Book Review // The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie

This book is SO good. At first, for some ridiculous and (somewhat) unknown reason, I was dreading it’d be tedious and/or some sort of guilt trip, but I needn’t have worried. Once I started I gobbled it up in about two days (while camping in NV’s Black Rock Desert ;)). It’s straight up encouraging and inspiring and do-able. Everyone should read it and it’s definitely one every parent particularly should have stashed on their shelf. Or even better, out somewhere where it’s getting dog-eared and tripped over and referenced often.

The scope of the book covers various statistical points (on the importance of reading aloud and story in the life of a child both as regards education and development, etc.), but even more, it’s on shaping hearts and minds, building family bonds, shared history, and loyalty, and engendering a wide-awake, sprawling, deep vision of the world. Also (and especially helpful) lots of friendly, relaxed, down-to-earth, excellently unpreachy, from-the-trenches tips and ideas for how to actually go about it in a busy household. I don’t want to give away too many of the meaty bits or her excellent points, but here are a few gems:

“Fiction and nonfiction stories provide children of all ages an opportunity to experience what it feels like to be overwhelmed, struggle, fight, overcome, and emerge a hero. …When we read aloud, we give our kids practice living as heroes. Practice dealing with life-and-death situations, practice living with virtue, practice failing at virtue. As the characters in our favorite books struggle through hardship, we struggle with them. We consider whether we would be as brave, as bold, as fully human as our favorite heroes. And then we grasp—on a deeper, more meaningful level—the story we are living ourselves as well as the kind of character we will become as that story unfolds.”

“When I read a story with my children… the fog lifts, and I remember. I look up. I see it—that I am only one small part of a great, big, glorious world, and that the Maker of it exists—and has existed—always. That we are all part of His plan. That we have been invited to seek and follow Him, no matter what the situation. The book becomes a set of supercharged binoculars, helping us to see beyond our normal capacity.

“A story does this on its own without our having to say a word about it. Forget the whiteboard. Forget the didactic lesson. Forget the teaching points or the comprehension worksheets. When we’re telling our children the story of Jesus healing Jairus’s daughter, of curing the lepers, of raising Lazarus from the dead, we don’t need to wrap up the story with a trite explanation about how God is powerful, good, or merciful. We don’t have to add anything at all, because there it is—truth bubbling up out of the story. It is the story. When God pours down manna from the heavens, a child doesn’t need to be told that he will provide what we need right when we need it and not a moment before. We simply read the story, and our children feel the truth of it in their bones. This happens with true stories that are literal accounts (such as stories within the Gospels, or historical narratives), as well as true stories that aren’t meant to be literal at all (such as a myth or fairy tale).”

Plus, she’s got a plethora of tingly quotes tucked all throughout. Like this nugget:

“Fairy tales say that apples are golden only to refresh the forgotten moment when we found out they were green. They make rivers run with wine only to make us remember, for one wild moment, that they run with water.” G.K. Chesterton.

Or this one:

“When she was hardly more than a girl, Miss Minnie had gone away to a teacher’s college and prepared herself to teach by learning many cunning methods that she never afterward used. For Miss Minnie loved children and she loved books, and she taught merely by introducing the one to the other.” Wendell Berry, Watch with Me

Good, eh? Now off ye go to check it out and be sure to let me know what you think! ;)

Book Review // For the Children’s Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

This work comes from Francis Schaeffer’s daughter as she builds on and provides a warm, impassioned introduction to the works of Charlotte Mason, a wonderful educator and teacher with a vision for vibrant, Biblical, cultural change in the late 19th-early 20th centuries. Mason's philosophy isn't caught up in some sort of rosy bubble, out of touch with the shifting sands of a post-Christian world. To quote:

“Nor is a social revolution the only one pending. There is a horror of great darkness abroad, Christianity is on its trial; and more than that, the most elementary belief in, and worship of, Almighty God. The judgment to come, the resurrection of the body, the life everlasting,--these fundamental articles of a Christian’s faith have come to be pooh-poohed; and this, not only among profane persons and ungodly livers, but amongst people of reputation both for goodness and wisdom. And how are the young to be prepared to meet this religious crisis? In the first place, it is unwise to keep them in the dark as to the anxious questions stirring.” Macaulay quoting Mason, pp. 96

(Note, in the following I’m not really analyzing the method itself so much as reviewing this particular presentation of it, so by extension I’m presupposing some familiarity with her overarching approach/ideas. 😊)

Also, let me say right off the bat that many of the principles can be applied no matter what educational method you prefer. And it’s not just for parents and teachers. As Christ followers, we are to have a tender heart for overlooked, needy children all round us. Sometimes they just need one person in their life (be it uncle, aunt, grandparent, neighbor etc.) to come alongside, throwing open windows to the world and really listening to them. Even if the child is in a God-fearing, loving household, there can be all sorts of opportunities to come alongside and serve. There’s a lot of work to be done and we need to roll up our sleeves and figure out where we’ve been called to jump in.

I do love this approach for its respect of children as persons, made in God’s image. It’s big picture, it’s about raising thinkers, and it’s tremendously helpful in its integral approach (taking into consideration the simultaneous maturation of the child’s heart, mind, and body) in raising children who not only think outside little categorical boxes, but are unafraid to step out courageously in the pursuit of truth and virtue. Of course, every good, serious-minded Christian parent is heartily seeking the same goal, but Charlotte Mason’s ideas (with their strong emphasis on narration and storytelling, the tremendous -- never to be underestimated -- importance of play, the warm parent-child relationship, etc.) does seem to foster a very particular love of learning, an internalizing of the materials, of making broad connections, and finally a deep, vivid understanding of the world.

