| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Clare |
Posted - Jul 05 2004 : 3:10:40 PM
Hello girl friends! I moved my bookshelf today and in the process came across some of my favorite reads in recent years and thought I'd share them with you. They are an eclectic mix and ditto on the topics, but I'm such a curious person, always wanting to learn new ideas that they really appealed to me. Here they are:
THE RED TENT a novel by Anita Diamant: A synopsis: "Her name is Dinah. In the Bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters about her father, Jacob, and his dozen sons in the Book of Gensis. Told in Dinah's voice, this novel reveals the traditions and turmoil of ancient womanhood - the world of the red tent. It begins with the story of her mothers-Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah - the four wives of Jacob. They love Dinah and give her gifts that are to sustain her through a hard working youth, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign land. Dinah's story reaches out from a remarkable period of early history and creates an intimate, immediate connection. Deeply affecting, THE RED TENT combines rich storytelling with a valuable achievement in modern fiction: a new view of biblical women's society."
THE DANCE OF THE DISSIDENT DAUGHTER, by Sue Monk Kidd (an auto-biography). Synopsis: "In the late 1980's, Kidd experienced an unexpected awakening, one that brought her into conflict with every aspect of her former life. She began a journey toward a feminine spirituality. With the exceptional storytelling skills that have helped make her name, Kidd tells her very personal tale of the fear, anger, healing and freedom she experienced on the path toward the wholeness that women have lost within the patriarchial faith traditions."
THE CAMINO, a Journey of the Spirit, by Shirley MacLaine: (My note: No matter how kooky you may think Shirley is, she is a very real woman with more than a lifetime of experiences, which I find fascinating!) From the introduction: "There is a famous pilgrimage that has been taken by people for centuries called the Santiago de Compostela Camino across northern Spain. It is said that the 'Camino' lies directly under the Milky Way and follows ley lines that reflect the energy from those star systems above it... The Santiago Camino has been traversed for thousands of years by saints, sinners, generals, misfits, kings, and queens. It is done with the intent to find one's deepest spiritual meaning, and resolutions regarding conflicts in Self...On my journey westward along the Camino, I felt I was traveling backward in time to a place that began the experiences that made me and the human race what we have become today."
Great summer reading! 
Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Jul 20 2005 : 11:49:41 PM
Well I read this topic about a week ago, took suggestions for books, and got online to order them from the library. I went to our library today to see if any had come in and I had 13 books! That should keep me out of trouble for a while. I finished The Secret World of Tasha Tudor tonight. It was ok -- her gardens are beautiful and I like some of her philosophies on life. But other than that I'm not so certain that I would want to live my life as rustically as she does. I do like some modern conveniences!
Kay - Living in Beautiful Washington State |
| connio |
Posted - Jul 20 2005 : 5:59:28 PM
oopsss typo. it is called Snow Flower and The Secret Fan
cozycottage |
| connio |
Posted - Jul 20 2005 : 5:58:27 PM
Hey Farm Girls!
Wanted to mention a new title that I just read about in a review site. It is called Snow Floer and The Secret Fan. It is set in 19th century China. Women were heavily controlled but had a special type of women's writing called nu shu. This enabled them to communicate without intrusion. It was written by Lisa See and looks fascinating. Hopefully, it will be available via your library.
Connie
cozycottage |
| Julie |
Posted - Jul 20 2005 : 1:35:10 PM
Clare, I had the book on tape. I have made two long car trips over the past two weeks and it was a blessing every mile. It was as though we where traveling the roads together. I love to multi-task…Erik has started reading. “Oh poor Dinah, I can not believe her father would do such a thing. And that precious little Re-mose” Erik just laughs, and said sounds like it could be a soap opera the way I describe it.
SoapMaven, I too would love my girls to read it. Glad to have shared this with both of you.
Julie
Food Stylin' & Fancy Free |
| TheSoapMaven |
Posted - Jul 20 2005 : 11:55:47 AM
I just found this thread. How did I miss it? I too loved The Red Tent. Just an amazing book. It brought the people we had read about/heard about before into a whole new light. I have my girls read it as they get old enough. It was one of those life changing books for me.
Blessings & Bliss!.· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ .·´ -:¦:-~Susan~
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´*
Wife, Mother, Natural Woman, Savonnière, Writer, Baker, Gardener.
Wife to Jerry for 27+ years
Mom to Zach, Gesikah, Nathan, Hannah, Rachel and Benjamin
Yetta to Sam
Proprietress of Dahlem's Soapworks
http://www.thesoapmaven.com
"It's no bad thing to celebrate a simple life" ~ Bilbo Baggins
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| Clare |
Posted - Jul 20 2005 : 11:03:38 AM
Oh, Julie, glad you agree! I wish the book wouldn't have fast forwarded through her adult life, but lingered on all of her journeys. But I guess it's her younger experiences that were life transforming. I think the biggest thing that I took away from re-reading the book is that we are all "birthing" at all times of our lives.... so we are mid-wives to each other, constantly, aren't we?!! And it's very important to be aware of this fact.
