The Things Girls Love is going on Hiatus

Hello folks!

You  may have noticed that I've been MIA for quite some time. This is an update to let you know (quite belatedly) that this blog will be going on hiatus indefinitely. Amanda is expecting her first baby in June (yay!), and Blakelyn has earned a promotion at work, so their free time has become quite limited.

Blakelyn will be posting all book reviews at her other blog, Designed to Live. Thanks for following!

Blakelyn

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery - Book Review

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
If I were a few years younger, I probably would have given this book 5 stars. It is an excellent book for youth. Anne is the most lovable character I've ever encountered in a book! You just can't help but love her upbeat personality, her imagination, and her fascination with the simple things in life. She remains positive regardless of her circumstances.

You could hardly tell this book was written over 100 years ago, except for references to transportation (in horse-drawn carriages) and the styles of the time (i.e. puffed sleeves). It is certainly a timeless classic.

View all my reviews >>

One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus - Book Review

One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Unjustly committed to an insane asylum for reasons of "promiscuity", May Dodd volunteers for a secret government-run program, in which the US gives the Native Americans one thousand white women as brides in exchange for one thousand of their best horses. Though not a fair trade, President Grant has agreed to the exchange in an effort to bring about peace between the "whites" and the "savages". May is guaranteed her freedom after 2 years in the program. On a west-bound train with the first batch of volunteers, May has no idea what she's gotten herself into, but keeps a detailed log of events in her journal. Over the next year, she will find herself living in the wilderness, married to Chief Little Wolf of the Cheyennes, and carrying his child. Meanwhile, the "Brides" program the government started has been aborted, and the US is waging a war against the "savages".

If you've ever wondered what life was like for the Native Americans during the westward movement, Fergus gives great insight in this novel. How the US treated the Native Americans was unforgivable and embarrassing.

View all my reviews >>

The Road by Cormac McCarthy - Book Review

The Road by Cormac McCarthy


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was one of the most unique books I've read in a long time. The style of writing, as well as the storyline, made this a quick and easy read.  While I recognize it as a great book, I was disappointed in the ending, which seemed quite anti-climatic. There were many questions left unanswered: What was the cause of the fires and when did they start? How long had the man and boy been traveling? What was the mother's story, where did she go, and why did she leave?

Regardless of these deficiencies, this is no doubt a great story of love, endurance, and sacrifice.

View all my reviews >>