March of Books - Fireproof

I found this book at the thrift store one day and decided to read it. I had loved the message of the movie and was curious whether or not the book was exactly the same or a little different.

It was different in many ways, but without changing the story too much except for... Well, we'll get to that.

The thing I liked most about the book was getting a bit more into people's heads. Although the movie does an okay job portraying what a character is going through, everything is visual. Whereas in a book, you can read what someone is thinking.

Another thing I love about the book is that if I'm in the mood for some Fireproof, I can just read my favorite parts without having to stick in a DVD.

BUT... all of those good things were pretty much counteracted by the end. The end was awful. I can't even believe that something so cheesy and so-not-real-life even made it into this book! (This is your cue to stop reading if you don't want any spoilers.)

I assume that most of you have seen the movie. You know how Caleb was saving up for a boat? And how he finally communicated to his wife that his love really was back and there to stay was that he spent all of his hard-earned savings on medical stuff for her mom? Sweetest thing in the movie. Nothing touches me like self-sacrifice. Nothing.

And the book ruined that. Caleb wins the stinkin' boat on Wheel of Fortune! Maybe that won't bother some people. I probably am going way overboard with my dislike of this turn of events. But I hate hate hate it.

It's a good book if you leave that off, though!

[[March of Books]]

March of Books - Wild Orchid

Wielding a sword as deftly as an embroidery needle, Mulan is unlike any other girl in China. When the emperor summons a great army, each family must send a male to fight. Tomboyish Mulan is determined to spare her aging father and bring her family honor, so she disguises herself and answers the call...

     I haven't loved everything that I've read by Cameron Dokey, but most of it is pretty much amazing. And the set of "Once Upon a Time is Timeless" books have given me hours of pleasure. Wild Orchid was one of my favorites. 

     Hua Wei is a great warrior who loves his wife more than anything else in the world. When his wife dies in giving birth to their daughter Mulan, his heart breaks and he determines never to come home. So the infant Mulan is essentially left an orphan.

     Growing up, Mulan is a bit of a tomboy. She learns such unwomanly arts as swordsmanship and writing. So when the Huns come to attack China, it's only natural that Mulan feels that she should join the battle. 

In reading reviews done by other people, I saw that several mentioned or even complained about how similar this is to Disney's Mulan movie. The truth is, I read this book before I ever watched Mulan. And though they are kinda similar, they are *very* different. In fact, I suppose that I wished that the movie would have been more like the book. I hated Mushu (as in despised, abhorred, etc etc etc) the first time I watched Mulan. But he grew on me. =) Anyhow... I really didn't think that it was just a rendition of the Disney tale. And, as usual, Cameron Dokey wove an excellent plot around a familiar story.

March of Books - The Count of Monte Cristo

I know that The Count of Monte Cristo has come up on several occasions here at The Ramblings of Emily Rose. The reason for that, quite simply, is that I love the story so much! So I thought that I should say a few words about it for the March of Books. =D

Many people are intimidated by the massive size of Alexandre Dumas' Count, but those that manage to get through it pretty nearly always love it. All but one of my friends are big fans of Edmond Dantes. (As far as I know, anyhow... there are a few friends with whom the subject has not yet come up.)

Unjustly thrown into prison as a young man, Edmond Dantes loses everything. Everything. But a gift from a dying Abbe Faria gives Edmond the chance, not to regain what was lost, but to seek vengeance from those who took it from him. What follows is an exciting tale of one man seeking to destroy those who destroyed him. Edmond learns, however, that in destroying others he is also destroying the life that he has found for himself and the friendships he has formed. This leads to a drastic change of heart which leads Edmond to say in a letter to one of his dearest friends:

Tell the angel who will watch over your future destiny, Morrel, to pray sometimes for a man, who like Satan thought himself for an instant equal to God, but who now acknowledges with Christian humility that God alone possesses supreme power and infinite wisdom. Perhaps those prayers may soften the remorse he feels in his heart.

I think that The Count of Monte Cristo is one of the best works of fiction to ever be written.



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March of Books - Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue

Lady Carliss faces the challenge of her life. Can she save the kingdom before it’s too late?

Determined, smart, and a master of both the sword and the bow, Lady Carliss has proven herself as a veteran Knight of the Prince. Returning from a mission of aid, Carliss is plunged into adventure once again as she searches for the marauders responsible for kidnapping a friends’ family. Along the way she is reunited with Sir Dalton and discovers that the struggle in her heart is far from over. When Dalton falls to the vicious attack of a mysterious, poisonous creature, Carliss finds herself in a race against time. As Dalton clings perilously to life, she must find the antidote in the distant and strange city of Moorue.

