Back in August and September, I read a ton of books. Okay, maybe not a full ton but quite a lot. I was reading several heavy non-fiction books so I needed some fun light fiction to balance out my brain. And I was gone for almost 3 weeks so instead of bring a huge bag of library books, I grabbed a ton of free kindle reads, many of which were historical fiction. The result is that not only did I complete my challenge, I kinda decimated it. So instead of writing about all the books I read, I’m only posting about the ones that didn’t stink:
5 more rhys bowen books catching up with both the Molly Murphy and Royal Spyness series (reviews here). Now I have to wait for her to write more :-(
The Swan House by Elizabeth Musser
This is a Christian book that doesn’t read like one. (How sad is it that I mean that as a compliment) I was about 1/4 of the way through and still didn’t know it was a Christian novel until I saw World Magazine review on the author. Of course, by the end of the book it became quite clear that the author had a message but never in a “oh, I’d better stick a God reference in here somewhere” type of way. Mary’s faith is a central element to the story but in what I felt was a realistic manner, one that a Christian would relate to.
I really liked this book because I felt quite a kinship with the main character Mary Swan, her struggles to deal with the tragedies in her life, and with her responsibility to her community and world. Those are all things I’m going through right now so even though this is a coming of age story and Mary is in high school, I felt connected to her.
Also, it is set in Atlanta and having lived there, it was neat to recognize the places she describes. I just found out there is a sequel and I’m excited to pick it up.
Ransom’s Honor by Kaye Dacus
This one was so-so. I liked the characters, Julia, a 29-year old daughter of an Admiral who has come back to England after having spent the last several years running her father’s plantation in Jamaica, and William, a British naval captain. They were strong and likeable, even in their dislike for each other. Several of the minor characters where quite delightful although the antagonists seemed a bit cliché. And the plot was interesting and several twists really caught me off guard. Writing this, I feel like I should have liked it more than I did. Actually, I think I did like this but the next in the series deals mostly with my least favorite character of the first so that is why I didn’t want to read the next. Maybe I should stop waiting so long before I write the reviews :-)
The Preacher’s Bride
A fictional story loosely based on the life of John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's Progress. I didn’t know that until after I finished the book and I think I would have enjoyed this more had I known that at the beginning or if I had known more about the historical setting. But now I want to know more so that must say something.
Sixteen Brides
This could have been really good, but just wasn’t quite there. Sixteen women head west to Nebraska, lured by free land, independence and a chance for a new life. There are a lot of “main” characters (not 16 though, don’t worry) but it wasn’t that I had trouble keeping track, they were had fairly distinct characters. I liked several of the storylines better than others but it was all to easily wrapped up by the end - like a hallmark movie. But if you are in the mood for a hallmark movie book, this one isn’t bad.
The Innocence of Father Brown (ht to Elaine for the e-reader freebie share)
I can’t believe I’ve never read any Father Brown before. I really enjoyed these little logical mysteries. I think I will consider myself Mensa ready if I can ever figure them out before hand but I’m not holding my breath. That little priest is very clever. They are perfect for reading on the go or when Lucy is distracted and I can pick up a book without her wanting to see what I’m doing since they are short and I can stop and go without losing my place, mentally speaking.
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie King
It’s 1915 and Sherlock Holmes has retired. At least until he meets 15 year old Mary Russell and decides to mentor her. The premise is a bit odd so this book, which must have belonged to either my mom, dad or brother, sat in the guest bedroom on the nightstand for quite a while before I was bored enough to pick it up one night. But now I’m hooked. I like Mary, she’s intelligent and a bit edgy but personable. I even like Holmes. Now King does take some liberties with Holmes’ character but she admits it and moves on. Since finishing this mystery, I’ve gone back and read some of the original Holmes and it’s interesting to see the difference. I probably shouldn’t admit this because it will reflect badly on my literary skills, but I think I like King’s better. I’ve already read three of the sequels (A Monstrous Regiment of Women, A Letter of Mary, The Moor, and O Jerusalem).
The Dead Travel Fast by Deanne Raybourn
I’m a fan of Deanne Raybourne’s Lady Julie Grey Series and an occasional reader of her blog, I thought I would try this one, even though (with that one sad exception :-) I’m not normally not a big fan of the vampire/gothic genre. It was the plot of this book that really kept me going – as soon I as I thought I had it figured out, something changes. But the characters are just not the same as the Julie Grey series. I didn’t really relate to Theodora much nor did I particularly care for the count (he’s certainly no Brisbane). And the secondary characters and not nearly as developed as her other books. Also, despite their questionable covers, with a few exceptions, the Julie Grey Series is generally pretty clean. This one however seemed to match the cover more that I was excepting or appreciative of. It’s not bad but I’m ready for The Dark Enquiry (come on paperback swap!).
