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teachingmom
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| Posted: June 01 2006 at 2:48pm | IP Logged
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Chari wrote:
Irene, I have always wanted to read those books........no wonder I could never find them at my library! Glad you get to enjoy them! Did you get all of Jane Austen's books read? Maybe it is time to start on the mysteries???  |
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I had taken a break from Jane Austen to read the first three Chalet School books. Since my last post here, I finished Jo of the Chalet School and The Princess of the Chalet School -- both quick, fun reads. Then I returned to Jane Austen in the past week to finish the final novel, Persuasion. I'm sad to be at the end of them. To think I will never read a novel by her for the first time again . . . 
So, can you refresh my memory on what you mean by the mysteries? Are they by one author or many?
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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Kelly
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The mysteries are written by one author(ess)who writes ina Jane Austen style. The detective/heroine in the novels is...Miss Jane Austen. She finds herself in situations that could very well have taken place in real life, and I believe the author has included quite a bit of real information about her. The only one I've read so far was "The Ghost of Nutley Manor", which I very much enjoyed. My dd is currently working her way thru them all, reading "The Case of the Wandering Eye" and is fairly riveted. They're NOT Jane Austen, but they might help you with your Jane Austen Withdrawal!!! 
Kelly in FL
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teachingmom
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I just finished a wonderful book that I have to recommend to you all. It's Gentian Hill by Elizabeth Goudge. I've enjoyed many of her novels, but I think this one is extra special. It is the story of some wonderful relationships between people -- young and old, platonic and romantic. It takes place in England in the late 1700's and early 1800's, but stories within the main story stretch the historical setting back to the middle ages. It is a great view into English Catholicism during that time. Goudge treats the Catholic faith so well, considering she was an Anglican writing over 50 years ago. Among the events of history touched on in the story: the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Admiral Lord Nelson (along with much about the British Navy of the time), and Waterloo.
And Kelly, I ended up reading one of the Jane Austen mysteries last month. I have to admit that it was a big letdown after reading Austen herself during the preceding months, so I'm not going to continue with more for now. Maybe I'll try again for some light entertaining reading in the future, when my memory of the actual Austen novels isn't quite so fresh. Thanks for the recommendation, though.
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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Marybeth
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Me & Emma It was a hard read b/c of physical abuse of a child, but I really was very moved by the love of the two sisters. Also, I forgot the author...hmmmm...I hopefully will remember to post it later.
Marybeth
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teachingmom
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Erica Sanchez wrote:
I just read:
THE NO. 1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY
Nothing like I expected, especially the setting, but an easy and enjoyable read!! I plan to get the next one.
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Natalia wrote:
| Over the weekend I finished the second book of the N0.1 Ladies Detective Agency, Tears of the Giraffe- Laugh aloud funny. Such a different perspective on life. |
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Thank you, ladies, for these suggestions. I must have tucked them away in my brain somewhere because when I went to the library a few weeks ago looking for some light reads for our beach vacation, I remembered these. I finished both of them last week, and enjoyed them quite a bit. They really are unlike any other books I have read. They provided a very interesting window into contemporary African culture.
I also got halfway through Eats, Shoots and Leaves while away. It is hysterical! I've learned a lot of interesting tidbits about the difference between American grammar and British grammar and lots of other grammatical trivia. (Who knew that there was a name for that last comma right before the "and" in a list of things? I've always preferred to use it, but it is one of those optional things. It's called the Oxford comma.)
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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momwise
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I finished Parish Priest over the summer, which was a great, quick read, full of Catholic and local history (Conneticut).
Where do you find murder, intrigue, adultery, fornication, exhiled bishops, bad priests (and good ones), uncatechised Catholics, saints and out-of-wedlock births (did I actually read something like that)?
Why in a Sigrid Undset Norwegian historical novel, of course!
I've finished The Axe, book one of the four part Master of Hestviken and am now working on The Snake Pit, but will probably take a break to read a couple of Leonard Wibberley books before summer break comes to an end.
Can anyone recommend either The Mouse that Roared or Father Felix?