I love it’s imagery of spreading a feast before the little ones and then guiding them in delving in. Now (to pause a moment), this is where I think the methodology could be misinterpreted (i.e. that we’re to let the child run riot on the loaded table without direction or supervision), but if you stop and think about it the image is perfect. The table is groaning with good things, but there is still an ordered approach to feasting. Table manners must be learned. And properly understood (not applied with an iron fist) table manners lead to rich enjoyment. The focus becomes delight in the feast.

There are a few points in the book I don’t implicitly agree with (though honestly, at this point I can’t specify whether they’re Mason’s or Macaulay’s). And it’s not even that I disagree particularly with her conclusions or the underlying philosophy per se. The biggest one is I’d like to have seen a balancing section on the role of church authority and community in a child’s life (and by extension, leading into adulthood). I think the philosophy itself harmoniously fits with a proper understanding, but since it wasn’t expounded on it leaves a (very probably unintended) slightly lopsided presentation, specifically if someone set out to deliberately extrapolate some sort of autonomous individuality out of it. Again, I have to read Mason’s books themselves, but I’m pretty positive she would have concurred with the dangers of postmodern individualism. She was just operating under a very different society/community structure, which -- even if it was becoming the mere vestiges of the mighty cathedral it once was -- had yet been a robustly Christian framework. Mason (and Macaulay) are both vividly aware of the undermining of the entirety of Christian culture (in fact, that’s rather the whole point). So I don’t think it’s anything to do with the understanding or philosophy of either, just a slight imbalance in this particular book. And to be fair, Macaulay is also stressing/underlining the importance of acknowledging the personhood of each one of our children as God’s unique creation over against the wild errors in that regard running rampant in our modern world. So maybe it’s just a bit of overcompensation going on. It’s very slight too, so how much it jumps out at you probably also depends on the particular battle you’re fighting and your frame of reference.

I (might) also disagree in a couple small areas of application, but they aren’t really worth expounding on at the moment, as one of the great strengths of the whole approach to begin with is flexibility – which fits hand-in-glove with understanding and acknowledging the particular God-given calling of each family.

Sin is very real, and no one approach/method, especially if applied without discernment, is guaranteed to create all gladness and light (which I’m sure Mason understood). There is always the need for discipleship and discipline, with understanding. We must take the time to understand the child, know the heart of the child -- leading the little lambs back to their Shepherd, pointing them to Christ time and time again.

We are called to be Christ-centric. Not parent or child or even family-centric. Each has a hugely important, weighty, and glorious calling. But Christ and His kingdom must be the focus and center, and everything else falls into its proper place.

Our covenant children are little saints (born sinners under the same sun as us) given to us to bring alongside, training as warriors. The goal is mature children (not little adults -- we are called to guard their tender hearts in the process), but mature at each and every stage, right all the way up into adulthood. We’re all in this together. And we’re in the business of sharpening arrows.

"Let us save Christianity for our children by bringing them into allegiance to Christ, the King. How? How did the old Cavaliers bring up sons and daughters, in passionate loyalty and reverence for not too worthy princes? Their own hearts were full of it; their lips spake it; their acts proclaimed it; the style of their clothes, the ring of their voices, the carriage of their heads--all was one proclamation of boundless devotion to their king and his cause. . . what shall we say of 'the Chief among ten thousand, the altogether lovely'?" Macaulay quoting Mason, pp. 94

So beautiful…

As a final note, I’m doing this review slightly backwards as (if you’re new to Charlotte Mason’s ideas or just getting into them), there are a couple other titles I might recommend first, making this a kind of second, deeper introduction. That being said, it’s definitely a foundational educational classic with which to be acquainted and (if your library doesn’t have it) well worth purchasing for ongoing future reference. I can see myself reading it again in a few years and can already tell certain sections will be helpful to reread many times down the road. 😊

Hoping you're all having a lovely Saturday!

~Heidi

Have you ever heard of Charlotte Mason? I'd love to hear in the comments!

Book Review // Belle by Cameron Dokey

"My mother sat beside Papa, an arm around his waist as if to shore him up. "Drink your tea, Roger," she urged in a soft, firm voice. "You got caught in that rain squall this morning, didn't you? The tea will warm you up." My father took a sip, obediently, like a child. "I'm sorry to be such trouble," he said. "Papa," I said, shocked. "How can you talk so? We love you. How can anything we do for you trouble us?" The mug of tea slipped from my father's fingers, then bounced off the tabletop and smashed on the floor. Hot liquid and broken crockery shot every which way. None of us moved or made a sound. Our attention was riveted on my father's face, on the tortured expression in his eyes as they stared into mine. "Belle," my father said hoarsely, and I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise at his tone. "Ma petite Belle. I wonder if you will say that when you know what I have done." (excerpt)

"Belle is convinced she has the wrong name, as she lacks her sisters' awe-inspiring beauty. So she withdraws from society, devoting her time to wood carving. Secretly, Belle longs to find the fabled Heartwood Tree. If carved by the right hands, the Heartwood will reveal the face of one's true love.

"During a fierce storm, Belle's father stumbles upon the mysterious Heartwood -- and encounters a terrifying and lonely Beast. Now Belle must carve the Heartwood to save her father, and learn to see not with the eyes of her mind, but with the eyes of her heart." (summary)

I read this book all in one sitting early this week and quite relished it. Well over half the book actually takes place well before the Beast ever enters in, but for all that, it included some of my favorite parts. I really enjoyed Dokey's spin on Belle's family: with the caring parents and the realistic relationship between the sisters -- bickering sometimes, but genuinely loving one another hard even in the toughest times.

Her descriptions are delicious, and round various little twists in the story there are unexpected quips or turns of phrase that catch you by surprise with sheer delight.

I also love how she chose to portray the Beast... Leaving his appearance definite yet shrouded in mystery, since Belle honestly can't look him in the face *SPOILERS* till the end. ;) My one caveat is that the story does wrap up rather quickly after that happens, but it's yet all so rich and refreshing and delightfully charming, that it quite makes up for it.

