Books We are Reading ATM

I talked my older son into trying Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank Gilbreth. Told him to ignore the title and the cover art! Not too many years ago he told me he didn't want to read another book about a perfect family. I guess after years of Boxcar children, Narnia, Five Little Pepper and the like, he was ready for a break. I told him this was different and this family is NOT perfect! lol

I thought it a great book... and as is the usual case, the movie and the remake do not do it justice.
Neat time in history, too (early 20th century)- the dating rituals were cool! Having a jalopy and writing all over it was the cool thing.. and the dad didn't want his dds specimens the the latest fashion trend of 'short' skirts. Fun reading. Watch the ending though.. I shed a few tears.


Son #2 just finished this up:

...Barbara Bush: A Memoir
It is dated a bit, ends just as George Bush senior left office. Funny, one time a friend of mine was a a local plant sale and saw Barb tromping around in her boots looking for plants. Must have been just as they returned to Houston. Can't say I agree with all her politics, but she writes in a very accessible way and I found this book a good one for my sons, with a friendly tone, but lots of room for discussing the politics. She takes great license in skipping things she does not want to discuss, and we don't agree with her stance on abortion.. all good fodder. It is particulaly interesting to hear how she describes world events from decidedly 'family' view. She is very protective and will only delve where she wants to go. Interesting pov to compare with other public figures and their takes.

He has read part of My Life by B. Clinton, All The Best (Letters and Papers) by George Bush the auto bio of Bob Dole and Peggy Noonan's book on Ronald Reagan. These happened to be available at our library, and I hope to get more (from all perspectives). Biographies have worked well around here.

I am also in the middle of The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck I read this years ago and an enjoying the re-read.

Wow.. what a story. It gave me a glimpse into a world I had never seen- a peasant in China-- too poor to even afford a wife's dowry, so he gets a slave girl from the local rich man's house. The story is incredible and transports me to another place and time, but allow me to enter their world and empathise. And appreciate the food on my table. Good read for my boys in a few years perhaps?
Click here for The Good Earth

I also just got my long-awaited turn of this from the library:

Crunchy Cons by Rod Dreher

I have only read the 'manifesto' and the most of the chapter on Education.... but found myself quoting passages to my husband last night and exclaiming that someone has articulated my thoughts on education perfectly!

He read the manifesto and said, "This man must be Catholic." I was surprised as he had not proclaimed himself so and had referenced evangelical and Jewish friends in some antidotes I had read. When I asked my husband why he thought so, he said you could tell from his world view. Lo and behold when I looked in to the author's bio, he is Catholic.

A taste of Crunchy Cons can be found here.

From the chapter on education (p. 126)
...if you don't educate your children for metaphyscial truth and moral virtue, mainstream culture will do it for you. Absent shared committment to these spiritual an moral verities, it is hard to see how we renew our families, our communities, and our country with an ethic of duty, self-restraint, stewardship and putting the needs of people, not the state or corporation, first. The ulitmate point of all education is not to accumulate facts and technique but to beocme virtuous-that is, to discover how the knowledge we acquire ouught to be appleid. This is the difference between knowledge and wisdom. We are called to be wise.

I don't know if I will relate to all of the book, but ironically I did shop for my first pair of birkies last week. Not due to any political or social stance, but because I am facing a hot Houston summer and my feet need relief.

More books in future posts... need to see what my youngest son has picked up now....and my dh has a lot going, too. Will post soon.