On a "must read" classic.

There are many classic books people tell you are "amazing!" "incredible" and "a must read."
One I had never read was a book that kept on popping up here and there with people saying how good it was. "Anna Karenina."
Eventually I decided to read it. Surely it couldn't be that bad?
I am not even halfway finished  and yet  I am already bored, horrified  and  upset over  the main character's transformation and idiotic choices.
Frankly, I cannot see how a book with so much immorality in it can be held up  so much by scores of people as a "fabulous  , must read".   Its kinda sad really.

Image on a book cover I found on-line.

I had to see how it ends so read up on it on Wikipedia and am happy now I know how it ends. It doesn't end happily. But, now I know how it'll end so I'm content in that knowledge.
 But, I am still horrified with Anna and her behaviour and what she does.    I shall link to the Wikipedia article on her and the book  here as it is rather long and has mature content in it. Anna is an interesting character  but I do not like her very much at all.
I prefer the secondary main female character  Kitty. Her story is most interesting and her character delightful.
Frankly, I think Leo Tolstoy 's book is more admired for his writing style and the amazing  quotes then the story itself.

I shall be finishing the book ,even though I know how it ends. As much as I dislike Anna herself it is a rather interesting story. And I imagine many would call it tragic. I do enjoy reading it but Anna gets to a stage where she gives me a headache and we need time apart.     A new movie starring  Keira Knightly in the role  is coming out this year and frankly I am excited about that as I really feel Kiera could play the role very well. In the meantime I shall be finishing the book and then watching one of the old films of it.  Watch out for a post on my finishing the book perhaps my view will have changed. And movie reviews of it.

Have you ever read Anna Karenina? Or any books by Leo Tolstoy?  Have you ever read a book people said was awesome only to read it and think it wasn't?


Ta Ta Darlings!!!
 

The Unsinkable!

If you're like me you love a good story, I mean who honestly doesn't?!   The thrill of excitement as you get to a crucial bit in said story, the moment of sadness when a character is  dead or dying.   But , again  if you are like me  you love reading stories about real events. Biography's , novels , they are amazing!!!!    My absolute favourite real life incident to have stories based off is "The Titanic."

   Those stories are always amazing, they can be about people from any background but they always end in the climax of : the sinking on   April 15th 1912 "The Unsinkable Titanic" did what many people boasted she wouldn't: She sunk.    My favourite book about the Titanic is  "Voyage on the Great Titanic: The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady, RMS Titanic, 1912 by Ellen Emerson White"

Its awesome a young girl from London England sails as the companion of a rich lady , she is an orphan and is going to America to join her brother there. And this book has everything!    Desperation, distinction between classes and what that entails, friends  who will never see each other again and the sweetest most beautiful sad and gorgeous ending ever!!!! Which I'm not going to tell you as I command you to go and buy/beg/borrow or steal a copy.   Okay I'm not all that heartless here is  Wikipedia's review on it SPOILERS ALERT!

"The story begins in London, England, where a thirteen year old girl, Margaret Ann Brady, is keeping a diary. She explains that her parents died and her brother emigrated to America leaving her in the care of an orphanage. The orphanage receives a request for a travelling companion to accompany Mrs. Carstairs on the RMS Titanic.

The beginning of the trip goes more than smoothly. Margaret meets a handsome young steward, Robert, and befriends him. She thoroughly enjoys the trip, describing how big the Titanic is, and the luxuries of living on it. She has grand meals, and even shares one with some of the most important crew of the Titanic. But the ship crashes into an iceberg and starts to sink slowly. Mrs. Carstairs escapes to safety on a lifeboat, and tells Margaret that they will meet up again soon.

Margaret rushes down the ship and looks for Robert. More and more lifeboats are leaving, but she figures there will be more. Finally, she finds Robert. They chat and share a tender moment. Then they kiss. Margaret pleads for Robert to come with her to safety, but Robert declines stating he cannot leave his fellow stewards.

Once back on top deck, Margaret leaves on the last lifeboat and is the last to board. She and her fellow passengers watch in horror as the grand ship sinks. They hear the cries of the dead as they move on, rescuing a few people from the cold waters. She says that she could not forget the screams of the dead going down with the ship. She also states that she will not forgive herself for letting Robert go, nor for surviving the Titanic.

