If you are looking for an epic story to read this is it. On Agate Hill is a drama that spans much of the life of the Molly, the main character. The Civil War changes the circumstances of her life, as does losing family members, going to boarding school, and marrying for love.
Molly is a very independent, circumspect girl. She grows quite wild, raising herself on the once grand estate of Agate Hill. Her life has been full of loss. Her father died in the war, and her mother and siblings soon after. She lives how she pleases until death takes her uncle and she is forced into going to a private boarding school. At the conclusion of her years at school, she takes up residence in close-knit community in the Appalachian mountains as a school teacher. While there she falls in love and marries, something she swore she'd never do. She has several happy years before things all of the sudden come crashing down on her. And then, coming full circle she goes back "home" to Agate Hill.
I can't say that this was my favorite book. It was a nice story, but that was all that it was. It lacked real literary substance. In a lot of ways it reminded me of a Belva Plain novel, following one character through the triumphs and tragedies of life.
My Rating
Overall: 3 stars
Objectionable Content: Again, this book is kind of like a Belva Plain novel, there is some sexual content.
Book Review: On Agate Hill by Lee Smith
Book Review: Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris
I just finished reading this book about five minutes ago. So while it is fresh in my mind, I will be able to remember all of the details, but I have not given myself time to really ruminate on it much. I do think that it will be a book that will stay with me for a while though.
Five Quarters of the Orange is written by Joanne Harris, who you may recognize by her other popular book, Chocolat. The book is told by an old French woman who returns to the village of her childhood. She has inherited her mother's old scrapbook that is full of recipes, memories, and secrets. As Framboise rebuilds the old farmhouse and starts a little restaurant, she recounts her past. She lived in the farmhouse during the German occupation of WWII. She was nine at the time, but remembers quite clearly the events that led up to her family having to leave the village in disgrace.
I was easily pulled into this story. The characters were well thought out and the storytelling was marvelous. I loved all of the mention of food, even though I'm not familiar with French cuisine. Beware when reading this book. It merrily floats along, keeping you interested the whole time, but it does turn a bit dark. It is a book about family struggles during war, so some of it is not pretty.
My Rating
Overall: 4.5 stars
Objectionable Content: Adult themes, and a fair amount of swearing.
Book Review: Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas
Anyone else a Sandra Dallas fan? I've loved her books since I first read The Persian Pickle Club about 10 years ago. I can't say that I loved Buster Midnight's Cafe, and I haven't read her newest one yet (Prayers for Sale), but I thought that Tallgrass was one of her better novels.
The setting for Tallgrass is very important for the plot of this suspenseful tale. It is set in a small sugar beet farming community in Colorado in the early 1940's. The story opens with Rennie, a smart yet naive, thirteen year old girl at the train station as she is watching a large group of Japanese Americans who have just arrived. They are being hauled off to an internment camp (Tallgrass) that is just down the road from her home. Many of the townspeople are in an uproar over having to live so close to the "enemy." So, befriending some the Japanese Americans during this time of war is very unpopular and creates problems for Rennie and her family.
This book is based on what might have taken place in a small town that was so closely tied to an interment camp. It explores the feelings of the time. To keep the book from being boring, the author injected a little murder mystery into the thick of things. I think this was an excellent addition, since it stirred things up a bit more. The townspeople definitely took sides, and from this a lot of conflict arose. It was a good look into the not too distant past.
My Rating
Overall: 4 stars
Objectionable Content: Adult themes. Really a pretty clean book.
Book Review: The World to Come by Dara Horn
I've got to tell you that I'm a sucker for novels that fictionalize the story of well known artists, writers, musicians, etc. I loved The Girl with the Pearl Earring and The Girl in Hyacinth Blue. So, I was drawn to this book, since it revolves around one of the paintings of Marc Chagall.
The World to Come opens with the main character stealing a Marc Chagall painting from a museum. It continues with this story, but jumps to many other characters' stories and soon you understand that these peoples' lives are all intertwined. They all play an important role in how this painting came to be where it is. The history of this painting is all very interesting, as are the many Yiddish folktales that the author has sprinkled throughout the book. These give some depth to the book, but also are great asides in themselves.
I thought that the book was very imaginative and random. Some may think that it might be better if the author didn't go off on so many tangents, but I really liked this. I thought the last chapter was brilliant, and I would read it again just for the ending. I know it has been compared to The History of Love, but I didn't feel like there was much to compare. I loved both of these books for different reasons.
