Book Review: Ten Thousand Thorns

Amazon

Princess Morning Light meditates in a hidden temple surrounded by ten thousand thorns. Guardian of a long-lost sword skill, the princess is destined to wake after a hundred years to return justice to All-Under-Heaven.

Or so legend says.

As the Vastly Martial Emperor extends his brutal domination across the world, rebel leader Clouded Sky flees the capital for the safety of his martial sect at Wudang Mountain. Meanwhile, the renegade martial artist Iron Maiden seeks a hero to awaken Morning Light. As bounty hunters and imperial guards close in, Clouded Sky must determine who he can trust - and who may be planning to betray him.

An action-packed retelling of Sleeping Beauty in the style of a Chinese martial arts epic! Novella, approximately 39,000 words. — Synopsis from Goodreads

She has done it again. If you have followed my blog for any amount of time, you know I am a huge fan of Suzannah Rowntree’s fairytale retellings. I have little background in fairytales, except the ones Disney made famous, but Suzannah not only introduces me to the ones I am unfamiliar with but delivers a new spin on the familiar. Ten Thousand Thorns takes Sleeping Beauty to China in an exciting spin as a martial arts epic. It is beautiful, epic, adventurous, and thoughtful.

Following the journey that Clouded Sky and Iron Maiden undertake, I never knew for certain if this Sleeping Beauty retelling would play out how I expected it would. And, if I am honest, it did not play out how I expected it to. AND I LOVE THAT! This utterly unique retelling will keep you guessing and engrossed, while delivering all of Rowntree’s storytelling trademarks: real characters, vivid world building, and hints of allegory.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Saving Amelie

photograph by me

Finding solid Christian published fiction has become something of a hunt for me. I have made it a habit to scroll through publishing houses upcoming release catalogues online and look through Christian fiction titles on Goodreads. Too often, I scroll through synopsis after synopsis in disappointment. I’m sorry. I just feel like Christian publishing is releasing rehashing after rehashing of the same story on loop. And we can do so much better than this. I really believe we can. We need to broaden the scope of Christian publishing outside of the romance genre and what is classified as women’s fiction. Yes, they have a place but we could be doing so much better. And that is why I became increasingly excited and invested in Cathy Gohlke’s Saving Amelie.

Saving Amelie hosts an intriguing and heartbreaking look at the Nazis work with eugenics and their mission for a pure Aryan race. Gohlke does not take a feel good route with this hard topic. This is hard novel where the characters forced to face hard situations, make hard choices, and ask some really hard questions about their own choices and beliefs. As Rachel and Jason try to smuggle the deaf Amelie out of Germany and away from her SS officer father, they have to grapple with why the Nazis are wrong. And therein lies this book's strength. The characters are not just going on an exciting adventure where everything ends up happily. They are forced to reevaluate their own motives and beliefs and change.

So, yes, I was impressed by this book and have begun tracking down Gohlke’s other novels. I just hope they live up to the expectations that this book has set.

Book Review: A Sparrow In Terezin

photograph by me

Kristy Cambron first came across my radar sometime after the release of her first novel The Butterfly and Violin. It was a review of her second novel, the one I am reviewing here, that I read in WORLD magazine that sealed the deal. I knew I wanted to take a chance on these books. WWII. Art. Gorgeous covers. Good reviews. It had enough of my favorite things to take a chance on.

So, last year I took that chance and read The Butterfly and the Violin. I fell in love with Kristy’s writing and style of storytelling. I became a fan. And now I just finished her second novel A Sparrow In Terezin and there is no going back. I am officially invested in Kristy’s writing career. *stalks any news of upcoming Kristy Cambron books*

A Sparrow In Terezin follows the story of Kaja Makovsky as she barely escapes Nazi occupied Prague, forced to leave her parents behind, and then finds herself facing the London Blitz in England. Working for the Daily Telegraph, Kaja is horrified to learn of the extermination of Jews in concentration camps by the Nazis and makes the decision to go back to Prague. Determined to get her parents to safety, Kaja returns to a Europe shrouded in darkness and suffering.

