2024 Book Report

St Bartholomew's Eve: A Tale of the Huguenot Wars

By G.A. Henty, 1893

“On August 24, 1572, more than 2,000 French Huguenots - men, women, and children - were massacred for their faith.” (Audible Summary) I tried to get into this one, but three hours in (of the nearly 14 hour story) my thoughts were drifting badly so I decided to give it up. Jim Hodges is such a painful reader, his inflection is all over the place and makes what should be a thrilling/dramatic/mournful scene all seem like a children’s nursery rhyme. 

The plot feels reminiscent of Henty’s French Revolution story, “In the Reign of Terror” which is excellent - both the narration (the audible version by Stuart Langton) and the storyline. 

I switched over to the abridged version by Heirloom Audio and enjoyed the two hour, dramatized story. It was nice having a bit more of the back story provided in the full version to the Huguenots and Philip Fletcher. But Henty does just provide a lot of excess detail (troop movements etc.) that just feel too dull to slog through sometimes. 

I’m sure it’s a great story overall, if you can tolerate Hodges. There’s a bit of love story included between Philip and Clare. 

Wintering 

By Katherine May, 2020

This was my second time listening to Wintering. One of the things that stood out to me was the section on “the watch.” In this season of life I can relate to that sleep pattern… going to bed at 6 or 7 with the kids, just out of sheer pregnancy exhaustion… and then being awake for several hours early in the morning before drifting back to sleep. An interesting historical tidbit that you never really think of, but makes perfect sense in a world where people didn’t have electricity, so going to bed with the sun was only natural. 

Also, I’m always fascinated by the idea of cold swimming, jumping into frozen lakes for a dip, sitting in cold pools… there’s a part of me that wishes I had margin, guts or access to these things. The reset, the freshness sounds exhilarating. Maybe one day!

Overall I just enjoy the meandering style of her writing, and the reminder that life is full of “winter” seasons. Invitations to pull in and rest, while you wait for the promise of spring. 

Original review here: 2022 Book Report

In Freedom’s Cause 

By GA Henty, 1885

I listened to the full audiobook in 2022, and then this spring listened to the Heirloom Audio version. This was certainly one of their stronger adaptations. I’ve never been to Scotland, but the accents sounded a bit overdone. I think they could have been toned down some and you still would have remembered the story took place in Scotland!

I was impressed by Wallace’s faith and appreciated the emphasis placed in the story on His trust in God. He was a man of valor, and incredible strength and prowess on the battlefield. And yet beyond his sword, he knew victory would come only through God.

It’s a good, succinct adaptation. I appreciated that it wasn’t quite so graphic as the original book recounting battlefield scenes and the gruesome tortures inflicted by the English. Such barbarism boggles the mind. 

Original review here: 2022 Book Report

The Librarian Spy 

By Madeline Martin, 2022

This was my second book this year by Martin, and I enjoyed it even more than the first! I really appreciate Martin’s writing style. It truly feels like the best sort of historical fiction with the characters based on real people / events. I learned so much about wartime in occupied France and the heroic resistance. While some resistance members were responding to personal loss or attack, many could have just kept their heads down and made it to the other side of the war. Instead, they chose to take a stand against the tide of evil in their day. Their bravery was astounding. 

Days after finishing the book I’m still grieved, horrified at the death of Nicole. She was so vivacious and plucky. The horrors of what went on at Montluc prison are so disturbing - to think that men at women endured such unspeakable cruelty at the hands of other human beings. I appreciated that Martin introduced you to it, let you squirm heart pounding with Elaine, without going very graphic or detailed. Knowing what they were up against, I’m truly in awe that there were so many willing - yes willing to take the risk. It’s a kind of bravery that I think has gone almost extinct in our western world. 

Something that stood out to me in both her WWII books that I’ve listened to is the rationing. A slow drip torture… not bloody or unendurable, but ever-present. While the people of Paris went about with their stomachs empty, they watched the enemy gorge themselves.

As a currently pregnant mama, I felt my own gut twist with the stories of Manu, and Marcel’s wife… babies torn from their mother’s in the cruelest of ways. 