While there, Carliss uncovers the master plot of a powerful Shadow Warrior that will soon overtake the entire Kingdom. Her faith in the Prince and her courage as a knight are tested as she faces evil Shadow Warriors and a swamp full of dreadful creatures. The lives of many, including Dalton’s, depend on Carliss. But she cannot save them all, for time is running out.  She faces an impossible choice: save Dalton, or let him die so that others may live.

I have really enjoyed reading Chuck Black's books. I loved the Kingdom Series and was eager to read more of his books. My library took their time, but they finally bought all of the Knights of Arrethtrae books. I've only read the first four so far, but I hope to read the last two soon. 

One of my favorites of the Knights of Arrethtrae books was Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue. I not only enjoyed having a female knight, but also loved the message of the book. Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart and Lady Carliss are probably my two favorites of Mr. Black's books.

The message in Lady Carliss was really good. I love how Mr. Black can write books that hold convicting messages without making them so overpowering that they belong in the religious self-help section. Lady Carliss reminded me so much of the way that Satan takes "innocent" things to distract us from our true mission. Something we would never consider to be wrong or dangerous can end up destroying our usefulness to God.

The great message of this book is only part of the reason I love it. Lots of action, suspense, and fantasy --- and all of this without the sorcery and witchcraft that stain so many of today's fantasy/adventures.


March of Books: =D

March of Books - Secret of the Golden Cowrie

When I was younger our closest neighbors lived a half mile down the road. Their dad worked at the same place as my dad and we went to the same church, so we knew each other pretty well. It was so much fun to be able to ride my bike to their house to play... and to get books. 


They had loads and loads of books. It was the bookworm's delight, let me tell you! One of my favorite books, which I borrowed over and over again, was Secret of the Golden Cowrie by Gloria Repp.

"Connie Lawrence loves secrets, and when Aunt Laura shares one with her, it leads them both to a puzzle connected with a beautiful golden cowrie shell. Connie plunges eagerly into the mystery. 


Figuring it out will be fun, and besides, it will give her a chance to prove herself to her big brother, Dan.

But who is the prowler that knows so much about Aunt Laura's house? What secrets does the strange little set of diaries hold? And what should she do about the letter that she found in the desk?


When time begins to run out for Aunt Laura, however, it is to Dan that Connie must turn. As they work together on the deepening mystery, she comes to a better understanding of God and learns something about her own self as well."

Okay. First of all, I loved Connie. And envied her. How come I never got to solve a mystery? I also loved some of the lessons that Connie learned along the way. Trusting God is something that I need to work on now as much as I did when I first picked this book up. 

Ricky was a pretty cool character, too. I loved his pet raccoon. I felt for him as he was lonely but was still trying to go it alone. I think I used to pretend that Ricky was real and that he was the little brother I wished I had. (This was obviously before Seth!) 

Dan was cool. I always wanted an older brother even more than I wanted a younger brother. Even though I know he was wrong to not be a better big brother from the start, I justified it by saying that Connie must have been a brat and deserved it. I was sure that no big brother could ever make mistakes. Older brothers were meant to be trusted guides and leaders, so they'd be perfect, right? =)

Stella was a great character, too. I think that Gloria Repp totally gets the desire that younger girls have for older girls to notice them and to care about them. I wished I could be more like Stella with her independence and all, but some of that just comes with age. ;)

Well... we ended up moving away, so there was no more going over on my bike to pick out books at the neighbors'. 

So...

 I started duplicating their library for myself. Now I own over fifty of the books that I used to borrow all the time. =) Those, of course, include Secret of the Golden Cowrie. 

I brought Secret to AWANA a couple of weeks ago so that my girls could read it if they wanted to. I was happy that one of them has already read (and loved!) it. =D I always like having books in common with people. 

I still enjoy reading this and many other books from my childhood. I can't wait to share it with my own kids some day!


YLCF's March of Books

March of Books - Phantom of the Opera

SCENE ONE:

It all started a long time ago. With a piano CD mom got. It had All I Ask of You on it in a beautiful arrangement. When I found out it was from Phantom of the Opera I listened to the real song.

I decided that I loved Phantom of the Opera.

