Jane Eyre {Book Review}
It has been so long since I've written a book review that I don't even remember how to type "book" anymore! Ha. No, not quite that long- but it has been embarrassingly long. I have still been reading quite a bit-but keeping it all to myself, as many times writing my thoughts up is not as much fun as reading!
I used to say Uncle Tom's Cabin was the ultimate story- but now I have been enraptured by a brit classic. Jane Eyre is so ravishing that I think I found myself drooling several times from leaving my mouth wide open in surprise. I was dumbfounded by what Bronte wrote from cover to cover. It is a story of love, of the truth of love- that it is not a passion or a movement of happiness, or a self-fulfilling experience, it is incredibly more than all of that.
Out of complete ignorance, up until now I had lumped Jane Eyre into an Austen group, clueless until my good friend said she thought I would like it. And she was very wrong. It is the best read I have ever had! Bronte spoke to so many little places in my heart.If you too have mistakenly included Jane Eyre into a silly-romancy-classic of a book group, you too are very wrong. From the first page there was a big difference in the quality of writing, the quality of the storyline...it is just so stinkin' good.
I'd hate to ruin such a book for you, but I will give you a little taste of its beauty. Jane is an orphan who is shuffled around and mistreated in many ways. When she gets a little older and is no longer of age to be a burden on her keepers she moves on to become the governess of a young girl. Jane is completely clueless as to what mysteries her life will unfold, she bears it all with courage, faith and as if a part of a higher class that would never claim her. That is all I will say. And it is a crime to leave you at that, but it would be an even greater crime to give you any more details.
What should I read that I will love as much as Jane Eyre? Oh, I wish there were some book , somewhere that I would love as much!!
- ISBN: 9780955881800
- Author: Bronte, Charlotte
- Publisher: White's Books
- Subject: Romance , Historical, Classics
- Edition Description: Trade Cloth
- Series: Fine Edition
- Publication Date: June 2010
- Binding: Hardcover
- Language: English
- Pages: 439
Anne of Avonlea
Anne of Avonlea
by Lucy Maud Montgomery
256 pages
Ages 9-12
Sterling (October 7, 2008)
first published in 1909
The second book in the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Mud Montgomery, was just as spectacular and worthy of its classic status as the first. I am not a big believer in sequels, I know there are few occasions on which sequels work, but to me it seems they have more of a cult following than actual talent. Of course there are exceptions, but generally the story that needed to be told was told and people move on (or should move on) to different character entrancements. Anne of Green Gables left me no where near done learning about Anne Shirley nor Gilbert Blythe, I guess I am a cult member of the Anne club now. I love those two youngins!
In this book Anne starts out at 16 years old and she takes on the local school, she is just as hazardous as always and while she has grown out of the vain mischief that so surrounded her actions in Anne of Green Gables, she will still find ways to cause damage to property, people and well, just some good 'ol time confusion. Oh, yes it is always an accident, and always more than entertaining to watch her try and fix the problems that she has caused.
In this book I never felt a pinch of annoyance with Anne as I did in the first one, she is much more mature and less dreamy and chattery. I did expect things to move quicker between her and Gilbert though, and was a little disappointed that it didn't progress more rapidly. That is just the romantic in me though, the rest of me loves that they held off, I mean they are still really young when this book ends and it wouldn't make any sense to move so fast, but still I wanted to gush.
Yes, this is another stellar performance by Anne Shirley, Gilbert Blythe and of course author Lucy Maud Montgomery! I loved the whole world of Green Gables and beyond that she created for me to inhabit as I read through Anne of Avonlea. I will no doubt pick up the next one when I go to the library. Yes this book takes the cake as a five star "On the Lowest Shelf Children's Book Reviews" feature. Well worth the read! Careful though, you'll get sucked in!
I have been interested in watching it on the screen, but I am a little confused with all the different versions out there. Can anyone help me who is a Anne fan? I would like to watch Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea on DVD or if possible online. Any hints or ideas? Are there good versions and bad ones?
