Five Fall Favorites Day 5

 

Welcome to Day 5 of Five Fall Favorites, hosted by Kate Willis! Today I’m sharing my Top 5 Historical Fiction Books. After classic literature, historical fiction is my favorite genre. I love it when a book transports me in time and place so that I actually feel as if I am living there, when the book is both open and closed. There’s so much to learn from history, and so many adventures—both great and small—took place. It’s just enough removed from this present world to be as fascinating as fantasy, yet it has the added layer of realism.

 

Green Dolphin Street by Elizabeth Goudge

A Goudge novel has made it to almost every list this week, hasn’t it? I can’t help it. Green Dolphin Street is perhaps my favorite of hers. Set in the 1830s and inspired by a true story, it takes readers on a journey from an English Channel island to the wilds of New Zealand. A love triangle among two sisters, Marianne and Marguertie Le Patourel, and a young sailor, William Ozanne, brings heartache but also tremendous spiritual growth to the three. As always, Goudge’s incredible descriptive powers and keen spiritual insight makes this novel something to savor. Read my full review HERE.

 

The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow

The newest book on my list, The Other Bennet Sister is what I consider to be the best Jane Austen spin-off novel I’ve read yet. It follows Mary, the overlooked middle sister in Pride and Prejudice, as she observes the events of Austen’s novel and then pursues her own journey of growth and discovery. Written by a historian, the dialogue, details, and mindsets accurately reflect the Regency era. But I also found it incredibly moving and completely absorbing. Read my full review HERE.

 

The Zion Chronicles by Bodie and Brock Thoene

This series of five is a riveting, detailed adventure that traces the miraculous reestablishment of the state of Israel in 1948. Sweeping in scope, it follows a multitude of characters as they fight for or against the Jews battling for their God-given homeland. It has it all—accuracy, suspense, character development, faith, and transformation. One book leads seamlessly into the next, and the whole series is hard to put down until you read them all.

 

The Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Do these books need an introduction? Based on Laura’s childhood and youth, these classics bring us back to the heroic pioneering days of the American Midwest. The Ingalls family travels from Minnesota to Kansas to South Dakota in search of home. Filled with fascinating details and touching family warmth, these books were also a large part of my childhood. My mom and I read them together, and I illustrated passages in notebooks that I can still look back on today. When I reread them as an adult, I loved them just as much, if not more. I also based my novella, Prairie Independence Day, on Laura’s life in South Dakota.

The Dean’s Watch by Elizabeth Goudge

Another Goudge novel? I’m sorry, I really can’t help it! The Dean’s Watch is one of her best. Set in the Victorian era in an English cathedral town, this book is “a compelling saga of an unlikely friendship threaded together by redemption and grace. … The cathedral Dean, Adam Ayscough, holds a deep love for his parishioners and townspeople, but he is held captive by an irrational shyness and intimidating manner. The Dean and Isaac Peabody, an obscure watchmaker who does not think he or God have anything in common, strike up an unlikely friendship. This leads to an unusual spiritual awakening that touches the entire community.” (I borrowed from the synopsis, but that sums up the story better than I could.) Read my full review HERE.

 

 

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Five Fall Favorites Day 4

 

 

Welcome to Day 4 of Five Fall Favorites, hosted by Kate Willis! Today I’m sharing my Top 5 Romance Books. Romance as a genre is not my favorite, but I agree that it adds interest to almost any plot. Many of my favorite books revolve around romance, or at least include it as a subplot. If done well, it can make for some deep character studies, which I love in a novel. (Note: This list doesn’t include favorites from other genres, like Jane Eyre or Sense and Sensibility.)

 

 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This is the ultimate romance novel in many readers’ minds, and I’m no exception. But it’s much more than a simple romance; it’s got great characters, Jane Austen’s sharp societal commentary, and her intrepid wit. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy are iconic romantic leads as they battle it out, but they’re also delightful and lovable characters who grow and change. Read my full review HERE.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

I could have included all of Jane Austen’s novels on this list, but I limited myself to the works of hers I think most romantic. Persuasion involves a slow romance between two people, Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth, who think that their love for each other died eight years ago when Anne rejected Wentworth due to her family’s influence.

