What do you get when you cross the Gray Death (A mysterious magical disease), two princesses, a legendary warrior, and a sorcerer? The Two Princesses of Bamarre!
Read On!
Alexis
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
There's No Place Like Home...
We (Or at least I) have finished the book! As I mentioned before, it is one of my favorites, and I enjoyed reading it again. :) The last half of the book is a bit confusing, so let's walk through it~but I won't give away the end!
The Beast demands that Beauty stay with him as payment for the rose her father took. The castle she stays in gives you whatever you want or need if you speak our wishes out loud. Cool huh? It is also very lonely for Beauty until little creatures come and visit her. (Hedgehogs, a spider, kittens, toads...) Meanwhile, Beauty begins reviving the roses that are the lifeline for the castle. This section of the story is intertwined with dreams and magic and a mysterious story that we don't hear completely till the end. (It's really best to read this part for yourself. I had to read it twice...:)
In the end though, Beauty is home, and that is the best place to be.
Till The Two Princesses of Bamarre,
Alexis
The Beast demands that Beauty stay with him as payment for the rose her father took. The castle she stays in gives you whatever you want or need if you speak our wishes out loud. Cool huh? It is also very lonely for Beauty until little creatures come and visit her. (Hedgehogs, a spider, kittens, toads...) Meanwhile, Beauty begins reviving the roses that are the lifeline for the castle. This section of the story is intertwined with dreams and magic and a mysterious story that we don't hear completely till the end. (It's really best to read this part for yourself. I had to read it twice...:)
In the end though, Beauty is home, and that is the best place to be.
Till The Two Princesses of Bamarre,
Alexis
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
What's in a Name?
Every good author puts meaning into the names of their characters. In Rose Daughter, every name is made simple, describing exactly what the bearer does or is. This can be very helpful or make us more confused. I love the way it is done in this book, and I think the names add tons of meaning to the story. Let's look at some of them and find their meanings.
Lionheart: fearsome, loud, outspoken, rash, and a magician with horses. She is brave, because she masquerades as a boy to get a job (with horses as it turns out). She is protective of her sisters and her father. She tackles the heavy (Manlier) work eagerly (remember the chimney?).
Jeweltongue: Witty, smart, occasionally hurtful, deep, and a magician with a needle. Before they moved to Longchance she would talk with philosophers trading ideas and fancy words. She scolded the maids and housekeepers in their city home. She learns to keep her tongue reined in later on.
Beauty: Quiet, steady, earnest, peaceful, and a magician with roses. She can't have her sisters fighting, and she worries about her father and his moods. It says in the book that she was named Beauty because that was all that represented her.
Now to some less prominent names.
Mr. Whitehand: The baker. He works with flour all the time, hence, the white hands...
Mrs. Oldhouse: She possesses an old house, one that has been in her family for generations. She makes the best snack cakes and serves them at her literary/writing club meetings. She is also known as Mrs. Words-Without-End, because she tends to ramble in her writing.
Mr. Horsewise: Lionheart's boss. He works with horses and knows everything about them. Lionheart says "Mr. Horsewise knows more than I'll ever learn."
Farmer Goldfield: He grows wheat, or something else that is gold...
The Truewords: They always fulfil their word.
Of the animals, only three have names with meanings. There are a few other animals with normal names, but here are the three that don't.
Tea-cosy: The three girls' pet. He is small, and always curls up in a ball- exactly like a teacosy.
Fourpaws: The cat who couldn't be named anything but what she was.
Sunbright: The horse Lionheart picked at the horse fair. He has a coat that shines like the sun.
Well there you have what is actually in a name. Hope you enjoyed!
Have a good day,
Alexis
Lionheart: fearsome, loud, outspoken, rash, and a magician with horses. She is brave, because she masquerades as a boy to get a job (with horses as it turns out). She is protective of her sisters and her father. She tackles the heavy (Manlier) work eagerly (remember the chimney?).
Jeweltongue: Witty, smart, occasionally hurtful, deep, and a magician with a needle. Before they moved to Longchance she would talk with philosophers trading ideas and fancy words. She scolded the maids and housekeepers in their city home. She learns to keep her tongue reined in later on.
Beauty: Quiet, steady, earnest, peaceful, and a magician with roses. She can't have her sisters fighting, and she worries about her father and his moods. It says in the book that she was named Beauty because that was all that represented her.
Now to some less prominent names.
Mr. Whitehand: The baker. He works with flour all the time, hence, the white hands...
Mrs. Oldhouse: She possesses an old house, one that has been in her family for generations. She makes the best snack cakes and serves them at her literary/writing club meetings. She is also known as Mrs. Words-Without-End, because she tends to ramble in her writing.
Mr. Horsewise: Lionheart's boss. He works with horses and knows everything about them. Lionheart says "Mr. Horsewise knows more than I'll ever learn."
Farmer Goldfield: He grows wheat, or something else that is gold...
The Truewords: They always fulfil their word.
Of the animals, only three have names with meanings. There are a few other animals with normal names, but here are the three that don't.
Tea-cosy: The three girls' pet. He is small, and always curls up in a ball- exactly like a teacosy.
