Review: A Clearing in the Wild

This book is so different than most of the historical fiction I've read lately, and it was beyond refreshing.  Written from a first person perspective, A Clearing in the Wild tells the story of Emma Wagner, her life in the town of Bethel, Missouri, and her journey west to the Oregon Territory.  The people of Bethel seek to live a simple and generous life of communal living, set apart from the rest of the world in the 1850s.  The author never describes them as Amish, but they are German descent (and indeed still speak German) and live like most people believe the Amish to live.

Emma is a headstrong young woman who speaks her mind in a time and place where women are not supposed to be independent thinkers.  When her husband is chosen to lead a team of scouts west to the Oregon Territory to find new land for the people of Bethel to move to, she clashes with Bethel's leader in attempt to kept her husband with her.  Instead, without her husband's knowledge or approval, she convinces the leader to allow her to go with the team of scouts.

Emma and her husband Christian travel many months through the plains and into the lush Oregon Territory, learning a great deal about themselves and each other along the way.  When the land to build the new colony for the people of Bethel is finally chosen, Emma has her doubts and the entire team struggles to prepare the land in time for the arrival of the rest of their people.  Through it all, Emma wrestles with their colony's beliefs about God, women and the role they are meant to play, family, and the essences of community.

As I mentioned before, this book is different that most of the historical fiction I've been reading lately; the focus is not so much on the love story of the main characters, but about their entire life story.  The text is well-written and the reader is immediately engaged to and connected with the characters.  I highly recommend A Clearing in the Wild!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah as part of their Blogging for Books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Review: Plain Wisdom

Whoops.  Somehow I missed reviewing Plain Wisdom from Waterbrook Press.  I think I got this book...uh...a while ago.  But pregnancy brain and new motherhood brain struck again.  I finally finished this book, and am so glad I did!

Plain Wisdom is the work of Cindy Woodsmall, the best-selling novelist known for her stories of the Amish, and her true friend Miriam Flaud, a member of the Old Order Amish.  Through this book, they recount how their friendship developed and deepened, sharing stories of laughter and tears and nuggets of practical wisdom throughout.  The book is great for a new mom like me because the chapters are super short but very rich; I felt like a read something whole-heartedly in between trying to quiet my baby girl into her nap. 

Even though the text itself is great, I think my favorite part by far was the recipes Miriam included.  Oh my goodness, just reading the text of the recipes made me hungry!  I cannot wait to try out some of these recipes- they actually don't look too intimidating!

I highly recommend Plain Wisdom- it provides a nice change of pace from Woodsmall's usual books, and it is extrememly practical!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah as part of their Blogging for Books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Too Rich for a Bride

It's always fun when the setting of a book you're reading is a place you've actually been.  It's not that the author needs help painting a picture of the setting in your mind- it's just a different dimension- not better, not worse than reading about a place to which you have never been.  I just finished Too Rich for a Bride by Mona Hodgson, set in the mining boom-town of Cripple Creek, Colorado.  I visited the town as a child when my family lived in Colorado Springs....I felt like I was in a time warp of sorts, so it wasn't too difficult for me to picture the town the way in would have looked in the late 1800s, when the story takes place.

Ida Sinclair is the eldest of four sisters; two of her sisters already live in Cripple Creek, and she plans to join them after she completes her business degree in Maine.  Once she arrives in Cripple Creek, she is determined to let nothing distract her from her goal of becoming a successful business woman- even if that means potentially comprising some of her ethics to make it in a 'man's world'.  The last thing she needs is the complication of a romantic relationship, but two of the town's eligible bachelors- the fashionable attorney and the mysterious traveling preacher- have both sets their sights on her.  With the addition of a landlady known for being the town matchmaker and two sisters who have already found love in the mining town, it will take all Ida has to focus on her career.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book; I actually read it in one day.  It's a quick read, but it's not as fluffy as I was anticipating.  Hodgson touches on some rather interesting issues- including business ethics, tuberculosis, and the early days of the stock market.  Apparently, Too Rich for a Bride is a follow-up to Two Brides Too Many, which follows the story of Ida's two sisters Kat and Nell, whom she joins in Cripple Creek.  The youngest sister Vivian still lives in Maine and is set to join everyone the following summer.  I'm guessing a third book will be appearing in the near future sharing with us Vivian's trek out West and her adjustment to Cripple Creek.  While Too Rich for a Bride is a follow-up, you can still read it without reading the first story (as I did), but there are a few events to which Hodgson alludes that most likely happened in the first book; if you can read the first book, it might give you a more complete picture of the Sinclair family and enhance your experience, but if you can only get your hands on the Too Rich for a Bride, by all means, read away!