I think this might make a good read for a book group, if your group is a little bit artsy. It was really very clean and had many subjects that could be discussed (a big one being where we came from and where we go after this life).
My Rating
Overall: 4.5 stars. I loved the stories. I loved the author's imagination. I would give it 5 stars for sure if I had felt a little bit closer to the characters.
Objectionable Content: There were a handful of swear words throughout the book.
Book Review: The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker
Curiosity made me pick up this book. It's about a giant. Besides that, it has so many elements that I enjoy in a book. It has bits and pieces about herbs, magic, and quilts.
The story outlines the life of Truly, a girl who starts out big at birth, and continues to grow at an astronomical rate. She struggles to find herself amid all of the loss that seems to be her lot in life. Her life is not the one that she would have imagined for herself. She is stuck in a life that is humiliating, serving an undeserving relative. The tables do eventually turn for Truly, and she is finally free to live and make decisions for herself.
I felt that this book started out strong and lost a bit of it's momentum. The story is compelling, but too much of it is told in the preface. It is one of those books that does make you think about medical ethics. Is there really only black and white, or does the line sometimes blur and you just follow your heart? It would probably make a pretty good pick for a book club read.
My Rating
Overall: 4 stars. I would probably give it five stars if the story had not lagged.
Objectionable content: There is a part where a character has premarital sex, and there is also some details about a character who is homosexual.
Book Review: So B. It by Sarah Weeks
Sometimes I judge a book by it's cover. This time I was intrigued by the title. When I picked up this book and skimmed the first couple of lines I knew I'd have to read it.
So B. It is a young adult book that although short and simple, has a lot of meaning. It is essentially about twelve year old Heidi who decides that she must uncover the truth about herself. Her life is not the average life of a young girl. She lives with her mentally disabled mother and is being raised by her agoraphobic neighbor. Communication with her mother is limited at best (her mother only has a vocabulary of 23 words), so she doesn't know where she came from or who she is. She shows great courage and determination as she sets out on her quest to solve the mystery of her identity.
I definitely would recommend this book. I was hooked from the first couple of pages. The story was wonderful and the writing style was fun. If you are looking for a quick read that won't disappoint I'd give this one a try.
My Rating
Overall: 5 stars. I thought this book was well done.
Objectionable Content: There is a question of Heidi's parentage, so maybe a more mature theme, but nothing objectionable.
Book Review: Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Esperanza is a thirteen year old girl who has been living a very privileged life in Mexico. It is during the 1930's. Her father is a wealthy land owner and she is loved and adored by everyone around her. Then, life suddenly takes a turn when her father dies and her greedy uncles take over the land. She and her mother are forced to flee, leaving everything they know behind.
Esperanza Rising is a very thought provoking book about the plight of those seeking seasonal employment on the big farms in California during the Great Depression. Esperanza learns the value of hard work and after a while overcomes her selfish ways. She learns what things are really important, along with many other valuable life lessons. It really is a book with some substance to it.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone. I was not bored in reading it, even though it was written for children. I think that I will include it on my list of 'read aloud books to my kids' for the summer.
My Rating
Overall: 5 stars. I thought is was a lovely well written book.
Objectionable Content: none
Book Review: Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas
Well, this book review has been a long time in coming. I've wanted to finish this book for a while, but, you know life sometimes gets in the way.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this in depth biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The title of this book to be exact is is Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Prophet, Martyr, Spy. If you don't already know about Bonhoeffer, then like me, the title alone is intriguing.
Bonhoeffer, born to a wealthy, influential German family in 1906, lived a very privileged, idyllic life. His father was a well-known psychiatrist, and his mother was educated and from a respected, titled family. He grew up in a household that valued study and education. He excelled at anything he set his mind to and became a gifted musician. He really could have chosen any field of study, but at the age of fourteen felt that he had been called to the ministry. This seemed to have perplexed both of his parents, since neither one (especially his father) had ever been religious.
After Dietrich Bonhoeffer finished his studies, he traveled extensively. He was able to observe many different Christian congregations this way, and he made mental notes as to what he believed each had to offer. He soon led his own parish, giving not only highly academic sermons on Sundays, but showing that he was a devoted pastor who gave to children and those in need. He had faith, and believed that God spoke to him. He was a brilliant teacher and loved to teach others to meditate on the scriptures.
At this time, Germany was being changed drastically by Adolf Hitler. Bonhoeffer could see the writing on the wall and decided to act. He was instrumental in forming the Confessing Church which broke away from the German church. Then later, when Germany declared war, he became a member of the resistance.
