Week 3, Oct. 14-20, Chapter 16 - THE END!!

[Francesca]

Looking forward to praisegirl's choice for our next literary adventure!

[pjreads]

this book just gets better and better, richer and deeper.

We've just seen Horace and Maggie through their illnesses and find their characters more refined, more in love with one another and yet well aware that their first love, their abiding strength and joy must always be Jesus Christ.

I don't recall that Elizabeth Prentiss was married, but how could one who has never married write in such a way about marriage and address so well the age old quandry that we all experience in the realization that we must love Christ above our own beloved!

I do hope sister Annie isn't lost to materialism and leisure/pleasure. We've just finished the chapter where she has manipulated her husband into taking her back to Europe instead of moving in with Mother White. I can only hope that dear Tom will rise up and be more decisive for the good!

I think we have 3 or 4 chapters left to finish this book. Paul is feeling unwell and won't be in the pulpit tomorrow, so I may take advantage of his enforced quiet and finish reading the rest of the book to him tomorrow



Have you all read [u]Stepping Heavenward[/u It's been years since I read it, but I plan to go backwards and give it a re-read sometime.

Love to all

[Francesca]

The end of this book was so beautiful. Nothing like a good Pollyanna ending!!

I was so teary when Aunt Jane died and Horace and Maggie had a baby that very day. How hard to have not be able to be there with her in the last moments of her life. I loved the visual image of Aunt Jane cloaking this little babe on her way out. I remember Mom expressing a similar sentiment about Gwyneth, who was born so close to Grandma's birthday and on the heels of her passing. I like to think she gave Gwyneth lots of hugs and kisses as well as her spiritual mantle - in that way the cycle of life is a beautiful thing to think about.

I also loved how Elizabeth preached a little at the end... her way of making sure the reader got all the meat she intended them to have. I applaud her for being committed to writing a good book not for the purpose of mere entertainment, but to exhort and point her reader to Christ.

Oh, and I am pretty sure E. Prentiss was married. I believe her husband wrote a book about her life.

O.K. prasiegirl, it's your turn!!

[Kellieara]

Ack...sorry I'm just getting around to posting. I finished last week, but we had a busy weekend, and I nearly forgot to post.

Towards the middle, this book was somewhat difficult to read. I started getting a little squirmy because I was see more of Annie in me than Maggie. I truly admire how she and Horace were a picture of "iron sharpening iron." Damon and I have pondered many times that we often don't encourage each other spritually nearly enough. We almost keep our spiritual lives private from each other, which is not God's idea of marriage at all. We haven't done this purposely...just fallen into bad, lazy, busy habits. Needless to say, Horace and Maggie's marriage was very inspiring.

I think I'm in the minority here, but I didn't care Mrs. Prentiss's didactic chapter at the end. I think it weakened the book some. For me, it was like eating a totally marvelous meal and then the chef coming out and telling you step by step why and how he cooked it. I think a good novel inspires without a lengthy explanation at the end. I understand that her intentions were noble. I just thought it unnecessary because her fantastic writing and characters had already gotten the point across. If a reader missed that, then they probably wouldn't be attracted by her sermon anyway.

[pjreads]

I loved the way Maggie exhorted Tom that Annie was still a work in progress and would grow into the woman God intended her to be. I also appreciated Mrs. Prentiss's encouragement to Adam and Eve, Jr. that they too would grow into those disciplines that were needful. It's a good thing for us to remember that we are all unfinished works...from glory to glory He's changing me I'm so glad of His faithfulness to do so, as I would hate to think that I'm stagnant!

Aunt Jane's leaving was almost too great to bear, but what a legacy to all the readers!

Love you all. what's next?