by Ashley Caneva
Every week we interview one of our writers on what books have changed their lives. Today is Ashley Caneva‘s turn- a mother to two vivacious boys, a recent breast cancer survivor, an amateur genealogist, and she is thrilled to live in a place where she can sink her teeth into her passion for history.
The book I am currently reading
Hold On, But Don’t Hold Still: Hope and Humor From My Seriously Flawed Life by Kristina Kuzmic.
I first became familiar with Kristina Kuzmic through her online video content, where she dishes out encouragement and advice from a hilariously relatable perspective. (Such as one video where she sits on the floor of her laundry room eating a chocolate cake straight from the box and discusses the awkwardness of giving her son “the talk”.) The perspective she has towards her hard times is so honest and encouraging. It’s a must read for parents, but really for anyone who needs a little hope and humor.
The book that changed my life
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.
While this book was my husband’s choice for the book he couldn’t finish – I think it was the first book that I couldn’t put down. I truly enjoyed reading and analyzing this novel in the 8th grade, and it set me on the path to eventually getting a degree in literature. I still think of old Miss Havisham every time I see an abandoned manor home overrun with vines.
The book I wish I’d written
Can I Have and Do It All, Please? By Cristine Caine.
Cristine Caine is a wife, mother and Christian author and speaker who also founded the A21 Campaign (which fights human trafficking and works to rescue and rehabilitate survivors). After being asked multiple times how she “does it all” she wrote this book with her best answer to that question. What she has to say will leave you feeling less pressured and more liberated to do the things you can do now.
The book that had the greatest influence on me
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.
I was raised on these books and I definitely see the effect they had on my developing personality when I was young. Anne is an orphan in late 1800s Prince Edward Island, Canada who is adopted by a pair of elderly siblings who thought they were getting a boy. So starts this classic coming-of-age story, where Anne must navigate being true to herself (red hair and all) in a more refined world where she longs to belong.
The book I couldn’t finish
Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn.
This book is incredibly informative and eye opening on issues women face across the world on a daily basis (such as inferior medical care, violence, and trafficking) and suggestions for how those problems can be resolved. I definitely recommend the book if this is a topic that interests you, but I personally had a hard time finishing it because some of the issues discussed are so heart-breaking.
The book I give as a gift
The Child Whisperer by Carol Tuttle.
In this book, Tuttle categorizes children into four distinct “energy types” (seemingly built upon the foundation of the Hippocratic four humors theory). She believes that by recognizing and acknowledging your child’s true nature, you can interact with them in a way tailored to who they are as people. Her book has helped me understand how to parent our boys as individuals and has even helped me understand myself and my own nature a bit more. It makes a great gift for parents and teachers.
My comfort read
Pride and Prejudice by Jane AustenIt is a truth universally acknowledged, that a passenger on a long trip, must be in want of a good read. This is a go-to travel book for me. It’s such a calming read and provides just the right amount of escapism to relax, but not miss my stop.
