Bible & other books

My mother has read through the Bible (a chapter or more every night before bed) multiple times. I have always admired her for that. But I never took my admiration and turned it into action. My knowledge of the Bible was limited to the readings in the Roman and Byzantine Catholic Churches- daily, feast days, and Sundays. I always get perfect scores on Bible knowledge quizzes. But that is not enough. For whatever reason, after watching a YouTube end-of-the-year video from minimalist and Christian Ashlynne Eaton where she recommended the Read Scripture app, I pulled the trigger. I haven't missed a reading since December 14th. I'm just about finished with Leviticus. I'm using my Saint Joseph Edition of the New American Bible- I plan to fill in the gaps of the Read Scripture app with  Fr Mike's Bible in a Year podcast when Catholic books are left out; I'll have to double my readings sometime! 

I'm attempting to average reading a book every week (in addition to the Bible) in 2021. We shall see. So far in 2021, I have read Agatha Christie's Death Comes at the End- ancient Egypt with no detective but 100% Christie! I recommend it

The 2nd book was short, sweet, and an old favorite. Finishing it again, I realized that I am like Helene in that I have never gotten to England even though I have planned to visit since I was 11. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff is a collection of letters to an English book shop. Just read it. And the newish film is good, too.

My third book of the year is Emma by Jane Austen. My university-going daughters were shocked to learn that the only Austen I have read is, of course, P & P. All my life, I was the bookworm. This doesn't mean that I read a great quantity of books; it means that I re-read favorites again and again. I am going for variety with my one-book-a-week adventure. I need to pick up the pace with Emma. The language is very rich and not necessarily easy to read late at night after a busy day!

Since January 4th, I've been using Wendy Speake's The 40-Day Sugar Fast every day after my Bible reading to help me re-set my taste buds. Because I am already sugar free (I eat 90% lowcarb/keto), I am fasting from sugar substitutes and alcohol. She is a gentle woman of God; reading her thoughts is a nice way to start the day! This fast ends Feb 13th- The Great Fast before Pascha (Lent) starts for new calendar Byzantine Catholics Monday, February 15th. So, I plan to take a break for one day and then use it again, adding fasting from meat for all days of the Great Fast (for health reasons, I do not usually go full vegan for fasting times... talk to your spiritual father and possibly your doctor about what is best for you). 

My word of the year is SPRING. Who knows what this means, but I have been trying to 'spring' out of bed at 5:45 so that I can get my Bible reading, etc done in the quiet of the early morning. Of course, once I turn a light on in the kitchen (must have coffee), the kitty cries from the garage. But it has been a great experience. Those who know me in real life are probably amazed. I'm getting old- going to hit the big 5-0 this summer. It is time to wake up early enough to see the sun rise. Even if I live another 50 years, I shouldn't take this beautiful world for granted. 

fyi- if you click on the book links and then make an amazon purchase, I might make a teeny bit of money. hasn't worked so far- but maybe...? 

on the 5th day of Christmas- 5 faith-filled gifts for Catholics

We splurged on some lovely faith-centered gifts this Christmas season- take a look! 

A 4 book series- "In the days of knights and castles lived an adventurous young troubadour named Loupio. Orphaned and on his own in 13th century Italy, plucky Loupio meets Brother Francis of Assisi and his friend Brother Wolf, and so begins a new life of joyfully trying to do good, while still getting by in a dangerous world."

How many Bible categories can you match before time runs out? Roll the die to determine the letter for that round. You roll a "C". Now start the timer! How quickly can you think of a "Place Christ walked?..." Canaan!... "Things that separate us from each other?..." Carelessness! This game is entertaining, enhances faith and promotes learning. The Catholic Edition contains 48 additional Catholic categories.

Critically lauded singer, songwriter and musician, as well as author, speaker, producer and daughter of a Syrian refugee, Audrey Assad internationally released her second independent album, Inheritance, Feb 12 on Fortunate Fall Records with Tone Tree Music distribution-a collection of hymns and original songs that both pay homage to her childhood heritage and to her Catholic faith and charismatic spirituality.

The Way of a Pilgrim is the chronicle of an anonymous nineteenth century Russian Christian’s travels and spiritual inquiries. Eye-opening and extraordinary, The Way of a Pilgrim offers a one-of-a-kind portrait of the traditions and interior life of Russian Orthodox spirituality and practice.

