This week we talk to Catholic author and Word on Fire Votive editor, Haley Stewart, about what makes stories good (for children and adults), why good stories matter, and how they shape us.
Loved this episode, especially all of the recommendations! For anyone looking for an exciting and addicting fantasy/sci fi adventure, read the Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. I will be lauding this book (and the entire series) until my last breath. Great plot and very character driven - and the audio book is awesome (which is kind of a must considering its length 😆) Happy summer reading to all!!
Every time I read a Jan Brett book to my kids, I am disappointed. The pictures are so beautiful, but the storytelling is so lackluster, and the prose never flows very well. Maybe I just haven't encountered her best stories?
I so very much enjoyed Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. It is a fictionalization of A Midwife’s Tale: the life of Mary Ballard, based on her diary 1785-1812, which is great in its own right. But the historical fiction read, Frozen River is wonderful.
I read The Labors of Hercules Beal on Haley’s recommendation last year on her substack and absolutely loved it. I then went on a huge Gary Schmitt reading kick and read pretty much all of his fiction books; The Wednesday Wars, which introduces one of the main character from Hercules Beal, is phenomenal. My 13 year old daughter has now read those two books as well as a couple of his other books, but several of his books get into very heavy topics (physical abuse at the hands of an alcoholic father, for example) so I haven’t let her read all of his yet.
I really enjoyed this episode. My little is a young adult now, but I enjoyed the walk down memory lane... and the urging for myself to finally read some Jane Austen. Thanks for all the links too!
Loved this episode, especially all of the recommendations! For anyone looking for an exciting and addicting fantasy/sci fi adventure, read the Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. I will be lauding this book (and the entire series) until my last breath. Great plot and very character driven - and the audio book is awesome (which is kind of a must considering its length 😆) Happy summer reading to all!!
Every time I read a Jan Brett book to my kids, I am disappointed. The pictures are so beautiful, but the storytelling is so lackluster, and the prose never flows very well. Maybe I just haven't encountered her best stories?
I agree and also I’m still concerned about the story about the snow bears and the stolen boots. Love the pictures!
I so very much enjoyed Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. It is a fictionalization of A Midwife’s Tale: the life of Mary Ballard, based on her diary 1785-1812, which is great in its own right. But the historical fiction read, Frozen River is wonderful.
I completely agree with Kate on Tom Lake! The ending was such a disappointment.
I read The Labors of Hercules Beal on Haley’s recommendation last year on her substack and absolutely loved it. I then went on a huge Gary Schmitt reading kick and read pretty much all of his fiction books; The Wednesday Wars, which introduces one of the main character from Hercules Beal, is phenomenal. My 13 year old daughter has now read those two books as well as a couple of his other books, but several of his books get into very heavy topics (physical abuse at the hands of an alcoholic father, for example) so I haven’t let her read all of his yet.
Thank you your quick and very thorough & thoughtful reply to my question. God bless you!
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I really enjoyed this episode. My little is a young adult now, but I enjoyed the walk down memory lane... and the urging for myself to finally read some Jane Austen. Thanks for all the links too!
Do you recommend the Harry Potter Books?
I do, with some normal caveats. Here is something I wrote about them a couple years ago. https://emilystimpsonchapman.substack.com/p/misguided-hope-questionable-television-be3?r=9s3up
I have such trouble finding good, and beautiful, religious little kid books in Spanish (multi-lingual household!). Any recommendations??