In New York, Margaret says farewell to Mrs. Carstairs and finds William. They travel to his home in Boston and the story ends. "       

  And once again if you are like me you are extremely excited that next month is a hundred years since the sinking of "The Unsinkable Titanic"   Do you have a favourite event in history that you enjoy reading about?

Toodles!

 

Natural Health : You know you want it.

Recently my dearest Mummy, asked me to read "The Young Lady's guide To Natural Health" by Mrs. Graham" and to give my opinion of it.
 Its a short instructional book with fabulous , practical advice.

There are five chapters within this e-book.
they are

1. A Healthy Mind
2.Nature's Doctors
3. Diet
4. Caring For your Body
                                   and
5.Your Changing Body.

The first part is on the mind, Mrs. Graham says that "If we allow negative thoughts and feelings to take over, they will undo all our physical work. They are so powerful that they can toxify the body as much as anything in our physical world."  Mrs. Graham says that when ever possible we should be doing away with music , TV etc. And read good wholesome books, relaxing music and watch things that are morally uplifting.    I could see this as something very important and  use full as I know from experience that a variety of things are much more fun for me than the same thing(s) over and over again.
                                                                                   
 Mrs. Graham gives excellent advice on how to make  a good start to your day, she says " Before rushing off to all the day's activities, take a few minutes to quiet  yourself and pray, meditate and see in your mind a perfect day. Now do what you can to make your day look like the one you 'saw' in your mind! Ask yourself 'What can I do today to make my  life truly wonderful?' "   I'm not so sure about this as I like my day to be a surprise present , full of wonder and mystery. but, again they are good points to know of.
                                      
 Mrs. Graham recommends on ending the day in a peaceful and relaxing manner. She suggests on keeping a journal on everything good we did that day and to also write down  "Five things you are grateful for." Mrs. Graham says that 'After saying your prayers put on relaxing music, scriptures, or one of those subliminal , 'mind training' Cd's available and say to yourself 'No matter what happens I am always safe' This puts you in a peaceful state of mind that will stay with you all night while you sleep"   I can understand  this as I know if I go to bed upset, sad or cross I won't sleep peacefully and will (probably ) wake up feeling worse.
                                                 
Mrs. Graham says that fresh air is most important as it "purifies our blood and gives life to our bodies."   Mrs. Graham says that we should take several deep breaths first thing in the morning and last thing at night . She also advices us to allow fresh air to flow through our house and to allow air to flow through our bedrooms as this provides air to sleep well.     Hence, why I hate being in a crowded stuffy room   it is soooooo not invigorating for me.     

 Mrs. Graham tells us that without the sun life would be impossible. It creates Vitamin D and makes us feel good.    It does indeed, on a sunny day everything seems bright and cheerful . But, on a cloudy day I don't feel so joyous.
                                                   
Also , Exercise. We must get some exercise everyday as lymph (a clear fluid whose vessels are purified by the heart) cannot move without the help of muscles . And that is why it is vital to we exercise for half an hour each day, to move our lymph.      I know for a fact that when I exercise I sleep better, think better and just have a sense of general well being.                         

On  diet Mrs. Graham says that a Japanese proverb says "stop when you are eighty percent full."   Overeating food because its tasty is bad and must  be stopped. Mrs. Graham says 'chewing food slowly and enjoying each bite instead of rushing through a meal helps food be better absorbed into the body."  And we should eat as much green stuff as possible. Because greens are excellent blood purifiers and have  tons  of nutrients in them. She also tells us what food  to avoid and what we should substitute instead.      This was excellent advice. I love greens , and indeed all food in general so this shall be remembered by me most faithfully.                     

Mrs. Graham also recommends  not eating after a certain time in the evening to aid digestion. And to drink Water! Water! Water! (thankfully) I love water. Mrs. Graham says that certain fabrics prevent the skin from breathing and build up static electricity which makes us feel nervous.   Yes, I would rather sleep well than have indigestion. not , that I've ever had it.   And certain fabrics do can make me feel unsettled.

