In my mind, summer is the time when I should be able to read the most. This is not the case anymore. Life is busy with older kids, and my mind and our schedule are all over the place. However, I intentionally hunkered down to make sure that a few were completed in their entirety {more or less…;-)}.
This summer, I picked…
one book to read with my son,
one to read with my husband,
two to read with my daughter,
a 5-book series for our family car travels
&
one to read aloud to all of my kids together.
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- The Man In the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas: Old books really are the best — the twaddle that was written has long been forgotten and out-of-print and the best have survived. The wisdom I find reading the classics never fails to encourage, enlighten and allow me to think deeply about many topics just as relevant today as 200 years ago. My son (14) and I picked this book to read together (as in, at the same pace, but separate). He wanted Moby Dick (I don’t love all classics) and I tend toward Jane Austen (which he has read also BTW, not just for girls). This was our compromise.
- A Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles: I bought this book for my husband for his birthday so we could read it together. Similar to my son, we read separate, but at the same pace. We’ve done this before and although reading can be a solitary pursuit and often is, this allows us to experience the story together. I’ve had many avid reader friends and family who list this book as one of the best they have ever read.
- Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster: Published in 1912, this is another worthy classic and a favorite of mine. I read it aloud to my 12-year-old daughter. We’re also working our way through Perfectly Unique: Praising God from Head to Foot by Annie F. Downs (best described as a devotional/non-fiction/Bible study-esque book great for teen girls).
- Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan: My youngest girl (9) gets a bit of everything, but we are systematically working our way through this fun and adventurous series. I love this series not only for how it provides education, but also for how it invokes great discussion on the nature of our God versus the finicky and inconstant Greek gods. We accomplish these via audio book while we are driving to and fro each day as well as long road trips. We’re on book 4 right now, but are jumping back in the car tomorrow, so we may finish the series this week.
- At Home in the World: Reflections on Belonging While Wandering the Globe by Tsh Oxenreider: This a memoir/travel read that follows a family who backpacks around the globe for nine months (written from the mom’s perspective). I read this book last summer. LOVED it. I’m reading it to my three kids in little chunks at a time. Since we just returned from a family mission trip to Honduras, following the travels of another family is something they can relate to — apparently gecko tales are quite universal and now they totally get it (pun intended).
Our summer is short this year with school starting the first week of August. Yes, ONE WEEK. I am happy with my summer reading set-up and progress. AND, although summer really is finishing up, I would recommend picking one book for each family member even if you take all autumn or through winter or the entire year to read something together. It’s easy to do and meaningful for your kiddos (& spouse!)
Here’s to savoring the fleeting days of summer. Hope you are sneaking some reading days in too!
Stephanie
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