I always think of WWII as primarily either about the soldiers on the front, or the Jews in concentration camps. But this book once again shows you the battle faced by other groups of people - occupied France, and neutral Portugal with their streams of refugees hoping for a chance to live free. 

I think on the whole the book was very well written, well researched. I just wished there would have been a bit more detail about Josef - how did Etienne get his information about Josef? Was it through bribed Germans, or French working within Montluc? And how did Nicole just walk up to the gates and request that Elaine be released and she actually be allowed to just skip her “appointment” and go free that day? I so wished that Josef had made it in the end. He was an amazing man. 

A clean novel about characters with excellent morals, brave and kind. Well researched. I loved the juxtaposition between the senseless cruelty and the incredible effort put forth by so many to save the lives of even just one or two people - like Sarah and Noah. Showing that life is so very precious.  

The White Flag 

By Gene Stratton Porter, 1923

This was one of the few GSP novels not available on audible (and now I know why!) I found an old copy and decided to give it a go. My goodness, what a shift from her normal genre! She was definitely trying her hand at a certain style - the overly tragic to the point of ludicrous. I lost count of how many characters died. 

The ending was very disappointing, in my head I rewrote it just to make things turn out as they should have. I could see Jason grappling with whether he should confront Mahala or try to move on with his life - but then he should have talked it over with Peter Potter or Jemimah and realized he needed to just confront her about the money he had found. With what he knew of Junior and Mahala, it’s absolutely ridiculous that he thought she really hid the money, especially when she became so violently ill over it. Throwing Ellen into the mix was the last straw that irrevocably soured the whole thing. 

It’s a page turner alright, written in that format you’d expect of a newspaper serial. Salacious secrets (that are only ever hinted at because of the discreet Victorian manner of writing) and tragic deaths. I missed the description of nature and a love for the beauty surrounding that is woven throughout her other books. There was no happily ever after. A common thread that was present are the characters who pull themselves up by the boot straps and succeed through diligent industry. And also the children that grow up so virtuous despite having no one to train them throughout their childhood. 

I wouldn’t recommend this one, or At the Foot of the Rainbow. She has far better books!

The Lost Heir 

By GA Henty, 1899-1900

This was my first Henty novel that I read as it’s not available on Audible. It was an enjoyable read, though at over 300 pages much more drawn out than it needed to be. It was certainly a departure from his normal style where he takes a factual time period, with usually a war or some major historical event and weaves in a fictional hero. 

In this book there was no war, or even a historical figure. It felt like he was trying his hand at a Sherlock Holme’s type mystery story since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle books were so popular at the time he wrote this novel. The book focus on a woman heroine, who is able to solve the mystery through her unique ability to read lips. Since Henty had his own experiences in the military with the British army in India the book starts out with a tiger hunt, and a military general is one of the central characters. Overall it was a good read. 

A Girl of the Limberlost 

By Gene Stratton Porter, 1909

It took me a long time to get into this one. I just don’t find the early parts on childhood very enthralling. Once she had nearly finished high school and was making her own way, it began to get interesting and the last section with romance introduced was enjoyable. 

My main critique of GSP’s novels is the virtuous character of the hero or heroine that grows up without care or cultivation. How are they so noble, hardworking, honest and compassionate when these qualities were never shown them, or modelled for them? A mystery indeed!

I think Catherine Comstock’s character would have been a bit more believable if rather than being calculatingly cruel, she was merely absently indifferent. So weighed down with her grief that she didn’t even notice Elnora. She is written as a woman who is just too smart to really have ignored her daughter for so many years. It is wonderful though that she changed. And the scene where she confronts Elva and talks to her about her cancer is very honest, and still shows some humanity and even compassion. 

Lovely section on nature and appreciation for God’s wonderful creation. 

Disappointed that Phil took brain fever, it made him seem weak. Also, Elnora’s reluctance to accept his proposal, making him wait forever for her answer just felt like the author drawing out the suspension. That didn’t feel true to life at all. But, it made for an interesting plot twist I guess. You felt sorry for both Phil and Hart as they suffered patiently awaiting the decisions of their women. 

