Book Review: Till We Have Faces - by C. S. Lewis

Hello everyone, and happy February!

Last month Olivia, who blogs at Meanwhile in Rivendell..., hosted a read-along for one of her favorite books, Till We Have Faces! I, of course, am late and just finished it today but still want to talk about it. I am going to do my regular style of review, then get into my thoughts on the last part aka book two.

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning: This is spoiler free.


Till We Have Faces - by C. S. Lewis:

This is retelling of the myth of Psyche and Cupid.
Two sisters, one whom the people called beautiful and one ugly, love each other dearly. It involves the people in their lives and the beliefs of the people of Glome.
(That is really vague, but how do I even say anything about this without giving anything away? )
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Retelling.
Characters: 8, the character arcs were fantastic!
My favorites:
Orual: I don't know if I can count her as a favorite, but she is our narrator and I pity as well as relate to her.
Psyche: How can you not like her? She is so good and kind.
The Fox: Thinking about him after wards I don't agree with his thoughts completely, but he is reasonable.
Bardia: He was helpful even when he wasn't sure of things and just overall loveable.
Words: 8, C. S. Lewis has some masterful storytelling.
"Child, to say the very thing you really mean, the whole of it, nothing more or less or other than what you really mean; that's the whole art and joy of words."
Quotes: 9, I don't know why, but one time the King called someone "mandrake root" as an insult cracked me up.
Content: 5, there are sacrifices, blood, killing, and death. and what I mean by that is that there are a lot, a lot, a lot, of suggestive things. I bothers me, but I need to stress to you that if you decide to read it then read it to the end because:

"And you won't understand the wonder and glory of my adventure unless you listen to the bad part."

The setting for this book is in a pagan culture. As in this book features gods, but if that bothers you know that C. S. Lewis was a Christian so you look for allegories.
Originality: 10! This story and it messages were incredible! I don't even know how to put it. This goes deep.
'But if I practiced true philosophy, as Socrates meant it, I should change my ugly soul into a fair one.'
Good For: anyone who has lost someone, C. S. Lewis fans, anyone who loves the message of beauty lies within.
Age Range: I would say this is at least PG-13 if not PG-15. I mean, anyone can read this, but there is a ton of suggestive stuff as I already said, and a lot is going on. I don't even understand half of it and feel that I need to reread this a lot of comprehend some things.
Overall Score: 8.



For the read-along:

I was not expecting it to be what it was. Where do I even begin? I finished this book a few hours ago and it almost seems like I have been walking in a daze. How do I even write some thoughts on this? I know a few things for certain: that ending was incredible, and I need to read this again sometime.
I liked being able to read the original myth after wards and see all of the differences. I also liked how Lewis included part of it in his story to make it Orual's motivation for writing her story to correct it.
An impression that I got from this is that true beauty lies in your heart and soul, not in how you look.

Favorite Quotes from the last section:

1.
'This was only the first stroke, a light one, the first snowflakes of the winter that I was entering.'

2.
'Of the things that followed I cannot say whether they were what men call real or what men call dream. And for all I can tell, the only difference is that what many see we call a real thing, and what only one sees we call a dream. But things that many see may have no taste or moment in them at all, and things that are shown only to one may be spears and water-spouts of truth from the very depth of truth.'

3.
'But by the death which is wisdom I supposed he meant the death of our passions and desires and vain opinions.'


A huge, huge thank you to Olivia for hosting this! And thanks to all of you for reading! Can any of you make more sense of this than I can?

MovieCritic

Heidi Read-Along: The End!

Hello, friends!

I am here one last time for Seasons of Humility's (run by Amber) Heidi Read-Along!

It has been absolutely delightful to reread this and share my thoughts as well as read everyone else's. Make sure to read Amber's final thoughts HERE as well as checking out Julie's and Carissa's blogs.

Spoiler alert! I will be talking about the ending of the book Heidi, so if you want to be surprised when you read it, don't continue reading this post any more!

Heidi - by Johanna Spyri: Chapters 19-23

Discussion format: your favorite quotes, general impressions, and three questions to answer for each week's reading

Favorite Quotes:

1.

'Then she would run round again to the sunny space in front of the hut, and seating herself on the ground would peer closely into the short grass to see how many little flower cups were open or thinking of opening.'

2.

'"Foresight is a virtue," responded the lady, amused, "and prevents many misfortunes."'

3.

'The old man stood and watched the green slopes under the higher peaks gradually growing brighter with the coming day and the dark shadows lifting from the valley, until at first a rosy light filled its hollows, and then the morning gold flooded every height and depth---the sun had risen.'

4.

'The great snowfield overhead sparkled as if set with thousands and thousands of gold and silver stars.'

General Impressions:

I'm pretty sure that when I read this the first time I thought it was boring and read it quickly to be done with, which is why I don't remember any of it. Now, with all of the books I usually read I didn't find it boring, but really relaxing!

Peter finally learns to read! Heidi at first wouldn't read because of what Peter said so it was neat that it came around and she taught him, though her way made me laugh. It is amusing how she would threaten him that he would have to go to Frankfurt and his reaction is hilarious.

Clara and Grandmamma get to visit! It was very short, but the peek into Alm-Uncle's made a lot of sense. His taking care of Clara makes my heart happy! Just delightful happenings on the mountain ensue.

Peter! I didn't believe it possible that he could be that by naughty breaking the chair. But, Clara learns to walk because of it! I love how Grandmamma put it:

"So you see, Peter, God is able to bring good out of evil for those whom you meant to injure, and you who did the evil were left to suffer the unhappy consequences of it."

And the description of a conscience as a watchman who keeps poking you is so accurate! How we are more punished by that than anything else.

Grandmamma is just so wise all around. I loved her saying this:

"Dear child, let us enjoy all of the beautiful things that we can see, and not think about those that we cannot."

The way she was also so kind and thoughtful to the other grandmother made me happy!

Surprising Grandmamma and Herr Sesemann was so sweet! Ah, happy endings are so inspiring and uplifting. To quote Cinderella (2015), "They are quite my favorite kind."

Discussion Questions:

1. What did you think of Peter's reading lessons and Heidi's teaching methods?

Her threats seemed a little out of character, but as soon as she saw that he was going to do it she comforted him which was sweet. The way he was so into it ("No! I won't go!") cracked me up. I have had to teach people to read (with not a lot of progress), so it was interesting to see the style.

