Book Review: Blackmoore

{Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions presented in this post are my very own. ~Mama Rachel}

I was excited to have the opportunity to review this book! There are so few books written by modern authors that I enjoy, and so I was looking forward to finding something new to read that is also clean and uplifting.

I wish I could honestly say that my high expectations were met, but unfortunately, being a frequent reader of classic literature has probably spoiled me.

One of my pet peeves of modern, historical fiction is that most, if not all, of these stories are inundated with modern sensibilities that simply did not exist in the past. Of course, I know the reason that the writers of today make this choice, (I believe it's an attempt to help modern readers "relate" better to the characters and their world) but I have not been able to find a way to keep it from ruining the reading experience for me, personally. I subscribe to the school of thought that says that in order for modern readers to understand the past, they need to be immersed in it, rather than expecting the past to change to meet their understanding.

Examples of how the book's modern lens distracted and disappointed me:

• The heroine ogling her romantic interest's body. More than once.
• How difficult it was to relate to, understand, or even LIKE the heroine.
• The outlandish actions of the heroine's mother, knowing that she never would have been tolerated in society at that day and age.

The author is a fine writer, but the story was also fairly disjointed, and it did not hold my interest. I had to FORCE myself to return to the book several times.

Unfortunately, after reading this modern take on a historical romance, I feel the need to read an Austen novel, or something by the Bronte sisters. I honestly cannot recommend that my readers waste their time reading Blackmoore-- immerse yourself in a wonderful classic, instead!

Love, Mama Rachel

Pressing Forward

William Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon

For more than a year I've been writing what can only be described as a "curriculum" for teaching Shakespeare. Last summer, I finished the first part, which is for teaching students about the Bard and the Elizabethan Age. It has weekly lessons that can be taught as a precursor to putting on a Shakespeare play. While it's meant to be used for homeschooling moms who want to teach their children and their kids' friends in a class atmosphere, it could be used for one family.

But right now, I'm working hard to finish the acting and directing guide for putting on a Shakespeare play. It's been a much bigger effort than I had supposed it would be, even though I have a lot of experience teaching acting and directing shows. Some things are just not easy to translate into words! I mean, most of what I learned before I jumped in the directing trenches was from the examples of the many teachers and directors I worked with throughout my youth. Putting all those lessons I learned into words is not the easiest thing for me to do. *whew!*

Today, I've been sitting at the computer, pounding out what to do and expect in the audition process. With only a few breaks for things like perusing Pinterest, it has taken me this entire day!

In contrast to the writing I've been doing, compared to posting on my blogs, I can say that blogging is a process that takes much less effort! I'm not sure what that says about the quality of my writing on my blogs, but...

I hope all my blogging buddies are enjoying their summers! I promise not to completely abandon my blogs, but hopefully this is a good explanation as to why I've been away.

On to the next!!!

Love,
Mama

The Challenge: "Where I'm From"

Four year old me, performing a selection from "My Turn On Earth."

I had a lot of fun this morning with Cocoa's Wordfull Wednesday challenge over at Chocolate on My Cranium. Give it a try! I'd love to read yours, too!

Where I'm From

I am from fierce winds,

from cold, crisp air that sucked my breath away.

I am from tall weeds swaying in dusty earth.

(The bitter of milkweed

clinging to my fingertips.)

I am from the rose bush

the Grand Tree

who still stands waiting for my childish grasp.

I'm from peaches and boxed chocolate,

from Vicki and Ron.

I'm from the sing-alongs

and the told-you-sos,

From “Carry On!” and “Uncle Bud.”

I'm from “How Great Thou Art”

sung in crowds around a fire

and tales of those who paved the way.

I'm from mountain peaks and kudzu trails,

hot grits and orange rolls.

From the sweet milk Granny poured

on her cornflakes,

the thimble perched on Grandma's busy hand.

I miss the laughter of aunts

over dishes and quilts,

softball and soccer,

cousins and tents.

I am from those moments--

a dozen sweet orange buds now bursting

in their turn on the Family Tree.

Doing a Scary Thing

Don't worry-- there is no more real drama going on with me right now. It's all just in my head.

But I'm really nervous.