Christy by Catherine Marshall

This classic in Christian fiction involves more than romance; it’s a thought-provoking story about nineteen-year-old Christy Huddleston, whose faith and ideals are challenged when she pursues God’s call to teach in the Smoky Mountain community of Cutter Gap. Her heart is torn between two drastically different men as she navigates life in this rural world. I love the book for Catherine Marshall’s beautiful writing, well-drawn characters, and keen realism about faith.

Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell

This novel by one of my favorite Victorian authors is long but well worth the read. The book explores many different relationships … primarily between Molly Gibson and her father, stepmother, stepsister, and her friendship with the Hamley family, of whom one of the sons, Roger Hamley, becomes very dear to her. Inner conflict arises when Roger and Molly’s stepsister, Cynthia, form an attachment. I love how Gaskell’s characters are so complex and realistic and how she depicts each one fairly. The BBC miniseries adaptation is also one of my favorite movies.

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens

Another of my favorite Victorian authors, Dickens of course always writes more than romances. His novels are like TV series, in which romances are often an important part. My favorite romance in his canon is Little Dorrit. Almost twenty years apart, Arthur Clennam and Amy Dorrit are an unlikely pair on the surface, but when you consider their gentleness, their self-sacrificing characters, and their love for family and friends, it’s a beautiful thing to watch. Little Dorrit has about a dozen other plot threads, but this aspect of the book makes it one of my favorites.

Five Fall Favorites Day 3

 

 

Welcome to Day 3 of Five Fall Favorites, hosted by Kate Willis! Today I’m sharing my Top 5 Mystery Books. For a long time in my childhood, my favorite genre was mystery. I still savor a good mystery to this day, though I don’t make a steady diet of them as I find them too stimulating (like coffee or desserts!). On this list are some of my most favorite books, however. There’s nothing like a mystery to keep you reading.

Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene

In my tweens and early teens, I adored these 56 classics, written by various authors under a pseudonym. My favorite are the revised titles from 1959 on. Nancy Drew is too good to be true, but I loved and admired her anyway. Her mystery-solving savvy combined with humility endears her to many readers. I also enjoyed her friends George and Bess and all the various locations she traveled to. Definitely books I would recommend to any tweens.

American Girl History Mysteries by various authors

My other favorite genre as a kid was historical fiction, so this combination of history and mystery was right up my alley. A series of 22 books, spanning from 1621 Jamestown to 1958 Tennessee, touching almost every era and important event in USA history … starring eleven- or twelve-year-old girls who find themselves embroiled in a wide range of mysteries. They’re as excellent as they sound.

 

 

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

As a prototype of detective fiction, this Victorian tome is a page-turner. The complex plot involves a young drawing master named Walter Hartright who meets a strange woman dressed all in white on the road one night, later learning that she has escaped from an insane asylum. This sets in motion a chain of events that threaten the girl Walter loves. There’s far too much plot to summarize, but chief among the novel’s wonders is a cast of amazing characters, especially the strong, intelligent Marian Halcombe and the charming, enigmatic Count Fosco. Oh, and the climax! Absolutely superb. Read my full review HERE.

This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart

Mary Stewart brings exotic locations to life with her evocative writing and suspenseful plots. This Rough Magic is my favorite of hers that I’ve read so far. Set on the island of Corfu off the coast of Greece, the mystery kept me guessing, as well as how the heroine, Lucy, would survive. Another reason I really like this one is because of the allusions to Shakespeare’s The Tempest (Corfu is speculated to be the setting) and, most of all, because of the dolphin. Read my full review HERE.

 

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

I’ve enjoyed many of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, but this iconic, haunting novella-length mystery is my favorite. Fascinating, complex, and chilling, this made my pulse accelerate several times while I was reading it. Doyle’s descriptive powers are at full play, bringing the moor and the mysterious mansion to life.

Bonus: The Father Brown mysteries by G. K. Chesterton are short but back a punch! I highly recommend them. 

