I love hearing what other people are reading, and in 2017 I’ve reignited my love for reading, and fortunately, I’ve actually had a little bit of time to finish books, too!
Like many people, I usually have a small variety of books that I’m currently reading. Usually a homeschooling book of some sort, a fiction book, and an Islamic book. Sometimes I’ll throw in a health/wellness book in for fun as well.
So, what’s in my Kindle library and my bookshelf?
Wuthering Heights
After reading A Thomas Jefferson Education, I was inspired to pick up classical literature for my own enrichment. While I don’t remember a lot from the story line of Jane Eyre, I do remember it was one of the few books in my high school literature class that I actually liked, so I figured it would be a good idea to continue with that same author.
If you’re not familiar with A Thomas Jefferson Education, in brief it focuses on reading classical works and working with a mentor to meet your personal goals. Classical works don’t necessarily have to only be literature. There are classical works in science, math, history, and any other subject matter. The idea is similar to Charlotte Mason’s insistence on using living books with children rather than textbooks. We want children (and ourselves) to connect directly with someone that is passionate about the subject matter, not a committee of people that have decided what facts should be taught in what order.
Since this is my fiction choice, it will likely take longer than the rest to complete.
Parenting From the Inside Out
I’ve loved No Drama Discipline and The Whole Brain Child and I recommend them often. So when I found this book in a time when I was thinking that I might have some mental blocks that are preventing me from being the mother I want to be, I added it to my wishlist right away.
Funny story (well, not funny to me): When we were living as a family of 5 in a home with one bathroom, there was one year where we all got terribly sick, probably three times in that year. Imagine 5 people puking, and one bathroom. It was terrible. On top of that, I was insanely stressed about something else in my life.
Emotional stress, plus repeated physical illnesses, and it left an imprint on my brain.
Fast forward two years later, and I still get physically ill if my kids even cough wrong because I immediately think, “They’re going to puke, then I’m going to puke. We are ALL going to puke!”
And no joke, just writing this is making me feel ill.
There’s something about that year that just got me stuck in freaking out about my kids coughing, and I think we all have experiences like that, where we get stuck in one reaction to a certain trigger.
This book’s aim is to help you work through those previous triggers and rewire the way you handle them.
In sha Allah I’m hoping to definitely rewire about this whole puking/coughing thing, and anything else that would help me to better myself as a mother.
Commentary on Forty Hadith by Jamaal Al-Din M. Zarabozo
I’ve read quite a few Islamic books, and we have a couple different copies of the Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi already at home, but this is hands down the best book about the basics of Islamic deen that I have ever read.
So often books focus on how we pray, the rules of fasting, and the rituals of hajj. The first couple hadith in this book cover the articles of faith and pillars of Islam, but more focused on the importance, value, and significance in a Muslim’s life.
In these first few hadith, the author also dives into some of the various ways that sects have understood areas of creed, their evidence, and the faults in that logic.
Your understanding of Imam Nawawi’s Forty Hadith will be enriched immensely if you read this. I promise, in sha Allah.
Usool at-Tafseer by Dr. Bilal Philips
Honestly, I’ve only read the introduction to this so far, but in sha Allah it’ll be a great read. Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips is such a highly respected scholar of our time, I have high hopes that I will be as in love with this book as I a with the Commentary on Forty Hadith.
A Charlotte Mason Companion
I’ve read a couple of the original Charlotte Mason Home Education series volumes, but honestly, it can be hard to drill down into how to take all her fantastic advice and turn it into a functional homeschooling day. I’ve only read a couple chapters of this book so far, but I like that it’s written so that the reader can read the chapters out of order, just focusing on areas that they need at that time.
I know for myself, I’m totally lost when it comes to art instruction, and what history lessons will look like this coming year. I’m looking forward to digging into this book further as well. It seems to go into a bit more detail than A Charlotte Mason Education, but serves the same general purpose. At least that’s how it appears to me currently.
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