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The multiquote is just not working for me this week, so I'll resort to cut and paste. ****** "Written by Kareni I recently read a book that I enjoyed very much ~ Someone Else's Love Story is Joshilyn Jackson's funny, charming, and poignant novel about science and miracles, secrets and truths, faith and forgiveness; about falling in love and learning that things aren't always what they seem—or what we hope they will be. It's a story about discovering what we want and ultimately finding what we need." ************** This looks really interesting, adding to my tbr list. It is also apparently very popular at my library so hopefully by the time it is available, I'll have time to read it. ********************** "Written by Paisley Hedgehog I had a great reading week last week, finishing two five-star books. First was The Ionian Mission by Patrick O'Brian, #8 in the Aubrey / Maturn series. I loved this one -- seriously, it was my favorite of the series so far. Lots of action and little of the land-bound drama of the previous couple of entries. Second was the first of Ruth Reichl's memoirs, Tender At The Bone. Reichl is the former NYT food critic and there was plenty of food-centric writing here, but the memoir was mostly about her early years at school and university. I was hooked from the first page and read the entire book in about 36 hours. After not making it through any books in Week 6, I am chuffed to have found two great ones for Week 7. " ************************ Yeah! Glad you had a great week! ******************* "Written by The Dinosaur Feather by S. J. Gazan- This is a Danish mystery and has some of the same feel of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (yes, I know it's a different country). I think it felt similar in the liberal sexual attitudes that are treated as very normal and because it has the same thing where there are many names that seem similar to a non-Danish reader but I'm guessing aren't that similar to a Danish reader. It's like the Johansen and Bergensen and Borgensen and Jensen and Jergensen of Dragon Tattoo. After that kind of pointless aside, I'll say I really liked it. It's a very well-done mystery with intricate backstories and a really unique method of murder. I actually found this one when I was searching for dinosaur books for my kids for something and it looked intriguing so I put it on hold. Since then I've discovered it won a big Danish award (best crime novel of the decade) and is on a bunch of U.S. best-of lists including that well-known NPR librarian woman whose name is escaping me right now. Also, I'll add that it's much less icky and disturbing than Dragon Tattoo, if you are interested but possibly worried about that comparison." ************************* Thanks for the rec. Sounds really interesting! ************************** "Written by PhoenixI finished The Vow this morning. It is the true story of Kim & Krickett Carpenter who were in a terrible automobile accident shortly after they were married. Krickett sustained terrible brain injury and forgets that she was ever married. It is the story of Kim Carpenter winning back his wife and staying true to his vow to be faithful to his wife. This was one my friend's books that she said I just had to read. Not typically the type of book I pick up; had it been fiction I really wouldn't have been interested. It was, however, non-fiction and it was neat testimony of the couple's faithfulness to each other and their faith in God. (I guess they made the rounds in the newspapers, magazines, and talk show circuit back in the late 90's early 2000's, but it wouldn't have been on my radar at that time. It was also made into a movie starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum in 2012, which I have not seen.) *************************** I vaguely remember an interview or two related to the movie coming out. I've been trying to read more non-fiction, so this fits nicely into my tbr list from the library. At this rate, my computer post it is going to end up becoming my screen wallpaper! ;) ***************************** "Written by Stacia Oh, my teetering library pile! And I have so much to do this week & next that I fear I will get through very few of these. Anyone else have a big library pile right now? If so, what's in your pile?" *********************** Sophocles - Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus Leeds - One Year to an Organized Life Pratchett - The Wee Free Men Smith - The Sunday Philosophy Club Hamilton - Mythology Peters - One Corpse Too Many and Monk's Hood Rollins - Map of Bones Pargeter - The Brothers of Gwynedd (4 books in 1) Aziz - The Perfect 10 Diet and then on my Kindle... Eragon, the third Flavia de Luce book, and several Beth Moore books I downloaded for free last month Hence the reason I started keeping book ideas on a rapidly growing computer post it note.