2. Which scene did you find the most beautiful or memorable in these last chapters?

In years to come I will probably remember when Clara gets to see the mountain flowers for the first time by walking. Oh, and the lessons that Peter learned, especially his penny a week for life!

3. If you could step into the pages of the book, what would you be most eager to experience? (A night gazing at the stars from the loft? Waking up to the sound of the wind through the fir trees? Sitting among the flowers and goats on the mountain? Or something else?)

The goats are such a unique part of this book, and while I am known to be doubtful of goats (it's a really long story about how I never used to think that there were goats in a certain place. It's confusing, but just ask my mom and sisters and they will tell you.), I think that it would be neat to experience being with them. Oh, and I love stars, so absolutely that.


A huge thank you to Amber for hosting this! I had a blast.

Thanks to all of you for reading! What do you think of the ending of this book?

MovieCritic

Till We Have Faces: Chapters 8-21

Hiya, all!

Time for part two of Olivia's (Meanwhile in Rivendell...) Till We Have Faces Read-Along!

I am combining two discussions in this post because I am a little late and need to catch up. Make sure to read both of Oliva's posts for chapters 8-14 and chapters 15-21.

Spoiler alert! If you haven't read Till We Have Faces don't read any more of this post! I will be talking about all my thoughts on it with no restraint.

Till We Have Faces - by C. S. Lewis: Chapters 8-21

Format: Questions and then thoughts.

Discussion Questions:

Chapters 8-14:

1.  Psyche is described before her "sacrifice" as being painted and costumed beyond recognition.  Do you see any additional Crucifixion parallels in that?  Why might Lewis incorporate any of those sort of parallels into a character who does not seem meant to be a Christ figure?

I'm drawing a blank here. I can't think of any other similarities (though I'm sure there are quite a few). And I don't know the inside of Lewis's brain, haha! Um, any thoughts from any of you?

2.  Bardia claims that "You see [the King] at his worst with women and priests and politic men.  The truth is, he's half afraid of them."  Why would the King be afraid of them?  Does he recognize some strength in them that he knows he does not possess?

I know that sometimes to the people or things that I am most afraid of I can seem rather loud and crazy because I don't want others to know that I am afraid of them, but mostly because I am trying to convince myself that there is nothing to fear. That's what I thought of when Bardia said that, though I wouldn't compare myself to the King in any other way.

3.  Orual feels it is her duty to squelch any flickers of joy after she is separated from her sister and presumes her dead.  The Bible says we are to grieve with those who grieve.  Does this mean it is wrong to take pleasure in anything (for a period of time) after we have suffered a loss?

'The grief was coming back with my strength. So was the Fox's.'

I believe there is a time for that, but then we do need to learn to grow and see the joy in things again. I really liked this bit:

'Now, flung at me like frolic or insolence there came as if it were a voice, no words, but, if you made it into words it would be, "Why should your heart not dance?"'

4.  Psyche suggests that "people are most ashamed of . . . the things they can't help".  Is this true?

I find this to be the exact opposite for me. Things that I can't change I tend to just accept and look at the bright side, but with anything that I can help or it is my fault I feel terrible about.

Chapters 15-21:

1.  When thinking about Psyche as she was before the debacle of the Great Sacrifice, Orual characterizes the time as "when she was still happy, and still mine."  How does this sum up the possessiveness of Orual's love for Psyche?  What does it say about how she views her?

Love is selfless. Orual has only ever been loved by the Fox and Psyche, where she has been abused by others. She doesn't want to let go, which I completely understand and my heart bleds for her.

2.  Lewis describes Orual's reaction to the King's potentially fatal illness in this way:  "The largeness of a world in which he was not . . . the clear light of a sky in which that cloud would no longer hang . . . freedom."  Isn't it extraordinary how the author is able to capture and convey the feelings of an abuse survivor so accurately?

Yes. I tend to feel sorry for characters like the King, but not this time because he just hurt so many people all the time and did terrible things.

3.  In this book, Lewis gives a lot of insight into the realities of life as a soldier.  How much did Lewis's own experience as a WWI veteran influence his writing, both in general and in this book?

I feel like most of Lewis's war experience is pored out through Bardia. War also gives an appreciation of life, and I feel that expressed through his writing.

A Few Ponderings:

The part where Orual convinced Psyche to take the lamp reminded me a lot of the story of Adam and Eve. I don't blame Psyche because Orual was being cruel, but there are a lot of paralells. Psyche was in a sort of paradise and then she couldn't get in again.

The way it is written takes away the suspense. I love stories told in first person, but because it is past tense you know that Orual is going to live through everything because she is writing it.

I am quite surprised where the story is going!


Personal Highlights:
(Please pardon me if my punctuation or spelling is off on these quotes. I'm listening to an audiobook so I don't know how it looks.)

Chapters 8-14:

1.
"It is these chances that nourish the beliefs of barbarians."
"How often, grandfather, have you told me that there is no such thing as chance?"
"You are right, it was an old trick of the tongue."

2.
"And don't look at my face, look at my sword! It isn't my face that's going to fight you."

3.
"And you won't understand the wonder and glory of my adventure unless you listen to the bad part."

4.
"One can't dream things like that because one's never seen things like that."

5.
'"You don't think...possibly not as a mere...hundreth chance there might be things that are real though we can't see them?"
"Certainly I do! Such things as justice, equality, the soul, or musical notes."'

6.
"A good man might be an outlaw and a runaway." (This reminded me of Robin Hood, heehee!)

7.
'"You don't believe in the divine blood of our house." I said.
"Oh yes, of all houses, all men are of divine blood for there is the God in everyman. We are all one."'

Chapters 15-21:

1.
"I've played chess too long to hazard my queen." (Yes! Chess!)

2.
'The memory of his voice and face was kept in one of those rooms of my soul that I didn't likely unlock.'

3.
'I was with book as a woman is with child.' (This is so accurate, because once you have a story idea it is with you constantly!)



Thank you so much to Olivia for hosting! As well as thanks to all of you for reading! What are your thoughts on this?

MovieCritic

Heidi Read-Along: Chapters 9-18

Greetings, everyone!

I am here today continuing my participation in Amber's, who blogs at Seasons of Humility, Heidi Read-Along!

I am combining two week's discussions because I had so much that I wanted to blog about this month that I want to get as much in as possible. Make sure check out Amber's thoughts both HERE (chapters 9-13) and HERE (chapters 14-18).

Spoiler alert! If you have not read the book Heidi then read no further because that is all that I will be talking about in this post!

