Book Review Mondays

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Home Schooling: A Family’s Journey
by Gregory and Martine Millman

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

If you have been home schooled, know someone who was home schooled, or you plan to home school your children, read this book. With extensive writing experience before the publication of this book, the Millman’s have written a very readable, detailed, and encouraging book about how they home schooled their six children. (There are 8 ½ pages of notes.) I found the Millman’s insights about how to encourage freedom, innovation, autonomy, self-organization, and creative collaboration (hallmarks of the home schooling tradition) in their own teaching to be fascinating. This is a practical, informed, caring, no-nonsense approach in which you not only learn about the economics of home schooling, but, too, how parents can handle their children’s full education. Knowing nothing about home schooling previously (They include a seven-page bibliography.) and having read no books on the subject, the Millmans offer a great introduction, an informative examination, and an entertaining read.

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Married to Africa: A Love Story
by G. Pascal Zachary

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

In a warm, personal, self-disclosing, and endearing writing style, Zachary’s story is endearing. Here is how he describes Chizo the first time he sees her not wearing her zoo uniform: “I’m sipping a large Star beer when I see her come down the steps from my room inside the hotel. She wears a backless skintight top, cut low on her chest, and a short black skirt, revealing her thighs, which now seem sexy rather than simply powerful. She wears black vinyl boots with spiky heels, making her seem much taller. I put the beer down and stare at her as she comes toward me. I’ve never seen her before in anything but her zoo clothes. Now I see what’s hidden underneath those clothes....I like what I see” (p. 69). This is a true love story, but it is far more than that. I thought M. Allison’s description, in her review of his book at Amazon.com, explains well and accurately, exactly what you will get in Zachary’s book: “there's rich context about Africa and Chizo's African-ness, which give the book more color and substance than a "mere" love story. It's a vicarious journey into a terrifying, beautiful, compelling place, a place in space and time and a place in the heart, told with intensity, honesty and a sense of wonder.” I found the story compelling, the cultural insights and differences he describes intriguing, and the way he approaches Africa incredibly endearing. If you like love stories, you will love this book.

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Through our reading, researching, and writing, And Then Some Publishing (and our extended family of readers) mine volumes of books representing a wide variety of tastes. We use the books in our writing, test and try suggested techniques, and we read for enjoyment as well. We wouldn't spend the time reviewing the books if we didn't get something out of it. Read more reviews on other fantastic books at our BookWorksRules.com website.