Showing posts with label Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. Show all posts
11.18.2011
7.11.2011
June Challenge Update
I did a lof reading this month, including four more Historical Fiction books for the challenge. Alas, I can only remember what three of them were and I already returned my books to the library. But trust me, there was four, I'm not a cheater :-)
The first one, whose name I forgot, was really bad. It started out okay but did not end well and I wished my hours back so I turned to something more reliable, or really someone. Rhys Bowen*. She writes several mystery series and I'm currently in the middle of two so instead of reviewing random books in the series, I'd thought I'd review the series.
Molly Murphy Series:
I've read two of these so far, but alas not the first two**. They tell the story of Molly Murphy, an Irish immigrant living in New York City in the early 1900s. She ends up making her way through the city as a detective of sorts. I like Molly's character, she is spunky but believable. These books remind me of the gaslight series and from what I've read, the series only gets better as it progresses so I'll definitely be sticking with it.
The Royal Spyness Series:
The first one of these was okay, I mean it was good enough that I picked up the second, but nothing amazing But then I fell in love with them and read the next two within 72 hours. The heroine of this series is Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenia (aka Georgie) who is a royal cousin of King George V. But alas, it is 1932 and royalty or not, she's broke. Georgie is naive and way out of her element trying to make it on her own but she is also kind, generous and willing to work hard.
This series is more humorous and lighthearted than the Molly Murphy Series. It's the type of mystery book that I can read while Craig is out of town without becoming hypersensitive to every creak and moan in the house. One of the story-lines did perpetuate some negative adoption sterotypes which bothered me, but overall I found the mysteries to be imaginative and delightful. I love how she brings in other members of the royal family (Georgie is fiction but many of the side characters are real). The only other fault I have with the series is that there are only 4 books so far and I've read three of them.
* Also, I just found her blog. I love when authors have blogs, its so much fun! Rhys has also endeared herself to my heart by putting together a easy to print list of her books in order. I passionately hate it when I go to get the next in a series and can't figure out which one that would be. Why are so many series not numbered, all it takes is one little digit on the cover somewhere or a list on the inside, how hard is that?
** Why do libaries torture us and only get part of a series? Our library has a random assortment of these but not the second and third? If you are going to get four of the nine books in a series, get the first four!
Okay, I better end this post before I pop a blood vessel. It is just very important to me to read things in the correct order. Anyway, Happy Reading!
The first one, whose name I forgot, was really bad. It started out okay but did not end well and I wished my hours back so I turned to something more reliable, or really someone. Rhys Bowen*. She writes several mystery series and I'm currently in the middle of two so instead of reviewing random books in the series, I'd thought I'd review the series.
Molly Murphy Series:
I've read two of these so far, but alas not the first two**. They tell the story of Molly Murphy, an Irish immigrant living in New York City in the early 1900s. She ends up making her way through the city as a detective of sorts. I like Molly's character, she is spunky but believable. These books remind me of the gaslight series and from what I've read, the series only gets better as it progresses so I'll definitely be sticking with it.
The Royal Spyness Series:
The first one of these was okay, I mean it was good enough that I picked up the second, but nothing amazing But then I fell in love with them and read the next two within 72 hours. The heroine of this series is Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenia (aka Georgie) who is a royal cousin of King George V. But alas, it is 1932 and royalty or not, she's broke. Georgie is naive and way out of her element trying to make it on her own but she is also kind, generous and willing to work hard.
This series is more humorous and lighthearted than the Molly Murphy Series. It's the type of mystery book that I can read while Craig is out of town without becoming hypersensitive to every creak and moan in the house. One of the story-lines did perpetuate some negative adoption sterotypes which bothered me, but overall I found the mysteries to be imaginative and delightful. I love how she brings in other members of the royal family (Georgie is fiction but many of the side characters are real). The only other fault I have with the series is that there are only 4 books so far and I've read three of them.
* Also, I just found her blog. I love when authors have blogs, its so much fun! Rhys has also endeared herself to my heart by putting together a easy to print list of her books in order. I passionately hate it when I go to get the next in a series and can't figure out which one that would be. Why are so many series not numbered, all it takes is one little digit on the cover somewhere or a list on the inside, how hard is that?
