How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn

From the very first page of this book, I was gripped by the beautiful Welsh voice of the narrator--you find yourself thinking with a lilt.  The whole book just felt green.  I don't mean eco-friendly green--just lush and beautiful, like the fields of England I miss so much.


The narrator, Huw Morgan (never quite sure how to pronounce that . . . Hugh? How? . . .), reflects on his life, beginning with his childhood.  Even though they go through trial after trial, their simple faith and strength are inspiring.   I almost felt it could be the tale of my own ancestors.

***Disclaimer: I hate how some of the best books have to have these!  In the "coming-of-age" portion of Huw's life, he gets way too involved with a young lady.  I skipped several paragraphs, so I honestly don't know exactly how graphic it was, but what I read was too much for me.  The only dog poop in the cinnamon roll, as my mother would say . . . still, I think the rest of the book is well worth reading if you are forewarned, and now you have been.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

I loved this one! Thanks to Elsa for recommending it and Amy P. for letting me (without knowing it) borrow her beautiful copy. This only took a day to read, but it was so cleverly written and had very sweet symbolism. Perfect for a young reader--I can see why it became so popular! (And personally I think the book is better than the movie)

Part of what I liked about it was how the author talks to the reader--sort of Charlotte Bronte-ish--and addresses you as "Dear Reader" with some very charming insights into the story. Cute book! I really recommend it for young kids or for old ones looking for something quick and fun to read.

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

The city of ember is a great book about a city surrounded by darkness. The city's people believe that they are the only light in the dark world, except two kids named Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow. They find a secret tunnel and think they've found a way out of ember. Was ember an underground city? Did the passage they found lead to anything? You'll find out if you read the city of ember.

These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner

Another epistolary novel, this book is set in Arizona territory back in the 1800's. It has a realistic feel to it--it covers everything from the pioneer treks across the country to the first blood transfusions and hospitals. Set in a believable diary form, you really felt like you were watching Sarah Agnes Prine grow up. She begins her journey traveling in a wagon train (where she even meets up with some Mormon pioneers, among others) and ends . . .

No, I won't ruin it for you--besides, a description of just the story line doesn't quite do it justice--instead you have to read it, and you'll find yourself caught up in the life of this brave, believable pioneer woman. It made me really think about every day life back then and what my ancestors went through. Thanks to Jera & Amy for recommending this book!

*Disclaimer: There are some wild-west-ish parts that are a bit racy--one at the beginning and another mid-way through the book. Also a bit too much about the intimate life of the main characters, so be forewarned. I skipped them--they probably weren't too bad, but I'd rather skip parts than have them in my head! :) Hopefully you feel the same way.

Book Review of The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

I was surprised by how much I loved this book. A missionary family (a controlling, bible-thumping minister, his wife and four daughters) embarks on a journey deep into the heart of the Congo. Beautifully written, Kingsolver uses the very distinct voices of each daughter to tell the story of their experiences. The entire novel is almost poetic, and although there were parts I didn't love (some of the end gets a bit slow), I found myself anxious to see what the next chapter would contain. I've never read a book so tapestry-like, with each chapter as a thread. We read this for our book club, and I think it's a great novel for that type of setting.

No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

If you haven't yet discovered this series, it's time you did. My wonderful Grandma Alma, who served two LDS missions to Africa, got me hooked on these books. Written (by a man, I might add!) from the perspective of Precious Ramotswe, a self-appointed female detective, they are set in Botswana, Africa.

What I love most about this series is the taste it gives you of every day life in Africa. From the beautiful style of speaking to the pumpkin soup and bush tea, each page contains little pearls of wisdom. The people are courteous (or at least expected to be so), life is slower, and there is a respect for humanity and nature that emanates from the pages. But it is far from boring! Each book has a key mystery to solve and several minor ones along the way, but you find yourself enjoying the culture and wisdom every bit as much as the mystery.

*Disclaimer: The very first book (and only the first--there are 10 all together) has a chunk in the middle that I remember being inappropriate--the only thing I've objected to in the whole series.