Heidi - by Johanna Spyri: Chapters 9-18

Discussion format: your favorite quotes, general impressions, and three questions to answer for each week's reading (six for two weeks)

Favorite Quotes:

1.

'She entered into the lives of all the people she read about so that they became like dear friends to her, and it delighted her more and more to be with them.'

2.

'The fresh bright morning sun lay on mountain and valley. The sound of a few early bells rang up from the valley, and the birds were singing their morning song in the fir trees.'

3.

'As the old man at last stood alone with the child, watching their retreating figures, there was a light upon his face as if reflected from some inner sunshine of heart.'

4.

"The happiest of all things is when an old friend comes and greets us as in former times; the heart is comforted with the assurance that some day everything that we have loved will be given back to us."

5.

'The early light of morning lay rosy red upon the mountains, and a fresh breeze rustled through the fir trees and set their ancient branches waving to and fro.'

I realized that we see the same things described again, and again, but I love it every time and always take note of it.

General Impressions:

Chapters 9-13:

We get to meet Herr Sesemann! I always have thought that he is so reasonable and keeps his head when everyone else is panicking. He is so kind to Heidi and the love he shows Clara is so sweet.

We also met the other Grandmamma. This lady has so much wisdom. I was sad to see her leave. I love how she takes care of Heidi and advises her in the best ways, like this:

"Then, dear child, let me tell you what to do: you know that when we are in great trouble, and cannot speak about it to anybody, we must turn to God and pray to Him to help, for He can deliver us from every care that oppresses us."

I also love the use of the story the Prodigal Son! It works so perfectly.

Poor Heidi! She has such a big heart and just misses her home and family so much.

I realized that I haven't said anything about Tinette, but what can I say? She is annoying.

A big part of this section is the "mysterious ghost" that everyone is afraid of. This is not a plot twist or a surprise for me, because for as long as I can remember I have known that this is Heidi. It's just a fact of life in literature. Because I knew what was going on the staff's reactions are pretty comical. Can I say how much I love Herr Sesemann and the doctor? They rock, especially when the doctor helps her when no one else has by prescribing her to go back home in the mountain air to get well again.

Going home! Heidi leaves Herr Sesemann's house accompanied by Sebastian who is called a coward (about the whole ghost section).I think that he was the best choice to bring her home, but I was rather peeved with him because he didn't want to walk all the way up the mountain!

Chapters 14-18:

Even though this is a reread for me, these four chapters are new because I didn't remember them. They are so cute, though! I'm glad that I have picked this up again.

Once again, the Prodigal Son is used beautifully. I love how Heidi shares all that she has learned with her grandfather. It just makes my heart so, so, so, so happy! She also shares her reading with the grandmother, and her joy with the doctor.

Remember what I said about Clara in my last post? How I thought that she was a side character with not a lot of personality? Well, I was wrong. In this section it struck me of how strong (in character) and kind and thoughtful she is. When her father tells her that she can't make the trip because of her health, she doesn't scream, yell, or make a fuss. She holds back her tears of disappointment, but she doesn't complain because she knows that the doctor and her father only wish the best for her.

All of the gifts are so thoughtful! And the doctor coming with them was the perfect touch. This book is so peaceful and happy, I love having it be a part of my days.

Oh, Peter. He is not mischievous, but he is reluctant to do things that he thinks will be hard. I love how both Heidi and the Alm-Uncle encourage him to grow.

Discussion Questions:

Chapters 9-13:

1. What struck you most from the grandmamma's (Frau Sesemann's) interactions with Heidi?

Besides what I mentioned earlier, I love how she convinced Heidi to be willing to learn. Peter has made such a big impression on her, especially his stubbornness, so I was so glad the the grandmamma was able to work around that with this:

"Peter must be a very odd boy then! But listen, Heidi, we must not always go by what Peter says, we must try for ourselves."

2. Do you think Heidi could have learned to thrive in the Sesemann house over time, or do you think she truly needed to go back to the Alm in order to be healthy and happy again?

I don't think she would have gotten any better. I know that whenever I leave home I have the hope of returning, but Rottenmeier took away all of that from Heidi. She is a bright little soul, but she thought that she wasn't going to see the people she loves again, or that she would be too late. I think that she could be happy at the Sesemann house if she really could go back anytime she wanted, but now that she is home she will never leave. Which I get, because my home is my happy place, too.

3. What was your favorite part about Heidi's return home?

All of the reunions! The Grandmother, Peter, and the Alm-Uncle's reactions are so precious and it shows how much she lights up each of their lives!

Chapters 14-18:

1. Which scene in this section made you the most happy when you read it?

I don't think I can pin point an exact spot. Probably when Heidi and her grandfather went to church! Or when she told the doctor that she would go with him back to Frankfurt if it would make him happy.

2. In what way has one of the characters inspired you?

Heidi's faith is so inspiring to me. Her beautiful trust and helping those she loves is amazing.

3. How would you feel about living in the "mansion" in Dörfli where Heidi and her grandfather spend the winter?

It seems like a such a cozy place for the winter! So yes, I would like that.


Thank you to Amber for hosting and thanks to all of you for reading! What do you think of this book?

MovieCritic

Till We Have Faces Read-Along: Chapters 1-7

Hello again, everyone!

This is my first post in the second of the two read-alongs that I am participating it! This one is hosted by the lovely Olivia at Meanwhile in Rivendell... and it is all about Till We Have Faces.

I am a huge C. S. Lewis fan, but that being said I've only read The Chronicles of Narnia and Reflections on the Psalms, so as soon as I saw Olivia announce this I knew that I wanted to be part of it!
Make sure to read Olivia's post about this week's thoughts HERE.

Spoiler alert! I will be giving my thoughts all about the book Till We Have Faces, so if you haven't read it don't continue any further!

Till We Have Faces - by C. S. Lewis: Chapters 1-7

Format: Questions and then thoughts.

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think of the book's opening line and paragraphs?  Why are they effective?

It really gives me the impression of the narrator being tired with life, and it was very effective to make me wonder how the person got that way!

2. Orual often talks about a "smell of holiness" entering (or contaminating) a space.  How could a character believably recognize holiness in a scent?  Why would Orual be repulsed by it from infancy?

I really liked Olivia's response for this one. To me the smell that Orual is referring to is the sacrifice smell of blood. That would definitely be repulsive to me and I agree with it "contaminating" a place.

