Eve in Exile and the Restoration of Femininity by Rebekah Merkle*

 A new acquaintance at church asked me and another lady to read this book with her and then discuss it. Later, our pastor's wife posted that she would be hosting a book discussion about this book! I loved this book and how it has planted new ideas in my mind for further contemplation. I am even considering rereading it, which I rarely do!

Ms. Merkle briefly shows the progression of feminism and our faulty thinking about what it means to be a woman. Then she offers scriptural-based and practical ways women can live today, how God intended them to be. We have been designed to: subdue, fill, help, and glorify.

*Highly recommend.

-I own this book.

The Huckabuck Family and How They Raised Popcorn in Nebraska and Quit and Came Back by Carl Sandburg illustrated by David Small

 A humorous story of the Huckabuck Family and their tenacity and optimism. Their daughter Pony Pony discovers a buckle in a squash and their "luck" changes. They consider the buckle a sign and wait for the appearance of it before returning to the farm.

I love David Small's illustrations. He is an illustrator of some of my favorite picture books (The Library  & The Gardener both written by his wife, Sarah Stewart). 

-Borrowed from the library.

Later this year for poetry cake, we will focus on Carl Sandburg. I will display this picture plus The Sandburg Treasury -Prose and Poetry for Young People.

Kate's Light by Elizabeth Spires illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully*

 Kate Walker at Robbins Reef Lighthouse

The end pages are intriguing! It contains a depiction of the port of New York in 1892.

German immigrant Kate Kaird, who is a widow,  arrives in America determined to work hard to provide a good life for her son Jacob. John Walker, a lighthouse keeper, soon notices her energy and determination and marries her. Together they run the lighthouse at Sandy Hook Lighthouse and eventually the lighthouse at Robbins Reef. When John dies from complicatons from pneumonia, Kate resumes his position and finally retires at the age of seventy-one! The difficulties, the hard work required and the loneliness of a lighthouse keeper are depicted well. 

A stunning book!

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray

 Ms. Gray integrates all of Jane Austen's novel characters into one novel, where they gather for a month long house party at the Knightley residence. Unfortunately, deplorable Mr. Wickham arrives and derails the party with his blackmail and secrets. Then one night someone kills him. Almost every person has a motive save Mr. Jonathan Darcy (Mr. & Mrs. Darcy's son) and young Juliet Tilney. The two secretly gather and share clues with each other. Trying to adhere to propriety proves challenging as they sort through clues. Some marriages are strained. By the end of the novel, all relationships are restored, with even more affection and love for each other!  I liked how the positive view of marriage and its value  are portrayed. 

Very well-written and a well-developed plot and characters. I really enjoyed this novel! My favorite character was Jonathan Darcy, a neurodivergant. 

Warning: I, however, did not find it necessary for the inclusion of a character's homosexual relative. It was interesting to read how the characters involved handled this news and how they incorporated the Bible in how they reacted to the homosexual relative.  The woman relative wondered how two men could engage in sexual activity.

-Borrowed from the library.

Focus on the Family Radio Theatre -Father Gilbert series

 Whenever we travel for more than an hour, I like to have books on audio available. I was disappointed in this selection. I was expecting mysteries that Father Gilbert solves. Instead, the story focused on the drama in his life and unexpected family secrets. The first production, "The Silver Cord" involved a mystery but was not central to the plot and hardly any time was given to it.

The acting and the story lines are superb. "Mystery" in the title, however, is a misnomer. I would call these "dramas". Maybe the ones we listened to  were ones that were more family secrets than mystery? In the introduction, the producer warns listener that mature themes are prevalent and recommends the audience to be fifteen-years-old and older.

  Spoiler alert:The second production reveals that Father Gilbert had intimacy with his girlfriend before marriage (before he was following Christ and had become a priest). Unknown to him, she became pregnant and raised their daughter on her own and then with the man she eventually married.

-Borrowed from the library.

Mr. Malcolm's List-DVD*

Rated: PG

 I first read the review of this movie in World magazine this summer and was intrigued. My fifteen-year-old son read the review also and said he would watch it with me since it was similar to Jane Austen's books, in which he has enjoyed the movie versions. Since it was based on a book, I wanted to read the book first. I loved the book (see an earlier review). Then Sally Clarkson and her daughter-in-law recommended the movie on a recent podcast. My excitement to see the movie grew!

Our whole family watched the movie and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is not as clever or meaty as Austen's novels or movies based on her novels, but still humorous and delightful. It is rated PG, but the only part that I found overtly concerning was how  Julia Thistlewaite dresses to show cleavage. Some kissing occurs at the end. The book had more "concerning" parts in it than the movie! How I wish they produced more movies like this one!

Julia Thistlewaite is enraged that Mr. Malcolm, a bachelor, does not ask her for another outing. Her cousin reveals to her that Mr. Malcolm has created a list of qualities he wishes to find in a wife. Julia has failed to meet his requirements. To exact revenge, she invites a school friend to join her in London and involves her in a nasty scheme.

*Highly recommend for junior high and older.

-Borrowed from the library.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding -DVD

 Rated: PG (see warnings)

Toula, a thirty-year-old Greek woman, falls in a love with a non-Greek guy and throws her family, especially her father, into a tail spin. Laugh out loud humor abounds! Written by the lead actress, Nia Vardalos (based on her family and dating and marrying a non-Greek). 

*Highly recommend for upper high school and older.

I own this DVD. I had not watched it in years and decided to rewatch it. It was a delight to laugh and appreciate family dynamics!

Warnings: passionate kissing a couple of times, Toula jumps on Ian and then we see them together in bed later...nothing explicit but it says enough, Toula's brother has Ian say a few vulgar sentences in Greek-the English translation is on the screen (Ian thinks he saying something else), cousin Nikki dresses suggestively