In the end -- fresh with the wind off the sea and spring rain on green hills and the light of stars in the water -- and a heroine who will dare anything for those she loves -- it's thoroughly enjoyable and altogether lovely!

Tell me! Have you read Belle? Or any other books by Cameron Dokey?

(Reviewed for Meredith's Beauty & The Beast Week and also my first book read and reviewed for the ARC.)

Book Review // Lost Lake House by Elisabeth Grace Foley

(Gorgeous cover, yes?)

First for the official story summary:

"The Twelve Dancing Princesses meets the heady glamor and danger of the Jazz Age...

"All Dorothy Perkins wants is to have a good time. She’s wild about dancing, and can’t understand or accept her father’s strictness in forbidding it. Night after night she sneaks out to the Lost Lake House, a glamorous island nightclub rumored to be the front for more than just music and dancing…in spite of an increasingly uneasy feeling that she may be getting into something more than she can handle.

"Marshall Kendrick knows the truth behind the Lost Lake House—and bitterly hates his job there. But fear and obligation have him trapped. When a twist of circumstances throws Dorothy and Marshall together one night, it may offer them both a chance at escaping the tangled web of fear and deceit each has woven…if only they are brave enough to take it."

This is actually my first book from Elisabeth Grace Foley and I already can't wait to start in on my next. Intriguing, glamorous, and fascinating, I was almost immediately caught in the whirl of the story and then promptly couldn't put it down.

As a note, I think Foley did a great job handling various themes of the story (i.e. obedience and disobedience, courage and cowardice, etc.) from a thoroughly Christian perspective yet without being 'preachy'. Altogether quite beautifully done....

Avoiding spoilers, I won't go into a ton of details, but I will say that the blossoming friendship between Two Certain People was one of my favorite things ever -- and I thought, too, slightly reminiscent (in setting, with the pines and the lake and the car, etc.) of Barney and Valancy's story in Montgomery's Blue Castle. In short, it's perfect, realistic, and absolutely darling.

I also found quite a few new favorite lines, so here are just a handful for a teaser taste:

“A breeze blew in through the open window, brushing the light curtains gently against her bare arms. It seemed to carry the spirit of gypsy adventure on its wings—”

"Dorothy set her mother’s dainty dimpled chin in an expression that belonged to her father. “All right,” she said, “I’ll be there.”

"There was a streak of something hard and real and true about him—he had experienced the reality of life in a way that flirting, thoughtless crowd she had followed on the ferry and in the ballrooms never had. Perhaps that was why it was no difficulty to talk to him, even though they were strangers; he knew how to speak to the point and about things that mattered."

"For the third time that night, Dorothy felt the stinging of tears in her eyes. She had the sudden impulsive feeling that she would have liked to hug him—but only if he had been a few years younger than she was, for as they were it wouldn’t do."

“If he says he will, he will,” said Dorothy. “That’s one good thing about him: he’s as straight as a line. He always keeps his word.”

~     ~     ~

So yes, evocative and engaging, I was riveted from beginning to end, thoroughly enjoyed it, and am now most happy to highly recommend it! :)

Tell me! Have you read or are you planning to read Lost Lake House?

(I received a free ebook of this story in exchange for my honest review.)

Book Review // Before Midnight by Cameron Dokey

First a quick summary of my own: When Etienne de Brabant’s wife dies in childbirth, he cannot bear to see his infant daughter, La Cendrillon. But before he turns his back on her, he brings a little boy -- whose identity remains hidden -- to be raised alongside her. La Cendrillon and the boy, Raoul, grow up together. Then Etienne remarries, sending his new wife and stepdaughters to live at the great stone manor house above the sea: the stone manor house where wishes spring to life and all still lies stubbornly barren over a bitter grave…

With wonderful characters and unique twists to the Cinderella story, this is a delightfully thought-provoking and fun rendition of the story. I have a few small caveats (mostly to do with pacing), but as I think overall they stem from the demands of being in a series, the enjoyments pretty thoroughly outweigh them. 

#1: I loved her twist with the stepmother and sisters, more especially as I think it has definite overtones from Ever After. :) So with the stepmother, everything from her fair skin and dark hair to the very play of action as she first enters the story. Also, I always feel like the Baroness in EA could have gone a different way (and initially might have, if Danielle’s father had been alive to gentle her), but instead she closes herself up in bitterness and then that root grows, propelling her downward. So to me Chantal de Saint-Andre here is that glimmering “might have been” -- only more so. 

#2: And no spoilers, but I heartily love the entire puzzle and ensuing conflict revolving around (and from) Raoul. Some key bit was hovering in my brain the whole time I was reading, but I still might not have caught it if I hadn’t been gearing up to read Wuthering Heights this month… There are some very definite Heathcliff elements to his character! Both in his very situation and also his fiery, passionate, vehemently restrained, fierce-yet-grinning-under-the-lash personality. And I don’t think it’s too much of a spoiler to say that it all pretty much inverts, which is delightfully lovely. ;)

Throughout, there are some beautiful, unexpected little nuggets (a lot, actually). But here are two of my favorites:

“Old Mathilde’s spoon circled in the pot like a hawk after a mouse. “What makes you think that responsibility lies with you alone?” she asked. “You made a wish, that much is true, but you did not wish for anyone to be made unhappy. You made a wish for love. In my experience, such wishes have a way of coming true in the end, which is not the same as saying the journey isn’t difficult and long.”

“Remember what you promised yourself, Cendrillon, I thought fiercely. Never regret love.”

So yes, in conclusion this is a fun, highly enjoyable read with characters I’m now thoroughly pleased to count as friends!!

Tell me! Have you read this story? If not, are you interested?