Really Very Crunchy 

By Emily Morrow, 2024

Having watched many of Emily’s videos on Instagram, when I saw she was coming out with a book I knew I wanted to listen to it. I’m not sure what I expected when I began listening. It felt like part memoire, part demystifying what the “crunchy” life means, and then part encouragement to be kind. 

It felt like it was directed at someone who is beginning their journey towards a more crunchy lifestyle. For myself I didn’t learn any new information. It was more interesting just listening to her journey. And I enjoyed Jason’s chapter notes too. It’s a fun listen. 

I think for myself it would have been more beneficial to have her delve into stories of things she’s tried over the years and how that panned out. I’d like to know more about what she is doing currently towards gardening, making food from scratch, caring for different ferments etc. and then too what tradeoffs that entails, what she’s buying in this season of life. Also, I didn’t think the quiz at the end was very helpful. Things like eating locally grown food in season, shopping from local businesses and recycling all make it sound like you have to have lots of money. It’s not about where you are on the crunchy to silky spectrum, but rather what you’re doing within your means to care for the health of your family. 

I appreciated the focus on getting outside, and all the things you can do for free! Managing anxiety, grounding, breathing, and the like. 

Jane the Fox and Me

By Fanny Britt, 2012

A graphic novel that focus on the school experience of a young girl who is bullied and friendless. She finds connection with Jane Eyre while reading Bronte’s novel. In the end of the story she makes a friend and sees the world in a new light. 

I hated the pictures, very crude and full of sharp points and angles, in no way restful to the eyes. And the story while it had a good premise and clever title, it felt far too short to really get anywhere. What happened to her dad? Why did the popular girls used to be her friends, but weren’t anymore? And what era and country was this set in? Lots of things touched on, but not fully explained. It felt like a book written and illustrated by a twelve year old. But, at the same time the content felt like it was delivered for a mature audience. So, I’m not even sure who is meant to be the target reader. 

Tramp for the Lord 

By Corrie Ten Boom, 1971

Excellent, highly recommended as a sequel to “The Hiding Place.” So many incredible stories. God’s spirit was certainly flowing through Corrie as with the early apostles. I appreciated how raw, how honest she was about her personal short comings and how it was Christ in her that did miracles. 

The Lost Words 

By Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris, 2017

I love the premise of this book, but the delivery was just far too “artsy.” I didn’t appreciate that they felt they had to make nature into magic - using language like spells, etc. No thank you. Some of the poetry was fun, but a lot of it was just over my head. I thought maybe I could read it to my son but he quickly lost interest. It would have been better delivered as a story featuring the words. Or more of a story / informational book. Like, why is a snake called an adder? Is that a synonym for snake or a specific type? It’s a beautiful book, and I’ve wanted to read it since first hearing about it. But, it was a disappointment. 

The Year of Less

By Cait Flanders, 2018

I felt like the title and cover summary were very misleading as to what this book was actually about. I was hoping for a "Marie Condo" start leading to newly awakened hobbies, crafting and getting out into nature. New habits that led to mindful purchases. Things that she once bought that she now makes at home. Hours spent online shopping replaced with making from scratch, and even taking a step back from the rat race of work - when you spend less you don’t need to work a crazy stressful job. 

This is far more a personal memoire. And because she already had a blog following, she was able to write a book. It’s her story of overcoming additions, moving past family trauma and setting personal goals. As a Christian, I can attest to the fact that the meaning and fulfillment she’s seeking is not found in less, it’s found in Christ. What she’s done is very admirable, but I felt like the book didn’t leave you anywhere satisfied. She was hard on herself, and practiced radical self denial - but what replaced the drinking / drugs / spending? It sounds like food and keeping busy with work and travel are what she replaced it with. She never really got to the candle making and gardening… some mentions of getting outside. I think she’s off to a great start figuring out what she doesn’t need, but has a long way to go yet in learning what she does. 

As someone who enjoys the things I’ve chosen to mindfully possess, I don’t think there is anything wrong with owning things. Creating beauty is one of the things we’re meant to do, one of the way we emulate our Creator. Every home doesn’t need to look like IKEA and every wardrobe amount to 20 pieces. I was challenged though by her choosing not to shop until she needed something. It has become too much of a mindless past-time in today’s world. 