As much as I loved Butterfly and the Violin, I enjoyed and loved A Sparrow In Terezin even more. I felt more connected to Kaja as a character and to her and Liam’s story. For some reason it felt more personal. Maybe it was Kaja’s more reserved personality or the fact that she worked for a newspaper, I am not sure. If I am honest, I was more connected to Sera and William’s present day storyline this time around as well.

One of my favorite aspects of this story was Kaja's fierce determination to hold onto hope even in the darkest of times and worst of situations. Even when she felt like there was no hope, there would be a reminder that God had not abandoned them and that even in the horrific suffering of the concentration camps there was reason to hope. And how, sometimes, these reminders come from the most unthinkable of sources.

Kristy’s writing and style of storytelling is one of my favorites. Her writing is so vibrant and touching. I adore her usage of dual timelines, even if the WWII era thread will always be my favorite. And I love the fact that in a Christian publishing market dominated by romance novels, she never has the romance threads be the point or sole focus of the story. Her stories are the kind that touch your heart and you cannot easily forget.

Basically, go read this novel. If you love WWII historical fiction or really good, moving stories you are bound to love this one! I cannot wait to read her other new releases.

Have you read any of Kristy Cambron's novels? Or, do you have any pressing questions you want to ask me? Leave a comment on my post here and I'll answer them next week.

Book Review: Once

available via Amazon

Fairytale retellings have quickly become a favorite of mine. For many of these stories it’s my first exposure to the fairytale, but I love them and the themes that always seem to be intricately woven into their very structure. When I learned my favorite indie authors were collaborating to release a collection of retellings together, I was ecstatic. And then I was given the opportunity to read them in exchange for a review. Cue happy dance.

The Mountain of the Wolf by Elisabeth Grace Foley starts out the collection of stories and ended up probably being my favorite of the six retellings. It is an atmospheric western retelling of Little Red Riding Hood that showcases my favorite aspects of Foley’s writing— a character driven plot, compelling characters, and a satisfying ending.

The second story She But Sleepeth by Rachel Heffington I found less to my liking. While the Romanian setting and its historical background intrigued me, the story just did not click for me personally. Something that should not in the least reflect on Miss Heffington. Her writing is something to savor and I have loved everything else I have read of hers.

Rumpled by J. Grace Pennington was unusual for me. I rarely ever venture into the world of steampunk, but I enjoyed this foray into the genre and it confirmed my desire to read more of Miss Pennington’s work.

I knew going into Emily Ann Putzke’s Sweet Remembrance it was going to hurt and it did. Set in the Warsaw Ghetto during WWII, she retells the story of the Little Match Girl with heartbreaking vividness and reality. You can feel the cold seeping under your skin and you can feel her character’s pain. It is a tearjerker.

Suzannah Rowntree can weave a story like no one else. She has a way with words that is stunning to behold and this vibrant fast paced mystery set in Jazz era New Zealand does not disappoint. Death Be Not Proud kept me glued to the page from start to finish.

I did not know what to expect going into Hayden Wand’s With Blossoms Gold but was delighted by its sweet story and what I found to be a somewhat different take on the tale of Rapunzel.

I have to hand it to these ladies. They are excellent at their craft and masters of description. Each story came to life in its own unique way that made it memorable. I would highly recommend this collection to lovers of fairytales and historical fiction, or anyone who loves a good story.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Lost Lake House

Amazon

  “The Twelve Dancing Princesses meets the heady glamor and danger of the Jazz Age 

  “All Dorothy Perkins wants is to have a good time. She’s wild about dancing, and can’t understand or accept her father’s strictness in forbidding it. Night after night she sneaks out to the Lost Lake House, a glamorous island nightclub rumored to be the front for more than just music and dancing…in spite of an increasingly uneasy feeling that she may be getting into something more than she can handle. 

