Ted Dekker - "The Martyr's Song"



The Martyr's Song (The Martyr's Song Series, Book 1)

      There may only be 144 pages between the two covers of this book, but they are a powerful 144 pages!  This novella is the first book in "The Martyr's Song" series, and is a beautiful melding of two stories in one.  One story is set in modern day (Atlanta, 1960's), and involves an elderly lady who works as a florist and takes an interest in a young "outcast" girl named Marci.  Eve, the older lady, notices Marci and the troubles she's having at school and invites her to her house and offers to change her life.  To say the least, Marci is skeptical, but shows up on Eve's doorstep anyway. 

     Eve proceeds to tell Marci that the story she is about to hear will change her life and make her beautiful.  Marci is instructed to listen and to figure out which of the characters in the story she relates to most, in essence, which character she is and what part she plays in the story.  The worn red book that Eve begins to read from transports both the reader and the listener to a small Bosnian village back in WWII.

     The villagers, composed only of women, children, and an old priest are celebrating a birthday for one of the little girls in town when five soldiers arrive on the scene.  The commander of the small group is incenced that this small village church is still standing and that the town seems to have been unaffected by the war.  Karadzic, the leader, proceeds to wreak havoc upon the villagers and their beloved priest.

     Although the things that the soldiers did were atrocious, to say the least, there was a silver lining to it.  Throughout the terrible and torturous things the priest had to endure, he kept finding himself awakening in a beautiful field of white flowers that is filled with laughter and singing.  He finds that as he endures extreme physical pain for the sake of his Lord, he sees that the world in which his body occupies is not the true reality, and he longs to relinquish his hold on his life in order to enter into the world that he knows he was destined for. 

     Marci finds herself not only enraptured by the story she is told, but finds that she can be made beautiful by it, as are all who hear it, and seek out their place in the story. 

     As in some of the other books that I've read by Mr. Dekker, I found myself completely immersed in the story.  He is an amazing storyteller with a way of pulling his readers into the pages in a very vivid way.  Just like Marci, I wondered where I fit in.  I found myself longing to have the kind of strength of faith that the priest and his flock of women and children exhibited.  I want to know that should I find myself in the situation where I am to deny Christ and live or to stand by Him and die, that I would have the fortitude to make my stand.  Like I said, it's a powerful story...

Baroness Emmuska Orczy - "The Scarlet Pimpernel"

     If you're in the market for a good historical fiction, filled with lords and ladies, crafty disguises, sneaky spies, dire situations, and ingenious escapes, then I recommend you check out this much beloved classic!  This tale has been retold in various movies, and stage productions, but in my humble opinion, the book is always better ;) 

     Our tale opens in 1792, "the year of grace" with a captain in the army of the republic bragging about how none of the sneaky members of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel have gotten any royal refugees past his barricade because of his keen eyes!  Shortly after, a loathsome, haggard old woman takes her vegetable cart through that very same barricade to visit her grandson with smallpox.  Lo and behold, that very same "woman" was in actuality the man, the myth, the legendary Scarlet Pimpernel himself! 

     According to Baroness Orczy, during the French Revolution, there was a band of English spies who risked life and limb to smuggle those who were headed to Mme. Guillotine out of the country to their neighboring refuge, England.  This group consisted of about 20 young, gallant, and even wealthy English gentlemen who were lead by one resourceful and daring genius who called himself The Scarlet Pimpernel (named after a small red English flower).   

The Scarlet Pimpernel

     Some of the main characters are Sir Percy Blankney, Marguerite (his wife), Armand St. Just (her brother), Chauvelin (a malicious French spy), Andrew Ffoulkes, and a hoard of other minor characters.   Marguerite is a young French woman who is hailed as the wittiest woman in Europe, and everyone is surprised when she marries Sir Percy as he is said to be somewhat dimwitted and foppish (a lovely English term used to describe vain man who is mostly concerned about their appearance and dress).  With Sir Percy's vast fortune and lovely wife, he is touted as one of the luckiest men around, as well as one of the most popular and fashionable as he is always impeccably dressed for every occasion.  Marguerite and Percy have been married about a year at this point in the story and their love has grown cold, she feels trapped in a marriage that began wonderfully, but due to an earlier indiscretion on her part, they grew apart.  She tries throughout the story to re-ignite that love.

     One of the biggest plot lines that comprises this story is that of the rescue of The Comte de Tournay.  At the beginning of the story, Sir Andrew delivers The Comtesse de Tournay and her two children to the Fisherman's Rest, a little inn near the coast of Dover, England.  As this plot is unfolding, Chauvelin makes his way to England in an attempt to solicit information regarding The Scarlet Pimpernel so that the next time our hero sets foot upon French soil, he can be arrested and escorted to the Guillotine.  As fate would have it, Chauvelin discovers information about Armand St. Just and uses it as leverage against Marguerite.  He offers her a deal: She finds out what she can about The Scarlet Pimpernel and his identity, and Chauvelin will personally see to it that Armand gets out of France safely.