The Scarlet Pimpernel | Book 1

By Baroness Orczy, 1905

I first saw the 1982 movie starring Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour years ago. It’s such an unsung classic! Hilarious, while at the same time depicting a dark, gruesome era. Listening to the book evoked many of the movie scenes, and while the essential points are the same there are many variations in the actual book. I loved the final scene, Sir Percy’s last disguise - sheer genius on the part of Baroness Orczy, how did she come up with that! The expressions through the book are vastly amusing. “Odds fish” and “Laud” etc. I felt like the book needed some editing… lots of pedantic repetition about Sir Percy’s “Inane laugh” and Marguerite being the most brilliant woman. But on the whole it’s most enjoyable. Makes me curious about her other books. 

Waiting on God 

By Andrew Murray, 1896

It’s a sweet little book, laid out in short chapters for 31 days of readings. Murray had some really great thoughts. Some paragraphs were very poignant and profound, and really helped to further illuminate / make practical the scripture passages shared about waiting. I just felt on the whole it was a little too old fashioned and dry. It was hard to stay focused on what he was actually saying. I think had the book been even shorter, or included stories of how to walk out the principles shared it would have been more enjoyable. 

Mending Life: A Handbook for Repairing Clothes and Hearts

By Nina and Sonya Montenegro, 2020

I love to mend. It’s been one of my most enjoyable hobbies through the years, and I’ve often longed to put into words what the joy of repairing something has done in my own life. It’s as if each repair also repairs something in my mind and heart. 

Nina and Sonya are both excellent writers, and the personal history and poignant insights into the act of mending were an inspiring treat to read. 

If you’ve never picked up needle and thread to mend one of your own garments, they provide very helpful step-by-step tutorials for various ways you can repair garments of different fabrics. 

I got this book from the library, and as soon as I was finished promptly ordered my own copy. I really enjoyed reading the paragraphs about the mending life. 

A Year of Living Kindly: Choices That Will Change Your Life and the World Around You

By Donna Cameron, 2020

This felt like a “how to make yourself a better person in 10 easy steps” type book. 

While I think the book does have merit, the reader grated on me. And I just didn’t feel like there was much warmth in the writing, or genuine humility. Had it been full of stories about how she tried to act in kindness - and the ups and downs of that journey. Or the stories of others, Reader’s Digest style and the butterfly effect of kindness I think that would have been so much more inspiring. 

Laid out in 52 chapters, one for each week of the year, the author expects you to pick it up off and on for a year. But, I was so ready to be done after the first hour. Mostly I just listened feeling guilty about every time I’ve been “nice not kind” and gotten exasperated and unkind with support people over the phone. 

I liked all the quotes she shared, I enjoy good quotes! But her language throughout just felt uncalled for… words like, “bitch - bozo - horse’s ass - a warm turd” - these just felt so harsh on the ear, and highly unnecessary. 

Overall it was just far too corporate / trendy for my taste. I was looking for something a little more down to earth and real. The best I can say for the book is that it put kindness at the forefront of my mind, and I’ve been trying to go out of my way to be not just nice, but actually kind as I’m out and about. 

Cradle to Cradle, Remaking the Way We Make Things

By William McDonough and Michael Braungart, 2008

I found this book through a recommended list provided at the end of the book, “Mending Life.” It’s a fascinating historical overview of how we’ve gotten to the toxic place we are today in industry. It’s written in such a captivating way through numerous stories. I was astounded by the story of the shoe factory, where the leather tanning process is so harmful that workers were inevitably going to get cancer within 20 years, so only people 50 years or older were hired. And I found mind blowing the idea that even if everyone should choose to wear only cotton jeans dyed with natural indigo, there wouldn’t be enough land to grow the cotton, or enough indigo dye for the worlds population.  

It’s rather depressing… you just wonder how anyone is alive with all the harmful pollutants and toxic waste, etc. The author looks at the world through an evolution lens, and also a bit of a scarcity mindset. But, taken from a Biblical perspective God wants people to inhabit and care for the earth. And there are more than enough natural resources to go around. But it is up to us to learn how to best utilize what God has created, and this done best through the wisdom He lays out in scripture. 

