Lets Talk Old Books

I love books in general BUT I think in my heart of hearts I love old books the best. You see to me old books have a story that no other books can have until they themselves become worn and frayed from being read hundreds of times. maybe there are tear stains (like most of my books) or the faint outline of a pressed flower.  You see what I'm trying to say is that old books have been loved. Loved for generations. They have character. Have you ever wondered as you held and old book in your hand who else read the same pages? I have. Sometimes I let my imagination run wild, and I think of all the places my book could have been...  Perhaps they were held by someone who treasured that book because of the person who gave it to them. Maybe it was picked up in a small bookshop and carried to far away places. I do not know. But isn't that part of the charm that old books have upon us. Its as if they have had a whole other life that we can only dream and wonder what they were.
And now here are some of the old books that I have in my collection.

1. Graustark By G.B.M'Cutcheon
One of my favorite reads!!!
A Princess of a tiny European country meets a handsome American while visiting the United States. She gives him a false name, not wishing him to know her true identity. Later, he travels to her country to find her, still not knowing who she is, and overhears a kidnapping plot against the Princess. He and his friend manage to foil the plot and rescue her, becoming heroes overnight. Of course, he now realizes there is one problem... the girl he has fallen in love with is a real, live Princess. 
To find out the rest you will have to buy the book (Evil laughter)



2. The Prince of Graustark By, George Barr M'Cucheon
As the title suggest this book is a sequel to the book above.
I really, really, really love this book! 
  
When Prince Robin reached adulthood his country was in financial crisis. William W. Blithers, a very rich and very vulgar American, offered to finance the country. He also hoped this would mean a match for his daughter. Although The two young people have very different ideas of their own about marriage.  Not that Robin is apposed to marriage, rather he has a particular fancies for a beautiful woman he met. They strike up a friendship, but (without giving you to many spoilers) lets just say all is not as it may appear to be.
   
Hows THAT  for a clift hanger???? (rubs hands together gleefully)                                                                                                                                          3. Lavender and Old Lace by Myrtle Reed.                                                                                               
               The story pulls you in at first because there's there's some sort of mystery brought in right at the beginning. The main character, Ruth (a career girl who works at a newspaper office), is house-sitting for her aunt in a small village by the sea somewhere on the East Coast in America. The mystery is that her aunt insists she must light an oil lamp every night and leave it in the attic of the window facing the sea. During the story Ruth is trying to figure out why she must do this, and find if it is connected to an old beautiful woman who lives nearby and a story behind some newspaper clippings in the attic and some notes she's found. During all this she meets a young man who happens to work in the same place she does who is on sick leave, and they become friends. (You can guess where that goes.)  But there is something amiss and Ruth is determined to get to the bottom of it. 




All of these books can be found on Amazon kindle or if you would rather have the paper copy (Which you really should get) you can buy them on E bay for like $5 dollars,



Let all you do be done in love.

-Janelle

July Reads

OK first of all can you believe that its actually July ????? (shakes head in disbelief) And yes I do realize that its the 11th already BUT I thought I would go ahead and write about my July reads/goals.
1.The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens  by, Sean Covey 


I haven't started this book yet but I can not wait to read it! I mean couldn't we all be more Effective and productive people??? at least I know I can be! And the way I look at it is I want to fill my mind  with knowledge, and what better way to do that than by reading? :)


2. A Brush of Wings By, Karen Kingsbury


So I already read this book and oh my stars it was AMAZING. (As are all of her books)


Its the last book in her series 'Angeles Walking' guyysss  you know the feeling of when you come to the end of a book and you read really, really, (like a snail)  slow so the book will last longer. Well this is that kind of a book! Ok I'll stop gushing about it.... for now.
3. The Book of Romans (from the Bible)


I'm half ways through chapter 6 (of 16) Although I have read this book before its as if I'm reading it for the first time. Isn't our God Amazing!!!! I just want to stop for a moment and recognize his Awesome power and Love for US! I am so thankful for His peace and Joy! His love is as the oceans and his thoughts are as the sand. I want to encourage you today to give your worries , fear, stress and anxiety to God, He has so much love for you. Trust him. He knows exactly what you're going through. Let him speak to you. whisper "daughter trust me, I have a plan for you".  I promise you , it will be the best decision that you can make.   Anyway that was my little sermon for the day.
4. Mere Christianity by C.S.Lewis





What to say about this book????? Honestly I think I have underlined something on each page so far. (Smiles) This is a MUST READ. C.S.Lewis pored so much wisdom and depth into this book that it practically jumps out at you while you are reading.


*Side note*  Also his book The Screwtape Letters are just.......brilliant!    ( I will probably write a blog post about it in the near future)





And last but not (Defiantly) not least
5. The Hobbit by J.R.R.Tolkien 


SO I absolutely LOVE the Lord of the Rings books (and movies, especially Legolas. right?!?! Lol) Anyway I am about halfway through the book and of course J.R.R.Tolkien outdid himself.... again. As usual. This Book is genius and defiantly going on my favorite list of books. *sighs* i think all my books are on my 'favorite list'. Also it was really nice to be able to see where it all started and all of Bilbo's adventures.


