Some Banners I Love

Okay. I just had to draw some special attention to the banners designed by the owner of Elegance of Fashion. Don't you love them!

The above three are from Pride and Prejudice. The first one is my favorite scene! 

Then those two are from Sense and Sensibility.

And that one is from Emma.

I love them all! Thank you SO much for allowing me to post them, Elegance of Fashion! To all the rest of you, make sure you check her blog (here) for more delightful things like the above! I'm sure you'll enjoy it. :) 

Lady Susan

Author: Jane Austen

Genre: Romance

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 7

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 64

Time period: 1800's

Main characters: Lady Susan, Frederica, Reginald, Alicia Johnson

Exciting events: Frederica runs away, schemes

My overall opinion: This is a really weird Jane Austen. It's made up of letters from a scheming mother to her equally schemey (?) friend. It's pretty terrible, but funny in places too.

Persuasion

Author: Jane Austen

Genre: Romance

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 219

Time period: 1800's

Main characters: Anne, Captain Wentworth, Mary

Exciting events: Assemblies

My overall opinion: This is a pretty good book. All of Jane Austen's are, but this one was especially good. I think it's become one of my favorites, along with Emma and P&P. I recommend it!

Movie: Sergeant York

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Main characters: Alvin York, Gracie, his mother

Genre: Adventure, war 

Primary actors: Gary Cooper

Based on: Real-life Sergeant York, the person who got the most medals (I think) of anyone in the US after World War I)

Time period: World War I

Exciting events: War

Year it came out: 1941

My overall opinion: A fun movie. Black and white, but pretty cool!

The Hobbit

Author: J. R. R. Tolkien

Genre: Adventure

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 285

Time period: Fantasy

Main characters: Bilbo Baggins (delightful name), Gandalf, Thorin, a dragon, goblins, Gollum, many more!

Exciting events: Nearly being burnt, catching a dragon, killing the Great Goblin, climbing trees, giant spiders, much much more.

Passage from book or back cover: About hobbits: They are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colors (chiefly green and yellow); wear no shoes, because their feet grow natual leathery soles and thick warm brown hair like the stuff on their heads (which is curly); have long clever brown fingers, good-natured faces, and laugh depp fruity laughs (especially after dinner, which they have twice a day when they can get it).

My overall opinion: This book is a classic. I highly recommend it. Full of adventure and near-escapes, it's very fun for most ages, and not overly  hard to read. My mom read it aloud to us when my sister was 6, and she still remembers a lot of it (she's 11 now). It's a GREAT book.

Little Britches

Author: Ralph Moody

Genre: Life, western, growing up

Series: Little Britches series

Number in series: First

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Non-fiction

Number of pages: 260

Time period: Early 1900's

Main characters: Ralph, his father, Hi, Grace, his mother

Exciting events: Rodeos, wolves

My overall opinion: Ralph Moody writes about his life in the early 1900's in this exciting book! A good read, couple of uses of words that I don't use myself.

Angel on the Square

Author: Gloria Whelan

Genre: Adventure, historical fiction

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Historical fiction

Number of pages: 288

Time period: World War I

Main characters: Katya, Misha, Anastasia, the Tsar

Exciting events: Revolts, escapes

My overall opinion: A good book, about the years preceding Tsar Nicholas and Empress Alexandra's deaths, with their four girls and son. Very interesting.

More Than Conqueror

Author: Grace Livingston Hill

Genre: Romance

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 248

Time period: 1940's

Main characters: Charles, Blythe, Walter

Exciting events: Near death experience, main characters come to Christ

My overall opinion: This is another favorite from this author. Her style is sweet, clean, and enduring - always a delight to read!

Silver Canyon

Author: Louis L'Amour

Genre: Western

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 167

Time period: 1800's

Main characters: Matt Brennan, Jake Booker, Morgan Park, Mulvaney, Moira

Exciting events: Gun battles, fist fights

Passage from book or back cover: ...and he drew from his waistband a gun that needed only wheels to make it an admirable piece of artillery...

My overall opinion: Love the above line. This was a pretty good Louis, I enjoyed it quite a bit. :) I recommend it!

The Man From the Broken Hills

Author: Louis L'Amour

Genre: Western

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 7

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 217

Time period: 1800's

Main characters: Milo Talon, Ann, Twin, Fuentes

Exciting events: Classic: gun battles, fist fights

My overall opinion: A fun read!

