84, Charing Cross Road (1970) by Helene Hanff Classics Challenge: Classic by a woman author. 19 in 2021 Reading Challenge. A book of letters. (I'm looking forward to the podcast discussion of the book! Helene Hanff wrote for the stage and television, but claimed fame for her writing about her career. She described her plays…
Winter Morning Time
In the fall, as we adjusted to my new work schedule and starting school at 11, I struggled to find a routine for Morning Time. I didn't want to delay the start of school even later, even for good things, so I attempted to do it over lunch. Singing or reciting and eating don't work.…
The Wellerman
Megan Basham's Muse newsletter clued me in to the viral sensation of the moment: Sea shanties. Since today was folk song day, I added this NPR story and remix of "The Wellerman" to Morning Time. I'm so grateful for singing together! NPR story "Why Sea Shanties Have Taken Over TikTok." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgsurPg9Ckw
2020 School Year in Review
We made it! Even though we already homeschooled pre-pandemic, it was a challenging year due to all the changes in our routines and habits. First term, post-spring break, we missed our library and Community Bible Study. Going to distance education for my private school job gobbled up all my time for a few weeks, but…
Whelmed
I didn't pick a word of the year for 2020, but after looking back, I'm going to retroactively choose "whelmed." I know you can be underwhelmed, and you can be overwhelmed, but can you ever just be, like, whelmed? After watching 10 Things I Hate About You a few times, my sister and I started…
5×5 Challenge
The Scholé Sisters 5×5 Challenge has an open-ended format: five books in five categories. I made more progress on non-fiction last year than I would have without the challenge, but it was a struggle to keep picking up non-fiction. Even "moderate" mother culture books felt like stiff books this year. I obviously flopped on the homemaker category,…
Death on the Nile
Classic with Nature in the Title. Death on the Nile (1937) by Agatha Christie The book blurb declares the victim, but the body doesn't appear until halfway through the book. On their honeymoon in Egypt, wealthy Linnet and her new husband and being stalked by his old flame. Few on the Nile cruise are as…
Wuthering Heights
Classic with a Place in the Title. Wuthering Heights (1847) by Emily Brontë After setting up the mystery of Heathcliff's reclusiveness in the book's present, helpful verbose narrators relate the tragic love story of Heathcliff and Catherine. Starting at the very beginning, we learn about Heathcliff's adoption into the family, Catherine and Heathcliff's wild friendship as children,…
Back to the Classics 2021
Back to the Classics 2021 planning. Note to self: Do not edit this post! This is my sixth year of employing the Classics Challenge to help me read more widely. My reading life took a nose dive with the stress of last year, but I'm finding my groove again and setting goals optimistically. I'm going…
The Man in the Brown Suit
A Genre Classic. The Man in the Brown Suit (1924) by Agatha Christie Anne Beddingfeld has an unexpected adventure fall in front of her while waiting for the train. She follows the lead provided by a scrap of paper to discover a murder and jewel theft. From there, she tracks the thief and killer all the way to Africa.…