SCENE TWO:


A movie was coming out. Phantom of the Opera. I thought it would be cool. I watched the trailer. The darkness of it kinda creeped me out. And it seemed so... wrong. Sensual.

I decided that I was adamantly opposed to all things Phantom.

SCENE THREE:


The thrift store. I couldn't find any books. Any clothes. Any anything that interested me. My mom? A cartload of stuff to try on. What was I to do? I picked up a book. I actually felt guilty even looking at it. Even the book looked dark and foreboding. [I love the word foreboding! Anyhow...]

I fell in love with it. I checked it out at the library to finish it. And I ended up with my own copy to read and re-read.

Erik, or the OG (Opera Ghost), or The Phantom, or whatever you want to call him, is one of those characters like Edward Fairfax Rochester. They are SO wrong... but you absolutely love them and feel for them.

Here is a quick summary that I stole... BORROWED from allreaders.com:

""The Phantom of the Opera" is a hideously deformed musical genius who hides in shadow, living beneath the Paris Opera house (which he himself designed some years earlier). Forced to live this way due to the fact that he has become a killer, his motives in life are changed when he falls in love with a young prima donna named Christine, a girl he has secrety been giving singing lessons.
But when a young man named Raoul DeChagny vies for the love of Christine, a deadly rivalry ensues- which will determine the fate of not only Christine, but of the entire Paris Opera House."

Someday I hope to be able to see a performance of Phantom. I now completely understand it's status as a classic. It has everything I love in a book. Strong characters, some historical value, love, mystery.

Conclusion? I should have gone with my first impressions on hearing All I Ask of You. Phantom is one book that'll be on my shelf through every renovation.


http://ylcf.org/2011/03/march-of-books-2011/

March of Books - Rose in Bloom

I have a confession to make.

I'm really bad at book reviews.

See, it annoys me sometimes when I go to read a review and it completely spoils the story for me because someone comments on so many of the details. So I try to steer clear of doing that. Which means that I usually end up 'reviewing' a book by saying, "I loved this!" or "This was awful!"

A few years ago I decided to sit down and read everything by Louisa May Alcott that I could get my hands on. It was a great month! Everyone knows about Little Women, some people know about Little Men, Jo's Boys, and Eight Cousins, but it seems that the two least-known books of Miss Alcott's are An Old Fashioned Girl and Rose in Bloom.

Rose in Bloom is the sequel to Eight Cousins, following the cousins as they grow up. There's no end of trouble as the cousins try "high society", fall in love, and forge new and life-changing friendships. No matter what troubles the clan face, they stick together while Dr. Alec tries to steer them right. And in the end, almost everyone is safe and happy. I won't say who ends up *not* safe and happy, only that the first half dozen times I read the book I found myself dissolving into tears.

Though I just said that I hate reviews that spoil things, I have to share this little passage from the last chapter. It makes me so happy! If you have plans to read the book, don't ruin it for yourself by reading this. =)

The room was a blaze of sunshine and a bower of spring freshness and fragrance, for here Rose had let her fancy have free play, and each garland, fern, and flower had its meaning. Mac seemed to have been reading this sweet language of symbols, to have guessed why Charlie's little picture was framed in white roses, why pansies hung about his own, why Psyche was half hidden among feathery sprays of maidenhair, and a purple passion flower lay at Cupid's feet. The last fancy evidently pleased him, for he was smiling over it, and humming to himself as if to beguile his patient waiting, the burden of the air Rose had so often sung to him:

"Bonny lassie, will ye gang, will ye gang
To the birks of Aberfeldie?"

"Yes, Mac, anywhere!"

He had not heard her enter, and wheeling around, looked at her with a radiant face as he said, drawing a long breath, "At last! You were so busy over the dear man, I got no word. But I can wait–I'm used to it."

Rose stood quite still, surveying him with a new sort of reverence in her eyes, as she answered with a sweet solemnity that made him laugh and redden with the sensitive joy of one to whom praise from her lips was very precious: "You forget that you are not the Mac who went away. I should have run to meet my cousin, but I did not dare to be familiar with the poet whom all begin to honor."

"You like the mixture, then? You know I said I'd try to give you love and poetry together."

"Like it! I'm so glad, so proud, I haven't any words strong and beautiful enough to half express my wonder and my admiration. How could you do it, Mac?" And a whole face full of smiles broke loose as Rose clapped her hands, looking as if she could dance with sheer delight.