3. A major element of the plot is Psyche's beauty.  Orual says, "She made beauty all around her. . . . When she picked up a toad ⎼ she had the strangest and, I thought, unchanciest love for all manner of brutes ⎼ the toad became beautiful."  Is there foreshadowing in this?  Does it remind you at all of the Beauty and the Beast fable?

The most beautiful hearts are those that show love to everything! Psyche is so sweet and caring, I can see that reflecting on the people or things that she interacts with. Oh, I hadn't thought of the Beauty and the Beast connection!

4.  What do you think of the foreshadowing that you have seen so far, in general?  Is it effective or obvious?

Um, I have absolutely no idea of what is going to happen next, so I am still interested! It is keeping me hooked!

5. The practices of the "Great Offering" ritual dictate that the offering be "bound to the Tree," and that "In the Great Offering the victim must be perfect."  Do you see a connection here to the crucifixion of Jesus?  If so, do you think it was intentional on Lewis's part?

See, this is why I love read-alongs, because things are pointed out that I would never have thought of! I do know that C. S. Lewis meant to put a lot of allegories or connections in his books, but I've also read that he didn't mean to and always was impressed with the things people pointed out in his books, so I don't know if this was one of those times or not. But, from my experience with him so far I bet that he meant to do that.

6. Orual struggles to find truth throughout the whole story.  Already, we can see her torn between the "primitive" traditions of her community priest and the rationalism of her Greek tutor.  Though we trust the Fox more, we can sense flaws even in his reasoning.  Where, between the Fox and the Priest, might truth lie?

Truth is sometimes hard to find because everyone thinks that they are right. I feel drawn more to the Fox's explainations, because overall they make more sense to me. I could be wrong, though!

7. Psyche claims (speaking of marriage) that "To leave your home ⎼ to lose you, Maia, and the Fox ⎼ to lose one's maidenhead ⎼ to bear a child ⎼ they are all deaths."  What does this assertion reveal about this culture's sexual politics?

Reading this I thought of Psyche's mother. To leave her home and all of that was certainly caused her death, but even before that she was unhappy. I do admit that this is the one part of the book that is disturbing me a tiny bit, but it is being shown as wrong and harmful.


Personal Highlights:

1.

'He had all sorts of saying to cheer himself up with: "No man can be an exile if he remembers that all the world is one city." and "Everything is as good or bad as our opinion makes it."'

2.

'All she was saying seemed to me so light, so far away from our sorrow.'

3.

'"Not even for you, Psyche, will I pity Redival, whatever the Fox says."

"Would you like to be Redival? What? No? Then she's pitiable."'

4.

"We have made little use of the Fox's teaching if we're to be scared by death"

5.

"And because it was so beautiful, it set me longing, always longing. Somewhere else there must be more of it."

I was thinking about adding some thoughts to each of those, but they speak for themselves.


Thank you to Olivia for hosting! Make sure to check out the conversation, HERE.

Thanks for reading!

MovieCritic

Heidi Read-Along: Chapters 1-8

Hello, everyone!

I am participating in two read-alongs this month and the first one is the Heidi Read-Along hosted by Amber who blogs at Seasons of Humility!

I have done six read-alongs with Amber before, and they are always a good time!! Make sure you check out Amber's thoughts HERE.

Spoiler alert! I will be talking fondly about everything I've read (so far) in the book Heidi so there will be spoilers, therefore don't read this if you haven't read that book!

Heidi - by Johanna Spyri: Chapters 1-8

Discussion format: your favorite quotes, general impressions, and three questions to answer for each week's reading

Favorite Quotes:

1.

'And so the time passed happily on till evening. Then the wind began to roar louder than ever through the old fir trees; Heidi listened with delight to the sound, and it filled her heart so full of gladness that she skipped and danced through the old trees, as if some unheard-of joy had come to her.'

2.

'Outside the moon was struggling with the dark, fast-driving clouds, which at one moment left it clear and shining, and the next swept over it, and all again was dark.'

3.

'The child sat without moving, her eyes taking in the whole scene, and all around was a great stillness, only broken by soft, light puffs of wind that swayed the light bells of the blue flowers, and the shining gold heads of the cistus, and set them nodding merrily on their slender stems.'

4.

'Heidi was never unhappy, for whenever she was she found something to interest or amuse her.'

Johanna Spyri's descriptions are so gorgeous! They are delightful to read.


General Impressions:

This is my second time reading this, and even though I know everything that is happening and going to happen I still am loving it! My family also owns a picture book version which still is longer than most picture books. Whenever my mom read it to my sisters and me before bed, she would stop every time Heidi went to sleep. I have found that some of chapters do that too, so I have liked keeping up the "tradition".

Something that I found interesting is that it seems most people imagine Heidi with blond hair, I think of her that way myself! I thought that because that is what she looked like in the picture book that we had. In the edition that I am reading (see a like picture above) my sisters and I always thought that it was so wrong that she had dark hair. In chapter 8 I stumbled upon Heidi being described as

"...she has short, curly black hair, and black eyes, and wears a brown dress, and does not talk quite like we do."

My edition is actually accurate!

The characters:
Heidi: She is such a dear! She is so sweet and loving. She treats the goats with so much love and care. The best way to describe her is as the Grandmother does:
"What a loving little heart it is, and how merrily she tells her tale!"
It breaks my heart when she cries about not being able to help the Grandmother see again, though it is healed again (my heart) when she gets her grandfather to fix everything for him, and it was so kind of him to do it.

The Alm-Uncle: Everyone in the book is afraid of him, but he is just depressed...and lonely, though he doesn't know it because he wants to be alone all the time. I love reading about him and Heidi together because she is just a ray of sunshine brightening his life. Whenever she just follows him around it is so cute! It is always sad for me to read when Dete takes her away.

Peter: I thought that it was absolutely adorable when the Alm-Uncle called him "General". At times he can be a little sulky, but I think that he is just introverted which I relate to.

Clara: Of all of the characters, she is the one that seems to have the least memorable bits for me. This might change during this reread, but to me she's just kind of... there. I believe that she is nice, but not much besides that. It is funny to me all of the talk about "gaping" during lessons until Heidi came.

Fräulein Rottenmeier: It absolutely cracks me up that "rotten" is in her name. She is so scrict, she needs to liven up a little!

Sebastian: He is probably my favorite. I don't know why, but there we go. I mean, he did save her hat. This line with him is something that I do everyday:

'Sebastian's face became convulsed, he was overcome with inward laughter but knew his place too well to laugh aloud.'

All of Heidi's adventures are so amusing! Everything with the kittens and the boy with the hand organ don't fail to make me laugh.


