Black Beauty by Anna SewellI LOVED this book as a little girl, even though I wasn't as obsessed with horses as so many of my friends were. There was something about the story and voice of Beauty that grabbed me as a kid.
I was a bit nervous to revisit this title as an adult. Sometimes when I reread books that I loved as a kid I roll my eyes a bit, you know? But that wasn't the case here! I think I might have loved this even more this time around. I got more from it in terms of the Victorian lifestyle, the commentary on politics and fair treatment.
This is definitely a book I want to read out loud to my kiddos in the future. I think it stands the test of time and remains a book that is meaningful and important.
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson BurnettSomeone tell me WHY I didn't read this a girl? I loved The Secret Garden, so this would have been a perfect companion to that!
I wasn't familiar with the story before I began reading. Essentially, the story is about little Sara Crewe-who is wealthy, loving, and imaginative at the start of the novel. Many of the other girls at boarding school think she's odd, as she is always imagining things....but, she eventually loses everything.
I really loved Sara's determination when things didn't go so well for her. She continued to persevere in her beliefs and actions until things were righted. At times, the book was a little cheesy, but it had that magical, mystical quality that I would have adored as a little girl. The story was heartfelt and touching...and I just fell in love with each and every character.
Brotherband Chronicles: The Invaders by John FlanaganI loved Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series, so I have been anxious for his newest series to come out. I read the first book in this series last fall, so I was happy to grab this one off the shelf back in July to revisit a world I love so much.
This series is set in a parallel time to the events in Ranger's Apprentice, which is something that really works. The action is non-stop and I love that the main characters are flawed in some ways. I particularly love that the main character in both series is a boy, and that he is not the "typical" macho boy. Both are intelligent, thin little guys who prove that they are more than what they appear.
Flanagan has definitely improved since his first book, and I was in love with the newest installment. The story picked right up where it left off, and I was anxiously turning the pages. I highly recommend both series if you are a fan of MG fantasy. You will not be disappointed!
Mansfield Park by Jane AustenI read this for Adam's Austen in August event....and never posted about it (Sorry Adam).
This has always been my least favorite Austen, but it had been so long since I'd read it, I forgot why it had that status. For this read, I just concentrated on taking it in slowly....and I found that I enjoyed it far more than I remembered. I think this one is incredibly different from Austen's other novels. The heroine is different from what the reader expects, which is why so many don't like this one as much. But I found that the more I paid attention to Fanny, the more I realized she was MORE than what she is made out to be. She has some keen insights and is actually more like me than some other Austen ladies.
The end result? I really enjoyed it! While it won't be my favorite Austen (my heart belongs to Persuasion), it definitely has a new place in my heart...and I appreciate it more than I ever have.
Well, I still have a quite a few books from the magical world of Harry Potter to discuss, but that will probably happen in longer posts. ;)
What have you guys been reading lately?
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