The Milly-Molly-Mandy Books
by Joyce Lankster Brisley
first published in 1928 and 1929
Children's Classic chapter books
The Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook and More Milly-Molly-Mandy are the first two books in a series of chapter books written by Joyce Lankester Brisley. She wrote her first one in 1928 and then continued on to complete a total of 4 Milly-Molly-Mandy books.
The main character Milly-Molly-Mandy is a girl who is practical, clever and sweet as well as exuding the qualities that are admirable in children. She lives in a nice white cottage with a thatched roof along with Father, Mother, Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle and Aunty. She has several friends, but Billy Blunt and Little Friend Susan are her every day companions. Sure they get into things, as all kids do, but they are ultimately honest, caring, kind and gentle to all those around them.
At our house, with our little boys (3 and 5 years old) we sit in the middle of the day and read a chapter from one of these two Milly-Molly-Mandy classics. The boys love the smart ink drawings and learning about Milly-Molly-Mandy. She has enough adventures to make even two little boys very interested. The book was written during a time when children played outside, made things with rocks, sticks and enjoyed themselves creating adventures and living in their imaginations. I love reading these books to my two boys because I want that to be inside them as well. That they would dream, imagine and just be kids.
Milly-Molly-Mandy is that they are extremely well written, as Joyce Lankester Brisley does not dumb down and do child speech, she says words such as "presently" and responds to adults as "Yes, sir" and "Yes, mam". The pages are filled with delightful illustrations. Not hasty low-quality art, but black and white drawings that hold vast amounts of vintage style charm. I have not one complaint about either of these books in any of the stories that we have read and my children don't either.
What do the kids say from On the Lowest Shelf?
An Interview with my 5 year old son, Jackson about Milly-Molly-Mandy
b: Do you like reading the Milly-Molly-Mandy books?
j: Yes!
b: Why? Can you tell me what you like about them?
j: Everything. They do fun things.
b: What is your favourite thing that they did?
j: When they made a tree house. Oh and the stamps story! (story in which M-M-M becomes pen pals with a relative her age in America and collects the stamps)
b:Should we get the next book now that we have finished the two we have?
j: Well, um I don't know. You have so many books already. Maybe for my birthday or something.
b: hahaha! Yes, maybe.
I think every kid needs this one on their own shelf. Extremely recommended.
What are your kids' favourite classic chapter books? Do you read these oldies, or would you rather go a-la-modern? No right or wrong answers, I just like to chat books :)
Anne Of Green Gables
Anne of Green Gables
Author: Lucy Maud Montgomery
Pages: 304
Published: 1908
Genre: Classic Children's Literature
Anne of Green Gables is the tale of Anne and orphan girl child who comes by mistake to live at Green Gables. Which is the mistake? Well, that she should have been a boy, they requested a boy! She is the chattiest creature to have ever entered the life of the older brother and sister, Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, maybe the chattiest creature I have read ever. Still, she is genuine, sweet and no matter how obnoxious- she is lovable. I must say that somewhere in the middle of the book she was no longer bothersome at all and I completely fell in love.
For the first several chapters I didn't really know if I'd make it through the book, and then I felt a duty to get at least a little ways into this classic before renouncing it forever. I would have made a horrid judgment call if I had! I don't know where it happened, but it did I fell in love with Anne. It may have been right around where she died her hair green, or where she should have forgiven her best enemy Gilbert, but I am not sure because all of the sudden I just couldn't get enough of her. When the book was done I immediately tried to get my hands on the next book, which is Anne of Avonlea. This is a classic that deserves it's title and honoured position, there is no doubt about it!
Have you read Anne of Green Gables too? Did you read it as a child or an adult? What book do you love that is considered a childhood classic that you just can't get enough of even being an adult?