** Why do libaries torture us and only get part of a series? Our library has a random assortment of these but not the second and third? If you are going to get four of the nine books in a series, get the first four!
Okay, I better end this post before I pop a blood vessel. It is just very important to me to read things in the correct order. Anyway, Happy Reading!
6.06.2011
Books of May (and April)
3 more books down. I think that makes 10 historical fiction books read so far this year (as part of this challenge), so only 5 more! In the past, I’ve always tried to force myself to read more non-fiction but as soon as I take part in a fiction challenge, everything I seem to pick up is non-fiction. Murphy’s law!
The House at Riverton
This was actually an April read but I guess I only wrote about it in my head (am I the only person who writes posts in their head and thinks they posted them but didn’t?)
I probably would have liked this book better had I not just finished The Forgotten Garden. Kate Morton has a definite style since this has the same multiple viewpoints, flashbacks, concurrent storylines and major plot developments hinging on seemingly insignificant details that The Forgotten Garden did. I happen to think she does it well but it was hard not to compare the books because of that (I also found myself wondering if she had an strained relationship with her mother but felt close to her grandmother since that seemed to be prominent in both books but that is neither here nor there). Although I liked The Forgotten Garden better, The House at Riverton still had engaging characters and an intriguing story. I figured out a few things early on but I couldn’t predict the end which, for me at least, is a plus.
North and South
Once I saw the miniseries, it was pretty much a given that I would read this book. North and South is not a reference to the the civil war, but about the two contrasting cultures of England. The main character Margaret Hale is originally from the agrarian South but must now learn to live in the industrial North when her father moves the family there. Can she adjust to the difference? Or, maybe more importantly, can she do it without falling in love?
Not surprisingly, I loved it. It was a bit different from the movie but as is usually the case in movie/book comparisons, the book was just more, especially in regards to the characters. We actually get to know the “South” characters and the many of the others are not so black and white as we see in the miniseries, especially Margaret’s parents. (That’s not to say the movie is bad, I liked the ending and the first proposal scenes better in the movie…and on a not quite related note, does anyone else think Richard Armitage would make a good Captain Wentworth?) All in all, both are good.
Northhanger Abbey – I’m including this even though I’ve read it before because it has been about 10 years since my last reading. I hadn’t read it since then because I thought it was my least favorite Jane Austen book. I’m not sure what my 16 year old self was thinking (although, does anyone really understand what they were thinking when they were 16?) because it’s great. Yes, it is still my least favorite in terms of characters and plot, I don’t really care if Catherine and Henry end up together or not, but that really isn’t the point. If I wasn’t already sure of it, this book would prove to me that Jane was an incredibly witty, and dare I say, fun women and that spending an afternoon with her would have been highly amusing.
The House at Riverton
This was actually an April read but I guess I only wrote about it in my head (am I the only person who writes posts in their head and thinks they posted them but didn’t?)
I probably would have liked this book better had I not just finished The Forgotten Garden. Kate Morton has a definite style since this has the same multiple viewpoints, flashbacks, concurrent storylines and major plot developments hinging on seemingly insignificant details that The Forgotten Garden did. I happen to think she does it well but it was hard not to compare the books because of that (I also found myself wondering if she had an strained relationship with her mother but felt close to her grandmother since that seemed to be prominent in both books but that is neither here nor there). Although I liked The Forgotten Garden better, The House at Riverton still had engaging characters and an intriguing story. I figured out a few things early on but I couldn’t predict the end which, for me at least, is a plus.
North and South
Once I saw the miniseries, it was pretty much a given that I would read this book. North and South is not a reference to the the civil war, but about the two contrasting cultures of England. The main character Margaret Hale is originally from the agrarian South but must now learn to live in the industrial North when her father moves the family there. Can she adjust to the difference? Or, maybe more importantly, can she do it without falling in love?
Not surprisingly, I loved it. It was a bit different from the movie but as is usually the case in movie/book comparisons, the book was just more, especially in regards to the characters. We actually get to know the “South” characters and the many of the others are not so black and white as we see in the miniseries, especially Margaret’s parents. (That’s not to say the movie is bad, I liked the ending and the first proposal scenes better in the movie…and on a not quite related note, does anyone else think Richard Armitage would make a good Captain Wentworth?) All in all, both are good.