I loved the author’s perspective about “the fitting-est” vs just “survival of the fittest.” And that’s the place we all want to be - we may not be the strongest, but we can learn to adapt and utilize what we’ve been given. 

He ends by says that it’s going to take every one of us, forever, to continue to address and find solutions to the problems that have been created. But, it’s an exciting challenge and books like this do give you a lot of hope that there are men and woman working hard to rethink systems and implement good changes that really do make for a better world. 

The language in the book is excellent, a treat to listen to and the narrator is great as well. 

Favorite Quotes: “We’re all downstream.” 

“The fittest survive, the fitting-est thrive. Popular wisdom holds that the fittest survive, the strongest leanest largest perhaps meanest, whatever beats the competition. But in healthy thriving natural systems it is actually the fitting-est who thrive. Fitting-est implies an energetic and material engagement with place, and an interdependent relationship to it.” (Chapter 5)

A Nest for Celeste: A Story About Art, Inspiration, and the Meaning of Home

By Henry Cole, 2012

I listened to this book on YouTube, read by a series of different readers. It says online the book is geared for ages 8-12, but it doesn’t really feel very kid-friendly. The rats seem like brothel matrons, descending upon helpless Celeste. Somewhere along the line, Cole must have read about Audubon’s unfeeling cruelty to the bird specimens he collected to paint, and I felt like that was about all I learned from this book about Audubon. Most of the book is taken up with Celeste’s interactions with different animals, and all her narrow escapes. The illustrations were great, reminded me of “The Invention of Hugo Cabret.” I felt like this book would have been a lot more interesting if the historical fiction side had been stronger, and you’d learned more about Audubon’s background, or if not him than more of a focus on Joseph and his story.  

Meet Me In The Meadow: Finding God In The Wildflowers

By Deborah Hedstrom-Page, 2005

Deborah is a true writer, and her words are beautiful, well thought out and to the point. I loved that each chapter is short, yet packed with information. You get an introduction to the flower, some historical background and then an idea of how you can get to know the flower personally through usage. Edible “weeds” are something I’ve been interested in for serval years now, so this book was right up my alley. 

Her spiritual insights aren’t always super contextually accurate, but they are heartfelt and ones gained through personal experience of walking with the Lord. I resonated with many of them. This book, and the way it’s laid out was perfect for me in my current season of motherhood - young kids, few minutes to devote to devotions. 

I look forward to giving copies of this book to friends and family for years to come, and can see myself re-reading it in a few years. It’s a gem, not one of those “flowery” books (pun intended!) you so often find in Christian bookstores that try to blend drinking lattes and crucifying your flesh. It’s the kind of book I hope to write one day - well researched, born of life experience and edited to be direct so as not to waste the readers time. Loved it. 

Switchboard Soldiers

By: Jennifer Chiaverini, 2022

After listening to so many WWII books, it was fascinating diving into one about WWI. I knew nothing about the “Hello Girls” before this book. Jennifer did an incredible job researching and weaving together the stories of the courageous women that answered Uncle Sam’s call to serve their country in France. This book feels far more like a report than a historical fiction novel. The story is highly secondary to the in-depth look you get at the process of becoming and serving as a switchboard soldier. On the one hand I liked the academic approach, it didn’t feel as nerve wracking as say, “Lilac Girls” or the “Testament of Youth” movie (both WWII stories). But on the other hand it did feel pedantic at times. At nearly 15 hours it was my longest listen this year. While many different love stories were introduced, none of them really went anywhere. Marie searches for Giovanni throughout the war, and then in the final moments gets reunited with him, no explanation of why he never tried to contact her? And Grace, good grief why did you not marry Captain Mac? Visit your family and then marry the man! The epilogue tells you she married a Eugene and had four kids… but man, I really was rooting for the handsome Australian. There just felt like too many broken love stories… Hilda (Valerie’s Sister) dumps her man, then Inez, then Grace… I kept waiting for someone to lose their sweetheart or brother in the war, but no.

Knowing at the end that Grace (and Inez, I looked that one up) was a real person, while Valerie and Marie were fictional made sense. More liberties were taken with their stories. Overall it was excellent, just good to know what you’re getting yourself into. More spoilers, the brothers Eugene and Henry survive the war. 

