July Reads

Hiding in the Light by Rifqa Bary: This book was phenomenal and I simply could not put it down.  I was gripped by Rifqa's story and the amount of suffering she endured simply for becoming a Christian.  It really helped me to better understand Islam and what is means for a Muslim woman to come to faith in Jesus Christ.  I loved hearing Rifqa speak about her deep relationship with the Savior and her gratefulness for all that He has done f.  I cried with her as I read her story and watched as numerous obstacles continued to bombard her from seemingly every direction.  This book was so inspiring and I can't recommend it enough.



The Out of Synch Child by Carol Stark Kranowitz: One of my daughter's occupational therapists recommended this book to me and I am so glad I got around to reading it in July.  It really helped me to more fully understand the extent of Evangeline's sensory needs.  This book was so easy to read and did not read like a textbook at all.  The author gives wonderful examples of children who struggle and who do not struggle with various sensory issues.  I really appreciated the checklists that the author included at the end of each chapter to help parents determine the extent to which their children struggled in a different area.



Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery:  Emily becomes an orphan after the death of her beloved father.  She is soon taken to the New Moon Farm by her snobby relatives who care for her out of obligation but soon finds herself calling it home.  She finds new friends and plenty of adventure along the way.  I am fairly certain that I have been a Montgomery fan since I was about ten years old and fell in love with Anne of Green Gables.  Although I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as an Anne book it was still a great summer read.  I think among many L.M. Montgomery fans you either prefer Anne or the "darker" Emily.  There are also two more books in the "Emily" trilogy.



The Well Adjusted Child: The Social Benefits of Homeschooling by Rachel Gathercole: I picked up this book from our local library because I was in the mood to read a book on home education.  Our library has a tiny amount of books on homeschooling.  I wasn't overly impressed with this but it is probably because I already realize many of the social benefits of homeschooling.  I don't need to be convinced.  This book would be great for anyone who has concerns about the socialization aspect of educating your children at home.  I think the author included a lot of good information and my indifference is mainly because I read this book when I really wasn't in the mood for it.



Kentucky Off the Beaten Path by Zoe Ayn Strecker: This was another gem I picked up from the library this month.  I was thoroughly impressed with the amount of research and knowledge that the author put into writing this book.  The author has taken the time to seek out the most interesting places to eat, visit, or things to do.  She also includes many interesting facts.  I was pleasantly surprised that our library also owns the Ohio and Tennessee books from this series which we also enjoyed visiting.




Home Sewn by Cassandra Ellis: While I do plan on attempting the "cotton block-printed pillowcases" pattern in this book, I was very disappointed with the overall projects.  There just simply weren't many projects that I was interested in trying.  I did enjoy looking at the beautiful photographs but since the goal in purchasing a book of sewing projects is to actually sew items (not just look at pictures) I can't recommend this book.  Please note that I received a review copy of this book from Blogging For Books.  All opinions are my own.

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Currently Reading:

None Like Him: 10 Ways God Is Different From Us by Jen Wilkin

You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity by Francis & Lisa Chan

Ten Boys Who Made History by Irene Howat

The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian

What books did you read in July?  Do you have any recommendations for me?