The third and last book of my challenge was The Story Girl by L.M.Montgomery, which I should’ve read before The Golden Road because it indeed does come before…my mistake. This story introduces the characters better and their real relationships during the two books, which is really helpful.

In honour of the book, my family and I watched the library’s local Season 1 of Road to Avonlea while I was reading the book. I watched the episodes with Peg Bowen, Peter Craig, The Awkward Man (Jasper Dale), and all of the mishaps that were based off of the book which actually surprised me. Most of the witty lines that are in the series were actually from the book and I could follow along from what I read very easily. A very enjoyable read.

You can read my other L.M.Montgomery posts here and here.

The Golden Road was my second book in the L.M.Montgomery Reading Challenge. I choose this book because it portrays the adorable, witty, and trouble finding children of the King family, Peter Craig, and Sara Rae. Felicity, Felix, Cecily, and Dan are clearly envisioned after watching most joyously the Road to Avonlea series where the characters are so happily portrayed by the talented cast of children. I will always remember Felicity King’s love of her hair, Sara’s satin slippers, Cecily’s gently tones, Felix’s stubborn attitude, and Aunt Hetty’s very  precise pronunciation of words.

However, much to my reluctant disappointment, the characters are a little switched around. Oh well! We need not worry, for L.M.Montgomery’s characters are always agreeable and fun and we need not mind the change for it is all agreeable.

The Golden Road follows Felicity, the Story Girl, Felix, Dan, Peter Craig, Sara Rae, and Bev who tells the story from his perspective. It is interesting to read the original stories that lead to the series Road to Avonlea. The honesty and purity of the children is agreeable, and the true character traits and wit are easy to identify. Felicity, Felix, and Dan are all tied up in trying to annoy the other while Sara Stanley is throughout the book being whimsical and telling stories to amuse the others. Cecily tries to mend the others harsh words, and Sara Rae comes and goes often aggravating someone when she is present. For those who have only watched the TV series, Sara Rae is the equivalent to Clemy Rae.

I found this book to be adorable and a ‘chuckle to yourself’ type of humor, and I would encourage anyone to read it to see ‘behind the scenes’ of L.M.Montgomery’s original sort of mini series. There are 369 little pages in this book.

Notice: Thanks to Carrie’s post on The Story Girl which comes before The Golden Road in the time line, which I had not read prior to The Golden Road as I should’ve, I now know how the characters are related. If you have watched the beloved Road to Avonlea series only, just be aware that the relations between the characters are sometimes not quite the same as the original literature series. Because of that, I was completely oblivious to who Bev (through whom the stories are told) was because he was not included into the Road to Avonlea series. To see the family ties and who is really so and so’s cousin, you can go to Carrie’s post.

You can see my other L.M.Montgomery Challenge posts here and here.

I have been participating in the Lucy Maud Montgomery Challenge here hosted by the lovely Carrie. The challenge was to read one or more Lucy Maud Montgomery books and one of which I chose to read was Rilla of Ingleside, the story of Anne’s daughter.

I have found that Lucy Maud Montgomery has such a pleasant old fashioned way of defining the characters in her stories. One feels more a companion to her creations by reading, much more so than by watching the movies. I am an avid Anne fan, and yet I have found that reading the books not only gives more sentiment, the emotions in your mind place you back into her world and something completely  natural but ethereal brings a grin to your face and lightens your heart with every chapter. I found myself walking around the house with a feeling of felicity and I couldn’t wait to continue the book and flip through the life of Rilla. Montgomery’s characters are so in depth and human that it is a lost art that when one finds it, the feeling can hold them captive and placed into a deep loyalty to the author.

Let alone the bond between reader and hero, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s story lines and events in the life of her creations are exciting, nostalgic, comforting, and relieving. The quirks of everyday life will give the reader a sense of friendship with the characters in every situation, and if the feeling has not been felt by the reader, Lucy Maud Montgomery explains it in such passion and wording that the reader has thus been through the ordeal and will feel for the creature as if he or she had indeed lived the event.

