Customer Reviews:
The Bluebird Bok.......2007-08-10
This book has great pictures and answered all of my questions re bluebirds. I love the pictures of the different nest types...it has enabled me to know what kind of bird is nesting in the bluebird box. Very helpful.
GOOD USEFUL STUFF HERE FOLKS! ONE OF THE BEST STARTER BOOKS I'VE READ!.......2007-07-04
This is certainly one you will want to add to your collection. Having been a birder for well over fifty years now, and a collector of books on the subject, I found this one to be well worth the cost. As pointed out by another reviewer here, some of the information in this book is quite basic. But that is okay! Everyone has to start somewhere and this is one of the best books I know to get that start. This is not to say that an "expert" will not be able to get anyting out of this work...that is silly. But, like any work on the subject of birds, this one needs to be supplemented by other books on the subject and field guides.
The photographs in this work are wonderful, some of the best I have seen and the text is clear and concise, which is sort of a trade mark for this writing team. There is a great amount of useful information in this relatively small volume, and with it, and a couple of the other recommended works here, you should be able to become quite an authority on the subject. This particular bird is a favorite of mine and I find any work that promotes it's well being a good thing. Recommend this one highly.
A good start.......2006-11-28
This is a good book for those who are interested in learning more about bluebirds and perhaps getting started with their own trail. It is mostly focused on the eastern bluebird but also discusses the mountain and western bluebirds, with plenty of photos. It also shows how to distinguish different types of nests so you can tell whether a house wren or house sparrow has taken over your bluebird box.
Great starter book for burgeoning bluebirder.......2006-02-25
Once you have a bluebird visit your backyard, you WILL be hooked...and you'll start looking for anything and everything to lure them back--it sounds crazy, but I think every bluebirder started this way! I read just about everything I could find about them on the internet, and you can find tons of information there, but sometimes I'd rather consult a book or two--The Bluebird Book is one of my two.
Actually it is pretty basic, and I thought it was too basic at times, but the further I read there was still a lot of good information about bluebird behavior, feeding habits, preferred habitat, nesting, nest boxes, predators of the bluebird, predator prevention, and what I didn't see anyplace else...bluebird language! But I think what kept me reading was the fantastic photographs--the photos will draw you in, and if you weren't too serious about doing the 'bluebirding thing', you will be after starting with this book. What it lacks in "complete reference" will certainly prompt you to take the next step of getting another more advanced book, pouring thru bluebird internet sites, or setting up a nest box or two in your yard. Just a note--depending on where you live in the US, parts of this book may not apply--but that is the same for other bluebird books also; don't get discouraged over it. Most bluebird books cover Eastern, Western, and Mountain bluebirds all at once, and what works in the east, may not work in the west, or south, for example.
The other book that goes into great detail on just about everything bluebird related is the Bluebird Monitor's Guide. This should be your next book if you can find it. Excellent stuff, expands on what you learned in the Bluebird Book, and lists many lessons and lessons-learned, easy and hard, from average folks who became very passionate about bluebirds.
After starting with the Bluebird Monitor's Guide, The Bluebird Book filled in a few areas and had some good detailed photos. And all the photos will have you wishing to have these beauties grace your neighborhood. Another note--there's also a Stokes video about bluebirding...I haven't seen it, but much of what I've read about it online is not very positive. Stick with this book and the Monitor's Guide and you will have plenty of solid information about bluebirds, setting up PROPER nest box(es), and providing a safe environment for a bluebird family, or any native wildbird family for that matter. Please be a responsible bird landlord!
Excellent Resource.......2005-08-09
The Bluebird Book was concise, informative, and easy to read. I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in attracting bluebirds.
Book Description
It's all-you-can-eat
at the Bluebird Café,
A grasshopper-katydid-cricket buffet,
with berries and snails
and a bluebottle fly,
a sip of the lake
and a bite of the sky.
A world of birds unfolds in twenty-two vivid poems that capture the unique personalities of birds from backyard blue jays to toucans and cockatoos. Come sweep through the sky with an eagle, compare table manners with a vulture, and mock a mockingbird -- if you dare!