Maybe these things were spelled out in the book, but I missed them… “Ersatz” coffee is from German, literally meaning “replacement.” 

And “Dough Boys” from History.com: According to one explanation, the term dates back to the Mexican War of 1846-48, when American infantrymen made long treks over dusty terrain, giving them the appearance of being covered in flour, or dough. As a variation of this account goes, the men were coated in the dust of adobe soil and as a result were called "adobes," which morphed into "dobies" and, eventually, "doughboys."

And finally, I tried to look up the Switchboard Girls song, but apparently that was also sadly a work of fiction. There should be a song though! 

Dear Enemy 

By: Jean Webster, 1915

I adored Daddy Long Legs, simply wonderful. This one felt far too cringy. The whole time I was listening I kept feeling as though the orphans where a litter or kittens, not actual human beings, precious souls! I know it’s meant to be lighthearted, but the narrative danced on the knife edge of human value. At one point Sallie was for letting a boy who drank too much die since he was as unworthy child with alcoholic parents. There were so many lines given to the undesirableness of one child or the other because of their parentage. I knew from reviews that Sallie would end up with the Doctor, but goodness that felt rushed. Poor Gordon, she shouldn’t have strung him along. She did make wonderful improvements at the JGH, but on the whole I felt like the humor fell flat because there was so much about their heredity, and whether they were going to grow up to be valuable in society, etc. Some of the stories about the children’s antics were amusing. 

The Spymistress

By: Jennifer Chiaverini, 2013

“1861 plus four means Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.” As each chapter chronicled the fervent hopes that the war would be over after a year of bloody conflict, then two… I kept thinking of that school-time rhyme, and four long years of war. When I think Civil War, thoughts always jump to the battlefield, but this story focused on the war at home. The starvation, the distrust, the emotions run high… all the things you never think of. 

My temperament can’t take the tales of impending doom. Horrific things happen to men and women around her, but not Elizabeth. I like Chiaverini’s writing style in that it’s highly educational, great historical fiction. I learned so much about war time Richmond through the eyes of Miss Van Lew. I looked up her story online and was relieved to know that she made it through relatively unscathed, she was smart and used her position to great advantage. 

The drawbacks were that I felt the union was over-glorified. Lincoln’s government overreach was not to be praised, and it’s due to ground lost at the time of the Civil War that we are in the political mess we’re in currently as a nation. The conflict was about state’s rights, and only late in the war did the question of slavery become a central tenant. But, with a broad sweep it’s painted that the North opposed slavery and the South clung to it, which is never wholly true. 

Too much time was given to troop movements and campaign details. It felt like aspects of the story kept repeating, same song different verse. Which, I know that was the reality of it, but my interest flagged. Also, I hated that the stories of different men in the prisons would be introduced but then not finished. Like the men whose names were chosen by lot to stand awaiting the death sentence if men captured by the North weren’t freed. 

Overall, it was an excellent narrative. I liked how realistically Elizabeth was portrayed. There were many moments when I could picture myself in wartime Richmond, facing the despair, and starvation, the utter cruelty. The bravery of men and women - particularly those in the black community - was incredible. They took a stand knowing they would face a torturous death if caught. Well worth a listen.  

I Will Repay, The Scarlet Pimpernel | Book 3

By: Baroness Emma Orczy, 1906

Brilliant, thoroughly enjoyed it! I only wish there were more of Orczy’s novels on Audible! Though Sir Percy is a vital part of the narrative, Paul Déroulède and Juliette Marny are the main characters. Though book 3 in the series, it really can operate as a stand alone. 

It’s exciting, full of action and suspense. Of course you know where it’s headed, but not exactly how. As soon as Déroulède showed up at her trial I felt sure what disguise Sir Percy had assumed, the clever man! I wished that once safe, Paul and Juliette would have had more dialogue. It felt odd that it ends by him calling her his wife. Wait, I missed the wedding!? And poor Ann, it would have felt sweet if she could have found love too as part of an epilogue to the story since after all it is all fictional. 

I did miss the humour. I felt like that was one of the greatest things about The Scarlet Pimpernel is all the humour, and all the funny expressions of the day. 

Overall a delightful listen! 

