A ROOM OF MY OWN by Ann Tatlock is a very good book. It took
me awhile to see where Mrs. Tatlock was going with this, mainly because her
style is so complete. There are many
round characters, especially the narrator Virginia (a young teen girl), her
mother, and father. Also well developed are Virginia’s best friend Charlotte
and her mother.
The story takes place during the Great Depression and
includes Virginia’s family sharing their home with another family because the
father was out of work. There’s a “hobo” town made up of people without work or
means. There’s also a strike, and many tidbits about life as it was then.
Virginia’s father is a doctor, and he’s a doctor because “it makes him happy.”
He’s the kind of doctor you would want to be your doctor.
This is a story of necessity and sacrifice, lemonade, and
childish fun. It’s also a coming-of-age story for both Virginia and Charlotte. It
has a little bit of everything in a setting I was somewhat familiar with from
my own Granddad’s stories. I found it fascinating.
This is not a pacey page-turner. It is rather a thoughtful
and sensitive, very well researched window into another time and place—not so
removed from many of us over 50.
In the end, I loved it, and I think you will too. (If you
think it’s plodding at first, hang in there! You’ll be glad you did. There’s a
reason for every sentence in this book.)
A ROOM OF MY OWN is about values, true Christianity, and
growing. Five stars.
21 STORIES OF GRATITUDE by Shelley Hitz is a collection of
stories by a variety of writers, both men and women, with a good variety of
experiences to share. They include single moms, medical professionals, disabled
people, drug addicts . . . a lot of different perspectives on the same theme,
being thankful. At the end of the book, there’s a section about Shelley Hitz’
own story and her “21-Day Gratitude Challenge,” along with brief reviews of her
other books.
I enjoyed reading the stories. They were a blessing. (Who
can’t be blessed by how thankfulness to God changes a life?) I think the
strength of the book is in these genuine testimonies of grace. The weakness,
for me, was the self-promos at the end of the book. It would have been
sufficient to have listed the other resources and not use book space for
reviews. (My opinion.) But, all in all, a nice book of blessings in bite-sized
units. I think you will enjoy them, too.
STEALING JENNY by Ellen Gable is a suspense novel. Jenny is
the mother of five fun children and she’s expecting her sixth child. She has
had several miscarriages, so this child is extra special. Jenny and her husband
Tom are practicing Roman Catholics. They have a good marriage and are happy to
have a large family.
When Jenny is in her 9th month of pregnancy, she’s
kidnapped. The rest of the book is about what happens to Jenny and what happens
to her family, including the baby they all want so much.
The strength of this novel is in its commitment to family
and its realism. The author’s anti-abortion, family friendly voice comes
through loud and clear. Her understanding of those who can’t have children also
comes through, as well as her position on adoption. Mrs. Gable’s values are my
own. I believe in the sanctity of life from conception on, the value of family,
the right of anyone who desires it to have a large family, and in the ministry
of adoption. I believe the sexual relationship is only right in marriage, which
is also in this book.
For me, it was my first time reading Mrs. Gable’s work, my
first exposure to a somewhat evangelical Catholic viewpoint. It was, frankly,
difficult for me to read about people calling out to “Mary, Jesus, and Joseph”
and to the saints in prayer. It was hard to witness these very decent, lovely
people saying the rosary prayers instead of talking to God in a personal way.
The missing element is the personal relationship with Jesus Christ, trusting in
Him alone for salvation. (Interestingly
enough, one of the minor characters in the book seems to be a genuine born
again believer.) I found it sad that Jenny and Tom trusted in their works, the
saints, and the Church, instead of in Christ’s finished work on the cross.
Otherwise, it’s a good read. It’s certainly exciting, and I
liked the book. I appreciate good moral values in anyone, and I was glad for
the positive moral messages here.