Review of Looking Backward 2000 – 1887

At a recent used book sale I bought an intriguing book written by Edward Bellamy. It was published in 1887, with the premise of having been written in the year 2000. The author imagines how the country would look in another century if certain idealistic industrial, political and economic changes were made to enable the … Continue reading Review of Looking Backward 2000 – 1887 →

Review of Louisa May Alcott’s A Long Fatal Love Chase

Lately I’ve been reading parts of Louisa May Alcott’s journals and poems and, especially in her younger years, she writes with sweetness and light. After all that I’ve read of hers, I am still astounded at her talent for words and her inviting tone. Yet here is another one of her “blood and thunder tales”, … Continue reading Review of Louisa May Alcott’s A Long Fatal Love Chase →

Review of Celebrating Milestones by Adeola Adekugbe

Did you celebrate your 40th birthday by writing a book? Adeola Adekugbe did! She decided to commemorate the occasion by thanking the many people who have impacted her life and helped her along the way to become the woman that she is today. I love that! Adeola prefaces her book by referring to the poem … Continue reading Review of Celebrating Milestones by Adeola Adekugbe →

Louisa May Alcott’s First Novel, The Inheritance

Written in 1849, first discovered in 1988 and published in 1997, The Inheritance, as expected, is a breath of fresh air. This is no surprise, considering the era in which it was written, when writers consistently wrote with dignity, delicacy, insight, and restraint. It is considered Alcott’s first novel, written when she was only seventeen … Continue reading Louisa May Alcott’s First Novel, The Inheritance →

Louisa May Alcott’s Pauline’s Passion and Punishment

“To and fro, like a wild creature in its cage, paced that handsome woman, with bent head, locked hands, and restless steps.”   We know Louisa May Alcott by her most popular books showing life in the late 1800’s that give us a safe, warm feeling. Most are stories of the March family: Jo’s Boys, … Continue reading Louisa May Alcott’s Pauline’s Passion and Punishment →

The Versatility of Louisa May Alcott: Behind a Mask

Little Women, Little Men, Jo’s Boys, Eight Cousins, Good Wives. We know Louisa May Alcott by her most popular books, stories of the March family, depicting life in the late 1800’s that give us a safe, warm feeling. In my Books Read binder, however, are some lesser-known tales by Alcott.   One of these stories … Continue reading The Versatility of Louisa May Alcott: Behind a Mask →

Book Review of This Day: A Collection of Simple Prayers

As I mentioned in my last post, I have a new treasure that I picked up recently at my favorite used bookstore, Better Books and Bibles.  It was made from prayers used in the Daily Broadcast Service of the BBC radio program, compiled by an unnamed and un-credited person.  There are no dates that I … Continue reading Book Review of This Day: A Collection of Simple Prayers →

Book Review of Thorn in My Heart by Liz Curtis Higgs

I have been perusing my binder full of book reviews, which I’ve been writing for the past 20 years or so.  I think I started writing them because when I find a particularly inspiring, thought-provoking, well-written book, I can’t bear to lose the memories of the experience.  I love to revisit books, especially novels, the … Continue reading Book Review of Thorn in My Heart by Liz Curtis Higgs →

Book review of The Bedside Book of the Art of Living

How could anyone resist this little book with such an intriguing and comforting title?  This is one of those gems that I looked forward to reading each day, and it was responsible for much sleep deprivation, since I couldn’t stop reading the narratives until I found out what would happen at the end.   This … Continue reading Book review of The Bedside Book of the Art of Living →

Book Review of My Antonia by Willa Cather

I made notes on this book as I was reading it. (Caution: many spoilers.) I am only pages away from finishing this book which was published in 1918.  It has been a dusty, dry read at times; maybe I’ve been very taken by the Nebraska fields.  There have been tragedies and characters’ stories of tragedies.  … Continue reading Book Review of My Antonia by Willa Cather →