Debora Ruddell's poems are funny and thoughtful, silly and sweet. Joan Rankin's delightful pictures enchant the eye and tickle the funny bone. There is something for everyone who flies through the pages of this brilliantly birdbrained book.
Customer Reviews:
I loved it!.......2007-03-16
This is a delightful book. As a former primary teacher, I recommend it on 2 levels. First...the poems will appeal to children (and adults!). Secondly...the poems can lead to more discussions about specific birds, bird feeder observations, and acquaintance with our natural environment.
bird poems fly high.......2007-03-08
This book of poems for bird lovers is a total delight. The whimsical illustrations match Ruddell's funny and clever poems. This book is great for older children who will appreciate some of the more sophisticated humor. My 12 year old's favorite is about the woodpecker:
If you think his life is a picnic,
a seesawing day at the park
I ask you just once to consider
the aftertaste
of bark.
a treasure!.......2007-03-06
Although the poems in this book have a common theme (birds), they are anything but "common" in their use of language and the delightful way they tickle the funnybone while imparting tidbits of knowledge about our fine, feathered friends. The art is superb and complements the poems beautifully. The book is certain to become a treasured favorite in homes, schools, and libraries everywhere.
Today at the Bluebird Cafe: A Branchful of Birds.......2007-03-06
My students chuckled with delight and begged me to keep reading Ruddell's wonderfully whimsical poems. Anyone who loves birds and poetry will find a magical pairing in these witty and wise poems and Rankin's joyous illustrations. Today at the Bluebird Cafe is a must for any library or child's bookshelf.
You'll love it!.......2007-03-04
Kids ...as well as adults... will love this book of poems. They're whimsical, witty, and just plain fun. The clever illustrations compliment the fun and lyrical text. This book is a joy to read!
Book Description
Bluebird, or The Invention of Happiness is a radiant and artful novel based on the life of Lucy Dillon, an 18th-century French aristocrat. Her intelligence, beauty, and lack of pretension made Lucy a favorite of luminaries like Talleyrand and Germaine de Staël—and equipped her to survive the "Terror" that swept France in the wake of the Revolution. Possessed of considerable wit and practicality, Lucy manages to keep her beloved husband and small children safe while all her former circle, including King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, are guillotined. Eventually securing passage on a small ship bound for Boston, Lucy and her family settle in the Hudson Valley near Albany. Exhilarated by the personal and political freedom she finds in America, Lucy views her time there not as "exile," but rather as "opportunity"—and the former palace darling proudly turns dairymaid, establishing a successful farm and embracing all the challenges and adventures the New World presents her.
Customer Reviews:
A novel of contrasts beautifully wrought.......2007-07-09
Thoroughly engrossing historical novel. The Court of Louis XVI vs. the revolution comes to life in this page-turner. The contrast is even more startling when we arrive in the Albany area during the first throes of the American republic. I highly recommend this book for its beautiful language, vivid settings, and wonderful heroine vs. hero.
Fascinating women in exciting times.......2007-06-15
The French Revolution was the first great popular revolution, and the ideas it enshrined, including the equality of women, have forever marked the world in the two centuries since. The late eighteenth century also saw the rise of the woman of intellect "la femme de tete", as the French would put it.
Sheila Kohler is a masterful writer and a lover of both France and history who does justice to both in this eye-opening book.
Samia Serageldin
Great Read.......2007-06-12
This is a wonderful book. I stayed up several nights reading this
historical novel. The author does a great job with the historical
details and the reader is transported to the times of Marie Antoinette.
The main character's courage and fortitude are inspiring and timeless.
I recommend this book highly to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
Do not miss out on reading this book!!!!
Great Writing.......2007-06-08
When an author writes so seamlessly that you are no longer reading...you are there, it is rare and wonderful. Kohler is a terrific writer!
A beautifully written page turner set during French Revolution.......2007-06-05
Bluebird and The Invention of Happiness is a beautifully written page turner set during the French Revolution. I could not put it down. The French Revolution, such an exciting period, is wonderfully rendered, and the historical details seamlessly interwoven into the narrative. Readers of historical fiction are bound to appreciate it especially, but you do not have to be a history buff to enjoy it. What I loved most was the heroine, Madame de La Tour de Pin, who was such a courageous woman, who overcame so many adversities. Not to read Bluebird is to deprive yourself of a wonderful treat. Anyone who has an appreciation for lyrical writing combined with a moving story will enjoy this novel. I highly recommend it.