Mrs. Graham gives practical advice on hair care, tooth care and skincare and provides us with a few recipes to try. Also given are practical eye care tips, which are easy to use and highly beneficial .                             Mrs. Graham also talks on a girls changing body and how to assist in caring for it.    These ideas where most interesting. I wasn't I fan of the tooth cleaning tips though as I find anything different in my mouth invasive.

All in all  this is a great book for young girls and indeed women of any age. Mothers and daughters could read it together or a daughter could just read it by herself ( like I did :D ) and feel as if Mrs. Graham herself was instructing her and then share the jewels she has gleaned from its pages with her mother.    

This book is the most practical advice on Natural Health that I have heard of and it is all in one place.    

I recommend it to any girl striving to care for her body in the most healthy and practical way.   In fact to ANYONE regardless of whether they asked about it or not.

TTFN

Loveliness Fair- Children's Books !!!!!!!

My most wonderful Mummy is hosting this Loveliness Fair on Children's books. Here is my contribution

I can hardly remember a time when I did not read . I remember Mummy teaching me and the difficulty I had pronouncing "th" and not"f" . A problem which now I am older I have done my best to remedy but, it still occurs occasionally.
I also remember the pleasure and joy I found reading a book to myself without help for the first time. It was a little kids book about a puppy playing with his ball unfortunately it was a library book and therefore I do not know its title.
I remember then reading Asterix and Tin-Tin comic books and gobbling them up and wanting more. I read the Little House books, The American girls books and lots more.
Books are part of who I am I love many kinds not just a certain type but, many types.

Below are some of my all time favourite authors and books.


*Gene Stratton Porter. I am not yet allowed to read all her books but only some.

*Louisa May Alcott. I am a BIG fan. I especially love her short story" The Quiet Little Woman."

*Lucy Maud Montgomery. Is there any of her books I don't like? Hmmm, let me think.....No! I adore the Storygirl as you might already know.

*The Spiderwick Chronicles-Holly Black. These are great .

*My Heart Lies South-Elizabeth Borton de trivino. Have you read this? What's that you haven't! That's awful! I personally think it would make a great movie.

*The American Girls Collection. My favorites are Kit,Samantha, Josephina,Felicity and Molly.

*Mark Twain. Is there a single kid in the world that has not dreamt of floating down a river on a raft and having adventures with all kinds of people and situations?

*E. Nesbit. Oh crumbs! I forget her first name partly the fact for me she is "E" Nesbit. Her books show such a wonderful imagination LOVE them.

*Nancy Drew-Carolyn Keene. I love Nancy Drew books they are so fast paced and action filled.

*The Hardy Boys- Franklin w. Dixon. I like them for the same reasons I do Nancy Drew.

*Margruite De Anglei. She tells such heart warming stories and her illustrations are just magical.
*The Royal Diaries. This is a series by various authors about royal girls from different time periods, Elizabeth the first, Mary queen of Scots etc.

*The Swallows And Amazons- Arthur Ransome. A great healthy adventure series about some kids who have adventures sailing.

*The Belgariad Series - David Eddings. This series is for mature readers, teenagers and adults not little kids. He writes very well indeed and his characters are just superb.

*The Chronicles of Narnia- C.S.Lewis. Am I the only person who has dreamt of going through a wardrobe ?

*The All of a Kind Family Series- Sydney Taylor. I love this series because I can see how very similar the girls in the book are to my sisters and I . You've got to love Ella.

*The Penderwicks-Jeanne Birdsall . This series is still being written! Yes!!! The author intends to write six books in total about the Penderwick sisters, Rosalind, Skye , Jane and Batty and their father a professor who speaks Latin all the time .

*The Shadow of the Bear series- Regina Domain. I love 'em ! I love 'em! Bear ! Fish! Blanche! Rose! Ahhh! These are fantastic! Need I say more?

*The Betsey Tacey and Tib Series-Maud Hart Lovelace. These three girls are hilarious to read about. together they try all sorts of things from trying to hypnotise a friend as seven year olds to setting up a sorority as young women in high school.

*Hilda Van Stockholm. Her books are wonderful. They show the love , bravery , courage and friendship even in difficult situations.

