Is there an "original" series for Millie too, or is it just Elsie and her daughter and granddaughter?
~Riella
Yes, there is. It's eight books long, I think. In the new series, the first book or two matches the originals more or less, and then they deviate pretty much from there. For instance, in the originals, Millie does not go to Peru. And she's called Mildred; never Millie.
I've read... five? of the original Elsie Dinsmore books. I actually like the first one to some extent -- I wouldn't run around saying "You've got to read this book!" but I'd read it again when I was feeling nostalgic... (and I could not stand the reworked version. I was SO MAD they not only changed content but they also moved the last chapter into the next book... I know why they changed content, and I'm happy to see the books made available to a wider audience but to some extent stuff like that strikes me as unnecessary white-washing of history. Yes, it's painful to read the casual attitudes towards the slaves -- but if you remove that doesn't that also give the modern reader a wrong impression? )
*marks down Adeona's recommendation of Entwined*
Bella, Jane of Lantern Hill is about Jane, living with her mother and domineering grandmother. Her parents are separated, and she thinks her father is dead. Then she finds out he isn't, and he wants her to visit. So she goes and falls in love with Lantern Hill and does domestic things and lives happily ever after.
Sounds like maybe you had movie covers, Val? I'm trying to think... I'm pretty sure I haven't read everything Patricia St. John wrote, but Three Go Searching has a dog, and maybe the dog got lost. It's been awhile since I read that one. I always liked Star of Light better.
We have hands that fashion and heads that know,
But our hearts we lost - how long ago! -- G. K. Chesterton
GlimGlum, I think Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the heroic campaign to end slavery by Eric Metaxes was a good, well-rounded, biography.
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Thank you, Meltintalle.
I am reading Robinson Crusoe (80% done) and Billy Graham's autobiography Just as I am (400/865 pages = 46%).
Both interesting in very different ways.
Loyal2Tirian
There is definitely no "a" in definite.
The Mind earns by doing; the Heart earns by trying.
That was probably why they combined three of Mrs. Gaskell's works for both Cranford and Return to Cranford.
Oh wow, I did NOT know that! Definitely makes sense, thanks for telling me! Maybe I should watch it . .
I am not a fan of Elsie Dinsmore. At all. I've read the first two, I think, and they were just despicable. Laughable. *cringes*
Elanor, glad you like the BBC N&S!!!!!!!!!! I love it so much too!!!! I really recommend the book to you. The first one of Elizabeth Gaskell that I read was Cranford also and I didn't like it at all but her other books are sensational!!!!
I don't know that I could bear reading the book of N&S; I love the movie too much. Which did you read/watch first, and which do you like better? I just think the movie is perfection itself, and to read the book, with changes in it; it would be painful. But I suppose I someday will.
NW sisters Lyn, Lia, and Rose
RL sister Destined_to_Reign
Member of the Tenth Avenue North and Pixar Club
Dubbed The Ally Of Epic Awesomeness by Libby
Reading update: I have read 78 books thus far, putting me over halfway to my goal of 120 before the end of the year. 71 of those are first time reads.
I bought 15 books last Wednesday for $4.20. Total. Have I mentioned that I love thrift stores?
Our family went on a two week vacation at the beginning of this month, and all of my souvenirs were books! I bought 13, and two of them were over 800 pages, so my suitcase was overflowing by the time we got home (I had also taken JS&MN with me, so that was three 800 page books!).
Another Agatha Christie book has been added to my favorites list: The Seven Dials Mystery is an exceptional book!
Flam: You read To Kill a Mockingbird and Boo Radley made it on your favorite characters list? What about Atticus? He's so, so incredible.
Well, that's true; Atticus is pretty amazing (I especially loved the courtroom scenes), but Boo was the character that, despite his very short appearance, just grabbed my attention. I liked Jem a lot, too.
*sees that a lot of people are reading TKaM right now*
Also, Roger Ackroyd has been promptly added to my summer "to read" list. Thanks!
Oh, I hope you enjoy it!
*looks forward to hearing what flam has to say about JS&MN*
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Please, please, please let me know how you like JSMN.
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How are you liking JS&MN so far (unless you're done already!)?
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...um, I didn't love it. I guess it wasn't really what I was expecting, but I just couldn't get into it, and I didn't love the characters. I was also hoping that with how long it was, the ending would be a lot more impressive than it was; as it is, I'm still not entirely certain what happened. The upside of reading it was that it was clean, and was well written and very well thought-out; the history of 'English Magic' was nicely done, I thought. In conclusion, it was a decent book but it just wasn't my type. Sorry!
*prefers Anne Shirley to Jo March*
@ FF, nope, I have not seen the David Niven version of Around the World in 80 Days.
@ SL, glad to hear that you enjoyed The Thief! I hope you like the rest of the series!
*cringes at the Elsie Dinsmore discussion* Not a fan. At all. And yes, I did read all of them.
