3.12.2012

The Book Nook {March} AND On My Nightstand...

...you will find:

   

Anne's House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery
Anne's House of Dreams (FREE Kindle Edition) by L.M. Montgomery (did you see that it's FREE?!)
A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck

What are YOU reading?

{In Review}



Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery
If you've been reading the blog, then you know what transpired as a result of my re-reading Anne of Windy Poplars. Long live the romance in marriage! However, for a simple review of the book, let me just say that #4 in the Anne of Green Gables set is close to being my favorite. I enjoy the letter format that Montgomery uses to work her way through three years of separation between Anne and Gilbert. Although we rarely see Gilbert in the book, it's like he's always around as we read Anne's side of the correspondence. I never get tired of Anne's match-making antics, her ability to win over the grumpiest of folks, and those days when she has "just the right kind of pen" to cause omission of several paragraphs to her beloved.



Major Pettigrew's Last Stand: A Novel by Helen Simonson
Oh, how I wanted to love this book - but I just didn't. I know that's going to disappoint some of my fellow book lovers, but the prominent Islamic bent, questionable moral choices, and sad events throughout the storyline quickly squelched my enjoyment. I've no answer as to why I could fall for (and recommend without qualm) The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, with it's various sad plot lines, and characters who made lifestyle choices that I don't agree with, but I couldn't do the same for Major Pettigrew and his gang. Even on the religious side, I have found enjoyment in other novels with main characters who are Muslim or Hindu (e.g. The Marriage Bureau for Rich People) but the sections touching on religion (both Islam and the Anglican church) in Last Stand not only fell flat, but irked me. When I started reading, my expectation was that it would be humorous (in a dry, British way), but overall I found it to be too serious and sadly lifelike. And there you have it, my honest opinion about a book that others have loved - try it for yourself and then let me know what you think (I'd love to hear more opinions).

The Book Nook {March}
For those who are visiting from Jessica's Booking It link-up, if you'd like to see what I've been reading for the last month, you can find the links to my weekly Nightstand posts, below:
Feb. 13 Nightstand
February 20 Nightstand
February 27 Nightstand
March 5 Nightstand

8 comments:

  1. Carrie, I'm laughing...#4 is the Anne book I advise people to just skip because it's b-o-r-i-n-g! Maybe I won't do that anymore :)

    On an L.M. Montgomery note, I just finished up the Emily series, again.

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  2. I've settled into a little bit of a reading routine...and I like it! I keep one I-don't-have-to-concentrate book to read while the kids are around, and one it-HAS-to-be-quiet book: so now I'm reading Hittite Warrior (Williamson) and The Problem of Pain (C.S. Lewis).

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  3. I'm so sorry you didn't like it! I agree that there were sections toward the end that were jarring and a little too serious, but overall I really loved it. I hope I didn't set your expectations too high!

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  4. I'm sad to read you didn't like Pettigrew. I thought it was wonderful!

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  5. I love the Anne books; who doesn't? And those letters were fun reading, weren't they?!

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  6. Oh, how I love the Anne Books!! I think my favorite is actually the last one - Rilla of Ingleside - though I love Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea, too!

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  7. @Anne, Lexi, and Molly - This is proof of why I hesitate to recommend books flat out, but try to give a disclaimer that I didn't like it, but someone else might. Three examples in one comment section: Anne dislikes and advises against reading "Anne of Windy Poplars" whereas it's close to my favorite book in the series. Tracy loves the Anne series and "Rilla" is her favorite, while I usually avoid it if at all possible. I disliked "Major Pettigrew", while Molly and Lexi loved it! I'm just thankful that there are so many books in the world that we can all find something that we enjoy reading! :-) Thanks for leaving comments, ladies - I always enjoy them!

    Jamie - Sounds like you've got some good books going there!

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  8. I just started in on the Anne series! I'm in the middle of Anne of the Island now. I loved the movies and read the first two books in my youth, but it's SO fun to revisit them as an adult! I'm entirely in love!

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