Saturday, 5 April 2025

Gordon Korman Children’s Storytellers - Chris Bowman

Gordon Korman Children’s Storytellers
Chris Bowman
Blastoff! Readers
Bellweather Media
ISBN 9781626176485
eISBN 9781681033785

Gordon Korman Children’s Storytellers - Chris Bowman

I stumbled upon this volume while working on a review of a book by Korman. I could not read as a kid because of a dual form of dyslexia and have been working my way through Korman’s complete canon, currently a little over half way through. I have read one other bio of Korman, from the Remarkable Writers Series Gordon Korman by Sheelagh Matthews. I admit I much preferred that volume to this. In some ways this feels like a scaled back Coles Notes version of the volume by Matthews. But I am glad I tracked it down and gave it a read.

Description of this volume states:

“Did you know that Gordon Kormans mom typed his first book for him? This is because Gordon became a published author before he even graduated high school! This author profile for children introduces the lifelong writer responsible for sending troublemakers Boots and Bruno to Macdonald Hall.”

The chapters in the book are:

Who Is Gordon Korman?
An Early Start
No Slacker
A Writing Mastermind
Going on Adventures
Still Busy Writing
Glossary
To Learn More
Index

There were a few facts in this volume I had not encountered before, such as:

“Gordon’s mom typed his first book for him.”  

And I loved the quote:

“I love my job. The way I see it, I get paid for making things up – something I used to do for free.”

I do wish however that the quotes had been attributed to be able to search the sources. 

Overall it was an interesting read. But as mentioned there is a better option.  

Gordon Korman Children’s Storytellers - Chris Bowman Sample 1

Gordon Korman Children’s Storytellers - Chris Bowman Sample 2

Gordon Korman Children’s Storytellers - Chris Bowman Sample 3

Books by Gordon Korman:
MacDonald Hall Series:
         (formerly The War With Mr. Wizzle)
The Zucchini Warriors (1988)
Light’s Camera, Disaster (1991)
          (aka Macdonald Hall Goes Hollywood)
The Jokes on Us (1995)
          (formerly Something Fishy at Macdonald Hall)
…

Bugs Potter Series:
…

Jeremy Bloom Series:
The D−Poems of Jeremy Bloom (1992)
The Last-Place Sports Poems of Jeremy Bloom (1996)
…

Monday Night Football Series:
The Quarterback Exchange (1997)
Running Back Conversion (1997)
Super Bowl Switch (1997)
Heavy Artillery (1997)
Ultimate Scoring Machine (1998)
NFL Rules! Bloopers, Pranks, Upsets, and Touchdowns (1998)
…

Masterminds Series:
Masterminds (2015)
…

Slapshots Series:
The Stars From Mars (1999)
All-Mars All-Stars/The Dream Team (1999)
The Face-off Phony (2000)
Cup Crazy (2000)
Ouch I got slapped (2023)
…
4-in-1 Slapshots: The Complete Collection (2008)
…

Nose Pickers Series:
Nose Pickers from Outer Space! (1999)
Planet of the Nose Pickers (2000)
Your Mummy Is a Nose Picker (2000)
Invasion of the Nose Pickers (2001)
…
4-in-1 The Ultimate Nose-Picker Collection (2006)
…

Island Series:
Shipwreck (2001)
Survival (2001)
Escape (2001)
…
3-in-1 Island Trilogy Collection (2006)
…

Son of the Mob Series:
Son of the Mob 2: Hollywood Hustle (2004)
…

Everest Series:
The Contest (2002)
The Climb (2002)
The Summit (2002)
…
Everest Trilogy Box Set (2002)

Dive Series:
The Discovery (2003)
The Deep (2003)
The Danger (2003)
…

On the Run Series:
The Stowaway Solution (2005)
Public Enemies (2005)
Hunting the Hunter (2006)
…

Kidnapped Series:
The Search (2006)
The Rescue (2006)
…

Swindle Series:
Swindle (2008)
Zoobreak (2009)
Framed (2010)
Showoff (2012)
Hideout (2013)
Jackpot (2014)
Unleashed (2015)
Jingle (2016)
…

Titanic Series:
Unsinkable (2011)
Collision Course (2011)
S.O.S (2011)
…

The 39 Clues Series:
Vespers Rising (2011)
The Medusa Plot (2011)
Flashpoint (2014)
…

Hypnotists Series:
The Hypnotists (2013)
Memory Maze (2014)
The Dragonfly Effect (2015)
…

Ungifted Series:
Ungifted (2012)
Supergifted (2018)
…

Slacker Series:
Slacker (2016)
Level 13 (2019)
...