Northhanger Abbey – I’m including this even though I’ve read it before because it has been about 10 years since my last reading. I hadn’t read it since then because I thought it was my least favorite Jane Austen book. I’m not sure what my 16 year old self was thinking (although, does anyone really understand what they were thinking when they were 16?) because it’s great. Yes, it is still my least favorite in terms of characters and plot, I don’t really care if Catherine and Henry end up together or not, but that really isn’t the point. If I wasn’t already sure of it, this book would prove to me that Jane was an incredibly witty, and dare I say, fun women and that spending an afternoon with her would have been highly amusing.
4.11.2011
And halfway through April, we go back to March
I'm a little behind in my reading challenge update but I did get two books done in March so I'm making fairly steady progress.
The Kitchen Help by Kathleen Grissom
The story of Lavinia, a 7 year old Irish immigrant, who ends up working at a southern plantation and her struggles to find a family in a world that doesn't have a place for her. This book was interesting and could have been really good but something was missing. The relationships were the central part of this book and I enjoyed getting to know Lavinia and several of the people who took her in but there were too many characters and you had better not get attached because they drop like flies in this story. The plot was intriguing but a little melodramatic and some parts felt like the author was just killing time (and characters) but then the ending felt rushed. It was the type of book that I enjoyed reading and couldn't put down but when I finished, I realized I didn't really like it that much.
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
I loved this book but that shouldn't be a surprise because it was a chinaberry recommendation and I almost always enjoy their selections. It tells the story of a little girl who appears on a pier in 1913 with no name or knowledge of where she came from, Actually this book is actually three intertwined stories: there is Nell, the girl who was taken in and given a loving home but as an adult feels lost without her history to lean on, the story of the people who make up her unknown past, and the granddaughter who continues the search Nell began once she passes away. Since there are three plots, there are also a lot of characters in this one, but unlike The Kitchen Help, Morton manages to make it work. Even those minor characters that only make a short appearance seem to come alive. The mystery of Nell's past is slowly revealed and even though I was able to guess most of the answers before the end, the ending did not disappoint me. In fact, since we know how Nell's story ends much earlier than we know how it started, understanding what physically happened ends up not being as important as realizing how the people involved felt about it and handled those emotions. I highly recommend this story!
Check out Historical Tapestry for more interesting reads.
The Kitchen Help by Kathleen Grissom
The story of Lavinia, a 7 year old Irish immigrant, who ends up working at a southern plantation and her struggles to find a family in a world that doesn't have a place for her. This book was interesting and could have been really good but something was missing. The relationships were the central part of this book and I enjoyed getting to know Lavinia and several of the people who took her in but there were too many characters and you had better not get attached because they drop like flies in this story. The plot was intriguing but a little melodramatic and some parts felt like the author was just killing time (and characters) but then the ending felt rushed. It was the type of book that I enjoyed reading and couldn't put down but when I finished, I realized I didn't really like it that much.
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
I loved this book but that shouldn't be a surprise because it was a chinaberry recommendation and I almost always enjoy their selections. It tells the story of a little girl who appears on a pier in 1913 with no name or knowledge of where she came from, Actually this book is actually three intertwined stories: there is Nell, the girl who was taken in and given a loving home but as an adult feels lost without her history to lean on, the story of the people who make up her unknown past, and the granddaughter who continues the search Nell began once she passes away. Since there are three plots, there are also a lot of characters in this one, but unlike The Kitchen Help, Morton manages to make it work. Even those minor characters that only make a short appearance seem to come alive. The mystery of Nell's past is slowly revealed and even though I was able to guess most of the answers before the end, the ending did not disappoint me. In fact, since we know how Nell's story ends much earlier than we know how it started, understanding what physically happened ends up not being as important as realizing how the people involved felt about it and handled those emotions. I highly recommend this story!
Check out Historical Tapestry for more interesting reads.
3.02.2011
3 more!
I've been busy reading. I finished up three more historical non-fiction books for my challenge and for those who have been on the edge of their seat, I will let you know that I am still working on Gone with the Wind. I'm about half way through and I will admit, it is growing on me. I do think it helped to stop thinking about it as a love story.
Anyway, on to the reviews:
Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanne Raybourn
The 4th in the Lady Julia Grey. As you may guess from the title, this one is set in India where Julia is assisting two of her siblings in their attempt to "rescue" Jane, who for ease of explanation I'll call a friend who's husband died mysteriously leaving her with child. She and Brisbane are both working the case but neither is willing to assist the other more than seems to be absolutely necessary.
