Bibliovore Habits

Just a piece of simple inspiration that crossed me a few months ago:

Susan S. Macaulay writes in 'For the Children's Sake' (1984, pg 19)

Get a few really good books, and read them together aloud. Set aside a good regular chunk of time. This will be one of the most rewarding and stimulating relationships in your life. Guess what? If you have the courage to be honest, that youngster's comments and questions are really going to make you think hard. You can throw away all the manuals. That child has an awful lot to teach you. Your mind is probably in a worse state than his. After reading together, go to a really nice place outside for a couple of hours at least. Don't rush. Turn a rock over and watch the beetles run away. Throw rocks in the stream and slide down a hill.

Talk together. You'll find yourself enjoying it!

Relax.

It isn't all hard as the experts make out.

Susan has it right you know! Simply exposing your children to books will grow a love for them in their hearts so you don't feel you have to push but rather you can be guided by your child's natural curiosity and be blessed by what they open your eyes to!

Our five bookshelves are overflowing again and it is clear that I again need to do some clearing out. I have decided this time around to list my books on Fishpond for sale.

I have been blown away by this last month by one of the most Biblically directed books with a true fundamental foundation. Created to Be His Help Meet: Discover How God Can Make Your Marriage Glorious has been one of the most personally confronting and yet eye opening reading experiences I have ever been through and my goodness it has made an impact.

For my birthday I was blessed by Michael with a long waited for copy of the Freedom Writer's diary. Alike, many books that are turned into movies it is certainly a better read than viewing. Akin, to Pay It Forwardby Catherine Hyde the book brings about the sentiment that one person can make a difference by simply making a change in their personal mindset and attitude to others not just in thought but also in deed.

As is known I am into rare finds in a big way. I am particularly interested in books fiction and non-fiction alike with Dean & Son novels being one of my favourites. Yesterday, Berocca and I dropped past a garage sale and I picked up two wonderful books which I am sure will serve us well.

The first is a copy of "Chamber's Educational Course: English Grammar: Being a complete view of the words and sentences of the English language with parsing, analysis and 356 exercises" by JMD Meiklejohn, MA, Professor of Education in the University of St. Andrews. The text was published by W & R Chambers in 1885.

In this small 3.5" by 6" text spanning less than 180 pages covers all the grammar and word structure taught in today's Australian schools from the day you start until Year Ten. It is amazing how complicated the education system has made learning with giant texts in upper primary and secondary years in contrast to this simple text that at the time of publication would have been used to learn the same years of content under a much shorter period of guidance from a governess or professor.

The feature book of September for me has definitely got to be 'Simple Secrets to a Beautiful Home: Creating a Place You and Your Family Will Love'. Though it had me stall reading several times because I was simply too tired to take it all in, I thoroughly enjoyed the read which was about the spirit of making a house a home without being specifically focussed on household management, decorating, or how to make a cottage garden. No, instead it was a refreshing natural exploration of how to find your own way to make a welcoming environment through the use of creativity, femininity, stillness, hospitality, celebration and Godliness.