Non Series Books:
Maxx Comedy: The Funniest Kid in America (2003)
Born To Rock (2006)
Schooled (2007)
Pop (2009)
Restart (2017)
Notorious (2019)
War Stories (2020)
Game On (contains The Chicken Doesn’t Skate and The Toilet Paper Tigers (2021)
Unplugged (2021)
Linked (2021)
The Fort (2022)






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Friday, 4 April 2025

Girl Saints for Little Ones Volume 1 - Kimberly Fries and Sue Kouma Johnson

Girl Saints for Little Ones Volume 1 
Kimberly Fries 
Sue Kouma Johnson (Illustrator)
ISBN 9781790593286

Girl Saints for Little Ones Volume 1 - Kimberly Fries and Sue Kouma Johnson

I stumbled upon this volume when looking for some prayer cards on Etsy. The one store had a few volumes from this series in the shop. But I had no idea how many volumes were in the Little Ones Series. My own children are well past the age of Children’s books, but I often pick them up to review and donate to the primary school they attended. I also make recommendations to several teacher’s I know. And this volume caught my attention.

The description of this book states:

“Girls Saint for Little Ones includes twelve inspiring saints, complete with a short biography and quote. Filled with vibrant illustrations and a simple text, this book is meant to inspire young girls to deepen their Catholic Faith. In addition, each illustration includes an explanation of a special symbol found in the painting, introducing children to enriching Catholic art. Your child will be excited to follow in the footsteps of these beautiful saints.”

The twelve saints are:

St. Therese
St. Maria Goretti
St. Cecilia
St. Clare of Assisi
St. Elizabeth of Hungary
St. Philomena
St. Gianna
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
St. Brigid 
St. Joan of Arc
St. Kateri
St. Clotilde

I have read volumes on all but the last, and have encountered her. I do have a biography on my kindle waiting to be read about St. Clotilde. Each 2 page spread has the page with text about the saint, then a quote or prayer. The facing page has an illustration and a text box, with a one line fact about the saint. 

About the author we are informed:

“I'm Kimberly Fries, mom and Catholic author. I live in South Dakota with my husband and three children. Creating Catholic books to help children develop a personal relationship with God, Mary, and the saints has been such a joy for me. I pray that my books greatly bless your family and assist you in your journey to sanctity!”

About the illustrator we are informed:

“Sue Kouma Johnson lives in Nebraska with her husband. After earning her BFA, she devoted her time to raising five children. Now she has taken up her calling as a Catholic artist, painting saints and images that express her love for her Catholic Faith.”

It is a great little volume that I can easily recommend for home, church or school library. 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Girl Saints for Little Ones Volume 1 - Kimberly Fries and Sue Kouma Johnson Sample 1

Girl Saints for Little Ones Volume 1 - Kimberly Fries and Sue Kouma Johnson Sample 2

Girl Saints for Little Ones Volume 1 - Kimberly Fries and Sue Kouma Johnson Sample 3

Girl Saints for Little Ones Volume 1 - Kimberly Fries and Sue Kouma Johnson Sample 4

Books by Kimberly Fries:
What is Homeschooling?
Heart and Light Prayer Booklet
Easy Readers for Catholic Kids: The Rosary
In Her Heart: A Catholic Prayer Book for Women
…