   “Marshall Kendrick knows the truth behind the Lost Lake House—and bitterly hates his job there. But fear and obligation have him trapped. When a twist of circumstances throws Dorothy and Marshall together one night, it may offer them both a chance at escaping the tangled web of fear and deceit each has woven…if only they are brave enough to take it." — Synopsis from Goodreads

  Every time I hear the news that Elisabeth Grace Foley is coming out with a new release I get excited. She is an author who has not once disappointed me and who I return to again and again for good character driven stories with a flavor of the old fashioned. In short, I devour each new release and then wait hungrily for the next. And Lost Lake House is no exception.

  Elisabeth Grace Foley brings the fairytale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses to the roaring 1920s in Lost Lake House. As others have pointed out, it is difficult to go into details without fear of giving out too many spoilers. Dorothy and Marshall are sympathetic protagonists who both need to learn to tell the truth about their secrets and own up to whatever price they will have to pay— if they don’t, the consequences will be even more destructive. I loved her handling of the child-parent relationship too. She doesn’t glorify Dorothy's deception, but instead shows how it slowly starts to destroy who Dorothy, herself, is.

  I highly recommend this to readers of all ages. It’s a fairytale retelling with a twist of the old fashioned that is sure to please historical fiction lovers, ardent readers of vintage fiction, and fairytale aficionados alike.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Bells of Paradise

Amazon

   Only a madman would go into Faerie of his own accord.

   The one thing John the blacksmith loves more than his peaceful, hardworking life in Middleton Dale is the tailor's free-spirited daughter Janet. But unlike John, Janet dreams of adventure beyond the Dale. And when her dreams lead her into Faerie to be captured by a dangerous witch, John realises he must dare the perilous realm of the Lordly Folk to free his bride.

   A poignant and profound retelling of the Grimms' fairytale Jorinda and Joringel, set in the fantastical realms of Elizabethan folklore. Novella, approximately 25,000 words. — Synopsis from Goodreads

   I’ve never read a story quite like The Bells of Paradise, nor a character quite like John. John is the steadiest hero I have ever run across, and, truly, therein lies his greatness and heroism. He does not want fame or fortune, he is content to be a blacksmith in Middleton Dale and live his life married to the girl he loves, raise a family, and do honest work. But he loves Janet and when she is taken from him, he is willing to brave anything to bring her back, even the ever twisting and changing realm of faerie.

   Suzannah Rowntree has taken another fairytale I am unfamiliar with and made me fall in love with it. The lush historical setting of Tudor England and the eerie enchanted world of faerie turn out some of Rowntree’s finest writing. The supporting characters stand before you daring you decide whether they are friend or foe. Yet again, the author has managed to weave in a hint of allegory and strong theme without once detracting from the story, but enhancing it instead. Honestly, everything is so vivid and full of life in this story, I barely know how to put how much I loved it into words.

   I highly recommend picking up this latest addition to Ms. Rowntree’s fairytale retellings. This is not just a tale of adventure and heroism. In the words of another reviewer who summed it up just right, “It’s about the price of a cup of coffee, and gives you soul food that lasts much longer.”

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Resist by Emily Ann Putzke

Pre-order on Amazon

Munich, Germany 1942—Hans Scholl never intended to get his younger sister involved in an underground resistance. When Sophie Scholl finds out, she insists on joining Hans and his close friends in writing and distributing anti-Nazi leaflets entitled, The White Rose. The young university students call out to the German people, begging them to not allow their consciences to become dormant, but to resist their tyrannical leader and corrupt government. Hans knows the consequences for their actions—execution for committing high treason—but firm in his convictions, he’s prepared to lose his life for a righteous cause. Based on a true story, Hans, Sophie and all the members of The White Rose resistance group will forever inspire and challenge us to do what is right in the midst of overwhelming evil. — Synopsis from Goodreads

  It was with mixed feelings of excitement and dread that I read Resist by Emily Ann Putzke— excitement that I was finally able to read it and dread that it wouldn’t live up to my high expectations. I needn’t have worried. Once again, Miss Putzke has delivered another solid piece of historical fiction, only this time it’s a true story.