Discussion Questions:

1. Which character ended up surprising you most in these first eight chapters?

Surprising me? This time around I found the Alm-Uncle and Peter really relatable for their introversion, which surprised me. Also just loving Sebastian as much as I do without knowing why is surprising.

2. Do you think you would enjoy living the way Heidi's grandfather does? What would you like or dislike about that kind of life and home?

As soon as it was winter in the story I thought, "Yep, I could live like this." I don't know if I would enjoy it all the time, but it would be so neat to spend a lot of time like that, taking a break from my usual distractions.

3. Which scene have you found most touching so far? Most amusing?

Most touching: Heidi crying about the Grandmother being blind.
Most amusing: The kittens and Fräulein Rottenmeier's reaction!


Thank you to Amber for hosting this! And thanks to all of you for reading! What do you think of my observations?

MovieCritic

Christy Read-Along: The End!

Hello, everybody!

Today is time for the last day in Amber's, who blogs at Seasons of Humility, Christy Read-Along!

I am excited because I am on schedule and caught up, just in time for it to be over. Oh well. I had a ton of fun reading this and discussing it with the other participants!

Check out Amber's thoughts HERE, Julie's HERE, and Carissa's HERE.

Spoiler Alert! I will be talking about the ending of the book Christy - by Catherine Marshall and there will be major spoilers, so don't read any further unless you want the ending completed ruined for you!

Christy - by Catherine Marshall: Chapters 40-36

Discussion format: your favorite quotes, general impressions, and three questions to answer for each week's reading

Favorite Quotes:

1.

'Now circumstances were forcing knowledge on me.'

2.

'She's learned the secret all the way, hasn't she? How to love other people.'

3.

"I'd long since learned that no difference in viewpoint should ever be allowed to cause the least break in love. Indeed, it cannot it it's real love."

4.

'Did people always have to wait for pestilence or war or tragedy to be shocked into forgetting about themselves?"

5.

'The grass was dotted with flowers -- I spotted buttercups and the orchid of fairy fringe and the vermilion of fire pinks, and mountain bluets like patches of sky fallen into the grass -- all of such intense coloration that they were not like flowers at all: they were explosions of color.'

General Impressions:

It was scary that Typhoid fever came to Cutter Gap! Miss Alice and Christy were so caring as they helped Ruby Mae, Bessie's mother, Zady, and Lundy. They both went through such hard times, but they pulled through. It was so brave of them to do all they did and help in so many ways. They are truly great role models.

Lundy: man, I don't even know what to say. I guess, 'What goes around comes around'? I couldn't believe that it was him who shot Tom. I still feel bad that he died, if only he had listened to Dr. MacNeill! I'm glad that Bird's-Eye came back to be with him. When he got his nose bleed Christy told him to pinch it and tilt his head back, not forward. I have been around a lot of nose bleeds (rarely my own), and I have taken a basic first aid course and the most important thing is to always tip your head forward. Never back. It was showing the thoughts of the time because of the use of the opposite. I am proud of all that Dr. MacNeill did to emphasize sanitation.

It was interesting to hear Miss Alice tell Christy about Margaret her daughter and Dr. MacNeill's wife. She laughs at everything, like me.

Now, in this next bit I'm going to try to not sound victorious, but it probably won't work. We'll see.

I was glad that David and Christy got things sorted out. I had been wondering if he actually had any relationship with God. Miss Alice's comparison of him to Jonah was really accurate and I'm glad that he figured things out.

I was a little scared when Christy got sick and had bad dreams. We were so close to the end of the book that I thought she was going to die, but then I remembered the prologue and was fine. Her one dream of telling "I love you" to Little Burl made me so happy because it was so cute!!

The final chapter was amazing. The dreams and thoughts on life and death were so poignant. I am so victorious because I was right all along about Neil! I had a feeling in the last discussion chapters that he had feelings towards Christy and I love it when I'm right.

It's funny, I always think that I'm not going to think of anything to say for the general impressions, but I always have a long post!

Discussion Questions:

1. Which story of sickness, whether hopeful or heartbreaking, affected you the most?

I love that Christy went to help take care of Ruby Mae. She had always thought of her as a tag along, but she realized that she needed to help this girl who looks up to her. It made my heart warm and fuzzy.

2. Were you satisfied with the conclusion of the story? If so, what did you like most about these last chapters? If not, what do you wish might have been different?

I am pretty satisfied with the ending. The last chapter was really beautiful to me. I had no idea of where it was going, but it was done nicely. The ending seemed really sudden (I'm talking about Neil), but it was okay.

3. What was your favorite part about Christy? Do you plan to read other books by Catherine Marshall, either fiction or nonfiction?

My favorite part was probably seeing all of the interactions with the kids in the school room! So cute! Catherine Marshall also had some really lovely descriptions. This is the first book of hers that I've heard about, so I don't know. Maybe once I've done some more research on what her other books are about I'd be interested.


A huge, huge, huge thank you to Amber for hosting this! I had a good time reading this book!

Thanks to all of you for reading! If you've read this book, what do you think of it?

MovieCritic

Christy Read-Along: Chapters 26-39

Hello, once again, my friends!

It is time for another post in Amber at Seasons of Humility's Christy Read-Along.

As it has become my custom with these posts, I am combining two into one. I didn't post on the 1st because of the start of NaNoWriMo and I was working on my Coco (2017) review, then I didn't post on the 8th because of my Blog Costume Party, so I have some catching up to do now.

Check out Amber's post for chapters 26-32 HERE, and chapters 33-39 HERE.

SPOILER ALERT! I will be talking about the book Christy without any hesitations, so there are a ton of spoilers. Don't read this post unless you've read this book.

Christy - by Catherine Marshall: Chapters 26-39

Discussion format: your favorite quotes, general impressions, and three questions to answer for each week's reading (six questions for two weeks of discussion)

Favorite Quotes:

1.

'"It must have been like seeing through a peephole in his armor," I remarked, "seeing the man as he was meant to be."'

2.

'I might have felt unimportant pitted against the awesome might of the mountains. I did not. Rather, on that mountain top I found something important that I had never known before: an awareness of a vital connection between me and the Authority behind all this beauty.'

3.

"When your heart is ablaze with the love of God, when you love other people -- especially the rip-snorting sinners -- so much that you dare to tell them about Jesus with no apologies, then never fear, there will be results."

4.

'Perhaps it is just that even a small city provides artificial distraction which separates us from the roots of our life; even a few bricks and a little macadam are a shield between us and the wisdom that nature has to give.'