Little Ones Series:
Girl Saints for Little Ones Volume 2
Boy Saints for Little Ones
Consecration for Little One
Examination of Conscience for Little Ones
The Rosary for Little Ones
Lectio Divina for Little Ones
Divine Mercy for Little Ones
Guided Prayer for Little Ones
Eucharistic Adoration for Little Ones
Receiving Jesus for Little Ones
Traditional Latin Mass: A Missal for Children
Daily Prayer Book for Catholic Children
Virtues and Vices for Children
The Gift of the Mass for Little Ones
…

In Spanish:
Consagración a María para Pequeñines
…
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Thursday, 3 April 2025

Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike Volume 2 - Fr. Mike Schmitz and Colin and Aimee MacIver

Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike
Volume 2
Leaders Guide
ISBN 811661016695
Student Workbook
ISBN 9781950784424

Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike Volume 2 - Fr. Mike Schmitz and Colin MacIver

I had Volume 1 on my wishlist for a long time. Originally it was a spiral bound volume with a DVD and everything you needed to work through it yourself or lead a group through it. Last year I found out it was available in a digital format, but you can also purchase the workbook digitally and have access to each lesson though an Ascension course online. When I found that out, I picked up both volumes to work through. About the authors we are informed:

“Fr. Mike Schmitz serves as director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Duluth and as chaplain for the Newman Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He is a presenter in Chosen, Altaration, and on Ascension Presents.”

And 

“Aimee and Colin MacIver are co-authors of Power and Grace, Theology of the Body for Teens: Middle School, The Parent and Sponsor Guides for Chosen: Your Journey Toward Confirmation, and Belonging: Baptism in the Family of God. They also co-wrote Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike. Both are graduates of the Franciscan University of Steubenville and teach at St. Scholastica Academy. They live in Covington, Louisiana with their two children, Leo and Zelie.”

The description of this volume is:

“TThe Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike: Vol. 2, Leader's Guide is a feature-packed teacher’s guide designed to accompany the extremely popular Ascension Presents YouTube videos from Fr. Mike Schmitz, presented here on a convenient DVD. You’ll get lessons built around Fr. Mike’s short videos on a wide variety of topics kids care about, from core questions about Catholicism to practical and tough issues in Christian discipleship. Teachers, catechists, and youth ministers can supplement USCCB curriculum, prompt small-group discussion, and answer students’ questions easily and powerfully with this teacher’s guide and DVD.

What You Get…

• Lessons built around fifteen of Fr. Mike’s videos on crucial topics
• Objectives for each lesson and discussion questions with in-depth leader commentary
• Opening and closing prayers with Scripture
• Outlines of Fr. Mike’s thoughts to accompany each video
• Activity ideas
• Reproducible student pages with prayers, Fr. Mike’s key points, and journal prompts
• DVD with fifteen Fr. Mike videos from Ascension Presents and a NEW leader video from Fr. Mike.”

The chapters and sections in this volume are:

Believe – Why Be Catholic 
Believe – Understanding the Church’s Teachings
Lesson 1 - Why God Gave Us Bodies 
Lesson 2 - Can I Get a Tattoo? 
Lesson 3 - Four Essentials for Catholics 

Love – Discerning God’s Will
Lesson 4 - What Does God Want Me to Do? 
Lesson 5 - Tips for Praying 
Lesson 6 - Do Catholics Worship Saints? 

Pray – Questions About Eternity
Lesson 7 - What You Should Know About Purgatory 
Lesson 8 - Will My Pet Be in Heaven? 
Lesson 9 - I Ain’t Afraid of No Ghosts! 

Grow – Help with Spiritual Hurdles
Lesson 10 - Confessing the Same Sins Over and Over Again 
Lesson 11 - Why Is Taking the Lord’s Name in Vain Wrong? 
Lesson 12 - Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen? 