Lucy Maud Montgomery~1874-1942

As for the storyline of Rilla of Ingleside, it is very realistic and historical. The plot centers around Bertha Marilla Blythe “Rilla”, the last child of Gilbert and Anne. L. M. Montgomery describes Rilla as a handsome young girl, besting any young lady in the neighborhood in looks, and yet she is quite aimless in her future goals. All of her other siblings (Jem, Walter, Nan and Di, and Shirley) are all going to college, university, or studying in some form, but Rilla although only 14 when the book starts, has no dreams of attending any higher form of education and doesn’t quite know what to do with herself. Anne is also a little curious how her dear Rilla will turn out.

She soon is picked up into the oncoming World War 1, even from the first page the seemingly ‘insignificant’ death of the Archduke Ferdinand is stated, giving the reader the foreknowledge that war will come to their world. After a few chapters, war is announced that throws Rilla’s world into a frenzy. She has 3 brothers who are young and strong who also seem to possess a certain eagerness to prove themselves on the battlefield, all save Walter, who I find a very realistic character. Walter is determined not to go to war, for he fears the pain of death as so many do. He does not just gallivant away as if he was not scared to fight and kill men, he stays and takes the criticism until he does indeed board the train taking him to Europe. I find Walter’s fear very human and a good portrayal of man’s fear of mortality.

Rilla also finds her maturity in situations which consist of her overcoming her dislike for babies when she is thrown into the task of being a mother to a war baby, finding romance, living through the death of a brother, watching good men be called to action and cease to return to arms of their women, and live through the war as a woman on the home front.

You can read my other posts here and here.

To my dearest cousin Breezy:

On Tuesday, January 27, 2009 my elder cousin Breezy will be 18! Being older than myself she has been wiser, more ladylike than my childish ways, and a great mentor in certain areas that she has been through herself.

I must admit, I used to envy her artistic talent. I will confess that a few nights I would sometimes tear up at how I couldn’t draw or do anything really artistic like she did. I was the wanna be who tries endlessly to be the best…a little competitive I know. But after a while, I figured out that I was not blessed like she was in the arts, and I prayed to God to take away my envy and He did. Now I can see how beautiful she is, her art is, and her gift is without any regret that I do not possess the same items. However, I do still want to be able to draw, but I am more content with my limited abilities.

She and I are a lot a like, and yet in the same sense that we are similarly different. We have similar personalities, both with their loving quirks. Our humor makes a great conversation, and we can usually make a joke about anything. Our clothing is similar too, mostly because I am the hand-me-down cousin which works out perfectly; our colours are neutral browns, blues, greens, and tans. We both are extremely fun (I like to think so) and are both shy when it comes to the public. Occasionally, she and I will head on for a walk while Emily is taking pictures and chat about who knows what, but we always encourage each other in any situation.

I adore my cousin for more than words can express. I count her friendship immeasurable and her acquaintance desirable. Anyone who has the opportunity to know her is truly blessed.

And now a poem from her cousin (me):

“The artist is working, we should not disturb,

her face looks heavenly as she creates her creatures

who dance, laugh, and jump on her page

forgetting their lines that were once their cage.

Now they are free to let their master know

that the life she gives them is worth more than gold

for what is a painting that is dull and untold.

(Excuse the picture…Breezy stunning as usual… I look a little goony)

Lizzie: “Where exactly are we?”

Aunt Gardiner: “I think we are quite close to Pemberley.”

Lizzie: “Mr. Darcy’s home?”

Uncle Gardiner: “That’s the fellow. Very well stocked lake. I’ve a hankering to see it.”

Lizzie: “Oh, no, let’s not! Oh he’s so…I’d rather not, he’s so…he’s so…”

Aunt Gardiner: “So what?”

Lizzie:” He’s so rich.”