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I finished two more books this past week: #9 Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Cain (review here) and #10 The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Bradley (review here). The former while interesting seemed more geared towards explaining introverts to extroverts and not as much about being an introvert in an extroverted world, so it was informative but not what I expected. The latter was my means of escape from all the psychology in Quiet, which I have never enjoyed. I had intended to preread Urchin of the Riding Stars, but DS and I were not enjoying Archimedes and the Door of Science by Bendick as a read aloud and decided to drop it on Wednesday. He thought the McAllister book looked interesting, so we'll start reading it tomorrow. (We took Thursday and Friday off as snow days.) TBR: Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocles (these I have to finish for discussion by midweek) One Corpse too Many by Peters (I'd like to read a couple more of these before moving on to the 13th century) In Progress: Bible (still on track, about halfway through Numbers now) History of the Ancient World by Bauer (I couldn't take anymore nonfiction last week, so I'll shoot for chapter 25 again this week) The Beloved Disciple by Moore (I downloaded this for free last month. I thought it would balance out all of my Old Testament reading.) Finished: 10: The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Bradley 9. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Cain 8. Sandstorm by Rollins 7. The War of the Worlds by Wells 6. A Morbid Taste for Bones by Peters 5. Antigone by Sophocles 4. Secrets of an Organized Mom by Reich 3. Phantastes by MacDonald 2. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Bradley 1. The Odyssey by Homer
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Is there an 8th grade thread yet?
Narrow Gate Academy replied to Matryoshka's topic in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges
Just starting to plan, here are my tentative ideas: Math - Foerster's Algebra 1 Language Arts - R&S 8, CW Diogenes Chreia, Word Within the Word 1, and book list tbd Latin - Latin Alive 2 Greek - Elementary Greek 3 History - based on Miller's Story of the Middle Ages and Story of the Renaissance and Reformation Science - physical science resources tbd Logic - Traditional Logic 1 Music - The Story of Classical Music Art - ?? may continue with Hammond books or try coop class -
I finished two more books this past week: #7 - The War of the Worlds by Wells (reviewed here) and #8 - Sandstorm by Rollins (reviewed here). I really enjoyed both books and picked up the next Sigma series yesterday despite the fact that my tbr stack is far too high so it may take a couple of weeks to get to it. A thank you to Robin and others who have been recommending the Sigma series. I even mentioned them to my mom on the phone the other day as something my dad might enjoy reading. To be read Oedipus the King by Sophocles (this one I have to read to keep up with DD) I'd like to start One Corpse Too Many by Peters, but I think I'll focus on finishing Quiet so I don't have so many books going at once and read Urchin of the Riding Stars by McAllister when I need a break in an effort to find a new series that DS might enjoy reading In progress Bible - currently nearing the end of Leviticus :hurray: and on track for the year The History of the Ancient World by Bauer - reached my goal of chapter 20, now shooting for chapter 25 for this week Quiet by Cain - finished the intro and part 1 and am not overly impressed at this point, hoping it will get better (It would also help if DS would quit borrowing the Kindle to read Harry Potter 7, but at least he's choosing to read.) Finished 8. Sandstorm by Rollins (BaW rec) 7. The War of the Worlds by Wells (classic lit) 6. A Morbid Taste for Bones by Peters (12th century challenge) 5. Antigone by Sophocles (ancient lit) 4. Secrets of an Organized Mom by Reich (non-fiction) 3. Phantastes by MacDonald 2. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Bradley (BaW rec) 1. Odyssey by Homer (ancient lit)
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I have just started thinking about it, but here is my current list: Math - Singapore 5A and 5B with IP and CWP Language Arts - R&S 5, CW Homer, SWO F and part of G, literary selections from library resources Latin - Latin for Children B Logic - probably MindBenders B series and more Rush Hour games History - Middle Ages / Renaissance - not sure what I'll use Science - I'll probably let him choose and then use whatever we have on the topic Art - more projects from artprojectsforkids.org Music - piano lessons and ??
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I've been avoiding King's books for years because I don't like horror. I may just have to give him a try sometime this year. Welcome! I love fantasy books, so I'll be watching your list with interest.