Think – Help with Tough Topics
Lesson 13 - The Church and Immigration 
Lesson 14 - Catholic Teaching on Contraception Explained 
Lesson 15 - Catholics, Alcohol, and Drinking 

Each lesson follows these sections:

Opening Prayer
Video Lesson
Student Workbook Lesson
Quiz
Discussion Questions
Closing Prayer (starts with Scripture verses)


The discussion question sections has 2 sets of questions the first for the student to answer directly, and further questions for a discussion time if working through it as a group. This was an excellent resource to work through; even just working through it on my own for personal study and devotion. I am very thankful it is available and that I did the 15 lessons, and I really enjoyed the 15 lessons in Volume 1. My only regret is the digital access is only for a year. I would love to work through it again in 6-8 months but I would need to repurchase access to do so. 

Also this is a little dated, because in the video Fr. Mike talks about not having a tattoo, and he has since released videos about the tattoo of the Jerusalem Cross he received in Jerusalem.

This is another excellent resource from Father Mike, Colin and Aimee MacIver, and Ascension. I loved working through the lessons and wish I had dedicated the time to do 1 a week and get through it quicker. It is a great resource for personal use, a high school or college and careers group, or even an adult group at church. And if you are looking for something to work through next look into the Sunday Homilies Series from Ascension by Father Mike. I can easily recommend this course it was an excellent experience. 
 
Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike Volume 2 - Fr. Mike Schmitz and Colin and Aimee MacIver Sample 1

Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike Volume 2 - Fr. Mike Schmitz and Colin and Aimee MacIver Sample 2

Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike Volume 2 - Fr. Mike Schmitz and Colin and Aimee MacIver Sample 3

Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike Volume 2 - Fr. Mike Schmitz and Colin and Aimee MacIver Web Sample 1

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books By Father Mike Schmitz:
Made for Love: Same-Sex Attraction and the Catholic Church


Contributed to:
Pray, Decide, and Don't Worry: Five Steps to Discerning God's Will
Don't Be Afraid to Say Yes to God! Pope Francis Speaks to Young People
…

Audio Talks by Father Mike Schmitz:
Living Life by Design, Not by Default
Love - Sacrifice - Trust He Showed Us the Way
From Love, By Love, For Love
True Worship
The Four Last Things
Jesus Is …
Changed Forever - The Sacrament of Baptism
We Must Go Out - The Sacrament of Confirmation
…


Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike Volume 1 - Fr. Mike Schmitz and Colin MacIver

Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike Volume 2 - Fr. Mike Schmitz and Colin MacIver
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Wednesday, 2 April 2025

Dilexit Nos - Pope Francis - Opus Dei

Dilexit Nos
Pope Francis
ISBN 9781784698331
CTS Booklet DO977

Dilexit Nos - Pope Francis - Opus Dei

I picked up this volume for it was the next volume in Father Mark Goring’s Saint Mark’s School of Reading. This is available on the Vatican website for free, but I prefer the CTS Booklet version, I also stumbled upon this version and used it for my second read through and the eBook is free. I just wish they could publish an eBook edition. I worked through two different versions of this book, this physical edition and the eBook edition available from Opus Dei. I used text-to-speech to listen to the eBook and read this version.

About this volume we are informed that:

“In his fourth encyclical, Pope Francis reflects on the Sacred Heart of Jesus: “The deepest part of us, created for love, will fulfil God’s plan only if we learn to love. And the heart is the symbol of that love.””

The description of this volume is:

“Dilexit Nos is Pope Francis’s encyclical on the love of Jesus’s Sacred Heart, exploring how this divine and human love meets the deepest needs of our world today. The Sacred Heart is not only a symbol but a living reality that invites us to unity, compassion, and transformation. Through Jesus’s actions, words, and sacrifice, we see His enduring closeness to us, His profound mercy, and His desire for our reconciliation with God and each other. This text calls Catholics to return to the heart, where true self-understanding and love for others begin, and to embrace a faith that inspires both personal and societal renewal.