"It did itself, up there among the hills, and here with you, or out alone upon the sea. I could write a heavenly poem this very minute, and put you in as Spring–you look like her in that green gown with snowdrops in your bonny hair. Rose, am I getting on a little? Does a hint of fame help me nearer to the prize I'm working for? Is your heart more willing to be won?"

He did not stir a step, but looked at her with such intense longing that his glance seemed to draw her nearer like an irresistible appeal, for she went and stood before him, holding out both hands, as if she offered all her little store, as she said with simplest sincerity: "It is not worth so much beautiful endeavor, but if you still want so poor a thing, it is yours."

He caught her hands in his and seemed about to take the rest of her, but hesitated for an instant, unable to believe that so much happiness was true.

"Are you sure, Rose–very sure? Don't let a momentary admiration blind you–I'm not a poet yet, and the best are but mortal men, you know."

"It is not admiration, Mac."

"Nor gratitude for the small share I've taken in saving Uncle? I had my debt to pay, as well as Phebe, and was as glad to risk my life."

"No–it is not gratitude."

"Nor pity for my patience? I've only done a little yet, and I am as far as ever from being like your hero. I can work and wait still longer if you are not sure, for I must have all or nothing."

"Oh, Mac! Why will you be so doubtful? You said you'd make me love you, and you've done it. Will you believe me now?" And, with a sort of desperation, she threw herself into his arms, clinging there in eloquent silence while he held her close; feeling, with a thrill of tender triumph, that this was no longer little Rose, but a loving woman, ready to live and die for him.

"Now I'm satisfied!" he said presently, when she lifted up her face, full of maidenly shame at the sudden passion which had carried her out of herself for a moment. "No–don't slip away so soon. Let me keep you for one blessed minute and feel that I have really found my Psyche."

"And I my Cupid," answered Rose, laughing, in spite of her emotion, at the idea of Mac in that sentimental character.

He laughed, too, as only a happy lover could, then said, with sudden seriousness: "Sweet soul! Lift up your lamp and look well before it is too late, for I'm no god, only a very faulty man."

"Dear love! I will. But I have no fear, except that you will fly too high for me to follow, because I have no wings."

Rose in Bloom online edition.
Find out more about March of Books here!

March of Books - Acts of Faith

I know that March is almost half over, but I've really wanted to join the March of Books on YLCF, so I thought I'd jump in now. =)

The first books I'm going to review are the Acts of Faith series by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke. I just read these and I *loved* them!

The Centurion's Wife
     I had seen this book at Barnes and Noble several times, but I just shrugged it off. It really didn't interest me. One of my favorite books, The Robe by Lloyd Douglas, was set around the same events. Why bother reading another book that could in no way match up? Warped thinking, I know. But that's the way I felt.

     Then one of my favorite people in the world told me I should read it. That she would bring it to church for me. And that I must hurry with it because other people wanted to borrow it from her. I didn't want to hurt her feelings and say, "Not interested!" So I took the book and started it. And finished it. And wanted more.

     I loved the historical information. I loved the characters. I loved everything about the book. So off to the library I went to find the sequel...

The Hidden Flame

When I first started this book I was somewhat afraid that I wouldn't like  it. The focus is shifted to new characters. But in the end, I still loved it! In fact, I think that the character shift was a great idea! I "got to know" some of the people better through the change in perspective, but everyone I loved from The Centurion's Wife was still there. 

This book also inspired me to begin reading through the book of Acts in my Bible. I wanted to check and see just how much was being made up and how much was really scripture. Characters such as Ananias and Sapphira, Stephen, and Peter, are given time in this book. I wanted to make sure that they didn't get fixed in my mind the wrong way. =D 

After reading The Hidden Flame, I decided that I'd better get on paperback swap and put the whole series on a list of books I want. I went to my library's website and requested the third book...

The Damascus Way

     I went to the library soon after finishing The Hidden Flame, so I was able to get The Damascus Way right away. Several days and many many books had passed between The Centurion's Wife and The Hidden Flame, so the former isn't as firm in my mind right now... But I'm pretty sure that The Damascus Way is my favorite of the three books. 

     The characters were still great. The history was still so much fun. I had expected the series to start to take a down turn as many series tend to do. I'm thrilled to say that there was definitely no down turn. At all. I'd recommend this series to anyone without hesitation, though I would also recommend reading your Bible alongside. 

I've heard conflicting reports on whether this is the last in the series or not, so I'm going to try and find a reliable source to tell me. =)

Go here to join the March of Books.