While reading this book, I was constantly amazed at the sincerity and faith of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He did not waver or stray in his beliefs. He truly was a force for good, a real hero. It has been one of those books that I feel like I am a better person for having read it.
My Rating
Overall: 5 stars for sure! This book was inspiring, informative, and just a great read. The writing style was not boring at all, but actually humorous at times.
Objectional Content: none
Book Review: The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
What a great book. If you are a fan of the gothic romance/mystery type of book (like Rebecca, and The Thirteenth Tale), you will love this novel. It really isn't very dark, or ghost filled, but it is strangely enigmatic.
The basic plot of The Forgotten Garden goes like this: A woman tries to find out her own true identity after learning that she was found as a 4 year old by her "parents." She had been left on the dock of a small port town in Australia, with only a small white suitcase that held a few odd contents. She is in her sixties when she finally tracks down information that leads her to her "home" in England. Circumstances prevent her from uncovering all of the mystery, so it is not until years later when her grandaughter is curious about it all that the details start to fall into place.
The plot summary really doesn't do the book justice. It was very well written. Kate Morton is one of those truly gifted storytellers. She is able to tell the story in such a way that you are hungry to read more. It was suspenseful and fun too. I also enjoyed getting to know all of the characters. They all had very distinct personalities. It is one of those books that seem very familiar (think the Secret Garden). At first this bothered me, but the author creatively remedied this before I ended up thinking that she was just a copycat.
My Rating
Overall: 4.5 stars. I loved the book, I would probably give it 5 stars if I thought that it was all truly original.
Objectionable Content: Well, I don't want to spoil the story, but let's just say that there is some immoral behavior.
Book Review: The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
I think that this was the very first book that my book club read, but I seemed to have missed it somehow. I can now check it off of my to read list. It is a juvenile book that was given the Newberry Medal in 1979, so it could be considered a children's classic.
I thought it was a fun little read. It is a whodunit murder mystery that lets the reader put all of the clues together and guess who the murderer might be. There are sixteen would be heirs and 220 million dollars at stake. There are bombings, and dead bodies, and poisoning? I know this doesn't seem like it would be suitable for children, but really it is very tame. It's just fun. It would be a great book for a child who is ready for something a little more involved than a Cam Jensen or a Nancy Drew book.
I guess my only critism would be that the middle was a bit slow. I thought that I had it all figured out by then and was just waiting for the end to see if I was right.
My Rating
Overall: 3 stars. A child would probably give it a higher rating though.
Objectionable Content: none
Book Review: Riding the Bus With My Sister by Rachel Simon
I don't really know where to start with this book. It was a story of two sisters, but it was also many other things. I almost felt like I should get out pencil and paper and take notes as I was reading.
Riding the Bus With My Sister is a true story, written by the older sister (Rachel) in order to understand her younger, mentally retarded sister (Beth). Rachel agrees to accompany her sister on her bus routes as often as she can for a year. Beth lives on her own and gets along just fine. She has decided that she does not want to work, instead she rides city buses day in, day out. In doing this, she has created a world for herself that she is in control of. Rachel learns about her sister and life in general as she embarks on this journey.
Rachel has a chance to meet all of the people who mean the most to Beth including her boyfriend, her support team, and most importantly the bus drivers. These drivers seem like average, everyday people, but they each have a gift (their time and kindness) that they are more than willing to share.
I was drawn into this book by how candid Rachel seemed to be about her feelings toward her sister. I was able to get a feel for how it might be to grow up with a sibling that has a disability. I also was intrigued by all of the different philosophies of life that there seem to be, as presented by the bus drivers. I guess driving a bus isn't just about driving a bus. I could go on and on about this book. There are a lot of issues that could be discussed, such as medical and social ethics, familial relationships, stereotypes, etc. It should make for a great book club discussion.
My Rating
Overall: 3.5 stars. It was well written. Those who enjoy memoirs will really like this book.
Objectionable Content: none
Book Review: Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larsen
I recently watched a PBS show that aired in 2001 called Frontier House. It is a reality show that chronicled the lives of three families who volunteered to step back in time to the year 1883. These families wanted to see if they had what it took to live the homesteading life in Montana for five months. I bring this up because I think I chose to read this book because I enjoyed the show so much.
Hattie Big Sky is a young adult book about a sixteen year old girl, during the WWI era, who inherits her uncle's homestead. As an orphan, she jumps at the chance to move West, escaping yet another undesirable situation living with extended family. Once in Montana, she learns that she only has a few months to prove up her homestead if she wants the deed to the land.