"Love and the human heart do not always go together, since hatred, indifference and selfishness can also reign in our hearts. Yet we cannot attain our fulfillment as human beings unless we open our hearts to others; only through love do we become fully ourselves. The deepest part of us, created for love, will fulfil God’s plan only if we learn to love. And the heart is the symbol of that love." (Dilexit Nos, 59)”

The chapters and sections in this volume are:

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HEART 
     What do we mean by "the heart"? 
     Returning to the heart 
     The heart unites the fragments 
     Fire 
     The world can change, beginning with the heart 

ACTIONS AND WORDS OF LOVE 
     Actions that reflect the heart 
     Jesus 's gaze 
     Jesus's words 

THIS IS THE HEART THAT HAS LOVED SO GREATLY 
     Worshipping Christ 
     Venerating his image 
     A love that is tangible 
     A threefold love 
     Trinitarian perspectives 
     Recent teachings of the Magisterium 
     Further reflections and relevance for our times 

A LOVE THAT GIVES ITSELF AS DRINK 
     A God who thirsts for love 
     Echoes of the Word in history 
     The spread of devotion to the heart of Christ 
     St Francis de Sales 
     A new declaration of love 
     St Claude de la Coiombiere 
     St Charles de Foucauld and St Therese of the Child Jesus 
     Resonances within the Society of Jesus 
     A broad current of the interior life 
     The devotion of consolation 

LOVE FOR LOVE 
     A lament and a request 
     Extending Christ's love to our bothers and sisters 
     Echoes in the history of spirituality 
     Reparation: building on the ruins 
     Reparation: an extension of the heart of Christ 
     Bringing love to the world 

Conclusion 

I highlighted a few passages while reading this volume, they are:

“The symbol of the heart has often been used to express the love of Jesus Christ. Some have questioned whether this symbol is still meaningful today. Yet living as we do in an age of superficiality, rushing frenetically from one thing to another without really knowing why, and ending up as insatiable consumers and slaves to the mechanisms of a market unconcerned about the deeper meaning of our lives, all of us need to rediscover the importance of the heart.”

“It could be said, then, that I am my heart, for my heart is what sets me apart, shapes my spiritual identity and puts me in communion with other people.”

“We see, then, that in the heart of each person there is a mysterious connection between self-knowledge and openness to others, between the encounter with one’s personal uniqueness and the willingness to give oneself to others. We become ourselves only to the extent that we acquire the ability to acknowledge others, while only those who can acknowledge and accept themselves are then able to encounter others.”

“At that point, we realize that in God’s eyes we are a “Thou,” and for that very reason we can be an “I.” Indeed, only the Lord offers to treat each one of us as a “Thou,” always and forever. Accepting his friendship is a matter of the heart; it is what constitutes us as persons in the fullest sense of that word.”

“The heart of Christ, as the symbol of the deepest and most personal source of his love for us, is the very core of the initial preaching of the Gospel. It stands at the origin of our faith, as the wellspring that refreshes and enlivens our Christian beliefs.”

“In his humanity, Jesus learned this from Mary, his mother. Our Lady carefully pondered the things she had experienced; she “treasured them… in her heart” (Lk 2: 19, 51) and, with Saint Joseph, she taught Jesus from his earliest years to be attentive in this same way.”

“Since the heart continues to be seen in the popular mind as the affective centre of each human being, it remains the best means of signifying the divine love of Christ, united forever and inseparably to his wholly human love.”

“Finally, Saint John Damascene viewed the genuine affections shown by Christ in his humanity as proof that he assumed our nature in its entirety in order to redeem and transform it in its entirety: Christ, then, assumed all that is part of human nature, so that all might be sanctified.”

“Devotion to the heart of Jesus, as a direct contemplation of the Lord that draws us into union with him, is clearly Christological in nature.”

“While no one should feel obliged to spend an hour in adoration each Thursday, the practice ought surely to be recommended. When we carry it out with devotion, in union with many of our brothers and sisters and discover in the Eucharist the immense love of the heart of Christ, we “adore, together with the Church, the sign and manifestation of the divine love that went so far as to love, through the heart of the incarnate Word, the human race.””

“It could be argued that today, in place of Jansenism, we find ourselves before a powerful wave of secularization that seeks to build a world free of God. In our societies, we are also seeing a proliferation of varied forms of religiosity that have nothing to do with a personal relationship with the God of love, but are new manifestations of a disembodied spirituality.”