The Official Illustrated Movie Companion for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Author: Perry Moore

Genre: Guide to movie

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9.5

Type: Non-fiction

Number of pages: 226

My overall opinion: Just going by what we have down so far, it sounds like a really boring book. But believe me, it isn't! All the behind the scenes info and pictures from the 2005 The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. It's a really great book, I've spent hours reading it. Highly recommended!

Jerusalem's Heart

Author: Bodie & Brock Thoene

Genre: Historical fiction, adventure

Series: Zion Legacy series

Number in series: 3rd

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 7

Type: Historical fiction

Time period: 1940's

Main characters: Moshe, Rachel, David, Ellie, Abe, Yacov, Lori, Jacob, Madame Rose

Exciting events: Battles, near-death escapes

My overall opinion: I've had others by these authors that I liked a lot better. Obvious, from my rating. I found the book interesting, but if I put it down, it was hard to pick it up again. Also, it had just a little too much  battle stuff to hold me. But hey, you might enjoy it!

Movie: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 6

Main characters: Peter, Susan, Edmund, Lucy, Tumnus, Aslan, the Beavers, the White Witch

Genre: Adventure, fantasy

Series or set: Chronicles of Narnia

Number in series: 2nd in chronological order. First in movie order.

Primary actors: Richard Dempsey, Sophie Cook, Jonathan R. Scott, Sophie Wilcox

Based on: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S.Lewis

Time period: 1940's

Exciting events: Battle, Edmund's capture

Year it came out: 1988

My overall opinion: Okay, first make sure you know that this is the old one. I recommend that if you want to watch a version of this, make sure you get the 2005 one. It's SO much better. The Beavers and other animals (wolves, etc) are just people in animal costumes, and that's very obvious. They're outfits kids might wear to a costume party. Aslan is better than most, but still it's quite obvious it's someone's hand or something opening and shutting the mouth and blinking the eyes.

The CG effects are terrible. The animals (like flying horses and other unique "animals") are very obviously computer generated. The colors in them are too bright and they literally shimmer.

The battle is on a very small scale, especially after seeing the '05 one. It's got maybe 50 fighters to a side. And of course the unique CG animal thingys. :)

The four kids are all about the same height, with the exception of Lucy, who's slightly shorter. They also all look about the same age.

All that to say, it was a good movie sort-of, but the 2005 one is WAY better. I recommend that one highly.

Movie: Pride and Prejudice

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 10!

Main characters: Jane, Elizabeth, Bingley, Darcy, Collins, Lydia, Wickham

Genre: Romance  

Primary actors: Jennifer Ehle, Colin Firth

Based on: Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

Time period: 1800's

Length: Almost (ahem) 5 hours.

Exciting events: Lydia's elopement

Quote(s): See the book Pride and Prejudice review.

Year it came out: 1995.

My overall opinion: I think this may be my favorite movie. It's definitely in my top five. Yes, it's long. Some of the dresses aren't very modest. But it follows the book almost exactly, and the actors are superb. A must-see for ANY girl. :)

My favorite scene. :)

I should really stop posting pictures...I could do this all day. One more!

Oh, one last thing: a link to a great Pride and Prejudice diagram/family-tree. Click here.

A Woman Named Damaris

Author: Janette Oke

Genre: Romance, childhood, life

Series: It's in the Women of the West set.

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Fiction.

Time period: 1800's.

Main characters: Damaris, Abbie, Gil, Miss Dover

Exciting events: Riding in a wagon train, leaving home, finding orphans

My overall opinion: This is a fun book! It's a unique Janette Oke.

Silas Marner

Author: George Eliot

Genre: Childhood (but not for children), life

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 6

Type: Fiction.

Time period: 1800's

Main characters: Silas, Eppie

Exciting events: Finding Eppie and more.

My overall opinion: I didn't really enjoy this book. It had several intersting sub-plots, though.

Strega Nona

Author: Tomie de Paola

Genre: Story with a moral, children, comedy

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Children's book

Time period: Unknown

Main characters: Strega Nona, Big Anthony

Exciting events: Too much pasta!

Passage from book: Big Anthony rushed in and shouted the magic words again, but the pot kept bubbling. He took the pan off the floor, but pasta kept on pouring from it. Big Anthony grabbed a cover and put it on the pot and sat on it. But the pasta raised the cover, and Big Anthony as well, and spilled on the floor of Strega Nona's house.

My overall opinion: I gave this book an eight because it was pretty funny. Make that very funny. Any kid will love it (and maybe the adults too?).