An obvious clue could be strictly TABOO! To get your team to say MOSES would you say, PRINCE, EGYPT, PLAGUES, PHAROAH, or COMMANDMENT? In this game you can’t because all of those words are strictly TABOO. Rattle off clues while the time counts down. You’ll earn a point each time your team guesses correctly. But watch what you say. If your opponents hear a TABOO word, you’ll get buzzed and they’ll get the point.

These are affiliate links- if you click over to amazon and buy something right away (meaning before you click another blog's affiliate links) I will receive a tiny tiny portion of the $ at no cost to you. How tiny? I make about $2 a year in affiliate link $ 

BONUS! 

Support holy men in their monastic vocations by

buying some delicious coffee from the monks at Holy Resurrection Monastery! 

Humble Habits Coffee 

(not an affiliate link- and we pay for our coffee- yummy!) 

on the 4th day of Christmas- 4 fun family games

As much fun as it is to watch studio C youtube videos together... Christmastide really should be family-together-time- not family-turn-into-zombie-time...so here's some new games we are loving lately- Do you need more screen-free family time?

Enchanted Forest- awesomely fun, high-quality game for the younger set while not being Candyland-level-boring for teens and up 

I bought the junior level game for our family and my parents sent us the 'normal' level game. it is difficult! Play with teams for more fun! 

Our youngest was just diagnosed with severe dyslexia. This game is fun for our non-reader up to the oldest! (and it is cute, too) 

 

Tolkien-inspired gifts are a requirement in our household. 

Bonus: a new puzzle! For those readers without toddlers in the house, leaving out a puzzle to work on as a family over a few days is a lot of fun. With a toddler, it would be torture. So- toddler families- wait a few years before you start this tradition! 

These are affiliate links- if you click over to amazon and buy something right away (meaning before you click another blog's affiliate links) I will receive a tiny tiny portion of the $ at no cost to you. How tiny? I make about $2 a year in affiliate link $ 

It is all Greek to me! Academy of Classical Greek on-line for homeschoolers and others

Take a look at this resource- this on-line academy is even a vendor for multiple charter schools!  

how to help your children love reading: dogs, library day, poetry teatime, & book club for mum

Duke's favorite book is The Far Side 

When I was little, I was known as the 'bookworm.' My Bachelor's degree is in English. I teach English at the college level. I take the children to the library and utilize three library cards to be able to bring home all their treasures. I discourage the twaddle of Barbie easy readers and Berenstein bears. I encourage the fun (and non-Twaddle, in my opinion) of Elephant and Piggie, and Redwall. 

I want my children to be readers, and they are. The youngest is technically behind in her reading skills, but there are ten books in her bed at the moment. Reading is her entertainment, and the ability will come. Of course, when videos are severely limited and video games are not on their radar, it is not surprising that books become friends. 

how my kids have learned to treat books as friends

• go to the library once a week (we try to keep library books not currently being read on a specific table- they never go into the shelves or they will be lost! ) 
• reduce television/videos and video games to basically nothing- this means parents, too- we use dress-up, board games, music, audio books and podcasts besides playing outside when we need a little fun besides reading a book. 
• read aloud a lot...get inspiration at read aloud revival 
• have poetry teatimes once a week... now, my children equate a sweet treat with reading poems together- we use a stack of poetry books bought new, from library rescue sales, thrift shops, and the occasional library book. We really enjoy the 'official' Poetry Teatime Companion.  

• do you, mum and dad, read for pleasure? gulp. Besides the constant read alouds, that are very pleasurable for me, I do not read enough for pleasure. I am trying to remedy this with books that are not quite age-appropriate for the children, but good for me. I recently have joined my very first book club of my life. We read All the Light We Cannot See last month and will continue with Love & Friendship, or Lady Susan. It feels good to read and discuss. Who knew? I really regret being in my 40s and new to book clubs.

It has been a long time since I read a book that I could not put down. I have read plenty of great works, but there was just something about Rebecca. I didn't read it for a class or a book club. I just read it. It is a masterwork. Do not start it unless you have the time to finish it. I kept coming back to it and read it as fast as I can. The book wasn't going anywhere, but I treated it like a leftover piece of pie in the fridge that someone would eat if I didn't get to it first. (this post has affiliate links- if you click and then buy something from amazon without clicking on someone else's affiliate link- I will get a tiny bit of money- I have made $10 in two years!)