Product Description
Fiction, Romance, Christmas
Customer Reviews:
I loved it.......2007-10-06
If you love Sarah's Child or Almost Forever, this is a must read--It is the story of Derek finding love--He is in the other 2 books--I really enjoyed it although it was a lot shorter than the other books I just wish there was more to it but other than that it was great!!!
Really, really bad early Howard novel.......2006-10-18
Unwed mother-to-be Kathleen goes into labor prematurely while traveling on a snow blanketed deserted highway. Enter neonatal specialist Derek Taliferro (who only a couple years earlier was the 16 year old with a crush on Sarah in "Sarah's Child"), happens upon her and helps her deliver her baby girl. Then Derek decides that he loves baby Risa and wants to provide for her (since he is a doctor and all). He sets about forcing Kathleen into a marriage of convenience so that he can be a father to Risa. And as crazy as it sounds, the two start with a convenience and end up falling in love with each other.
Trite and syrupy, this story lacks plotting and cohesion. It never really captured my attention and I found myself laughing in parts where the author probably did not intend to create comedy. Definitely not one of Howard's better early works, which is why it's not so easy to find. Better to stick with her McKenzie series if straight romance is what you are looking for.
Book Description
The second graphic novel in the breakout, all-ages series, Owly. Owly is a kind, yet lonely, little owl who's always on the search for new friends and adventure. Relying on a mixture of symbols, icons, and expressions to tell his silent stories, Runton's clean, animated, and heartwarming style makes it a perfect read. Owly learns that sometimes you have to make sacrifices and work at things that are important, especially friendship.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful gentle almost wordless fun.......2006-04-19
We have the 1st 3 Owly books, and my 4 year old daughter loves to "read" it to her 2 year old sister, who asks for it every day and night. They even play Owly games at the playground. Very sweet.
Amazingly Heartwarming.......2005-12-07
So booklist says grades 3 to 5, and instincts say "for kids and maybe young girls" but I can't help but love Owly. I bought this book for both my daughter and wife and I swear I almost shed a tear while reading it.
Especially for kids, it teaches an important lesson about friendship and sacrifice, as Owly and his little companion give up something they love to try to help a little forest friend out. Even when rebuffed they still try to do the right thing and help. OF COURSE everything turns out well in the end and everyone learns a little lesson about how to be a good friend. And somehow it manages not to be too corny or silly.
This book is perfect for ANYONE with a heart and I'm sure Mr. Runton's next book will be just as beautiful. I plan on buying it the day it comes out!
I might be a big softee, but..........2005-10-06
...these books are incredible. I literally started crying.
If You Don't Like "Owly", You Might Not Have a Soul.......2005-05-08
My initial reaction to the first "Owly" volume was no fluke: this second volume demonstrates Runton's unique talent for telling GOOD all-ages stories. It's just a nice, heartwarming story, as Owly and Wormy try to extend a helping hand to a family of blue jays, who are naturally suspicious of the normally predatory owl. I will conclude with a quote from my review of the first volume: "Go read it. If you don't like it, you may have no soul."
THE VALUE OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP.......2005-04-29
The second volume of Andy Runton's Owly has all the charm, wit, and soft moral messages of the first book. Told without benefit of any text, Andy Runton instead uses word balloons with pictures as his method of dialogue to convey his character's words and emotions. Owly is joined by his new friend from the first book "wormy" in their quest to make new friends. This time he's attracting a young bird with birdseed. But when the mother bird sees Owly, she immediately goes on the offensive, knowing that owls are predators.
