Welcome to the June 2025 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart and CatholicMom.com!

We’re slipping into summer reading mode here. Several of the kids are re-reading familiar favorites or family-favorite classics I’ve shared here before. I’ve gotten everyone signed up for the local summer reading programs, and we’re looking forward to a summer where the students, at least, get a little more say in what’s being read. I’ll also be less inclined to tell anyone around here to put down their book and go to bed.

My husband has been listening to The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise by Robert Cardinal Sarah off and on. The book is presented as a conversation between Cardinal Sarah and Nicolas Diat and examines the importance of silence in hearing the voice of God and the detriment of a world filled with near-constant noise. (Is it too much to hope my husband will decrease the TV and podcast volume more often or turn off the white noise machine at night when he’s done reading this?)

Going for Two by Marie Veillon is the second in the author’s Camellia Rom-com series. Blake (the Snake) has been pigeon-holed as a player long enough that he’s convinced he’s not cut out for marriage. His reputation makes it hard for Loren, who has existing trust issues, to believe in him. At its heart, the story is not just fun and flirty but a story of forgiveness, trust, and conversion with a reminder that God can work all things for His purpose.

I’ve only just begun reading Misshelved Magic by S.R.Crickard, but so far I’ve enjoying the lightly magical world, including the overlooked librarian, Adelina, and the odd and mysterious librarian of the magical books, the cervara. It’s definitely got some Harry Potter feels going for it. And the cover – I absolutely love it!

While staying at a rental house for a night last month, we spied The Complete Irish Pub Cookbook: Traditional Easy and Simple Recipes for Beginners to Experts for Saint Patrick’s Day, Christmas, Family Get-Togethers and More (Parragon Books) on the shelf. The beautiful hardcover book was less than ten dollars on Amazon, so my son bought a copy. Already, we’ve made several recipes, including Fisherman’s Pie and Whiskey-glazed Carrots for his birthday dinner. Recipes are straightforward with simple ingredients, and we’ll be turning to this book again and again.

Fresh from his college graduation, my son picked up The Histories by Herodotus, a book often mentioned in History courses but not read. He’s been moving through the nine books (chapters) quickly for such a lengthy tome. Some of the stories chronicled by “the Father of History” during his extensive travels are unusual, but most all are entertaining.

My high school daughter read The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald with her class. She thought the writing, including the imagery and symbolism, was well done, but she wasn’t sure what she was supposed to take away from the book about disillusionment. She did say it was a good way to learn about that time period in the United States.

She also greatly enjoyed Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie, and the mystery had her guessing until very close to the end. This is a Miss Marple mystery in which the sleuth turns a bit ghost hunter. From my daughter’s description, this book reminded me a bit of Daphne DuMaurier’s Rebecca, though less of a Gothic tale and more a straight mystery.

My middle school son read Masterpiece by Elise Broach. The protagonists are an eleven-year-old boy and a beetle. James, the boy, gets credit for art that Marvin, the bug, created. They end up unwittingly involved in an art heist, and my son said it was fun to figure out who was the thief. Best of all, the result was surprising.

With his class, my son also read Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, a Newbery Medal award winner by Robert C. O’Brien. Mrs. Frisby must move her mouse family to summer quarters, but she needs help from the rats of NIMH, a highly intelligent group that helps to solve her problem. She, in turn, offers aid to them. My son enjoyed the author’s descriptions and the action. 

I recently read some children’s books that were Association of Catholic Publisher book award winners. Giovanni and the Fava Beans: The Story of the St. Joseph Altar by Joseph P. Ruli is beautifully written and illustrated. The story is engaging, the pictures are inviting, and the information in the back is practical in starting or reviving the St. Joseph altar tradition in your family.

Another award-winner is Eli’s Quiet Friend by Sister Allison Regina Gliot. Adults and children are so accustomed to constant noise that we can fail to recognize the value of silence. Eli’s Quiet Friend allows children to contrast the noise of daily living with the quiet peace found in God’s presence. It’s a valuable resource in introducing young children to the peace of Christ found in the Blessed Sacrament.

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