Five Fall Favorites Day 2

 

 

Welcome to Day 2 of Five Fall Favorites, hosted by Kate Willis! Today I’m sharing my Top 5 Fantasy Books. I don’t read a lot of fantasy, but some of my favorite books are in this genre, which means I certainly appreciate a well-crafted and deeply imaginative fantasy world.

 

 

The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

The ultimate epic of fantasy, this trilogy (or rather, a massive single work divided into three volumes) has it all for me: lovable characters, deep world-bending themes, high stakes, beautiful description, and a world that feels as complex and complete as our own. I grew up knowing the story from movies and endless discussions of the story with my family, though I’ve only read the complete work once. It was one of the most profound and moving books I’ve ever read. Time for a reread!

 

The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge

A completely different type than the high fantasy Lord of the Rings, this children’s novel is set in Victorian England but contains delightful elements that skirt reality, like anthropomorphic animals and fantastical places. Just listen to the first line of the synopsis: “In 1842, thirteen-year-old orphan Maria Merryweather arrives at Moonacre Manor, her family’s ancestral home in an charmed village in England's West Country, and she feels as if she’s entered Paradise.” Doesn’t that sound tantalizing? Read my full review HERE.

The Thaw series by E. Kaiser Writes

This spinoff of “The Snow Queen” fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson goes in a different direction from the movie Frozen, exploring the rich themes of forgiveness, honor, responsibility, and one man and one woman’s quest for redemption and restoration. It’s set in a beautifully imagined world reminiscent of Europe, replete with fascinating details from Nordic culture, wonderful character development, and breathtaking adventure.

 

 

The Map Across Time by C. S. Lakin

I’ve read four books out of the Gates of Heaven series, but this one, book two, is my favorite. It begins with a typical premise—a brother and sister must save their kingdom from a curse. But a magical map adds a mind-blowing time-traveling twist to the story that kept me up late reading. I loved the characters, the Hebrew and Scriptural elements, and the well-crafted world. Read my full review HERE.

 

The Harry Ferguson Chronicles by William David Ellis

This series is almost complete—just one book to go. It’s a highly imaginative, complex tale weaving together down-home modern-day East Texas characters, dragon riders, a medieval princess, Nazis and the Holocaust, mythical monsters, and more, all coming together in a page-turning adventure that keeps you guessing with endless twists and turns.

Bonus: I did not include the Chronicles of Narnia because I included it on my Top 5 Books That Make Me Me post yesterday. :)

 

Don't neglect to enter the giveaway!

Five Fall Favorites Day 1

Welcome to Five Fall Favorites, hosted by Kate Willis! We're celebrating books this week. Keep reading for my favorites, and don't neglect to enter the giveaway!

 

Every season is reading weather, but there’s something special about fall as we enter into the cozy time of year … when it’s pleasant to read outdoors or in, when we anticipate holidays and sharing books with family and friends, when the beauty of nature and the warmth of fall decorations inspire flights of imagination.

On Day 1 of this week celebrating reading, I’m sharing my Top 5 Books That Make Me Me. These are the books that I can’t imagine my life without. For one reason or another, they’ve settled into my soul and either helped shape me and my interests or answered a yearning I didn’t know was there. (I will leave out the obvious here—God’s book, the Bible—because that is an absolute given, the ultimate Book that has shaped me and fulfilled me.)

 

 

 

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

I didn’t know what I was getting into when I first read Sense and Sensibility. This novel ignited my identity as an Austenite, heavily influenced my identity as an Anglophile, and helped establish me as a classic literature lover. This story of two very different but loyal sisters, their loves and losses, inspired me to write my novel Suit and Suitability. Strong yet tender Elinor Dashwood, the main character, will probably always be my favorite literary character. Read my full review on Goodreads HERE.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis

My mom read many books aloud to my brother and me, which helped make me a reader, but the Chronicles of Narnia were something special. I grew up with these stories as part of my psyche—the perfect blend of great storytelling, profound theology, and beautiful allegory captured my imagination and influenced my view of life and literature.