Fourpaws: The cat who couldn't be named anything but what she was.
Sunbright: The horse Lionheart picked at the horse fair. He has a coat that shines like the sun.
Well there you have what is actually in a name. Hope you enjoyed!
Have a good day,
Alexis
Curiouser and curiouser
There is a castle hidden near Longchance where each day is a month and where a large and fearsome beast lives amongst his magic. Sound spooky? Disconcerting? Let's catch up on the story. Beauty's father receives a letter informing him that one of his ships has returned from being lost at sea. The ship has brought back many things to sell and has made a profit, so Beauty's father sets off to the city to settle the rest of his debts with it. On his way back he and his pony are caught in a snow storm and stumble upon a castle hidden in the woods. That isn't too strange, except the castle is in the sunlight, and there is no snow! He wanders in and eats at a table set for a banquet, decorated with a single dark, fragrant rose. As he gets up to leave, he remembers Beauty, who asked him for a rose before he left. (her roses did not bloom that year) He picks up the rose and begins to leave. That is where all the trouble starts...
Monday, November 29, 2010
Beauty and the Roses
If roses could only be grown by sorcerers we would be living in a very strange world. This strange world is where Beauty, her father and two sisters live. So far this story differs eleven times from the Disney movie we all know and (possibly) love. Let me outline the differences for my readers who aren't reading along. :)
1. Beauty has a mother in the beginning.
2. They were splendidly rich until her mother died.
3. She has two sisters.
4. Her father is a respected merchant, not a wacky inventor.
5. Beauty has a talent for anything to do with flowers.
6. They move from a large city to a smaller town where they live in a cottage.
7. The cottage (Rose Cottage) was built and lived in by a sorceress.
8. The roses around the cottage have not bloomed in the twenty years since the sorceress disapeared.
9. Beauty makes the roses bloom and people begin asking her if she is a sorceress.
10. Her oldest sister, Lionheart, goes around disguised as a boy so she can work with horses, which is her passion.
11. Beauty has been told of a sorcerers' battle involving Rose Cottage that was fought in the town they are living in.
And I am just in chapter four! (By the way, this version of the story differs less from the original tale then from the movie...)
Next time I would like to outline characters for everyone-starting with Lionheart. I believe the names of all the characters relate to their actual character (as in behavior), and it will be interesting to analyse how clever the author was!
Till we read again,
Alexis
1. Beauty has a mother in the beginning.
2. They were splendidly rich until her mother died.
3. She has two sisters.
4. Her father is a respected merchant, not a wacky inventor.
5. Beauty has a talent for anything to do with flowers.
6. They move from a large city to a smaller town where they live in a cottage.
7. The cottage (Rose Cottage) was built and lived in by a sorceress.
8. The roses around the cottage have not bloomed in the twenty years since the sorceress disapeared.
9. Beauty makes the roses bloom and people begin asking her if she is a sorceress.
10. Her oldest sister, Lionheart, goes around disguised as a boy so she can work with horses, which is her passion.
11. Beauty has been told of a sorcerers' battle involving Rose Cottage that was fought in the town they are living in.
And I am just in chapter four! (By the way, this version of the story differs less from the original tale then from the movie...)
Next time I would like to outline characters for everyone-starting with Lionheart. I believe the names of all the characters relate to their actual character (as in behavior), and it will be interesting to analyse how clever the author was!
Till we read again,
Alexis
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Rose Daughter~Are you ready for this?
You all have heard of fairytales, right? Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White... Here is a summary of my next book, Rose Daughter: Beauty and the Beast! No, not the Disney version, the original fairytale. Robin McKinley "revamped" and added back-round to this old tale, creating a vibrant, multi-layered story. It is on the top of my list of favorites, and I can't wait to re-read it again!
Here we go!
Alexis
Here we go!
Alexis
Friday, November 19, 2010
The Hiding Place-God's Hand In Our Lives
I have finished The Hiding Place, and I am even more in awe of God's greatness and love! He is evident in so many ways in the ten Boom's lives. The Hiding Place is definitely a book worth reading!
Now, on to the next book. Hopefully my posts will be more frequent this time around!
Keep Reading!
Alexis
Now, on to the next book. Hopefully my posts will be more frequent this time around!
Keep Reading!
Alexis
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
The Hiding Place-Corrie's Question
In my reading of The Hiding Place yesterday (I read chapters five and six) I came across something that really struck me. In chapter five, Corrie asks herself the question: "How should a Christian act when evil is in power?" I decided to do some research.
First, I found verses in my Bible pertaining to authorities. Romans 13:1 says "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." Hitler was put into power by God, but he destroyed Christians and Jews all over Holland (And everywhere else, but we are talking about The Hiding Place, which starts out in Holland). So what should Christians do when others around them are hunted and destroyed? In Titus 3:1 Paul tells Titus to remind the Church "to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work," Christians must be subject and submissive to authority, and the Ten Booms were! They had fulfilled all the requirements Hitler placed before them, so when did they begin the rebellion that caused Corrie to ask this question? In Acts 5:29, Peter and the Apostles replied to their oppressors, "We must obey God rather then men." The German invaders in Holland specifically targeted Jews and began destroying their shops, families, and taking their lives. The Ten Booms began their rebellion by protecting a persecuted people, by housing them and sending them to better, more hidden places.