Book Review // Mara: Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

I finished Hamlet last week and I’m working on marshaling my thoughts somewhat for a post, but meanwhile (starting this week off a bit under the weather) I was blessed with some unusually long extra hours of reading time and chose to delve into Mara. Twice through in two days, back to back and cover to cover. (Which, lest the point escape you ;), is a high honor reserved for only the most incredibly loved of favorite stories.)

I first heard about this book when I was about twelve so, as you can see, it took me a ridiculous amount of time to actually get to it! But most thankfully I now have and, in short, I’m utterly and completely head-over-heels. Seriously, it fits right in with some of my favorite stories of all time, the ones I’ve loved since I was about 10 to 13: i.e. Caroline Dale Snedeker’s books set in Greece and Rome (and Nantucket), Margaret Leighton’s Journey for a Princess, Beverly Butler’s Song of the Voyageur, Jean Bothwell’s books in India -- those ones that, looking back, have shaped me most, given me parameters of comfort in my own writing, helped me see. And, perhaps because I’ve always mentally associated it with those others (though I hadn’t yet read it), Mara now slides similarly right into their lofty ranks. I honestly hadn’t thought I’d really find another story to ever join them in quite the same way, but I was wrong.

It’s a wonderful feeling.

Here’s for a short summary from the dustjacket: “On an escapade in the marketplace in Menfe, Mara, the mistreated slave of a wealthy jewel trader, attracts the notice of a mysterious white-hooded man who buys her to use as a spy in the service of Queen Hatshepsut, half-sister of Thutmose. On the Nile river boat, The Silver Beetle, Mara becomes acquainted with Sheftu, a youth who describes himself as 'a scribe’s apprentice' but is in reality Lord Sheftu, leader of the movement to depose the profligate queen and to put Thutmose on the throne of Egypt. Sheftu also decides to employ Mara as a go-between at court for himself and Thutmose.”

And I’m sorry, they go on to give some tremendous (and I mean tremendous) spoilers, so that’s really all I can share of that, but suffice to say the whole story is rich and gripping and vibrant, moving purposely forward with layers upon layers of sparkling brilliance and complexity. And, fresh and vivid -- with a flavor of swirling intrigue in the very manner of the telling -- it’s all most deftly and superbly rendered, with an easy tossing back and forth of narrative like a juggler’s golden balls. 

There isn’t a single superfluous character and -- while it’s rich with detail -- it’s all utterly and perfectly balanced. Listen to this description: 

“He grinned down at Mara, and her retort died on her lips. As he turned to murmur something to Nekonkh, she struggled to regain her composure. What was it about his smile? Its warmth? Its sudden intimacy? It rushed to the head like strong wine.

“She was aware of nothing but him, as he stood there outlined against the noisy, torchlit room. All day she had nerved herself for this meeting, fearing to find him again the curt and glittering stranger he had been in the lotus garden. Now, all in a moment, her fears had vanished. Here was no gold-hung lord, but her companion of the Beetle—warm, teasing, dangerous. Her spirits rose like a sail.”

There isn’t a single moment where Mara herself changes all at once. It’s imperceptible. You can feel it happening. As for Sheftu. . . he now fits right in with some of my favorite heroes: the strong and silent men with a mission -- serious, passionate and hard to read, yet oft-times showing a gentleness, flashing forth too with a startling, winged smile -- Mr. Thornton (Gaskell’s N&S), Baudouin (Leighton’s Journey for a Princess), Bjorn (Sutcliff’s The Shield Ring) Barney Snaith (Montgomery’s Blue Castle), and Cedric in my own WIP.

As for the romance. . . Obviously, the political overcurrent of intrigue intensifies the romance between them (creating even further depth in all the running under and cross currents of their purposes and desires), but -- what I’m also getting at -- is that you can see the romance by their choices and actions -- by what they are and are not doing, what they are or are not saying to others -- and then it makes the actual moments between them so razor sharp and intense! It’s breathtaking.

Of course, I love immersing myself in the ancient world -- here particularly Egypt, Egyptian history, and archaeology -- but I think I’d love Mara anyway. The characters (major and minor), the fluidity of the narrative and the evocative language, the beautifully crafted conflict, the intensity, the romance. . . it’s all magnificent.

So yes, it most definitely has my thorough and ongoing stamp of full love and approval, has joined my top favorites, and I’m quite certain will be read again and again and again!!! :)

Tell me! Have you read Mara and what did you think?

Book Review // An Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye

Livia, Jenelle, and Jessica all three recommended this to me before the Cinderella Week so, of course, I promptly had to place a hold for it on interlibrary loan. And I’m so happy I did! A children’s short chapter book, I read it in one afternoon last week and, honestly, I haven’t laughed over a book this much in a Very Long Time.

In tone and content it reminds me a lot of Howard Pyle’s Wonder Clock and also A.A. Milne’s Ugly Duckling play (which you can read in full here). Thoroughly charming and evocative, the pictures are also reminiscent of Pyle. Sadly, I don’t think the copy I read (the same as pictured) had all the original illustrations, but the ones it did have were delightful! 

Now for my initial major concern before reading it. *coughs* In short I love ‘beautiful princess’ stories, so I thought it might tend toward being one of those overtly ‘moralistic’ tales (I’ve run across a number of those over the years and -- no offense, intended -- they’re really just not my thing), but as it turns out, in this case I needn’t have worried in the slightest. The stereotypically beautiful princesses are portrayed as being more ‘boring’ than otherwise, but they’re still good and true, etc., while the ordinary princess herself has a good spice of naughtiness and impish mischief. So it’s definitely not a categorical dissertation on/forced contrast between inner and outer beauty.