  The story of Hans and Sophie Scholl was unfamiliar to me before I read about them on the author’s blog. Their outstanding courage and steadfastness to their beliefs in the dark times of Nazi Germany is powerful to read. They are forgotten heroes whose story needs to be told. In Resist it has. And their story should make us think. I appreciated the author’s decision to include the White Rose leaflets in her novel. It gives the reader a higher appreciation of the risks the group ran and the words they were willing to lay down their lives for.

  A trademark I’ve begun to look forward to in Miss Putzke’s work is strong, clear characterizations. Hans, Sophie, and their friends jump off the page and into our imaginations as living and breathing men and women. They are historical figures that have come to new life through the author’s words and their story touches you all the more because of it.

  I highly recommend Resist to lovers of historical fiction, true stories, or readers with even the slightest interest in WWII. If I have one content warning for readers it would be a splattering of language throughout the book— it is mainly confined to several utterances of what is considered “mild” language.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Implant

Amazon

"Welcome to the world of a universal cure.

"Gordon Harding didn’t ask for the life he has. He didn’t ask to be orphaned. He didn’t ask to go through life with cancer. And he certainly didn’t ask to be pulled into a future world without warning–a world where every human being is controlled by means of a medical implant.

"And when he learns that he’s the only one who can destroy the base of operations, he’s faced with an impossibly painful choice: either hide and let the world decay under this mysterious futuristic force, or rescue humanity from oppression, knowing that there’s someone out there who is willing to use any means necessary to stop him." - Synopsis from Goodreads

 One look at my bookshelf and you’ll quickly realize that dystopia and science fiction really isn’t my thing. Honestly, I hadn’t read anything from either genre until this month when I read Implant by J. Grace Pennington.

 Implant first came across my radar when I saw a tweet about it on Twitter. I’d previously heard great things about her science fiction trilogy, and the synopsis for this upcoming release sounded intriguing. My interest heightened during the release week party and I mentally jotted it down as something I wanted to try out at some point. When, at the end of September, Miss Pennington sent out a request for volunteer reviewers, I jumped at the opportunity.

 And I am glad I did. Implant wastes little time in throwing Gordon Harding, a newly diagnosed leukemia patient, into a future society he quickly learns he helped bring about. The writing is vivid and doesn’t sugar coat the terrible things Gordon witnesses, while at the same time not focusing on the graphic details of wounds or deaths.

 The characters are gripping. Doc in particular is a fascinating character to watch unfold on the page as you read. His brusque manner and chain smoking habits first strike you negatively, but you quickly learn there’s so much more to him beyond his outward appearance. His friendship of sorts with the rebel leader Neil Crater was one of my favorite aspects of the story. It’s a complicated relationship, but at the same time they work extraordinarily well together.

 The story’s lessons on the high cost of fighting for freedom, how the easy way isn’t always the right way, and how our actions and choices vitally impact those around us are timeless. A number of the themes explored in Implant are very timely for our culture and important for people to be aware of, especially with the speed technology is growing.

 I would definitely recommend Implant to readers of dystopia and science fiction, and to people who have even a passing interest in the genre or the themes the novel explores. While dystopia and science fiction still isn’t my thing, I will definitely be checking out Miss Pennington’s other works and future releases.

 I received a free digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Prince of Fishes

Available on Amazon

 "In Constantinople, the Queen of Cities, poverty-stricken Michael the Fisherman and his wife Eudokia dream of a better life for their family. When Michael catches a fish that is able to grant wishes, he and Eudokia finally get their chance to taste the wealth and power of their wildest dreams. But will their ambition destroy the city and cost them everything they hold dear?

 An epic clockpunk retelling of the Grimms' fairytale The Fisherman and His Wife, set against the theological turmoil and imperial grandeur of 700s Byzantium. Novella, approximately 33,000 words."

 Going into The Prince of Fishes I was unsure what to expect and completely unfamiliar with the fairytale it was retelling. By the time I finished reading I was eager to look up the original fairytale, learn more about Byzantium and the rich history mentioned in the story, and to get ahold of everything else that Suzannah Rowntree has written and published. It has been a while since a story has enthralled and gripped me, transporting me into its world so completely, like The Prince of Fishes.

