The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

 The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe 

by C.S. Lewis

Reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe was a valuable addition to our homeschool year.  I am so glad we did, and I felt it was a valuable way to spend our time together.

Our family read this book together in the late summer and early fall.  The hot weather kept us inside, but we still enjoyed hot coffee, tea, and homemade cookies as we read.  In fact, delving into the world of Narnia provided a perfect escape from the hot sun raging outside.  We were cool and comfortable while enjoying our read aloud.

The characters in this book stick with us even though we've finished it.  My daughter now has a small stuffed lion she carries in her purse.  During church, I noticed the lion quietly comes out to be cuddled during the sermon.  If you've read the book, I'm sure you can guess his name. Likewise, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, Lucy, Susan, Edward, and Peter stay with us as characters in classic literature tend to do.  Their noble character, or sometimes learning of it, as well as their realistic personalities interact with our souls, becoming friends in only the way book characters are able.

What was my favorite part of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe?  I enjoyed the scene in which the Beavers provide a cozy meal for the children.  It takes place in the Beavers' very snug little home where the tools of their daily lives are displayed efficiently on the walls.  Also efficient, Mrs. Beaver herself readily leaves her task of sewing and prepares a meal of very fresh, delicious fish upon which C.S. Lewis waxes eloquent on the necessity of the fish being fresh.  Although he tells this with humor, I must agree whole heartedly that the fish must be fresh when you cook it...  But that is another story, for another day.

 Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, Lucy, Susan, Edward, and Peter stay with us as characters in classic literature tend to do.  Their noble character, or sometimes learning of it, as well as their realistic personalities interact with our souls, becoming friends in only the way book characters are able.

"And when each person had got his (or her) cup of tea, each person shoved back his (or her) stool so as to be able to lean against the wall and gave a long sigh of contentment.  Then Mr. Beaver takes his own cup of tea, lights his pipe, and says, "why, now we can get to business."

He and his wife are an excellent example of hospitality.  I am reminded of Jesus feeding his hungry disciples' breakfast on the beach before they began the business of sharing the gospel.  And so, satisfied with a meal and companionship in this strange land of Narnia, the children are ready to begin their own business at hand.

They believe their business is to locate Mr. Tumnus, the creature Lucy met in her first visit to Narnia, but Aslan has a much more important quest for the young people.  It will take a lifetime to complete, beginning with their brother Edmund's betrayal.  In fact, his betrayal sets in motion a series of actions to not only save the boy's life, but the life and health of the whole land of Narnia.  But not without sacrifice.  In the midst of this adventure, the children must grow in character and the rewards of that growth and their faithfulness to Aslan are immense.

Even if you have watched the movie, I would encourage you to read the book.  The imagery that points back to the life of Christ is remarkable.  We had lots of heart discussions about this book during our lunches.  Reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe was a valuable addition to our homeschool year.  I am so glad we did, and I felt it was a valuable way to spend our time together.

Here is a link to The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.  This is an affiliate link from which I will receive a small percentage if you choose to make a purchase.  Thank you for taking a peek!

Tea Rose

Tea Rose is the second installment in the Tea Room Mystery series in which I find myself intrigued with the setting of this Maine lakeside series. The main characters  are widow ladies in their mid- fifties who began their own tea room business in a delightful Victorian home they purchase during their first mystery, Tea Room for Two, which I recommend here.

I was excited to find Tea Rose on our local library shelves, after reading Tea Room for Two and quickly added it to my stack.  However, I was concerned when I discovered later that these two books in the same series are written by different authors!  Could a different author pull off the same wonderful setting while developing an interesting story line?

A Little Concern...

Now I was curious to see if the book would be as good as the first mystery in the Tea Room Mystery series, as it had a different author.

A Possible Road Block?

I began the book but soon ran into another problem of my own making.  Since studying Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education, I tend to read three books or more each at a sitting.  One chapter at a time, and then take a break before reading the next chapter..  Unless it's a real page turner.  So a I began Tea Rose and a young adult fiction read, Angel's Command.  And I really had the worst time focusing on the two.  I believe I continued this routine for about a week.  I felt I was getting nowhere and began to dread reading two very interesting books.  I am not sure if it was mixing the two genres which didn't work or exactly what was wrong.  By the end of  this past week, to avoid quitting both books, as I was tempted to do, I allowed myself to focus on one book, Tea Rose.  And this weekend I found myself enjoying this gentle read much more.  When I reached the turning point of the book, I did not want to put it down.  I am so glad I made the decision to stop reading both books at once and focus on one at a time!