I wouldn’t strictly call it a Cinderella retelling, but there are some definite Cinderella-ish threads -- particularly the princess having animal friends, taking a job for a while as a kitchen maid, sleeping in an attic, etc., and (later) the stressed importance of the prince/king choosing a wife. I think the scriptwriters and directors of the 2015 film most certainly read/studied it, making some stunning, ever-so-much-more-so bows to it in places, especially with the running inclusion of the Lavender’s Blue ballad, the strong presence of the forest, the whole equation of mistaken identities, the princess ultimately marrying a king, and so on. 

Here’s a fun little excerpt from the very beginning to give you an idea of the style (and note, the ‘king’ here is her father):

“I can only repeat,” said the King stubbornly, “that to invite fairies to a christening is asking for trouble. And getting it,” he added gloomily. “Speaking for myself,” said the King, “I’d far rather ask several man-eating tigers. You may have forgotten what happened to my great-great-great-grandmother, but I have not. Had to sleep for a hundred years, poor girl, and the entire court with her, and all because of some silly fairy-business at the christening.”

“But Your Majesty forgets,” put in the Prime Minister, “that the unfortunate episode you refer to was due to gross neglect and carelessness. History tells us that an influential fairy was not invited. But on this occasion I, personally, will take the greatest possible care that no such calamity occurs again.” And the Prime Minister tried to look very uncareless indeed.

“The Lord High Chamberlain hastened to add that no single member of King Oberon’s court would be omitted from the list of guests: “And we must not forget,” he pointed out, “that as Her Majesty has said, these—er—persons have it in their power to bestow the most valuable of gifts. For your daughter’s sake—” urged the Lord High Chamberlain.

“Oh, all right, all right,” said the King peevishly. “Don’t let’s go over all that again. But you mark my words,” he said, “I’d much rather have a nice silver-plated christening mug from a nice solid baron than some chancy thing like Unfading Beauty from a tricky creature with wings and a wand! Besides,” said the King, “who’s to tell that some tiresome fairy won’t get out of the wrong side of her bed that day and give my daughter Perpetual Bad Temper instead? Answer me that!”

~     ~     ~

So yes, altogether sweet and fun, this is one I’d love to reread and eventually add to my collection!

Tell me! Have you read An Ordinary Princess and what did you think? 

Favorite Cinderella's Round the World

Along with many other fairy tales and legends (St. George and the Dragon comes to mind), Cinderella pops up in different forms yet with wildly similar details all over the world. Along with this, there are probably hundreds of beautiful picture book renditions. I’ve read or dipped into a good many over the years and these are my six top favorites!

 

The Persian Cinderella by Shirley Climo

Originally one of the tales in the Arabian Nights, this is my Favorite Cinderella Storybook Of All Time. (In fact, it’s one of my absolutely favorite books entirely. ;D)

Full of gorgeous mantles… and turbans… and pearls… and sweeping dark hair… and with a sweet heroine, Settareh (i.e. ‘Cinderella’), it's absolutely beautiful! (And… they’re Persian. And the prince has a dark beard. Sooo… yes. In short, enough said. ;))

The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirley Climo

One of the world’s oldest Cinderella stories -- based on both fact and legend -- the story of 'Rhodopis and The Rose-red Slippers' was first recorded by the Roman historian Strabo in the first century A.D. While the slippers may have been a later addition, there is historical record that the Pharaoh Amasis (570-526 B.C.) did, indeed, marry a Greek slave girl, making her his queen. 

And… since you all know my fascination for archaeology/ancient history, it’s probably fairly obvious why this quite beautifully illustrated rendition of the story makes my absolute favorites list. ;)

Adelita: A Mexican Cinderella Story by Tomie dePaola

This version (especially if you love Tomie dePaola’s work) is cute and sweet and altogether entirely charming.

(And I apologize. This picture doesn't quite do the cover justice. :P)

The Salmon Princess: An Alaska Cinderella Story by Mindy Dwyer

With lyrical prose and authentic illustrations genuinely capturing the very flavor of the Pacific Northwest, this is an original, touching (and also quite hilarious) retelling of Cinderella. (It’s also my brother’s favorite. He loves it! ;))

Smoky Mountain Rose: An Appalachian Cinderella by Alan Schroeder

Down-to-earth and full of fun, it’s impossible to read this one without ending up laughing somewhere. (And as for Rose’s party dress…! Soft blue and Edwardian, with an edging of lace -- elegant yet practical -- it's sweet and utterly beautiful!)

Domitila: A Cinderella Tale from the Mexican Tradition adapted by Jewell Reinhart Coburn

Yet another Cinderella from the Spanish-Mexican tradition (and actually one of the first I read), it’s also currently my dad’s favorite (as well as sister Arwen's :)). Reading it again, I noticed just how much emphasis in it is placed on the tangible -- beauty and goodness flowing out the fingertips. It’s lovely!

Tell me! Have you read any of these? If not, which do you find most intriguing? :)

Book Review // Before Midnight: A Cinderella Retelling by Cameron Dokey // Guest post by Ekaterina

Before Midnight: A Cinderella Retelling by Cameron Dokey ~ Guest post by Ekaterina

How do you know about yourself? What are your stories? The ones you tell yourself, and the ones told by others. All of us begin somewhere. Though I suppose the truth is that we begin more than once; whether our lives are short or long. Until at last our beginnings come down to just one end, and the tale of who we are is done.

After reading those very first words of the book, I think that is when I was drawn into the book. The yarn then started to wrap around me so that I couldn’t get out of the story. 

I liked how Cinderella was known as La Cendrillon in this retelling. In a lot of fairytales, it is hard for me to connect with the main character, since they usually appear perfect, which I am not. I like reading stories with perfect characters, but I don’t usually feel connected with the characters. That is how I felt toward La Cendrillon during the second part of the book. This was probably because the book finished rather quickly. For the first part of the book, I felt as if I did connect with La Cendrillon. She lived in the country and got her hands dirty with gardening, for example. She had her struggles and I was able to identify with her because of those struggles.