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This is DD's second draft of her paper on the Odyssey. I marked all over the first draft, and she's made some improvements. I realize that the direct quote are not cited properly because it is something we have not covered yet. Other than that what suggestions do you have for her? Odysseus and Athena People need help. Help with chores, work, relationships, and personal care are all essential for a normal person at some point or another in order for them to successfully deal with an issue. Not even Odysseus, hero of the Odyssey, is an exception to this rule. He could not have reached his home and retaken his throne without the help of the goddess Athena. His biggest obstacle was Calypso. When Odysseus came to her island, the nymph fell in love with him and held him prisoner for seven years, constantly trying to persuade him to forget his wife and kingdom and marry her. Always Odysseus refused, but he had no way of escape and so stayed upon Calypso's island in misery. (" 'Now he's left to pine on an island, racked with grief in the nymph Calypso's house- she holds him there by force.' ") Athena freed him from his prison when she persuaded Zeus to send Hermes to tell Calypso to send Odysseus back to his own home. Calypso could not go against the will of the gods, so she had to send Odysseus home. As Odysseus sailed, Poseidon sent a storm that destroyed Odysseus' raft and washed him up on the seashore of the Phaeacians. He fell asleep in the bushes of a wood nearby, and Athena went to the palace of the Phaeacians to the Princess Nausicaa's bedroom. There she helped Odysseus again by encouraging Nausicaa to go to wash her family's clothes in the morning. In the morning Nausicaa went and she found Odysseus. She gave him clothing and told him how to reach the palace and secure a free journey home from the Phaeacians; " 'Go past my father, grasp my mother's knees- if you want to see the day of your return, rejoicing, soon, even if your home's a world away. If only the queen will take you to her heart, then there's hope that you will see your loved ones, reach your own grand house, your native land at last.' " Only if the queen agreed to help Odysseus would he receive help from the Phaiacians. As Athena herself said, " 'The men here never suffer strangers gladly, have no love for hosting a man from foreign lands. All they really trust are their fast, flying ships that cross the mighty ocean.' " When Odysseus reached his home, Athena disguised him so that he could safely reach his house and assess the situation there without being slain by the suitors, who were quite determined that he should not reclaim his throne and wife (" 'Even if Odysseus of Ithaca did arrive in person, to find us well-bred suitors feasting in his halls, and the man were hell-bent on routing us from the palace- little joy would his wife derive from his return, for all her yearning. Here on the spot he'd meet a humiliating end if he fought against such odds.' ") Indeed the odds were anything but in Odysseus' favor: " 'These suitors are not just ten or twenty, they're far more- you count them up for yourself now, take a moment . . . From Dulichion, fifty-two of them, picked young men, six servants in their troop; from Same, twenty-four, from Zacynthus, twenty Achaeans, nobles all, and the twelve best lords from Ithaca itself' "- all these were against him. However, when at last the time came to fight them, Athena protected him and his men from being slain by the suitors, repeatedly sending the suitors' salvos of spears wide and preserving Odysseus and his men from harm. And finally, she prevented the families of the slain suitors from killing Odysseus and his men: " 'Hold back, you men of Ithaca, back from brutal war! Break off- shed no blood- make piece at once!' . . . And Athena handed down her pacts of peace between both sides for all the years to come". Athena's help provided Odysseus with the ability to reclaim his kingdom. From Calypso's island to the land of the Phaeacians to his fight in Ithaca, Athena was by his side, helping and protecting him. Those people who remember this ancient example of how good helping others is should follow it and provide help to others when they need it.
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Welcome! :seeya: Love this quote! Thanks for sharing! I'm right there with you. If I could just get the kids to teach themselves and clean house for a couple of days maybe I could actually make a real dent in my tbr pile. I've read through The Mark of Athena last summer. It took me a little longer to get into that one. It was OK, but my least favorite of the series so far. It felt a little disjointed to me in the beginning, and I personally find Piper's character a bit annoying. It did get better in the second half of the book. I found The House of Hades much more enjoyable and will read the final book this fall when it comes out. Dd14 couldn't really get into The Time Machine last year but is enjoying The War of the Worlds currently. All my kids keep asking when the next season of Warehouse 13 starts.
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I actually finished two books this week as hoped :hurray: : Antigone by Sophocle (reviewed here) and A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis (reviewed here). I wasn't really in the mood for the tragedy, but I still enjoyed it. Thanks to all of you who recommended the Brother Cadfael books. :D I thoroughly enjoyed it the story and put the next two books in the series on hold, so I will probably wait a couple of weeks before progressing to the 13th century. I think I'm going to pass on Dante since I'll probably read all three parts of The Divine Comedy when we get to it next school year. TBR: Sandstorm by Rollins (definitely next on the list, hope to start by Tuesday) Quiet by Cain (I'm thinking I'll spread this out over a couple of weeks, 1 or 2 chapters a day) still too many other books to name and I forgot that I wasn't suppose to get any more books last week and downloaded two more library books on my Kindle in addition to the Cadfael books now on hold :blushing: In Progress: Bible - finished Exodus and read 7 chapters of Leviticus, 6% done and still on track History of the Ancient World by Bauer - finished chapters 5-10 this week, shooting for chapter 20 by the end of this week The War of the Worlds by Wells - to discuss with DD, the heat ray reminds me of cheesy scifi movies, but I'm still completely enjoying the tale at about 1/3 the way through Finished 6. A Morbid Taste for Bones by Peters (BaW rec and 12th century challenge) 5. Antigone by Sophocles (ancient lit) 4. Secrets of an Organized Mom by Reich (non-fiction) 3. Phantastes by MacDonald (classic lit) 2. The Secret at the Bottom of the Pie by Bradley (BaW rec) 1. The Odyssey by Homer (ancient lit) Looks like I'm still 2:1 in favor of male authors this year, but I'd rather just enjoy the books and not worry about the author's gender.