“One who is pierced, a flowing fountain, the outpouring of a spirit of compassion and supplication: the first Christians inevitably considered these promises fulfilled in the pierced side of Christ, the wellspring of new life. In the Gospel of John, we contemplate that fulfilment. From Jesus’ wounded side, the water of the Spirit poured forth: “One of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water flowed out” (Jn 19: 34). The evangelist then recalls the prophecy that had spoken of a fountain opened in Jerusalem and the pierced one (Jn 19: 37; cf. Zech 12: 10). The open fountain is the wounded side of Christ.”

“Saint Charles de Foucauld and Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, without intending to, reshaped certain aspects of devotion to the heart of Christ and thus helped us understand it in an even more evangelical spirit. Let us now examine how this devotion found expression in their lives.”

“In a world where everything is bought and sold, people’s sense of their worth appears increasingly to depend on what they can accumulate with the power of money. We are constantly being pushed to keep buying, consuming and distracting ourselves, held captive to a demeaning system that prevents us from looking beyond our immediate and petty needs. The love of Christ has no place in this perverse mechanism, yet only that love can set us free from a mad pursuit that no longer has room for a gratuitous love. Christ’s love can give a heart to our world and revive love wherever we think that the ability to love has been definitively lost.”

“I ask our Lord Jesus Christ to grant that his Sacred Heart may continue to pour forth the streams of living water that can heal the hurt we have caused, strengthen our ability to love and serve others, and inspire us to journey together towards a just, solidary and fraternal world.”

I hope those quotes give you a feel for the content of this Apostolic Letter. I admit I was unsure of what to expect when I began reading this. I am thankful I gave it a read. One of the things I loved most about this volume was how much was drawn from the lives and writings of the saints. And many of the saints quoted are among my favourites of those I have studied a lot. In Some ways it was like visiting with many old friends. 

It is a longer than the other Encyclical letters from Pope Francis, it comes in at 144 pages for this edition, 94 for the eBook for this booklet edition and 55 pages if you print it off from the Vatican site. This is a great volume.  

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.

Note: Father Mark Goring used a few guest speakers while covering the material in this volume. He wanted a number of hearts to share on the Heart of Jesus. They were: Sister Elizabeth Marie, Father Isaac Longworth, and Amber Rose. The reason for this comes right from the Encyclical the beginning of 148 “Devotion to the heart of Christ reappears in the spiritual journey of many saints, all quite different from each other; in every one of them, the devotion takes on new hues.” It really added to the experience of reading this and the School of Reading Lessons on the volume. 


Dilexit Nos - Pope Francis - CTS Books


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Tuesday, 1 April 2025

Avgolemono Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

Avgolemono Greek Lemon Chicken Soup 

Avgolemono Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

Ingredients: 
For the soup: 
7 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs 
8 cups cold water 
1 large yellow onion, quartered an pealed
1 large  white onion, quartered and pealed
2 tablespoons whole peppercorns black or rainbow
1 tablespoon kosher salt 
1 cup dried orzo (or rice)
1 cup finely chopped carrots 
4 large eggs 
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 2 large lemon) 
1 large pinch of saffron

For serving: 
1/2 medium lemon, thinly sliced 
Fresh oregano or cilantro
Freshly ground black pepper 
Optional Warm quartered pitas or naan for dipping and clean-up of the bowl 

Directions:

Place 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, 8 cups cold water, both quartered onions, 2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns (I used rainbow red, green, white and black mix), and 1 tablespoon kosher salt in a 5-quart or larger Dutch oven. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 30 to 45 minutes. 

Transfer the chicken to a cutting board. Strain the stock through a mesh strainer set over a large heatproof bowl and discard the solids. Return the remaining stock to the Dutch oven and keep warm over low heat. 

Bring other chicken stock to a boil over medium-high heat. Add dried orzo or rice (I always use rice, as does the local Greek restaurant where I fell in love with this soup) and cook until al dente, 7 to 9 minutes for the orzo. For rice bring to boil, and boil for 7 minutes then reduce to low hear for 16 minutes. Stir the carrots into the rick once almost read. 

