Wednesday, May 1, 2013

April Reading


Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy
Read for the second time, and knew I needed to read it a third time the moment I finished. Not because it's so hard to understand, but because it is so necessary. I don't usually like introductions, but Victor Watt's introduction was helpful. (Hopefully more on this book after another reading.)


What Matters in Jane Austen? Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved by John Mullan
The title of this book looked promising and I was not disappointed. The author knows his way around Miss Austen's novels, and pointed things out that I had missed. I enjoyed the whole book, but my two favorite chapters are, "What Do the Characters Call Each Other?" and "What Do Characters Read?"


The Luck of the Bodkins by P. G. Wodehouse
With characters named Monty Bodkin, Gertrude Butterwick, Miss Lotus Blossom, and Ikey Llewellyn how could one go wrong? Mr Wodehouse never disappoints and this was no exception. See my favorite quotes from the book HERE.


The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise
I wanted to re-read this before homeschooling next school year. It has many resources that I have found helpful.

What are you reading?

2 comments:

Lit~Lass said...

Looks like you had some great reading! I hadn't known about Boethius, so "Consolation" is now on the (monstrous) TBR. John Mulan's book has been for a while too, but glad to hear your good opinion of it.

I have a question about "The Well Trained Mind": Is it mostly instruction on homeschooling methods? Or does it tell about Jesse Wise's experiences as a pioneer in homeschooling and Susan Wise Bauer's accomplishments? I'm asking because I'm past the years of being homeschooled myself, and nowhere near having my own kids to educate. However, I find Susan Wise Bauer an incredibly inspirational person and am interested in learning more about her life.

Esther said...

Re: The Well-Trained Mind - I would say both. It's written by both, so it contains Susan Wise Bauer's perspective of her own education and her mother's perspective as the homeschooling mom. Bauer also writes some about how she educates her sons, and the experience she's had with her college students. I think it's interesting, and the curriculum parts that you're not as interested in at the moment could be skimmed or skipped for now. Bauer has also written a book entitled, The Well-Educated Mind: A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had. Have you read it? I haven't, and judging by your blog it wouldn't be one that you would "need" to read. :) But WTM may be of interest to you as a homeschooler as well.

I know you would enjoy Mullan's book: It's fun, makes you think, and ties in some of the history and customs of the time.

'Consolation' has been an important book for me, so many things "clicked". It helped me understand my own mind & heart better, but it's something that I need to digest too so another reading is def. in order. Let me know when you read it and we can discuss! :)

By the way, I found Sarah Emsley's book, 'Jane Austen's Philosophy of the Virtues' at a good price and bought it. (It's wonderful!) If you'd still like to read it, I'd be happy to let you borrow it. Email me if you'd like to: hadassah521@gmail.com

Thanks for the comment!