I am reading Robinson Crusoe (80% done)...
I'm reading that too! I'm only about 30% done though.
--- flambeau
President of the Manalive Conspiracy
Founder of Team Hoodie
Icon by me
Yeah, I can't say I'm a fan of Elsie Dinsmore either, though when I was younger I did enjoy them... I only read the first six or so. Then it got confusing, because everyone was naming their daughters after Elsie, so I couldn't figure out which Elsie was which. I don't have much *against the books, [other then mild versions of the complaints you guys do.]
but like I said, I'm not really a fan. But I don't hate them.
Still reading Father Brown, and I haven't gotten terribly far. I've been bad at reading lately!! I'm getting some Jeeves and a book by Robin McKinley. Hopefully, hopefully, hopefully I'll read more these next weeks!
Avatar by Wunderkind_Lucy!
Oh wow, I did NOT know that! Definitely makes sense, thanks for telling me!
Maybe I should watch it . .
No problem! I can certainly see why they did it: Cranford itself wouldn't translate too well into a mini-series (unless they took each short story and turned it into an episode unto its own, and the series was a collection of these, and not one "fluent" story) and the other of Mrs. Gaskell's short stories wouldn't probably be made into films on their own, due to their length. I think in this case I approve of the changes.
I just think the movie is perfection itself, and to read the book, with changes in it; it would be painful.
But I suppose I someday will.
I know this was not addressed to me, so I hope you will pardon the intrusion. There were not actually all that many changes from the original novel in the film, although the ending in the film was altered, but certainly not enough to discourage one from reading the book, I would think. Oh, to be sure, not all the dialogue is exactly like that in the book, but I think it's pretty minor.... Just my two cents.
@ FF, nope, I have not seen the David Niven version of Around the World in 80 Days.
You should. Post haste, chop chop!
(^and since that had to do with a film and not a book, I shall now get back on topic).
All your book purchases sound lovely! I remember last year on our trip to the States we stopped off at a huge book store (one of those Half Price Bookstores) and I, on two different occasions, came out with many books more, and a lighter pocketbook. It was fun attempting to pack all the books for the return trip!
Queen Susan: Which Jeeves book are you reading?
Dear days of old, with the faces in the firelight,
Kind folks of old, you come again no more.
(Robert Louis Stevenson)
Okay, I just realized what JS&MN stood for. And I realized that I can enter into this conversation.
I've read it twice, I think, and I do like it a lot. It leaves me feeling sort of bewildered and unsatisfied. But most of the best books leave me like that. I agree with Flam, the characters aren't very loveable; I liked parts of all of them (okay, not ALL, but the good guys
). It's an interesting book.
I bought 15 books last Wednesday for $4.20. Total.
Have I mentioned that I love thrift stores?
Do you know how Jealous I am?
Still reading Father Brown, and I haven't gotten terribly far.
I've been bad at reading lately!! I'm getting some Jeeves and a book by Robin McKinley. Hopefully, hopefully, hopefully I'll read more these next weeks!
Are you enjoying Father Brown? What books (jeeves, and McKinley)?
No problem!
I can certainly see why they did it: Cranford itself wouldn't translate too well into a mini-series (unless they took each short story and turned it into an episode unto its own, and the series was a collection of these, and not one "fluent" story) and the other of Mrs. Gaskell's short stories wouldn't probably be made into films on their own, due to their length. I think in this case I approve of the changes.
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That's what I was thinking; it would be awfully hard to try to adapt it.
I know this was not addressed to me, so I hope you will pardon the intrusion. There were not actually all that many changes from the original novel in the film, although the ending in the film was altered, but certainly not enough to discourage one from reading the book, I would think.
Oh, to be sure, not all the dialogue is exactly like that in the book, but I think it's pretty minor.... Just my two cents.
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Thank you for your thoughts! I'm glad that it isn't too different, but I love the ending of the movie so much . . I will try to read it sometime. But give me time.
NW sisters Lyn, Lia, and Rose
RL sister Destined_to_Reign
Member of the Tenth Avenue North and Pixar Club
Dubbed The Ally Of Epic Awesomeness by Libby
I bought 15 books last Wednesday for $4.20. Total.
Have I mentioned that I love thrift stores?
That's not fair, our local thrift shops almost never any good books. You are so lucky!
Kind of funny that you all were talking about Little Women, 'cause Scarlet started reading it to the younger girls last week. It's the first time anyone as read it to them and they are really enjoying it.
This past weekend, I started reading Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy. It's the second book that I have read by Mrs. Ludy and so far it's really good. It's a little hard for me to read, since I'm homeschooled and I haven't had to go through anything remotely similiar to what Mrs. Ludy did in public school. But it's still a really good book and definitely worth reading.
SnowAngel
Christ is King.