Uncle Gardiner: “By heavens Lizzie what a snob you are. Objection to poor Mr. Darcy because of his wealth. The poor man can’t help it.”

Mom made up a little pattern for the wrist warmers and for anyone who would like to snuggle up with a nice pair of fleece fingerless gloves. You can do all sorts of things…and it is nice for winter blogging for you can still type but your hands stay nice and toasty:)

(Click on the picture to view larger size - feel free to print it off)

A little tid bit that I found way too cute to resist are these:

“Wrist Warmers”

Our pastor’s lovely wife Aimee has worn wristies since I met her and I told her I loved them the day I saw them. Then last night at church she pulled out two pairs, one of this leopard print and a print of calm gray- both a comfortable fleece. I chose the leopard, the wild side, and Mom received the others. These are so fun to wear, easy to make, and great to give as gifts! We have decided to give some to the family for Christmas, and the great thing about these wristies are that you can make a whole bunch and have a different pair for each outfit. *The best part is you can play the piano in them and your fingers are nice and toasty. I will probably be wearing them the whole rest of the winter!

January 14th, 2009

What is it about winter that is so lovely and alive that it makes anyone anxious to throw themselves into its wonder and try to catch that little speck of white upon their skin? Is there something already encrypted into man’s soul that he should marvel at the beauty of snow? In a world where the people love loud, fast, and obnoxious entertainment, they are still drawn to stop their lives and just watch the calm snow fall gracefully down from the heavens and rest magnificently on top of a tree…veiling it in a garment of white lace.

When one stands in the snow as it also veils them with each flake of creativity, the feeling is surreal-no one knows why. I don’t know why my heart stops beating when I see a landscape of falling snow…it could be a sense of mystery, romance, or adventure.

Our Creator continues to bless us day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, and minuscule second by  minuscule second. Snow is one of the great beautiful blessings he has given to us here on earth. What would it be without snow? Without the lulling dance as the flakes fall from the skies, or the crunch of the flakes beneath one’s boots? There would be no white wonderland come winter…something else…maybe worse or greater…but would it be our snow?

Just as the painted leaves of fall fade into deep crimsons or bursts of orange and yellow, the snow is our blessing of winter. God gave each season a remarkable beauty; rolling hills of budding flowers, fruits growing strong, harvest time and a bouquet of colourful leaves, and finally a carpet of pure white snow to start the new year.

I have decided to share with everyone my lists of books that have been read and to be read. I try to read books as often as I can although I have eight or nine with bookmarks in the middle lying around the house that are collecting dust until the present book is finished and I randomly pick one up and start the cycle over again.

1. ~The Man that Laid the Egg by Louise A. Vernon
2. ~The Hawk that Dare not Hunt by Day by Scott O’Dell
3. ~ Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ by General Lew Wallace*
4. ~ Emma by Jane Austen*
5. ~Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (reread)*
6. ~Persuasion by Jane Austen*
7. ~Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, most of
8. ~A Walk with Jane Austen by Lori Smith
9. ~Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
10. ~The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy*
11. ~Get Married by Candice Watters*
12. ~The Kingdom Series by Chuck Black*
13. ~100 Things You Didn’t Know about Jane Austen by Patrice Hannon*
14. ~90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper
15. ~Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris*
16. ~Frankenstein by Mary Shelley*
17. ~The Coral Island by R. M. Ballantyne*
18. ~Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson*
19. ~Little Women by Louis May Alcott*
20. ~Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson*
21. ~The Hobbit by J.R.R.Tolkien
22. ~The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans
23. ~The Letter by Richard Paul Evans
24. ~The Timepiece by Richard Paul Evans

1. ~Long Knife-A Novel based on the life of George Rogers Clark by James Alexander Thom, chapters necessary for school
2. ~The Sword and the Pen: A Life of Lew Wallace by Ray. E. Boonhower
3. Rilla of  Ingleside by L.M.Montgomery
   
4. ~A bunch of L.M.Montgomery books- the rest of the Anne of Green Gables series, and Kilmeny of the Orchard
5. ~The Scottish Chiefs by Miss Jane Porter
6. ~The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
7. ~Bleak House by Charles Dickens and a dozen or so of his other works
8. The Prince of India by Lew Wallace
9. The Watsons by Jane Austen

…..and so many more! Really I don’t even know of some of the books that I am going to read this year!

