Death Comes to Pemberley

By P.D. James

2011

Loving all things Austen, especially all things Pride & Prejudice, I grabbed this book off the library shelf.

Death Comes to Pemberley takes place five years after Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett married. They are enjoying their quiet life at Pemberley, when a hysterical Lydia arrives - Wickham has been murdered!

 

This launches the whole Pemberley household into uproar. 

For certain, Death Comes to Pemberley is an interesting story, not that I have much experience with murder mysteries. I did, however, have no problems with putting the book down.

Always a telltale sign.

Did I love it?

No.

Throughout the entire book, I couldn’t shake the feeling that P.D. James had messed with characters that shouldn’t be messed with.

Not only did she add to the lives of these most beloved characters after Pride & Prejudice had ended, but she also fleshed out and suggested new thoughts and motivations influencing their lives during the time period of Pride & Prejudice itself.

In essence, she disrupted my impressions and ideas, which really didn’t sit well with me.

To all Pride & Prejudice fans, I would say, "read at your own risk."

Reading on…

Ben-Hur

by Lew Wallace

I believe Ben-Hur is best known as a 1959 Hollywood drama starring Charlton Heston.
Who can forget the chariot race?

But have you ever picked up the novel and read it cover to cover?

If you have, have a coffee on me.
If you haven't, let me warn you - don't expect a story like the movie.


Having watched the movie, Ben-Hur seemed like the right read for a trip to Israel, but honestly, I didn't get very far.

In fact, I didn't get very far the whole vacation and only finished two months later.
At home.


Truth be told - Ben-Hur didn't grab me.

Beautifully written.
Deep and provoking.
Amazing plot.


What more could I ask for?
Still, I felt wanting.



Despite my lack of interest, however, there are a few things that have stayed with me.

The dedication.
"To the wife of my youth who still abides with me"


The detail.
Lew Wallace describes to perfection.


The depth.
Judah discovers we are physical beings with bodies of flesh and blood, yet also spiritual beings created with eternal souls.



Would I recommend Ben-Hur?
Despite my humble opinions, definitely.




Reading on...

Don't Check Your Brains at the Door

by Josh McDowell & Bob Hostetler

1992, 2011

If you’re interested in Christian apologetics, but don’t have the energy for a major brain work-out, Don’t Check Your Brains At The Door is the book for you.

Written for teens, this book offers short, easy to read chapters that respond to some of the major   
criticisms people have against the Bible and Christianity.

It also delves into many of the ideas about life and self that are rampant in today’s culture.

So what topics are addressed? Here are a few examples:

Is the Bible accurate?

Is God real and personal?

Is Jesus the Son of God?

Is the Resurrection real?

Is there truth?

Is money necessary for true happiness?

Is it all about me?

Is premarital sex okay?

This book was a really great read from start to finish and I was both entertained and educated. 

I am sure an "adult version" would contain a lot more apologetic detail, but frankly this book was just enough for my brain power. 

I also really appreciated the book's layout as it is possible to read topically or from cover to cover.

Sigh, 

So much good information, I just wish I could remember it all.

Reading on… 

The Lost Art of Letter Writing

Ages ago I wrote a post about the lost art of letter writing. You can read about it here.

Finally, I have found a friend after my own heart. Check out her blog at http://www.ritewhileucan.com.

To write a letter to a dear friend, you only need a few simple things:

• time
• pen
• stationary

For everything pen and paper, check out Stargrass Paper Co. 

And time? You'll have to find that for yourself, but, without a doubt, it's the biggest gift of all.

Reading on...

Raiders' Ransom

by Emily Diamand

2009

I chose this middle grade novel by its cover.

I have a whole post about my tendency to do just that. Click here.

Thankfully, in this case, the fascinating cover was only a prelude to a fascinating story.

It was creative, to say the least.

Taking place over two hundred years in the future, Great Britain has been thrown back into pre-industrial age conditions due to extensive flooding.

Buildings are under water.

Landscaping consists of mud and water.

And, there are no computers.

Told from the point of view of Lilly, a fishergirl, and Zeph, a pirate, I was drawn into their world of conflict and strife.

I won’t spoil the plot, but I will say the book is full of adventure.

I do need to mention, however, that I almost put the book down.