In view of the fact that a few people are referring to the Patricia St. John books and other Christian titles, I'm wondering if anyone has heard of "Bethlehem Books." They are a Christian publishing company that as a rule re-publishes older children and teenagers books. So what you have are books with no *stuff* or language or whathaveyou in them but aren't preachy either. Mum and Dad have been buying them for us ever since I was about 10 and we have nearly the whole collection now - of later years I've taken to buying some for my little brothers and sisters as birthday presents. I have a feeling that some of you may know about this company as I've seen some of their titles talked about here (Hittite Warrior being one). My favourite titles from them are probably "Drovers Road" (an absolutely GREAT book) and the Loula Grace Erdman series Anyway if anyone is interested the website is http://www.bethlehembooks.com/
Still reading Father Brown, and I haven't gotten terribly far.
I've been bad at reading lately!! I'm getting some Jeeves and a book by Robin McKinley. Hopefully, hopefully, hopefully I'll read more these next weeks!
Oh, Father Brown is great. They are such good stories - very clever and wonderfully written!!
Another Agatha Christie book has been added to my favorites list: The Seven Dials Mystery is an exceptional book!
Haven't read that book for years but I really loved it - it was the very first Agatha Christie book I guessed the murderer right (a stroke of pure luck ) So it has a special place in my heart
I don't know that I could bear reading the book of N&S; I love the movie too much. Which did you read/watch first, and which do you like better? I just think the movie is perfection itself, and to read the book, with changes in it; it would be painful.
But I suppose I someday will.
I watched the BBC first then read the book. I love both of them to bits!!! As Forever Fan says there is not a lot of difference between the BBC and the book. My feelings toward the BBC is that firstly I absolutely LOVE IT!!! But I feel there are some places they could have done it a bit better. The parts that I think they could have done better in the film I think are better in the book
As for the ending, its really not that much different, only in the film it's condensed a bit from the book. The places where the film took the most liberties for me was at the start of the film, especially with two things. I can tell you about them in spoilers if you want... didn't put them in this post as you may want to read the book yourself and find out.
Do you love "The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes?
If so you might like to see my sister's dramatization of this poem through her photography!
http://www.redbubble.com/people/nessa101/art/7093218-the-highway-man#
Oh, I randomly clicked on that bethlehem books link and discovered I'd actually read some of them! The ones by Hilda Van Sockum:
http://www.bethlehembooks.com/category/ ... an-stockum
My Mom read them to my brother and outloud a couple of years ago, and I remember enjoying them. I don't know if I would reread them but they were entertaining to listen to while coloring in my coloring books (yeah, I was 16. so what? )
In The Borrowed House, I remember a scene where the girl is trying to find the guy who's hiding in her house (hiding from the nazis). The wording goes something like "she looked in the bedroom, she looked in the kitchen, she even looked in the toilet!"
Of course we all thought that was just hilarious and couldn't stop laughing at it. Perhaps not the best choice of words
"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring." Marilyn Monroe
Thrift stores are basically second-hand shops, yes?
Currently watching:
Doctor Who - Season 11
Oh, I randomly clicked on that bethlehem books link and discovered I'd actually read some of them! The ones by Hilda Van Sockum:
http://www.bethlehembooks.com/category/ ... an-stockumMy Mom read them to my brother and outloud a couple of years ago, and I remember enjoying them. I don't know if I would reread them but they were entertaining to listen to while coloring in my coloring books (yeah, I was 16. so what?
)
In The Borrowed House, I remember a scene where the girl is trying to find the guy who's hiding in her house (hiding from the nazis). The wording goes something like "she looked in the bedroom, she looked in the kitchen, she even looked in the toilet!"
Of course we all thought that was just hilarious and couldn't stop laughing at it. Perhaps not the best choice of words
Ha ha, yes I've read that book and its not too bad The Hilda Van Stockum books are good but most of them are aimed at 8-10 year olds. The company does have some nice older stories though. If anybody is thinking of getting one and wants to know what age group they're aiming at feel free to contact me because chances are I've read it
Do you love "The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes?
If so you might like to see my sister's dramatization of this poem through her photography!
http://www.redbubble.com/people/nessa101/art/7093218-the-highway-man#
Thrift stores are basically second-hand shops, yes?
Yes, that's exactly what they are.
~Riella
~ Riella
Bella, Jane of Lantern Hill is about Jane, living with her mother and domineering grandmother. Her parents are separated, and she thinks her father is dead. Then she finds out he isn't, and he wants her to visit. So she goes and falls in love with Lantern Hill and does domestic things and lives happily ever after.
No, this book was a bit more involved than that. You are right about the domineering grandmother, but there was also an Aunt Irene Jane had to deal with. The point about the domestic chores is that her grandmother wouldn't let her alone to do these chores beforehand, and that it is heady to learn to cope on one's own. Jane develops a backbone in Lantern Hill, returning there on her own when she hears her father is about to divorce her mother. When Jane falls ill there, her mother also learns to stand up to the grandmother, and so Jane's parents reconcile because they love her.
Unfortunately that sort of thing only happens in story books.