5.

'The sun sifting through moving branches would splinter the light into diamonds on the water tossing them back into my eyes with such magic that I would want to shout and dance, just for the joy of living -- and usually did. Fairlight understood. She always understood.'

General Impressions:

Chapters 26-32:

I know I talk about my favorite characters each time, and you are all probably tired of it, but they are my favorites and I have to keep you updated on why they are my favorites:

Miss Alice: She just has the best advice ever. No arguing about it. Something that she said that I found very relatable (I mean everything that she says is amazing, but one of my favorite bits) was:

"It's been the delight of my life to find God far more common sense and practical than any human I know. The only time I ever find my dealings with God less than clear cut is when I'm not being honest with Him. The fuzziness is always on my side, not His."

Whenever I set my mind to talk to God and open up my heart, I always feel such a sense of relief, but when I keep to myself then everything seems harder.

And something that another participant in the read-along, Julie, and I were talking about in the comments last time was mentioned by Miss Alice:

"So many people never pause long enough to make up their minds about basic issues of life and death. It's quite possible to go through your whole life, making the mechanical motions of living, adopting as your own sets of ideas you've picked up some place or other, and die--never having come to any conclusion for yourself as to what life is all about."

Opal: Can we talk about the fact that here are men standing around her cabin, waiting to kill her husband, and Opal has such a sweet heart that she feeds them because she doesn't want them to starve? She is so kind and thoughtful, definitely a new favorite through these chapters.

Fairlight: I absolutely loved reading about her and Christy's little adventures! The descriptions were gorgeous and so accurate, and her and Christy's friendship is so sweet, I love watching it grow.

Okay, now for parts that are not my favorite:
I was so sad when Tom was murdered! I just wanted to reach through the page and give everyone hugs. Especially Issak who was made to dig his grave. Ugh, is was just so sad! I liked Miss Alice's choice of the story of Lazarus and her thoughts on it. I hope that it gets some sense into them.
(Oh, and learning about Bird's-Eye's back story made me feel victorious because I knew that there is some good in him, and I can't wait to see it. I was so glad to hear that it wasn't him who killed Tom, but it makes me wonder who did...)

Um, this next part is probably controversial, but when David proposed to Christy then kissed her I threw my book (It landed on my bed and it was fine, just to let you all know). I know that this is something that happens in books a lot, and I even know several preachers who are married and have wonderful families, but...reading it is just weird to me. Being a Catholic I am raised with the tradition that all nuns and priests take a vow of celibacy, so my mind just can't comprehend it all. This is just me, I don't know anyone else who reacts to this like I do. I even had a feeling it was coming, because as soon as we met David I was like this:

Source

I mean come on, why can't they just be friends?

Moving on.

I will end on a high note, the last day of school celebration was so sweet (sorry, sweet is one of my favorite words. How many times have I said it in this post?)! I will miss reading about Christy teaching them, but I'm glad that they were all so happy.

"You'd be surprised how much children can teach us ossified adults, if we'd only stoop to listen."

Chapters 33-39:

Oh boy. Where to begin?

Miss Alice's story was really sad. Whenever someone betrays our deep trust in them it is heartbreaking. That man was horrible and I'm glad that we never saw him again. What really sticks out to me is how brave it was of Miss Alice to tell Christy the story. I know that when people think well of me I like to keep it that way, and the fact that she thought Christy thought of her too well shows how wonderful she is.

'In the light of Miss Alice's story, I understood that the reason we have to accept other people is simply because God receives us just the way we are.'

I think that Christy did a very good job with the Ladies of the University Club speech. Based on her interaction I with Mr. Smith, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I think that she did a really nice job. It's exciting that they will now be taking boarders.

I absolutely couldn't believe that Ruby Mae got married. What??? I mean, I know that it was normal back then, but she is just so young! I agree with Christy that she could have waited longer. The whole chapter was rather disturbing for me. Let's think of a good part, ah! It was fun to read about the dancing because I love to dance and explore different kinds.

'The American frontier had its dangers and its hard work but it also had a rare talent for making its own fun.'

David and Christy... yeah, I talked about them enough in the last few chapters. My feelings haven't changed.

The discussing of fears was so important! We all are afraid of things, and we have to face them at some point.

"After a while the love of God was more real to me than any ghost."

I was so sad when Fairlight died! It seems like my favorite character in any book always dies. It was painful to read about how terrified she was, I mean, wouldn't we all be?

Asking the question of "Why?" is very relatable to many people. And I absolutely loved that the end of this chapter (39) was focusing on the feeling of being loved by God. It was really beautiful.

Discussion Questions:

Chapters 26-32:

1. What turn of events shocked or surprised you most in this section?

Besides everything else that I mentioned, it must have been really scary when Christy, Miss Ida, and Ruby Mae were alone and the men were trying to break in! I would have been terrified. I admire that Miss Ida was able to remain calm.

2. What do you think drove Christy to climb a mountain? Have you ever been driven to do something out of the ordinary or especially challenging for you? What was the experience like?

Christy's experience on the mountain was so vivid for me! I have had the same feeling go through me. I always think that people who said that they don't believe in God must never have felt this, because once you do you know and never forget.

I am very stubborn and determined, so once I start something I push through until the end. One time I did want to climb a hill, and I did it, but it was pretty much straight up and down and my side hurt for the rest of the day because I was breathing so heavily. So yeah. I would definitely encourage trying new things, but don't hurt yourself!

3. What was your favorite part or performance from the school's last-day festivities?

Creed showing off Scalawag II was so cute! The way that he was so proud of himself was adorable. I also loved how their different words spelled OUR SCHOOL.

Chapters 33-39:

1. What do you think of the Folk School idea that Mrs. Browning shared with Christy? Do you feel like it would be beneficial to the people of the Cove?

All of the talk and debates about the Folk School idea are really interesting to me. I'm not sure if it will work in the Cove because of the personalities of the people there, but if they could figure out how to make it work it would be beneficial, I think!

2. Do you find nighttime and darkness bothersome or appealing? Have your feelings changed since childhood?

This is really funny that this is one of the discussion questions because I absolutely love night and darkness. When I was little I was afraid of someone being in the dark and going to scare me (a realistic fear when you have sisters), but since I was about ten I've loved the dark. There is something so mysterious and thrilling about it. I love to challenge myself by walking around my house at night and trying not to run into anything. This isn't a really good idea because I am naturally clumsy, but I fall when there is already light, no difference when there isn't.