At one point, the author stretched my ability to believe too far.

Almost is the key word because, in spite of this stretching, I still finished strong.

Raiders’ Ransom is Emily Diamand’s debut novel and it was the winner of the London Times/ Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition in 2008.

Impressive.

Reading on…

The Midwife of St Petersburg

The Midwife of St Petersburg

by Linda Lee Chaikin

2007

 I actually don’t have a lot to say about this book…

About a young woman in the last days of Imperial Russia, I found The Midwife of St Petersburg to be captivating.

I couldn’t put it down.

Of course, it was helpful to be stuck in a car on the highway for 14 hours.

This book is certainly what I would consider “a light, easy read”, however, it was enjoyable and a great refresher on the last days on Czarist Russia.

I love Russian history, but more on that another day.

My one complaint would be that I felt the story ended abruptly. In my mind, it’s not finished yet.
There are too many questions left unanswered.

Is there a sequel?
Apparently not.

Reading on…

Sleep, It Does a Family Good

by Dr. Archibald D. Hart

2010

“A ruffled mind makes a restless pillow.” Charlotte Bronte.

In an attempt to help hubby and son#1 become better sleepers, I picked up this book:

Sleep, It Does a Family Good.

Overall, it was quite informative, though I did lose steam in the last chapter.

This is some of what I gleaned:

Our Need for Sleep

God has designed sleep as a fundamental need in our lives. Even though many of us are constantly tired, and know we need more sleep, we still associate sleep with laziness.

The amount of sleep required by each person is different.  Circumstances (vacation vs. stressful situations) impact our need for sleep.

Less than six hours of sleep causes the brain to age faster.

Aim for nine hours of sleep - we sleep in cycles of one and a half hours. This doesn’t mean nine hours of deep sleep, it means nine hours in bed: Part resting our bodies, part in light sleep, part in deep sleep, and part in dream sleep. This cycle takes about one and a half hours and continues throughout the night.

Lack of Sleep

Lack of sleep reduces our ability to cope and manage events of the day. It effects the mood of the whole family.

Too little sleep prevents the brain from getting enough oxygen. It leaves us drowsy with impaired memory and physical performance.

Stress & Sleep

Stress reduction is key to a healthy “sleep switch” and, therefore, healthy sleep.

Stress, anxiety and worry disrupt sleep.

Getting out of bed in the middle of the night makes it more difficult to get back to deep sleep again.

Sleep & Learning

Dream sleep helps the brain rehearse what has been learned. In fact, learning is not complete until we sleep, as this is when newly learned information is made more permanent in the brain.

 

Cramming all night before an exam does not make for optimal learning!

How to Improve Sleep

Reduce caffeine and alcohol. No coffee after 3pm!

Don’t give children (or yourself) challenging tasks right before bedtime, establish and maintain bedtime routines (this provides a sense of security), reduce TV time, avoid bedtime snacks (especially grains and sugars), sleep in complete darkness.

When your mind is overactive: focus your thoughts on something else (ie a project or vacation).

When your mind worries: concentrate on what’s worrying you and soon your brain will let the concern go. As a Christian, give your concern over to God, again and again.

Turn off lights and darken the room before bedtime to help your melatonin kick in.

Relax before bed.

Keep ear plugs and an eye mask handy. 

Too Much Excitement

Dennis Prager, a well-known sociologist and radio host, says that today’s generation has more excitement available to them than any other generation in history. This excitement has become our most dangerous drug today.

Kids don’t know how to relax and have down time.

Marriage & Sleep

Building a happy marriage is about paying attention to detail, including sleep.

Marital happiness lowers the risk of sleep problems and marital strife increases them. Good sleep and marital satisfaction are related!

Bedtime arguments always disrupt sleep. Never discuss a hot topic just before bed!

Love gift: Sacrificing what you want or need in order to fulfill the need of your spouse, including needs associated with sleep. (Taking the love gift concept further, never put conditions on your love gift and never ask for one.)

Making Up Lost Sleep

We have up to seven days to make up for any lost sleep. Try to make up the lost sleep in increments over a few days.

Exercise and Sleep

Lack of physical exercise and exertion can disrupt sleep, but don’t exercise right before bed.

I am not sure if any of these ideas will help in our home, but maybe they'll help in yours.

Reading on…