 

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

Anne is the most famous literary character with red hair, but apart from that similarity we share, I feel she is a kindred spirit. And I have her to thank for introducing that term to me. Her view of the world, finding beauty and cherishing the power of story, has helped shape mine. Her life on Prince Edward Island brought me to visit that lovely, peaceful place several years ago, and it remains one of my favorite places to this day. Many of Montgomery’s other novels also capture that beauty of life and story, but Anne of Green Gables is still foremost to me. 

 

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Out of the canon of classic novels, I love Victorian the most. Jane Eyre is my favorite out of that era. It’s iconic in every aspect with a strong and relatable protagonist, deep characterization of all the characters, atmospheric setting, compelling plot, and lyrical prose. I love Jane, and this novel inspired a novella of my own, The Promise of Acorns, so you can see just how important this story is to me. Read my full review HERE.

The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge

This is the most recently published and my most recently read novel on this list. I’d never heard of British Christian novelist Elizabeth Goudge until 2015. My mom recommended The Scent of Water, and I fell in love with Goudge’s style instantly. It’s about a group of people in a mid-twentieth-century English village who find themselves at the crossroads of personal change. Her writing and descriptions are pure art. She reveals profound spiritual truths that always seem relevant to my life at the time I’m reading. And in a most uplifting way, she celebrates what is good and beautiful. Read my full review HERE.

My Favorite Literary Couples

Valentine’s Day was two weeks ago, but since love is timeless, I’m permitted to talk about literary romances today, aren’t I? Besides, every day is a good day to talk about favorite book characters!

Although I don’t read or prefer many unalloyed romance novels, I appreciate a unique and well-crafted romance within the larger story of a novel. Jane Austen’s works exemplify what I like: social commentaries that don’t focus on the physical attraction between a couple (which can veer too close to objectifying another human being) but rather on their mental and moral compatibility as they interact in a world bigger than themselves. These romances are still delightful and satisfying, but in ways that make us love the characters as real people instead of conduits for romantic thrills, much like how we feel when we witness our family members and friends getting married.

Most female readers have favorite literary couples that demonstrate cherished romantic ideals, and I’m no exception. My top three choices might be unusual, and I certainly understand if you don’t agree with me. I found it unexpectedly difficult to think of many literary couples I adore both halves of. On my long list of best-loved characters, few make it there alongside their partners. (One example of those who don’t is Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester. I adore Jane Eyre, but I could take or leave the dark Byronic hero Mr. Rochester.) So each couple on my list includes a man and woman who are equally beloved by me:

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1. Elinor Dashwood and Edward Ferrars of Sense and Sensibility. Most people can readily recognize Elinor’s qualities: her strength, her capability, her discreetness. But I can hear it now: “Edward Ferrars? He’s boring and wooden!” At first glance, maybe. And I do agree that I wish he were more developed. But personally, I find quiet, unassuming, and slightly awkward characters endearing. I also think he’s an equitable match for my favorite heroine, through their humility and high standards of honor and self-sacrifice. One of my favorite things about writing my novel Suit and Suitability was delving into the relationship between my equivalent characters, Ellen and Everett, and trying to show why I love this gentle yet courageous couple and their dynamics. 
   
   

   

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2. Arthur Clennam and Amy Dorrit of Little Dorrit. For years, I didn’t think I’d meet a literary couple that came close to Elinor and Edward, but when I watched the movie Little Dorrit, I was immediately attracted. The book, which I read late last year, was just as wonderful because I got to spend more time in the company of two of the sweetest protagonists in literature. Arthur Clennam may well be my favorite hero, and Amy easily joins the highest ranks of my favorite heroines. Without being unrealistic, they are models of virtue and goodness in difficult circumstances. In the midst of harsh surroundings and grimy, selfish morals, they stay untouched and strive to do the right thing, always putting others above themselves. They are vulnerable and make mistakes, but when they come through all their trials and join together in the end, it’s one of the most satisfying conclusions I’ve ever read.
   
   

   

   I wish I had an image of these two!

