A Woman Named Damaris // Book Review

A Woman Named Damaris
Janette Oke

      She was almost fifteen on the night she dared for the first time to think of what life might be like away from home. Pa had come home drunk and mean again; the trauma of the subsequent scene had been repeated as long as Damaris could remember. The idea that she no longer nees to tolerate this, that maybe she's old enough to manage on her own, is planted in her mind and begins to grow. She must plan her escape carefully, but she must get away from him.             When the opportunity comes, Damaris carries with her the strength of her mothers love. Two treasures hidden for years from her father-her grandmother's lacy golden brooch and her grandfather's lovely watch are Damaris' only legacy from her past. That and her name. Her mother said it came from the Bible and had a special meaning that she can't remember anymore. What difference might it make?

        I started reading Mrs. Oke's books two years ago, when given the Love Comes Softly series from friends. I grew to love those stories and slowly began reading through the rest of her works. A Woman Named Damaris can't be claimed as one of her very best works. The problems didn't lie in a faulty story-line, or unbelievable characters, events, or run-on sentences. I felt like I didn't get to spend much time getting to know Damaris. I know that sounds extremely silly. but it seemed like there was so much time spent on the story and moving on to the next thing, that I didn't get a chance to really get to know this young lady very well; and it is rather important to get to know the main character. :) Time passed almost magically, weeks, months, even years passed in a sentence or two, and left you confused as to how old Damaris was now! 
          One particularly aggravating fault with most of Mrs. Oke's writings, and one which my mother points out ever time she reads something by her, is that she moves along with the story line way to fast. She doesn't dwell on details long enough. Of course, I wouldn't expect her to be another Scott, or Dickens, who were both a little overwhelming with their detailing's, but I think it would make a better book, if she spent a little more time explaining things before rushing off to the next scene.
         The ending was highly expected, but it was extremely abrupt, and left you sitting there thinking, "wait, he didn't even have to woo her at all..." And then suddenly "they" are together and all is ending happily... It just wasn't enough of an ending.
          All in all, however, I find Mrs. Oke's books interesting and lovely "in between" books for a breather between Classics. :) I can't honestly say that I would recommend this book particularly, but would suggest you look into Janette Oke's works, especially the Love Comes Softly series. 

* * * * * {five of ten}

Persuasion // Book Review

           Twenty-seven year old Anne Elliot was past her "bloom in life," and has few marriage prospects. she is considered rather "unnecessary" by her father and older sister, and is generally ignored. When her family's financial troubles become huge, her father decides to rent out Kellynch Hall and move to Bath to save money. Anne agrees, but decides to stay behind a few weeks with her married sister first.
          While with Mary, Anne's old lover returns, much to her confusion and dismay. The eight years separating them had not dampened her feelings for him however. But, persuaded by Lady Russell she had given him up so long ago. Anne doesn't know how to treat him ow. He is pointedly polite, but nothing more than a distant acquaintance, despite the fact that they are thrown together almost daily.
         Everyone suspects that Captain Wentworth intends to choose a wife between Louisa and Henrietta Musgrove and appearances confirm so. Everyone is mutually happy, and waiting for him to make his choice  But then an accident occurs, and Louisa is left unconscious, with a severe head-wound. Everyone wonders if she will ever recover, and if she does, if Wentworth will marry her. Anne tries to convince herself that she doesn't love him like that anymore.
          She leaves for Bath with Lady Russell, soon after Louisa is reported recovering. While i Bath, Anne meets her handsome refined cousin, Mr. Elliott. She is flattered by his attention, but remains aloof, because of her affection for Captain Wentworth.
          But then Wentworth arrives in Bath unexpectedly, and Anne is left even more confused. She receives some information from an old schoolfellow, and Anne is left without a doubt about what she feels in her own heart, but will he ever feel the same?

          I was eager to read Persuasion.I have fallen completely in love with Jane Austen's work, and have a high expectation for her novels, and this book completely rose up to them. In fact, I read it all at once, (in about two hours) and enjoyed it thoroughly  I felt that Anne was a very sweet, sensible, real heroine, whom I could identify with.

          Anne wasn't considered pretty at the beginning of the story, but in the end she was described as beautiful and handsome, and when I first thought about it, I thought that Miss Austen had managed to contradict herself. But the more I thought about it, I realized that Anne wasn't beautiful in the beginning  because she wasn't happy. Towards the end, she became happy and her beauty bloomed again  and she became strikingly handsome.

          I loved several characters especially besides the obvious Anne and Fredrick. :) Captain Benwick particularly caught my eye. He was a young naval officer, mourning the loss of his beloved fiance, burying himself in the world of literature  poetry and books. He was desperate for an arousing from his grief although several characters were unhappy and concerned about his "eventual awakening," because his fiance had only been dead a little over six months, and they were unhappy because he had forgotten her so soon. I felt, however, that Captain Benwick hadn't forgotten Fanny, and could never forget he, but he had learned to move on and love again, and I shall not ruin the surprise, but his match made me exceptionally happy and satisfied. I felt that they were perfect!! 

          Overall, this book was delightful, and well worth the two hours! I heartily recommend this book to Austen readers, classic's fans, and those in search for a sweet, beautiful story.

          My rating: * * * * * * * * (eight of ten)

bookish

In the hushed hours after dusk, when the world is slowly settling down, preparing to rest and dream for a little while before rushing off again, in a hectic race against time, I find myself reaching out to the world of words, plots, and dreams turned into beautiful (and flawed) characters. All day long I look forward, with much anticipation to my hour or two with a book to read, a steaming mug of tea, and words that must be journaled  I love the gentle lull of a pen or pencil carefully marking dreams and ideas across a blank page.  I know I've said it once or twice before, {or maybe three or four times.}, but there is such magic in words.

          When I stop to think about the fact that some 50,000+ words can hold a person completely spellbound, captivated, (both emotionally and physically,) and sitting on the edge of their seat for hours on end, it completely blows my mind. 
          I have started writing again. (After my Les Mis experience,), and it feels so good to be hard at work crafting sentences, characters and plots again. I missed writing, and I think that is a good sign. :)

         And as always, I have been reading up a storm. My current reads are Uncle Toms Cabin, (almost done!! It's taken me a while  For some reason it has been extremely difficult to get into the story.) and Rainbow Valley. I decided it was high time I finished my adventures with Anne Shirley  But that does sound depressing. I don't want to finish having adventures with Anne-girl, no matter how old I am or how many times I read the books/watch the movies. :)

It is such a wonderful thing to be bookish! 

words come and go like the tide

inspire. create. love. aspire. bold. wanderlust. blue. travel. music. hope.

                   I love words.              

           I love the way they sound, and roll off my tongue. (Which means I love to talk! J). I love how they look when they’re arranged in a beautiful sentence. I guess that’s why I write.  I love words; I just have to use them, and thus I attempt to write. Some days writing is so fulfilling. Ideas, sentences and words form themselves in my brain and flow into my fingertips beautifully, making me happy and content. Other days, the words seem to fly away to other places, other skies and other people, and I just can’t write. Those days, writing is frustrating and difficult, and all I want to do is scream and maybe cry.

          I live for the days when the words come and flow out of my fingertips. And I push through the days the words insist on playing tag and evade my thoughts and fingers like little children playing hide-and-go-seek. 

          I love words. So I shall name myself a stalker of beautiful words, a vicious reader, and perhaps even a writer.

xx,