I obviously like this series or I wouldn't still be reading it :-) Everytime I pick up one of Raybourn's books, I find I can hardly put it down until I'm at the end and in some ways I think this was one of my favorite of the series. The new characters were interesting and I enjoyed getting to know some of the minor characters a bit more. And unlike one or two earlier ones in this series, there were several big reveals that I just didn't seem coming.
I was curious to see how the dynamic between Brisbane and Julia would change now that they are married but I think Raybourn did a good job with having their relationship progress and not plateau. I've heard complaints that Julia's character is annoying is this one but I didn't think so, she is just struggling to understand her role in her marriage and her detective work. Maybe I sympathize with her struggles with selfishness at the beginning of her marriage too much to be unable to forgive her for that :-)
That isn't to say it is perfect, this one like all the others has a few things I wish she had left out and I thought the ending was a bit sad. Plus I can't help but compare it to the Lady Emily Mysteries by Tasha Alexander and I must say I think I prefer those just a tad bit more. But there is always room in my life for both and I will continue to read these.
The Inimitable Jeeves/Very Good, Jeeves - P.D. Wodehouse
I'm reviewing these two together because they are very similar. I found these at my parent's house and didn't even realize they were the inspiration for the tv show Jeeves and Wooster until I started reading. Even though I've only seen one episode of the show and that was several years ago, it didn't take long though for me to figure it out, seeing as the main characters are two men named Jeeves and Wooster (didn't see that one coming did you?). I'm going to have to find some episodes of the show now.
The books are composed of little lighthearted stories about the young gentleman Wooster who always finds himself in tough spots. Luckily he has his very helpful valet Jeeves to assist him with his dilemmas. If Jeeves has a fault, it would be that poor Wooster suffers in comparison. It reminded me that I need a bit more humor in my life, laughter is good for the soul. A great book to keep in your car for filling those few minutes when you are waiting in the grocery store parking lot for your baby to wake up, or waiting in the garage for your baby to wake up or waiting outside Target for your baby to wake up...or at the dentist I suppose. I'm glad they're are more of them in the series.
Anyway, on to the reviews:
Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanne Raybourn
The 4th in the Lady Julia Grey. As you may guess from the title, this one is set in India where Julia is assisting two of her siblings in their attempt to "rescue" Jane, who for ease of explanation I'll call a friend who's husband died mysteriously leaving her with child. She and Brisbane are both working the case but neither is willing to assist the other more than seems to be absolutely necessary.
I obviously like this series or I wouldn't still be reading it :-) Everytime I pick up one of Raybourn's books, I find I can hardly put it down until I'm at the end and in some ways I think this was one of my favorite of the series. The new characters were interesting and I enjoyed getting to know some of the minor characters a bit more. And unlike one or two earlier ones in this series, there were several big reveals that I just didn't seem coming.
I was curious to see how the dynamic between Brisbane and Julia would change now that they are married but I think Raybourn did a good job with having their relationship progress and not plateau. I've heard complaints that Julia's character is annoying is this one but I didn't think so, she is just struggling to understand her role in her marriage and her detective work. Maybe I sympathize with her struggles with selfishness at the beginning of her marriage too much to be unable to forgive her for that :-)
That isn't to say it is perfect, this one like all the others has a few things I wish she had left out and I thought the ending was a bit sad. Plus I can't help but compare it to the Lady Emily Mysteries by Tasha Alexander and I must say I think I prefer those just a tad bit more. But there is always room in my life for both and I will continue to read these.
The Inimitable Jeeves/Very Good, Jeeves - P.D. Wodehouse
I'm reviewing these two together because they are very similar. I found these at my parent's house and didn't even realize they were the inspiration for the tv show Jeeves and Wooster until I started reading. Even though I've only seen one episode of the show and that was several years ago, it didn't take long though for me to figure it out, seeing as the main characters are two men named Jeeves and Wooster (didn't see that one coming did you?). I'm going to have to find some episodes of the show now.
The books are composed of little lighthearted stories about the young gentleman Wooster who always finds himself in tough spots. Luckily he has his very helpful valet Jeeves to assist him with his dilemmas. If Jeeves has a fault, it would be that poor Wooster suffers in comparison. It reminded me that I need a bit more humor in my life, laughter is good for the soul. A great book to keep in your car for filling those few minutes when you are waiting in the grocery store parking lot for your baby to wake up, or waiting in the garage for your baby to wake up or waiting outside Target for your baby to wake up...or at the dentist I suppose. I'm glad they're are more of them in the series.