     What happens????? You'll just have to read it to find out!  This is certainly an action packed story that boasts some pretty tense moments throughout.  There is a fair amount of mystery and suspense within these pages as well.  I do have to say, that it took a chapter or two to really grab my attention, but from that point on, it was a page-turner, through and through!!!!

Louisa May Alcott - "Little Women"

     Long time, no blog, I know, but here is the latest edition, and it's hot off the press too!  I've just finished Louisa May Alcott's famous classic, "Little Women."  I read it when I was a kid, and have enjoyed the movie over and over so I figured it was time to revisit this much beloved book.  I don't even know if I can do this book justice here in my humble blog.  It's so good, and I'm afraid there's nothing I can say here that will express the greatness that is this story.  Seriously?!?!?! What does one write about "LITTLE WOMEN"??? I'll give it a go regardless...

     This lovely little gem tells the story of four sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March.  It is both written, and set in the 1860's during the Civil War.  The story starts in the winter while their father, Mr. March, is away doing his duty with the Union army as a chaplain, and the five March women (the four girls and their beloved mother, "Marmee") are home waiting for his return.  The family is suffering financial poverty, and the book tells of how they all learn to make do with what they do have.  The story begins when the girls are young, Meg is about 16, Jo 15, Beth 13, and Amy is 10 or so, and it follows their lives throughout their, "coming of age." 

    Each of the girls has their own passions that are explored throughout the length of the novel.  Meg is a very prim and proper young lady who longs to have a carefree life, and to be able to "live in the lap of luxury" as some of her wealthier friends do instead of have to work as a governess.  She's very conscious of others' view of her.  Jo is a tomboy who fancies herself a playwright, actress, "man of the house," adventurer, poet, and author.  Beth is quiet and caring; she's a homebody, the mother to a family of dolls, the care-taker of cats and their kittens, and a gentle domestic servant of the household.  Beth is the musician in the family; she loves to play her piano, and continually longs for new music to learn and play for the family.  Amy is a precocious little blond girl who wants to marry a wealthy man and be a gracious and elegant gentlewoman in the upper echelons of society as well as a great artist.

Little Women (Oxford World's Classics)

    The story tells of both the public and private lives of all of the characters, and I found myself getting attached to them all.  Each girl's story is about their own struggles they face as they experience the rites of passage one encounters on their journey to womanhood.  It's an interesting peep into what life was like for girls in that era.  So much has changed since then, some things for the better, and others...not so much. 

     There is a very strong "message of morality" woven throughout the book, and for the most part it is truly, "woven into" the story as opposed to being preached outright.  The girls all make decisions throughout their coming-if-age and are all experience the consequences.  These little women are encouraged to live rightly and to become good women. 

     As I said before, there's no way I can do justice to such an enduring classic, and I haven't really, so I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the past, and what it was like to live as a woman then.  As cliche as it may sound, reading this made me want to be a better person.  It contains a truly heartwarming tale, and I'm so glad I re-read it to refresh my memory.

     Enjoy the classics; they're "classic" for a reason ;)
    

Francine Rivers - "Unafraid"

     She's most certainly done it again!  This is the fifth book in the "Lineage of Grace" series by Francine Rivers based upon the five women listed in Matthew's account of the genealogy of Christ.  I've read the other four books in the series, but this was my favorite.  This is the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus as told from her perspective.  It is based on the Biblical account of her life as well as some of the events in Jesus' life.  Mrs. Rivers prayerfully takes artistic license throughout the story to create dialog, character feelings and motivations, and the like to create a poignant picture of what Mary's life of obedience very well might have been like. 

     Mary was an average, poor peasant girl in Nazareth, but she chosen by God to bear his son, Jesus, the Messiah.  She was probably about fourteen years of age when an angel appeared to her and delivers the message that God had chosen her as his vessel.  She was betrothed (engaged) to Joseph at the time.  Could you imagine having to tell your fiance' that although you are a virgin, that you are pregnant with God's baby.  GULP!  Although there is not too much mentioned in the Bible about Mary's life, Mrs. Rivers delivers a beautiful telling of this woman's tale. 


