Average Girl Reads

The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick

On my TBR list?: yes, since June 2009

Book 1 of a series

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Synopsis from Goodreads:

Even if Megan would rather be at the mall, Cassidy is late for hockey practice, Emma's already read every book in existence, and Jess is missing her mother too much to care, the new book club is scheduled to meet every month.

But what begins as a mom-imposed ritual of reading Little Women soon helps four unlikely friends navigate the drama of middle school. From stolen journals, to secret crushes, to a fashion-fiasco first dance, the girls are up to their Wellie boots in drama. They can't help but wonder: What would Jo March do?

This was a cute book to share with my 13-year-old daughter C1. It combined elements of two other series that I've enjoyed. The daughters being brought together by the friendship shared by the mothers was one of my favorite parts of the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" series. Girls with different personalities who are forced together through an activity reminds me of the "Chicks with Sticks" series. The plot may be predictable to an adult, but it isn't so trite that a middle schooler would turn her nose up at it. C1 enjoyed this book, and she has turned away many books where she felt the authors were trying to hard to be hip. I've already put the next book on reserve for us.

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When someone goes on a diet, one of the tips that is often given is to turn your TV off so you won't be tempted by all the fast-food commercials and images of food that abound there. Well, I've discovered another habit that could possible sabotage my weight-loss plan -- reading. Written descriptions of food and how it was prepared do more to make my tummy rumble than a 10-second shot of a burger in a TV ad.

There are the obvious books to avoid, like cookbooks and memoirs by celebrity chefs. One genre I never thought to worry about, though, was the Christian romance. I just finished the third book in a Lauraine Snelling series that is set in the Dakota Territory in the 1800s. Because of the time period and the prairie setting, there are no scenes about TV or radio or video games. Being a Christian series, there aren't any sex scenes, either. That means peppering the plot are lots of descriptions of food and eating. Every threshing party and barn raising, every quilting bee and birth -- they are all accompanied by a meal. I think I would be safer reading modern chick lit books with their numerous descriptions of designer clothing!

An Untamed Land by Lauraine Snelling

Genre: Christian fiction, romance
On my TBR list? No

Book 1 of 6

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Synopsis from Goodreads:

The promise of free land lures Roald and Ingeborg Bjorklund from their beloved home high above the fjords of Norway, and after three long years of scrimping and saving to buy tickets for their passage to America, they finally arrive at the docks of New York City. This new land promises a rich heritage for their children, and here they hope to build a good life. After a long journey by train and then by covered wagon, the Bjorklunds finally arrive in Dakota Territory, where they settle on the banks of the Red River of the North. But the virgin prairie refuses to yield its treasure without a struggle. Will Roald and Ingeborg be strong enough to overcome the hardships of that first winter? Proud of their heritage and sustained by their faith, they came to tame a new land.

If you've been reading my reviews over the past year, then you know I have a weakness for a good pioneer story. Perhaps it comes from all those years watching Little House on the Prairie. That's why I classify this as a romance. It's not because there is a love story central to the plot; it's because of the romantic notion of people pushing through adversity with physical labor and mental grit. This is definitely Christian fiction, but I don't think non-Christians would find the religious element overwhelming. To me it is about as religious as the movie The Bells of St. Mary's; many of the characters are Christian but there isn't a lot of in-your-face preaching.

For me, this story had its peaks and valleys. In the valley were the repeated descriptions of farm work and what they ate for dinner. The peaks came with the exciting descriptions of people getting lost in blizzards and such. Rather than be disappointed in this style, however, I enjoyed it. If you are the type of reader who dislikes sitting on the edge of her seat from day one, then you will enjoy it, too.

It is a testament to Snelling's writing that I want to continue reading this series even after I accidentally read one of the later books first. Her descriptions of Ingeborg's indignation as she chafes against that era's rules for women ring true without feeling anachronistic. Even though I know what is coming up in the future for Ingeborg and the other characters, Snelling's writing style makes me want to read about how they deal with these events.

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It is a breezy 72 degrees in my part of NC. I would say that this is a perfect day for a carnival. Unfortunately, I don't see any Ferris wheels around here, so I would suggest that you go visit the blog carnival at Mysteries in Paradise. If you aren't familiar with a blog carnival, it is regularly scheduled post that shows up on a different blog each month and it points to cool links that other bloggers submit. Blog carnivals usually revolve around a certain subject; I used to participate in one about games over on my other blog. It is a fun way to learn about blogs you've never heard of, and I've submitted a post for this one. Do you need any more reasons to go visit?