Annotated Bibliography

Inspiration

Blakeney, Justina. The New Bohemians Handbook: Come Home to Good Vibes. 2017

While this obviously has a lot of ‘spirituality’ in it that I don’t agree with, it still has interesting and useful information about how to decorate a home and why to pick the things you pick, plus the pictures are beautiful. This book has practical help but is mostly inspiration.

Clarkson, Sally and Sarah. The Lifegiving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming. Carol Stream, Illinois. Tyndale House Publishers, 2016.

This isn’t a practical book. If you look at it that way you will be overwhelmed immediately. You will feel that it is necessary to sing, play an instrument, and feast every day. This book is ideals and concepts with the Clarkson family used as the example. Looked at that way, it can be a helpful and inspiring book. It can help you, the woman who has been doing this so long, to reconnect with the point of homemaking, the magic, the joy. It can give a new homemaker the goal. What are you trying to create and why?

This book can be a bit much. It can be a bit repetitive. It can make you feel like a failure because your life is much simpler than the Clarksons’.

Not my favorite homemaking book, but still has something I can glean and apply.

Furman, Gloria. Glimpses of Grace. Wheaton, Illinois, Crossway, 2013.

A book to help you remember the gospel in the middle of ordinary life. The theology is okay, but not amazing. Still a lack of the importance of church in the life of the homemaker. I found it to be mediocre. It wasn’t theologically deep enough to be very sustaining, nor practical enough to help me in the actual work. I would chose a solid John Owen, Calvin, and Sproul for spiritual nourishment, and go find a practical book to help you around the house.

Magnusson, Margareta. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter.

A sweet, cute, sad, funny, easy-to-read, short little book on why you should tidy up your life before the end. While it does contain some practical advice, its focus was on the why. She discusses the things you will encounter and how to handle them from an emotional point of view. This book has a sense of life, elegance, and reality that is delightful.

If you’re young or middle aged, this is a good book to put in your back pocket so you can better understand what your parents and grandparents are facing along with helping them make a plan. If you’re a senior, it can guide you on what you need to keep, get rid of, why, and how to help your children.

Only a few hours are needed to read this book, but it is helpful in thinking through and understanding the practical side of preparing for death.

Schlessinger, Laura. In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms. New York, NY. Harper-Collins Publisher, 2009.

If you’re feeling a little down in the dumps about raising kids, messy homes, sweat pants wearing, or non-paid work, read this book. This book will remind even those homemakers without children why you do the work you do. It is important. Home is important.

Steven, Norma. Orwick, Joyce. Homemaking, an Invitation to Greatness. Irvine, CA. Harvest House Publishers, 1978.

I think I was hoping an older book might be more pro homemaking and inspirational, but this book just fell short. It was short, not that inspiring, and not that practical. There is some practical advice for just the basics, like how to clean a house, but not a lot of detail. The only thing I liked overall was that the book is letters written between a young woman and an older woman. I loved that the young lady reached out to the author for help and advice. The older woman taught the younger woman. That was great. I don’t really have anything else to say, not a real helpful book.

Practical

Brenneman, Kim. Home Management: Plain and Simple.

Hands down, one of the most practical and thorough homemaking books I’ve ever read. It systematizes every element of your home, teaches you how to create your own systems, and teach them to your children. This is a must read for any homemaker either new, or wanting to get things flowing better.

It did give me a bit of anxiety at a few parts because I just can’t do all the things anymore, but still a top-notch book of home systems. This book is intense.

Byrd, Aimee. The Housewife Theologian: How the Gospel Interrupts the Ordinary

For any women, regardless your marital status, because it will encourage you to not leave theology to dusty old men reading dusty old books. You, as a believer, need to know your theology, even you busy homemaker.

Dugan, Ellen. Cottage Witchery: Natural Magick for Hearth and Home. Woodbury, Minnesota. Llewellyn Publications, 2005.

