The Big White Farmhouse

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#8. A LANTERN IN HER HAND by Bess Streeter Aldrich // ★★★★★
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

I think that love is more like a light that you carry. At first childish happiness keeps it lighted and after that romance. Then motherhood lights it and then duty . . . and maybe after that sorrow. You wouldn’t think that sorrow could be a light would you, dearie? But it can. And then after that, service lights it. Yes. . . . I think that is what love is to a woman . . . a lantern in her hand. (83%)

I love books like this one: a story about hope and hard work and perseverance.  It’s also a beautiful story about motherhood and had so many little bits of wisdom sprinkled throughout.  I originally read this on Kindle, but immediately ordered a physical copy when I was done.  So good.  (This was also my 1928 pick for the 20th Century in Literature challenge.)

#9. LET THEM EAT DIRT: SAVING YOUR CHILD FROM AN OVERSANITIZED WORLD by B. Brett Finlay, PhD and Marie-Claire Arrieta, PhD // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

This was an interesting book!  Some of my takeaways:
+ Antibiotics, while a great medical achievement, have been overused in a variety of ways (prescriptions for bacterial infections, being used liberally on the animals we consume, etc.) and have since caused antibiotic-resistant strains of viruses to emerge.
+ The microbiota is an important part of the body and still has so many unknowns!  I have heard the term “leaky gut” often in recent years, but now see the importance of healing and treating your gut well.  Since finishing this book, I started a few of us on probiotics and am learning how to include more fermented foods into our daily life.
+ While the research is still new and needs considerable study, I’m especially interested in the possible connection between the microbiota and anxiety/depression.

#10. A DAY LIKE THIS by Kelley McNeil // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

How to describe this one?  The story opens with the main character waking from a car accident only to discover that her daughter never existed and the past few years are completely different than she remembers. Family members think she’s gone crazy, but she’s convinced that there has to be another explanation.  The book went down some trails that I had a hard time following, but the writing was good.  One of the reviewers on Goodreads described this as a cross between a sci-fi movie and a Lifetime movie and I’d say that’s about right.

#11. THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD MOTHERS by Jessamine Chan // ★★☆☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

This book was CRAZY and nothing like I was expecting.  The story explores a future where mothers who aren’t exemplary are taken to a “school” for a year to learn the skills to be a good one. The stakes are high because if they fail, they never get to see their children again.  Even though the premise sounds awesome, I found the execution slow moving and confusing.  Just an okay read for me.  (The School for Good Mothers was published in January 2022.  Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!)

#12. ANNE OF GREEN GABLES by L.M. Montgomery // ★★★★★
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

One of my favorite books of all time.  I want to see the world like Anne does.

#13. COMMUNISM AND THE CONSCIENCE OF THE WEST by Fulton J. Sheen // ★★★★☆
(amazon)

Christianity agrees with Communists when they point out the need of a revolution, but Christianity places the blame not on institutions but on men; not on legislation but on legislators; not on politics but on politicians; not on property but on man.  Our Lord would never have been crucified had He put the blame on things.  The Physician was killed because He found the source of the disease in the person.  Save man and you save the world; dehumanize man and you wreck the world. (p.92-93)

…the Christian position steers a middle course between extremes.  Freedom for Christianity means neither the right to do what you please, nor the right to do what you must, but rather the right to do whatever you ought.  Ought implies order, law and justice.  Liberty by definition is an attribute which belongs only to a person.  It cannot be attributed to a collectivity or totality whether it be a nation, a state, a race or a class.  The basic fallacy of communism on this point is the transfer of freedom from the person to the collectivity. (p.102)

An incredibly important read.  Sheen’s writing was dense but informative and I learned so much about the Catholic understanding of freedom, private property and work.  My book has about a dozen sticky notes in it!