I loved that this book was such a nice clean read. I applaud the author for including Christian themes such as, "God works in mysterious ways," and to live honorably and be courageous. In reading the author's notes, I found out that she based this book on her own great-grandmother who came to Montana and homesteaded by herself. I love real history like this!
In critiquing this book, I think that I would have to say that it could have used more detail. I wanted to see it all in my mind, but had a hard time picturing things. I also think that it is a little bit hard to believe that a girl so young would be safe out by herself on the frontier.
My Rating
Overall: probably 3.5 stars.
Objestionable Content: none
My Summer with Julia by Sarah Woodhouse
Well, I don't have much to say about this book. I don't think it was worth the time that I spent to read it, even though it was a short book.
In a nutshell, a middle aged, British portrait artist spends a lot of time trying to both remember and forget a long lost friend. This friend, who has recently died, has bequeathed her a box of memories that she is now sorting though.
I usually like to read novels written in first person, but this not this one. It made it confusing. It was hard to distinguish the flashbacks from the present. I found the story very ho-hum (boring), I'm not sure why I even decided to finish it.
My Rating
Overall: 1 star
Objectionable Content: none
Book Review: The Help by Kathry'n Stockett
I decided to jump on the bandwagon and read this book. It is so popular right now, and many of my friends on goodreads have given it four and five stars. After reading it, I too will recommend it to others.
To give you an overview, the setting is 1963 in Jackson, Mississippi. The civil rights movement has just begun, but things change slowly. There are still distinct lines that cannot be crossed in this society that is far from being color blind.
In this novel, the reader is privy to the happenings of both the young, white socialites and the black maids who serve them. Among this group of socialites, is one who is all of the sudden seeing things as they really are - not right and unfair. She coerces one of her friends' maids to tell her story. Pretty soon things really get rolling, and once they are rolling there is no turning back. Lives are changed and maybe Jackson, Mississippi will be changed for the better too.
I felt very much a part of this book from the beginning. It was easy to read and the characters were very well done. I enjoyed reading the story from the different points of view. It was easy to imagine all of the things that happened to these women, they didn't seem that far fetched. I think it made me realize that it hasn't been that long ago that this story could very well have been reality.
My Rating
Overall: 4.5 stars. It's really hard for me to give 5 stars. I loved this book, but the middle dragged a bit, and I would have liked to have heard more of the maids' stories.
Objectionable Content: There was some bad language throughout. Also, a scene that involved a naked man.
Book Review: The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau
The People of Sparks is the sequel to The City of Ember. It is a young adult book about a group of people that emerge into a post-apocalyptic world, after living for generations under the ground in the city of Ember (yes, it was made into a movie that I thought was really quite well done). In this new world they find the city of Sparks. The people there welcome them into their community with some trepidation. Food is still scarce and resources are limited. It becomes apparent that they will have to find creative solutions, if they are to get along with each other and live side by side.
Lina and Doon, who were the main characters from the previous book, play important roles in this book also. They learn a lot of new things when they are suddenly a part of a new and curious world, acquiring skills that they didn't have before. By far the most valuable of these skills is how to keep peace among the two groups of people. They are young enough and courageous enough to follow the dictates of their own conscience, leading their people once again.
I know this is probably one of those books that could easily be picked apart. I'm sure it has flaws in the details of this society that survived. If you look past these though, it is an enjoyable book. It teaches the value of peace and how to avoid war. I would say it also presents the theme of 'doing the right thing,' even when it's hard to do. Really there are a lot of good messages within its pages. I would recommend it to children and adults that liked The Giver by Lois Lowry. It has the same feel, but there is a more satisfactory ending.
My Rating
Overall: 4 stars
Objectionable Content: none
Go Check Out My Book Review
Hop on over to www.homespunlight.blogspot.com. where I have a feature book review published. The book is called Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. It's a book that I know you'll love.
Go ahead and check out this awesome blog. It is another blog that highlights great books that are clean reads.
Book Review: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
Now here's a book that I picked up maybe a year and a half ago when it was at the height of it's popularity. I read the first couple of chapters, then decided that it just wasn't for me. I got to the chapter that was written from the dog's perspective and thought "nope, sorry, can't wade though this." So, I wouldn't have picked it up again, but it was chosen as the next book for my book club to read.
Guess what? I'm glad that I did have the opportunity to try this book again. I enjoyed it from the beginning to almost the end (I'll elaborate on this later). I liked the writing style, which was intelligent and intimate. I also discovered that it follows the story of Hamlet very closely.