This might seem like an odd book to include in a Christian woman’s list of homemaking books, and due to it’s subject matter isn’t one I would lightly suggest for anyone. If you are tempted in any way to practice pagan arts, just leave this alone. I’m including it because it has some wonderful symbolism in it, telling you what different colors mean and what different plants symbolize. I love that aspect. It also has some interesting practical information about what herbs to plant and what they do. Last, but not least, it was amazing to me to see a women, yes practicing witchcraft, who concerned herself with every element of her home. She is casting spells over her food, and rooms, and work, and I realized that I don’t pray over the different elements of my work. It was so convicting. I don’t ask the Lord to help me have wisdom picking out meals and blessing them to the nourishment of my family. I don’t pray enough for wisdom to make my house a home. This pagan woman focuses all her being on her home and I don’t think to pray. So. Yeah. Really interesting book, but presented with lots and lots and lots of caveats and cautions.

Gaines, Joanna. Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave. New York, NY. Harper Design, 2018.

While this book is filled with pictures so beautiful you feel like it belongs in inspiration, there is actually a lot of very practical advice on how to arrange, remodel, and design your home. Plus, it comes with lots of work pages and asks helpful questions.

Hoole, Daryl, and Daughters. The Ultimate Career. Salt Lake City, Utah. Artistic Printing, 2005.

This was a unique book in my history of reading homemaker books. When I first started it, I didn't like it very much. It felt very bare of information. It titles a chapter Prioritizing your Time that basically says, 'prioritize your time'. Okay...that's not helpful. I need details!!! Ugh! It's also Mormon, so it felt very off kilter as someone who isn't a Mormon. It quotes lots of passages (Biblical and non-biblical), uses much Christian terminology, but isn't Christian at all. So these two things really threw me. It wasn't detailed enough, and I was skipping paragraphs and even a few chapters due to religious differences.

But, as I was reading, I noticed tiny influences. Things like being more careful to wipe down counters right away and doing foundational things in the morning. Little subtle tweaks to my homemaking that have paid off. The other thing I really liked was that this was the first homemaking book I've read that dealt with fatigue, disabled children, chronic health, and depression as a homemaker. I found that to be very very encouraging, just knowing that someone honestly dealt with those issues as issues.

So, not my favorite, but it garnered my respect in the end.

Kondo, Marie. The Life-Changing Magic of Tiding Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing.

Yes, it’s a bit mystical. No, I don’t think you should pray to any inanimate object, only to God. No, I will never get rid of that many books. But! There is lots of helpful and encouraging information her on how to effectively get rid of things in your home you’re not using. Very practical. DO IT!

Leone, Sara J. Her Husband’s Crown.

While this book is aimed specifically at Pastor’s Wives, it is an excellent book. The chapters are short, to the point, easy to follow, encouraging, and convicting. This isn’t just about being the wife of the pastor, it is about how to be a good wife no matter the work your husband does. There are a few things that won’t apply to women whose husbands aren’t in the ministry, but use those to remind you to pray for your pastor’s wife. Every page is filled with practical, down to earth advice on how to be a good, godly wife.

Schaeffer, Edith. The Hidden Art of Homemaking.

This is a wonderful little volume about not waiting to practice your artistic creativity. It encourages both men and women, married and unmarried, parents and childless couples to practice your art right now, where you are. Practice it in all the small ways in your home. Practice it because you were made in the image of God, the ultimate Artist. Practice it because it is part of your soul and being.

Edith gives very down-to-earth advice about how to do this in everyday life. It is a very ‘hobbit’ type book.

I don’t agree with everything she said theologically, but her main points were spot on. Life is meant to be live creatively and artistically. You can practice this right here, right now, and bless those around you.

I love how she makes art something that everyone does, and not something just a few people do. She brings art home.

Schlessinger, Laura. The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands. New York, NY. HarperCollins Publishers, 2006.

This book is a must have for every woman. It is convicting. It is so easy to slip into bad mental habits without even noticing. This book digs into ways we as women have bought into the lies being thrown around about men, and how selfish we can be within our marriages. Even if you feel like you have a solid marriage, I highly recommend reading this book.

