The Screwtape Letters

Very interesting. It was so hard to really understand the book. Just understanding how C.S. Lewis could get in the mind set to write it. That baffled me. Reading his little excerpt at the end he explained how hard it was for him, that he just had this dark mood around him while writing it.

Anyhow, he addresses some topics that are all around us and I know I don't always recognize them as being temptations from devils, but I believe they really are. I read it a while ago - I have plenty of time to read on the bus on the way home from work. So I'm trying to recall all my thoughts.

The part that I liked most was when Screwtape was talking about the way they torture women with the media. He said how they doctored the photos of women to look far too skinny resembling the figure of a boy. A figure that a full-bodied woman can never achieve.

I think that has always been a struggle for me. The media portrays this all around us and I know how modified everything is, but it's so easy to succumb to those worldly tendencies and compare ourselves. And to not feel thin enough or pretty enough or whatever enough. It is a torture. We just need to recognize it for what it is. It is Satan's way of getting between us and our father in heaven.

It's an interesting book, not my favorite because it's just so weird to think about. I think he did an amazing job and I liked the outcome in the end. It's just so odd.

If you have time I'd love to know what you think.

The Scarlet Pimpernel was excellent! Very entertaining!

I must admit, I guessed the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel long before it was actually revealed. However, I was still enraptured, and excited to discover the outcome of the novel.

I enjoyed the characters very much, but was always frustrated with Lady and Percy Blakeney's relationship...to be so passionately in love and to let pride injure that love...what a shame! I agree with what Hannah said about communication being key in a relationship.

I look forward to seeing the movie next!

We seek him here, we seek him there

I absolutely loved the Scarlett Pimpernel. I never knew there was a whole series!

Seeing the movie first though, made it not as exciting. I already knew Sir Percy's secret identity, but the whole time I just kept imagining his lazy eyes and inane laugh and I always got a kick out of it.

I don't know what else to say, except that man it is good. I loved loved loved the ending.

Oh and communication is key for successful relationships.

Anyhow, I thought it was absolutely amazing!

One of my favorite quotes,

"she was impelled by an all-powerful fatality, which so often seems to rule the destinies of men"

So sorry...

Due to the fact that Wesley and I don't have internet in our home, I have fallen behind on the book club. I'm sorry! I didn't get the memo about the book Pursued, and I'm afraid I won't have time to get that one read right now. I was also unable to acquire the Scarlet Pimpernel at the local libraries so I have just ordered it online which means my post will be coming a little late. However, I'm excited to be reading it, and I'll post again as soon as I can.

Oopsie!

So I finally got a copy of the scarlet pimpernel. Shane and I were driving to Jerome for me to finish my hunter's education so I figured I'd read on the way. The car was locked so I put my armful of blankets and the book on the trunk and asked Shane to grab it when I went in for something else. We're on the highway past Pocatello when I start looking around for the book.

Just my luck, he never saw it and left it on the trunk as we drove away. So yesterday I spent 30 min walking down the road to find it, to no avail. Hopefully someone found it and took it to the library? But now, I'll have to see what I can do about getting a copy...

Finally - Pursued!

Ok, I know it's the end of May, but I have now finished Pursued and thought that I might as well still write my thoughts about it. By the way, I hope you are all enjoying The Scarlet Pimpernel!
I would have to agree with pretty much everything that Hannah said about the book. But all in all, it was still a fun read. Kind of one of those no-brainers you can just pick up whenever for entertainment. It kept me guessing until the end, and I just kept reading so that I could find out how it was all going to play out. I had read several books by this same author back when I was in middle school and high school, so I kind of knew what to expect from this book. I think I would have enjoyed it more back then, but that's ok. Like I said, it was still fun. . . .
It drove me crazy not knowing who were the good guys and who were the bad guys. I found myself suspecting everyone and trusting no one. Especially when it came to Maggie's new-found family. It all got a little confusing with all the police and detectives thrown in there as well. I couldn't keep track of their names and which ones could be trusted. Maybe I wasn't properly imagining things in my head, but it didn't make sense how Llewellyn (By the way, how in the world do you pronounce that name?) escaped right through their fingers so many times. Was he that elusive?
I would love to go to England and visit all those places though and learn about the history and architecture. And I definitely wouldn't mind finding a place like Dragonwyck that I could explore! (I am a sucker for secret passageways.) That would be awesome. Mandy and I were talking, and we figured that I have over a year to find a job and save up so that I can go visit while she and Wes are living there. Sound like a good plan to me! Anyone else want to join?

Backwards

Due to numerous waiting lists at the library, I am just barely reading Pursued, but I have already finished The Scarlet Pimpernel. So I will post about that now and then post about Pursued later once I have finished. Sorry that my posts are going to be flip-flopped. . .
Let me just start off by saying that I love The Scarlet Pimpernel! I had read it once before in high school but I think that I enjoyed it so much more this time, even though I kind of already knew what was going to happen and who the Scarlet Pimpernel was. I understood things so much better this time, although I was still confused about many French words and sometimes would look things up in the dictionary. What a great story though! Everything you could ask for: mystery, adventure, romance, etc. The author was so great at describing things and using imagery. And she gave them all so much character and personality!
One thing that kills me throughout the book though is the lack of communication between Lady Blakeney and her husband. I loved that part when they were talking out on the lawn of their house after the ball. I just wanted them to let go of their pride and fall into each others' arms! Alas, they didn't but I am sure that there was plenty of that after the story ended.
I felt like I couldn't put the book down, and was always so anxious to find out what was going to happen next. So good choice Elle! Oh, and I also have acquired a copy of The Help and so I am going to read that as well after I am done with Pursued. And I am planning on watching the movie of The Scarlet Pimpernel sometime soon if anyone in the Rexburg area would like to join me.