Find it at: Powell's
My Antonia
My Antonia
by Willa Cather
250 pages
Fiction
Told through the voice of her childhood friend Jim Burden, Antonia becomes a beloved character for what she endures, what she gives out and mostly how she inspires. Antonia is an immigrant girl who moves with her family to the plains of Nebraska. There is so much in this book, people learning to accept immigrants and their customs, people getting along, childhood memories, and yet My Antonia is mostly about a woman, her choices, her value and the endurance of love.
This book has been sitting on my shelf for about a year or so. I needed a change of pace and picked it up, I could smack myself for not doing so sooner. I loved My Antonia. It is hard for me to explain all the reasons, but I know that the most significant was the value of unending love and friendship. Jim holds his love for Antonia for years and years, if not in his day to day life in his memory. The unyielding life that the main characters show and just the nitty-gritty of growing up as pioneers is extremely enchanting.
Technically I read this this year (2009) but I can still say that it is in my top 5 books ever. I tried and failed to find even one imperfection with My Antonia, I am stunned by Willa Cather's ability, she did win the Pulitzer prize and know for sure I will have to grab another of her books soon. My Antonia was simple, beautiful and I enjoyed reading every word.
My Antonia easily earned a Stellar Five Chicken Book Award from me!
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
160 Pages
Classic Christmas Fiction
Fantastic! This is a classic, and as most classics go I had yet to read it. I am so behind in that department. I have read some, and actually A Tale of Two Cities also by Dickens is one of my all time favourite classics. Dickens does ramble. I remember that from the other book and this one (as short as it was) he did ramble as well. I like that style though, rambling and all, it seems more conversational for that period.
I know seriously everyone has seen a play, watched the Muppet version, the mickey mouse version or one of the other 100 renditions, so you should all know the storyline at least. I won't go there. But, it is for sure about much more than just the spirit of Christmas, it is the spirit of giving, of loving, and of caring for not just those that have less but all of those around you. I think that Christmas is the perfect time to bring that plan into action, and I I think that is why Dickens chose this season. Hearts are more open, emotions revved, and your ear is naturally more bent toward others. I love this season, I love Christmas and the celebrations and the family time.
I am so glad I FINALLY read this classic, I should have read it a long time ago....but at least I did this year right!? :) What is your favourite Christmas story? (or your favourite classic)
A Child’s Christmas In Wales
Title: A Child's Christmas in Wales
Author: Dylan Thomas
Illustrator: Chris Raschka
Pages: 48
Genre: Children's Christmas
Yearly Count b: 91
This is the first time I have been exposed to the book by Dylan Thomas. Since I was young we would watch the TV version of this and loved it. Since the book was selected for the online book club, Travel the World (from a comfy chair) this month, and it is really short I read right through it. I read it to my little boys. They were mostly curious as to why kids would think it was fun to throw snowballs at cats. My two little ones have three cats and they knew that was a naughty thing to do for sure! I couldn't help but see them smile during the description of the fire where the slipper is being waved around. It is neat being able to share this with my kids.
I like reading it allowed, the words flow so strongly from the lips and even though my boys are too young to understand their beauty, sharing beauty even at their age is priceless to me. It is all about exposure to the arts at this point and to give them wings. Even if the beauty goes over their heads, the pictures are so amazing that they stare at them the entire time. Chris Raschka is the artist and the book received A New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Children's Book for his illustrations. I don't think I need to say much more than that, other than that they are somehow earthy in tones and colours, rustic in their perfection and perfectly, intensely real as well. The lines are jagged, and imperfect and yet the detail of the paintings brilliantly glows through to form a whole image that is nothing less than spectacular.
So, there you go, the words are amazing...many of you have heard this short story of Wales, and the pictures I believe equally match the performance of the words, a marriage meant to be (at least in my book ;). I am going to institute the tradition of reading this book allowed to my kids, even when they can read on their own, or when they can read on their own they can read it to us! I think every household should own a copy of this book!
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