The question: "How should a Christian act when evil is power?" is answerable by using God's word! As Christians we must obey the authorities put over us, but we must only obey them up to a point. When Man's laws interfere with God's laws, Christians shouldn't obey them. Later on in Corrie's book, the Ten Booms begin hiding Jews in a secret room, purposefully deceiving German authorities. As the authority interfered with God's law by singling out a race and destroying them, the Ten Booms chose God's law first.
I wonder, could I do that? Could I live in hiding? Is my faith strong enough? I don't know, but as Corrie's father says, God will give us our "ticket" when we need it- right before we get on the train.
First, I found verses in my Bible pertaining to authorities. Romans 13:1 says "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." Hitler was put into power by God, but he destroyed Christians and Jews all over Holland (And everywhere else, but we are talking about The Hiding Place, which starts out in Holland). So what should Christians do when others around them are hunted and destroyed? In Titus 3:1 Paul tells Titus to remind the Church "to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work," Christians must be subject and submissive to authority, and the Ten Booms were! They had fulfilled all the requirements Hitler placed before them, so when did they begin the rebellion that caused Corrie to ask this question? In Acts 5:29, Peter and the Apostles replied to their oppressors, "We must obey God rather then men." The German invaders in Holland specifically targeted Jews and began destroying their shops, families, and taking their lives. The Ten Booms began their rebellion by protecting a persecuted people, by housing them and sending them to better, more hidden places.
The question: "How should a Christian act when evil is power?" is answerable by using God's word! As Christians we must obey the authorities put over us, but we must only obey them up to a point. When Man's laws interfere with God's laws, Christians shouldn't obey them. Later on in Corrie's book, the Ten Booms begin hiding Jews in a secret room, purposefully deceiving German authorities. As the authority interfered with God's law by singling out a race and destroying them, the Ten Booms chose God's law first.
I wonder, could I do that? Could I live in hiding? Is my faith strong enough? I don't know, but as Corrie's father says, God will give us our "ticket" when we need it- right before we get on the train.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Ode To A White Page
If you are like me, the first thing you want to do in a book-store is stuff your nose in a book and breathe deeply of paper, ink, and glue. These three things make up a book, but pen to paper comes first. In front of me I have a blank page waiting to be written on, but what do I write? Of course I want to write something meaningful, something insightful, but how do I do that?
I suppose I could start with the title of this blog. Well Red. There are three things you can discern from this: 1) I can't spell (Which in this case isn't true because the title spelling is intentional). 2) I read A LOT. and 3) (The least obvious one) I have red hair, so I stuck it in the title as a play on words. Well, now you know!
So after some thought I dedicate this blog firstly to books, reading them, writing them (who knows?), and reviewing them.
Here's what I'll do to start out. First I will read a book and post insights for those who are reading them for the first time. Then I will review the whole book. Feel free to send me your suggestions!
We'll start with some of my favourites.
And, (Just so you know) I am fascinated by authors who don't write in the world they are living in, in other words, fantasy writers. I believe it takes talent to invent a "world", so I have quite a few fantasy books on my list.
Here is a list of my FAVORITE titles: (You can read them too, if you want.)
The Hiding Place (I am currently reading this one, and it is amazing!)
Rose Daughter
The Two Princess of Bamarre
Redwall
Ella Enchanted
A Girl of the Limberlost
Mossflower
Fairest
Goose Chase
The Hobbit
Chasing Vermeer
The Black Pearl
Password to Larkspur Lane
The Secret of the Forgotten City
Jane Eyre
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Well, I think that is enough to start with, don't you?
As I said, feel free to suggest books! I love to read new things!
Bye for now,
Alexis
I suppose I could start with the title of this blog. Well Red. There are three things you can discern from this: 1) I can't spell (Which in this case isn't true because the title spelling is intentional). 2) I read A LOT. and 3) (The least obvious one) I have red hair, so I stuck it in the title as a play on words. Well, now you know!
So after some thought I dedicate this blog firstly to books, reading them, writing them (who knows?), and reviewing them.
Here's what I'll do to start out. First I will read a book and post insights for those who are reading them for the first time. Then I will review the whole book. Feel free to send me your suggestions!
We'll start with some of my favourites.
And, (Just so you know) I am fascinated by authors who don't write in the world they are living in, in other words, fantasy writers. I believe it takes talent to invent a "world", so I have quite a few fantasy books on my list.
Here is a list of my FAVORITE titles: (You can read them too, if you want.)
The Hiding Place (I am currently reading this one, and it is amazing!)
Rose Daughter
The Two Princess of Bamarre
Redwall
Ella Enchanted
A Girl of the Limberlost
Mossflower
Fairest
Goose Chase
The Hobbit
Chasing Vermeer
The Black Pearl
Password to Larkspur Lane
The Secret of the Forgotten City
Jane Eyre
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Well, I think that is enough to start with, don't you?
As I said, feel free to suggest books! I love to read new things!
Bye for now,
Alexis
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