Tea Rose Summary

A beautiful three story Victorian home, complete with its own tower continues to be the setting in this series.  The lovely first floor parlors become the home for much of the mystery to unravel.  Main characters Jan and Elaine help their co-worker Rose look for answers to her confusing past that has ties to far away Germany.  Into the Victorian tea rooms come characters from the delightful small town they live in, including some friends and at least one mysterious stranger who catches the tea drinking detectives' attention as the plot thickens. In fact, small town life is further woven into the mystery when Rose's father, running for election as selectman , faces complications from his daughter's past possibly shedding a bad light on his campaign.  Suspicions grow when he and Rose find their home broken into and find themselves questioning the motives of people in their own community as well as summer visitors who flock to the lovely Maine lake.  Jan and Elaine, while baking sweets and serving tea, find themselves helping to sort out the many threads of this cozy mystery.

Final Thoughts

I enjoyed this read for the setting as much as the mystery.  I felt that I knew the characters well by the end of the story and I liked the overall coziness of the mystery in how the mystery details were handled - such as the break-in as well as the detailed descriptions of the lives of the characters.  It was my cup of tea!

Here is a link to Tea Rose on Amazon.  This is an affiliate link which will provide a small percentage for me, the author of The Mysterious Bookshelf.  Thank you for taking a peek!

 Books I Have Read In 2020

This year is quickly drawing to a close.  I am excited to say I have read more this year than I have in many years which is one reason I started this blog.  I love to read, and why not enjoy reading and discussing fiction and nonfiction on my very own blog?  To redirect this discussion back to the topic, however....

Here is a list of what I have read so far in 2020:

Pastured Poultry Profits by Joel Salatin

Five Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sydney

Stepping Heavenward by E. Prentiss

Mary Jones and Her Bible by Mary Emily Ropes

*Truth Stained Lies by Terri Blackstock - This book really got me interested in reading fiction after a rather long break.  It is ONE of the reasons I started my blog.

*Cape Refuge by Terri Blackstock

*River's Edge by Terri Blackstock

*Breaker's Reef by Terri Blackstock

*Southern Storm by Terri Blackstock

An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White

The Sea Before Us by Sarah Sundin

*The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sherlock Holmes

For the Children's Sake by Susan Macaulay 

*Private Justice by Terri Blackstock

*Distortion by Terri Blackstock

*Twisted Innocence by Terri Blackstock

*If I Were You by Lynn Austin

*A Village Murder by Frances Evesham

The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters

*Murder At the Cathedral by Frances Evesham

*Murder At the Bridge by Frances Evesham

*Murder At the Castle by Frances Evesham

Captured By Grace by David Jeremiah

Love Riot by Sarah Barratt

Awakening Wonder by Sally Clarkson

The Life Giving Home by Sally Clarkson

*The Life Giving Table by Sally Clarkson

*The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

**Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson

*Screw Tape Letters by C.S. Lewis

Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry

Tea Room For Two by Susan Page Davis

Tea Rose by Erin Keeley Marshall

The Angel's Command by Brian Jacques

 

Books I have read in the Hardy Boys series by Franklin W. Dixon:

While The Clock Ticked  

The Twisted Claw 

The Haunted Fort  

The Secret of Skull Mountain  

The Clue of the Velvet Mask  

The Great Airport Mystery 

What Happened At Midnight 

Mystery of the Spiral Bridge 

 And the  Nancy Drew Series Books by Carolyn Keene I've read this year:

The Haunted Bridge 

Mystery at Ski Jump 

Mystery of the 99 Steps 

The Scarlett Slipper Mystery 

The Crooked Banister 

Looking back, I've read more books this year than I thought I would.  I've met lots of new characters and went on new adventures in many new lands.  With a cup of coffee in hand and my kids beside me with their own books or sharing a read aloud, it has been an amazing book filled year.  And the year is not over yet.  I'm looking forward to making the most of my reading time in November and December.

*These were my favorite books this year.

**This book is special because it recommends MORE delightful books to read.  I've already read some of her suggestions and they've  been great!

Thoughts on the Books I Have Read in 2020 

This article contains affiliate links which will provide a small percentage for me, as the writer of The Mysterious Bookshelf,  if you make a purchase from the link.  Thank you for taking a peek!

Do you like adventure?  Read a review of Angel's Command here.

Looking for a cozy mystery? Check out my review for  Tea Rose here and Tea Room for Two here.

Or maybe you prefer nonfiction?  Here's a review of Sally and Sara Clarkson's Life Giving Table.  Click here for the link.

Here is my review of C.S. Lewis's Classic The Magician's Nephew.