A Day of Fate

By: Rev. E.P. Roe, 1880

The story follows Richard Morton, an overworked newspaper man who stumbles into a Quaker meeting house, falls in love with a vision of beauty in the personage of young Quakeress Adah Yocomb. As fate would decree, her mother is the leader of the meeting house and the Yocombs invite him home to dinner, and to stay with them as long as he needs to. 

Richard quickly shifts his affections from his dream girl, to the very real woman also staying with the Yocombs, Miss Emily Warren. The rest of the tale is taken up with Richard’s raptures at all that Miss Warren is. And her in turn teasing him, mocking him, spurring him on to better, more honest wholesome ways, and finally revealing the truth that she is engaged to be married. 

What follows of course is the struggle that ensues as they both try to be honourable, but continue to wrestle with their feelings for one another. The book ends of course in a happily ever after, agreeable to all. 

While not inherently dull, it is redundant. Like a hymn that’s supposed to have four verses, this ones goes well beyond with say, 95 verses. The book is all written from Richard’s perspective, and at 367 pages he has a lot to share. It’s interesting, but moves so slowly. And, it’s very Victorian. You just have to be prepared for that from the get go. I can’t say much for their faith. While the Yocomb’s seem to genuinely know God, you don’t ever get the sense that Richard does. I wished that being with the Yocombs would have brought both Richard and Emily to faith, but that seems unimportant. Which, feels surprising given that the book is written by a Reverend. The most telling line seemed to be this… “ ‘I must either renounce heathenism or get away from your (Mrs. Yocomb’s) influence’… But to tell the truth, I was too far gone in human idolatry to think long upon her words, but they lodged in my memory, and I trust will never lose their influence.”

The Smugglers of Barnard’s Head 

By: Paul Creswick, 1905

Smugglers, romance and fairies! This is a darling little volume, formatted as a light read with beautiful pictures throughout. I found my copy at a thrift store and was captured by the cover and pen and ink drawings. I read it in three sittings, but it could easily be read in the span of a 2-3 hours. If you’ve ever watched any of the Jane Austen movies it reads much like those. A bit of excitement, lovely ladies just waiting to be wed. After just slogging through a lengthy Victorian tome, I was delighted by this surprisingly short story. I wish I had more of Creswick’s books. 

The story follows the lives of two sisters, who both find love. The younger marries the man who catches the smugglers, while the older finds romance with a writer who rescues her from smugglers. Since it’s so short, it moves quickly and lightly. They’re very taken up with fairies and spirits, lots of references to both. It felt reminiscent of the two other books I’ve listened to about smugglers - “Treasure of the Secret Cove” (Lamplighter Theatre) by Amy Le Feuvre and “A Castaway in Cornwall” by Julie Klassen. 

El Dorado: Further Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel | Book 7

By: Baroness Emma Orczy, 1913

This was my third book this year from the Scarlet Pimpernel series. It’s this book that the 1982 movie (starring Anthony Andrews as Sir Percy Blakeney/the Scarlet Pimpernel, the protagonist, Jane Seymour as Marguerite St. Just, the love interest, and Ian McKellen as Chauvelin, the antagonist) draws from for the saving of the uncrowned king of France, Little Capet / The Dauphin and the betrayal and capture of Sir Percy. 

Given that it is book #7 in the series, it alludes multiple times to the adventures that have taken place since book 1, and yet if you’ve read/listened to book #1 you can jump into this one. To me if feel like a Sherlock Holmes story. Even though it’s set in the midst of great tragedy, you know that nothing too terrible is going to happen to any of the heroes, and due to Sir Percy’s honor, chivalry, might and brains everything is going to come out alright in the end. 

It’s an exciting adventure, full of twists and turns. I really enjoyed it and was eager to listen through to the end. Baroness Orczy drives you mad with Armand’s reckless actions, and yet the dignity with which Sir Percy meets it all “as if he planned for it” is truly remarkable. You really do get the sense that God wants to open the way before him despite all odds just because he is so true, so just and upright. I only wish he truly had saved the Dauphin (who in actuality died in captivity). 

I’m not sure why it’s called El Dorado, the title makes you think it has some connection to Spanish gold. The last chapter in the book is called, “The Road to El Dorado” which I think just means Sir Percy and Marguerite are once more on the road to a golden, happily ever after. 