My favorite thing is that it is so much easier to see the light when you are surrounded by darkness. A good metaphor for life, right?

3. What are some of the things you hope will happen or be resolved in the last chapters? (Or, if you've already read the book, has anything stood out to you differently so far while reading the book this time around?)

I'm interested to see how Dr. MacNeil's and Christy's friendship will grow. Oh, and maybe getting to see the children in school again? And there is always the hope that Ben Pentland will show up.


Thanks to Amber for hosting, and to all of you for reading! What do you think of this book and my thoughts?

MovieCritic

Christy Read-Along: Chapters 12-25

Hello, everyone!

It is time again that I join in Amber's, who blogs at Seasons of Humility, Christy Read-Along!

I missed last week because I was traveling and away from my computer, so once again I'm putting two of the discussions together to keep up. Check out Amber's thoughts on chapters 12-18 HERE, and chapters 19-25 HERE.

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't read Chrisy - by Catherine Marshall, don't read any more because this post is a mine field of spoilers.

Christy: Chapters 12-25

Discussion format: your favorite quotes, general impressions, and three questions to answer for each week's reading (six questions for two weeks of discussion)

Favorite Quotes:
1.
'It was rather that as I came to know the children and to think of them as persons rather than names in my grade book, I forgot my reactions and began to love them.'

2.
'Here with the silent gaze of the mountains upon us, trivialities and pettiness and meanness faded and dropped out of sight.'

3.
'And her stance toward life seemed to say: God is -- and that is enough.'

4.
"Christianity is a life and contains the germ of life in itself."

General Impressions:

Chapters 12-18:

 I loved chapter 12! Being able to see more in the classroom was so great. Mountie is adorable, and the way Christy talked to Creed about his dog was so sweet! Oh, and of course, Little Burl. His little bit made me SO HAPPY! I can be very grumpy and tired of people and the world, but I am always trying to look for the good in everyone. When Christy was thinking how she didn't have to like everyone I thought: "No! Don't do that!". Little Burl put it better then I could have:

'It was Little Burl, of all people, who helped me to understand that rather it was my privilege to try to like everyone, at least to make an effort to see the good in each individual.'....

...."Teacher, Teacher, hain't it true, Teacher, that if God loves ever'body, then we'uns got to love ever'body too?"

We got to see more of Fairlight! She is so kind and lovely and sweet, definitely one of my favorites. I love her how she wanted to learn, and how she sees beauty in everything.

Aunt Polly's story was really beautiful, I really am glad that it is in the book.

We saw Ben Pentland again! He was only there for about two pages, but I'm keeping track of my favorites.

I both admire and am annoyed by the way Christy went to see Mr. Smith. I didn't know it was possible to be both. I'm not really sure what to say about it except that I agree with Miss Alice, because everything Miss Alice says is the best.

A quick note, based on the way we have known David so far, I cannot picture him playing a ukulele! I'm familiar with how it sounds because my sister plays it, so that's nice because all of the other instruments mentioned so far I've had a hard time imagining how they sound. But I just can't picture David playing! It's funny.

I was so happy when they got the new books! Then I was so sad when Christy found that they had been slashed and destroyed! I hope that she can find out who did it and get an explanation of why.

Chapters 19-25:

Wow! Up to now we've been seeing life at the mission, but in these chapters there is some action! Finding whiskey under the school, having the people turn against David, an operation, sabotage, and someone being shot! These chapters really have me worried about what is going to happen next.

Ruby Mae describing Bird's-Eye as "He be fractious." made me laugh. At first I thought that he was going to be actually nice and that gossip had just taken wing. Well, I was wrong. I couldn't believe the situation with the still! And bringing kids into it, too! I can see Tom McHone's reason, and while I don't support it or think that it is a good reason, I feel sorry for him.

I feel that all around the world when there are problems and we are given a chance to ask for forgiveness we ask:

"Why me? He's the one who went wrong."

Having sisters I know how this is. We tend to blame problems on other people and think that we were just victims. Sometimes that's true, but sometimes even if it isn't it is good to say sorry. Even if it doesn't solve things, it makes you feel better because you had the courage to acknowledge your wrong doing. I love how they said "strength of forgiveness."

Miss Alice once again has the wise words of the day:

'"It's our place to demonstrate reconciliation -- not judgment or revenge or retaliation. That's God's business, not ours." Her voice grew softer. "Beware the chasms in thy life, David. Sooner or later thee will fall down in the chasm thyself."'

So often people think that Christians are so judging and won't accept people. That isn't true, or if it is in some places it shouldn't. Church is a place of healing for everyone.

David is a little impulsive, but I was disgusted at all of the people being mean or rude to him. He is trying to help even if he's doing it in the wrong way.

Through these chapters I have really come to like Christy! She is becoming really relatable. I absolutely loved her preparation to helping Little Burl's surgery by thinking about God and her thought of how he is: "I am greater than any problem."
I also found her relatable in the last chapter when talking to Doc. The way she was struggling with words to convey her feeling without using someone else's words was just like me sometimes.

One last thing, I feel so sorry for Prince! I'm glad that they didn't hurt him, though, and it's neat that they were able to profit from it to get a new saddle.

Discussion Questions:

Chapters 12-18:

1. Of Christy's students, which one has left the biggest impression on you so far, whether positive or negative?

Mountie O'Teale. I've had the same problem as her with talking and stuttering, so seeing her go through that was relatable, and I was so happy to see her grow. Her reaction to the buttons was priceless!

2. What are your thoughts on the Sewing Circle? If you were in attendance, how might you contribute to the gathering (hosting, providing snacks, reading Scripture, sharing ideas)? How might you interact with the women of the Cove?

Okay, so I am bad at all of those things. I love to read, but with what I mentioned above, I will not read out loud. I would try to step out of my introverted self and maybe host? That means that I would get the pick all of the readings but not have to do it myself. Heehee.

3. Which character's attitude and perspective has inspired you the most so far in the book?

Miss Alice, Fairlight, and Little Burl. I loved reading their positive thoughts!

Chapters 19-25:

1. Did this section make you want to read faster (because of the suspense) or slow down (because of the heavy topics)?

Definitely read faster!

2. Imagine yourself in one of these tense situations: hearing Uncle Bogg's story at the working, listening to David's sermon, or coming upon Prince in his sad condition. How would you respond?