Emma

Author: Jane Austen

Genre: Romance

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9.5

Type: Fiction

Time period: 1800's

Passage from book: Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.

My overall opinion:

12-13-10 (original): Yes, another great book. I recommend you watch the 2009 movie before reading the book as it can be a bit confusing, especially if you're young. But having seen the movie several times, the book was almost a piece of cake. :) A really delightful fun read (and funny in places too!).

12-25-12 (update): I first wrote the above review over two years ago. Today, for probably the first time, I came back and read it again. Now it truly is fully a "piece of cake" for me to read! I very highly recommend this book, and certainly hilarious in parts! It's a classic you should all read. (Incidentally, the 1996 version of Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow is also good) If you haven't read it yet, make that a goal for this year!

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Author: Baroness Emmuska Orczy

Genre: Romance, adventure

Series: Hmmm...it has several sequels.

Number in series: First.

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9.5

Type: Fiction.

Time period: 1700's

Main characters: The Scarlet Pimpernel, Marguerite, Percy

Exciting events: Chases, rescues, discoveries...exciting!

Passage from book or back cover: We seek him here, we seek him there, Those Frenchies seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven? -- Is he in hell? That demmed; elusive Pimpernel?

My overall opinion:

12-13-10 (original): Another terrific book. And for the record, there's a great movie that goes with it. Like I said, it has several sequels too.

12-25-12 (update): Having just read my original review again, I think it's abundantly unclear what I meant to say is as follows: 1. It's a great book. 2. It has several great sequels. 3. There's a good movie version (1982). That's all. This book has remained a favorite, and I recommend both it and the movie! You'll enjoy, I have no doubt.

Crimson Roses

For the record, mine has a nicer cover.
Author: Grace Livingston Hill

Genre: Romance

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 10

Type: Christian fiction

Time period: 1900's

Main characters: Marion, Lyman

Exciting events: Kidnapping!

My overall opinion: One of my definite favorite books. This is the sweetest, most romantic love story I've ever read. Completely clean, as all Mrs. Hill's books are. Highly recommended!

Favorite Sherlock Holmes Detective Stories

Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Genre: Mystery

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9

Type: Fiction

Time period: 1900's

Main characters: Sherlock Holmes, Watson, many others

Exciting events: Chases, murders, theivery, much more!

My overall opinion: While it is true that I NEVER solve these mysteries on my own (for goodness sake, I can't even solve Nancy Drews!), I enjoy these books a lot.

One Grain of Rice

Author: Demi

Genre: Math, children

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9

Type: Children's book

Time period: Unknown

Main characters: Sultan, girl

Exciting events: Multiplying rice ;) (Better than it sounds)

Passage from book or back cover:"Your Highness," said Rani, "I do not deserve any reward at all. But if you wish, you may give one grain of rice...Today, you will give me one grain of rice. Then, each day for thirty days you will double the rice you gave me the day before."

My overall opinion: This is one fun book. It's cool!

Gennie the Hugenot Woman

Author: Bettie M. Ross

Genre: Adventure, family, romance

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 6

Type: Historical fiction

Time period: 1700's

Main characters: Gennie, Thomas

Exciting events: Birth, mind-loss, war

My overall opinion: I didn't really like this book. I don't wish to read it again. It just wasn't my kind of book!

They Called Her Mrs. Doc

Author: Janette Oke

Genre: Romance, family

Series: Part of the Women of the West set.

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 7

Type: Fiction

Time period: Early 1900's

Main characters: Cassandra, Samuel

Exciting events: Having children, learning doctoring

My overall opinion: Not my favorite book by Janette Oke, but it's good.

The Man Called Noon

Author: Louis L'Amour

Genre: Western

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9

Type: Fiction

Time period: Early 1900's

Main characters: Ruble Noon, Peg Cullane, Judge Niland, Fan Davidge

Exciting events: Gun-fights, escapes, and much more!

My overall opinion: This is my favorite book by Louis L'Amour. Try it!

Look-Alikes Christmas

Author: Joan Steiner

Genre: Rhyme, I spy

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9.5

Type: Children's book

Time period: Present

Main characters: None

Exciting events: None

Passage from book or back cover: Grandma's baking cookies to ward off winter's chill. They're crisp, just like her apron -- a brand new dollar bill.

