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My journey through doubt into faith

by Isobel Kuhn

The story of how Isobel found God, discovered His will for her, and obeyed. I love this book.

Lassie come-home

by Eric Knight

Lassie's owner loses his job and is forced to sell her. After being brought to northern Scotland, she escapes and finds her way home to Yorkshire.

I read this to the kids, and they were enjoying it — until they watched the movie. Then they knew what happened, so were not too interested in the book. But eventually we finished reading it, and they did like it. It is a slow book, though — everything takes a long time in this story. It was first written as a magazine serial, and then expanded to book length, so that's likely why.

The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex

And you thought bad girls have all the fun

by Sheila Wray Gregoire

The author explains how emotional and spiritual connection is as important as the physical. There is lots of helpful advice for improving your relationship in all three areas. The book is meant for all married women plus those who are engaged. "Good girl" is a woman who is married and faithful to her husband, or who wants to be, from now on.

Brave New World

by Aldous Huxley

A future world in which pleasure is continual and all babies are grown in test tubes and bottles and are adapted to certain jobs for which they are pre-selected. There are, however, a few "savages" on reservations.

This book was better than Nineteen Eighty-Four, but still not great.

Unglued

Making wise choices in the midst of raw emotions.

by Lysa TerKeurst

Do you ever come "unglued"? In this book, the author explores why that happens and offers thoughts and scriptures to consider when you feel bad reactions coming on.

Nineteen Eighty-Four

by George Orwell

The world is in constant war, people are watched contantly, and life is without any pleasure.

I had never read this classic and, since I generally enjoy classic science fiction, I thought I'd read it.  Quite disappointing.  It's a depressing book, really.

I'm dreaming of a green Christmas

Gifts, Decorations, and Recipes that Use Less and Mean More

by Anna Getty

A lovely book filled with lots of environmentally-friendly ways to celebrate.

New Complete Guide to Sewing

Step-by-step techniques for making clothes and home accessories

by Reader's Digest

This is a thorough reference manual for sewing clothing, curtains, quilts and more. To me, it looks like everything you could possibly need to know about sewing. There are also a few projects to make from commercially available patterns.

Eco-Chic Home

Rethink, reuse & remake your way to sustainable style

by Emily Anderson

Ways to reduce and reuse with instructions for many projects to use in various rooms.

I liked this book; it has some really nice ideas. But a lot of the instructions are very unclear, and twice (pp. 29, 175) the word "harkening" or "harkens" is used when the author meant "harking" or "harks." On page 97, I can't make heads or tails of the instructions for making a reusable snack carrier. On page 128, there are instructions for making a ladder clothes rack which call for "two identical wooden ladders" and later it says "the ladders should be open, with the steps facing out to the left and right." Oh, step-ladders. But the rest of the instructions are very confusing too. On page 172, "long-distance" should not be hyphenated. And on page 100, there's a picture with a plastic water bottle on a table; that is not environmentally-friendly.

I don't mean to be so picky, but I read a lot of books that have no errors at all. I have no formal experience or university education on proofreading, so if I can pick up on these things, a professional surely should. And if someone is writing a book with project instructions, they really ought to get someone to try making the project from those instructions before publishing the book.

Dombey and Son

by Charles Dickens

Proud Mr. Dombey puts all his hopes in his son, but the child (whose mother died in childbirth) dies, his daughter is ignored, his new wife leaves and at last, his business fails. Is Mr. Dombey ruined or is there still a chance for him?

I love Dickens, and I found this book, which I had never read, in a second-hand store. It's very long, but quite an interesting tale.

Made to Crave

Satisfying your deepest desire with God, not food.

by Lysa TerKeurst

Using God's word to help you make healthy, disciplined choices about life and food.

Nim's Island

by Wendy Orr

Nim and her father live on a small tropical island. When something bad happens to her dad, Nim contacts her favourite author. Will their idyllic life be destroyed?

This is a very nice children's adventure story.

A Lantern in Her Hand

by Bess Streeter Aldrich

The fictional story of Abbie Deal and her family during the late 1800s and into the 20th century. They traveled to Nebraska from the east coast by covered wagon and built a town.

Against the Grain

 
by Jax Peters Lowell

How to navigate restaurants. parties, travel and more when you have celiac disease. Details of what you can eat and how to get it.

A Biblical Home Education

By Ruth Beechick

This book is a good resource about what is helpful and what isn't in homeschooling. Good information on how to simplify homeschooling.

The Treasure Seekers

by E. Nesbit

The exploits of the Bastable children who are attempting to "restore the fallen fortunes" of their family. They come up with a number of rather questionable money-making schemes which they try one after another over a period of several months.

I read this to my children (aged 10 and 14) and we all loved it. It's set in the late 1800s in England and it's very funny. One of the children is telling the story and says that they don't think you'll be able to guess which it is, but my kids thought it was quite funny that you could tell right away.

The Ministry of Motherhood

Following Christ's example in reaching the hearts of our children

by Sally Clarkson

Bible-based goals to aim for in raising children and suggestions for reaching those goals.

The Imperial Cruise

by James Bradley

The story of the President-Theodore-Roosevelt-arranged diplomatic cruise in 1905 and the history behind it; the president's ingrained idea of white supremacy is clearly revealed.

A very eye-opening book, not only about Roosevelt, but many other presidents and famous people.

The Borrowers

by Mary Norton

Tiny people are living in the walls and floors of on old house and "borrowing" things from the big people who live there. One day, a boy sees one of the tiny people. Are they now in danger or can they be friends?