Summer reading for moms
Our family has a busy summer ahead, so I'm making plans now for personal reading. This list is short (and hopefully manageable)—and I'm posting it here for inspiration and accountability. I can't wait to dive in to these books!
The links below are Amazon affiliate links, so I receive a small commission if you purchase through them. But please check your local library for these titles first!
All Creatures Great & Small by James Herriot
From Amazon: In the rolling dales of Yorkshire, a simple, rural region of northern England, a young veterinarian from Sunderland joins a new practice. This witty and heartwarming collection, based on the author’s own experiences, became an international success, spawning sequels and winning over animal lovers everywhere. Perhaps better than any other writer, James Herriot reveals the ties that bind us to the creatures in our lives.
I am a huge fan of James Herriot's children's literature, but have never read his stories for adults. I've also heard rave reviews of the BBC television series based on this book.
The Supper of the Lamb by Robert Farrar Capon
From Amazon: From a passionate and talented chef who also happens to be an Episcopalian priest comes this surprising and thought-provoking treatise on everything from prayer to poetry to puff pastry. In The Supper of the Lamb, Capon talks about festal and ferial cooking, emerging as an inspirational voice extolling the benefits and wonders of old-fashioned home cooking in a world of fast food and prepackaged cuisine.
I have only heard wonderful things about this book, and I am hoping it reignites a love for cooking at home.
The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin
The Invisible Child by Katherine Paterson
From Amazon: With the same perception, wit, and generosity that characterize her fiction, a much-honored writer shares her ideas about writing for children, as well as her passion for reading, her spiritual faith, and her conviction that the imagination must be nourished.
This one comes highly recommended by Sarah Mackenzie of Read-Aloud Revival, and I'm excited to read it!
Surprised by Jesus by Dane Ortlund
From Amazon: When God-in-the-flesh showed up twenty centuries ago in Palestine, the religious PhDs rejected him and the prostitutes and social outcasts flocked to him. Why? . . Because the open welcome of divine grace that Jesus offers, open to anyone who would simply leave their moral resume at home, is not predictable. It is not safe. It is subversive. . . In this book, Dane Ortlund reflects on this subversive grace as it uniquely emerges in each of the four Gospel accounts.
If you haven't read Dane Ortlund's book Gentle and Lowly, put it at the top of your reading list. Dane's father, Ray Ortlund, is our former pastor whom our family dearly loves. So reading his son's writing reminds us strongly of Ray and is so rich and moving. I can't wait for this one.
Astrid the Unstoppable by Maria Parr
From Amazon: Pippi Longstocking meets Heidi meets Anne Shirley in this tale of an irrepressible girl in a mountain village who navigates unexpected changes with warmth and humor.
Liam and I are big fans of author Maria Parr (her book Adventures with Waffles was a delight early on in our homeschooling journey), and Liam says I would love this book. He's already read it independently, and I'm excited to read it with him this time.
To re-read: Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full by Gloria Furman
From Amazon: In this encouraging book for frazzled moms, Gloria Furman helps us reorient our vision of motherhood around what the Bible teaches. Showing how to pursue a vibrant relationship with God―even when discouragement sets in and the laundry still needs to be washed―this book will help you treasure Christ more deeply no matter how busy you are.
I'll be listening to this book on the Scribd app, my favorite audiobook app. The gospel richness here is so life-giving for demanding seasons of motherhood. Gloria Furman always points me back to the only source of lasting encouragement: Jesus.