Undset considered Master her finest work and contrary to what I thought (after trying the old translation of Kristin Lavransdatter) the translation is very easy to read.
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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Karen T
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OK, I must be the only person in the world who doesn't like Jane Austen. I didn't read them as a teen or young adult, and I'm trying to go back and read a lot of the classics I missed. I've loved the Bronte books I read, so it's not disliking the genre. I tried Emma and now Pride and Prejudice. I wouldn't say they were horrible, but i really had to force myself to finish them. I also watched the movie Emma and I've just watched the A&E version of P&P (1st disc only; I'm waiting on the other half). What am I missing? They both just seem like lots of gossip. I was really hoping to like these books, as there are several more by her (I like to discover a favorite author and find they have many books yet to read!)
Karen T
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Patty LeVasseur
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I know we are all talking about books we like, but I wanted to mention one that I read that I really didn't like. It is Capivating by Stasi and John Eldredge. It is on the Christian bestseller lists so I thought it was possible that others might consider reading it. If you go to Amazon there are lots of reviews that will point out many things that others thought are wrong with this book and much of what was said I agree with. But after sleeping on this I think the really problem with this book may be something that no one said in the reader's reviews, but rather what was said in the editorial review.
"[they] encourage women to connect with their deepest desires. To facilitate this, the Eldredges reveal in the first chapter what every woman's three core desires are: to be romanced, to play a role in her own adventures and to display beauty. (This formula will be familiar to Eldredge's fans, as Wild at Heart offered a similar tripartite model of men's desires.) The rest of the book is an extended reflection on these three impulses. Drawing heavily on popular films to prove their points, the Eldredges warn that most women tend to become either controlling or needy. Godly women, in contrast, should see God as the ultimate lover, and look to Eve (and not, say, J. Lo) as their model."
While I agree J. Lo may not be the best model, I also wonder if Eve is who we really want to model. What about Mary?
So I have moved on to the Privilage of Being a Woman and while in same ways the themes are similar, I am finding this to be a much better book.
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Patty
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Chari
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Thanks for sharing, Patty. This thread is about the books we have read in 2006........good or bad........so you are right to post!
I mentioned back in May I was giving up reading till I had taken my test..........
I have not read much since then.........mostly have not finished much :)
Here is my up to date list:
Just finished The Turn Of the Screw by Henry James.....weird "ghost story........I was encouraged to read it by an English professor..........can't wait to discuss it with him next week!
Life with Bigfoot by a local author Phil Ward..........while amusing........too simple...more would have been nice........about local bed and breakfast
To School Through the Fields by Alice Taylor.........about an Irish country childhood...gonna give it to Willa next week when I see her....I think she will like it.......I did.....even if it took me all year to read
and lastly: Anna: A Daughter's Life by William Loizeaux..........it is a journal about the year following the death of this man's five month old daughter
hmmmm.......three of the above are journals.....I did not realize that until just now......I guess I enjoy "reality" books ........since I do not have TV to watch......guess I better keep up somehow!
What's your up to date list? What did you finished this summer? In September?
Blessings!
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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KristinaP
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On the recommendation of a good friend, I just finished reading "A Redeeming Love" http://www.amazon.com/Redeeming-Love-Francine-Rivers/dp/1576 731863/sr=1-3/qid=1159535798/ref=sr_oe_3_2/102-4338708-89593 33?ie=UTF8&s=books by Francine Rivers. I was hesitant at first since I'm not one at all for romance novels but this is just a whole new category unto itself. The author is Christian and the novel is basically an 1850's version of the book of Hosea-spirituality, conversion, prayer, redemption, etc. all included AND I'll have to warn you, make sure you have a box of tissue with you when you read!!  Two thumbs up for this one!
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teachingmom
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| Posted: Sept 30 2006 at 10:48pm | IP Logged
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Chari wrote:
| What's your up to date list? What did you finished this summer? In September? |
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Hi Chari,
I've slowed down my reading now that we've started our school year this past month. I finished Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss and totally enjoyed it.
I pre-read Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine for the girls. What a fun book. It's too bad that they really ruined the story when they made it into a movie.
