Tag Archives: read along

Little Women Final Post!

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Hello Readers!

I hope everyone had a beautiful Christmas :).

Yesterday was the last day of our read-along!  I hope you all finished and enjoyed the book as much as I did!!  Like I mentioned before, reading it again as an adult, has been so great and the story touched my heart in ways it hadn’t in the past.

LittleWomen ButtonThe one thing I’m still not completely resigned about is the fact that Laurie and Jo don’t end up together :/.  I like Professor Bhaer, I do and I get the fact that Laurie and Jo were more like brother and sister but still… I don’t know, something inside me still wishes it should have worked out between them.  Maybe it’s because I identify with Jo’s character and I would totally marry Laurie, I don’t know!  I could do a whole post on Laurie vs Fritz… Yeah, I’ll have to think about that cause I’ve never had peace about this.

I’m going to save my comments for my final review but I want to know what you thought. Did Little Women live up to your expectations?  Was it just as sweet as you remembered?

Thanks so much for joining me in closing out the year with my favorite novel!  Stay tuned for news about the giveaway for this even as well as the giveaway for those who participated in the The Count of Monte Cristo Read-Along (yes, I know I’m terribly behind! I’m sounding like a broken record :P Bear with me as I get my act together for the new year!).

Happy happy New Year!! Stay blessed and keep reading ;)

Elyssa

Little Women Read Along Begins!!

By Posted in Challenge, Classics Club, Period Fiction, Reading Event Tagged , , , , , , , , , 5 Comments

Happy December, Dear Readers!

It has arrived!! Time to break out those copies of LM Alcott’s beloved classic, Little Women! (This post is kind of late in the day so perhaps you’ve already started!).

I did a post shortly after joining the Classics Club about Little Women being my favorite novel. It still is and I CAN’T WAIT to read it again!! It’s such a homey story, perfect for the Christmas season!

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There are 47 chapters in this book and we have 28 days to read so if you average 2 chapters a day, you’re good to go!

I will be doing a giveaway so be sure to stay tuned and participate in check-ins! This event will be much easier for me than The Count of Monte Cristo because it is a re-read. I will do my best to post every Sunday :).

Those of you who tweet can hashtag #lwreadalong and you be sure to add any links to your blog posts in the comments!

So excited you’ve decided to read Little Women this holiday season, I’m sure we’ll have a marvelous time!

Happy reading!

Elyssa :)

The Count of Monte Cristo Final Check-In!

By Posted in Challenge, Classics Club, General Fiction, Reading Event Tagged , , , , , , 3 Comments

Hello Readers!!

TCOMC RA ButtonI hope all of you stateside had a great Thanksgiving and made wonderful memories with the people you love!  I have had a blast the past couple of days :).

Can you believe November is over?  And that means  our read-along has come to an end!  I know a couple of you have finished; I’m not sure about the rest.  I apologize for being absent the past couple of weeks, I was due for a third check-in and never came through :P.  But how did you make out?  Was it as good as you expected?  Did it exceed your expectations?  I want to hear what you thought!

Unfortunately, I was unable to finish in time (wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!).  My schedule was completely unrelenting and I had to pick and choose what took priority.  I do have the audiobook version, so I’ll try and finish up over the next few weeks and get my review out!  However, I’m so glad I was able to facilitate this event and I hope you all enjoyed yourselves!  I can’t wait to read your reviews!!!  I will be checking out the comments for the giveaway, so stay tuned!

Stay blessed :)

Elyssa

The Count of Monte Cristo Check-In #2

By Posted in Classics Club, Reading Event Tagged , , , , , , 5 Comments

Hello Readers!

How’s everyone doing so far?  I must confess I’m still dreadfully behind.  This past week began my first term of online classes at Thomas Edison State College and it has been quite a challenge to find extra time for anything else. But I’m trekking along and will make it through before the month is out –  I’m determined!  For now, I open this post for y’all to check-in, comment and share your thoughts!

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I’m was so very glad to see the positive comments from last check-in.  This is a really good book, yeah?  It doesn’t lose speed and you never know what’s coming up next!  As much as I will always love the movie, I can’t help wishing they had stuck more with the original story.  BBC needs to get on that…

I hate to run off, but I have 2 assignments to finish for school!

Wishing everyone a fabulous week!

Happy reading!

 

The Count of Monte Cristo Check In #1

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Hello Readers!

Time to check in and see how everyone’s doing so far in the book!

Just an FYI, I will be making some references to the movie during the read-along, but I’ll try not to give away anything important so I won’t spoil it for anyone who hasn’t seen it!!

