Girl with a Pearl Earring

Girl with a Pearl Earring
by Tracy Chevalier

I sat in my car for an hour listening to the final stages of this novel. I just wanted to know what would happen to the protagonist. (I think that's the right word for the main character.)

This unabridged version kept wandering into my mind in the night. If it was a movie it would be hard to define it. Drama? Suspense? Certainly not a thriller or a family movie. I guess it's easier to just say historical fiction. But that seems to vague.

Throughout the narration, I kept thinking that this girl was very introspective and had high meta-cognitive skills. But she wasn't the smartest girl. She was clever--but sometimes she should have seen it coming when she just didn't.

She was also artistic. I kept waiting for her to get her hands on a paintbrush. I kept wanting her to go to art school. But I guess girls didn't do much of that in those days.

I wonder when this was written and if the author wanted you to want that for the girl.

Anyways: Good book. Too long. Recommended for college aged or for married due to sexual content, innuendos, and implications.

More Michael Phillips

I am on the fourth book of the Shenendoah Sister's Series by Michael Phillips. I really like the series. It is written for teens, so it is a fast read. It also has some historical value and a good story line.

The Girl With a Pearl Earring

The Girl With a Pearl Earring

I'm listening to this book on tape during my travels. It's interesting so far. My friend, Corbi has read it.

Angels Watching Over Me

Angels Watching Over Me
by Michael Phillips

I just finished this easy novel by Michael Phillips about a 15 year old white girl and a 16 year old black girl who become friends just after the Civil War.

I don't want to give away the story, but I will say that I would recommend this book to Christian teenage girls. It includes a lot of history about this period of time without being overwhelming.

It is also the first in a series of books. I think the series is called Shenandoah sisters, but I'm not sure. I'm already into the second book. These are quick easy reads. Enjoy!

Shauna

Number the Stars

Number the Stars
by Lois Lowry

I read this book yesterday morning before going to church. It is a child's book. I wanted to read some more books about WWII that I could share with my reading class. This book still talks about bombs and rations and hiding Jews. But it is simple, and it doesn't give nightmares like some of the other books I have read. I would feel comfortable sharing this books with 4th and 5th graders. But, it might make a better read aloud so we could stop and discuss things along the way.

The Book Thief

The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak

I sure loved this book. It was about a young girl who began stealing books at the age of nine when she was sent away to live with a foster family. The story takes place in Germany before and during World War II. I love reading about this period in history. It makes me sad. But it is important to remember.

The Sign of the Beaver

The Sign of the Beaver
by Elizabeth George Speare

I read this children's novel in one sitting as I needed to know it for a class I was teaching. I liked it. It was the story of a pioneer boy left alone to guard the homestead while his father returned east to collect the family.

The boy met up with some Native American's who befriended him. Did the father ever return to see his son and his new home again? You'll have to read it yourself to find out.

The Red Tent

The Red Tent
by Anita Diamant

I laid in bed this morning finishing this book. I makes sense to me that I read this book in bits and pieces as I woke up or went to sleep as this book is about a woman's personal time and woman's issues in general.

The interesting part of this book for me is that it is based on Biblical events. I know the story of Jacob and his sons fairly well from my childhood. So, I kept waiting for the next big event to happen. But big events to men in the story were not as important to the woment, and vice versa.

This book had sex, violence, and unusual culture practiced regarding birthing, periods, and idols. At least they were unusual to me. But I do like learning about other culture. I just put this paragraph out there as a warning to children or very conservative readers. This might not be the book for you.

I'm listing this book on bookmooch...http://www.bookmooch.com/m/detail/0312195516

The Fourth Estate

The Fourth Estate by Jeffrey Archer

I just recently finished listening to this book on tape. You can mooch it from me by using Bookmooch. http://www.bookmooch.com/m/detail/0694516899 I will send it to you and you pay nothing. Visit http:///www.bookmooch.com for more information.

This book was one of those books that started at the end of the story, and then went back to the very beginning, and worked its way toward the end again. It kind of made me sad and reflective of society when it was all finished. The story was very believable, as I remember similar headlines in the paper when I was growing up.