Note for me: I put this list off so long that I am just now writing about these books on the last days of January 2025! But I am determined to have even a brief reminder of the books I read each year so I persist in posting this collection even years later. I am posting it under January 2022 to keep my records somewhat constant.
Excellent Women by Barbara Pym
In 2019, I found a copy of this book at my local thrift store and decided to give it a try. I admit to initially being wary of the modern female novelist as I am suspicious of being ambushed by either indecent scenes or overt praise for women’s liberation topics.
I blame it on my time spent as a bookseller having to stock and reshelve paperbacks with garish and aggressive covers of prolific and ‘best-selling’ authors. I hadn’t heard of these other women writers who, though living in the modern era of the 1900s could provide characters who were thoughtful, likeable and clever. Barbara Pym helped me over that hurdle and wrote this novel and others that gave me insight into the various situations of women who lived with honor even if their lives varied from their hopes and dreams.
I reread this again in 2021 and enjoyed it all over again. I look for more of her books secondhand everywhere I go.
The Bonfire of Vanities by Tom Wolfe
I assigned this to Seth to read for his Year 12 modern era reading lists. I had never read a novel by him and I hoped I wasn’t plunging Seth (or later myself) into a disgusting mess of vulgarity and vapidness. It was close at times but we both persevered and while the characters lay heavy, their lifestyles dreary and stupid, the outcome does not attempt to bring a happy resolution to miserable people. It was an honest finale in that there were no characters that you wanted to see coming out on the winning end. I applaud Tom Wolfe for taking the characters to their to their logical and tragic finish. It’s not a story I need to re-read.
Heidi by Johanna Spyri
I really like this story and even though I’ve never been one to make a list of my top one hundred books, I would start such a list just to put this one on it. The interactions of Grandfather with each of the children is special and is set against his interactions with the villagers with whom he is isolated from. The friendship of the children with each other and the tests that come to strengthen those bonds are perfectly told. The glimpses of village life and community are endearing and indicate a different way of living. The effort to bring help to those who seem the least inclined to ask for it and the delight in planning and sacrifice are rewarded with delight. It really is a wonderful depiction of love in action.
Just a note that various versions remove dialogue and scenes where the Christian faith is explored and endorsed. This year’s reading was a reread after several years when I couldn’t tell the story back to myself.
Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John
I have had a copy of this book and all her other stories since I was a child. My mom must have known about her and made sure that we read them all. This is the only one that I have continued to read as an adult. And the movie they made of it has been one that I’ve enjoyed watching with my children. A story with many layers and where the main characters must be humble and choose to make amends in light of their own faults and those of others is a very good mirror to examine ourselves by.
The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
I had never read this one by White that I can remember since Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little often get the spotlight. Another interesting story of child and animal each dealing with their own struggles.
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
This was the first novel by Waugh that I ventured to read and it’s the only one that I have reread and watched a movie version of. Every time I read it, I remember that I am not smart enough to read to this story. Oh dear, but I persist. I do like it. It’s unlike anything I ever read and has schooled me on all things British similar to Tom Brown’s School Days.
Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child by Anthony Esolen
I’m not sure where I first encountered Anthony Esolen expect maybe from Touchstone magazine. I read, saved and printed several of his articles and then realized he had written full length books. This was the first one I have read and enjoyed it very much especially as he writes of his upbringing in northeastern Pennsylvania which I am familiar with. This book is clearly satire and yet his heart for children and their needs beats on every page of this book. I underlined and marked up so many pages of this book. I assigned this to Seth for his Year 12. I expect to read this again and again.
Parents and Children by Charlotte Mason
We were reading through this volume together as homeschooling mom’s when the lockdowns started. I spent a lot of time with some of the chapters taking extensive notes and thinking through the profound ideas she conveys. I will always be thankful that I found the methods of Charlotte Mason while my children were still young although I wish I had known about her when I was training to be a teacher in university. I shudder when I remember what I thought education and parenting was to be about.
The Timeless Way of Building by Christopher Alexander
After enjoying A Pattern Language so much and finding my own copy, I started to look for ways to add the other books in this series to my collection. Closing the U.S./Canada border in March 2020 put an end to my habit of shipping books to my parents. I have not spent as much time with this book as A Pattern Language but I do reading his ideas and thinking about what he proposes in all of his writings
The Picts & the Martyrs by Arthur Ransome
This was another read aloud for us in the Swallows & Amazons series. This time involving a brother and a sister in the adventure of keeping out of sight of the horrible G.A., Great Aunt to the Amazons. It’s a fun story and we enjoy the wit and cleverness of all the characters who band together to keep Dick and Dot’s holidays well-spent.
The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit
Another reread for me and probably another one to add to my non-existent top one hundred books that I like. A story for all children who must live under the threat of uncertainty and family separation without giving into despair or weakness. More clever and resourceful characters who show wherewithal and dignity and earn the respect and admiration of adults for all the best reasons.
Trustee From the Toolroom by Nevil Shute
I found this secondhand and had no idea who the author was but liked the look of the vintage cover. When I finally added it to my nightstand pile and began the story, I really enjoyed it. I thought it very clever and an interesting plot and I made this a quick read once I was invested in the story. I haven’t found any other Nevil Shute titles yet, but I do plan to read his other books.
Island of the World by Michael O’Brien
I don’t know how to sum up reading a novel like this. I learned so much from reading this book but I also didn’t always understand some of the symbolism alluded to. I learned a lot of Croatia and the wars that have involved it’s people. I looked things up and even drew myself a map at one point. I don’t know how much to write because nothing can really prepare you for the depths of the story. If you embark on this novel, you will not likely be the same person ever again. And while that is always true in some sense when you journey with an author through their story, this one, for me, has staying power in my mind. Michael O’Brien has a non-fiction book that I have also read entitled A Landscape with Dragons
that I have posted about before here.