Unafraid: Mary (The Lineage of Grace Series #5)

      Mary (and Joseph for that matter) is a inspiring example of obedience regardless of the cost.  She said "yes" to what God asked of her.  She said "yes" to being willing to become pregnant as an unwed woman in a culture that stoned adulterous people.  She said "yes" to following her husband from place to place when God told him to go regardless of the seeming absurdity of it.  She said "yes" (though with some difficulty) to releasing Jesus into his season of ministry even though it meant having to wonder who would provide for her and her family.  Astounding! 

     I pray I have the courage to say "yes" to what God asks of me.  Mary had "built a history" with God in her faith by trusting Him in the everyday little things.  As she chose to follow God in the little things, He asked bigger and bigger things of her.  Because she had seen His faithfulness in earlier examples throughout her life, she trusted Him with the big things too.  Kinda' like "practice makes perfect;" practice saying "yes" and trusting and it becomes easier to do over time.  He always showed Himself faithful to her even when things didn't turn out as she expected.  Does it EVER happen that way?

     Please read this book, it is TRULY inspirational, and in my case brought about a renewed fervor to examine my life and the choices I make.  God has blessed Francine Rivers with a talent, and she in turn, honors Him with it.  Lovely!

     I encourage you to read this and then step back a little, and see what God does.

 

Lauren Willig - "The Masque of the Black Tulip"

     Hello one, hello all!  It seems like it's been an eternity since I've had a chance to blog.  Of course my blogging involves me having the time to FINISH a book so I have something interesting (or not, depending on the book in question) to blog about.

     I've just finished the second novel in Lauren Willig's "Pink Carnation" series.  This is a series of books set in the late 1700's - early 1800's (during the Napoleonic war) in various European countries (namely England and France).  There are actually two distinct story lines throughout the book; one is in the aforementioned era, and the second is current day.  The more modern story's star heroine is Eloise Kelly, an American grad student who is in England doing research for her dissertation on espionage during the Napoleonic wars.  She's primarily interested in the Pink Carnation (and discovers that the Pink Carnation was actually a woman!) and comes in contact with an elderly woman who is a descendant of the Purple Gentian (yet another flowery-named spy).  Mrs. Aderly allows Eloise access to personal documents regarding her family history and Eloise's topic of interest.  It's also very convenient that Mrs. Aderly's grandson who is in charge of these historical documents happens to be a good-looking intelligent guy named Colin.  Never a bad thing, right?!
    
     As Eloise is pouring over the old correspondence and journals of Colin's ancestors, she becomes totally immersed in the story of Miles Dorrington and Henrietta Selwick.  Henrietta is the younger sister of Richard Selwick, otherwise known as the Purple Gentian, and Miles is Richard's best friend since their childhood.  In the last book, "The Secret History of the Pink Carnation," Richard and Amy (his now wife) were the main subjects of the story, but this one picks up where the last book left off, and shifts it's focus from them to Miles and Henrietta. 

     We learn in this book, that the Black Tulip, a notorious and dangerous French operative is in London!  With Richard and Amy out of the picture (read the previous book) the English War Office recruits Miles to help discover the identity of the renown spy and capture him.  Henrietta is an adventurous and precocious (not to mention verbose) seventeen-year-old debutante who is dead set on being a spy and contributing to the war effort.  All this while Jane Wooliston, the Pink Carnation and Henrietta's cousin, is in France attempting to sabotage the French operations and asks Hen to act as her eyes and ears on the English front.  The two women write copious amounts of letters to one another in a specific code designed to bore anyone who might happen upon it to tears whilst still imparting important information.  They use terms like "Coffee, the taking of" which REALLY means "a situation of extreme peril, frequently requiring urgent assistance."  Pretty clever if you ask me.  On a more personal note, Richard asks Miles to keep an eye out for Hen as he is no longer available to play the protective big brother.  As you can guess, just as in the last book, the two main characters end up falling in love.  Didn't see that one coming, right? 

     Overall this book is a fun, very entertaining, and adventurous read.  Ms. Willig does a great job of researching the time period and goes so far as to correct any inaccuracies she made in the name of artistic license in the back of the book.  I love how easy it is to really picture yourself in the time period that the story takes place.  The author has created a colorful cast of characters who are easy to relate to along with an espionage story line that keeps you guessing.  She transitions nicely between the modern and historical story lines and does a great job of creating necessary tensions without causing the reader stress.  It was a good, quick read for me with AWESOME vocab.  (If you hadn't noticed by now, I'm a HUGE fan of parenthetical phrases and authors with impressive and creative vocabularies.)

