Hi
I'm new to LibraryThing but rapidly becoming addicted!

During the 1980/1990s I home educated three of my four children and one of the very best bits of a wonderful experience was reading aloud to them - sometimes for hours on end (wet afternoons in the english midlands!) I cannot remember how many times I read "The moon in the cloud" and its sequels; Laurens Van Der Post's wonderful stories about Africa and, of course CS Lewis' Narnia books. My sons and daughter are now in their 20s and voracious readers with whom I love sharing books.

posted by katherinemary at 1:23 pm (EST) on Mar 29, 2008

Thanks, don't worry, I found out long ago who the characters are that pop up in Into the Wilderness. I've got a long list of TBR books for this year, but ITW and Last of the Mohicans are both on it. I'm a big fan of Elizabeth Bennet, so I probably will enjoy it. :) Thanks again! (I see you're going to start reading the Penman books! Have fun, they are some of my favorites!)

posted by ktleyed at 9:11 am (EST) on Jan 19, 2008

I hope you are able to find some good books....
Congratulations on your pregnancy with number 4! I've found that once you have three, additional kids are no sweat - you're already outnumbered!
I understand what you mean about organization- I'm much the same way- without a set plan, everything falls apart!

posted by mom5mills at 8:52 am (EST) on Apr 4, 2007

Hi,
if you are still looking for resources have some American revolution books to recommend;
the reb and the redcoats
Anne Geddy's day
Paul Revere and the Minute men

-Amanda
(homeschooling mom for six years (five kids)

posted by mom5mills at 12:52 pm (EST) on Apr 3, 2007

Hi, just saw your request for Biographies recommendations on the thread "Book Talk - Biographies Anyone?" and strongly recommend an out of print autobiography that maybe can be found at a library or purchased used:

Coming Out of the Ice, by Victor Herman

Best biography I've ever read, phenomenal survival story, phenomenal writing. I notice from your profile you appear to be a Christian, so should mention that Victor Herman eventually became a Christian himself, though that is not within the scope of the book, although like with the book of Esther you can see the hand of God in his preservation. Go read the reviews on Amazon, the book is amazing. I gave my copy to my father in honor of his own tenacity, but am planning to buy a used copy.

posted by EncompassedRunner at 12:42 am (EST) on Mar 28, 2007

Hi. I was really engrossed in 'Thirteenth Tale' as well. It's hard to find stories so intricate & well-developed, in my opinion. What do you think about the identity of the 'twin' that lived--do you think it was Isabel or Adeline?

posted by framboise at 2:45 pm (EST) on Mar 16, 2007

Hi! I really enjoyed Outlander. It had been on my shelf for quite some time, but I never had the urge to tackle it until I was facing a long train ride. I really enjoyed it, and just picked up the next book in the series to read at some point. I'm trying to hold off, get through some of the other books on my to-read list before I delve back into the series, but now I see why everyone enjoys it so much!

posted by piper0110 at 9:50 pm (EST) on Feb 12, 2007

Very nice to meet you! I'm always intrigued by the idea of homeschooling, all the pros and cons; it must take a lot of courage, but judging from what you've written here I think your kids must be in very safe hands.

posted by soylentgreen23 at 5:19 am (EST) on Jan 30, 2007

Hi Michelle! I'm new to Debbie Macomber books but I have really enjoyed what I've read so far by her. I have also read Thursdays at Eight and Changing Habits. She also has a good website :-) Thanks for stopping by my catalog :-)

posted by JenandTomsLibrary at 7:26 am (EST) on Jan 27, 2007

Outlander is fabulous. Makes you want to go to Scotland. As the novels go on, they are set in other areas like France, the Carribean, America -- but still with the Scottish accents! I have actually never listened to an audiobook before -- I know I should give it a try; but there is something about having that book in your hand and leaving it all up to your imagination . . .

posted by jhowell at 11:13 am (EST) on Jan 24, 2007

The Outlander series is just so readable -- flawed, yes; but nonetheless addicting, and enthralling storytelling. Long books, but quick reads. I have finished through Drums of Autumn and have the last two on my shelf. So I wish you happy Jamie and Claire reading -- if you are anything like me, you will roll your eyes alot, and find yourself saying "Oh yeah, like that would ever happen . . ." but you'll keep on gleefully turning the pages.

posted by jhowell at 7:29 pm (EST) on Jan 7, 2007

Arg, the links didn't keep well, and I can't edit my comments! So, just so that they're in plain text this time -
Assigned tag on my journal for class books, being mostly history

Reading Resolutions' thread on To Be Read books

posted by parelle at 3:36 am (EST) on Dec 19, 2006

I'm almost done my degree... as in, 30 pages from graduation! Granted, that's in two days... so once I'm done writing, it's off to the papers again! it's been a wonderful ride, in a crazy fashion. You can have a feel for my books/classes by looking at my 'assigned' tag, though I haven't updated for this past semester - http://www.librarything.com/catalog.php?tag=assigned
The only time I've taken classes in such a period as 5 weeks was over the past summer: two 6 week sessions of 2 courses a piece. I rather enjoyed it, as I'm the type who can work quickly but am easily distracted by having many different classes to study for. That said, I think it would have been impossible with three classes instead of two!