The Patriot Martyr 

By: Unknown, 1880s

A collection of accounts about the lives of brave women, heroines of their time. The first story is about the life of Joan of Arc. It’s so tragic. You feel like somehow she stepped into the arena and all her foes were straining for her destruction. I think the thing that bothered me the most was the fact that she had to stay dressed in her armour to protect herself from being raped by one of her three guards… and that is was this act of cross-dressing that was one of the triumphed up charges on which she was burned at the stake. 

The subsequent seven stories are much shorter. And, oddly enough they’re not about famous women, I’d never heard of any of the others. They all did brave things, but I didn’t feel like their stories really compared with Joan of Arc. She’s certainly in a category of her own. Also, the women in the other stories were not killed. 

They were all interesting, I enjoyed reading the book. Some accounts just don’t have as much detail recorded to even share about their lives so those stories didn’t capture my interest as much. I’m not sure who the intended audience would be for this volume. I think high school age and beyond. 

The Trumpet of the Swan  

By: E.B. White, 1970 

I read this book to my four year old son this fall. I think the thing I liked most about the story was the illustrations, I wish there had been more! The story is so, so. It follows the life of a young swan born with a speach defect. His father procures him a trumpet by which he is able to have a voice and it follows his adventures earning money to pay for the stolen trumpet. 

I found it interesting that not all swans are trumpeter swans. There are three species of swans in North America: Trumpeter, Tundra and Mute. I felt like the book should have woven Sam Beaver into the story a bit more. It’s as if at first Louis needs help from Sam, but then he quickly becomes a force of his own. It’s a fanciful tale, but overall fun. It bothered my son that Louis was mean to the duck who tried to steal his trumpet. For what it is, I think it’s a fun story. I think I personally would have liked it better if there was a bit more in the story about the natural world, that you could have learned something more about the behaviour of true swans in the wild. It’s a fun story, but really just that - a story with swans as the focus, even though they behave like humans. 

I like that it felt like a time capsule of that era, the pictures and elements of the story. Very true to the late 1900s. I’ll probably have my sons read it again at some point as it is a nice story. 

Jo's Boys, and How They Turned Out: A Sequel to "Little Men" 

By: Louisa May Alcott, 1886 

I did enjoy this sequel much better than the first book, “Little Men.” I find the stories of childhood often a little dull, and I have hard time staying focused. This one was more engaging as you followed the lives of the boys as they got married and made their way in the world. I felt exceedingly sad though that Dan didn’t marry. And also later reading about the real live sister Amy, and how she had passed away before this book was written, thus Louisa rarely speaks of Amy in the book. I felt annoyed that the boys were constantly running to confess to Mother Bhaer. I suppose it can’t be helped seeing as how it’s written from Jo’s/Louisa’s perspective. But still you feel like they should have also had a strong relationship with Professor Bhaer or Laurie. Also, it felt like too many main characters. It worked in “Little Men” because it’s a story of children, but I would have preferred that this one honed in on two or three main boys and followed their threads. Rather than seeing them mature and become adults, you still feel like you’re looking at them through the eyes of grandparents - who view even 20-somethings as “children.” Anyways… needless to say “Little Women/Good Wives” is still her crowing work!

The Old Man in the Corner 

By: Baroness Emma Orczy, 1908 

I’m not a good enough book critic to articulate why “The Old Man” bothered me so much, only to say boy, he did! I love the Sherlock Holmes mysteries. Sherlock, though full of his own faults feels like a man of character. He aids the law, and is a respectable man though eccentric. Also Orczy’s “Scarlet Pimpernel” is a courageous, chivalrous, noble character. The Old Man feels like a slithering snake. He sits back and winks at real villains going free… and then you find out he’s one of the worst villains himself! Oh, so cringy.

I enjoyed listening to the twist and turns of the mysteries overall, but didn’t like that the bad guys seemingly “get away with it” and also I felt like there were too many names to keep track of in the stories. It felt tedious to listen to in ways that never seemed a strain with Sherlock Holmes mysteries. Though decent, I can see why these tales are not as popular as other mystery series.