Review: Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

What a miserable collection of terrible people. Just simply the worst. Rarely am I so glad to get to the end of a book. I need at least one redeemable character, so I slogged on until the end, to be left wanting.

Glad to cross this classic off my list and move on to happier things! Well written but not enjoyable. 2 stars for longevity. No stars awarded for entertainment value.

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Review: The Amish Midwife

The Amish Midwife by Mindy Starns Clark
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Billed as Amish fiction, it's really just more of a backdrop for an adoption drama. It was still good, but not what I was expecting.

Lexie was adopted by Mennonite parents in Oregon, but she has broken from the church and works as a modern midwife in a hospital. She lost her mother at a young age and when her father dies, she finds a mysterious carved box containing clues to her birth mother's identity. This leads her to Pennsylvania, where she assists as a midwife to the Amish. Confused yet? Don't be. The real drama is about Lexie, discovering who she is and who she thinks she should be, and some needless plot twisting.

Lexie is annoying and shallow. She dates a doctor and makes several comments about his apparent wealth. She's childish and pretty unlikeable. Enough that I was tempted to take away a star, because I have to like my main character to enjoy a book. However, the complications and side plots kept me interested, and in the end I gave it a solid three stars.

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Review: Wolf Hall (Thomas Cromwell #1)

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Divorced, Beheaded, Died. Divorced, Beheaded, Survived. Thus went the wives of Henry VIII. Join me on a journey of Court intrigue with Thomas Cromwell as he works his way to chief minister to the King. Twisted relationships, archaic gender roles, and general historical treachery is headed your way. Hang on to your hats, because it's going to be a long, wild ride.

I enjoyed the history and the different perspective into Thomas Cromwell. The writing was strong, however I had to subtract a star because this book was not made for audio. I kept finding myself pausing to think, "Which Thomas is this? Cromwell, Wolsey, More? Or possibly Howard or Boleyn? Are we talking about King Henry or Henry Percy?" And don't get me started on Mary and Anne. I realize it's history and yes, everyone was named Thomas, Henry, Anne and Mary, but it made the audio experience especially hard to keep straight.

It was interesting to look at the decisions made because of the deeply entrenched patriarchal society. Would Henry have remained with Catherine in a different time? Was his fickleness driven by his need to retain a legitimate male heir, religion, or mere vanity? Would Henry have been a different ruler in a different time? The world will never know, but it's fun to speculate. Read this, then watch the excellent Wolf Hall on PBS. I enjoyed them both.

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Love Water Memory

Love Water Memory by Jennie Shortridge

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Amnesia. The power of memory. Love. Family. I'm going to be thinking about this book for a while. I really enjoyed it.

Lucie loses her memories. All of them. I can't even imagine. This book explores what might happen to your life if you had the slate wiped clean. Would you have the same interests? Mannerisms? Values? Would you love who you loved before? Such an interesting concept. Great book--I definitely recommend.



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Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables #1)

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I just loved this book! Excuse me while I pack my stuff to live on Prince Edward Island.

The characters, the setting--it was great. Anne is whimsical, and eccentric, and lovable. She's a whirlwind of ideas, and drama, and fun. Matthew and Marilla are the balance she needs, and she is the balance they need. It's funny, and sad, and just a true delight. Now I'm caught up in Avonlea and will be headed back to visit in the next book of the series.





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