[The Three Musketeers] is my other favorite book from childhood (aside from [Kidnapped] = Most excellent taste, may I say?). I did read it abridged first as well, in a small 'Great Illustrated Classics' edition with a picture on every other page. It was the first book I remember reading past midnight when I at last got 'the real' thing. It's definitely a slower start than most, but it's well worth it in my opinion.

I've spent a summer in Tokyo, and a few trips since, totaling close to half a year now. Have you been to the Tokyo Edo Museum? It's a throughly interesting museum detailing the history of Tokyo, and there are free English speaking tour guides who are extremely knowledgeable and patient. Even though the museum overall has many English captions, it was interesting to have a personal tour to see all of the details. My family has been lucky to have the time to travel a bit more around Japan, so I've had my fair share of temples and castles as well!

If you'd like to commiserate with other people with 'to read' piles, I've started a group called Reading Resolutions discussing that very question (and more)
http://www.librarything.com/talktopic.php?topic=5263

posted by parelle at 3:30 am (EST) on Dec 19, 2006

I'm afraid I've hopped over here from MrsLee's page. My parents have been living in Tokyo these past three years, and have met some military families stationed there, though mostly older couples.

I just noticed on your blog that you and your son have finished Treasure Island! Stevenson was one of my favorite authors for years. Though there isn't a sequel to [Treasure Island], this is the dedication of one of his other books, [The Black Arrow]. I read it in my early teens - I didn't like it as much as my favorite Stevenson book, [Kidnapped] (which I do highly recommend) and I'm afraid it's not about pirates, but about knights during the War of the Roses.
Critic on the Hearth

No one but myself knows what I have suffered, nor what my books
have gained, by your unsleeping watchfulness and admirable
pertinacity. And now here is a volume that goes into the world and
lacks your imprimatur: a strange thing in our joint lives; and the
reason of it stranger still! I have watched with interest, with
pain, and at length with amusement, your unavailing attempts to
peruse The Black Arrow; and I think I should lack humour indeed, if
I let the occasion slip and did not place your name in the fly-leaf
of the only book of mine that you have never read--and never will
read.

That others may display more constancy is still my hope. The tale
was written years ago for a particular audience and (I may say) in
rivalry with a particular author; I think I should do well to name
him, Mr. Alfred R. Phillips. It was not without its reward at the
time. I could not, indeed, displace Mr. Phillips from his well-won
priority; but in the eyes of readers who thought less than nothing
of Treasure Island, The Black Arrow was supposed to mark a clear
advance. Those who read volumes and those who read story papers
belong to different worlds. The verdict on Treasure Island was
reversed in the other court; I wonder, will it be the same with its
successor?

R. L. S.

SARANAC LAKE, April 8, 1888.

posted by parelle at 12:03 am (EST) on Dec 18, 2006

Ha, ha! It stretches our flexibility muscles when dad is home for school here as well. Now he teaches our boys math though, so that helps:) I love to cook, and have even placed first in a contest, but my boys are happiest eating packaged or processed food :( Adventures and school are wasted on the young. I wish I could put mine to work until they saw the need or had the desire for an education, but Uncle Sam says no. I was the same way when I was young, now there are not enough hours in the day to learn all I want to.

I don't know if you can find this book, but I found it very interesting, Japanese Inn, by Oliver Statler. He was an American soldier stationed in Japan right after WWII. He took his leave at a little Japanese inn somewhere. He found out the inn had been there in the same family for hundreds of years, on the road which the Shogun took to visit the Emperor once a year. The author decided to write the history of Japan centering around the events which took place on this road through the years and around the inn.

posted by MrsLee at 2:31 am (EST) on Dec 15, 2006

Hello, welcome! I am also a homeschooling mom. My library on this site is only for my personal reading in the last two years, although some of that reading was to preview books for my boys. This is a wonderful site for talking to others who love books, and specifically the books you love. Hope you enjoy it.

posted by MrsLee at 3:29 pm (EST) on Dec 5, 2006