Oh, those are all tough scenes. Uncle Bogg's story reminded me of an Arabian Nights story, so maybe I would mention that? I usually like him, but I was frustrated with everyone treated David like that. I think if I had seen Prince I would have run up to him and gotten him to calm down, but wouldn't have been sure what to do next.

3. If you could help the McHones in even a small way, what would you do?

Yes, but I'm not sure how I could help. Maybe get the little ones to eat more food while at school, or just spent time with Opal just so she wouldn't be lonely.


Thank you so much Amber for hosting this!

Have any of you read this? What do you think? Thanks for reading!

MovieCritic

Christy Read-Along: Chapters 1-11

Hiya!

Right now, Amber who blogs at Seasons of Humility is hosting a Christy Read-Along! I had only heard of it once before, and I didn't know anything about it so I decided this would be the opportunity to do just that!

She is having a discussion every Friday, but as you can see I'm a little late. I had to place a hold at our library and I only just got it the other day, therefore I am combining two of the posts into one! Check out Amber's discussions for Chapters 1-4 HERE, and 5-11 HERE.

Also, I will be saying everything that comes into my mind, so SPOILER ALERT! Please don't read any further unless you have read this book.

Christy: Chapters 1-11

Discussion format: your favorite quotes, general impressions, and three questions to answer for each week's reading (so six questions for two weeks)

Favorite Quotes:

1.

'But there was something different about this sound. It was not a single note, but many notes playing up and down the scale harmonizing at one moment, discord at the next, retreating, advancing.'

2.

'Then the sun was sinking and every prismatic color was reflecting back from this ice-encased world. The valley had become like Ali Baba's Treasure Cove that I had read about as a child. I found my eyes and throat aching with the beauty that blazed ouside the train windows."

3.

"One of our tasks here is to show folks a God who wants to give them joy."

General Impressions:

Chapters 1-4:

I can tell you this right out, so far Ben Pentland is my favorite character. I love how he was described as looking like one of Robin Hood's yeomen (because, as you all know, that is one of my obsessions). He seems like someone who is gruff on the outside, but really loveable on the inside.

'There was a natural dignity and an innate courtesy about this man that I instictively liked.'

Other characters:
I love the name Fairlight and I can't wait to read more about her!

If nothing else, I am curious to meet Alice Henderson. Everything that anybody says about her seems to be contradicting, so I wonder if that is her character: contradicting.

I've been really observant of how authors describe characters lately, so far I am enjoying the descriptions for the most part.

I am some one who is lucky enough to have never been afraid of heights, but both my sisters are. Because of that the whole log bridge scene seemed too dramatic, but I'm trying to be empathetic.

The writing has been a little hard to get into, but I hope it will get easier as we go along.

Chapters 5-11:

I was right, Miss Alice is one of my favorites. I'm still confused about a few things concerning her, but she is so nice and has the best advice!

I'm sad that I we didn't see anything of Ben Pentland in these chapters because, as I said, he was my favorite, but I hope to see more of him in the future.

Ruby Mae is hilarious! I love this bit:

'It was delightful to see Miss Alice through Ruby Mae's eyes.'

I cannot say it enough, but perspective is one of my favorite things! Christy is a little annoying and "stuck up", but I love seeing her grow by knowing other people's thoughts.

Why am I reading this book if I am tired of Christy? There are things I like about her and I am looking forward to seeing how she grows. One of her struggles is really relateable to pretty much everyone, it is:

"What was I born for, after all? I have to know."

We all want to know that we have a purpose, and we want to find it. I know that I struggle with this, so it is inspiring to see Christy having the courage to try to find her place in the world.

I have taught or babysat kids before, so I liked reading the bits where Christy had been teaching! Kids are so cute, but they also can be a lot of trouble! I'm interested in picking up tips on how Christy will straighted out the most obnoxious ones.

Discussion Questions:

Chapters 1-4:

1. What do you think of the narrator/perspective for the prologue? Would you prefer to jump right into the story, or do you think the prologue is effective in piquing your interest?

To tell the truth, I almost skipped the prologue! Which is weird because I never do that, and I reminded myself of that. As I was going along I was a little worried that it might contain a spoiler, but I liked the way of introducing the story.

2. What are your first impressions of Christy and her goals?

It takes a lot of courage to leave your comfort zone and volunteer to go teach in the wilderness, so I am impressed with that. And especially to walk a distance in the snow that you have never done before.

Though, I did give her a look when she asked Mr. Pentland if David Grantland was married.

3. If you were in the cabin when Bob Allen is brought in, how would you react? Would you lend the doctor a hand? Watch the surgery in fascination? Step out the door as fast as you could?

If I was just someone who happened to be there I would try to help in someway and if I couldn't then I would watch. Health and Medice are subjects that are very interesting to me.

If I was in Christy's position where he had been hurt trying to meet me, I would feel absolutely terrible and after trying to help I would probably go outside and cry. I am not good at being calm in difficult situations, but I'm getting better.

Chapters 5-11:

1. Despite all the sad revelations in this section, what moment or scene stood out to you as either really funny or really uplifting?

The beginning of chapter 7 really frustrated me, because of Christy's reaction to the O'Teale's. I mean, I understand being surprised at the way of life, but her response seemed extreme. But, the second half of that chapter had some really inspiring things (pages 104-105 in my book). I could just type up all of those pages, but I'll just say this bit. In response to Christy's question of why God lets people do bad things, Miss Alive said:

"He would have to, if He'd given us men and women a genuine choice of freedom."

2. Now that we've gotten to know David and Dr. MacNeill a bit better, what are your impressions of them? How do you feel about their characters, their attitudes, and their interactions with others?

I still feel like I don't know them? Uh, I do like David. He's nice and funny. I don't understand why Christy doesn't like Dr. MacNeill, because he does so much and is such a good doctor.

3. What are your thoughts about Christy's requests for donations from friends and various companies? Do you think she was foisting a cause upon others inappropriately? (To reference a conversation in chapter 11.) Or do you think such letters could be a blessing to both giver and receiver? Would you have approached things differently?

*groans* It was a nice idea, it did seem a little like begging, but Christy's letters were very well worded, and I'm glad that they got things that they needed. A few things like the wagon seemed a little much, but then the piano?? What?? It was so completely useless! I was so frustrated with Christy, why would she even ask for that? And telephone wire? Ugh, why didn't she consult anyone first? She over did it.


Thank you to Amber for hosting this! Even though my complaining sounds otherwise, I'm enjoying it so far!

Thanks to all of you for reading! Do you agree with my thoughts?

MovieCritic