The Greatest Gift by Philip van Doren Stern

 

What is a fun or weird gift that you have received in the past?

George Pratt is on a bridge contemplating suicide when a mysterious stranger shows up.  George tells the man his woes and how he wishes he had never been born.  The stranger tells him he has never been born.  George meets with his family members and discovers their lives are worse without him.  Will George come to value his own life?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I reread The Greatest Gift in November for the Back to the Classics Book Club.  We had a good discussion on this story as well as on classic Christmas movies in general.

·       The Greatest Gift is the story that is the basis of the classic Christmas film, It’s a Wonderful Life.  We discussed how in this case, the movie is even better than the original story.  It really took the story and built an unforgettable world.

·       I thought it was funny that in the short story Mary’s fate was to marry a terrible man and have terrible children that mistreat her as does her husband.  In the movie, she is an unmarried librarian.  That doesn’t seem so bad!

·       Philip Van Doren Stern sent his friends and family a Christmas card with a story he had written called “The Greatest Gift.”  The story found its way to a producer at RKO studios, and it eventually became It’s a Wonderful Life.

·       This is a small book.  The first half is the story, and the second half was an afterward by the author’s daughter about how the story came to be and how it became the classic movie.

·       Why are there so many mysterious beings in Christmas stories?  We also read “Markheim” by Robert Louis Stevenson for book blub and a mysterious being also appears in this story.  It’s not explicitly said it’s an angel in either story.

Favorite Quote:

“I understand right enough,” the stranger said slowly. “I just wanted to make sure you did. You had the greatest gift of all conferred upon you—the gift of life, of being a part of this world and taking a part in it. Yet you denied that gift.” As the stranger spoke, the church bell high up on the hill sounded, calling the townspeople to Christmas vespers. Then the downtown church bell started ringing.”

Overall, The Greatest Gift by Philip van Doren Stern is a look into the inspiration behind the Christmas class movie, It’s a Wonderful Life.

Book Source:  Purchased from Amazon.com.

Not Exactly Mr. Darcy by Carolyn Miller (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

Have you visited any literary locations?  I have visited many of the Little House on the Prairie locations, but still have a few on my bucket list.  One of my favorite literary locations is Gene Stratton Porter’s Cabin at Wildflower Woods in Rome City, Indiana.  Gene Stratton Porter wrote Girl of the Limberlost and Freckles.  It’s a beautiful and peaceful place.

Olivia “Liv” Bennett is a history teacher in Australia. When her teaching contract is not renewed and is given to another employee, her family decides she is the best person to travel to England and help out her Grandma who is having health problems.  Immediately after she arrives, she has an awkward run in with a gardener at a local estate.  While Liam and Olivia do not have a good first meeting, they get to know each other better when Olivia starts to work at Hartbury Hall to help open it back up to the public.  Will these two learn to look beyond first impressions?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       It was a clean read and a Christian read.

·       It was a cute story with a sweet romance.

·       I loved how it was a modern-day Pride and Prejudice story.

·       The characters were great.  I loved Olivia, Liam, and everyone in the village.

·       Hartbury Hall was the setting of a fictional 2015 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, which made it a tourist attraction.  I wanted to see this fake adaptation!

·       This is the first in a new series – The Silver Teapot series.  I am looking forward to the next book in this series and learning more about Olivia’s sisters.

·       I enjoyed the author’s note and am fascinated that Lyme Park (Pemberley in the 1995 adaptation) had no references to the film and that the author’s husband was a gardener there when he was young.  I don’t know why Lyme Park wouldn’t take advantage of being such a famous place in a movie and how fun that the author’s husband was a gardener there.

·       This was an interesting look at how hard it is to maintain and keep up a British great house or large estate.  It impacts the village when it is no longer an employer or tourist attraction.  I liked seeing the renovations of the estate through the story.

·       There were various themes in the story such as second chances, forgiveness, and moving on from the past.

·       The romance tropes were opposites attract, fake identity, and forced proximity.  I enjoy these tropes.

·       This was a cozy read that was perfect for this busy time of year.

Overall, Not Exactly Mr. Darcy by Carolyn Miller is a delightful and fun romance that is a modern-day Pride and Prejudice story. It was a very enjoyable and cozy read.

Book Source:  Thank-you to @carolynmillerauthor @barbourbooks @austenprose for a review copy of this novel as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. 

Out of the Woods: A Girl, a Killer, and a Lifelong Struggle to Find the Way Home by Gregg Olsen

 

What true crime story would you like to read more about?

In 2005, the Groene family was murdered in their home in Idaho and the two youngest children, 8-year-old Shasta and 9-year-old Dylan were kidnapped.  Forty-eight days later, Shasta was saved when her kidnapper, Joseph Edward Duncan took her out to eat and the restaurant staff called authorities.  Where had she been during the forty-eight days?  What happened to her brother?  What happened to Shasta in the twenty years since her ordeal?

