“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things…”
Every time I begin to speak of favorite things, this song from The Sound of Music pops into my head. In spite of the fact that I cannot get it out of my head, I love it. I love the imagery. Every person should have their own song of “favorite things.”
These are a few of my favorite {bookish} things:
Books that I keep within reach:
Book Girl: A Journey Through the Treasures and Transforming Power of A Reading Life by Sarah Clarkson // This is my favorite book about books, it’s an in depth and grounded source for book recommendations, and a kindred spirit experience as I read Sarah’s words.
Roots & Sky: A Journey Home in Four Seasons by Christie Purifoy // This may have been my favorite quarantine re-read. It makes me love home and an ordinary life. Her words allow me to see the beauty in my own place. I also love her book Placemaker: Cultivating Places of Comfort, Beauty, and Peace.
The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms by Timothy Keller // Recommended by my uncle, this one has become a favorite devotional.
Bread & Wine: A Love Letter To Life Around the Table with Recipes by Shauna Niequist // I return to the recipes, but more so the thoughtful vignettes about friends and food and how vital it is to gather together even when life is busy and less than pristine feeling.
For an inspired life and creativity:
Emily P. Freeman // From her site: “I’m all about creating space for your soul to breathe so you can walk in step with your calling.” Her words have been sweet for my soul. {Favorite book: A Million Little Ways: Uncovering the Art You Were Made To Live & I ADORE her podcast: The Next Right Thing Podcast + her book, The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions.}
hope*writers // I love this community.
The hope*writers podcast // I could listen all day.
The Nesting Place by Myquillyn Smith // I love her vision and methods of helping people curate and create a home they love. I’ve taken her seasonal classes and have embraced her idea of “Cozy Minimalism” with the mindset that “It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.” I’ve ordered her new book, Welcome Home: A Cozy Minimalist Guide to Decorating and Hosting All Year Round. (And if you order by September 15th, 2020, she’s offering a really fantastic Academy of Home set of classes. I’ve already started.)
Authors I will read again and again:
Robin Jones Gunn // Christian fiction for girls and women of all ages ~ I was raised on her books. Her newest series, Haven Makers, had me in tears and laughter, and with a deep sense of being understood. Her books center around life-giving friendships, community, belonging and how we are all in the process of “becoming.” We need each other. {Book 1 & Book 2 + a full booklist here}
Katherine Reay // Contemporary fiction ~ if you love literature you’ll love her stories. She integrates classic literature into her modern day plots. . Dear Mr. Knightley is my favorite. I read it once or twice a year and I have gifted it quite a few times. The best next two are Lizzie and Jane and The Printed Letter Bookshop.
Lisa Wingate // Contemporary fiction/historical fiction {she mixes these two elements.} I chose the Outer Banks of North Carolina for my 15-year anniversary because of her books. My husband is very gracious to humor my literature field trips. Start with The Prayer Box. The entire series of the Carolina Chronicles are well worth your time.
{This is the chronological order, but you can only read the novels if you like. The novellas add to the stories. I prefer starting with The Prayer Box and reading in order from there, adding in The Sea Glass Sisters as the second or third read, but that is just me ;-)}:
- The Sea Glass Sisters // novella, prequel to The Prayer Box
- The Prayer Box // novel
- The Tidewater Sisters // novella
- The Story Keeper // novel
- The Sandcastle Sister // novella
- The Sea Keeper’s Daughters // novel
Voices I trust for my teen/tween daughters:
That Sounds Fun podcast hosted by Annie F. Downs // I love her books also, but I have enjoyed this podcast. She makes me laugh and think deeply and sometimes cry. Her honesty is refreshing. Annie has a huge heart for ministering and speaking truth into the lives of teenage girls making this a great listen for and with your teen girl.