We finally finished the Betsy-Tacy series as family read alouds when we completed Betsy’s Wedding by Maud Hart Lovelace during the first week of September. My 8yo has now gone back to the beginning of the series to read the early books again by herself. What a fantastic series!
And I found an intriguing book at my parents house when I spent the weekend with them while on bedrest. I finished it a week ago or so. It's called German Girl? “Mishling” Memories of a Jewish-Christian Girl in Nazi Berlin by Vivian Ert Bolten Herz. It is a self-published memoir. To be honest, it's not all that well-written and has way more typographical errors than one would expect, but the story was very good--sad, enlightening, inspiring.
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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momwise
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Chari wrote:
| To School Through the Fields by Alice Taylor.........about an Irish country childhood...gonna give it to Willa next week when I see her |
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Oh Chari, I gave this book to my dad as a gift several years ago and still haven't "borrowed it back."
teachingmom wrote:
| I've slowed down my reading now that we've started our school year this past month. I finished Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss and totally enjoyed it. |
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This book was just falling over funny as well as a good punctuation brush up. I enjoyed it too.
As for me, I still haven't finished another book since my last post;* still working on The Snake Pit the 2nd of the 4 book Master of Hestviken. Undset is one of the best writers that ever lived I think. Her insight into the soul and human nature at a time even before she converted to the Church is mind-boggling.
*Unless you count Pigs Might Fly and various Hank the Cowdog books plus Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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teachingmom
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I've finished two great classic books with the girls for our nighttime read aloud in the past month or so. The first was Five Little Peppers and How They Grew. The second, which we finished today, was The Railway Children by E. Nesbit. Both were wonderful stories. My 8yo has proclaimed that The Railway Children is one of her three most favorite books ever!
I also read two children's books to myself. I picked up Elizabeth Goudge's Linnets and Valerians because my oldest dd has been reading it and it was always available when I went to sit down to nurse the baby. It was an enjoyable "realistic fantasy".
Then last week, my library was giving away free paperback copies of The Giver by Lois Lowry as part of a county-wide reading and discussion program they offer each year. I picked one up and decided to read it myself to see when/if I thought it would be appropriate for dds to read. I thought it would be something I wouldn't like -- you know those very dark young adult novels? Surprisingly, I found it to be a very good book. It really causes one to think about freewill, choices, sacrifice, etc. It will be great fodder for conversation with dds when they read it. That said, I had decided while reading it that it would be appropriate reading for teenagers only. But my oldest dd saw me reading it and could tell how much I was taken by the story. She really wants to read it now, and I will let her. But my others will have to wait because it is very disturbing, and I think it would be upsetting to younger readers.
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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Chari
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I only have a brief moment to write this before I pack for the week........
I recently finished Eats, Shoots & Leaves......I had always wanted to check it out...but never got around to it.........until I was looking up picture books about LEAVES for my 5yo.........and this popped up......OUR library ACTUALLY had it!  ...then, it came, I procrastinated for awhile, not in the mood for it  ......decided to send it back to the library, unread.......thought I better skim it first.......and I could not put it down! What a delightful book about punctuation! Who could have thought you would be over stories about commas, etc. DO read it if you like to write and you like words!
And, then at work last week, I picked up an easy read since I was too tired for anything more.........and I got stuck in one of those Christian novels....Promise Me Tomorrow by Lori Wick......again, I found I had to know what happened next............it was pretty sweet......and just what my tired, overwhelmed brain needed for the moment......it was just a bit better than twaddle.......not quite Jane Austen
......I think there was something else.......but I cannot remember right now......
anyone else? We are almost done with this list........and get to start the 2007 one soon.....how exciting!
oh..........I guess I could mention our read alouds......but maybe for next time
Have a blessed Thanksgiving! We are going to the coast.......maybe I will write while I am there!
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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Chari
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okay, it is almost time to close up this thread, and start our 2007 book list.
Anyone have any books to add?
I do...and I will hopefully get to them tomorrow, or at least before the end of the year!