2.10.2011
A goner?
So I've been making pretty good progress on my Historical Fiction Reading Challenge but I want to make sure it is actually challenging me. Even though they are fiction books, I don't want to allow myself to get by with only "easy reader" type stories. So when I saw Gone with the Wind at my parents', I picked it up. I've never read it or even seen the movie so I had no idea what I was getting into but I have another book which tells the story from Rhett's perspective that I have forbidden as a reading option until I have read the original, so now seemed like a good time to finally get to it.
I'm about 100 pages or 1/8 of the way through my teeny-tiny worded edition and so far, I'm not sure I like it. I don't completely dislike it but:
I'm about 100 pages or 1/8 of the way through my teeny-tiny worded edition and so far, I'm not sure I like it. I don't completely dislike it but:
- Am I supposed to like Scarlett? Because I don't. Does she improve upon further acquaintance? She is still 16 though and I think the book covers a span of 12 or so years. Is her maturation part of the story? I hope so. Right now, when it comes to caring about Scarlett, frankly, I feel a little like Rhett.
- The slave's speech. My goodness. Because of how slave dialogue is spelled, it takes me a good minute of sounding out to read just a sentence or two of what mammy or any other slave is saying and that really messes with my reading flow. Maybe I should read this when I'm teaching Lucy to read so I will have more empathy for the chore of "sounding it out."
- I don't really consider it a fault of the book, but I was surprised to see the "N" word in GWTW. I realize I should have expected it but I've been hearing a lot about it being in Huckleberry Finn, especially with the new edition coming out, and have never heard about it being in here so it did catch me off guard. But again, that's just an observational. I don't have a problem reading it when it fits the historical context.
- I've heard through the grapevine that she doesn't end up with either Ashley or Rhett. What kind of love story is this! I haven't formed a particular attachment to either of the male protagonists (if that is even what they are, I'm not quite sure yet :-) and as I said, I don't like Scarlett yet but I'm not sure I want to read a love story about a bunch of people I don't like who don't end up in love. Maybe that's my problem, should I not be thinking of it as a love story?
So basically, I need your help. Convince me to keep reading this. I don't want to be a quitter but I'm not sure I can make it. Have any of you read it? Would watching the movie first help or hurt? Inspire me!
2.03.2011
2 down, 13 to go!
I think I got a pretty good start on the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge this month. I really thought I was going to have to work hard to prevent this from becoming a 19th century English novel reading challenge but actually, only one of the fictions books I read this month fits that criteria. (I also read a biography from that time period and watched Downton Manor so don't worry, I still got my "period" fix :-)
Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron
I hadn't even heard of these books when I stumbled upon a reading challenge specifically for them. To be honest, as much as I love both Jane Austen and mysterys, the idea of Jane being a detective seemed a bit corny. I figured I would at least give them a chance though and I am very glad I did. Barron could have easily capitalized on the idea of Jane without staying true to what we actually know about Ms Austen but she doesn't and overall does a good job keeping Miss Austen's character believable while maintaining the mystery plotline. The story was good but perhaps my favorite part of the book was the editor's notes sprinkled throughout the story that give insights into life in early 19th century in general as well as Jane's life specifically. I will be reading more of these.
Half-broke Horses by Jeanette Walls
I love bigmama but wasn't planning to participate in her read-along until I saw that she picked a historial fiction book. Then I couldn't resist it, not just because of the challenge but because it was touted as "Little House on the Prairie for adults." Although I read most of this one on a train, I really felt like I was sitting in Lily's living room listening to her tell me stories about her life on a ranch and then suddenly realizing that put together, they actually had a plot and made up her memoirs. And I can't wait to see what everyone else thinks about this book, especially the main character. The book was engrossing and I liked reading about her, but I don't think I would have actually liked her. For a book written in first person, we just didn't seem to get any sense of emotion from her. Now I'm not sure if that is because 1) Lily truely was very "gritty" and unemotional, 2) Walls viewed Lily through her mother's eyes which made her seem that way or 3) Walls tried too hard to portray Lily as spunky and gritty and as a result, failed to balance her ruggedness with any display of emotions. It seems that most people read this after reading The Glass Castle and are let down as a result. I am waiting for the storm to abate and the library to reopen so I can pick that one (prequel?) up. Perhaps it while shed some light on the situation. Either way, I did enjoy this book but not I don't think it quite lives up the LHOTP comparison.