My thoughts on this book:

·       I remember being fascinated by this case when it happened twenty years ago, but I didn’t know anything about what had happened to Shasta since her rescue.

·       I read this in October for the Brenda Novak book club.  It was a very different type of selection for that book club as it was nonfiction true crime.  The book club had a fascinating interview with the author and is available on Facebook.

·       This is a horrifying true story that was very difficult to read at times.  Poor Shasta had to live it; therefore, I could at least read it and try to understand in order to honor her.

·       The story was told in a nonlinear fashion through Shasta’s eyes and trauma.

·       I was saddened on how adults failed Shasta in life before and after her kidnapping.  Afterwards, her remaining family seemed to care more about the money she had then on actually helping her with her problems.  No one wanted to hear the horror of what had happened to this poor young girl, and she had no one to talk to.

·       How can such evil exist in the world?  The book contained graphic detail of the murder of the Groene family and abuse of Shasta and Dylan.

·       Shasta had children young to try to have a family again.

·       I think everyone wants to believe that victims are rescued and live happily ever after, but this is often not the case.

·       Shasta had problems with drugs, legal troubles, and destructive relationships through her life.

·       As a teen, Shasta was sent for a few years to Vista at Dimple Dell Canyon for “help.”  She was manipulated to get money for the facility, and it did not help her at all.  It was yet another case of someone taking advantage of her.

Overall, Out of the Woods by Gregg Olsen was an important read for Shasta to finally have her story told.  It was also a very hard book to read and even harder knowing that this happened to someone.

Book Source:  Review copy from NetGalley.  Thank-you!

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

 

Title:  The Diamond Eye

Author:  Kate Quinn

Narrated by:  Saskia Maarleveld

Publisher: HarperAudio

Length: Approximately 12 hours and 51 minutes

Source: Purchased from Audible.com

How many languages can you read in?  I can only fluently read English, but I still remember enough high school Spanish to translate it in books.

Mila Pavlichenko is a young single mother and history student. When WWII reaches Russia, she uses her hobby of sharpshooting to become a renown sniper.  She finds love and horror while fighting for her country, but she may find her most wily enemy yet when she goes on a propaganda tour of the United States and is in the path of a potential presidential assassin.  Will she be able to thwart him?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was the November selection for the Rogue Book Club.  Sadly, I was the only member who read it, so we didn’t have a good discussion.  One of my other book clubs will be reading it soon so I’ll get to finally discuss it.

·       Author Kate Quinn is one of my favorite historical fiction authors.  I love all of her books.

·       It is amazing that Russia had women sharp shooters in WWII.  It’s especially amazing at a time when women in the military are being demeaned in our own country.

·       The novel is told through three point-of-views.  One is Mila in the past as she becomes a sniper. Another is an unknown assassin in 1942 trying to assassinate President Roosevelt.  The third is Eleanor Roosevelt in 1942 in her notes on hosting Mila and the Russian contingent.

·       The audiobook had a great narrator with voices and accents for all the characters.

·       Over halfway through the book, the two timelines caught up with each other.

·       I loved Eleanor.  She was an independent woman with a mind of her own that also helped Mila.

·       I enjoyed the train trip from Ann Arbor to Albion to Kalamazoo.  I was born in Kalamazoo!

·       The Golden Age of Hollywood Easter eggs were a lot of fun.

·       Mila is Ukrainian but considers herself Russian.

·       I was surprised to find out at the end that Mila and most of the characters in this story were real people and that most of the story was true.  I was amazed.  There is a great author’s note at the end describing all of this.

·       The book had a bit of a slow start, but there was much suspense at certain parts of the book especially at the end.

Overall, The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn was a fascinating novel about a famous Russian sharpshooter in WWII.    

Animal Farm by George Orwell

 

What classic have you always meant to read, but you haven’t quite gotten to it yet?

My son Daniel and I read most of Animal Farm by George Orwell together years ago (he was in middle school at the time. He is now a senior in high school.)  For some reason, we never read the last chapter.  I finally finished it up last month.  I had never read this book in my time in K-12 or in college, but I have always heard about it.  Unfortunately, it seems very relevant to the times we live in.

In this classic novella, animals on a farm in England rise up against their cruel master, Mr. Jones, and take over the farm to run it for themselves.  Things seem to go well until a pig named Napoleon and other pigs take over.  They change rules to help themselves and a pig named Squealer has the job to convince the other animals that their memory is faulty, “Comrade Napoleon is always right.”  Will the animals ever find the equality that they seek?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This is a quick read and short book.

·       This story is written in the style of fable.