     I do have to say that this is MOSTLY a chick-lit, historical fiction novel, but it can easily be construed as a historical romance as well.  Yes, most bubblegum reading has a strong love story contained between the covers, I do realize that, but not all of them have a fairly detailed "bodice-ripping scene" or two among the pages.  Definitely a PG-13+ scene or two in here.  In defense of the scene-in-question, (and keep in mind that this was characteristic of the time period) **mild spoiler alert** the lovers didn't love until after their wedding.**end of possible spoiler**  However, there might have been a "flash of brief nudity" nestled in the "dating" stage of the relationship.  Yes, I may be old fashioned, I may use too many "quotes," and I may like some romantic elements in my "pink" books, but I'm really not a big fan of detailed love scenes.  There, you've been warned.....

     Happy reading!

                   The Masque of the Black Tulip (Pink Carnation)

Francine Rivers - "Her Daughter's Dream"

Her Daughter's Dream (Marta's Legacy)

     I've said it before, and I will say it again, and again, and again, and well, you get the point... I LOVE FRANCINE RIVERS' BOOKS!!!  She writes stories with "real life grit," with spiritual truths embedded, with pictures of extravagant love, and with a poignancy that is truly nothing short of a gift.  I was up till almost 3 a.m. finishing this one, because I simply could NOT put it down! 
 
     The story picks right up where the previous book left off.  Hildemara Rose's daughter Carolyn is a small child in the early 1950's who is being raised mostly by Marta, her "Oma" due to Hildie's health problems and hectic work schedule.  This causes a lot of resentment on Hildie's part because it feels like Marta's taking over.  Through the 50's, Carolyn grows up with loving her Oma dearly, while misunderstanding her own mother's feelings and desires.Carolyn graduates high school, and is off to UC Berkley in the mid 1960's.  

     It's at this point in the book where Carolyn experiences a great loss in her life and throws herself headlong into the turbulent Haight-Ashbury drug-leaden counter-culture hippy movement.  She experiences all manners of things from life in a communal house, the summer of love, the loss of her best friend, to living life as a starving homeless woman in golden gate park.  It is during her last few desperate days as a homeless woman, that she has an encounter with Jesus Christ, and her life is truly touched.  Through a series of events (that you will have to discover on your own as you consume this book...) Carolyn ends up back in her parents' home, pregnant with her daughter.

     May Flower Dawn is born in the early 1970's and is primarily raised by Hildemara.  (Just as Carolyn was raised by Marta.)  Throughout high school, Dawn lives the life of a church-going-Christian, but through her relationship with her first love, Jason she comes to the realization that her relationship with Christ is only skin-deep.  Throughout her college years, Dawn delves into knowing God wholeheartedly.  After spending her whole lifetime being pulled from both sides by the two women she loves most, (as well as growing us with a misconception of her own mother's sentiments towards her) and experiencing her own life struggles, Dawn seeks to act as a bridge between Carolyn and Hildie and their tempestuous relationship.     

      There are so many different story lines and plot points throughout this two-book series, it kinda' makes my head spin, but each different story is so well thought out, delicately told, and not to mention, is beautifully woven throughout the fabric of the whole story, it's worth the read.  Undoubtedly!  Just as in the first book, the delicate subject of the mother-daughter relationship is depicted in a difficult-to-read way.  It's hard, as the reader, to know just how each character really feels, but to see them all misconstrue and misinterpret each others' responses and intentions toward one another.  I really like the way that Francine was able to use the actual history of the US as part of the context of the novel that helped to shape each of her characters in a very tangible way.  It would not have the same depth without it.  This saga is an amazing work of art that should be read by women everywhere! 


     I hope that you are not confused after reading this post!  I have to say that is was very difficult for me to not give the heavily layered and detailed story away and still put together a coherent review.  My suggestion...read the book for yourself! 


Awaiting the next Francine Rivers book with bated breath...
    

Francine Rivers - "Her Mother's Hope"

     Well, well, well, she's done it again!  Francine has crafted yet another entrancing novel that is impossible to tear your eyes away from.  This is the first in a two novel series; the second book is titled "Her Daughter's Dream."  I can't WAIT to read the conclusion to this story! 

Her Mother's Hope (Marta's Legacy)

     Francine has eloquently tackled the delicate intricacies of the mother-daughter relationship in this novel.  This story is set in the late 1800's through the 1950's beginning with Marta's early life in Switzerland and following her relationship with her family, namely, her mother.  She's a very driven woman who grows up to make a very full life for herself.  Part of Marta's journey includes marrying and raising four children, a son and three daughters.  Just like any family, each child has their own personalities and gifts, but the real heart of the story is the relationship between Marta and her eldest daughter, Hildemara Rose. 

     Hildemara is a very different person than Mara both by nature as well as by nurture, (as you will see in the book, because you should read it!) and this causes a lot of tension between these two main characters.  I don't want to give the story away, because I would love for you to read it and enjoy it as I have. 

