Thursday's with Tolstoy: Week 26

Book 9 Chapters 8-23

Well I’ve been on vacation, so I’ve spent the last two days catching up on War and Peace. Chapters 8-23 are all about Natasha’s recovery. Even though she suffers from depression (a disease people were not aware of in those days).  The Rostov’s call in many expensive doctors to treat her. They administer all kinds of pills, and powders that Tolstoy hints are more harmful than her mental malady. In the mean time Natasha discover her own cure. Pierre continues to visit her, he is deeply in love with her and she begins to see that she is in love with him. It is interesting to note that prior to Natasha’s affair with Anatole she was an innocent child and love was almost a game to her. After her disastrous affair Natasha becomes a woman and discovers that love is much more than she previously thought. Pierre has also discovered that there is the possibility of true love in his life. I wonder how this is all going to work out seeing that Pierre is married.

Natasha also discovers repentance and faith as she goes to church with her neighbor. A week long fast is being held on the Emperor’s request for a miracle to save Russia from Napoleon. It is this that brings Natasha to church, but in the process she feels a connection to God, asks for forgiveness and prays for those she has offended and those who have offended her. Natasha feels there is hope for her and the possibility of a new future.

The Rostov’s troubles are not over. I don’t know what it is about the Emperor but he has a way of inspiring people to do crazy things. He tells the people of Russia that no sacrifice is too great for the Fatherland. Rostov’s young son Petya who is only 15 asks his father for permission to join the army. After the Emperor’s speech Count Rostov consents—is he crazy or what? I would never send my 15 year old son to face the depravity of war.

Pierre is an interesting character for me; I can’t say that I really like him yet. He experiences what I consider a somewhat bizarre event in his life. I don’t even understand it—somehow he figures out through some device of the Mason’s that Napoleon is the anti-Christ prophesied about in Revelations. And then he goes on adding up some numbers that are associated with his name and the result is that he has a connection with Napoleon. Like I said I don’t understand it but I think Pierre is headed into battle. How else will he face Napoleon?

I did forget to mention that Nicholas is a Captain in the Cavalry and spontaneously saw a moment of weakness in Napoleon’s advancing army and ordered his men to advance. Other units followed and Nicholas became a hero and was awarded the same St. George’s cross he had seen awarded to an undeserving soldier in a previous chapter.

And I'm glad Natasha is feeling better.

Book Review: Princess of Glass

Princess of Glass
(Princess #2)

by

Jessica Day George

Kindle Edition, 272 pages
Published February 1st 2011 by Bloomsbury USA Children's
ASIN: B004OR15ZO.
YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (2011)

About the book:
Hoping to escape the troubles in her kingdom, Princess Poppy reluctantly agrees to take part in a royal exchange program. She travels abroad hoping to find better political alliances and perhaps a marriage. But thanks to a vengeful fairy, Poppy's happily ever after gets complicated. This companion to Princess of the Midnight Ball will delight readers with action and romance.

More about the book from the author:
Basically I wanted to explore what would happen to one of the Twelve Dancing Princesses after their curse had ended. In the original story it says, And they lived happily ever after, and they never danced again. So I decided to stick one of the girls into a new fairy tale, one where she had to dance, and see what she would do. Also, I love writing Poppy's snappy dialogue and rather sarcastic outlook, so I decided to give her her own book!


About the Author:
Jessica Day George likes chocolate, knitting, books, travel, movies, dragons, horses, dogs, and her family.


My thoughts:
Princess of Glass is a spin off of the author's first book "The Midnight Ball" in her Princess Series.  The Midnight Ball is a rewrite of the fairy tale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses".  Princess of Glass is a rewrite of the fairy tale "Cinderella".  The author made a fun story of how there was a girl named Ella, but she wasn't the princess--but she danced with the prince.  I also liked her take on the soot and ashes and also the glass slippers.  The story was very creative. 

I picked this story to complete task #4 in the Take Another Chance Challenge hosted by Jenners that asked us to read a Critic’s Choice: find a “Best of the Year” list from a magazine, newspaper or professional critic. Read a book from their Top 10 list.  I found this book on "the young adult library services association website in their list of 2011 best fiction for young adults.

I did enjoy the story but I found myself wishing I had read the first in the series prior to this one.  But the author recapped enough that I wasn't lost--so it was OK as a stand alone book.



challenge #4



book #30



book #30

Summer Stock: Vacation

what says summer more than a vacation?

last week I went to the tops of the mountains, Park City Utah. 