·       It is a dystopian story. 

·       We read the illustrated classic and liked the drawings in this version.

·       This book is on the banned book list.

·       I loathed Napoleon.

·       The different animals are supposed to represent different people in the history of the USSR.  For example, a pig called Snowball represent Leon Trotsky and is driven off the farm.

·       As the food rations smaller, pigs say that its is better than life under Farmer Jones.  Rules change slowly and no one is sure what is true. 

·       The story shows how a pure idea of freedom that is supposed to benefit all is corrupted by powerful people who take advantage of the uneducated masses to go along with things that do not benefit them.  The eventual dictator/leader turns to capitalism.

·       It seems like this book would be a better high school read rather than a middle school read where you could really dig into the history of the USSR and also current topics.

·       This book seemed heavy handed at times but did get the point across.  I got a lot more out of 1984 by George Orwell. 

Favorite Quote: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

Book Source:  Purchased from Amazon.

A Song in the Dark by Kimberley Woodhouse

 

Title:  A Song in the Dark

Author:  Kimberley Woodhouse

Narrated by:  Liz Pearce

Publisher: Recorded Books

Length: Approximately 11 hours and 53 minutes

Source: Thank-you to @kimberleywoodhouse @bethanyhousefiction @austenprose

for the hard copy of this book as a part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Audiobook was purchased from Audible.com

Do you have a favorite Christmas song?  I love so many Christmas songs.  One favorite is “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”

Chaisley Frappier is a prodigy and a blind concert pianist.  In 1938, she travels through Europe.  While becoming Hitler’s favorite pianist, she also helps as many people as she can.  She travels with her best friend Melanie and driver Rick Zimmerman.  Rick is a spy for the British government.  As Rick and Chaisley fall in love, will their secrets drive them apart?

My thoughts on this book:

·       The book has a riveting prologue that explains Chaisley’s blindness and the loss of her parents in WWI.

·       I loved the buildup of Chaisley and Rick’s romance. It was a good slow burn romance.

·       I enjoyed the great friendship between Melanie and Chaisley.

·       This novel is a clean read and is inspirational. 

·       There are many moments of suspense throughout the novel.

·       This book was a good look into Hitler’s atrocities to the handicapped, including the blind.  He forcibly sterilized blind and disabled people to “protect” the “perfect” race.  It was horrifying to event think about. 

·       The cover of this book is beautiful.

·       I loved that Chaisley, and crew were a light during a very dark time in history.

·       There are great discussion questions at the end of the book to use for a book club.

·       Liz Pearce was a good narrator of the audiobook.

·       I read this book back in October.

Overall, A Song in the Dark by Kimberley Woodhouse is a very engaging and inspirational WWII historical fiction novel. 

At Morning’s Light by Lauraine Snelling (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

Are you a morning person or a night person?  I am more of a night person.  Although now that I’m older, I’m definitely not staying up as long.

Einar and Maya Bredesen plan to immigrate to the United States from Norway.  Einar goes on one last fishing trip before they leave and is lost at sea.  Maya travels on to America with her brother to stay with her cousin Amalia in Green Creek, Iowa in 1890.  Amalia runs a boardinghouse and has recently married.  Will Maya be able to find a new life and potentially love in America?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       Maya had a hard time adapting to America. She doesn’t speak much English and feels like a fish out of water. It was a good reminder of what most Americans (besides indigenous) ancestor’s felt when they first arrived.

·       This is the second book in the Home to Green Creek series.  I read this as a standalone, but I wish I would have read the first book, so I had more of Maya’s background and story.  It took me a bit to get used to characters.

·       This novel had great characters.  I really liked Amalia who is always trying to help everyone and Maya who goes through so much.

·       This was a clean read and a Christian read. There are references to their Lutheran faith throughout.

·       This was a second chance romance novel.

·       The new love interest for Maya, Eber, starts as a friend and enters about halfway through the story. Therefore, this is also a friends to lovers’ story.

·       There are good book club discussion questions included at the end of the book.

Overall, At Morning’s Light by Lauraine Snelling was a beautiful story of second chances and friendship.

Book Source:  Thank-you to @laurainesnellingauthor @bethanyhousefiction @austenprose for a review copy of this novel as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. 

Murder at Cottonwood Creek by Clara McKenna

 

Do you prefer standalones or series?  I enjoy both, but always love when I find a new series to enjoy like the Stella and Lyndy Mystery series.

British Lyndy, Viscount Lyndhurst, and his American wife Stella, Lady Lyndhurst, have traveled to Montana to visit Lyndy’s father, Lord Atherly, who is working on a paleontology dig on the horse ranch of Stella’s mother and stepfather.  Soon after their arrival, a death amongst the dig team occurs and things spiral after that.  Will Stella and Lyndy be able to solve this mystery?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This is the seventh book in the series.  It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading this delightful series.

