Eleven-year-old Fleda has a hard life. Already orphaned, she's living with her grandfather, who's living in poor health and about to lose th3.5 stars.
Eleven-year-old Fleda has a hard life. Already orphaned, she's living with her grandfather, who's living in poor health and about to lose the family farm. And things don't get better from there. But Fleda has faith and perseveres, working hard to keep her lazy (for the most part) relatives fed and clothed. As she grows older, various men are attempting to court her, but she seems oblivious or indifferent to all of them.
After several years, a childhood friend comes back into the picture. Will things finally change for the better?
I did enjoy this book but it seemed rather long. I felt that if the chapters setting forth the author's opinions on various things (America versus England, slave trade versus factory workers, educating women and the poor, being Christian helping you see beauty where others don't...), passed off as conversations between the characters, had been cut, things would have moved faster without affecting the plot....more
I really enjoyed this fictional look at what might have happened to William Tyndale between 1524 when he left England and 1526 when he showed up in WoI really enjoyed this fictional look at what might have happened to William Tyndale between 1524 when he left England and 1526 when he showed up in Worms, Germany. It's full of adventure, close calls and escapes as Tyndale tries to keep one step ahead of the heresy hunter who wants to burn him and the English translation of the Bible that he's working on.
It would make a great read-aloud for a family, though perhaps not right before bedtime....more
I find it difficult to provide a plot summary or even to figure out who the intended readers of this book were. Some of the chapters, includ2.5 stars.
I find it difficult to provide a plot summary or even to figure out who the intended readers of this book were. Some of the chapters, including the first, deal with a couple of boys up to no good, others with attempts by various people to convince Farmer Bluff, who has bad gout, to give up his habit of drinking beer. It's an odd mix. While some of the chapters might appeal to children, a lot of them wouldn't.
If the book has a theme, it's that you'll reap what you sow. Not really worth reading unless you have an interest in moral-teaching books or period literature....more
I've read several of these books by the Religious Tract Society before, but they've generally been aimed at children. This one I would say is3.5 stars
I've read several of these books by the Religious Tract Society before, but they've generally been aimed at children. This one I would say is for women and perhaps girls in their late teens, possibly as a moral substitute for those who liked to read material that was emotional and dramatic. The story is definitely that.
Juliette is the spoiled only child from her mother's second marriage. Her mother is lazy and self-indulgent, and allows Juliette to be the same, despite the warnings from her two daughters from the first marriage, who are keeping the household going, the oldest by holding down a job teaching and the second daughter by running the household.
Naturally, Juliette is vain, self-indulgent, can't be bothered with schoolwork or, indeed, any work at all, and is very easily flattered. She can be very charming when allowed to have her own way, otherwise not so much, so her mother always gives in to her. Obviously a recipe for disaster, and sure enough, disaster comes. Unfortunately, not everyone that needs to learn a lesson does.
If you don't mind old-fashioned stories (and I don't), the book is a good read, even though the ending wasn't quite what I had hoped for....more
3.5 stars just because I wasn't entirely satisfied with the ending. Not sure there was any other way to resolve it, however.
I mostly read genre fictio3.5 stars just because I wasn't entirely satisfied with the ending. Not sure there was any other way to resolve it, however.
I mostly read genre fiction, which this was not. I think it would fall under the "novel of manners" category. It deals with love and marriage among the Washington upper crust, and more particularly, with the story of two sisters, Rachel and Eva, and how their different views play out in their lives and the lives of those around them.
I've tagged it "Christian fiction" because there are several snippets of quoted scripture (though never actually identified as such), and frequent allusions to "the long road," "the way of the transgressor is hard," and the ideas of repentance and forgiveness....more
Two young orphans are struggling to live on their own in London, Bert and Prin (short for Princess, a pet name) when Prin becomes sick. Fortunately, tTwo young orphans are struggling to live on their own in London, Bert and Prin (short for Princess, a pet name) when Prin becomes sick. Fortunately, the parish doctor speaks to someone who arranges to have her sent to the country. The neighbours all assume she'll never return, and given she's spoiled and selfish, they may well be right, but Bert refuses to believe it.
