Review of The Good Dream by Donna VanLeire

Over the summer we all took a break from the book club due to moves and other exciting adventures.  Although we are not all able to read each months book, a couple of us wanted to continue   So if you get a minute or two and need something to read I would suggest this book that we read for the month:  The Good Dream.  It was a fairly easy read, about a women who is living her life differently than she had imagine.  In her thirties she is single, living alone since her parents died, in a small farm house in Tennessee.  She doesn't see her life changing until a man from town comes to talk to her.  Her prospects of marriage are greater and things are looking up until something starts to get into her garden.  After several attempts to get the culprit she finds a small boy who lives up in the hills above her home.  He can't speak, is very dirty, and very hungry   This book is about her journey finding how she wants to live her life.  It may not be what she had planned but in the end is her perfect dream.

I really enjoyed reading and pondering about this book.  I couldn't keep it down.  I love to read books with a strong female character and Ivorie is just that.  She takes control of her life and doesn't let others judgement affect her.  She has passion and assertiveness but sensitivity and humility.  The question I would ask is:  What would you choose or could you choose between the love of a man or the love of a boy and would you do what Ivorie did?

What do you do in the Summertime? Answer: Read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We'll it's summertime and we are all in the midst of change!  It's kind of tricky trying to keep on our book club schedule right now.  But nevertheless I've been in a reading mood and have had a few good reads I'd like to share with you.  I'm planning to send a few to mom and then we can send them up to Alaska! 
1. Dawn's Prelude and Morning's Refrain both by Tracie Peterson
This is an author I just discovered.  I'm a sucker for good historical fiction that shares a good message.  These are just two of a three series.  But she has about 75 more books at least.  I hope to get my hands on a couple more before I leave here. This paticular series is set in rural Sitka Alaska which is kind of neat to see the history of some of the settlers since Alaska is Jen's home now!
2.  The Glass Castle by Jeanette Wallg
This is the book I was going to suggest for our next reading.  But after eading it I didn't know if I was comfortable sharing it because of all the language and some graphic details.  This is a true story of a family raised by eccentric paretns who choose to live a life of poverty and eventually homeless.  Even though the mother had grown up in a a wealthy home and she had inhereted a house and land.  I found it very interesting.  Truly the big message to me was that I'm so grateful for the good parents who raised me! 
3.  Flywheel by Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick
I was suprised to find this book because it is the first story written by the authors of Fireproof and Courageous and Facing the Giants.  There is also a movie that I hope to get my hands on soon. 
It's about a used car sales man who wasn't the most honest man and life was kind of falling apart for himm  Until he finally had an Ahhahh moment and began to trust in God and amazing things happened.  I really enjoyed this read and in fact think I will suggest it for the book club!  And then we can see the movie!
Well I've read a few other little books here and there but these are the ones that i thought you'd all like. 
Maybe now you can share some of your reads to if you've had time.

I'm sorry it took me so long to comment. I was waiting for everyone to finish and forgot to give my own thoughts. I thought that "Into the Free" was one of those deep feeling books that leave you wondering if you could of been strong enough to endure such a sad environment. All I can say is that I am very blessed to have lived in a good loving home. But if I didn't I know God would have given me the strength to survive. I thought it was interesting to learn about the gypsies. I too, think it represented those thoughts that we all have sometimes to go off and do something completely unrealistic. Even though it may sound entertaining at the time, making sound decisions is truly what makes us grow and accept the life that is given to us. It was good to read a book that focused on a not perfect setting. Life doesn't always go as planned but it is what we make it that counts. Thanks Jenny, for picking this though provoking book!

Good choices

Jen, I liked this book. I also had a lot of emotions as I read it, sadness that she had to go through so much as a child, anger at her father for being so abusive, anger at her mother for being so wrapped up in her own miseries that she didn't protect and nurture her daughter, gratefulness for people like her neighbor (can't remember his sweet name), and astonishment at the attitude of her grandparents.
I really liked the freedom and wildness of the gypsies...I always am fascinated by those who are so colorful. A great attraction to someone like Millie, who had to fight just to survive. She yearned for the freedom and the kind of life that they represented.
But when all is said and done, she made the right choice. She chose goodness, and stability, and someone who loved her for herself and for who she could become. The gypsy loved her, but had nothing stable to offer her, except his lifestyle of wandering and dreaming.
This book made me think of the choices that I have made in my life. I know at times I walked down the "freedom" road, and dreamt of wild and crazy things. But thankfully, when I made the more sensible choice, it led me to the Church; ad when I met your Dad, I had the wisdom to know that he would lead me where I wanted to go, and that he loved who I was and who I could become.