Hope you'll circulate the book there at the farm. I think Erik plans to read it when he's less busy! It will be intersting to get a male perspective.
**** Love is the great work - though every heart is first an apprentice. - Hafiz
Set a high value on spontaneous kindness. - Samuel Johnson****
"Begin to weave and God will give the thread." - German Proverb |
| Julie |
Posted - Jul 20 2005 : 10:31:55 AM
I have just finished my journey with the girls of ‘The Red Tent’. The stories of their lives are still haunting me. Dinah, Leah, Zilpah, Rachel, Bilhah, Jacob, Joseph, Shalem, Benia, and Re-mose. Their names keep popping into my head. Disturbing would be the right word Clare, my heart ached for Dinah and the terrible events of her life. Her strength grew with every relationship. The women of her world are not much different than today. We gather together, hold each other up, celebrate happiness, share grief, and somehow give ourselves placement in all that is around us.
Food Stylin' & Fancy Free |
| goalieboy |
Posted - Jul 07 2005 : 12:07:42 AM
ok, clare, i'll let ya know when i get to the disturbing part, too. Soon. We'll have a rant. |
| goalieboy |
Posted - Jul 07 2005 : 12:04:09 AM
I will add From Time To Time to my list, JP, thanx. I like the premise: A guy goes back in time to prevent WWI. That would certainly be worth stopping. I read a similar scenario in "Pastwatch, the Redemption of Christopher Columbus" by Orson Card. In this one several peeps go back in time to strand Columbus on the american continent after his maiden voyage and open his mind to the possiblity that the natives are truly human. They also sabatoge the Aztec empire with some of the better aspects of christianity that diffuse the whole sacrifice frenzy that was driving their society. Oh yeah, and they innoculated the natives against the diseases that had wiped out 90% of the population after first contact. Gee, i guess i gave it all away, but it doesn't matter. The book is a little dry for Card, too, but it doesn't matter either. What matters to me is i've been reading native history for years and always root for them and it's always a tragedy. Always. This time Isabella and Ferdinand have long given up on Columbus returning and are surprised by a huge navy of Native Americans in their harbor bringing gifts and requesting to set up an embassy in Spain. It's such a catharsis to read such an alternate version of history that i just broke inside and wept, then read it again and cried sommore. I know which version of history is true, but i still prefer to believe Card's. Why not?
Thank you for the welcome and encouragment (and the compliment on my pix!), Bramble. I'm sure glad you don't mind a male mind here, especially since i'm prone to ramble forever as i procrastinate on the weedin' i need to do. As far as The Time Traveler's Wife goes I'm not sure who influenced event's more, Henry or Clare (uhhh, not our beautiful farmgurl Clare). They sure compliment each other, though, and dance their quirky time dance so beautifully. What a great love story.
I owe Alee an apology since i posted my comment on The Time Traveler's Wife right before discovering her SF topic and both Pastwatch and Time Traveler's Wife belong over there. Sorry, Ms Alee. |
| Celticheart |
Posted - Jul 06 2005 : 8:57:45 PM
I read The Time Traveler's Wife too and really liked it. I was also surprised by it.....not at all what I thought it was going to be.
Marcia
"I suppose the pleasure of country life lies really in the eternally renewed evidence of the determination to live." Vita Sackville-West
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| bramble |
Posted - Jul 06 2005 : 12:27:55 PM
Hey Erik! This is my first opportunity to say Welcome! It's nice to
have the male perspective here . Yes, I read The Time Traveller's Wife and started out with the same opinion as you!I also thought I could see the way the plot was going and was pleasantly surprised to have the rug pulled out from under me a few times. It was a great read, I highly recommend it! Here is the "hot" question from our discussion group: "Who do you think asserted more influence on the turn of events, and why?" Keep posting Goalieboy! You're our kind of farm dude!
Love your photos too!
with a happy heart |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Jul 06 2005 : 12:13:13 PM
Jenny -- I've read all of Beverly Lewis' books. She is one of my favorite authors. Anyone here a Janette Oke fan? Another great author is Robin Jones Gunn. I love her Glenbrooke Series and also her Sisterchick books. I'm big into series books but I have to read them from the first to the last -- couldn't read them out of order -- just one of my quirks.
Kay - Living in Beautiful Washington State
North Clark County Farmgirls and
Sisterhood of the Traveling Art |
| jpbluesky |
Posted - Jul 06 2005 : 12:11:49 PM
Will try to find the Time Traveller's Wife. That sounds really good. Have you read From Time To Time by Jack Finney? That is a book a man would enjoy, about time travel, and the main character is a guy. Loved that book.
jpbluesky
Heartland girl |
| Clare |
Posted - Jul 06 2005 : 12:01:13 PM
Erik, Since our conversations here, I've been re-reading The Red Tent. If you want to discuss it, let me know.... I just got to the disturbing part... so it might feel good to vent on it! haha
****Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural****
"Begin to weave and God will give the thread." - German Proverb |
| goalieboy |
Posted - Jul 06 2005 : 11:46:07 AM
Has anyone here read "the time traveler's wife" by Audrey Niffenegger? I just finished it. I thought it was gonna be silly but it was great. The Red Tent is next, as our library just notified me it is in. |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jul 05 2005 : 8:54:31 PM
I agree....her stuff is alot more flattering to Amish life, but I like it. I do get the characters mixed up from book to book too..and it hasn't helped that I haven't always read them in order. It says in the back of this one that there is a new series starting that will come out later this year..I beleive the series will be Preacher's daughter..
