Recent Reads {Pride and Prejudice}

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - That's right. The original and still the best. I don't know how many times I've read it now, but I never get tired of it. I even find myself purposely reading slowly, just to make it last longer. Anyway, during this most recent reading, I was particularly paying attention to some of the little details of what happened and what was said, because after reading so many retellings and sequels, it becomes easy to assume something happened simply because you've read it in so many other versions. Mr Bennet is one of my favorite characters, because of his dry wit, but obviously he has some failings as a father and head of his household. I found myself wondering as I read his comments and humorous asides (often at the expense of his wife and younger daughters) how he and Mrs Bennet wound up together. That might be an interesting prequel, although I'm sure some enterprising author has already tried it and I'm just not aware of it. As usual, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Austen's understated but witty narration of the classic love story and my only regrets are that her telling of the story ends, and that she didn't write dozens more novels.

By the same author: Persuasion, Emma, Mansfield Park, Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, The History of England (and some brief thoughts I wrote on my last reading of Pride and Prejudice)

©2008-2013 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads {Darcy Goes To War}

Darcy Goes To War by Mary Lydon Simonsen - To be honest, right from the outset I wasn't sure I would care for this 'Pride and Prejudice Re-Imagining' simply because it takes place after the year 1900. I simply prefer historical novels in earlier settings. I enjoyed it more than I thought, however. Simonsen places Darcy and Elizabeth in the middle of World War II - Elizabeth is doing her part as a lorry driver, and Darcy is a fighter pilot who is stationed nearby. Some of the characters and their general storyline remain similar to Austen's original work, such as Jane and Charles Bingley falling in love, and Lydia Bennet's ill-judged behavior getting her into trouble. Of course Darcy and Elizabeth are destined to be together. For the most part, this is a predictable happy-ever-after love story with characters loosely based on Pride and Prejudice. 

I think Simonsen does a very good job of telling the story in the WWII setting, giving a picture of everyday life for many folks in Great Britain, but it lacks much of the tension and character development of the original. I felt that the characters were rather flat. At their first meeting, Elizabeth overhears Darcy (who has had a pint or two too many) make a disparaging remark about the attractiveness and dancing abilities of the young ladies that come to the dances held to entertain the troops. She's offended and is tempted to hold it against him when next they meet, and he has a sour attitude about the dances in general. But they have barely been introduced to each other before Elizabeth realizes that she is being unfair to judge Darcy harshly for what she overheard so she determines that she will give him another chance. And they immediately commence their falling in love. And that is the full extent of the misunderstanding and hasty judgments that Austen explores in her novel. Character development that takes months and many chapters in Austen's book takes a couple of paragraphs here. Elizabeth is too mature and serious, and Darcy is too outgoing and smooth with his words to be mistaken for their namesake characters. The only real conflict Darcy and Elizabeth face is that they wish to wait until the war is over before planning their marriage. Spoiler alert: Darcy is reported missing after his plane is shot down in enemy territory, and he is assumed to be dead. Everyone but Elizabeth believes he is dead. The reader assumes, along with Elizabeth, that he is okay simply because there must be a happy ending. But this last sequence of events is sensational and the wrap-up is very rushed and simplistic.

Through most of the story, Darcy is trying to push the boundaries of physical affection, but at least the reader isn't subjected to crude and graphic descriptions of lust. That is, until nearer the end when for some reason Simonsen decides to be just a bit crass. I thought it unnecessary to be so descriptive. At one other point, Darcy and Fitzwilliam have a conversation that focuses on Darcy's past conquests that is rather crude. If it had served to further the plot or develop character, I might not have minded it, but it seemed completely unnecessary to me. Not only that, but as far as I could tell, Fitzwilliam's character is wholly unnecessary to the plot, other than for this particular questionable conversation.

Lest I give the impression that I thoroughly disliked the book, let me say that I really did enjoy the read, with the exception of the few brief paragraphs that were unnecessarily crude. This is not Austen-esque literature, by any means, but if you're looking for a light romance without any moralizing or deeper meaning, that's what you'll find here.

By the same author: The Perfect Bride for Mr Darcy

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Recent Reads {Maire}

Maire by Linda Windsor - On Sunday (St Patrick's Day), I decided I wanted to read something with a nod to Ireland, so I pulled out my copy of this historical novel. I've read this before, as well as some other novels by this author, and knew it would be an enjoyable trip to fifth century Ireland. Maire is the young warrior queen of Gleannmarra, wanting to take her rightful place as leader of her people. On a raid she takes Rowan, a Welsh nobleman, as her hostage and also as her husband. By going through a form of marriage with him, she hopes to avoid being married to the druid who has been in charge of her lands until she comes of age. Maire and Rowan learn to trust each other and work as a team as they return to find Gleannmarra has been all but ruined by the druid's greedy rule. Together they work to restore the prosperity of their people. Rowan is also a believer in the One God and his integrity, courage, and wisdom soon win the respect of the people, and especially Maire, who eventually comes to accept the One God as well.

My previous review: Maire

By the same author: Healer, Thief

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Recent Reads {The Wolf of Tebron}

The Wolf of Tebron by C.S. Lakin - My introduction to C.S. Lakin's "The Gates of Heaven" series came several months ago when I read the last book in the series, The Crystal Scepter.  I enjoyed that one enough to want to read the rest of the series.  It seemed like it took a long time to read The Wolf of Tebron, which is the first in the series, but it was an enjoyable read anyway. These novels are fairy tales for adult or young adult readers, and are full of fantasy and mythical elements, magic, and adventure.

