An Open Book: July 2025 Reads

Happy Feast of the Transfiguration! I'm linking up with An Open Book to discuss what I read last month; it was a fun mix of fiction and nonfiction. Let's dive in! 

God Made That! by Kathleen M. Hoenke and William A. Jacobs

This Catholic nature study book is delightful. Black-and-white sketches adorn many of the pages, and this book discusses different biomes, plants, and animals. It touches on plants used by Indigenous people and different saints. My only critique of the book is that when it talks about the principles of Catholic social teaching, it paraphrases each of them without giving the actual title/language used for each theme. Otherwise, this is a great book that we've integrated into our homeschooling. 

Freddy Goes to Florida, by Walter Brooks

I got this book for my kids, but none of them read it. I, however, enjoyed it! In this book, a group of farm animals decide that they are sick and tired of how they are treated by their farmer, especially in the winter. So, several of them decide to travel as a group to Florida for the winter months before returning to the farm in the spring. This book was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it! 

Determination: A Mothe of Five Conquers College, by Victoria Marie Lees

In this memoir, the author shares how frustrated she grew when different school officials tried to stick her daughter in special-ed classes that were not adequately going to prepare her daughter for college. Thinking back to how she was once told she wasn't smart enough to obtain a college education, the author decided enroll in college as she healed from the past and learned how she would be able to support her daughter. This was an inspiring and insightful book, and I enjoyed seeing how bravely the author pursued her goals. 

A Jesuit's Guide to the Stars, by Guy Consolmagno, SJ

When my kids said they wanted to learn about Outer Space for homeschooling this year, I realized I had a good excuse to buy this book for myself. This book is a combination of essays on science, the author's own journey of becoming a Jesuit and an astronomer, and reflections on Scripture and God's beautiful creation. I particularly loved how the author encouraged the reader to let himself or herself be filled with wonder at the mysteries of God's work. I also loved the number of gorgeous photographs, many taken by people who work with the Vatican Observatory. My only critique of this book is that there are a couple pages where dialogue is included that used the Lord's name as an expression. Otherwise, I really loved this book and there is a lot in here to think about! (I particularly was moved by the author's rant about light pollution, and that has become a current topic of interest for me)

Lovemaking: How to Talk about Sex with Your Spouse, by Renzo Ortega and Monica Ortega

I had learned about this book through Emily Stimson Chapman's newsletter, I believe, and when I saw that she wrote the foreword to this book, I knew I had to read it. This is a short book but it packs a punch. The authors share their experiences and wisdom from Scripture and saints (especially St. John Paul II) to dive into the topic of communication and marital unity. They provide short discussion questions at the end of each chapter, as well as additional questions at the close of the book. I highly recommend this book to engaged couples who are preparing for marriage, but as someone who has been married for over a decade, I still found it very helpful. I can see value in reading this book early on in marriage and then revisiting it over the years with your husband. 

 

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 1-8, by Beth Brower

This series of books probably deserved its own blog post, but here's the short version: At the beginning of the books, the orphaned Emma Lion returns to her home in a delightfully quirky neighborhood of London, where she faces her cantankerous uncle (who basically stole her inheritance) and tries to bring order to her home, Lapis Lazuli, until she turns 21 and gains full control of the property. Along the way, we learn about: The Roman, a ghost who wanders the streets of the neighborhood but has yet to greet Emma, The Tenant, who moves into the garret room next to Emma's, and all manner of delightful and unexpected happenings. I really don't want to give it all away, so do yourself a favor and read them. They are fairly quick reads, and they are so much fun! Please note: When you are reading Volume 6, be sure to have Volume 7 available so you can start reading it immediately after you finish Volume 6. These books are hilarious and also dealt with deep topics of war, grief, and loss. Our library has them, and they are currently available on Kindle Unlimited. Happy reading!

Thanks for joining me this month! If you have any recommendations, please drop them in the comments!