The other John's Reviews > Catherine, Called Birdy

Corpus bones! Sonlight curriculum expects me to allow my impressionable young daughters to read this book?! It is a vivid picture of the middle ages, filled with dirt and dung, fleas and flatulence. Quite inappropriate for modern sensibilities. But, in all seriousness, definitely worth checking out for a picture of our cultural past. The fact that it is quite amusing doesn't hurt either. The book itself is the diary of a young teenage girl, Catherine, the daughter of a minor knight in the 13th Century. She details her life in her home and village, set against the backdrop of her father's desire to obtain a profitable marriage for her. Catherine, of course, doesn't meekly submit to the plan and the reader is privy to her thoughts and shenanigans while events unfold. Truly an enjoyable read.