The Blue Castle

The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery is one of her only books written for an adult audience. She is the author of the Anne of Green Gable's Series. I loved this book so much that it made it onto my top 10 list of favorite books.

The book is about a girl named Valancy who is no beauty, lives with her mother and aunt and at age 29 is afraid she will never fall in love. Her family is suffocating and dull - set in their traditions and what they deem "respectable behavior". My favorite description of this is when Valancy's Mother gets after her for sneezing in public. Heaven forbid. She is having some heart issues at this time and goes to a heart specialist for some answers. He rushes off in the middle of her appointment to help his son and mails her a diagnosis that says she will not live to see another full year. She decides from that point on she will do and say exactly what she feels like. She leaves her mother's home to nurse her consumptive friend and begins spending time with "jailbird" Barney Snaith. As she learns to love herself and experience new things, Valancy undergoes a transformation, discovering a new world of love and happiness.

Tip for if you do read this book: don't read the introduction first - it will spoil everything. :)

The Silence of God

The Silence of God, was a very interesting read. I felt enlightened about part of the history of Russia. Oh how much history can teach us!

This book is a historical fiction based on the Lindlof family who were the first Mormons in Russia in the early 1900s. It is incredible what people have had to endure... such hardship. All they were trying to do was live in righteousness. I can hardly imagine experiencing what they had to.

This story made me realize that so often individuals get caught up with political groups and movements without realizing all the implications. And in this case, "Bread, Peace, and Land" and "All power to the Soviets (councils)" went from socialism to horrible communism in a few short awful years. Many citizens involved did not see it for what it really was until it was too late. It was also interesting to imagine a culture without religion, a place where so many don't believe in God. How dark and dreary an environment that would be.

Though this book wasn't a cheerful read, it helped me appreciate all that we have. I admire the faith and courage of the Lindlof family and those who may have been friends with and helped them.

The Secret of Saying Thanks

This is probably my favorite picture book. The message is timeless and a beautiful one for kids to know early on. Gratitude is one virtue I hope I always have. It brings a fulness and joy to life that I would be so lost without.

I am so thankful for books, for family, for love and life. Love you all.

These is my Words

Sarah Prine is my new favorite book character. She is tough, smart, humble, thoughtful, and ever so hardworking. There is so much courage and sorrow and love and tragedy in this story. More than you'd think relates to modern gals. Thanks for this recommendation, Julie! A great pioneer, western settler tale for this month.

In my opinion, the more life experience the reader has, the more they will appreciate and understand Sarah. But young adults can learn from the story, too.

A good review from School Library Journal-

This novel in diary format parallels the early history of the Arizona Territories as Sarah and her family travel from the New Mexico Territory and settle down to carve out a new life on a ranch near Tucson in the 1880s.

Sarah's diary, based on the author's family memoirs, is a heartwarming and heartbreaking fictional account of a vibrant and gifted young woman. Sarah starts out as an illiterate, fiery 17 year old. Eventually, her writing becomes as smooth and polished as Sarah herself as she becomes a tenacious, literate, and loving wife and mother. A treasure trove of discovered books becomes the source of her self-education.

Turner describes the trip in such detail that one has a sense of having traveled with Sarah, experiencing all of its heartache and sadness, its backbreaking exertion and struggles, its danger and adventure, its gentle and lighter moments. Life in the new country brings the constant fear of Indian raids and the threat and reality of floods, fire, and rattlesnakes; bandits; rough men, and pretentious women all have an effect on the protagonist but her strong marriage makes the effort worthwhile. Sarah centers her world around her home and family but maintains an independent spirit that keeps her whole and alive throughout her many trials and heartaches. This is a beautifully written book that quickly captures readers' attention and holds it tightly and emotionally until the end.

Dottie Kraft, formerly at Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Hattie Big Sky

I read this book over the weekend. This historical fiction was a Newberry Honor in 2007. I could tell that it was written for young teenagers because it was missing the depth of descriptions & emotions that older readers might appreciate. But it was an interesting, clean, quick read, which was nice. I love reading books about times past. This book was set during WWI. It helps me appreciate those who came before.

My favorite quote from the book was this English Proverb:
"A man may work from sun to sun, but a woman's work is never done." Oh soooo true!

This is the description from the publisher:

For most of her life, sixteen-year-old Hattie Brooks has been shuttled from one distant relative to another. Tired of being Hattie Here-and-There, she summons the courage to leave Iowa and move all by herself to Vida, Montana, to prove up on her late uncle's homestead claim.


Under the big sky, Hattie braves hard weather, hard times, a cantankerous cow, and her own hopeless hand at the cookstove on her quest to discover the true meaning of home.

The Help

The Help is just plain fabulous! It's in my top 5 favorite books of all time. I found this description of the book, and I don't think I could word it any better.

Kathryn Stockett’s “The Help” is excellent. It’s been a long time since I was so into a book that I was sad to finish it, but “The Help” was just that amazing. Set in the 1960′s, it tells the story of the African American women working as maids in the homes of white women in Mississippi. But the novel is so much more than just that. There are complicated relationships, broken friendships, unlikely bonds, surprises, misunderstandings and disappointments.

Sometimes characters are better than we imagined and sometimes they are gravely worse, but Stockett keeps us guessing – and intrigued. You fall in love with Minnie, Skeeter, and especially, I think, Aibileen. You feel their joys, heartbreaks, hurts, excitement and fear, and that is what makes this book unique, irresistible and lovable." It is a MUST READ!!!

29 Gifts

Book: 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life
Author: Cami Walker

I really enjoyed this quick-read book.

This gal Cami Walker has MS and was completely overwhelmed by major health problems and depression. It was very educational to read her description of all that people with MS deal with. She is such a great example of persevering and finding the good, even when life is hard.

Some of my favorite quotes from the book:

"One of the points of this exercise is to practice mindfulness . . . to offer each gift with a
sense of consciousness and intention. It's true that I did a number of nice things for
others today, but I didn't do them with the conscious intention of giving." Cami Walker

"From the first day I started giving, the energy in my life changed direction. I felt that I
wanted to be here... I'm more capable of receiving assistance and love. ... It is easier for
me to laugh and smile. Fun is easier to find. I am more in awe of the people around me
and tend to notice their good qualities rather than their 'flaws'." Cami Walker

Welcome to the family book blog

Hello! I'm excited to hear about all the great books everyone has been reading lately. Please post some of your recent favorite reads to get it started.

Once you publish a post, you will see at the bottom of the post there is a 5-star rating you can click. Everyone who has read that book can rate that book. We'd also love for everyone to write additional comments on books that already have a post.

Please share any other ideas on how we can make this blog helpful for us all.

Here are some ideas to get us started on the Bookshelves (label). Feel free to create your own labels to categorize in more depth.

Picture books – Picture books moms read to their kids.

Learn to read – Books for beginning readers; guided reading level A- I.

Children’s – Easy reader chapter books; guided reading level is J-M.

Juvenile – Chapter books; guided reading level is N-Q.

Early teen – Books that appeal to upper grade elementary kids ages, 10 and up; guided reading level R-Z.

Young adult – Books for older audiences; Some may contain more mature themes.

Adult

Info from Mom Can I Read This?.