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Confession: I’m probably behind all of you :P. But that is a-okay. Y’all keep plugging along. And any spoilers in comments will not bother me so chat away, if you’d like.  However, a pace of 2.5 chapters per day brings us to chapter 42 so, please no comments about anything beyond that. Thanks :)

Let me just say that it took me a minute to shift gears and get used to how different it is from the movie!! Book shock, much?  I don’t know, maybe that’s just me.  But I am really enjoying it despite the longwinded bits (again, maybe that’s just me!).

I like the fact that you get the political, historical backdrop in the book, although, I must confess, I sort of yawned my way through it.  I also loved reading the father-son relationship between Abbe Faria & Dantes. That was really touching.

But probably the one thing that THREW ME OFF was Fernand!  If you’ve seen the movie, you know what I mean.  Oh my goodness, I was not expecting him to hate Edmond from the beginning.  Well then, this story is going in a completely different direction than I anticipated!  I’m excited to see what happens!

Can’t wait to see how ya’ll are doing so far!

~

GIVEAWAY

I’ve decided to do a giveaway for this read along like I did for The Pilgrim’s Progress. It’s real simple: each comment you make counts as an entry.  The person with the most comments at the end of the event can choose a book from either my CLASSICS CLUB LIST or my READING LIST. So comment away!!

Happy, happy reading :)

the pilgrim’s progress | book review

By Posted in Classics Club, Spiritual Growth Tagged , , , , , , 4 Comments

I have a list of 13 books I’ve read over the past several months and failed to review and I’m chipping away one at a time.  The first title I need to get done is definitely The Pilgrim’s Progress.  

You may know that I hosted a read-along (my very first!) for this book this past summer. Well, I did a final check-in post but never got around to typing up my thoughts on the entire book!!  So here goes!

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The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

Rating: 3.5 – 4.0

My thoughts:

First, it must be said that this book is not to be rushed through by any means.  If you’ve read it or attempted to read it, you know what I’m talking about!  This book is rich with imagery and meaning and depth.  It’s not just a classic, it is a religious book, period.  The spiritual themes cannot be ignored and a reader with a working knowledge of the Bible will understand the language and commentary.  It definitely deserves a re-read, only, next time, nice and slow!  My copy was great because it had notes, and Bible references in the margins which helped a lot!!  If you’re thinking of getting a hard copy, I highly recommend the Barnes & Noble version like the one pictured here.

There’s something special about reading something written by someone who believes in what they’re writing about.  Bunyan wrote this book from prison where he was incarcerated for preaching the Gospel.  It doesn’t get any more intense than that!

I’m not going to go through details of the book, I already did some of that in my check-ins:

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What I will say about the book is that as difficult as it was at times, it’s a beautiful read.  I think every Christian should read it at least once.  It makes you think and evaluate you’re own walk.  I’m very glad I included it on my TBR list this year and tackled it this summer!

This is also a good time to note that my dear friend, Jobe, from Jobe Reads, won the giveaway and I will be sending her a hard copy of  The Pilgrim’s Progress for her personal library!!

I’d love to here your thoughts about the book!  Did you participate in the summer read-along?  Have you read it in years past?  Or maybe it’s on you list and you haven’t gotten to it yet.  Leave a comment below!!

Happy reading, y’all!

The Count of Monte Cristo Read-Along Begins!

By Posted in Classics Club, Reading Event Tagged , , , , , 24 Comments

I can’t believe October has arrived!  You know what that means?  It means that tomorrow we start reading Dumas’ classic, The Count of Monte Cristo!  And I don’t now about you, but I’m really looking forward to it!  

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Since we’ve got two months to read this hefty book, I’ve divided the reading into two parts:

October – Chapters 1-59

November – Chapters 60-118

This will keep me motivated and on point as I squeeze my reading into my busy schedule.  I can read about two and a half-ish chapters a day and finish with a bit of breathing room which I will desperately need!  Feel free to read as your schedules allow you! No pressure :).

I’ll post a halfway report at the end of October and then a full review at the end of the read-along as well as bi-monthly check-ins so ya’ll can post your comments about how you’re getting along!!

I received comments on my announcement this past summer from those of you who were wanting to participate.  I’d love for you to comment here and let me know if you’re still on board!  Or perhaps you are just finding out about the read-along and are thinking of joining.  Glad to have you as well!  Anyone can jump in at anytime, as long as you finish the book by the 29th of November.

I’m thinking about a giveaway. . . details to follow ;).

So, without further ado, let the reading begin! . . . Um tomorrow that is!

Happy reading!!

The Pilgrim’s Progress Final Check-In

By Posted in Classics Club, Reading Event Tagged , , , , 2 Comments

Hello Readers!