 It was fascinating to read about Michael the fisherman and the consequences of his decisions. His imaginary conversations with people, especially his wife, were humorous to read. I also tend to have imaginary conversations with other people and I related to that aspect of his characterization. It was painful to watch his actions as the story progressed, but that is actually a good thing. You know he is making bad decisions but you keep hanging onto the hope that he will realize his mistakes and repent.

 Miss Rowntree knows her craft and this knowledge shines effortlessly in her writing. The story moves smoothly, her characters are vivid and real, and the story's theme is relentless but unobtrusive. Each is the piece of a magnificent whole. I have already bought her other fairytale retelling The Rakshasa's Bride and look forward to reading it in the near future. I highly recommend The Prince of Fishes to readers of all ages. It is a story that has made me excited for the future of Christian fiction.

 I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: "Pied Piper"

 I stumbled upon Pied Piper while going through a list of Nevil Shute’s works. The synopsis of the book piqued my interest and I almost bought it soon after while making an Amazon purchase (I opted out to buy Steal Like An Artist instead). Several weeks back, I received Pied Piper as a birthday gift from my parents and started reading it a few days later.

 In the most simple of terms, I loved it. The idea of an old man trying to return to England as the Nazis invade France and taking refugee children with him appeals to my imagination and Nevil Shute did not disappointment. Pied Piper was everything I wanted it to be and then some.

 As with the majority of my favorite books it was the characters that captured my heart most. John Sidney Howard might be an unlikely hero at the ripe old age of seventy but he is a compelling one. Feeling useless in England during the stalemate of the winter of 1939, he journeys to Southeast France in the spring of 1940 determined to fish and enjoy himself, unaware of the Nazi invasion of France about overtake him. When his perilous position finally does rouse him into returning to England, he is entrusted to take two English children to their aunt in England as well. Their journey is difficult from the outset but Mr. Howard is completely unprepared for just how arduous and difficult it becomes. As they straggle towards the coast, he finds himself taking more children under his wing even though he hardly knows what he will do with them.

 Fans of historical fiction and WWII history buffs will find Pied Piper a treat, though be on the look out for occasional smatterings of language throughout. The bulk of foul language comes from the mouths of two RAF men Howard and the children travel with briefly.

Book Review: "Ain't We Got Fun"

 "It was never much of an issue for Bess: living contentedly on her family's farm, despite the Depression which loomed around them. But when her older sister Georgiana takes off to New York City to make a fortune and help Papa out, feelings of adventure and wanderlust strike Bess at home. Through their lively letter correspondence, the sisters recount to one another their adventures, surprises, and heartaches, leaving little room for depression. For in a world of such wonder, ain't we got fun?"

 When I first learned about this novella I was excited to find out that the authors, Emily Ann Putzke and Emily Chapman, were publishing it. They had previously posted the story as a series on their blogs but I had missed it. This way I would have a chance to read it. Not only that but it takes place during one of my favorite time periods to read about- The Great Depression/1930s. (I blame American Girl and Kit Kittredge entirely.)

 I enjoyed the story immensely. I was quickly caught up into the lives of sisters Bess and Gi Rowland and wondering how their stories would turn out. Both girls learn over the course of the story, and while it is important to know that you still have fun in hard times it is also important to help each other out when things get rough. I felt very much invested in the characters and really would not mind finding out more of how their lives went (hint, hint).

Vivid characters is something of a trademark that I have experienced with both authors’ writing from the smaller short stories/scenes they have posted on their respective blogs and Ain’t We Got Fun follows in that vein. You are running across the Kansas prairie with Bess or downing uncountable cups of coffee in New York City with Gi. Not only are the two narrators vivid but also the people they encounter and describe. You even have a rough idea of what the musician couple who play the V-instrument are like even though they never really have “on screen” time.

Ain’t We Got Fun is the perfect short historical fiction read for you to add to your summer reading list.

