I first read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society in January. As you might guess from my review, it earned a place on my list of favorite books of all time. That's why I'm so very excited that it's our Bookclub choice for September (plus, now I feel justified in reading it again so soon!). If you haven't read this delightful book, I encourage you to pick up a copy and join us on September 1st. Here are some things to consider while you read: ~Is this your first book of letters -- fiction or non-fiction? If so, do you like this particular writing style? Why or why not? ~Do you think Guernsey would have been the same if the author had employed the typical fiction narrative? Would it have been better, or worse? ~Who is your favorite character? Why? ~How ...
Category Archives: Historical
The Betrayal
I have a terrible confession to make. I’m a believer in the Lord Jesus, I grew up in church, and yet I know little or nothing of the history of the church. I mean, I know my Bible and the incidents of the early church recorded there but when it comes to major events like the Reformation or early church leaders like Luther or Calvin, I’m pretty ignorant. Did you know, for example, that early believers were burned at the stake for believing that the Bible should be available to the common people in their common language? That the privilege of having a Bible of my own that in a language I can read was bought with the blood of martyrs? Nope, me neither. Douglas Bond’s novel The Betrayal looks at the life of one of the early reformers, John Calvin. I know, I know, Calvin carries a ...
Under the Distant Sky
One of my favorite books as a child was Little House on the Prairie. Packing everything into a wagon and heading west seemed like a great adventure. Under the Distant Sky recounts the harsh reality that I never saw as a child - moving west in the 1800s was dangerous. In this story, authors Al and Joanna Lacy introduce us to Hannah Cooper, the heroine of the 8-book series. Hannah and her husband, Solomon, own the general store in Independence, Missouri. Sol, like many men in that day, has caught the fever to head out west. Hannah is unsure at first, but becomes convinced that the move is part of God's plan for their family. Hannah leaves behind her parents and many of her treasured belongings to forge this new life that she and Solomon dream about. Together with their four children, ...
The Texicans
Not too long ago, my husband and I caught a portion of the Lonesome Dove miniseries on TV. We’d seen it before, years ago when it first aired, and loved it. This time, however, after watching for a few minutes, observing the deaths of some of the characters, we wondered exactly why we liked it so much in the first place. I mean, really, it is not exactly feel-good, happily-ever-after programming. Well, Nina Vida's novel The Texicans reminds me of Lonesome Dove in its honest, sometimes bleak portrayal of life in Texas in the mid 1800’s. No romantic rose colored glasses are employed in the telling of Joseph Kimmel’s journey to Texas to settle his brother’s accounts after his death. Vida writes with honest realism, almost matter of factly relating Joseph’s experiences with Indians and Rangers and the odd ...
Stealing Home
I haven't always been a baseball fan. Then my daughter started playing softball last year and fell in love with the game. She watches major league games several times a week, and I'm usually watching with her. I developed an appreciation for this sport I'd long ignored. Given my new found interest in baseball, I was excited to read Stealing Home by Allison Pittman. Set in 1905, it's the story of Duke Dennison, Chicago Cubs catcher and a recovering alcoholic. After being released from rehab, Duke finds himself in small town Missouri to further his recovery in secret. He is the house guest of town Sheriff Floyd Voyant and his peculiar daughter, Ellie Jane. Ellie Jane has grown up in Picksville, and is the subject of much gossip and superstition. She has unknowingly captured the heart of Ned Clovis, a childhood friend who ...
How Do I Love Thee?
Though I attended Baylor University and nearly daily walked past the beautiful library on campus dedicated to Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, I knew little or nothing of either poet nor of their romance. Oh, I visited the Armstrong Browning library a few times—and it is gorgeous by the way, or it was way back when—and certainly I studied a sampling of their poetry at some point in my educational career, but as for Elizabeth and Robert themselves, I must admit to being ignorant. So I was excited to discover that Nancy Moser continued her series of novels based on historical women with this next installment, How Do I Love Thee? A Novel of Elizabeth Barrett browning Poetic Romance. I read Just Jane (about, who else, Jane Austen) and loved it. I read Washington's Lady and liked it (though, ...
Before the Season Ends
I've been trying to expand my reading horizons lately, and have (for the most part) enjoyed the change. Still it was a great treat to pick up Before the Season Ends by Linore Rose Burkard and come back to one of my favorite eras, 19th Century England. I was intrigued from the opening lines, Something would have to be done about Ariana. All winter, Miss Ariana Forsythe, aged nineteen, had been going about the house sighing. "Mr. Hathaway is my lot in life!" As it turns out, Ariana's family isn't quite convinced that Mr. Hathaway, a rector in his late fifties, is God's plan for her. She soon finds herself in London for a season with her wealthy and widowed aunt. A literal run in with the scheming Lady Covington leads to an unexpected tie with the roguish (handsome, and rich) Phillip Mornay. Can ...
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Jennifer Donovan
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