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In looking at last year's reading list, I read 2/3 male and 1/3 female. I don't read a lot of romance type books, which may be why the numbers are tilted in favor of male authors. This is me as well. Books aimed at subgroups tend to annoy me. I want to read a good book that I can either learn from or get lost in. I really don't care who the author is and half the time can only remember the title and plot not the author.
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I finished my 4th book this week Secrets of an Organized Mom by Reich and reviewed it. I didn't get a chance to start A Morbid Taste for Bones yet because I loaned it to my mom to read while she was visiting. Waiting to read Antigone by Sophocles (for discussion with DD, hopefully will finish this week) A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis (also hoping to finish for 12th century challenge since the play is not too long) Sandstorm by Rollins (hoping to start by the weekend) a stack of others (so another no checking out new books until the current stack is decreased week In Progress Bible - currently most of the way through Exodus and still on track for the year History of the Ancient World by Bauer - didn't get to this week due to company Finished 4. Secrets of an Organized Mom by Reich (non-fiction) 3. Phantastes by MacDonald (classic lit) 2. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Bradley (BaW rec) 1. Odyssey by Homer (ancient lit) I also figured out my 5/5/5 categories for the year: ancient lit, medieval lit, classic lit, non-fiction, and BaW rec
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My favorite excuse for reading instead of doing housework. Anything with a deadline is easier to get done. This looks interesting. Thanks for the review. Great article! Thanks for the link!
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I finished my 3rd book for the year Phantastes by MacDonald and reviewed it on my blog. I have too many good books in my library crate to decide which to read first: Sandstorm by Rollins, The Sunday Philosopher Club by Smith, two more Flavia de Luce on my Kindle... and at least half a dozen others I can't think of of the top of my head. I will try hard not to add to my want to read list this week :drool5: while I make a dent in the current stack. To read: I haven't read any non-fiction yet, so I'll try to start either one of the organization books or Smart but Scattered Sophocles plays to discuss with DD (hopefully the first one) A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis for the 12th century challenge In progress: Bible - I've finished Genesis and made it 6 chapters into Exodus. Still on track so far. History of the Ancient World - 5 chapters finished this past week Completed: 3. Phantastes by MacDonald 2. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Bradley 1. The Odyssey by Homer
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I just picked up Rollins' Sandstorm at the library on Saturday. After all the recommendations, I'm excited to read it. Thanks for the laugh! I loved Ivanhoe when I read it last year. I also enjoyed Rob Roy even though the Scottish dialect was a bit challenging.
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These look interesting, and the library actually has them. Thanks for suggesting them! I put them on my to read list for next month. I've been meaning to read this. I actually checked it out of the library once, but just didn't have the focus at the time to get very far before it had to be returned. Thanks for reminding me about it. I did see the read-a-long. I started the first one last year, but only made it to chapter 22 or so. I'd like to read all three this year, so I'm zipping through the chapters previously read and then I'll slow down and take notes again. I can only read one or two chapters at a time, so I'm sure to still be working on it when April comes. I read Monmouth a couple of years ago with DD. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
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When I went to my library crate to pick a book, I found The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Bradley that someone here recommended on hold and had forgotten about it. I stayed up Friday night to finish it and just posted a review on my blog. I did first the first Brother Caedful book on hold, but I won't have it until next weekend to start. On deck for this week: 1. I want to try to read more non-fiction this year so one of the three organizing book I have One Year to an Organized Life by Leeds, Secrets of an Organized Mom by Reich, or Getting Things Done by Allen 2. Phantastes by Macdonald - This one is too discuss with DD 1 who will be finishing it this week. Nothing like a deadline to get something done. In progress: 1. The Bible - I've read through Genesis 37 and am on track so far for the year 2. The History of the Ancient World by Bauer - I managed two chapters earlier today and am hoping to get through 10 chapters this week. Completed 2. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie be Bradley 1. The Odyssey by Homer
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My favorite is a Boston cream donut, but I'll happily eat glazed, cinnamon, the sugar coated ones in figure 8 shape, or just a plain one with icing. It's been a busy weekend. I did lots of blogging and a little cleaning/organizing. The kids and I generally volunteer at church; but I did spend 10 years as a volunteer firefighter before the youngest was born and I decided I couldn't juggle all the required time anymore.