*The Liechtenstein Chronicles- Mariol Trevor. A young English girl who lives with her grandmother is told when she is a young teenager that she is heir to the throne of Liechtenstein. This series is about herself and her friends and their remarkable adventures.

*The Happy Little Family- Rebecca Cauldill. An absolutely charming series about a little girl called Bonnie and her family. They remind me very much of Hilda Van Stockholm's books.

*The flying Dutchmen Series - Brian Jacques . Pirates, Gypsies , a boy and a dog who are commanded by an angel to roam the world and live for centuries.


*The William Series- Richmal Crompton . This series is a classic set in England in the 1930's or 1940's William Brown and his friends play all kinds of pranks and have many humerus adventures.

*The Inheritence Cicle- Christopher Poalini. The first book in this series was written when the author was young teenager of 15 or 16 . It is set in a fantasy world called Alegaesia where an evil king Galbatorix rules over the people. A 16 year old boy finds a mysterious blue stone while out hunting and the adventures begin . This series is still being written and anxious fans are awaiting the release of the 4th book.

*The Billabong Series- Mary Grant Bruce. I love these books . Sadly though we do not own all of them only number 1 to 7 or 8 and then the other books further on in the series . I hate not owning a whole series of books.

*Saint books by Mary Fabyan Windeatt. Mary write with lots of skill. Combining the major events in the saints lives in story form. They are very delightful.

*G. A. Henty's!!!! I am still working my way through our massive collection. I thoroughly recommend these as very good historical stories about very interesting characters.

*Mardie- Astrid Lindgreen . Mardie is soooooo funny. One of my all time favorite books that where read aloud to me as a little kid,

*The Melendy Quartet- Elizabeth Enright. These are once again a very remarkable series which I totally love. I think my favorite character is Mona.

*The Moffats- Eleanor Eastes. Again a series about family working , loving and playing together. Isn't Rufus sweet?

*Patricia Polacco. Patricia's books are mostly taken from real live circumstances. They are humerus, charming , witty and funny.

*Enid Blyton. All of her books show remarkable characters whom we can all relate too in their various trials and their happiness.

*Noel Streatfield. Noel's books cover many topics. War, dance , family and many other things. She writes very well with hardly a flaw at all in her writing.

*Kate Seredy. Kate writes very well. with a lot of humerus incidences in her books to keep you on your toes.

*Linnettes and Valariens- Elizabeth Goudge. This book is about four children who run away from their Grandmother and the adventures that befall them after they do so.

*Robert Louis Stevenson . I own quiet a few of his books which are very well written. I also love reading and memorising his poetry.

*Charles Dickens. I love Dickens and am his number one fan.

*Cecily Mary Barker. Cecily's illustrations are very whimsical and sweet . The fairies are so well drawn they look as if they could fly right out of the book.

*Beatrix Potter. I love her illustrations and her life story. I think Jeremy Fisher is my favorite story and character and then Mrs. Tiggy-Wingle.

*The Glad Books- Harriet Smith. Pollyanna is such a happy person determined to be glad all the time because of a game her father invented. These books are about Pollyanna and then her daughter.

*The Inkheart Series- Cornelia Funke. Wonderful books! These should be sat on the shelf beside The Chronicles of Narnia , and The Lord of The Rings a modern classic that will be treasured forever.

*Arthur Mee. Arthur Mee wrote many fantastic and wonderful books . They are sweet and interesting and I totally couldn't live without his "Children's Encyclopedias".

*Alfred Lord Tennyson. His poem cover many topics, historical , flowers , and great battles. He is my favorite poet.


*Elsa Beskow . Another charming illustrator who surprisingly was Swedish!

*The Orphelines- Natalie Savage Carlson . The orphelines are a very jolly bunch who do not want to be adopted.

*Genevieve Foster. Her books "Columbus's World " and the others like them teach you things without trying hard at all! Very good.

*The Book of Esther. This is my favorite old testament book.


*The Holy Bible. I don't need to tell you much about this do I? Just that it is God inspired and entirely true.

I have many more favorite books and authors but to type them all up would be a nightmare.
All these books have inspired my own writing in many many ways.