Review of "Into the Free"

It is half way through April and I have just finished the book chosen for March,  Into the Free by Julie Cantrell.  This was a book that was full of all sorts of emotion.  One minute I was full of sorrow at the things that were happening to Millie, the main character, and the next minute I was smiling about the change of events in her life and then the cycle would start over again.  I think the quote on the back of the book is perfect in describing the story: "A simple girl with anything but a simple story".  This story is about Millie who goes through a rough life at a young age.  One that I could never imagine living.  She sees and hears things that no one should witness.   She lives with a mother who is very depressed and resorts to using drugs to mask her pain, her father is abusive to her mother and doesn't give Millie the time of day.  Millie spends her days caring for her Mamma and then suddenly her father dies and then her Mamma dies and Millie is left wondering what the point of life was and what to do next.  Her journey leads her to love and hate and figuring out her purpose.  In the end the author, Julie Cantrell left me with a feeling of hope.  That no matter what the challenges Millie faced  there was and is a purpose for her.  There was a reason she was born and lived the life she did.  I love the ending of this book.  Many times I am left feeling like there needed to be more,  but Millie found the love she always needed and was able to give the love she had to someone and be free for the first time in her life.  A hope and wish for everyone no matter the challenge or struggle is to be free from whatever is binding them down. 

 The question for this book I have is:  What were you left feeling after reading Into the Free?

The Book for April is Seventeen Second Miracle by Jason Wright.  We have 2 weeks before the end of the month so lets dive in and enjoy another good read!  Happy Reading !!

March Book: Into the Free

This month I have chosen the book Into the Free by Julie Cantrell.  It is based during the depression and is about a girl's journey through the ups and downs of a hard  life. I have not started it yet but hope to get it started soon.  I am a little late in the month (March 19) at introducing the book but hope we can have the determination  to finish it this month!  So come on we have just over 10 days to read it.  Happy Reading!

Great beginning!

Anna, I think you made a great choice with our first book club book! It was interesting and kept me engaged to see where it was going to take us. I can't wait to read the sequels now, to see what actually happens with her awakening desire to make her own choices.

My free agency is very important to me. It was in fact something I had to consider quite a bit before joining the Church...I didn't want anyone telling me what I could or couldn't do. After a bit, of course, I realized that the prophet is just God's mouthpiece and was sharing what Heavenly Father wanted me to do. Understanding that made we want to strive to live all the commandments and to adhere to what the prophet said. I still need confirmation from the Holy Ghost before I will do something that is new or different, and He hasn't failed me yet! I would fight to the death to keep my free agency. A sacred gift.

As far as the perfect match goes, I wouldn't trust anyone but Heavenly Father to know just the right person for me. I wouldn't want anyone else, or a computer program, to make that kind of decision for me. Our spouses need to be someone who will help lift us up to be better than we would without them. I made a list of the things I wanted in my future husband before I met Dad. Needless to say, he doesn't sing, or like to go to concerts so much, or read books, BUT he does honor his priesthood and is good through and through...he loves and respects me and shows it...he is faithful and loyal to me and always will be. And he brings out the best in me and makes me strive to be better. That sounds like a perfect match to me!

One thing I thought was definitely missing from this book was any mention of or acknowledgement of a higher being, or any religion of any kind. It was a society run by men, and their idea of what was perfect. Our Heavenly Father's heavenly "society" will be so much more beautiful and absolutely perfect! Having said that, the artifact I would choose would have to be my scriptures. If there were no scriptures, than I would choose something sentimental, like my Mom or Dad's ring or some other keepsake. Maybe a stuffed Big Bird!

My choice for the 100 books would be either The Count of Monte Cristo or Les Miserables, because they are about forgiveness and redemption; or something by Neal A. Maxwell who gives me so much to think about.

My choice for the 100 paintings would have to be Picasso's "Hand with Bouquet" painting...it is how I wish the world would always be.

Until next read!

Book Review

So we have all finished reading Matched. It was better than I expected.
I found it very interesting that the society was so perfectly designed.
It was almost too perfect. It makes you understand the feelings that Cassia had of realizing she didn't have any angency. It makes you wonder if Satan's plan would of been similar. Scary! So grateful for the opportunity to choose.

Anthother thought I had was if were matched would we come up with the spouses we have. I should think so since we all have perfect matches!

I also wonder if you had only one "artifact" what would you choose?

In the society there were only 100 art, poems, books, and music. How sad! What would you choose?

overall I walked away from this book feeling gratitude for the opportunities we have even though at times it's hard to make choses and decisions I am so glad that I can!

Please share your thoughts!

Ready Set Read!

I am so excited to start our little family book club!
Thank you Jen for making us look so cool!
This month's book is Matched. A story of a society where everything is decided for you including who you marry and when.
So far I am only 1/4 of the way into the story but am so far very intrigued. This gives me a perspective of how life would be without the gift of free angency. I am excited to read further. I've got to hurry so mom can get started so we can come back here and discuss.
Happy Reading!