You can purchase it at: 

Amazon (Paperback) 

Amazon (Kindle) 

Createspace (Paperback)

Smashwords (ebook)

About the Authors:

EMILY CHAPMAN, also known as Bess Rowland, is a young hobbit living in the dear old South, and she is entirely bonkers. She's a dreamer, an optimistic pessimist, and an introverted people person. Blue skies, dancing, Disney, and whipped cream make her happy, and she swears she's once been to Narnia. She's been a reader all her life, became a writer because of that, and published her first novel, Cry of Hope, in March of 2014. But without her Savior, all of this would mean nothing. It is in Him that she puts her hope.You can learn more about Emily Chapman and her books at www.emilychapmanauthor.com and www.facebook.com/emilychapmanauthor.

EMILY ANN PUTZKE and Gi Rowland have two big things in common: their love for God and coffee. Besides writing historical fiction, Emily enjoys being an aunty, photography, Irish dancing, spending time with family, attempting to play the guitar, reenacting, and reading. She loves polka dots, war movies, and all things vintage. Her first novella, It Took a War, was published in December of 2014. You can learn more about Emily Ann Putzke and her books at www.authoremilyannputzke.com and www.facebook.com/authoremilyannputzke.

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Book Review: "Wanderlust Creek and Other Stories"

Paperback | Kindle

  "From the author of The Ranch Next Door and Other Stories come six more short stories exploring the joys, heartaches and laughter of life against the backdrop of the Old West. In “Single-Handed,” a gunfighter’s courage comes in doubt when he refuses to explain to his friends the real reason he backed down from a fight. The capable proprietress of the busiest eating-house in town handles a day of disasters large and small in the light-hearted “The Rush at Mattie Arnold’s,” while in “Room Service,” a hotel night clerk finds himself in on odd position after he allows an exhausted traveler to stay in a reserved room. And in the title story, the novella-length “Wanderlust Creek,” a young rancher and his wife struggle to hold onto their land and their dreams in the face of adversity from weather, enemies—and even doubts of each other."

  Character driven westerns with a charm of the old fashioned (something usually only found in books from the period) is Elisabeth Grace Foley's speciality and she has served that special up yet again with "Wanderlust Creek and Other Stories". I had been looking forward to another collection of western short stories ever since I read her first collection, falling even more in love with the author's writing when I read her Mrs. Meade Mysteries, "Left-Handed Kelly," and "Corral Nocturne". Needless to say, I was delighted with this collection.

  "The Rush At Mattie Arnold's" reminded me of O. Henry, "A Search For Truth" held me spellbound, I almost teared up for "Room Service," and "Wanderlust Creek" has ensconced itself among my list of favorites from Miss Foley. While "Single-Handed" and "The Mustanger's Bride" were also highly enjoyable.

  These are not rough and tumble westerns a la what most people think of when they think about westerns. They are, as I said at first, character driven. It is that small driving force that can make all the difference. For instance I would not recommend "Destry Rides Again" Max Brand to certain members of my family because they do not like westerns, but I would recommend Miss Foley's collections to them. Miss Foley's stories are not bound by their genre. They more than just westerns. They are good stories that anyone at any age could easily enjoy.

___

  You can visit Miss Foley's blog The Second Sentence, where she blogs about writing, books, westerns, and history, to learn more about her. She recently did a three-part series on color photography from the early 1900s to the 1940s and closed it off by featuring old videos from that same time frame.

Book Review: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society"

  “I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.”

  “January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’d never met, a native of Guernsey, the British island once occupied by the Nazis. He’d come across her name on the flyleaf of a secondhand volume by Charles Lamb. Perhaps she could tell him where he might find more books by this author.

  “As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, she is drawn into the world of this man and his friends, all members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a unique book club formed in a unique, spur-of-the-moment way: as an alibi to keep its members from arrest by the Germans.

  “Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the Society’s charming, deeply human members, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all. Through their letters she learns about their island, their taste in books, and the powerful, transformative impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds there will change her forever.”

 Stepping inside the world of this epistolary novel was like returning to visit dear friends. Book lovers abound and the love of literature pours out of this book like a balm. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was charming and delightful, although still retaining those sobering moments that make me adore books like this. The characters are drawn so well that you forget that they’re characters in a book and half expect to find out they really did exist as real, living and breathing people living on Guernsey Island and in-and-about London.

