This is November's book for our Stonebridge ward book club, and it was a short and easy and enjoyable read. It was somewhat predictable, but that didn't make it less enjoyable. I seem to be drawn to stories about orphans being raised by strict aunts -- Like Anne of Green Gables.
Pollyanna is a sweet character and soon has the whole town enthralled with her cheery disposition and glad game. She can't teach her Aunt Polly the game, though, because she's not allowed to talk about her deceased father who taught her the game. This comes good later, though, and comes out well.
Pollyanna's deceased father was a minister, and she tells us that he found over 800 references in the Bible telling us to "Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, ye righteous, and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart." He called them the "rejoicing texts" (page 137) and this story influences the local preacher to praise instead of criticize.
It was interesting to read such a Christian story while I am studying Isaiah in preparation for my Gospel Doctrine class. They certainly reinforce each other! I would love to give this book to Alice, but there are some hard words and some dialects that some of the characters use that would be hard for her. Still, I might do it...and start reading it with her next week!