Annnddd that is all of my reads for the month.


I would love to hear what you thought about this post, so please feel free to leave a comment below :)


Now if you will excuse me I have quite a few books to dive into.
Until next time,


Janelle 











New post Coming THIS Friday)

Favorite Books

Ok so,  you might be wondering what are some of my favorite books? Well I have endeavored to make a condensed list of them.  A very condensed list. Honestly it was probably one of the hardest dissensions that I have ever had to make in my life.  (Ok, fine maybe it wasn't the hardest BUT it was difficult.

Anyway lets start with what I  think is my favorite book.

1. Rila of Inglesided by, L.M Montgomery.  Honestly everything by L.M.M is worth reading! But this is probably my favorite book that she wrote. This is the last book in the Anne of Green Gables series. (wipes away tears) Its about Anne's youngest daughter 'Rila' a happy carefree 15 year old.All that is on Rila's mind is the upcoming dance at the lighthouse, But her beautiful evening is spoiled when news comes that  England has declared war on Germany. Suddenly her world is thrown into a tumbled mess as her brothers leave for the far away trenches in France.  Rila is swept int a drama that tests her courage and leaves her changed forever.  BTW this book made me cry like a baby. Please READ IT!

2. Heartbreak Trail by Susan K. Marlow. This is the second book in the Circle C Milestones series and my favorite (Sorry all you Courageous Love fans)   Andi Carter cant believe her luck when her mother lets her go on a Cattle Drive with her brothers. Nothing. Nothing could be more exciting than spending her 15th birthday out on the open range. But when things start to go wrong Andi learns just how dangerous and grueling Cattle drives can be.

3.Angels Walking by Karen Kingsbury
When former national baseball star Tyler Ames suffers a career-ending injury, all he can think about is putting his life back together the way it was before. He has lost everyone he loves on his way to the big leagues. Then just when things seem to be turning around, Tyler hits rock bottom. Across the country, Tyler’s one true love Sami Dawson has moved on. 

A series of small miracles leads Tyler to a maintenance job at a retirement home and a friendship with Virginia Hutcheson, an old woman with Alzheimer’s who strangely might have the answers he so desperately seeks. 
I adore this book. Please go buy it and read it.

4. A Voice in the Wind by, Francine Rivers
OK  so you know when I said that Rila of Ingleside what my most favorite book..... Well scratch that, THIS is my most favorite book. :)
.Experiencing this incredibly wonderful book was life-changing. Each character is drawn with such pixel-perfect precision, that I saw them rising up off the pages. In Getting to know Hadassah, the pivotal character, I got to know myself better. My belief in God and his Son, my Savior Jesus Christ, was substantially deepened, and my Faith was strengthened.

The more vulnerable you allow yourself to be while thoughtfully reading this book, the spiritual growth you might attain will bring a sweet humility, and the desire to forgive others, as well as yourself.

5. Set Apart Femininity by Lesley Ludy.
Can I just say that this book inspired me to seek a  deeper walk with Jesus. First off, this isn't the traditional "love yourself for who you are" or "you are beautiful deep down inside book." This is so much more real. This book provides real answers and gets pretty deep. After reading this, I found such strength and insight that I had never thought of. I had always struggled with feeling "beautiful," but this book showed me that we were not born into beauty, we were born into sin. The only hope we have is reflecting the beauty of Christ; not the shallow, hollow, and meaningless beauty of the world. It's about being an individual and making Christ your everything. This book is very convicting and convincing. It's also pretty radical and will change the way you think about things.

6. A Light to My Path by, Lynn Austin 
LOVE LOVE LOVE......I have read all of Lynn Austins books and can say that they are (trys to think of a word awesome enough to describe her books) they are Amazing! Fabulous! You will not be able to put them down once you start. 
This is the third and last book in the Refiner's Fire series. Not that I love this book more than the others. they are all exceptional,its just this one touched me more than the others did. 
Now I read this book first, and loved it, But when I read the first two books, this one became all the more real and amazing to me.  
The unimaginable horror of slavery is brought to life through the experiences of Grady, a child sold into slavery by his own father, and Anna, another slave separated from her parents at a young age. The events leading up to and through the Civil War are vividly captured. But Grady and Anna's emotional pain and spiritual battles with forgiveness give this story its depth and power.
They book opened my eyes to some of the terrible  things the slaves had to go through. it is heartbreaking but beautiful as you see God bring forgiveness and peace to each of their lives. 


AND THAT dear readers are my 6 favorite books. (Even though i have like Wayyyy more than 6)
I hope that you enjoyed this post! Please feel free to comment below ⬇️⬇️
PS. You can find all these book on Amazon or Christian Books. 

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