Little Britches: Father and I were Ranchers by Ralph Moody
Funnily enough, I've also heard this book compared to the Little House books but this one was described as "Little House on the Prairie for boys." That's not accurate because I am not a boy but I completely loved it. I can't wait to read the rest of the series about Ralph Moody's adventures growing up on a Colorado ranch. Alas, I was focusing too much on the historical part of the challenge and not enough on the fiction part because I got about 3/4 of the way through before realizing this was a biography and not a fiction book so it doesn't really count for the challenge! I couldn't help talking about it though because it was the best thing I read all month and as you can probably tell from my mistake, it reads more like a novel than a biography :-)
To quote VeggieTales: I laughed, I cried, it moved me [Bob]. And it's true. It's just a beautiful story of a boy growing up. His struggles to be a man are so real and his father's guidance touching without being preachy. By the end you feel as if you know Ralph and the rest of the characters. It made me want to have a son so Craig can read this to him - but wiht or without a boy in the house I'm pretty sure it will be a family read aloud in a few years (yes, I think it is geared more for the younger crowd but don't let that stop you). I'm so glad I finally took my mom's advice to read this book - now I've just got to search through the 10+ boxes of curriculum in my basement to find the rest of the series to read.
Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron
I hadn't even heard of these books when I stumbled upon a reading challenge specifically for them. To be honest, as much as I love both Jane Austen and mysterys, the idea of Jane being a detective seemed a bit corny. I figured I would at least give them a chance though and I am very glad I did. Barron could have easily capitalized on the idea of Jane without staying true to what we actually know about Ms Austen but she doesn't and overall does a good job keeping Miss Austen's character believable while maintaining the mystery plotline. The story was good but perhaps my favorite part of the book was the editor's notes sprinkled throughout the story that give insights into life in early 19th century in general as well as Jane's life specifically. I will be reading more of these.
Half-broke Horses by Jeanette Walls
I love bigmama but wasn't planning to participate in her read-along until I saw that she picked a historial fiction book. Then I couldn't resist it, not just because of the challenge but because it was touted as "Little House on the Prairie for adults." Although I read most of this one on a train, I really felt like I was sitting in Lily's living room listening to her tell me stories about her life on a ranch and then suddenly realizing that put together, they actually had a plot and made up her memoirs. And I can't wait to see what everyone else thinks about this book, especially the main character. The book was engrossing and I liked reading about her, but I don't think I would have actually liked her. For a book written in first person, we just didn't seem to get any sense of emotion from her. Now I'm not sure if that is because 1) Lily truely was very "gritty" and unemotional, 2) Walls viewed Lily through her mother's eyes which made her seem that way or 3) Walls tried too hard to portray Lily as spunky and gritty and as a result, failed to balance her ruggedness with any display of emotions. It seems that most people read this after reading The Glass Castle and are let down as a result. I am waiting for the storm to abate and the library to reopen so I can pick that one (prequel?) up. Perhaps it while shed some light on the situation. Either way, I did enjoy this book but not I don't think it quite lives up the LHOTP comparison.
Little Britches: Father and I were Ranchers by Ralph Moody
Funnily enough, I've also heard this book compared to the Little House books but this one was described as "Little House on the Prairie for boys." That's not accurate because I am not a boy but I completely loved it. I can't wait to read the rest of the series about Ralph Moody's adventures growing up on a Colorado ranch. Alas, I was focusing too much on the historical part of the challenge and not enough on the fiction part because I got about 3/4 of the way through before realizing this was a biography and not a fiction book so it doesn't really count for the challenge! I couldn't help talking about it though because it was the best thing I read all month and as you can probably tell from my mistake, it reads more like a novel than a biography :-)
To quote VeggieTales: I laughed, I cried, it moved me [Bob]. And it's true. It's just a beautiful story of a boy growing up. His struggles to be a man are so real and his father's guidance touching without being preachy. By the end you feel as if you know Ralph and the rest of the characters. It made me want to have a son so Craig can read this to him - but wiht or without a boy in the house I'm pretty sure it will be a family read aloud in a few years (yes, I think it is geared more for the younger crowd but don't let that stop you). I'm so glad I finally took my mom's advice to read this book - now I've just got to search through the 10+ boxes of curriculum in my basement to find the rest of the series to read.
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