Owly and Wormy decide to build the birds a birdhouse and even sacrifice their wooden wagon to make one large enough. They are proud of their work but still the mother bird is having none of it. Owly then thinks he's figured it out and paints a small little welcome sign on the front of the birdhouse. But Owly and Wormy are disappointed when they find the sign lying on the ground, broken in half and mother bird again going on the attack and driving Owly away. The friends are distraught and take the birdhouse back to Owly's tree and put it away in the closet, seemingly for good. But now the poor bird family finds themselves shivering and wet from the cold. A nice house sure would be great! When a storm blows three new baby birds out of the nest, Owly comes to the rescue but the third is still missing. Can Owly and Wormy locate the missing baby bird? How will mother bird treat them now?
Owly is not so much a graphic novel in the traditional sense but truly a wonderful children's book told solely through cartooning. We see the value of friendship and never giving up when it comes to helping others. And we also see the pitfalls of judging people too hastily. Andy Runton's unique cartooning style drives the book. At once very simplistic and yet able to express such a wide range of emotions from all his characters. This book is pure charm and shows the incredible talent that is out there among the smaller press community. Another winner!
Customer Reviews:
A worthy guide to attracting bluebirds........2000-02-26
I'm glad that I made the choice to purchase this very good guide to bluebirds. I didn't know that much about bluebirds until I gleaned the very informative information in this book. If you have an interest in bluebirds and would like to attract them, then this book is for you. Bluebirds and Their Survival covers much ground: their prefered habitat, nest box choices, when and where to put the nest boxes out, feeding them, and potential predators. The book also tells you how to set up your own bluebird trail, how to photograph them, and also how to make different types of nesting structures. This guide has some very good photographs throughout too. The text is also easy to read. The author talks about some other guests that you may attract to your bluebird house or houses. Everything from the house wren to the house sparrow. I can understand that some people may not want other species of birds to use a house intended for bluebirds, but I don't think it's morally right to kill house sparrows that choose to do so. Just because they aren't a native species and aren't protected by law doesn't justify cruel behavior like that. Other than that, I definitely recommend this book. Even if you just want to learn a little about the life history of these pretty birds and not offer them housing or food, this is still a very good book. It should be all you need to get you on your way. Recommended.
Book Description
Nominated for a National Book Critics Circle award, Where the Bluebird Sings to the Lemonade Springs gathers together Wallace Stegner’s most important and memorable writings on the American West: its landscapes, diverse history, and shifting identity; its beauty, fragility, and power. With subjects ranging from the writer’s own “migrant childhood” to the need to protect what remains of the great western wilderness (which Stegner dubs “the geography of hope”) to poignant profiles of western writers such as John Steinbeck and Norman Maclean, this collection is a riveting testament to the power of place. At the same time it communicates vividly the sensibility and range of this most gifted of American writers, historians, and environmentalists.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
Too romantic and exclusive a view of the West.......2002-10-03
I have the utmost respect for Wallace Stegner as a writer, but this collection of essays takes provincialism to far greater lengths than even his great works of local fiction. Stegner's definition of the West is based on an almost arbitrary measurement of rainfall--less than 20 inches per year. Any area that gets more than that (like Seattle) isn't the West. And that's not all. Cities don't count either, for the cities are just the East brought west in the form of middle-class America. So, the West for this author is the unspoiled, unsettled arid West, which dramatically excludes huge portions of the region that properly belong to it. If Spokane isn't the West, what is it?
I love the region, so I appreciate this author's attempts to capture its essence. But I can't get passed the overly romantic and exceptionally patronizing attitiude of the writer. It's as if he's saying: I understand the West. You don't, so I'm going to tell you. I'm a Westerner. You're not, so quit pretending. I live in the West. You don't, so stay the hell out. The whole thing comes off as reverent, but also xenophobic.
The American west........2002-05-22
"Easterners are constantly being surprised and somehow offended that California's summer hills are gold, not green. We are creatures shaped by our experiences; we like what we know, more than we know what we like. ... Sagebrush is an acquired taste."