Even though it sits in the mountains it is a sprawling metropolis

--so I could still access the internet when I wasn't busy.

This week I'm headed out to God's country--

a place so uninhabited you feel like there is nothing between you and the Heavens.

The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s:

but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

Psalms 115:16

KJV

LDS/web Edition

 summer stock hosted by Robin at Around the Island

 

Photo's on Friday:Jensen Historical Farm

In 2010 we visited the Jensen Historical Farm in Wellsville Utah.

The farm is fully functioning and guests are invited to tour as the work is carried out.

the raspberry patch

veggies in the garden

pest control--via chickens

the chicken coop

a pretty little cock

a family out for a stroll

on second look, that's a duck and her baby's and a turkey!

a peacock

and then there was this handsome fellow

this weeks theme "farm"

and what's a farm without some broken equipment

this weeks theme "broken"

photo's by

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli 

Thursday's with Tolstoy: Week 25

Book 9 Chapters 8-14

The War . . .

This week’s reading was all about the war, and it was very difficult to read. The first several chapters’ follow Prince Andrew; he is all depressed again after the Natasha affair and the breaking of their engagement. He goes to Bald Hills and sees nothing has changed except that his son has grown. So he joins the army because he hears that Anatole has also joined the army and he wants to challenge him to a duel. But he doesn’t go to the same area as Anatole. Andrew ends up as an adjutant to a General and finds himself involved in the 1812 War Counsel. Ahh, my head aches! So many plans delivered by so many new characters—I just couldn’t keep them straight. And apparently neither could the Russians as they had no clear leader and no clear plan of attack. Thus they found themselves in retreat as Napoleon attacks. The one thing of interest noted was that unlike in the War of 1805 in the war of 1812 all of the Generals are afraid of Napoleon. They know he can defeat them and that he is a great tactician. This is part of the reason they are unable to make a plan of attack, they lack confidence in themselves—and they are afraid.

Nicholas Rostov is now a Captain in the cavalry owns a fine horse and commands a regiment. He has grown and matured in the past seven years. It was in Tolstoy’s description of how Nicholas has matured that I actually felt the passage of time—yes it has been 7 years since this novel first began.

But on the bright side—I am now halfway through the book. My kindle reached 50% on the progress bar.

A letter from Nicholas to Sonya:

Adored friend of my soul! Nothing but honor could keep me from returning to the country. But now, at the commencement of the campaign, I should feel dishonored, not only in my comrades’ eyes but in my own, if I preferred my own happiness to my love and duty to the Fatherland. But this shall be our last separation. Believe me, directly the war is over, if I am still alive and still loved by you, I will throw up everything and fly to you, to press you forever to my ardent breast.

Ahh . . . so romantic

Tolstoy explains the change in Nicholas

The autumn in Otradnoe and Sonya’s love, had opened out to him a vista of tranquil joys and peace such as he had never known before, and which now allured him. A splendid wife, children, a good pack of hounds, a dozen leashes of smart borzois, agriculture, neighbors, service by election . . .

Quiet a changed man.

Wednesday Wanderings: Happiness

photo by Robert Dyer Photography

this is my daughter in her wedding dress

edited by

(quote from "Anne of Avonlea" by L.M. Montgomery)

this weeks theme "happiness"

Top Ten and a Teaser: Book Blogging

Princess of Glass
by

Jessica Day George

She tilted the pan just a little, and the syrupy stuff slithered out in a green sheet.  It flowed, pale and smooth, into a basin, and showed the Corley a young girl with blue eyes and black hair under a little white cap.

location 41 on my kindle

Teaser Tuesday's hosted by Miz B at Should be Reading

This weeks top ten . . . why I like book blogging

hosted by the broke and the bookish--who is celebrating their year anniversary

This one was easy,  I like book blogging because of all the great book blogs out there.  I like sharing titles, reviews, ideas, participating in meme's and challenges and discussing the merits of books.  Tuesday is such a fun day visiting all those book blogs I don't normally go to when I play teaser Tuesday and Top Ten Tuesday. So today I thought I'd go through my reader and list 10 of my favorite blogs that I visit every day that do nothing but books. 

I won't count "The Broke and the Bookish" in my list--though I do enjoy their reviews very much.

1.  Life in the Thumb

2.  Life With . . . Books

3.  Quirky Girls Read

4.  A Room of One's Own

5.  Tales of Whimsy

6.  Books on the Knob

7.  Pudgy Penguin Perusals

8.  The Story Girl

9.  Under the Boardwalk

10.  Book Dilettante

one more

Third Storey Window--she doesn't do books like the normal book blog--but I really love her writing, the excerpts she posts and her insights into literature

If you are not familiar with these blogs, stop by and check them out.