TTFN

I'M WILD ABOUT.......??????

Dickens. Doesn't that name send your spine tingling with anticipation to read a book by the said great author Dickens? I always get a tingly feeling just before I read Dickens . And it doesn't just happen with Dickens any other book or author that is one of my personal favourites does the same. (Almost.)
There is something about Dickens , maybe it's his writing style , maybe just the brilliancy of his stories , or maybe a personal feeling I have of which I don't yet know the meaning.
I like Jane Austen's books but when I have a Dickens I'm reading my poor cousin gets neglected. And in fact in the long run , well,I'M WILD ABOUT DICKENS!!!!!!!! *ducks and dodges the rotten fruit being thrown at her by furious Austen fans*
I'll say it again shall I? I'M WILD ABOUT DICKENS!!!!!
Yours Truly almost died the other week when two younger siblings went to the movies to see the new *drum roll* ..... "CHRISTMAS CAROL"!!!!!!
I'm dying to see this and I must read the book again . And also get some other Dickens books. So, yes Austen is brilliant and I enjoy reading her books and really enjoy them but.
Dickens .What wonders that man wrote!!!
I LOVE DICKENS!!!!
Here are some pictures of the illustrious author of whom I am a very very loyal fan.











TTFN

I love you like crazy cakes.

I love this book!! It is totally sweet, enjoyable and plus its a true story. It is about a young woman who decides to adopt a baby girl from China she writes to officials in China asking for a baby she gets a reply and a picture of the baby girl. She flies to China and is given her little baby and (this is the beautiful and sad part) both the young woman and baby girl cry when they see each other.
The now young mother takes the baby back to the hotel and puts hats on her and takes pictures of her she then goes on to say that she "was falling in love".
She then says that when she put her baby to bed she whispered in her ear "I love you like crazy cakes ". They then travel home and the young mother says that the baby "Charmed the flight attendants and slept like an angel" .
When they arrive the grandparents aunts uncles cousins and friends show up with gifts and their love. The mother says that the baby cried when she wasn't in her arms and after all the family had gone the mother rocked the baby to sleep.
And after she does that(and this is the part where my mother gets all teary eyed) she cries she cries for the baby's Chinese mother who could not keep her and she writes that she hoped that the baby's Chinese mother knows somehow that her baby is safe and loved like crazy cakes.


TTFN

Why I love ''The Lady of Shallot''.

I have always liked the Lady of Shallot.I remember watching ''Anne of Green Gables" and listening to Anne reciting The Lady of Shallot as She was in Mr.Barry's skiff and wondering what she was reciting .

I also remember my mummy reading the poem aloud to me and my siblings and finally hearing all of it and loving it,the words captivated me,the old words , and also having King Arthur and all of Camelot in there made it seem all the more magical .

As I got older, I remember taking a big book of Tennyson up too my room and reading the Lady of Shallot to myself , keeping it up their for several months.I also remember coping a picture of Tennyson himself because I loved his poem so much .

As I got even older I memorised the poem loving the expression in words and the scenes and places that they took me . I have pretended to be Elaine (The Lady of Shallot's name) flowing down too Camelot.

And that's why I love ''The Lady of Shallot''. And I also wonder are their any other girls out their who love passionately and wholeheartedly ''The Lady of Shallot"?

TTFN

G.A.Henty

I just started reading some of our Henty collection after my brother and Mummy both saying (for several years) that they were interesting and worth reading. As a young eight year old I read 'The Lion of St.Mark' and a couple of years later 'The Dash for Khartoum.' After reading these I was thoroughly bored and felt like I was put off for life. But after talking to Mummy and my Biggest Brother about interesting books I could read they both suggested The Henty Collection .
I selected 'Rujub the juggler ' as my first as it was based in India and I have always loved reading books on India. I was originally prepared to read a thoroughly boring book but......It was so exiting! I found it intriguing and thrilling and completely enjoyable as well as learning some interesting things about the English occupying India in the 1800's . I am now reading another I chose to read a couple of days ago and expect to be finished it in a day or two it is called ''The Lost Heir'' (also partly in India) it is very interesting and mysterious. I think I LOVE G.A.Henty books now!!!!