Joran is the main character, and his desire is for a simple life in his little village, but when he realizes that his wife has disappeared on her way to her home, he encounters more adventure than he ever dreamed possible. And the adventures actually start in his dreams, for he is haunted by a dream that his wife Charris is trapped in a castle by a huge sea and his efforts to rescue her continually fall short. To his surprise, a strange old woman in his village seems to make reference to the dream when she tells him that he must make a long journey to rescue Charris because he is the one that has trapped her. Soon after Joran sets out, he is joined by a wolf that becomes his trusted ally and protector. Together they journey to visit the moon, then the sun, and finally the south wind; all the while trying to solve the riddle of the three keys that Joran is told he must loose in order to find Charris.

I didn't find myself in sympathy with Joran as easily as I did the lead characters in The Crystal Scepter.  I kept picturing him as being a young teenager, when in fact he was a married man. I expected to easily identify references to myths, fairy tales, and even Biblical stories as I had in the previous book I read, but that wasn't the case. There are many Biblical references, and when I read the Author's End Notes I found that most of the wolf's philosophical thoughts that had sounded familiar to me were quoted from great Christian thinkers such as C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton. The wolf, Ruyah, provides wise advice and encouragement and is a faithful friend during Joran's pilgrimage, but the parts played by the moon and sun are less easy to understand. This is a story that emphasizes hope and forgiveness, and I found it a rewarding tale with a surprisingly happy ending.

©2008-2013 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads {Planning High School Courses}

Planning High School Courses by Lee Binz - I grabbed this first of "The HomeScholar Coffee Break Books" when it was offered free for Kindle (and even now, it is only 99 cents, so a great deal for home schoolers!). True to the impression of it being a coffee break book, it was a quick and easy read, but packed with great advice and ideas for parents wanting to home educate all the way through high school. As a homeschool mom myself, I have already managed to graduate one student, and the second one will graduate this year, but I have two more to go and am always willing to look at how we can do this better. I was glad to see that Lee's experience and advice lines up with much of my own philosophy of surviving the adventure of homeschooling through high school.  It's practical and manageable - and believable, coming from an experienced homeschool mom. This book covers the academic and traditional courses for high school and demystifies many of the fears that parents have as they realize their child will be in Grade NINE soon and worry about how they are going to manage high school courses. Lee has been there (and so have I) and this little book will reassure you that you can do this!

©2008-2013 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads {To Whisper Her Name}

To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander - I wonder why it has taken me so long to read anything by Tamera Alexander.  If her other novels are as enjoyable as this one, she will be counted among my favorite Christian authors.  This story is set immediately following the Civil War, with young widow Olivia Aberdeen going to live with family friends at Belle Meade Plantation.  Olivia's late husband was shot as a traitor to the South, so she is no longer accepted by society.  And since her marriage was an unhappy one, she is determined not to be under the thumb of any man again.  Olivia expects that she will be head housekeeper at the plantation and famous stud farm, but feels betrayed again when she finds that her host, General Harding, is planning to find her another husband.

Ridley Cooper is from South Carolina, but during the Civil War, he fought for the Union.  An encounter during wartime with Belle Meade's head hostler affected him deeply and after the war, he returns to Belle Meade, hoping to learn from this 'horse whisperer'.  Of course, in order to get - and keep - a position working in Belle Meade's stables means keeping his Union Army past a secret. Olivia and Ridley are surprised by their growing feelings for each other, and each must deal with their own secrets and find ways to honor their loyalties and deal with the past.

Although the developing love story is what drives the novel, the changing attitudes and tensions following the Civil War are handled well, and I loved that some of the characters were members of the Harding family and plantation.  The horse whisperer, Bob Green, was a former slave at Belle Meade, and was largely responsible for the success of the stud farm.  In fact, the story told in the Prologue of To Whisper Her Name is based in history.

Recent Reads {Love's Reckoning}

Love's Reckoning by Laura Frantz - This first novel in a family saga is set in York County, Pennsylvania, in the late 1700s.  Silas Ballantyne arrives to finish his blacksmith apprenticeship with Liege Lee, but what he doesn't realize is that the Lees expect him to marry one of their two daughters.  The characters of the daughters are a huge contrast - Elspeth is selfish and scheming, and apparently rather free with her favours.  Eden, the younger daughter, is quiet and shy, and acts as girl of all work for the family.  Silas determines to finish out his few months of apprenticeship per the contract and then continue west to Fort Pitt, but he is drawn by Eden's gentle nature and her thirst for spiritual things.  Even as Elspeth pulls out all the stops to try and win Silas for herself, and their father insists that Eden play matchmaker for them, Silas and Eden find themselves drawn together.  They make plans to marry and to go together to Fort Pitt.  But there are still obstacles in their way - a suspicious fire that destroys the blacksmith shop means that Silas agrees to stay longer to help rebuild the business; and then another crisis that sends Eden reeling and puts her in a dangerous situation.  

While I enjoyed this novel a great deal, it took me quite awhile to decide that I wanted to like Eden.  I felt some sympathy for her, because from the beginning it was clear that she was very much the victim in her family. Mr Lee and Elspeth seemed to have no redeeming qualities at all, so at times I was invested in the story in hoping they would get their come-uppance more than wanting to see Eden find happiness.  The second book in this series will be available later this year and if I remember, I will probably continue reading as it will follow the Ballantyne family through the next generation.