 The book also shines a light on a fact of World War II that I was previously unaware of: the occupation of the English Channel Islands by the Nazis. It was fascinating to discover this bit of history I had missed, and it has intrigued me into trying to find more information on the events.
 

 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a delightful read sure to bring smiles to book aficionados and historical fiction lovers both.

The Words and Pages of 2013

 I might be a bit late in the run for these types of books read in 2013 posts, but after being told by my sister that it was not at all too late in the month to do so I have done so. I did not read quite as many as last year and did not meet my seventy book reading goal. I had a mere sixty-three to my name.

Fiction -

 In the great realm of fiction I read a couple books that have reserved themselves a place amongst my favorites list. These are The Borrowed House by Hilda von Stockum, both Murder on the Orient Express and The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie, Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, the final three books in the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery, San Domingo by Marguerite Henry, Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell, and a few others.

 I was also pleasantly surprised by Pride and Prejudice and held in suspense and striving to solve crimes with numerous Agatha Christie novels (4:50 From Paddington, The Mysterious Affair At Styles, Death on the Nile, Lord Edgeware Dies, etc.).

Non-Fiction -

 With non-fiction there are five books that stuck out to me in particular this year: The Undercover Revolution by Iain Murray (which I actually read twice), Return to the Hiding Place by Hans Poley, City Notebook by McCandlish Phillips, The Last of the Doughboys by Richard Rubin, and Structuring Your Novel by K.M. Weiland. Undercover Revolution details how certain English authors tore down Christianity in Britain during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. It is an excellent read, though I must confess to have been thoroughly devastated with my newfound knowledge of Robert Louis Stevenson. City Notebook was a collection of articles from the 1960s and 70s chronicling the ever changing landscape and culture that is New York City. The Last of the Doughboys was a non-fiction book on WWI compiled of interviews that the author conducted with the last remaining veterans of the war in the early 2000s. A bit of language and a brief paragraph or so that I could have done without in the later part of the book, but otherwise a very good and, if possible, much less depressing look on the war. Structuring Your Novel was an excellent book on just exactly what the title says. Most people have a sense of novel structure built into them, but it was splendid to have it all laid out and organized in the book. Highly recommend.

New Authors -

 As for new authors, I delve further into Agatha Christie's works, was introduced to the books of Grace Livingston Hill by my writing class teacher, read my first Rosemary Sutcliff novel (The Silver Branch) and have since gotten my hands on a copy of The Eagle of the Ninth and can hardly wait to read it.

 While 2013 did not seem to hold quite so many stand outs as 2012, it did contain some more quieter additions to the favorites shelf.

~ Hanne-col

In Which I Discuss My Impression of Pride and Prejudice

via Pinterest

 Apologies for my lack of post of any sort, but this one has been in the works since I was about halfway through the book. Busyness with life has been a prevalent force in my lack of posts, but this one is finally done and ready. Enjoy, and hopefully you will hear more frequently from me in the near future.

_____________________

 Several months ago Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice celebrated its two hundredth anniversary. Fans reread their worn copies, had P&P adaption marathons, did their blogs posts, and paid homage to the classic. I, meanwhile, chuckled a little, enjoyed some posts, and let the date go by relatively unnoticed.

 About four years ago I watched the 1995 adaption of Pride and Prejudice for the first time. I was interested at first, but after a couple of hours I felt like things were being dragged out and the miniseries was too long. Several months later I saw the 2005 adaption and felt like that adaption seemed rushed. I saw the dreaded 1940 adaption and liked it better. I do love old black and white movies, you know. Besides, Greer Garson was Lizzy in that adaption. Ahem.

 So, three movie adaptions later I was not a fan of Pride and Prejudice. Several other Jane Austen movies later and an introduction to Elizabeth Gaskell movies, made me not a huge fan of Jane Austen and a lover of Elizabeth Gaskell. Elizabeth Gaskell's works seemed more realistic. Before you JA fans give up on me, I did watch BBC's 2009 adaption of Emma and loved it. It is still my favorite Jane Austen film.