Not a bad story. Lessons to be learned, of course, among others, the evil of drinking, but the plot comes first. I'll be looking for more by this author....more
Things haven't really felt like home since her mother died. Seventeen-year-old Annika lives on a small farm in 1800s Germany with her father. She dreaThings haven't really felt like home since her mother died. Seventeen-year-old Annika lives on a small farm in 1800s Germany with her father. She dreams of a husband, children and a home. She even has the man already picked out, but there are hurdles.
By the time the book is over, Annika has had to deal with shattered dreams and doubts, but maybe, just maybe, with the help of good friends and family, God can work good out of it all.
I thought this was a good read. I found myself hoping and worrying along with Annika, which is always a good thing in a book.
While there's nothing graphic, there is some abuse in the book, so be aware if that's a trigger for you.
I'm hoping there's a sequel. I want to know what happens to Annnika next....more
This 1870 book put out by the Protestant Episcopal Society for the Promotion of Evangelical Knowledge is designed to help Christian girls recognize anThis 1870 book put out by the Protestant Episcopal Society for the Promotion of Evangelical Knowledge is designed to help Christian girls recognize and deal with sin in their lives, especially when that sin may be disguised under another name as, for example, in one of the stories, pride masquerading as self-respect. The stories are engaging and the girl heroines generally believable. I found Louisa's story particularly appropriate to me. Despite the fact that the book is more than 150 years old, the situations it deals with are still relevant.
You could read the stories to yourself and then read them aloud to your children, stopping to ask questions along the way and to discuss what they might do in a similar situation.
The stories in order are:
Anna, or, "Make the Best of It" Dora, or, "Won't You Ever Tell?" Esther's Bad Day, or, "I Couldn't Help it" Martha, or "Charity Thinketh No Evil" Mary, or, "She Made Me Do It" Louisa, or, "Just One Minute"...more
The book starts with a description of an old house in a dark street of London. An old house which was once a mansion, but is now a home to at least 5 The book starts with a description of an old house in a dark street of London. An old house which was once a mansion, but is now a home to at least 50 people, a family living in each room. The camera pans to a young girl in rags, crouched in the shadows on one of the landings. Her name is Ailie Carter, her father is dying and her mother is in jail for stealing a loaf of bread to feed her family.
We soon meet others living in the building, including Lettie, a young girl found on the streets years ago and adopted by the Fosters when they were living in better circumstances, and Job Kippis, an old man and devout Christian who works as a tailor and lives in one of the garrets on the top floor. Mix in Josie Therlock, a rich girl who runs into Ailie on the street and wants to help her, Josie's brother who is a pastor with a heart for the poor and Josie's mother, in mourning for Josie's younger sister who went missing several years ago.
You can probably guess where this is going, but it's worth the read to get there....more
This is an educational novel loosely based on an incident of persecution at Oxford in the time of King Henry II of a group of Waldensians who had comeThis is an educational novel loosely based on an incident of persecution at Oxford in the time of King Henry II of a group of Waldensians who had come to England preaching a gospel that did not accord with that of the Catholic church. The last chapter, at least in the Project Gutenberg version which I read, is an appendix by the author discussing where she got her information and how much of the book is fictional.
From reading the introduction, I was afraid that the book might portray all the Catholic characters as villains, but it didn't. They're ordinary people, some good, some bad. The same with the Jewish characters in the book. While they're seen by some of the characters in the first chapter as evil, it's soon apparent that the prejudice is on the part of the characters and not the author.
The story is reasonably engaging, though I wish the author hadn't kept interrupting the narrative to explain how much things cost in modern currency every time someone made a purchase or what the street the character went down was called today. Other things she explained in footnotes, which I thought was a less distracting way of dealing with things.
If you're interested in church history or medieval history but don't enjoy reading textbooks, this might be a good choice....more
If I'd read the obviously AI-generated, over-the-top book summary above, I doubt I would have bothered to pick up the book. Let's see if I can give yoIf I'd read the obviously AI-generated, over-the-top book summary above, I doubt I would have bothered to pick up the book. Let's see if I can give you a better feel for it.
