Classic's Challenge: Celia's House

I had planned on reading a Gaskell book for this pick because Gaskell really is one of my top 5 authors but I just can't seem to get into the remaining books of hers I haven't read. I checked out Ruth twice and haven't passed the first chapter. I'm reading a lot this year but its an interesting selection - some of it is just lighter reads which is fine but I'm also skewing much more modern than usual (in this case "modern" meaning writen in 1943). Perhaps because I'm reading along with Lucy's history and she's hitting the 1900s so I'm gravitating towards that for my personal reading as well? I'm not sure but its not my usual fare and that's showing up in this classics challenge as well. 

So I went with D. E. Stevenson and Celia's house. Celia's House is my 5th D.E. Stevenson novel (at least according to goodreads. I think I've actually read more but can't remember the titles so I'm stuck relying on goodreads). She's one of my go-to authors when I need something light, sweet and fairly reliable. I think Miss. Buncle's Book is probably her most well known novel but The Four Graces might be my favorite. 

This one was not my favorite. It wasn't bad at first but I was about 1/2 way through when I realized that somewhere around the 1/3 mark (right when it shifted to the next generation), it became a retelling of Mansfield Park. Not a "subtle nod to Mansfield Park" but a straight up retelling with very little being changed. 

I'm not necessarily opposed to Jane Austen retellings on principle or anything but it felt a bit deceitful as nowhere on the cover or in the text was I informed that this would be a retelling. It just felt jarring and took my out of the story and world she had created around the house. And of course, even a good writer will have trouble retelling a Jane Austen better than Ms. Austen herself (even though Mansfield Park isn't my favorite Austen) so I'm sure the comparison didn't help. 

That said, I really didn't HATE it. In fact, I gave it three stars on Goodreads which honestly means pretty much next to nothing as my goodreads ratings are wildly inconsistent and I've yet to find a remedy for that. I just expected to enjoy it more than I did.  But I still won't hesitate to pick up a Stevenson novel in the future. 

Celia's House is my Back to the Classics Classic by a Favorite Author selection. 

Classics Challenge: Silas Marner

I had read Silas Marner before but it has been some years. It was interesting to re-read it because while I remembered the basic plot, so many of the details were fresh and surprising. I kept being surprised by what I  This was another book I read along with the Literary Life Podcast and I particularly enjoyed viewing it through the lens of fairy tale tropes and ideas. 

I think it would make a good book to pick up if you're struggling right now to get back into a reading routine or to read classics because its just a nice, easy to read but still really good book. It's full of really great characters, a bit of a mystery but nothing too crazy and less of the crazy, "why is that character being stupid?" moments that made me want to pull my hair out when I read Eliot's Middlemarch (plus - its a heck of a lot shorter).I'd read a section and then put the book down but keep thinking about everything from faith, community, and parenting to fate and decisions the rest of the day. 

Silas Marner was my Back to the Classics Challenge 19th Century selection. 

Signs my kids are acclimating to the new country

I had skip to my monthly update for April because my joint pain/carpal tunnel was pretty bad but I'm back this month! May is a big month here, in a couple weeks even more things will open up and we have our first overnight trips planned. I'm beyond excited!

We've done a bit of day tripping to outdoor spots already. 

Charlecote Park 

Battlefield and Monuments of Naseby

Coton Manor and their bluebell meadow

Jonah started year 3 of Ambleside Online

and we were all pretty excited to finally get local library cards. I've heard British libraries aren't typically as large or well stocked as the ones we're used to (I was spoiled in Missouri because I had access to pretty much the whole state's worth of books!). I did love their picture book section but we are also planning a trip to Ikea to buy two more bookcases and I'm investigating local used bookstores to stock up on kid free reads for our own home library. 

We're also finally getting settled into the community a bit more now that things are opening back up. 2 households can meet outside so we met with another homeschooling family at a park and have another similar park playdate set up for this week. 

Feeding the ducks and geese at a local county park. Even the swans here are polite (the ones at our local park back in MO were vicious!)

And pubs are open to serve people outside. Here I am enjoying a shandy. It's definitely the only way you'll get me to drink a beer but next time I think I'll ask them to go even lighter on the beer...or maybe I should just ask for a straight lemonade although that doesn't feel very british of me. 

Speaking of feeling British, we've started to notice a few signs that the kids, especially the younger two, are starting to acclimate. Right before Jude went down this slide at the pub playset, he yelled out "Ready, steady, go." (US - Ready, set, go. UK - Ready, steady, go) and I looked at Craig. I didn't even think he knew that one yet!

A few days before that while I was making breakfast, he came up to me with a "Mommy, I need some tea please" 

I scored a couple of these at a used bookstore and just this morning on the way to church they were looking at them and estimating how quickly they would forgets where he is so the book would be fresh again. I mentioned how we had checked them out in the states before but they didn't believe me. I said yes, but it's called "Where's Waldo" and they were aghast. Waldo? The general consensus was that Waldo is ridiculous and in our household he will be named Wally and only Wally. (I'm partial to Waldo myself but I was overruled).

And in Norah's Maths course, it asks her to show the answer with her fingers. She practiced finger counting both the American way and the European way and after some deliberation decided she mostly likes to start with her thumb. 

But Jude still refuses to call underwear pants and pants trousers. That is a bridge too far apparently!