     I do have to say this book was a little hard to read due to the fact that Francine does a marvelous job of creating a necessary tension between her characters.  There is a lot of strain that weighs on the relationship between Hildemara and Marta; it has a lot to do with what each of them doesn't know about the other.  As the reader, you know each character's background, motivations, and though processes, but the characters are not communicating that to each other thus creating another level of tension woven into the fabric of the novel. 

     Sorry for the long gap between entries, but we moved two times in the past month, and that doesn't really allow much time for reading, but I will start the conclusion to "Her Mother's Hope" SOON!

     I recommend a good book, a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks, and a super comfy chair to help soothe all of your "fall"-in-Texas allergy symptoms.

Anna Godberson - "Splendor"

     I think "Didn't see THAT coming..." is a more appropriate title for this too-hot-to-handle novel.  Once again Ms. Godberson delivers yet another dose of 350+ pages filled with glamorous girls, scandalous secrets, and gobs of expendable cash.  This book is another snapshot of pretty young girls living life at the pinnacle of high society with too much money, too much time, too many dirty little secrets, and entirely too many opportunities to twist a plot.  Kinda' makes me wish I was an upper echelon debutante then and there and with that much money.

     This is that last of the four-book series and the author does a great job of wrapping up each of the story lines.  She doesn't necessarily end the various plots in ways that one would expect either.  That was very refreshing, especially since it falls under the "young adult" genre.  The writing style remains the same throughout the series, and this book is no exception.  Each chapter begins with a few sentences that give you a veiled preview of the chapter to come, and each chapter is usually about a different thread in the plot line tapestry which keeps the pages turning.  You never know what is coming in this series.  One of the things I really liked about the novel is that the characters all pretty much "got what was coming to them," meaning that all "had to face the music," or "reap what they sowed."  Ok, enough with the cliches!  They all had to live with the consequences of their actions.  I LOVE IT!  It's a novel idea (pun totally intended) in the teen fiction genre.  Yes, it's a fairy tale, and a lovely one at that, but it isn't so out of touch with reality that the totally unrealistic occurs. 
Splendor: A Luxe Novel (The Luxe)

     The book is a great way to expand your vocabulary, especially in relation to textiles, colors, and French decor.  The style allows for easy reading, but it's not brainless reading.  I almost tangibly felt the grandeur of some of the fancy parties the diva-like debutants attended in the plush mansions and hotels of that era (and socio-economic status) as well as the floods of emotions that these characters experience throughout the book.  I love the sensation of closing my book and letting the realization hit me that, "Wow, I was here the whole time, not actually tippling expensive champagne or dancing with Henry, Teddy, or the Prince of Bavaria in my magnificent gown!"  I'd say the author does an outstanding job when that's your experience...

     I think the series as a whole was entertaining, especially this last edition.  I discovered that Anna Godberson has begun work on a new series "Bright Young Things" which seems similar in nature, but is set in the roaring 20's as opposed to the turn of the century.  I don't foresee myself delving into the next series soon (if ever).  I just have too many other literary delights on my plate, awaiting my consumption before I start the next "teen queen" series.  (I don't mean that in any way derogatorily, it's just my opinion on the matter.) 


Until we meet again: eat, read, and be merry!

Francine Rivers - "Unspoken"

     I love Francine Rivers' writing so much!  She is probably my very favorite author of all time, but that's really hard to say so, just to keep from losing sleep over it, I'll rank her in the "Top 3" for now.  I actually got to "meet" her at a Barnes & Noble book-signing this past May.  As embarrassing as it is, I was totally star-struck.  For being such a verbose person, it was very unsettling to not be able to utter a single cohesive sentence.  Hubby to the rescue!  Yes, I did drag my dear sweet, tolerant husband to a Francine Rivers signing.  There were about 200 women, and about 6 very patient men in attendance. 

     When my turn came to put my newly purchased copy of  "Her Mother's Hope" (soon to be read!) on the table, I could not make my brain send words to my mouth.  I just kept thinking, "Oh my goodness, it's REALLY her.  The woman who actually writes down the words to the books that I can't put down!"  I put my copy of "Redeeming Love" down as well, hoping against hope that the B&N event Nazi wouldn't publicly harass me for not obeying orders to only bring the pertinent book to the "Her Mother's Hope" signing.  I was so hoping she'd sign my copy of "Redeeming Love" because that book changed my life.  I have owned about 6 or 7 copies of it throughout the years because I keep lending it out.  All of the people I lend it to end up asking me if I mind if their friend so-and-so reads it.  I answer "Sure! as long as they pass it on as well."  Needless to say, this copy will not get lent out!  Mrs. Rivers did sign both books and even included a scripture reference in each book. 
    