As the title would suggest, this is a moral tale. It deals with a widower, his sister, and his three children, two daughters and a son. All but the father are inveterate liars at the beginning of the story and don't see anything wrong with that. As the story progresses, various kinds of lies are looked at and consequences result. Does anyone learn their lesson or are they just sorry to get caught out in deception?
Might be an interesting book to look at in an ethics class.
My biggest complaint was that I didn't like most of the characters, but given the topic, that's how it should be.
Last week I read two books set in the time of the Merry Monarch. This week's theme seems to be people getting bitten by rabid dogs and having their wounds cauterized, which was the only, and not always effective, treatment at the time.
Like the last A.L.O.E. book I reviewed, it's been a while since I read this one, but since the only other review is a DNF due to audio problems...
I reLike the last A.L.O.E. book I reviewed, it's been a while since I read this one, but since the only other review is a DNF due to audio problems...
I read the Project Gutenberg version and had no problems with the text. I don't recall the badly mangled excerpt at the top of this page as being part of the book. If it was, it must have been an introduction written by someone else.
To the best of my recollection, this was a story about a family of children who were building a model of the Jewish temple, hence "The Children's Tabernacle." Once they had it finished, they were planning on displaying it somewhere to raise money for charity.
Being an A.L.O.E. story, there would have been lessons learned along the way, but they would form a natural part of the story....more
It's been a while since I've read this, so I wouldn't ordinarily do a review since I don't remember the details, but I see the only other review was aIt's been a while since I've read this, so I wouldn't ordinarily do a review since I don't remember the details, but I see the only other review was a DNF due to technical difficulties.
Like all of A.L.O.E.'s stories, this is meant to teach morals, which is a good thing. It's even better when it's done with relatable characters and an engaging story, which this is. Obviously, it's old-fashioned, but that's part of the charm. I've read several of her books now, and I keep downloading more....more
3.5 stars. Worth a read but probably wouldn't reread.
Despite the title and the book description, this isn't really a typical mystery. No one in the bo3.5 stars. Worth a read but probably wouldn't reread.
Despite the title and the book description, this isn't really a typical mystery. No one in the book is actively playing detective, trying to track down the missing letter. Having said that, I was certainly speculating as I read it.
The characters that are meant to be likable are, and the ones that aren't are believable, rather than over-the-top villains. I enjoyed following along with Kenneth and Marjorie (they each get their own sections of the book) as they navigate life after financial loss, relying on faith and hard work to see them through. Not only do they grow through the process, some of the minor characters do as well.
I'll definitely be looking for more books by this author....more
I love these old-fashioned children's stories. I'd read a previous one by this author, so went looking for more.
We have several familiar tropes here, I love these old-fashioned children's stories. I'd read a previous one by this author, so went looking for more.
We have several familiar tropes here, the widow estranged from her family, who's known better days, struggling to support herself and her children, the character who has a life lesson to learn, the well-behaved but believable children, the crippled child who was dropped by his nurse as a baby... Of course you know how it's all going to come out, but that's part of the comfort and enjoyment. And when it's well-told, with entertaining episodes, so much the better....more
Three-and-a-half stars. A good read, but probably not something I'd read again. Oddly enough, this is the second story I've read this week set in the Three-and-a-half stars. A good read, but probably not something I'd read again. Oddly enough, this is the second story I've read this week set in the time of King Charles the Second of England.
This is one in a series of stories about young heroines growing up at times of persecution of the Protestant church. This book stars Vevette, a nickname for Genevieve, whose father is a minor French nobleman and whose mother is from England. They're living at peace with their Catholic neighbours in Normandy but elsewhere in France people are being persecuted, and it's drawing closer over time.
Vevette has promised her father she will never deny her religion, but keeping the faith only seems to mean hardship, loss and persecution, and the way of the world seems so fascinating. Can she have it both ways?...more
![A circuit rider's wife, by Corra Harris; with illustrations by William H. Everett. 1910 [Leather Bound]](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1699612798l/129347408._SX50_.jpg)
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