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Weekly Report: 1.10.14
Narrow Gate Academy replied to momto2Cs's topic in General Education Discussion Board
After several weeks of not posting, I finally found some time to blog. Our week 18 wrap up is posted for the girls and for the boys. There's also a Thursday post for art. -
Help me! What's reasonable?! (kid messes)
Narrow Gate Academy replied to mamamindy's topic in The Chat Board
I don't think you are expecting too much. I would either have a clean up time where everyone works together to clean the room, which helps the kids learn where to put things back, or have them play in a different room. Could they choose 1 or 2 toy bins to bring into the living room to play with while the baby is sleeping, and then clean them up and return them once the baby is up? I often have my youngest do this when he is playing with one of his siblings. If they play in the older one's bedroom, then too much stuff gets pulled up and the olders start trying to keep him out of their rooms altogether. HTH -
Who's going to tackle Thursday with me?
Narrow Gate Academy replied to Jean in Newcastle's topic in The Chat Board
To do: make waffles make bed sort dirty clothes 2 loads of laundry (1 started) fold and put away laundry enter remaining expenses into spreadsheet upload photos and post on blog make muffins (measured dry ingredients and thawing zucchini) clean out old medicines vaccuum house clear counters and clean clean/organize 1 section of girls' room school with boys school with girls Habits: minimum 4 cups water vitamins Bible and devotion -
I finished up my first book of the year this evening - Homer's Odyssey and wrote a brief post. I can't decide if I want to go with fluffy fiction or something practical next. I have One Year to an Organized Life by Leeds and Secrets of an Organized Mom by Reich from the library. I also wandered along the sci-fi shelf looking for something interesting and picked up Dragonflight by McCaffrey. Whichever I start, first I have four kids clamoring to work on a gingerbread house that I assembled a couple of days ago, but haven't gotten back to decorating yet.
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Book a Week in 2014 - BW1 Happy New Year
Narrow Gate Academy replied to Robin M's topic in The Chat Board
I managed to read 39 books last year which is a new record for me. My first book for the year will be Homer's Odyssey. I have a deadline to finish it for discussion with the oldest next week, so hopefully I'll finish by Sunday. -
What is your Bible reading plan for 2014?
Narrow Gate Academy replied to Heather in Neverland's topic in The Chat Board
I decided I wanted to try to read through the whole Bible in a year. Chronological doesn't work for me. Something about Job in January always sinks that plan. I have a One Year Bible, but I find having four different types of reading at one time too scattered. This year I'm keeping it simple. I have the free ESV Bible on my Kindle, and I'm going to read beginning to end using the canonical reading plan from blueletterbible.org. I even made myself a little check sheet yesterday that I can keep in my Kindle case. I may add in a separate more in depth Bible study as well, but I haven't chosen anything yet. -
Jan Meal Planning... Want to join?
Narrow Gate Academy replied to lovinmomma's topic in The Chat Board
I was planning weekly off and on last year and definitely need to get back on track. This month I want to focus on using what is in the freezer and cut back on our grocery bills. Next month, I'd like to find 2-4 new recipes to try adding to the mix. I'll take a shot at monthly (because I hate doing menus weekly) but may drop back to weekly or biweekly depending on how it goes. For this week and January 12/29 - BBQ drumsticks, baked potato, and squash 12/30 - broiled salmon, sweet potato, and broccoli 12/31 - tortillas 1/1 - turkey pot pie 1/2 - oven baked fish, green beans, and rolls 1/3 - spaghetti 1/4 - ham, sweet potato fries, and green beans 1/5 - navy bean soup 1/6 - oven baked red drum, squash, and cornbread 1/7 - venison tenderloin, zucchini sticks, and leftover cornbread 1/8 - chicken and rice w/ vegetables 1/9 - turkey noodle soup 1/10 - homemade pizza 1/11 - fried fish, corn, hushpuppies 1/12 - chili 1/13 - ham, sweet potato, and green beans 1/14 - halibut, potato and onion, and squash 1/15 - crockpot leg quarters, leftover potato and onion, and squash 1/16 - zuccini pancakes 1/17 - spaghetti 1/18 - turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, and rolls 1/19 - leftovers 1/20 - tortillas 1/21 - red drum, squash, and cornbread 1/22 - ham, green beans, and leftover cornbread 1/23 - burger and noodle with vegetables 1/24 - homemade pizza 1/25 - fried fish, corn, and hushpuppies 1/26 - pancakes 1/27 - turkey noodle soup 1/28 - venison roast, potatos, salad 1/29 - chicken and rice with vegetables 1/30 - baked bluefish, sweet, potato, and green beans 1/31 - spaghetti -
Nearless wordless - Vacation pics and Halloween Fun