Stegner taught writing at the University of Wisconsin and at Harvard, but he had a strong sense of place and his place was the West. He accepted a position at Stanford University where he spent many years, and became, what many consider to be, 'the dean of Western writing' (by which we do not mean that he wrote "Westerns"). In this volume, Stegner sacks the Hollywood myths, and addresses the far more fascinating realities of the West. Featured here is a studied and caring investigation of what lies between the 98th meridian and the Pacific Ocean; of the land's great beauty and vulnerability to human foolishness. The compilation of essays also includes the author's reflections on his own life and work in the West, and examines critically the work of several significant literary "witnesses" of the American West. He reminds the reader of what criticism is: "A critic ... is not a synthesizer but an analyzer. He picks apart, he lifts a few cells onto a slide and puts a coverglass over them... His is a useful function and done well, ... may even give the reader the illusion of understanding both the product and the process. But ... whatever they can analyze has to be dead before it can be dissected ... critical analysis explains everything but the mystery of literary creation."
If you enjoy the works of John Steinbeck or Norman Maclean, or the powerful but fragile beauty of western lands, the essays collected in the Lemonade Springs are highly recommended.
Beautiful.......2000-08-09
Stegner has a way with words, and this collection of excerpts and essays shows them off. In fact, reading Stegner in these discrete chunks may be the best way to appreciate him - especially if you read it out loud, letting the cadences of his writing drive the tempo. This is true for the fiction, non-fiction, and even the literary analyses he includes here. This was the book that got me excited about reading Stegner.
Average customer rating:
- Dated, dated, dated.
- ********AN EXQUISITELY SWEET TREAT!************
- A tear-jerker that I'd read over and over again.
- Bluebird Winter
|
Bluebird Winter
Linda Howard
Manufacturer: Thorndike Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Howard, Linda
| ( H )
| Authors, A-Z
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
Hardcover
| Howard, Linda
| ( H )
| Authors, A-Z
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
Large Print
| Howard, Linda
| ( H )
| Authors, A-Z
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Contemporary
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
Literature & Fiction
| Large Print
| Formats
| Books
Romance
| Large Print
| Formats
| Books
Children's Books
| Large Print
| Formats
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Sarah's Child (Hqn Romance)
-
Loving Evangeline
-
Independent Wife
-
Against The Rules
-
Tears Of The Renegade
ASIN: 0786240059 |
Customer Reviews:
Dated, dated, dated. .......2006-10-21
Unwed mother-to-be Kathleen goes into labor prematurely while traveling on a snow blanketed deserted highway. Enter neonatal specialist Derek Taliferro (who only a couple years earlier was the 16 year old with a crush on Sarah in "Sarah's Child"), happens upon her and helps her deliver her baby girl. Then Derek decides that he loves baby Risa and wants to provide for her (since he is a doctor and all). He sets about forcing Kathleen into a marriage of convenience so that he can be a father to Risa. And as crazy as it sounds, the two start with a convenience and end up falling in love with each other.
Trite and syrupy, this story lacks plotting and cohesion. What little plot there is, shares many similarities to Sandra Brown's "Shadows of Yesterday." It never really captured my attention and I found myself laughing in parts where the author probably didn't intend to create comedy. Definitely not one of Howard's better early works, which is why it's not so easy to find. Thankfully I only paid a quarter at a garage sale! Better to stick with her McKenzie series if straight romance is what you are looking for.
********AN EXQUISITELY SWEET TREAT!************.......2006-08-02
AN EXQUISITELY SWEETTTT TREAT!
A READ that's destine to be READ again& again from begining to end!
A Holiday Gift Written from the very Heart of a TRUE ROMANTIC'S Friend!
**** IMMORTALLY Delicious, a SENSUOUS SAMPLER or Have you ever heard of a BLUE BIRD WINTER Holiday treat...?!!
In which every True Romantic hungrily craves &forever seeks....A READ that plants a Romantic seed that makes my heart flutter & shutter with talks of LOVE...one for all and all for one a nother...liken to a lovely Dove(LINDA HOWARD because of your WORK... you I could just squeeze & hug!:)oooh my oooh my I feel faint.. from reading the words of a Romantic Saint theirs no wonder Why ..absents (of a TRUE LOVE) makes the Heart grow fonder... . such READS like these always succeed in making passion, fires &desires within me quiver also shake...should least I forget to say ...or Convey to (((you)))... DELIVERED BY CHRISTMAS is.. a Royal feast.