     As I was standing there dumbfounded, my always apropos Hubby strikes up a conversation asking her what her advice to aspiring writers was, and even made the comment, "I hear you like gardening.  I want to start a garden too."  (I had just finished "Leota's Garden" and had told Hubby my little "back of the book trivia" for the day, that she not only writes, but also has a garden.)  She said, "Never give up."  He offered up his little writer's notepad that LIVES in his back pocket for her to sign as well.  A very elegant, gracious, Godly, and ingenious woman!

   Now... on to the good stuff.                                                                              Unspoken: Bathsheba (The Lineage of Grace Series #4)

     "Unspoken" is the novella Mrs. Rivers wrote about Bathsheba, one of the five women mentioned in Matthew's account of the lineage of Christ.  She was the wife of Uriah, one of David's trusted mighty men, and was very beautiful.  David saw her bathing one day, and decided that she should be brought to his personal chambers for some illicit quality time.  They ended up having an affair that produced a son.  In an attempt to cover up their sin, David ends up having Uriah killed.  Double whammy! 

     What is so beautiful about this story is how, despite some very grievous sins (aren't they all?!), God still called David, "A man after God's own heart," and He still honored Bathsheba by giving her a place in the bloodline of Jesus Christ himself.  This is obviously a work of fiction, but it is hemmed in prayer and stems from a heart that desires to please God and honor His Word.  She says from the get-go that there is artistic license taken throughout the work, as there almost has to be in order to round out the story.

     This work does an outstanding job of showing the mercy and grace that God freely extends to us despite our most despicable and deplorable behaviors.  King David fornicated, murdered, tried to bring an honest man into sin to cover his sin, and STILL God calls him a "Man after God's own heart."  Amazing!  As always, Francine Rivers captures your imagination and heart from the beginning of the story, and gives you a vehicle by which to feel as though you are a part of the story.  History comes alive.  I felt my heart race a little when David summons Bathsheba to his room and woos her.  I felt guilt and shame right along with the characters, as well as joy when God blesses them despite it all.  Don't get it wrong, there are still some pretty hairy consequences for their actions that they must face, but that's the nature of the beast, I think.

     It's so easy to empathize with these characters when the writing is so wonderful.  When I finish one of her books, I am always inspired me to want to live my life for God in a more passionate way than before I had read the book.  God has gifted Mrs. Rivers in an awesome way, and I for one am thankful for it.

     And now, for something completely different...

Charles Dickens - "A Tale of Two Cities"

     One memorial service, one and one - half months, three mini vacations, and one VERY LONG Brit. lit classic later, "The B!+@h is Back" - Sir Elton John  (I thought I'd stick with the British theme one second longer).

     The way this came about is mainly because I needed to soothe my conscience.  "How?" You ask.  Toward the end of my senior year of high school I was supposed to write a book report on this timeless classic.  I had a perfect GPA (no, seriously), a bad case of "Senioritis," and no desire to ACTUALLY read this book.  I know, it surprises me too.  I did, however, write a report worthy of a B+ based on the CliffsNotes version of it.  Sorry Mrs. Brown!  A full decade passed before I decided that it was time to make amends.

     It actually took FOREVER to read this book, partially because my brain hasn't had to digest Victorian English and it's extensive vocabulary for just under the ten year mark, and also because I've had an extremely full plate over the past month and a half.  I discovered that it's difficult to read classics when there is anything else going on in your life (music, work, cats, car sickness, etc) which is probably why I've never read it until now.

 A Tale of Two Cities

     That's right, I still have my mom's copy from 1962.  An interesting side note: Whoever worked for Scholastic Publishers the year that this edition went to print should lay off the drugs.  The reason being that one of the MAIN characters, Sydney Carton, has his name spelled as such.  If you read the summary on the back of this edition it's written Sidney Carton.  Hmm...  Now, enough about my personal life, and on with the show.

     When I first began the story it was like pulling teeth to read.  I didn't understand a lot of the language (or much of the history of the French Revolution, for that matter).  Lately I've mostly only consumed books that don't take much brain power to digest.  I have to admit, once I got through the first 364 (of 468) pages, I began to see where it was going, and to actually WANTED to finish it.  Sad, right?  Anyway, as I began to get a picture of what it was like to be there in Late 1700's France and England, according to Chuck, it started to make a little more sense.  I do own up to visiting http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/twocities/for some extra comprehension, and I actually made a 96% on their quiz too!

     I must admit, that despite all the difficulties, I really enjoyed the way Dickens weaves together this twisted and somewhat dark tale of kharma, altruism, and a love triangle set with the bloody French Revolution as it's backdrop.  I'm not saying that I am ready to jump into another classic right away, or that I like a book to take +/-  1-1/2 months to complete, but I am saying that I feel like I've made amends with my conscience and have the bragging rights to say that I've now read one of literature's greatest.