So the main character is Edgar, a young teenager, who was born mute. He and his parents live in Northern Wisconsin, in the country where they raise Sawtelle dogs (a special breed that the family has been perfecting for genereations now). He is an only child, but he is far from lonely. He has the companionship of his faithful dog Almondine, who is always looking out for him. Everything seems pretty normal until his long lost Uncle Claude shows up. Edgar seems to have a feeling about him. Then out of the blue his father keels over dead one day. Things don't add up in Edgar's mind. He searches for answers. Meanwhile, his mother takes up with Claude and the story gets increasingly interesting. (Remember, think Hamlet)
I felt very involved in this story. I know some think that there was too much detail about the dog training in places or that the story slowed. I didn't find this the case, I kind of liked how the story meandered a bit. What I didn't like was the ending. I won't spoil it for you, but it lacked power and believability. I was also left wondering about a motive. All in all, I would recommend it to anyone that likes a long book and/or loves dogs.
My Rating
Overall: 4 stars. It could have been a 5 star book, but for the ending.
Objestionable Content: It did have a few swear words here and there. Also, there is the relationship between Edgar's mother and his Uncle Claude that is kind of sick and wrong.
Book Review: Out Came the Sun by Heather Collins
I read a lot of children's books, most of them are fun and cute. Every once in a while I stubble upon one that really captures my attention. This one did because it was different. It is a nursery rhyme anthology, but it also tells a bigger story.
Out Came the Sun has many of the familiar nursery rhymes that we all know and love, like Baa Baa Black Sheep, The Eensy Weensy Spider, and Little Miss Muffet. These are all illustrated beautifully and in such a way that you can follow the pictures from page to page and see what happens in a day in the life of the cute, cuddly characters. I really is a unique way to read and learn nursery rhymes.
My Rating
Overall: 5 stars
Objectionable Content: none
Book Review: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
Randy Pausch, the author of The Last Lecture, decided that he wanted to leave something of himself for his kids after his death. As he gave "the last lecture," (he was a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon) he knew that he only had a few months left to live. He had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. So, you would think that this is a book about dying, but it's not, it's a guide on how to live.
It is all about living out your childhood dreams. Randy Pausch believed that living out your childhood dreams is important and he coaches the reader on how to overcome obstacles to acheive them. His book is full of good, solid common sense advice mixed with a grab bag of memories and eccentricities. He was a truely optimistic person and it shows from beginning to end. There is no sadness in this book, only the attitude that we should all live our lives to the fullest.
My rating
Overall: 3 stars. I really felt like I knew the author after reading this book. He had a lot of good insights into how to live the life you have dreamed of. I guess I'm only giving it 3 stars since there didn't seem to be anything earth shattering in what he said. I enjoyed it, but probably won't keep it on my bookshelf to reread.
Objectionable Content: none
Book Review: The Undaunted by Gerald N. Lund
At 800 pages, it may seem a little daunting to read this book, but it is well worth the effort. It is an amazing story of real people and real events that have been woven into a fun to read narrative. The author's fictional characters blend well with those who lived to tell the tale of the Hole in the Rock trek.
David is the main character. He and his father are miners who come to Utah from England as converts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. After some years, he finds himself in Cedar City, Utah as a mail rider. At this time, many Church members in the area are called to leave their homes and journey to the Four Corners area to found a new settlement that is supposed to help instigate peace in the area. The people that he joins in this little known venture are who we now refer to as the Hole in the Rock pioneers. This is their story.
Even though Gerald Lund takes a long time to get to the "story," I found myself drawn into the book immediately. David and his family are very likable characters and I just couldn't believe what I was reading when he writes about the plight of children who worked from such a young age down in the coal mines. He could have written a whole book on this alone. Once he gets his characters to Utah, I thought the "story" would begin, but then more characters are introduced, and along with them a little romance is thrown in. I enjoyed the romance, it made the story more interesting, and I didn't think that it was too over done.
One thing that I appreciated while reading this book was how the author sited all of his sources. I was able to read little snippets of journal entries and could see that for the most part he followed the actual history of these pioneers pretty closely. These people had great courage and faith. They experienced things that I can only imagine. I feel like I have become a better person just by reading this book.
My Rating
Overall: 4.5 stars. I would recommend this book to anyone. It is very inspirational. Maybe just a bit predictable, but this doesn't detract from the story.
Objectionable Content: None