There is another important character in the book that makes this retelling different than the original story. His name is Raoul. He was brought to La Cendrillon’s house at the beginning of the novel by her father and does not know who he is or who his parents are. This becomes a struggle for him as he grows older because he continually wishes to go on in life, but feels like he can’t because he doesn’t know who he is.

Unlike the original story of Cinderella, which portrays the stepmother as evil, and the stepsisters as mean, this story really shows only one stepsister being mean and later on gives the reason why. I liked the stepmother in this book because she was not cruel like I expected her to be from the other stories, but was suffering from a marriage with no love…which brings me to probably the main reason why this book was enjoyable. 

I loved how love was shown in the book. Everything that the characters did, seemed to happen because of their love. For example, La Cendrillon’s father despises her because he believes she caused the death of her mother, who he loved so much. Here is one statement mentioned about love in the book, 'Love so joyfully and freely given can never be taken away. It is never truly gone.' I think that this statement accurately shows perhaps the message of love throughout the book. The more I think about it, this retelling is a story of love and not just the type of love between a boy and a girl.

I would give this 4 out of 5 stars because it was a really beautiful and sweet story, but the book ended a tad too fast, which is why one star is missing. If you like a sweet story that is a quick read, I would definitely recommend this book. :)

Thanks Heidi for letting me participate in this party!

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Note from Heidi: Thank you so much for sharing, Ekaterina!  I'm getting most intrigued about this retelling and looking forward to reading it! :)

Cinderella Party: Persuasion by Jane Austen // Guest post by Jessica Prescott

Persuasion by Jane Austen

A guest post by Jessica Prescott

Before I begin, I’d really like to thank Heidi for allowing me to do this guest post on Persuasion for Cinderella Week—it’s such a wonderful honor! Persuasion has been my favorite Jane Austen novel, hands down, ever since the day I read those gorgeous final scenes for the first time as a teenage girl. (And no, I don’t just refer to “The Letter”—although that was obviously a huge part of it ;-) ) To this day, Persuasion remains one of the most powerful love stories I’ve ever read; and I firmly believe it is Austen’s best work. Until Heidi included it in her Cinderella Week list, however, I never thought of it as a “Cinderella story” in any way. 

I see now, however, that this novel is, most definitely, a Cinderella story—perhaps one of the most beautifully written Cinderella stories ever to grace the world of fiction. (Which shouldn’t surprise anyone, I suppose . . . we are dealing with Jane Austen, after all.) I probably won’t be able to cover all its Cinderella-like elements in this post, but I’ll try to hit the most important ones. 

First, we have the most important feature of any Cinderella story—a beautiful, kind-hearted, but completely undervalued and mistreated heroine. Voila. Anne Elliot. 

Although nobody around her recognizes it, Anne is truly beautiful—actually, she’s the Austen heroine that I have the most vivid mental picture of, thanks to Austen’s short but evocative description in chapter 1: “delicate features and mild dark eyes.” Personally, I always imagine her looking somewhat like a young Enya: 

(With a different haircut, naturally ;-) )

Besides her outward beauty, Anne is also genuinely kind, sweet, loving, and gentle—astonishingly so, in fact, given the treatment she’s received all her life. Neither her father nor her two sisters care anything about her; but she’s always doing something for them, trying to help them out and make them more comfortable. She seems to be one of those characters who just want to be kind and helpful to others, whether the favor is returned or not. Obviously, a deeply admirable trait—and a very “Cinderella-like” one as well. After all, isn’t Cinderella always busy working for her stepmother and stepsisters, even though they do nothing whatsoever to show their gratitude? 

What about the “evil stepmother” element? At first glance, it seems that Austen has replaced the evil stepmother with an evil stepfather—and although Sir Walter isn’t technically a “stepfather,” he is unquestionably evil. Here he has a daughter who is quite possibly the nicest character in the history of British literature, and he shows not the smallest bit of affection for her or concern for her welfare. On the contrary, he is always trying to make her feel worthless—leaving her behind when he takes Elizabeth to London, refusing her money, making fun of her friends . . . the list goes on and on. To say nothing of the fact that he does his best to ruin her entire life by refusing his consent to her earlier match with Wentworth—okay, I’ll stop now. Suffice it to say that I hate the man. 

However. An argument can be made (Heidi was the first to point this out to me) that Lady Russell is something of an “evil stepmother” figure as well. I, personally, think she definitely is. Not just because she fulfills the “evil stepmother” function by being an obstacle in the way of Anne’s relationship with her “prince,” but because she is also a deeply flawed character. Not truly “evil” in the way Sir Walter and Mr. Elliot are—but still. I think she’s much more than just a good person who happens to make some mistakes (as Anne, for example, regards her). In my opinion, Lady Russell makes what are called “culpable mistakes.” In other words, she makes Mistakes She Should Not Have Made. She makes mistakes because there’s something seriously wrong with her character, something she would do well to fix before any more time elapses. Namely—the desire for control. Lady Russell’s real motive (whether she admits it to herself or not) is to run Anne’s life, to make all her choices for her. And that’s just wrong. Even though she believes that she knows what’s best for Anne, it’s still wrong to try to force another person’s choices. Yes, I know she regarded Anne as a daughter and all that, but once your daughter (or your son) has reached adulthood, you absolutely have to step aside and give them control of their own destiny. You can’t live their lives for them. 

So . . . that was a bit of an Anti-Russell Rant. Let’s move on to happier subjects. Like the Prince. Otherwise known as Captain Frederick Wentworth. 

And is he ever a prince. Captain Wentworth will always have a special place in my heart—and I think in the hearts of almost all Austen fans—for his fiery, passionate nature, his unbending loyalty, and his genuine sweetness and humility. (The guy even agrees to be friends with Lady Russell, folks. Now that’s charity.) Oh—and he has dark eyes that glow. Like, they actually glow. Go read “The Letter” scene again and you’ll see what I’m talking about. 