FOOD FOR A TRUE ROMANCE GODDESS I CAN SINK MY TEETH INTO & EAT...!
A READ that's sure to please with the greatest of ease short & sweet.(even though I NEVER wanted the Book to end my friend!) A complete love story about Love at first sight(dashing hero takes a baby& wife)...which is for me cool, I liked very much, a soft touch that feels ever sooo sexy & right.
Even so, though Conflicts of day to day life stains with
past hurts &pains. Subconsciously or consciously remain...Ya know, Letting go can be ever so slow but loves healing powers has a sweet healing flow, like spring time rain showers.
Tis' True in my Heart**LOVE** YOU..**Rule*** what an Exqsuite Jewel...are (((you)))...oooh how I crave you for the time...now is far spent... I' am due!!!
A True Fan
NOTE: I totally flipped over Derek's Heart spoken words to Kathleen in DELIVERED BY CHRISTMAS on pg.,115 when he said, "MY Heart wouldn't beat without you"...Hmmmm ..nice! :O)
A tear-jerker that I'd read over and over again........2000-04-28
From the first page, this story captured my heart. I read it years ago and have never seen it since. Being a mother, I felt for the heroine, who is in destitute and in labor. When the hero helps her, then marries her, I felt a sigh of relief. The heroine's life hasn't been easy and she's afraid to reach out. When she reveals her past, the hero decides that HE is the one for her and her baby, despite the heroine's murky beginnings. I felt a tear in my eye as the author weaved a gentle, healing tale of love. I'm buying it and adding it to my collection.
Bluebird Winter.......2000-04-17
A wonderful story that will warm your heart. A young mother finds herself in labor during a terrible blizzard and is rescued by an intelligent, handsome, and charismatic doctor who happens to specialize in babies in trouble. He rescues the mother, delivers her premature baby under stormy conditions and marries the deserted and destitute mother to provide the baby with all the advantages a doctor can give it. But his heart is captured by the young mother and he waits for her to find her way to him. A charming and heartwarming story of family love and support, and of a man's dedication and honor.
Average customer rating:
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Bluebirds (Camp & Cottage Collection, 2. Wildlife)
Steve Grooms , and
Dick Peterson
Manufacturer: Northword Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Wildlife
| Animals
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Ornithology
| Zoology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Birdwatching
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
Reference
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1559710950 |
Book Description
Sometimes she wished she was an only child . . . ''She's lovely! Look at those curls. Those blue eyes. She's just beautiful!'' Berta was used to hearing comments like that. But they were not about her. . . . Whenever ladies came to the house or met her mother on the street, they exclaimed over Berta's little sister, Glenna. Somewhere along the way, Berta decided that whatever Glenna was, she would not be. Whatever Glenna did, she would not do. Whatever Glenna liked, she would not like. She would be the opposite. Sure enough, Glenna is sparkling, vivacious, outgoing, and adored, while Berta is serious, dependable, and prim. Their relationship grows more and more distant until, finally, Berta must look into her heart and discover what truly has caused the rift between them.
Customer Reviews:
wow.......2007-09-20
I started out wondering about the sister, but soon found that I had a hard time putting the book down, by the end I hated to see the story end.
Eh...I've read better Oke books........2006-10-22
"The Bluebird and The Sparrow" is a book I chose because I had nothing to read at the time, and Janette Oke is my "go-to" under such circumstances. The character of Berta was extremely annoying, and she had no growth to her until the last five pages of the book, making it very abrupt and leaving the reader wanting. I found it highly unrealistic for a person to hold such a long grudge against her younger sister, and highly unlikely that no one saw the reason as to why she was the way she was. I think this is one of the poorer made characters of Oke's. Still, it kept me reading, so I "sorta" recommend.
From Blackbird to Bluebird.......2006-09-22
This is a beautiful work of Christian literature. The story opens in June of 1894 when 3-year-old Berta becomes an older sister to Glenna. From the start, Berta feels displaced and rebuffs all efforts on the part of her immediate family to draw her in. Glenna, a ray of sunshine with light hair to match is adept at peace making, peace keeping and generally trying to assuage her older sister's resentments.