The Life Giving Table by Sally Clarkson

The Life Giving Table: Nurturing Faith through Feasting, One Meal at a Time 

I'm reading this book for the second time.  I need to soak in Sally and Sarah's thoughts, descriptions, and the understanding they bring to well-loved, familiar scripture.  Reading their recountings of the Bible and life application has helped me to ponder and digest as well as make some fresh application to Jesus's time on earth as described in the gospels.  Not really a new revelation, but rather a deepening of how I might apply in my own life the details of Jesus's servanthood on earth.  

Contemplating Jesus's days on earth before his crucifixion through  Life Giving Table also made me take a realistic look at my own servanthood.  Am I serving Christ?  Am I serving my family?  Am I daily submitting myself, or is the ugly obstacle of pride standing in my way?  The Life Giving Table goes deep into these issues, not afraid to get below the surface issues covered in so many family life books that I've read in the Christian book world.

On the other hand, The Life Giving Table delves into the practical aspects of serving at the table.  My first reading provided lots of simple, doable options of bringing discipleship to my own table.  Practical - thank you, Sally.  This Mama needs practical. I've already put some of the ideas into practice.

Favorite Ideas From The Life Giving Table:

Celebrating Us - The Clarkson family takes a day in August to go for a family picnic, take family photos, and enjoy being together.  Their special day is tied to the Biblical concept of looking back at what God has done for them in the past year as referenced in the Old Testament.  My hat is off to this creative family for their fun application of Biblical concepts.  They have such a lovely way of living it!

Shepherd's Supper - What was it like for the shepherds during Bible time on the night of Jesus's arrival on this earth?  Sarah Clarkson, Sally's daughter, explains the family's traditions concerning their shepherd's supper which they hold on Christmas Eve.  This is arguably my most exciting takeaway from the book.  Sarah's ideas are a means to awaken wonder in the eyes of young and old alike on the night before the feasting and celebrating begins with a thoughtful look at the "immense things to celebrate in the first place."

Heart Felt Celebration - Sarah also discusses why celebrating Christmas is important.  And this resonated so much with my heart.  I've read so many opposing opinions, but Sarah simply, in her informative way, explained why celebrating the birth of Christ is not something to be pushed to the wayside because of  our fear of too much and excessive celebration.  Our festivities should not loose sight of the true meaning of Christ's nativity, according to Sarah, but neither should we exchange what should be a special season for "a total absence of sacred space or time".  

A Final Thought

I wish that I had heard of Sally Clarkson and her family when we started our homeschool journey.  The Lord uses Sally.  She builds, edifies, and equips me for my life journey through her writings and for that I am grateful!

Check Out Sally's Delightful Blog:

Sally Clarkson's Blog

Check Out Sally's Podcast Here:

Sally's Podcast

I highly recommend listening to Sally's encouraging words as much as possible.  I do!

Visit Sarah Clarkson's Blog:

Sarah Clarkson's Blog

Sarah is an excellent writer, but I must also recommend her blog and facebook page for her cozy pictures of books, Oxford, and tea.  Her artistic touch is a treasure not to be missed.

Sarah Clarkson on Facebook

Book Girl

Book Girl is full of great reading suggestions. In fact,  I gleaned several for my reading list from Sarah's book.

Here is a link to Book Girl on Amazon.  

This post contains affiliate links which will provide a small percentage for me the author of The Mysterious Bookshelf if you make a purchase.  Thank you for taking a peek!

Tearoom for Two by Susan Page Davis: A Gentle Reading Experience

Tearoom for Two

 

by

Susan Page Davis

What it is not:  a page turning, breathless, thriller that keeps you glued to your seat until the very last sentence.  Oh, but let me tell you what this quiet little jewel is:  a gentle walk on a sunny day when the leaves are just turning and the weather is pleasant for an adventure, followed by a timely return home to the fire.  That's exactly why I enjoyed Tearoom for Two.  I could read it when a short block of time presented itself and leave the story when needed.  Then, my return to the beautiful Maine setting was just as comfortable and cozy as if  I'd never left it.  In fact, I believe the beauty lies so not so much in the story line, but rather in the lovely details interwoven to create the cozy mystery that plays out in the main characters, Elaine and Jan's everyday experiences.

Jan and Elaine, both widowers, set out on an unexpected adventure when they purchase lovely Victorian home where they plan to go into business serving tea and sweets in the east and west parlors of the lakeside home.  A series of events set into motion by the purchase of a teapot, in keeping with the theme, immerses the already busy ladies into a full-blown mystery to be solved.  And of course, I found myself enjoying the cozy descriptions of enjoying tea with friends and family along with the cookies, muffins and pastries baked by Jan. 

 I found myself encouraged, by this read, to attempt some much anticipated fall baking as the weather finally begins to cool.