I finished THe Revalation last night..it was really really good like I expected.
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things! |
| sleepless reader |
Posted - Jul 05 2005 : 8:43:49 PM
Oh, Jenny! I really like the Beverly Lewis "Amish" books. Do you ever get the characters confused from book to book? I do! I find stories of the Amish life very interesting. I've also read some non-fiction about being Amish that isn't as flattering to the life as the Lewis books are. Guess there's always two sides to everything...
Sharon
PS I bet we'll have some great book conversations as we drive to the Farm Fair next summer :) !!! |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jul 02 2005 : 7:17:16 PM
Sounds wonderful Connie..can't wait to hear how it is!!!
I just got The Revelation..by Beverly Lewis..set in Amish country like alot of her books..just started reading it a little...looks good.
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things! |
| connio |
Posted - Jul 02 2005 : 4:01:01 PM
[8D Hey Farmgirls
Just wanted to share this with you. I just checked out a book entitled CLAIMING THEIR LAND--WOMEN HOMESTEADERS IN TEXAS. Looked at the first photo and of course, the woman is wearing an ankle length apron as she gazes over her farmyard. Will give a report next week.
Connie
cozycottage |
| Mumof3 |
Posted - Jun 30 2005 : 2:37:31 PM
I am an avid book devourer, and this seems to be the very best place to find the scoop on good books. I just received Bean Blossom Dreams in the mail and cannot wait to start reading it! I am currently reading Three Men in a Boat
(To Say Nothing of the Dog!) by Jerome K. Jerome. Written in 1889, it is a hoot- very much an English comedy. Three extraordinarily quirky men take off for a trip in a small boat down a river. Only disaster can follow!
One of my favorite books - The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett. Brilliant, loveable characters, it makes you want to be where it takes place right from the start. Just a lovely, quiet book.
Happy reading everyone!
Karin |
| sqrl |
Posted - Jun 30 2005 : 1:03:59 PM
oh I thought of two series I'd like to add. These are fantasy trilogies. The Daughter of the Empire of Raymond Feist. This series never stops, your on the edge of your seat the whole time and it's all about the women - Mara. Also is a twist on eastern and western cultures. It's all about women power, and I love that. The other is The Seven Waters trilogy, it's about a family and magic and love and struggle in old Ireland.
Blessed Be
www.sqrlbee.com |
| sqrl |
Posted - Jun 30 2005 : 12:58:58 PM
I didn't get a chance to read through all seven pages. I have a few books to add. I just love The Red Tent and am so happy to hear how many others out there love it, it changed my life. Another favorite is The Moon Under Her Feet, in a nutshell it's historical fiction about the transition from goddess worship to christianity. Another favorite on the spiritual side of life is Ship's of Song, an absolutely wonderful, mind opening book. My favorite fantisy book called Little Big, it's hard to find and it's a pretty long book but the further you go in the bigger it gets. I'm a big fan of Mist of Avolon. I'm sure thier are others but I have to think.
Blessed Be
www.sqrlbee.com |
| Julie |
Posted - Jun 23 2005 : 10:04:00 AM
As one of the handmaiden's......I have several books going at once...What is wrong with me? Just have to be in the right mood for each of them...MaryJane just bought me "What Southern Women Know About Flirting", as a southern girl; I admit I do use the language in this book on a daily basis. Didn't know it was flirting, just thought it was normal...
“The Red Tent” has been on my list for a year. Am into “Enchantment”, “Secret Life of Bees”, and next will be “Patty Jane’s House of Curl”, which from what I understand is one of those books you finish, turn the book over and start again.
I did love "BelCanto" as Erik said. Carmen was my favorite. She was hidden behind her uniform, but once she removed the cover, WOW! What an inspirational women she became. Nothing could stand in her way. I did not want it to end, so spent many nights just looking at the cover, so as not to loose touch with each and every beautiful person inside.
Food Styl'in & Fancy Free |
| goalieboy |
Posted - Jun 23 2005 : 09:14:26 AM
How could it? I work for a goddess, her various handmaiden's and an assortment of nymphs.
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| Clare |
Posted - Jun 22 2005 : 3:56:19 PM
Erik - you will be so well-versed after all those good reads! Glad the feminine aspect of these books isn't deterring you!
****Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural****
"Begin to weave and God will give the thread." - German Proverb |
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