My only issue with the book is that at times she seems to be encouraging positive manipulation. I never want manipulation to be my motivation. That has to be worked through a bit, but other than that, this book is refreshing, honest, brutal, helpful, and even a bit fun to read.

If you want to respect men more and get tired of seeing them constantly treated as stupid brutes, read this book.

Every page is filled with practical advice on how to love your husband and understand him.

Shearer, Clea, and Joanna Teplin. The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your House Goals. New York. Clarkson Potter/Publishers, 2019.

This book seems fluffy on the surface. It focuses a bit too much on Instagram-worthy, Hollywood styled homes. But, pay attention, study the pictures and set-ups, and this book is actually very helpful. It presents the idea that reducing packaging and having negative space is helpful in managing what you do have. I think there is a lot to take away from this book.

Smith, Myquillyn. Cozy Minimalist Home. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Zondervan, 2018.

Practical and pretty, this book isn’t just filled with random decorating ideas. It provides a lot of why and a lot of how with the goal of creating a home you love that doesn’t require you to be a Stuff Manager. Her plan does take a lot of work, but will be helpful to trim down the excess and create a cozy place. Don’t let the Minimalist turn you off. This isn’t about having nothing, but having enough.

Smith, Myquillyn. Welcome Home.

Simple, straightforward, repetitive (on purpose), and pretty to look at. Myquillyn Smith was able to put into words things I had instinctively been doing but never systematically or as purposely as she is here. What I loved about this book was it gave shape and definition to my gut instinct about seasonal decorating. It also was very timely because I were moving hospitality back to the top of the list and this book is all about hospitality. I love her take on how to have people in your home, how to create a point of focus, and how to think about yourself, your family, and your guests.

Plus, it comes with lists!

My only point of hesitation is the storage of throws, pillows, and vases after reading Cozi Minimalists seems slightly contradicting, but I also appreciate that because it's making me think about it more deeply.

If you struggle with decorating, this is a very good place to start, along with Cozy Minimalist!

Wiking, Meik. The Little Book of Hygge.

This book is both practical and inspirational. It is all about how to create a comforting and happy atmosphere in your home. Everything about candles, blankets, and Christmas. Much of it is lighting, recipes, and advice on how to bring comfort into your life. I loved reading this even though it made me long for Fall in the middle of summer. The only cautions: he makes very earthly and temporary happiness the goal of all of life, and he obviously supports a socialist government.

Wilson, Nancy. The Silver Lining: A Practical Guide For Christian Grandmothers. Canon Press, 2016

While only slightly questioning some of the roles she gives to widows, and her view of family then church, I overall found this to be a helpful book. My main takeaway was the reminder to include my role in the church in my plans for old age. This may seem obvious, but when I've thought of widowhood it's always been about where I would live and what I would do depending on different circumstances. I may never face widowhood, but I might. It's wise to have a plan, and that plan should include how I interact with my church. This book has lots of helpful information about dealing with adult/married children and dealing with aging.

You may not be at this stage yet, but don't wait until you are to start preparing. Young women and middle aged women should be thinking, planning, and preparing for the next stage so we can react wisely.

Reference

Barrett, Pearl and Serene Allison. Trim Healthy Mama Plan: Keep it Simple, Keep it Sane.

A healthy, maintainable, achievable food plan is presented by two sisters. They communicate in a fairly silly manner, and present horrible theology, but their practical information is helpful, and their eating plan is very doable.

Mendelson, Cheryl. Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House. New York, NY. Simon & Schuster, 1999.

A humongous book on everything you could ever need to know about keeping your home. Everything. This is the reference book of all reference books, but it is also delightful to read. You may not want to read it straight through as there are some points of just overwhelming information, but it will give you a very good sense of the work and importance of homemaking. At least read the start of each chapter. It will encourage you in the work. Then, put it on a shelf and use it when you need to know what to do. The advice is broad enough to get a first timer started and deep enough to be useful for the expert homemaker.