When the chicken is cool enough to handle, discard the skin and bones and use your hands to shred or cube the meat into bite-sized pieces; set aside. 

Place 4 large eggs in a medium bowl and whisk until lightened in color and frothy, about 2 minutes. While whisking, slowly pour in the freshly squeezed lemon juice. While still whisking, temper in the eggs by slowly drizzling  2 to 4 cups of warm stock into the egg-lemon mixture. This warms the eggs just enough so that they do not curdle when added to the hot soup. 

Add the rice and carrot mixture, and the chicken back to the main pot. Slowly stir in the avgolemono back into the pot with the chicken and orzo and stir to combine. Cook until the soup thickens slightly, 3 to 5 minutes, but do not let it come to a boil. 

Pour the soup into serving bowls and serve with lemon slices, fresh chopped  oregano or cilantro, and freshly ground black pepper. 

Note: when reheating you might need to add more broth and lemon. You can also add a quick squeeze of lemon right before serving for some extra zip.

Avgolemono Greek Lemon Chicken Soup In the Pot

What Is Avgolemono? 

Avgolemono refers to a Greek sauce made from eggs, lemon, and warm broth. Literally it translates egg-lemon αυγολέμονο or αβγολέμονο. Often used for thickening soups and also used to dress up everything from roasted vegetables to fish dishes. 

Variation of original recipe found here.  
You can see all the recipes I have created and collected here on OneNote.
Or all soups on the blog click here.

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Monday, 31 March 2025

Top Ten Fiction and Non-Fiction Books First Quarter 2025

Top Ten Fiction and Non-Fiction Books First Quarter 2024


It has been a great year for reading so far, not my best to date, but well up there. I averaged over a book a day. Faster than the last few years, but I had the first few weeks off work, and so many books and series I am working through. 

In April of 2023 I wrote a piece called How I Read So Much? Because I get asked the question so often, read the piece linked above if you are looking for some ideas on ways to read more. 

This quarter I read 132 books and I did not any to the ‘did not finish’ list, one of my highest quarters since I started keeping track, below is the comparison with the last 9 years:

     2025 - 132
     2024 - 119
     2023 – 160
     2022 – 145
     2021 – 97
     2020 – 96
     2019 – 123
     2018 – 91
     2017 – 100
     2016 – 52

As can be seen this is right about on par, with the last few years. One factor that impacts this year is Lent started much later, in fact the latest it can start, and during Lent I try and read and pray a Stations of the Cross each day which provides a bump during those 48 days. But back to this quarter by the numbers:

Books Read: 132
First Time Reads: 89
Fiction: 32
Non-Fiction: 100
5/5 Stars: 105

I was really surprised; when the year started I expected it to be another year with a dip. In fact I planned on it. I did not see hitting close to the high water mark again, so I am pretty surprised by these results.  

Here is my top ten fiction and non-fiction books of the fourth quarter of 2024.

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books:

 1. Books by Pope Benedict from the Catholic Truth Society
 2. Jesus and the Jubilee - John Bergsma - The Biblical Roots of the Year of God’s Favor   
 4. Books by Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua
 5. Led by the Immaculata - Joshua Mazrin
 6. Honor Thy Wife - Kevin Lowry - A 31-Day Spiritual Journey of Marital Renewal 
 7. CTS Children's books by Juliette Levelier
 8. Drawing Close to the Holy Spirit: Keys to a Transformed Life and Joyful Heart - Sr. Mary Ann Fatula, OP  
 9. Great Spiritual Teachers Series - Ave Maria Press
Come into the Silence 30 Days with Thomas Merton - John Kirvan
11. Catholic Truth Society Books associated with the new Lectionary
The Gospel of John - Fr John Hemer MHM
The Gospel of Luke - Fr John Hemer MHM
The Gospel of Mark - Fr Javier Ruiz-Ortiz
The Gospel of Matthew - Fr Javier Ruiz-Ortiz