Annie’s books that are loved by my girl and her friends:
- Perfectly Unique: Love Yourself Completely Just As You Are
- Looking for Lovely: Collecting the Moments that Matter
- Let’s All Be Brave: Living Life With Everything You Have
- Speak Love: Your Words Can Change the World
BRIO Magazine // I walked through my teenage years with this magazine by my bedside. I’m beyond thankful that this publication has been brought back to speak truth, wisdom, vision, and affirm God-given beauty into a new generation of teen girls. It’s solid, beautiful, inspiring and empowering in the best sense of the word. My daughter looks forward to it every month and has passed on the subscription many times to her friends.
Robin Jones Gunn // The Christy Miller Series & The Sierra Jensen Series are two series I have placed into the hands of many teen girls including my own. I love her writing without reservation or caveats. I would have no problem with my high school girl reading her college series (The College Years & The Katie Weldon Series). So much YA literature is, to put it frankly, trash. Her writing is GOLD.
Graceful: Letting Go of Your Try-Hard Life by Emily P. Freeman // I wish I had this book in my hands when I was a young woman.
Books that have encouraged my mothering:
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott // Reading this book as a mom is a completely different experience than when I read it growing up. Marmee March is one wise woman and far from being just a literary character, she was inspired from Louisa’s own mother. This book has allowed me to love my kids with a more grace-infused love. I can love them for who they are and who they will be as well as embracing the journey that they each are on. It’s especially sweet if you are a mom to girls.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery // As a young girl reading Anne of Green Gables, I remember being frustrated at all of the mishaps and scrapes that Anne found herself in. I do not have Anne’s personality. I’m more of a Diana Barry. In His wisdom, God gave me the identital twim kindred spirit to Anne in my daughter. Suddenly, I could relate to Marilla in a way I never really wanted to (Marilla being often stern, grouchy and exasperated.)
That being said, years into this parenting gig, I’m thankful. Marilla needed Anne, was softened and transformed my Anne’s presence in her life. ALSO, Anne needed Marilla. Anne needed steady, wise love for her topsy-turvy personality. It’s the biblical iron sharpening iron and it’s necessary, life-giving and beautiful. This is one of the sweetest books I know.
P.S. The Anne of Green Gables movies with Megan Follows are the only way to go, in my opinion. I haven’t been a fan of any of the new renditions.
The Lifegiving Home: Creating A Place of Belonging & Becoming by Sally & Sarah Clarkson // This book is written in a month-by-month format and has been one I grab off and on, turning to the month I am walking into. Creating a space for my family where they feel like they belong, are loved, and have space to become what God wants them to be is very much the desire of my heart. I use The Life-Giving Table: Nurturing Faith Through Feasting, One Meal At A Time in the same manner.
My friend Tina and I wrote a Mother’s Day Blog Post with many of our favorites from our mothering journey plus highlighting our favorite literary mothers. –>>Mother’s Day Book Picks & Inspiration
A Case for the Classics:
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell // If you don’t want to read the books, you must watch the BBC mini-series. Consider it Pride and Prejudice-esque with more grit and focus on social and cultural ills prevailing in England in the mid-1800’s.
Gaskell also wrote Wives and Daughters, introducing a literary heroine in Molly Gibson. Most readers won’t know Molly, but they should. She is a young woman of steady heart, faithful love, and unswerving character and integrity. I have to mention that Elizabeth Gaskell died just before she finished the last chapter of this novel. Her editor shares Gaskell’s thoughts and what she was planning to write, but it nearly killed me as I turned that last page. Not to worry though, BBC created a lovely movie version to watch.
Pollyanna and Pollyanna Grows Up by Eleanor H. Porter // The movie doesn’t cut it unless you watch this version. The second book is the best epilogue ever. So wonderful.
Eight Cousins and Rose In Bloom by Louisa May Alcott // I love Louisa’s books (can I use just her first name?), but this two book series I read every year. They felt just right during our quarantined spring.
Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster // This book is told through letters written by an orphan to her anonymous benefactor. Short, sweet and lovely. Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay is a modern day re-telling of this classic tale. Much is lost on the audio book and Kindle because of the illustrations, which are used in the Paperback edition
Jane Austen // I love all of her books. What kind of literature fanatic would I be if I didn’t? Persuasion is my favorite novel, along with BBC’s movie renditions of Sense and Sensibility & Emma.
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