Letter poems from objects with various sizes and purposes The poems remind readers how everything is made up of smaller things. Everything is connected and is necessary!
Great word choice & figurative language usage
Pairings: oak/acorn, bubble/sky, cloud/droplets, pebble/river, brick/school, button/coat, toes/child, sea turtles/ocean
The author then shares how to create one's own letter poems.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
I could have read this book in one sitting if I had that leisure. Ms. Evans has created a compelling, interesting, and well-written novel about the life of Sybil Van Antwerp. By reading her letters & emails to various individuals (& some replies) over an eight year period, readers are immersed into her life. Now in her seventies, Sybil lays out the triumphs, tragedies, regrets, pleasures from her life via her correspondences. One letter is continuous throughout the whole book, which she resumes randomly throughout the years. My favorite character was her sweet neighbor, Theodore Lubeck.
This was a bestseller so I should not be surprised to find some aspects of it that do not agree with my beliefs--
Considerations: her brother, Felix, is gay and lives with/marries another man, Stewart-they break up for a period of time because Stewart had formed a friendship with another guy; Sybil moves in with a man at the end of her years; the series, The Outlander is mentioned & that it includes lots of sex & some sexual violence; some/minimal swearing; the author's political leanings are made clear --why can't I find modern novels that support conservative politics?!
For the above reasons I am not "highly recommending" it. The literary value is superb.
-Borrowed from the library.
I only read a few excerpts aloud to my son while studying the Underground Railroad. This archive of primary documents is fascinating and will cause the reader to have even more respect for those who risked their lives to escape slavery and for those who helped slaves to escape. Someone writing a research/term paper on the Underground Railroad would find this book to be a valuable resource.
I am not highly recommending it because I did not read it in its entirety (otherwise, I probably would be highly recommending it!)
-Borrowed from the library.
This book brought such delight to my days as I read it. The entire narrative is related via letters between the characters. I loved the character development, the witty writing, the setting on Guernsey, learning about WW II's impact on the Channel islands, and being reminded of the art of letter writing.
Author Juliet Ashton, residing in London, receives a letter from a gentleman on Guernsey Island, stating he has one of her old books (her name & address was pasted on the inside front cover) and asking her to write him a note with the name of London bookshop so he can order more books. This letter opens a new life for Juliet-new writing ideas and new friends.
I wanted to highly recommend this book but-Considerations: one character is gay (it mentions two times that he is -not graphic details nor is there a focus on it), when discussing predestination, one character says God is a devil if it is true (referring to Him allowing the Holocaust).
-I own this book (I bought it w/out knowing about the above considerations. Someone I trusted recommended it . . .why I ususally try to borrow and read a book 1st before buying it!)
A trustee from Judy's orphanage has offered to pay for her college. His requirements-he will remain anonymous and expects Judy to write him a letter once a month briefing him on her life at college. Most of the novel comprises of Judy's letter to her benefactor, whom she calls "Daddy-Long-Legs". The letters are humorous and full of voice.
I was excited to highly recommend this book to moms with preteens/teens but since I do not agree with the worldviews espoused----I am not.
Considerations: She "learns" at college that the Garden of Eden is a myth & that people were once monkeys. Throughout the book she does not have a high opinion on church and pastors. When someone give glory to for a wonderful event, she denies it is Him and points to how the different humans caused it to occur. Mr. Jervis, a man who befriends her, is a socialist. She wants to be a socialist too.
My Principles of Writing professor required us to read this epistle novel and then write a letter to ourselves how to best tempt ourselves. I have forgotten many assignments from my college years but not this one! Before my sons graduate from high school, I want both of them to read this impactful book. My junior will be finishing it tomorrow. Over the past few months (he only reads it on Fridays-our Soul Reading Day), we have had interesting discussions about this book.
Screwtape, a demon, is training Wormwood, an underling demon, how to tempt a human. The entire novel contains letters from Screwtape to Wormwood, admonishing and advising him.