By the way, Captain Wentworth is a hard guy to match with a picture. I know how he should look, but there aren’t many actors out there who fit the bill. The only person I know of who actually “works”—to my mind anyway—is Ioan Gruffudd:

(Watch out, Mr. Elliot; he has a sword and he knows how to use it. ;-) ) 

Interestingly, the usual Cinderella pattern is turned upside down here—Anne and Wentworth do come from completely different “worlds” (social positions), but this time it’s Anne who has the high status and Captain Wentworth who is the apparent nobody. Initially, at any rate—once Wentworth makes his fortune and Anne’s family loses theirs, the roles are reversed yet again . . . But yes. The girl and her prince meet, they fall in love, they plan to get married . . . and then they’re swept apart. Just like in all Cinderella stories. But here, the separation doesn’t just last a couple of days or weeks. Instead, Anne and Wentworth are divided for eight long years. 

(I don’t like thinking about that part. It hurts.) 

And when they meet again, of course, the “stepmother” (Lady Russell) is still trying to throw obstacles in the way of their relationship. (I hate how she tries to persuade Anne to accept Mr. Elliot. Never mind that she “didn’t know” how bad he was. She has no business trying to make Anne’s choices for her.) And of course, we have Henrietta and Louisa Musgrove as well, whom (as Heidi also pointed out) can easily been seen as another pair of “stepsisters.” Don’t they remind you of Cinderella’s sisters fighting over the glass slipper to try and win the prince? “Oh, it will surely fit my foot—no, it will surely fit my foot!” 

But . . . fortunately . . . Henrietta marries Charles Hayter, Louisa goes off with Captain Benwick, and Wentworth finally realizes that he still loves Anne and—equally important—that she still loves him. And then . . . we come to everybody’s favorite part. The Letter Scene. 

This is, of course, the counterpart of the “slipper fits” scene in a real Cinderella story. And it’s every bit as thrilling, romantic, beautiful and—ultimately—satisfying. Not just the words of the letter itself (although they’re absolutely phenomenal) but just the way the whole thing is written. Listen: 

“. . . and instantly crossing the room to the writing table, and standing with his back towards Mrs. Musgrove, he drew out a letter from under the scattered paper, placed it before Anne with eyes of glowing entreaty fixed on her for a moment, and hastily collecting his gloves, was again out of the room, almost before Mrs. Musgrove was aware of his being in it . . .” 

*swallows hard* 

Is that not complete and utter gorgeousness? (Told ya his eyes glowed, by the way.) 

Finally, Cinderella and her prince are together again. Finally, Anne Elliot has someone who loves her—truly loves her—the way she deserves to be loved. Finally, Lady Russell and Sir Walter have both been put in their proper places. And finally, we have reached the end of another glorious Jane Austen romance—which also happens to be one of the best Cinderella stories of all time. 

I love Persuasion. I don’t think I shall ever stop loving it.

(Thanks again, Heidi—I had so much fun!)

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Note from Heidi: Thank you so much, Jessica!! I love this!! ;)

Book Review: The Princess and The Prince by V.H. Stringer

“The King of Brookshire has died, leaving his seventeen-year-old daughter Maria in possession of the throne. Dark secrets lie buried in the most unlikely places. Loyalty is stretched to the breaking point. Lives are at stake. In this dramatic retelling of the classic Cinderella story, nothing is as it seems.”

So, this all started last summer when a dear friend of mine published a book. As a setting of one of my favorite classic fairytales, I knew I wanted to read it as soon as I could and accordingly, last summer it accompanied me on my road trip across the country. I’ve now read it a total of about three times! (And a quick note before we get properly started: I’m reviewing the first edition here, but Victoria is also planning a second edition with a few changes.) 

But now for my thoughts! *Warning: there will be spoilers in the following.*

The Princess and the Prince is about love and friendship, and it’s about friendship as the foundation of love. Exploring fear, uncertainty, and betrayal, it’s also full to the brim and running over with faithfulness and forgiveness. 

The narrative moves between the main characters, but the ending is never a foregone conclusion. Instead, with several surprising plot twists, the tension skillfully mounts to the riveting climax—a climax thoroughly and completely satisfying. Going through depths of heartache and loss, the story reaches finally to an earthshaking joy. 

Through it all, I keep returning to this quote midway through the book, pulling so much of it together:

“…She had been grateful. She had called it friendship. Was friendship a meaningless word? Had she lied? Had she called herself Charles’s friend flippantly? She had felt serious and deep and mature when she had said it. And now she saw that her thoughts had been empty. What exactly was Maria Hale’s definition of friendship? Cheerful conversation, comforting words, smiles, laughter, good memories? Where was the other side of reality in that picture?” 

The descriptions throughout are excellent. Here's another favorite quote:

“If he didn't leave the room soon, he would start a war. 

…Adam reached his bedroom, shut the door behind him and turned the key in the lock. His first thought was to find something to throw—something that would shatter satisfyingly against the mantel of his fireplace or the stone hearth.”

The texture there is delightful… I love it!

The prince and princess are both wonderful—perfect and perfectly flawed—while the romance between them is utterly beautiful—fresh, real and lovely. And the ending…the ending is superb, but any more on that score would be way too much of a spoiler!! ;)

In conclusion, full of uncertainty and change, a romance exploring the true meaning of friendship and forgiveness, a longer retelling of a fairytale (retaining still the shining mystery at its heart), The Princess and the Prince is an entire joy from beginning to end—I highly recommend it!

(It’s available here. Also be sure to check out Victoria’s blog at Hopewriter: Reading, Writing, Loving Stories.)

Book Review: Emma by Jane Austen

Jane Austen’s Emma is viewed by some as highly irritating—and by others as being arguably her finest novel.

