On today\u2019s episode of The Literary Life, Angelina and Cindy interview Karen Glass. Karen is part of the Advisory of AmblesideOnline. She has four children, ages 13 to 27, who have been homeschooled using Charlotte Mason\u2019s methods from beginning to end. She has been studying and writing about Charlotte Mason and Classical Education for over twenty years, and has written Consider This to share the most important things she has discovered about the connection between them. We are giving away a copy of her newest book, In Vital Harmony, to 2 lucky listeners who share about this podcast episode on Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #invitalharmony.
After sharing their commonplace quotes, our hosts dive into this conversation with Karen about how she became a lover of books. She talks about her voracious reading as a child and teen. Karen also recounts how her mediocre education did not discourage her reading life but just gave her more time and reason to read. This leads into a meaty discussion among Karen, Cindy and Angelina about self-education, homeschooling and lifelong learning.
Commonplace Quotes:Let us consider an apple. If we approach it synthetically, we take it as we find it\u2013in its state of wholeness and completeness\u2013and we eat it. Once eaten, it is digested, absorbed, and becomes a part of us. If we approach it analytically, we take it apart\u2013not in a natural way, which is merely a smaller portion (here is half an apple!), but rather, here is the fiber, here are the vitamins, here is a bit of water, and some sugar. Suppose we ingest each bit\u2013a spoonful of fiber, a vitamin pill, a swallow of sugar-and-water. On paper, we have consumed the same thing in both cases\u2013equal portions of nutrition\u2013but there is a very, very large difference. Only one of those meals tasted good and created an appetite for more.
Karen Glass
However difficult it may be to characterize correctly the medieval class system, it is even more difficult to grasp medieval thinking, which was broadly metaphorical and analogical, rather than merely logical and rational.
Thomas Cahill
A Poison TreeRemember that the uttermost penalty was reserved for him who could say to his brother \u201cThou fool!\u201d because contempt was the most un-godlike quality which man could display. Beware above all things lest a little knowledge only reinforce conceit and lead you into a false world where self is enthroned, far away from the true world which is illuminated by the love of God, manifested in the Person of the Incarnate Word.
Mandell Creighton
by William Blake
I was angry with my friend;\xa0
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:\xa0
I told it not, my wrath did grow.\xa0
And I waterd it in fears,
Night & morning with my tears:\xa0
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.\xa0
And it grew both day and night.\xa0
Till it bore an apple bright.\xa0
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine.\xa0
And into my garden stole,\xa0
When the night had veild the pole;\xa0
In the morning glad I see;\xa0
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.
Amazon Affiliate links are used in this content.
Consider This by Karen Glass
Mind to Mind by Karen Glass
Know and Tell by Karen Glass
In Vital Harmony by Karen Glass
Mysteries of the Middle Ages by Thomas Cahill
Thoughts on Education by Mandell Creighton
Bedtime for Frances by Russel Hoban
Petunia by Roger Duvoisin
Dorrie\u2019s Magic by Patricia Coombs
Watership Down by Richard Adams
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkein
The Family Nobody Wanted by Helen Doss
Lovey by Mary MacCracken
A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz
The Philosophy of Christian School Education
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Thomas Lynley Mysteries by Elizabeth George
Jan Karon\u2019s Mitford Series
Support The Literary Life:Become a patron of The Literary Life podcast as part of the \u201cFriends and Fellows Community\u201d on\xa0Patreon, and get some amazing bonus content! Thanks for your support!
Connect with Us:You can find Angelina and Thomas at HouseofHumaneLetters.com, on Instagram @angelinastanford,\xa0and on Facebook at\xa0https://www.facebook.com/ANGStanford/
Find Cindy at\xa0https://cindyrollins.net, on Instagram @cindyordoamoris\xa0and on Facebook at\xa0https://www.facebook.com/cindyrollins.net/. Check out Cindy\u2019s own Patreon page also!
Follow The Literary Life on Instagram, and jump into our private Facebook group, The Literary Life Discussion Group, and let\u2019s get the book talk going!\xa0http://bit.ly/literarylifeFB