Click here to download the first chapter of Too Rich for a Bride!  The book will be available May 3, 2011.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah as part of their Blogging for Books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Here Burns My Candle

WaterBrook Mulnomah recently updated their Blogging for Books program.  And let me tell you, it is now fabulous!  Not that it wasn't fabulous before, but it's just extra fabulous now.  It is one of the more user-friendly programs available, offering great technical assistance and really encouraging its bloggers to write quality reviews...which shouldn't be too difficult when you're reading quality books!  If you haven't visited their new page, do so now.  Right now.  Stop reading and click on this link.  After you've checked out their amazing program, come back and read my review of Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs.

I'm not sure how I've never read a book by Liz Curtis Higgs, considering how I seem to see them everywhere and have only heard good things about her writing.  At any rate, I decided to remedy the situation and recently finished Here Burns My Candle, a retelling of the story of Ruth- set in 18th century Scotland.  Not only is Ruth already one of my favourite books of the entire Bible, but I think that if done properly, retelling biblical themes and stories in modern or different eras can really reach an audience that may not ever have expressed interest in the Bible.  Take one look at Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers and you'll understand that the Lord can use books like that and Here Burns My Candle to grasp the hearts of people and draw them near to himself and his Word.

I read Here Burns My Candle in two days- and it only took me that long because I had to put it down to go to work, eat, and sleep (although I did forgo some sleep just to read a few more chapters).  The author does an amazing job of setting the scene of Edinburgh as bonny Prince Charlie and his army begin vying for the English throne.  The character development was astutely done; they felt like real people with flaws and imperfections and temperaments and the ability to change.  Truly, I started the story immediately disliking a particular character, but by the end, I was rooting for her like I was her biggest fan.

The story focuses on the Kerr family, Scottish nobility with secrets to hide.  One by one, the secrets begin to surface, and the family is forced to make a difficult decision between following their hearts and following what is safe.  Though the reader may not recognize the similarity to the book for Ruth at the beginning, when you turn the final page you truly begin to grasp the beginning of the story...because the end of the book is not the end of the story.  The Kerr women continue their journey of love, sorrow, and redemption in Mine is the Night.  I cannot wait to get my hands on that one!

Click here to read an excerpt of Here Burns My Candle.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah as part of their Blogging for Books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

The Charlatan's Boy

The cover of The Charlatan's Boy by Jonathan Rogers reminds you of a circus.  I was intrigued by the cover and the description of the book, and thinking it would be pretty interesting, I was looking forward to the story. 

As long as he can remember, orphan Grady has gone from village to village as part of a circus show with Floyd, a verified cheat.  Together, the pull hoaxes up and down the countryside as their way of earning a living.  Grady as touted as the 'Wild Man of the Feechiefen Swamp', but no one believes in feechies anymore...until Floyd makes them believe.  Trick after trick and lie after lie, Grady begins to wonder if he'll ever find out who he really is.

While I liked the concept Rogers was aiming at, I just couldn't get into this book.  I was pushing myself along almost the entire way, forcing myself to read it.  I found myself often putting the book down in favor of a different story.  I'm not really sure I found it so hard to involve myself in the characters, but I never became attached to any of them- even the main character!  Perhaps if I read this book at a different time, I would be able to enjoy it more (that happens sometimes).  I wouldn't say that I don't recommend it, but you do need to be in the right frame of mind before beginning the journey with Rogers.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah as part of their Blogging for Books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”