I’ve always felt it was slightly different and couldn’t figure out why…but (since first picking it up at about fourteen :-) and progressing through various subsequent stages from irritation to enthusiasm), I’ve run across some most intriguing clues as to some of the possible why’s and wherefore’s of the difference.

First of all, Austen is always definitively and recognizably Austen, but—almost in how Elizabeth Gaskell was later playing with her style in North and South—I think Austen was doing something similar in Emma.

To begin with, she offers very little narrative commentary. Of course, in all her writing she’s most deftly and masterfully using character and action (which is part of why it’s so amazing!), but in Emma—to a quite incredible degree—she really seems to let the characters speak for themselves—saying (or observing) almost everything that has to be seen or said.

All the relationships are also very natural and understated—indeed almost offhand—taken for granted (except that they very much aren’t). Relationships are built years before the story starts so that when it does all the situations and tensions are already of longstanding. Everyone knows each other extremely well (or thinks they do)—but even when they don’t, there’s a ready familiarity between them; and all of it’s done with a very familial tone—family members and old friends left and right in need of direction, communication, charity, and love. Even the lover in Emma is a brotherly figure!

Emma has the distinction of having the only section from a man’s point of view (that I can think of) in all Austen’s work. Men are closely described, write letters, and have long dialogue passages in her other books, but (except for perhaps a very brief paragraph with Sir Bertram at the end of Mansfield Park), I think Chapter 41 in Emma (the alphabet box/‘blunder’ scene) told from Mr. Knightley’s perspective, stands alone as being narrated from within a male character—showing his thoughts and cogitations. 

As an heiress, Emma has a fortune of 30,000£ (equal to Miss Darcy’s in P&P!) and bright and headstrong, she sets out to order her world according to her own desires. (And a note: generally I try not to mix book and movie reviews, but this aspect was brought out superbly in the ’09 film with their inclusion of Emma’s dolls and the line from Milton. Very well done, indeed!)

At the same time, while Emma likes to think of herself (and as she does) set the tone and manners, when it comes to men particularly she is very influenced by her company. She’s always analyzing different men’s qualities and personalities: her father, Mr. John Knightley, Frank, Mr. Weston, Mr. Elton, Mr. Martin, (Mr. Dixon), and Mr. Knightley (about whom there is much to be said ;-)). Ultimately, there are two main figures battling for sway over her: the false lover (who is dishonest even in the level of interest he shows) and the true lover who honestly refuses to give up on her, loving her through and through—challenging her with a zealous, tenacious love.

His love for her—and hers for him—shapes her even before she’s aware of it. It’s remarkable how almost incessantly she actually thinks about him—measuring her opinions against his. Her very definition of a man is clearly shaped by him.

And the goodness of Emma ultimately comes when Emma, seeking to control her world, comes to realize she can’t—can’t box things up and can’t order the lives of those around her. That is for God and God alone. (In this regard, Emma—as a story—is pretty amazing: on the one hand stressing the importance of respecting others’ God-given lives and particular callings, and yet—by definition—emphasizing each person’s responsibility towards and connectedness to everyone else!) 

So as life around Emma desperately begins spinning out of control, as everything is slipping through her fingers, she finally realizes the full truth—both of what she’s done and to whom her heart belongs. Love—coming as a shock completely unarranged and unexpected—gives her world its final turn upside down (or rather right side up). And seeing the truth of her love and waywardness of errors, she turns and begins bearing fruit before her gardener (speaking metaphorically) returns from his trip to London near the end. And, of course, he does return—and love is wonderfully—incredibly—requited by love.

Yet for both of them, true love isn’t blind passion. Honesty, truth, and forbearance are the strong foundation for all their sudden, bewildering, breathtaking passion and desires. And in the truth of their love—rejoicing in the goodness of the loved one given by God in His perfect ways and time—each would contend humbly and gratefully that all of it is undeserved—all is a richness of blessing.

Book Review ~ Persuasion by Jane Austen

Quietly reflective in tone—yet ultimately joyful—Persuasion introduces Anne Elliot, Jane Austen’s maturest heroine.

In many regards, it’s a Cinderella story. Several figures can be seen as fulfilling the step-mother role—the insensitive and ungrateful Sir Walter, the well-meaning Lady Russell, and the anti-hero Mr. Elliot. There are even two sets of “step-sisters”—one pair undervaluing Anne, the other stepping between her and the prince. Anne joins her prince (a prince who has some flaws of his own to overcome) near the beginning. There’s a separation and—ultimately—he has to find her again.

Through it all, Anne’s sweetness and maturity show forth the beauty of waiting done well. There is a richness and fullness that comes with actively living through providentially timed waiting. And while the prince is still coming to recognize his flaws—Cinderella is serving. Everyone depends on Anne. Gentle and quiet yet able to speak her mind—clear-sighted—with gratitude, honesty, humility, wisdom, and a touch of humor—Anne is absolutely beautiful.

In its entirety, Persuasion is less about persuasion per se as it is about maturity, wisdom, discernment, and judgment. Duty is a major theme. It’s definitely tremendously important to Anne, and interestingly enough, would be a major factor in the world of the navy, which itself plays such a particularly definitive role in the story.

In the end, when the prince does recognize his princess—and she has safely escaped the designs of the villain—both see their union as a gift. Anne was guarded from Mr. Elliot by her love for Wentworth while Wentworth himself says, “I must learn to brook being happier than I deserve.” In His perfect timing, God always uses ways and means to bring a man and woman together in marriage, but at the same time that union—if accepted with humility and entered into faithfully—is always a gracious and undeserved gift.

So of all Austen’s books, Persuasion often ties for first in my list of favorites! And as a side-note, the conversation at the White Hart between Captain Harville and Anne (with Wentworth writing) is probably my single favorite scene out of all her work. With regard to both structure and content, it’s a tingly masterpiece!