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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mary theresa
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I'm new here and I just found this thread -- so awesome! I was Miss Bookworm Extraordinare when I was in high school and college and have been having this "Oh I've read everything out there" feeling -- but I guess I've just been lacking direction and recommendations.  I'm excited about the 2007 book list and this motivates me to get reading again. The only books of any importance that I have read this year are:
#1. THE POWER AND THE GLORY by Graham Greene. The only thing I had read by him was Brighton Rock, and that turned me off to him -- too little hope at the end. But this one was so unbelievably amazing -- all about sin and redemption and the power of God's mercy. I really recommend!
#2. 1984 by George Orwell. I liked it way better than Animal Farm. It was about totalitarianism and what it does to people -- pretty depressing, but at the same time really interesting.
#3. Two books by Rumer Godden -- FIVE FOR SORROW, FIVE FOR JOY and IN THIS HOUSE OF BREDE. Really moving and inspiring. I loved them.
I'm excited about the coming year!
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momwise
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Chari wrote:
| okay, it is almost time to close up this thread, and start our 2007 book list. |
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Wow! That went fast. I read No Price Too High: A Pentecostal Preacher Becomes Catholic: The Inspriational Story Of Alex Jones .
This is the conversion story of Alex Jones and his wife. It's a very fast read and very interesting. The author originally wanted to bring his whole church into the Church as their own parish and he was going to try to get permission to become a married priest. However he's now a Permanent Deacon in the diocese of Detroit.
I read Macbeth with my dc and a couple of their friends.
I know I'm forgetting something 
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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teachingmom
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I finished The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare earlier this month as a family read aloud to go along with our Ancient Rome studies. We all LOVED it! Seriously, it is now one of my all time favorite children's books.
And, thanks to the recommendation on this forum by Cay, I read Katherine Valentine's A Miracle for St. Cecilia's. I enjoyed it, but was bothered a bit by some aspects of her writing style. I was hopeful that it may be the case that her writing would get better with each book she wrote, so I continued with the next book in the series. I am still reading my way through A Gathering of Angels and am enjoying it immensely.
Edited to add:
I finished A Gathering of Angels. I am looking forward to starting the third one soon!
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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Chari
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mary theresa wrote:
I'm new here and I just found this thread -- so awesome! I was Miss Bookworm Extraordinare when I was in high school and college and have been having this "Oh I've read everything out there" feeling -- but I guess I've just been lacking direction and recommendations. I'm excited about the 2007 book list and this motivates me to get reading again.
I'm excited about the coming year! |
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Welcome, Mary Theresa! Glad you found us! Hopefully more will join us this year!
I have been wanting to read 1984 and start reading more rumor godden....I have several books on my shelf, for years, I have been meaning to read. I hope to be inspired by your reading choices
Thanks for reminding me!
Right now, I have been caught up in reading more of the LORI WICK books. The first I read, mentioned above was fair to good writing....the other one was fair, so I am not even listing the title. Her
English Garden Series was kind of fun, mostly predictable.....but I was enjoying being in 19th century England for awhile, and that was the reason I was even drwan to read it anyway. These are NOT Catholic books, so the religious aspect will contain some errors, esp as related to confession.
And, the last book of 2006 I finished was WICKED by Gregory Maguire. I do NOT recommend this book. The writing was fair, but it is not really worth a read just because there is so much more out there that is WAY better. It is the story of the life and times of the Wicked Witch of the West...and technically therefore also of the East and of Glinda. It kind of messes up your imagination related to OZ.
It has an unhappy ending, for everyone. No one is really truly wicked except the wizard
and there is much s*x implied and most of it is bizarre
Now, WHY would I read this.....because my kids asked me to......they have been enjoying in recent weeks, the music from the Broadway musical Wicked....and they wanted to know the story....well, while the author gives the musical his bleasing.....I am not sure why, except for $$$$$ because the book and play barely resemble each other (kind of like Ella Enchanted and movie....only these appear to be even farther apart in likeness ......so, you know how much that is!
anyway, the musical appears to be safe and certainly lots of happy endings in the play! NONE in the book!
so, that's my reading list for 2006!
What did you finish up this year?
Happy New Year!
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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4Real Forums : Book Club
Topic: Our 2006 Book List