3. Eowyn and Faramir from The Lord of the Rings. These secondary characters of the fantasy epic are not as extensively portrayed as the others on my list, but thanks to the movies and a beautiful section within The Return of the King, their relationship enchants me. They spend comparatively little time together in the books and movies, but as separate characters, they are quite appealing: brave Eowyn, disappointed in love and life, accompanies her uncle’s army to battle and slays a terrible enemy that no man can vanquish; and Faramir, the underappreciated younger son of the Steward of Gondor, despite being more of a peace-loving artist than a soldier, valiantly exceeds his duty in the war for Middle Earth. When they meet (as shown in the book and the extended movie version of The Return of the King), these two wounded, heroic characters discover what they had been missing all these years and what will bring them healing and happiness: each other.

What do these three couples have in common? They are selfless and persevere through heart-wrenching circumstances to accomplish what good they can. They are not ostentatious about their affection but are willing to sacrifice their feelings for the greater good. They aren’t flawless, but they are strong, and though tested, they hold up beyond what they think they’re capable of until the end of all their trials. And when they receive their reward in each other, it’s a beautiful picture of true love overcoming all odds, which is what we all long for and can ultimately find in Messiah.

Bonus: My runners-up!

4. Margaret Hale and John Thornton from North and South

5. Daniel Deronda and Mirah from Daniel Deronda

6. Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe from the Anne of Green Gables series

7. Godwin and Masouda from The Brethren

8. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice

9. Molly Gibson and Roger Hamley from Wives and Daughters

10. Catherine Morland and Henry Tilney from Northanger Abbey

Who are your favorite literary couples?

Five Fall Favorites Day Six - Animals

Welcome to the final day, Day 6, of the Five Fall Favorites Party, hosted by Read Another Page! It's been a wonderful week spending time with you. Thank you for all your comments and interaction! I hope you've had fun learning about new books and discussing your favorites. And I especially want to thank Rebekah Morris, the host, for all the work she did putting this party together. 

As I reflected on yesterday, fall is often the perfect time to spend all day outdoors, and if you have animals, barn chores are probably more pleasant this time of year than at others. If you have a horse and lots of land, doesn’t a ride out to a faraway special haunt in company with a favored book sound idyllic for a fall afternoon? 

Sometimes I wish I could do that, but I have neither horse nor barn nor land. But I do have many favored books! Speaking of horses and other animals, here is my list of top five favorite animal stories:

The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford

I grew up adoring the movies Homeward Bound and the older classic The Incredible Journey, but it was only in my teens that I discovered the book they were based off. It delighted me every bit as much! Young Labrador Luath, old bull terrier Bodger, and Siamese cat Tao are the main characters in this realistic, heartwarming story about loyal animals finding their way home. Find on Goodreads.

Watership Down by Richard Adams

This unique, epic-like novel is about the world of rabbits in England. The rabbits speak and have human personalities, but otherwise they act like real rabbits. A band of rabbits must leave their threatened home and find a new place where they can establish a safe warren. Find on Goodreads.

Dog to the Rescue #1 and #2 by Jeannette Sanderson

These enjoyable, heartwarming children’s paperbacks tell true stories of doggy heroes saving lives, whether it was a soldier’s life, a stranger’s, or a family member’s. Made me love dogs even more! Find on Goodreads.

Princess by Carolyn Lane

This rather obscure book is about a Persian cat accidentally left behind at a summerhouse in Maine. Through autumn, winter, and spring, Princess struggles to survive, relying on help from a cat friend and hoping that, next summer, her family will come back. This book affected me so much when I was 8 years old that it inspired me to write a very similar story. Imitation is the ultimate compliment, right? Find on Goodreads.

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Obviously the least realistic story on my list, it still drips with animal charm. Even though I only read it for the first time this year, I found it to be a timeless classic that was funny, cozy, and enchanting. I loved reading the parts about the river and woods especially, and Rat, Mole, Badger, and Mr. Toad and their friends and foes are unforgettable. Read my full review on Goodreads.

What are your favorite books about animals? Also, please note that today I'll have limited access to internet, so I will be a bit slow responding to your comments. But, by all means, comment away!

To find out who won the giveaway prizes, check Rebekah Morris's post on Read Another Page.