     The characters in this book were written in such a way as to represent a people group ("Jaques" the mender of roads), or to act as a full personification of a character trait (Lucie displaying ultimate gentility and compassion; Madame Defarge is a prime example of one who will stop at nothing to extract revenge whether it be deserved or otherwise).  Dickens even uses their names to help convey the depth or extent of their portrayal of a trait (Mr. Stryver strives for a better position in life).

     The plot is very well written to where the different plot lines and plot points are so delicately weaved into the story that when the end comes, it catches you off guard.  At least it did in my case.  I do have to say that I'm glad I finally read it, and enjoyed it (at least the end).  It was really hard to get through a lot of it because I had trouble seeing where it was leading me, however; in the end it was worth it.

     I hope you enjoyed my brief and fairly inarticulate opinion of one of literature's greats.  Please come back for my next episode right here at the same bat time on the same bat channel.

Until then, my friends Adieu...

Anna Godbersen - "Envy"

Envy (Luxe, Book 3)

     Aahh, the continuing drama of the early 1900's high society teen queens, what's more entertaining?  This is the third book in the "Luxe" series by Anna Godbersen.  I have to admit that I bought the first book "Luxe" for the cover.  (Shh, don't tell anyone!)  The series is full of money, manipulation, pretty girls, gossip, more money, pretty boys, love, lust, bad timing, good timing, and a bunch of guff pertaining to the "rules of society."

     It's most definitely a result of the latest teeny-bopper idea of the "frienemy,"  you know them; the kind of girl who is your friend for the sake of not rocking the boat amongst your whole group of friends, but is really a horrible passive-aggressive manipulator.  It's all in the same vein as the movie "Mean Girls."  If you have questions, please start your research there with Tina Fey, Lindsay Lohan, and Rachel McAdams. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFP68RpX1Fg&feature=related 

     Ms. Godbersen writes uses very formal language, and a style that keeps you on your toes.  I really like that each chapter starts with a little blurb relating to the contents of the upcoming section.  It's like an amuse-bouche for your literary eyes.  (I can't get away from the dining terms; I relate everything to food, sorry! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amuse-bouche)  Though the chapters generally move forward through the timeline and plot, each one is generally not about the same character or storyline as the one before it.  You never know what (or who) you will get next.  I did have to keep my dictionary handy though.  Kudos for that, Anna!

     The author also does a good job of weaving many twists and turns into the plot, some predictable, some not at all expected.  Her villain, Penelope, is one of the craftiest girls around; there is no end to what she will do to keep herself on top.  She's truly vicious.  One way that Anna keeps you turning the pages is to intermingle a good amount of verbal misunderstandings, visual misinterpretations, as well as unfortunate timing on the part of some of the main players a la the demise of "Romeo and Juliet."  All of these contribute to a tumultuous ride that gives you just a hint of what the characters experience, meanwhile all the characters are stuck within the strict social framework of New York's high-society circa 1900.

     I'm not a huge fan of cattiness, and gossip, so the subject of the book is somewhat hard to stomach, but the way it's presented is amusing.  If nothing else, you can stare at the pretty cover.

It's not always wrong to judge a book by it's cover, just don't make a habit of it...

Elizabeth Kostova - "The Historian"

      Holy Cow, this was an enormous undertaking of a novel!  It's right about 650 pages of Dracula lore, diary entries, and research.  This was Elizabeth Kostova's debut novel, and has won a few awards, which is somewhat uncommon for a first publication.  I truly have mixed feelings about the book.  It was lent to me by a fellow bibliophile, English professor, author extraordinaire, and good friend, one Mr. Rum Fitts.  He also expressed similar mixed feelings. 

     The book is a mixture of narrative by an unnamed teenage girl, oral accounts, journal entries, and written correspondence.  It is also an amalgamation of genres including: adventure, historical fiction, and horror.  It's the story of a young girl living in Amsterdam with her father; together, they travel all over Europe, and have a simple, loving relationship.  One day, she finds an old book in her dad's library that piques her interest, and spurs her desire to purse knowledge of Vlad Tepes, more commonly known by his legendary name, Dracula.  Between her own research, her father's journal, and eventually following in her father's footsteps (literally), she discovers her family history, what really happened to her absentee mother, and a lot of eastern European history and folklore.

                                    HISTORIAN / A NOVEL 

   I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book as light reading, or even as an attention grabber (despite it being a vampire novel, in essence).  The plot starts off at a pretty jaunty pace, but slows to a dreadful crawl somewhere between half-way to two-thirds of the way through.  Don't get me wrong, there are some unexpected twists and turns, but I had to really "want it" to read to completion.  I think overall, if you have nothing better at hand, go for it, but go ahead and carve out a chunk of undisturbed reading time to accomplish this feat.