What are some of your books to accomplish this year?

The author Lew Wallace has always been one of the greatest authors in my mind, not just for his nationally known masterpiece Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ but for his descriptions (which seem like he could describe the same thing thousands of times over and never use the same word twice and still keep the character similar) and his wording, which I may admit sometimes go into too long of detail for my taste. But what is better having such good descriptions that one gets lost in or descriptions that don’t lose your reader?

So, to learn more about the General, I inter library loaned the book The Sword and the Pen: A Life of Lew Wallace. It relayed the life of Lew Wallace in a very simple yet interesting format, basically your regular biography, since I did not know too much about Lew Wallace.

As I read more and more I found that the General and I are very similar, apart from the two centuries that separate our lives. Lew Wallace was born in Indiana in the year 1827 to a father who would become the 6th governor of the state, and whose own father was friends with William Henry Harrison.  It seems the General was very fond of the outdoors and even skipped as much as 12 days of school when he had the opportunity and would often fish, which would be considered later in his life as a way he would sit back and relax.

Another item of interest for me was that the General was considered a Renaissance man! Witty, intelligent, creative, accomplished! Other great men of history were also considered Renaissance men and the title bestowed upon Lew Wallace is very deserved. He also enjoyed the book The Scottish Chiefs, one of my absolute favourites, and was an avid fan of Sir Walter Scott’s poems! I burst out in excitement to know that one of the greatest authors enjoyed the very things that excite me also. Excuse me whilst I run through our home in ecstasy.

Lew Wallace earned the title of General during his service in the Mexican American war when he was just a young man who his father had stopped supporting financially whilst Lew figured out his own career and wages. He was considered a hero by his regiment and gained with honour the respect of those who were fighting along side of him. After returning from a horrendous war, he found a career working for his father’s office and had in his mind a goal to be married. General Wallace had an eye on a particular young lady who also had other men vying for her affections. Her name was Susan Arnold Elston, who would often accompany Wallace on his violin while she played her guitar. With his wife, General Lew Wallace had only one child, a son whom they named Henry Lane Wallace.

Soon after President Lincoln’s presidency began, the southern states threatened with succession, forcing the Civil War into action. Lew Wallace was a Yankee whose bravery and strong awareness of battle, made him a silent hero and victorious leader amongst his regiments. Wallace was faithful to his president and friend even after his death when he served in the trials of the Lincoln conspirators, and even sketched  the faces of the accused.

Lew Wallace was a man who had served his country in many ways: in the Mexican American War,  as a hero in the Civil War, then as the governor to the Mexico Territory- as which he had been in situations involving Billy the Kid, serving on the trials of the Lincoln assassination, various political jobs, as an author of a timeless classic-Ben Hur, then as the U.S. minister to Turkey where he became a close companion to the Sultan.

This great man died from the cause of stomach cancer from a lifetime of smoking on February 15, 1905 in his Crawfordsville home. He was mourned by his country and was later honoured by having a sculpture of himself placed in the National Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C- the only statue of a novelist in the hall and second person from Indiana to be rewarded with a spot in the great room.

General Lew Wallace wrote a novel so cherished and admired by the world that it has never been out of print since 1880, and made into films by the avid motion picture crowd…bringing his classic adventure to modern viewers. But it still does not do justice to the writing of Lew Wallace, who also wrote a few other historical tales but none so deeply loved as Ben Hur.

I also found interesting that the General became a “believer in God and Christ” while working on his most famous novel based on the life of Christ.