Today is the final day of our journey through Pilgrim’s Progress!! YAY!!!  I will be perfectly honest with you, I didn’t think I was going to make it through those last two sections of this book!  But I did and I’m soooo glad to be done with hosting my first reading event, you have no idea! :D

As I mentioned in the last check-in, I was kind of weary and wondering why Bunyan chose to continue the book with Christiana’s pilgrimage after all.  After wading through the last 100 pages, my sentiments stayed about the same.  Much of the conversation had to do with recalling what happened to Christian on his journey and revisiting the places he had been.  To be sure, Christiana, Mercy and the boys met some interesting characters (I really liked Great-heart, Mr. Steadfast, and Mr. Valiant-for-Truth).  I suppose I caught a case of you-could-have-said-that-in-half-those-words-why-drag-it-out-itis.  When I take the time to read Part 2 again, sometime in the future, I’m sure I’ll be able to grasp the depth that Bunyan was trying to convey but I was too anxious to be done with the book to get much out of it this time around.  So you can imagine my delight when letters were being delivered from the Celestial City, telling Pilgrims that their journeys were over and the King was inviting them to their eternal reward.  Whoot!  You made it!  Finally!

I did love Mr. Steadfast’s final words as he’s leaving for the Kingdom:

I see myself now at the end of my Journey; my toilsome days are ended. I am going now to see that Head that was crowned with thorns, and that Face that was spit upon for me.

I have formerly lived by hear-say and Faith; but now I go where I shall live by Sight, and shall be with him in whose company I delight myself.

I have loved to hear my Lord spoken of; and where-ever I have seen the print of his shoe in the earth, there I have coveted to set my foot too.

His Name has been to me as a civet box; yea, sweeter than all perfumes. His Voice to me has been most sweet; and his Countenance I have more desired than they that have most desired the light of the Sun. His Word I did use to gather for my food, and for antidotes against my faintings. He has held me, and I have kept me from mine iniquities; yea, my steps hath he strengthened in his Way.

Beeeeeautiful!!!

What about you, my dear readers?  How have you made out?  Were you able to finish the book?  Have you already written your reviews?  What are your thoughts about Part 2?  Leave your comments below!

I know my notes were rather anti-climactic, but I can’t help but be honest :P.

I’ll be posting my overall book review over the weekend. Stay tuned!

Have a great weekend, y’all!

The Pilgrim’s Progress Check-In #3

By Posted in Classics Club, Reading Event, Theology Tagged , , , , 1 Comment

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How’s everyone doing so far? Have you finished Part One?  Are you halfway through Part 2 like I should be?  Hope you have enjoyed the story so far no matter where you’re at!

I’m going to be perfectly honest and tell you that I got completely lost and kind of stumbled my way through a good chunk of this section.  This is evidenced by the lack of sticky notes on several pages!  I was going to say something like, ‘There were a number of deep conversations in this section’, but this whole book has been full of deep conversations.  I’m afraid I don’t have the time to touch on all of them, but I will visit one that impressed me the most (from what I remember).

The conversation that begins with Christian asking Ignorance how it stands between God and his soul now was really good, in my opinion.  The discussion about what constitutes good thoughts and a good heart is one that hasn’t much changed over the years.  Ignorance insists that since it’s his heart that tells him his philosophies are correct, they must be so.  Christian counters that by saying that if one’s thoughts about self and God aren’t in harmony with the Bible then they are incorrect.  This turns theologically deep pretty quickly and we get a better sense of the meaning of Ignorance’s name.  I think Bunyan is trying to demonstrate the faith of one who is ignorant of what true faith is and how one’s theology must harmonize completely with the Word otherwise one’s faith is, as Christian describes, fantastical.  I like how Christian literally lists out the defects of Ignorances faith.  I like lists so I’m drawn to every single one in this book!

I’m not going to go into detail about this whole conversation but I will say that I have several lines underlined and marked for revisitation.

I’ve probably said it before, but I’ll say once more: I am having a hard time commenting on this book!  It’s just soooooooooooooooooo dense!

So I’m going to leave it at that.  I know, super lame. I do apologize!  It’s 2:45 am and I promised myself I wouldn’t let myself go to bed until I typed up something resembling a check-in!!!

What did you all think of this last part of Part One?  What conversation sparked your interest?  Did anything make you question your theologies or philosophies on life and God?

Are you having as hard a time as I in forming comments?  Heheheee!  Don’t sweat it!  I’m sure you’re getting along just fine :D.

Happy reading! :)

Pilgrim’s Progress Read – Along Proposal

By Posted in Classics Club, Reading Event Tagged , 4 Comments

Hello readers!!

I’m still not ready for Check-In #3.  I know some of you had said that you were having a hard time keeping up and I know some of you just planned to read quietly so I don’t know your current status ;).

I have a proposal.

Shall we add another week?  Instead of wrapping up on the 9th, we can finish on the 16th.

Leave me a comment and let me know how you’re doing and what you’d like to do.

In the mean time, I’m plugging away as best I can.

Good evening :)