**Highly, highly recommend.
-I own two copies of this book.
Rated: PG (some swearing, excess smoking-Ms. Hanff seemed to be a chain smoker!, drinking alcohol-often)
After reading Helene Hanff's charming, unique epistolary book, I was excited to view the DVD version of her story. They handled a difficult format well. I don't, however, think individuals will like the movie if they have not read the book. The producers and actors/actresses do a superb job of portraying very ordinary people doing ordinary things.
-Borrowed from the library.
I could have read this book in one sitting! It is witty and unique.
Ms. Hanff, a writer who lives in New York City, spends twenty years corresponding with Frank Doel, a book seller for England's Marks & Co. book store in London, England, requesting rare or specific books. She wants to own beautiful books. It is easier for her to write to London to buy books than walk blocks to a bookstore in her own city. Eventually other employees from Marks & Co. and Frank's wife and daughters write to Ms. Hanff over the years. This book contains the letters that were exchanged over the twenty years. Surprisingly, the reader feels like they enter the world of Ms. Hanff and her correspondents and are rooting for them through these simple letters.
*Highy recommend (a couple of swear words, I don't agree with her political affliliation; it's not focused upon nor belabored.)
The sequel is only available via interlibrary loan. A movie was made based on this book!
-Borrowed from the library (although my local bookstore is selling it and its sequel, The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street, in one book. . .maybe I will purchase it!)
Even though the main character, Ruby, is dealing with guilt and deep sadness over her grandfather's death, I still found this book delightful. The character and setting development, the imagery, and the general writing/sentence structure are superb. I wanted to walk the dusty Mississippi roads with Ruby, converse with her grandmother, pick black eye susans with her, and meet her chickens. This book reminds a bit of Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo.
Ruby loves her grandmother Miss Eula who lives next door in the Pink Palace, and is devastated when Miss Eula leaves Halleluia, Mississippi to visit her new granddaughter in Hawaii. Who will protect from spiteful Melba Jane? New friends and new perspectives allow Ruby to mature and forgive. Many letters between Ruby and Miss Eula assist in the story telling.
Warnings/points to discuss: Ruby's grandfather and Melba's father died in a car accident-Melba Jane blames Ruby, a hateful relationship between Ruby and Melba Jane, death, chicks die after Melba Jane throws rocks at Ruby's chickens
*Highly recommend (but see warnings).
-Borrowed from the library.
*Award-winner (many awards)
Ms. Heiligman based this biography off of letters exchanged between the brothers (primary sources) and also secondary sources. Very-well researched and well executed. Her exquiste prose captivates the reader and thrusts them into Vincent's and Theo's worlds.
Although Vincent's and Theo's tumultuous lives has sadden me (I almost did not finish the book), I have concluded that knowing their stories gives me greater appreciation for Vincent's work and also for brotherly devotion. Ms. Heiligman reveals Theo's little known story . . .without him or his wife, Jo, Vincent van Gogh may not have been famous.
*Categorized as "young adult".
Warning/points to discuss: mental illness/depression, suicide, numerous times the men visit prostitutes (no graphic details are given), STD's, alcohol abuse, Both Vincent and Theo leave their faith, Theo contracts syphilis and eventually dies from it.
-Borrowed from the library.
In a letter format, (apt since Beatrix Potter wrote numerous letters) Ms. Hopkinson shares about Beatrix and Bertram's menagerie and the mishaps that befell upon many of them. Of course, Beatrix loved to draw those animals. When she decides she wants to draw a guinea pig, she asks her neighbor to borrow her guinea pig named Queen Elizabeth, promising that she will keep her safe. The guinea pig dies. To console her neighbor, she gives her the drawing of her!
Deborah Hopkinson based this book on Beatrix Potter's letters and journals. The death of the neighbor's guinea pig actually occurred. Beatrix, however, was twenty-six years old when the misfortune happened.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Warning/point to discuss: The guinea pig and other pets die.