Bonus Books:
Catholicism and Mental Health - Dr. Pravin Thevathasan - CTS Explanations
Deepening Prayer: Life Defined by Prayer - Mary David Totah - CTS Deeper Christianity
Devotion and Prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus - J. B. Midgley - CTS Devotions
Lectio Divina: Spiritual Reading of the Bible - Jean Khoury - CTS Deeper Christianity 
Louis Marie de Montfort - Alan J. Frost - CTS Great Saints  
Louis Marie de Montfort: His Life, Message and Teaching - Paul Allerton SMM - CTS Great Saints 
Spiritual Warfare Fighting the Good Fight - Vivian Boland - CTS Deeper Christianity  
Thérèse Teacher of Prayer - Craig Driscoll - CTS Spirituality 

Top Ten Fiction Books:

1. Honeymoon from Hell - Declan Finn
Fae'd To Black
2. The Second Skater of the Apocalypse - Fiorella De Maria - Skaters Book 2
3. Madness of Worlds - Karina Fabian
4. Joline - Jim Sano - Father Tom Book 5 
5. Incarnate - Antony Barone Kolenc - Incarnate Series Book 1 
6. In Plain Sight - Leslea Wahl - Finding Faith Book 3 
8. Pogue One - Edited by Spearman Burke - Raconteur Press Anthologies Book 44
9. The Case of the Mixed-up Marathon - Karen Kelly Boyce and Sue Anderson Gioulis - Sisters of the Last Straw Book 9
10. Jumping into Joy - Theresa Linden and Kelsey Doherty - Caitlyn and Peter's Rosary Adventures Book 1

Bonus Books:
Books by Gordon Korman:
The Zucchini Warriors - Macdonald Hall Book 5

My reading has been up and down over the last few years it is staying pretty consistent at about a book a day for the year. I attribute in part to Brandon Vogt’s course Read More Books Now, removing all games but 1 brain game from my devices. Working from home reading took a little more discipline, and we are now back to a hybrid model with 5 days a month in the office, so things have changing again.  

Note: I do not include books that have been read in previous years and were reread this year in my top ten lists, they are sometimes in the bonus section.
 
But if you want more options check out my favourite books year by year list.  



Statistics Books Read By Year:
132 - 2025 January-March
363 - 2024
455 - 2023 
438 - 2022
365 - 2021
317 - 2020 
392 - 2019
359 - 2018
380 - 2017 
272 - 2016 
177 - 2015 
130 - 2014 
88 -  2013
176 - 2012 
163 - 2011
302 - 2010
142 - 2009
98 - 2008
83 - 2007
191 - 2006
151 - 2005
60 - 2004
52 - 2003
97 - 2002
50 - 2001
41 - 2000
71 - 1999
73 - 1998
131 - 1997
101 - 1996


Relates Posts: 
Top 10 Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2010
Top 10 Reading Goals for 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 4th Quarter 2010
Top Ten Reading Goals For 2010 - Recap
Top 10 Fiction Books 2010
Top 10 Picture Books of 2010
Top 10 Non-Fiction Books of 2010
Top 10 Graphic Novels for 2010
Top Ten Reading Goals For 2011 
Top Ten Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2011
Top Ten Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2011
Top Ten Reading Goals for 2011 Update 
Top Ten Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2011 
Top Ten Fictions Books 4th Quarter 2011
Top Ten Fiction Books 2011
Top Ten Reading Goals 2011 - Recap
Top Ten Reading Goals 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books  4th Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 2012
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2012
Top Ten Reading Goals 2012 - Recap
Top Ten Reading Goals 2013
Top 10 Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2013
Top 10 Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2013
Top 10 Books Second Half 2013
Top Ten Fiction Books 2013
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2013 
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2014
Top Ten Fiction Books 2014
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2014
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2015
Top Ten Fiction Books 2015
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2015
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2016
Top Ten Non- Fiction Books 2016
Top Ten Fiction Books 2016
Top Ten Catholic Books
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2017
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2017
Top Ten Fiction Books 2017
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2018
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2018
Top Ten Fiction Books 2018
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2019
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2019
Top Ten Fiction Books 2019
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2020 
... 



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