Here are all the books in the series (so far):

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Tears of the Giraffe
Morality for Beautiful Girls
The Kalahari Typing School for Men
The Full Cupboard of Life
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
Blue Shoes and Happiness
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive
The Miracle at Speedy Motors
Tea Time for the Traditionally Built
The Double Comfort Safari

How can you not love books with names like that?

Daniel Deronda by George Eliot

This is a book that is perhaps not for everyone, but I found it incredibly fascinating. I don't agree with George Eliot's personal life, but her books are suprisingly moralistic. She delves deeply into human character and portrays all walks of life--well, of English life, but then that's my favorite . . .

Eliot (whose real name was Mary Anne Evans) wrote this as her final novel. She touches on some pretty serious issues prevalent in late 1800's England: the treatment of Jews in society, the position of women, and the social standing of illigitimate children. It takes a while to read, and if you don't have the time, then can I beg you to watch the excellent movie version? It is very well-done by my favorite screenwriter, Andrew Davies (who has the 6-hour Pride & Prejudice, Little Dorrit, and many other beautiful movies to his credit), and stars a talented cast. Davies always follows the books closely, so it's almost as good as reading it. Almost . . .

The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

This is a very fun, entertaining, clean book. Sometimes it's nice to have a book like that--a "'tweener" to read in between heftier books. I found it very refreshing and hard to put down. It's an epistolary novel (aren't you proud of me for knowing that word?), which means it's written in letter form. Usually I'm not too keen on that type of book (Anne of Windy Poplars was the hardest of the Anne of Green Gables series for me to get through), but this one doesn't drag on like some.

Set in a little-known chunk of World War II history--the German occupation of Guernsey Island, off the coast of France--it contains a bit of mystery and romance--just enough to keep you turning pages. There is so much about World War II that is difficult to swallow, but this book focused on making the most of a difficult time, and perhaps that's why I enjoyed it so much. After all, isn't that what we are all aiming for?

Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell

Being a huge fan of Charles Dickens, it follows that I would like anyone he was a fan of. Elizabeth Gaskell was a contemporary and friend of Dickens, and even published her stories in his magazine, Household Words. He called her, "my dear Scheherezade," and what a fitting name! Gaskell draws you in: I have to quote this website because Jenny someone-or-other completely sums it up:

"At 688 pages, it was an investment of time, one of those really long Victorian novels you have to get stuck into before it gets rolling, and at first, the minutiae of Molly Gibson’s 'everyday story' did seem a bit dull.

"But about a quarter of the way into the book, I realized I was hooked. In a way, this novel reminded me of Middlemarch. This was not so much a book about will-he-or-won’t-he-marry-her. This was more a book about he-married-her-and-now-what? Dr. Gibson makes his ill-matched marriage, and both families must live with the choice, emotionally, socially, and financially. It’s the ins and outs of those relationships, subtle and true as they are, that make this novel hum with life. I was interested in the themes of health, of class, and of foreignness . . . but it’s the family ties that make the book."

A small disclaimer: Gaskell died before the book was finished, so it's missing a few chapters. But you pretty much guess what the ending would be, and if you, like myself, can't stand to be left hanging, I highly recommend watching the beautiful BBC version of this lovely Victorian novel.
Gaskell lived a very tame life compared to some of her contemporaries, and I can't help but wonder if that's why her books are sometimes left in the dust of authors like Dickens, Austen, Eliot, Trollope, and Thackery (no offence meant to any of those greats!). She married a pastor, bore several children, lost one, published several books, and died without any great scandal. And in the next life I think we are going to be friends.

Little House on the Prarie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder

This is a great series of books about Laura Ingalls Wilder. It talks about her life--how she lives in the prairie, a dugout and in lots of other homes.

My favorite book in this series is: On the banks of Plum Creek.


Jessica:  I grew up on these books and loved the pictures and stories.  As a mother, I thoroughly enjoy reading this series to my children.  I think it is so good for them to realize that life wasn't always as easy and convenient as it is now.  Plus the real-life situations the Ingalls family dealt with has helped spark discussion with my own children about how to deal with their problems.  A perfectly beautiful series!