·       This is a cozy mystery.

·       I’ve always found paleontology fascinating, and I loved the setting of this story in 1906 Montana during the search for fossils.

·       Stella and Lyndy are a great couple.  It was fun with this new setting in America to have Lyndy out of his element in this book rather than Stella in England.

·       There were a lot of red herrings in this mystery, and I was surprised by the ending.

·       I enjoyed that Stella got to enjoy time with her mother and getting to know her.  Stella was raised by her father and didn’t really know her mother.

·       It was also nice that Lyndy’s abrasive mom was not in America, but she still put the pressure on to have a child from afar.

·       This was a fun read.

·       Interesting author’s note on the end with tidbits and sources on the real history during this time period.

Overall, Murder at Cottonwood Creek by Clara McKenna was a fun cozy historical mystery with great characters.

Book Source:  Thank-you to author Clara McKenna for a review copy of this novel. 

 

Murder at Donwell Abbey by Vanessa Kelly (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What is a book that you couldn’t put down?  I couldn’t put down Murder at Donwell Abbey by Vanessa Kelly!

Emma Knightley is surprised to discover that her reclusive father is engaged . . . to the always talkative Miss Bates!  While hosting an engagement party for the couple, a person is discovered dead.  Did they fall out of an upper story window or were they pushed?   Emma is on the case to solve this crime.

My thoughts on the novel:

·       This is the second novel in the Emma Knightley mystery series.  You can read this novel as a standalone, but I think it adds to the story to read both books.

·       This was a delightful mystery that was very readable.  I read it quickly and didn’t want it down.

·       I loved that the characters from Jane Austen’s Emma have their stories continued in this novel.

·       The characters are true to Austen’s creations.

·       Emma is a good sleuth with her eye for detail and for knowing everyone’s business.  She doesn’t leave things alone until she gets an answer.

·       I liked that Miss Bates becomes Emma’s mystery solving assistant.  This character was fleshed out more in this novel while remaining true to the original.

·       Emma and Mr. Knightley (George) make such a cute couple.  I enjoyed their interactions.

·       There were plenty of red herrings in this mystery to keep one guessing.  It had a great climax and conclusion.

·       It was a witty and fun book.  I enjoyed the reference for “excellent boiled potatoes’ that I felt was an Easter egg for Austen fans (in particular fans of the 2005 Pride and Prejudice adaptation).

·       This is a historical cozy mystery set during the Regency period.

·       It is a clean read.

·       This story is set during the Christmas season.

Overall, Murder at Donwell Abbey by Vanessa Kelly was a very entertaining cozy historical mystery novel and a great continuation of Emma by Jane Austen.

Book Source:  Thank-you to @vanessakellyauthor @kensingtonbooks @austenprose for a review copy of this novel as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. 

Mr. Rochester by Sarah Shoemaker

 

Title:  Mr. Rochester

Author:  Sarah Shoemaker

Narrated by:  Simon Shepherd

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Length: Approximately 16 hours and 43 minutes

Source: Purchased from Audible.com

Who is your favorite literary hero? 

Edward Fairfax Rochester is a second son.  His mother dies when he is young, and his absentee father sends him off to school at the age of eight.  He has to make his way in the world and learn what he can.  Will he ever return to his beloved Thornfield Hall?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I read Mr. Rochester by Sarah Shoemaker for the October JASNA Book Club meeting. All of book club seemed to enjoy this well written novel and it provided good discussion comparing it to our other read, the original Jane Eyre.  Mr. Mason’s characterization seemed to be the main difference between the two books.

·       This novel was the story of Mr. Rochester’s life from childhood through adulthood.  It reminded me of Jane Eyre or a Dickens novel.

·       I kept wondering would a father really send a very young son away and not see him for a decade?  I know Victorian times were different, but it seemed odd.  Rochester was an unloved child just like Jane Eyre.

·       I thought his work at the mill had shades of Bronte’s novel, Shirley.

·       He had a lonely life when so many people died young in the Victorian age.

·       Mr. Rochester is astonished by slavery, but still used it to make a profit.

·       I liked that this wasn’t just a retelling of Jane Eyre through Mr. Rochester’s POV.  Most of the novel is his life before he meets Jane and then events of the novel through Mr. Rochester’s time.

·       I didn’t like that the mind games he played with Jane.

·       I did enjoy that a new character, Gerald, who was not in the original novel, was seamlessly added to the story in a way that adds to the drama and furthered the action.

·       Rochester was a good guy in this novel and his actions for locking Bertha away are explained.

 

Overall, Mr. Rochester by Sarah Shoemaker was an excellent retelling and a must read for any fans of Jane Eyre.