My overall opinion: This is totally one of the coolest books I've EVER read. There are about 8 or 9 pictures in this book, each composed of everyday objects. Each one has from 110 to 168 items you can find it. These include spool of thread, dollar bill, gummi vampire teeth, bingo cards, birdcage, blueberry pie, suctino cup, flat clothespins, chess pawns, pecans, circus peanut, gold chain, roses, broccoli, overalls buckle, gumdrops, raccoon fur, dollhouse chair, and SO much more! At the end there's a list for each picture, telling how many look-alikes there were and what each one was. This is an amazing book. Worth buying! I LOVE this book and look forward to browsing it each Christmas.

Hopefully you can blow up the above picture and see the dog bones etc in it. :)

Crooked House

Author: Agatha Christie

Genre: Mystery

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Fiction

Time period: 1940's

Main characters: Charles, Sophia, Brenda, Josephine, Lawrence, Eustace, Edith

Exciting events: Two murders, one near death encounter, mysterious circumstances.

My overall opinion: A good book, one anyone should enjoy.

Chancy

Author: Louis L'Amour

Genre: Western

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Fiction

Time period: 1800's

Main characters: Otis Tom Chancy, Stud Pelly, Caxton Kelsey, Kit, Jim Bigbear

Exciting events: A fist fight, exciting cattle herding

My overall opinion: A fun read. :)

Eighth Shepherd

Author: Brock and Bodie Thoene

Genre: Historical fiction.

Series: The A.D. Chronicles.

Number in series: Surprise! Eighth.

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5

Type: Historical fiction.

Time period: Bible times.

Main characters: Zachai, Yeshua, Salmon, Shimona

Exciting events: the whole book!  

My overall opinion: Brock and Bodie Thoene write a lot of historical fiction. This particular series is about Jesus, from His birth to (I presume, though I haven't ended it yet) His death. This book was about Zaccheus. These are REALLY great books, making those stories come to life more than ever before.

The Baked Bean Supper Murders

Author: Virginia Rich

Genre: Mystery

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 7

Type: Fiction.

Time period: Present.

Main characters: Mrs. Potter, Persy, Rodney, Laurie, Olympia, Curly

Exciting events: Two murders, one dying dog, house stoning, etc.

Passage from book: Carter Ansdale beamed at the southern pecan pie, crisply topped with pecan halves suspended in a clear, sweet, brown, praline-tasting jelly.

My overall opinion: One of the really cool things about this book was that Ms. Rich minutely describes the food. It's SO luscious. Makes your mouth water. However, she also weaves an intricate murder. A fun book!

Ella Enchanted

Author: Gail Carson Levine

Genre: Romance, fantasy, adventure

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9

Type: fiction.

Time period: Fantasy.

Main characters: Ella, Char, Hattie, Olive

Exciting events: Almost being eaten by ogres, going to a giant wedding, being obedient

My overall opinion: Gail C. Levine is great at re-telling fairy tales. That's exactly what she did here; this one is a re-telling of Cinderella. It's a really great book and I highly recommend it!

The Sword and the Flame

Author: Stephen R. Lawhead

Genre: Fantasy, adventure

Series: The Dragon King Trilogy

Number in series: Third.

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Fiction

Time period: Fantasy.

Main characters: Quentin, Toli, Theido, Ronsard, Bria, Esme, Durwin, Nimrood (yes, he's bad)

Exciting events: A dis-heartened king, a kidnapped prince, a large battle...

My overall opinion: A good book. I found it hard to pick it back up again each time I put it down, but when I did, I thoroughly enjoyed it! It's a book that any boy or girl will enjoy, but not a quick read.

Movie: The Importance of Being Earnest

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Main characters: Algernon, Jack, Gwendolen, Cecily, Miss Prism

Genre: Romance, comedy

Primary actors: Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Frances O'Connor, Reese Witherspoon

Based on: The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

Time period: 1800's

Exciting events: The name changes, the humor in general!

Quote(s): See the post on the book.

Year it came out: 2002

My overall opinion: A good movie! Follows the book very closely, using many quotes from it. I enjoyed it! On a side note...I like Colin Firth better as the 1995 Mr. Darcy than as this weird guy.

Movie: Polar Express

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 7.5

Main characters: a boy, a girl, another boy, and a know-it-all

Genre: Children's, fantasy, holiday

Primary actors: Tom Hanks, Leslie Zemeckis, Eddie Deezen

Based on: the children's book, Polar Express

Time period: Present

Exciting events: Meeting Santa, riding on the Polar Express, making friends

Year it came out: 2004

My overall opinion: A fun movie. Nothing really scary for kids. Nothing kinda scary either, that I noticed. It's a great holiday movie that your whole family can enjoy. :)