Poor Berta can never let her grudges go long enough to enjoy life. When Glenna marries and moves to another town, Berta closes herself off from everyone. When their father dies, Berta withers in resentment.
Things change for the better when Glenna returns for a visit with her then 2-year-old son James in tow. The family reconnects, the sisters, mother and their maternal grandmother. Berta Rose (Rosie) was born, some 4 years after James. Unlike Berta, he embraces his new role as a brother and delights in Rosie.
In time, tragedy strikes. James, then 4 falls from a tree and dies from a closed head injury. Glenna's third child, Anna is born shortly thereafter. In time, Glenna and Berta have a heart-to-heart. Glenna says she prays to God daily to help her feel compassion instead of envy; she is not the naturally sunny personality people think she is. Slowly, Berta's emotional armor is chipped away. Once she accepts herself and lets go of her past resentments and allows herself to love Glenna unconditionally, then she is receptive to the love of a persistent suitor.
I think this is a wonderful story about love and redemption and prayer. I like the way God is mentioned throughout the book and the reminders of how important God is to those who believe in and serve Him. As a Christian, I think this book beautifully illustrates compassion from a Christian standpoint.
Berta reminds me of a Beatle song - 1968's "Blackbird." Once she took her broken wings and learned to fly, she saw that flying with the bluebirds (Paul McCartney wrote "Bluebird" years after his Beatle classic, "Blackbird") made for a happier life.
Sweet Story.......2005-10-28
This was a good story but very sad. While reading this book I wanted to cry the entire time. Not my favorite of Okes books
Very Disappointing..........2003-06-15
I was so excited when I checked this book out at my local library because I normally love Mrs. Oke's books. But this one just got on my nerves something terrible. The characters, especially the older sister, just really irritated me. By the time I got to the end and she had finally gotten her attitude adjusted I was so sick of her and the book that I didn't care.
The storyline in this book was weak and diluted, and it just wasn't any good. The characters were also unbelievable because I have two sisters and believe me if either one of them ever was a sour apple like the older sister in this book I would definitely have to set them straight. And the younger sister was just too sweet and too tolerant.
Like I said, I normally enjoy Mrs. Oke's books, so don't think I'm coming down too hard on her. On the other hand, if you like Mrs. Oke then I know you will also enjoy Leigh Ann Roberts. I just read her newest book, "For All Time" and it was great!
Books:
- The Boy Who Was Raised As a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist's Notebook: What Traumatized Children Can Teach Us About Loss, Love and Healing
- The Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses: Sedges, Rushes, Restios, Cat-Tails and Selected Bamboos
- The Complete Book of Foaling: An Illustrated Guide for the Foaling Attendant (Howell Reference Books)
- The Complete Book of Foaling: An Illustrated Guide for the Foaling Attendant (Howell Reference Books)
- The Devil's Teeth: A True Story of Obsession and Survival Among America's Great White Sharks
- The Everything Chihuahua Book: A Complete Guide to Raising, Training, And Caring for Your Chihuahua (Everything: Pets)
- The Falcon's Feathers (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))
- The Knee Of Listening: The Divine Ordeal of the Avataric Incarnation of Conscious Light (The Seventeen Companions of the True Dawn Horse, Book 4)
- The New Natural Cat: A Complete Guide for Finicky Owners
- The Rat Nervous System, Third Edition
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- History: Fiction or Science
- Introduction to the Biology of Marine Life
- New X-Men Omnibus
- The Education of Henry Adams: A Centennial Version
- Skulls & Bones
- Our Ecological Footprint: Reducing Human Impact on the Earth
- International Accounting: A Case Approach
- Affairs at Thrush Green
The Bluebird Monitor's Guide to Bluebirds and Other Small Cavity Nesters
The Stokes Purple Martin Book: The Complete Guide to Attracting and Housing Purple Martins (Stokes Backyard Nature Books)
Stokes Hummingbird Book : The Complete Guide to Attracting, Identifying, and Enjoying Hummingbirds
Eastern Bluebird (Wild Bird Guides)
Stokes Birdfeeder Book : The Complete Guide to Attracting, Identifying, and Understanding Your Feeder Birds