 In February my writing class teacher gave me a clipping from magazine about an essay contest about Pride and Prejudice. "Okay," I thought, "I'll read Pride and Prejudice and see if I like it in book form enough to write an essay about it." Dubiously I downloaded an ebook of P&P onto my iTouch and began reading it while my sisters and I were driving to get ice cream about a month later. I read a couple of chapters on the way to the store and then several more on the return trip. By the time we returned home I was surprised to find myself enjoying it- I mean enjoying it a lot.

 About two weeks later I was able finish the book. I enjoyed it a lot. The novel carries a charm that does not carry over onto the screen, or it is something that I missed. From the now famous opening line to the closing lines, the book is engaging and enjoyable story, but it still offers some good lessons.

 Lesson number one, and probably most obvious, is that you should not judge people by their appearance. Lizzy takes the appearance of Mr. Darcy and judges him by it, concluding him to be very proud, snobbish, and unsociable. This first conclusion leads her to quickly take the side against him in regards to Wickham's story, without even stopping or being willing to hear the other side. After seeing Darcy in his home territory, Pemberly and surrounding area, she saw a different, much more friendly and comfortable man who was generous and kind, but just and still proud.

 There are other lessons, but I want to talk about the two main characters, Lizzy and Darcy. Lizzy is proud, vain of her "ability" to judge people's character, and looks for the best in people she is determined to like and looks for the worst in people she is determined to dislike. She is humbled when she reads Darcy's letter and then looks back, acknowledging her vanity and prejudice. Darcy, meanwhile, is uncomfortable and distant in unfamiliar settings, he is proud, and acknowledges that he finds it nearly impossible to forgive people who have done wrong, once his good opinion is lost, it cannot be regained. He can be too proud on many occasions and interferes sometimes too much with his best friend's life, though with the very best of intentions, but he does own up to this last bit and is genuinely sorry.

 Yes, so, I am much more fond of P&P than I was at the beginning of the year. The book has a hard to describe charm that the film adaptions lack. I will never be one of those die-hard, continually rereading the novel and watching the film P&P fans, but I did greatly enjoy the novel and will probably reread it again in the future. And for all those who have not read the book but saw the films and did not quite find them to your liking, perhaps you should give the novel a try. You might never love the film adaptions like some, but the novel's charm is at least worth one read.

- Hanne-col

2012 In Books

via Pinterest

 Inspired by some bloggers I read, I've decided to do a post on some of the books I read last year and point out some new favorites. I started out the year with the goal of reading fifty books and later extended that goal to include seventy books. I am very happy to say I met the goal.

I started out the year reading The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis for a writing class and it became an unexpected favorite. I went on to read Mere Christianity, also by Lewis, a little bit later for the same class.

 Some of the titles I've read from the historical fiction genre this year have been; Bonnie Prince Charlie by G. A. Henty, The Thunder by Douglas Bond, The Talisman by Sir Walter Scott, and The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. My favorites were most definitely The Thunder and The Yearling, both I heartily recommend.

 I continued to read several series I've been working on, such as L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series and Martha Finley's Elsie Dinsmore series. While I still have a couple of "Anne" books left, I have only one book left to the Elsie Dinsmore series. A new favorite series I've discovered this year is the Jungle Doctor series by Paul White.

 Some of my other favorite books from the year are; The Hidden Hand by E.D.E.N. Southworth, Father and I Were Ranchers by Ralph Moody, and the No Place Like Holmes series by Jason Lethcoe.

 My favorite author that I discovered this year would definitely have to be Kate Douglas Wiggin. My mom read aloud The Bird's Christmas Carol in November and I was quickly scourging our shelves for any more books by her. Mother Carey's Chickens and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm have now become favorites.

 On the lines of non-fiction and biographies, Francis Schaeffer's How Should We Then Live, Running the Race a biography on Eric Liddell by John W. Keddie, and Daws by Betty Lee Skinner, are new favorites.

 I am already plunging into this year's reading goal and interested in reading some new authors and more of old ones.

 What are some of your favorite books that you read last year?