Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser - Listened to on Libby - 13 hours - read by Bessie Carter

 This title kept being mentioned by some of the book recommenders I follow on Instagram, so I got in line on Libby and finally got to listen to it. It was an enjoyable romp, the perfect motivation to get out and walk while Len and I were staying at the Springhill Suites in Cedar Park, visiting Sierra and her family. We had a beautiful pool area and lake and walking path, where I could walk and watch sunsets and listen to this story. Very enjoyable, although it took awhile for me to get into it.

The Cinderella story told from the stepmother's viewpoint was clever with some believable/contextual aspects. Like a traveling minstrel/junk dealer named Mouser who transforms his carriage to take Ellen to the ball. The prince is no prize, and as his story unfolds, we see the fallacies of pursuing an aristocratic life, or a life built on appearances. It's a long listen, with interesting forays into the world of falconry, making way as a woman in a time of great suppression, and an evil queen. It gets a little graphic, but not too gross. Ethel, the main character, ruminates often about her role as a mother and what it means to launch your daughters into society; and do you give up all of your own desires for them? Some of her thinking was interesting...her devotion was admirable, given her dire circumstances. Making her way, and eventually deciding to save her stepdaughter, were interesting to watch as they unfolded. It wasn't realistic, though, or maybe it was? that she kept her counselor on as a friend and protector, but wasn't willing to marry him. Interesting dilemma...

I wouldn't say it was worth recommending to anyone, but it was good to get me out and walking. 

Christmas in Bethel by Richard Paul Evans

 Although not listed in this blog, I believe I read another of this author's books, probably The Christmas Box. I have a vague memory of wondering why people thought it was good. I would love to find a good Christmas story, but that wasn't it. I have seen this author's books featured at Deseret Book often, and sail right past them because of that one experience. But I often wondered, maybe he's improved over time?

So, when our Stonebridge Ward book club had this one on the list, and it looked like a Christmas story too, I was game to give him another try. Well, by the first chapter, I knew it was just more pulpy, predictable fluff. It's too bad because the packaging is attractive, and so is the idea. Another disappointment is that it's not even a Christmas story! It's a "love" story. Huh. NOT. So superficial, so predictable, it became annoying. And there is a lot of dialogue that is supposed to be clever that is just plain pedantic and annoying.

One problem may be that I was also reading The Q by Beth Brower, who is a master of clever dialogue and rich characters. The contrast was startling. I would not have even finished Christmas in Bethel if it weren't for the book club discussion ahead.

This abused girl, Leigh Beth, who goes by Beth, has a hard life, is very damaged and insecure, but somehow attracts the attention of an author whom she says saved her life. She meets him ahead of a book signing, at a coffee shop, which again, is so predictable. We know right away that this is the author. As the unbelievable story unfolds, we are treated to more banal dialogue, a falling in love story surrounded with all the trappings of a rich and famous life...and of course a couple of misunderstandings and falling outs. Turns out this famous author is a fake; it's his brother who is the true author, but that's forgivable because he's mentally unstable. All of it is just plain annoying. 

The one redeeming aspect of this book is the quotes from Beth Stilton's diary at the beginning of each chapter. Some of them are clever. Here are some examples:

"Please don't judge me too harshly. The jury in my own head is merciless enough and rarely adjourns."

"Alice was our book club's moderator tonight. I'm proud of her, fighting her fear of being herself and owning her voice. Maxine was her usual self. Too much self , too much voice."

And here's one that reflects the "wisdom" of this author: "I learned more about love in one moonlight walk than a thousand romance novels. It is a true irony, that the victory of love is found in surrendering to it."

Sheesh. Spare me.

Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter

 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!