     Upon beginning the story, I had high expectations of a page turner, and a high adventure story; I was somewhat disappointed in the lost potential.  Also, the climax was definitely not what I wanted.  For all the 600 pages of build-up, I expected more of a "bang."  The plot was well constructed, and well laid out, but there was an unsatisfactory ending that felt hastily "tacked on." 

     I did however; enjoy Kostova's ability to really allow the reader to be present in the settings.  Her descriptions of sights, smells, sensations, and overall scenery were outstanding.  One could really imagine the physical aspects of the scene as it took place.  Good job, Elizabeth!  The thing I liked the most, however, was how every character, from the narrator, to the minor foil characters, and even including Dracula himself had an immense appreciation and deep love of books and all things literary.  Each character in their own way, passionately immersed themselves in research whether historical or otherwise.  How can a dedicated reader not eat that up?

Maybe this book will give you something to do over your spring break "staycation."

Francine Rivers - "Unashamed"

      Yay!  My favorite author ever!  I have a love / hate relationship with her books.  Let me explain, I love them and devour them so quickly, and I hate that they have to end.  She is a former Romance Author turned Christian Fiction master.  She has done two different series of novellas based on various Biblical characters and much, much more.  "Unashamed" is part of the "Lineage of Grace" series based on the five women mentioned in Saint Matthew's account of the Lineage of Christ.

Unashamed: Rahab (The Lineage of Grace Series #2)

    

     This book is based on the passage in Joshua that talks about Rahab the Jerichoan harlot.  Rivers uses artistic lisence for sure to create dialogue, charater's motivations, as well as romantic inclinations.  She does so in a way that gives you a special and tangible way to relate to this woman who lived in a different time, place, and culture.  It makes me stand in awe of God's power to do the miracles He does, and of the way He works in the hearts of man.  Rivers helps bring the Bible's account of the battle of Jericho to life through this short, well written novel. 

     One of the reasons I really adore Rivers' works is that she truly knows the workings of the human heart.  She writes of love (for the Lord and for others) in such a way, it makes the reader's heart relate and come alive.  Who doesn't enjoy that?  I am always inspired by her literature.  I hope you give her a try and come to love her writing as I do. 

Stay thirsty, friends (for books)!

Nancy Moser - "Mozart's Sister"

     I love the sense of accomplishment that accompanies the finishing of yet another book!  It's such a great feeling to add another work to the continually growing "already read" stack of books.  Can anyone relate, or am I just that big a bookworm?

Mozart's Sister

     I just finished "Mozart's Sister," an historical fiction by Nancy Moser.  I've not read anything else she's done, and am not really tempted to.  Is it wrong of me to not give her a second chance?  I love Mozart, and have since I was a child.  His music is beautiful and inspiring, and his life story is interesting and tragic.  I even got to visit his childhood home in Salzburg, Austria.  I was hooked.  Oh yeah, and he had a sister.......

     Thus the premise of the aforementioned novel.  I knew he had a sister, but never knew much about her.  She was six years, his senior, and just as talented as Wolfgang, but was overlooked due to her sex.  Simply because she was a female, she was not really even given a chance at notoriety (outside of her childhood performances with Wolfgang), or even an opportunity to do much composing.  It was an intriguing (and depressing) look into 18th century life.  I had not really realized how utterly dependent women were made to be upon men.  

     I like the idea of the book, but not so much the presentation.  I can't really put my finger on why I didn't really enjoy this book as much as I expected to, but I'll give it a shot.  It is rare that I start a book, and have to really push through it by force of will to get to the end, but this took a little work.  The information it contained both about the time period, and about the Mozart family piqued my interest, but I found her writing style to be a little bland.  Generally I really enjoy reading stories written in the first person, but I found this one to be dull.  It was a little "whiney" and riddled with "daddy loves you more" sibling rivalry syndrome.  I understand that is what it was probably like, but it just got old after the first few chapters.  The last few chapters of the book about her later life were intriguing, but I understand not much information is available about that period of her life.  The Mozart family wrote and saved much of their correspondence to one another, and Ms. Moser used those as part of the research for the book, but most of those letters were written during her childhood and young adult years. 

    

     Reading this novel makes me appreciate indoor plumbing, and antibiotics all the more.  I am also grateful that for me, in this country, at the time in which I live, opportunities are so much more available to me as a woman.  Maybe one day I'll have made my way through the ever-growing stack of  "to be read" books and find myself reading another Nancy Moser novel.  I'll let you know!

For now, just keep your nose in a book.