Book Review: Mark of Royalty

Mark of Royalty

by Jennifer K. Clark and

Stephonie K. Williams

Kindle Edition

Published February 1st 2010 by Deseret Book Company

ASIN: B004HD6E4M.

About the book:

At a time when royal infants are marked at birth, a royal advisor makes a terrible misstep—and an infant princess must be secreted away to save her life. Named Sarah by Miranda, the woman who agrees to raise the child as her own, the girl is unaware of her royal heritage—even though Miranda has done all she can to pair Sarah with the king’s nephew, Lord Chad. But unexpected events prevent the expected betrothal.

Determined to fulfill her devoted mother’s wishes, Sarah reserves her heart for Chad despite her growing affections for another man. But as plots against the crown unfold, someone accidentally discovers Sarah’s mark of royalty—setting the stage for discoveries that will shake the kingdom to its core.

image and information courtesy goodreads

About the Authors:

Jennifer K. Clark and Stephonie K. Williams are sisters by chance but became friends by choice when a year of rooming together at college taught them how to get along. Now stay-at-home moms, separated and living in different parts of the county, they still manage to work together on various projects. (from the book)


My thoughts:
Mark of Royalty is a rewrite of the fairy tale Cinderella with a few creative twists.  I think young girls would really enjoy reading this book.  Sarah is doted on by her adopted mother but when death claims her Sarah is left with her stepfather that only wants the best for him and that is not always the best for Sarah.  But despite difficult circumstances in her home life Sarah does meet her prince and go to the ball.

I particularly enjoyed this book because the author lives nearby and was once in my neighborhood before building a new home.  It was fun to see what she had created.  Another bonus is that she used the names of her children in the book--so I had a perfect visual for Sarah in my head from already being acquainted with the real life princess.



book #10



book #29



book #29



Monday Movies: Depressing Films



Monday Movies hosted by Molly at the Bumbles



This weeks topic . . . movies that leave you feeling depressed

Molly had a busy morning today and listed only one movie.  I'm in a bit of rush myself so I thought I would list the first movie that came to my mind  and leave it at that.  And the winner for the most depressing film ever viewed is "What Dreams May Come" starring Robin Williams (1998).  Robin Williams is great in his acting but he portrays a father trying to cope with the loss of his family.  The most depressing part of the movie is when he journeys to hell to save his wife.  I absolutely hate the part where he's walking through the dead bodies that are alive . . . just horrible.  The whole film is weird and depressing--even the ending which I think was supposed to make you feel better.

I hope you have a better day than Robin Williams did.

Sunday Scripture: Fathers

A son honoureth his father

Malachi 1:6

my daughter made this card for Mr. J

that's big bear walking by his side

Happy Father's Day

Friday Night Sew-in: Border Blanket

I was excited about this month's sew-in.  A friend gave me a new pattern for a baby receiving blanket.  So . . . I made two for my grandson (baby hiccup) and two for gifts.

purchase:

1 and 1/4 yds for back and border

1 yard for the front

(can use flannel, cotton, or homespun)

square the larger piece at 42"

square the smaller piece at 32"

for a larger border

square the larger piece at 43"

square the smaller piece at 28"

Notch centers on all 4 sides of both pieces

With fabric right sides together, match notches on one side

Sew 5/8" seam allowance beginning 5/8" in from the shortest piece and leaving 5/8" at the end

match notches on the second side, sew as described for the first side

continue for sides three and four except leave a four inch opening in the fourth side to turn the blanket right side out.  (this step will feel awkward because the smaller square will pull the edges of the larger square around to the short square.)

Lay blanket out, wrong sides out, smooth out blanket  while pulling border around equally and flatten.

Fold blanket in half into triangle shape (border and smaller square to the outside).  Sew two corners on a 45* angle to make a mitered corner. 

Open blanket.  fold in the opposite direction into triangle shape.  Se the other two corners on a 45* angle, as before.

Turn blanket right sides out through the opening and check corners to see if they turned out correctly.

Pull corners back through and trim excess fabric

Pull corners right side out again, press blanket

Using a yard stick mark diagonally across blanket making an X.  Stitch along lines.  This will secure the two pieces of fabric together and prevent separating during washing. 

Top stitch around the border of the blanket where it meets the smaller square.