For reasons I can't explain, I signed up to go to a writer's conference this weekend. And as part of that conference, I signed up for a private pitch session with an editor from Desert Book/Shadow Mountain.

...

WHAT WAS I THINKING???

*gulp*

I've been working on a non-fiction book based on my "Old-Fashioned Motherhood" blog. I feel passionately about the movement for women to return to traditional homemaking and motherhood! I've been writing about it since 2005, and researching the subject for even longer. And since I've been pushed and prompted by the Spirit to share this important message, I'm sharing it.

Though nothing will likely happen as a result of this scheduled pitch session, I hope I learn some important things.

I just want some input from someone in the business, some advice! So I shouldn't be scared, right?

*deep breath*

Right.

Wish me luck!

Tomorrow

"The Responsible Woman" by James C. Christensen

"There is a danger in the word someday when what it means is 'not this day.'...The scriptures make the danger of delay clear. It is that we may discover that we have run out of time. The God who gives us each day as a treasure will require an accounting. We will weep, and He will weep, if we have intended to repent and to serve Him in tomorrows which never came or have dreamt of yesterdays where the opportunity to act was past. This day is a precious gift of God. The thought 'Someday I will' can be a thief of the opportunities of time and the blessings of eternity."

--Henry B. Eyring, "This Day", Ensign, May 2007, 89–91

In early January, I was fortunate enough to have my mother come to stay with us for two whole weeks. I adore my mom, and I regularly call her several times a week. It had been nine months since I had last seen her in person, and I was so excited for her visit, but I was also feeling really self-conscious. During my recent pregnancy, I had developed some bad habits, especially in the homemaking realm, and then when adding the new baby in the mix, the house wasn't exactly ready for company. I didn't want her to come to a messy house! The kids and I rolled up our sleeves, and put the house in decent order-- or so I thought.

When my mother arrived, the clutter that I had missed around the house seemed to come out of nowhere, and I was so embarrassed! But my saintly mother did not scold, or say one negative word. She just went to work! In no time, the laundry was caught up, the kitchen was sparkling more than it had in months, and everything just felt... right.

During her visit, I began to watch her closely. And I also began to see my bad habits more clearly. Probably the worst bad habit I had recently acquired was procrastination. But I noticed that when my kids asked my mom to read them a book, or play a game with them, she never put them off. She immediately spent time with them. She did the same with the laundry, or the dishes. She never said, “I'll do it later,” rather, she got it done quickly and right away. I realized that this concept of “do it NOW” had fallen out of my vocabulary! I also saw the happiness in the eyes of my children, and the peacefulness that filled our home. I wanted that feeling to stay, long after my mom returned home. How grateful I am for her inspiring, non-judging example. She never lectured, she never said one word. But the message rang clear.

I cannot say that our home is still in perfect order, but the lesson learned still lingers. I am trying to take care of things when I see them, or think about them. I can see how avoiding problems, jobs, or situations does not lessen the pain, it increases it. I don't want to come to the end of my life and regret the wasted time, the relationships that could have been, or the better person I might have become. I love the saying, “If not me, who? And if not now, when?” I want to become better everyday. And I'm working on it.

I want to share a poem we read in our homeschool today that sums up my feelings best. It's called,

“What Have We Done Today?”
We shall do much in the years to come,
But what have we done today?
We shall give our gold in a princely sum,
But what did we give today?
We shall lift the heart and dry the tear,
We shall plant a hope in the place of fear,
We shall speak the words of love and cheer,
But what did we speak today?

We shall be so kind in the after while,
But have we been today?
We shall bring to each lonely life a smile,
But what have we brought today?
We shall give to truth a grander birth,
And to steadfast faith a deeper worth,
We shall feed the hungering souls of earth,
But whom have we fed today?

We shall reap such joys in the by and by,
But what have we sown today?
We shall build us mansions in the sky,
But what have we built today?
'Tis sweet in the idle dreams to bask;
But here and now, do we our task?
Yet, this is the thing our souls must ask,
What have we done today?

2008: Year in Review

It's a tradition in my family for my mom to give each one of her children a "Year in Review" questionnaire to fill out. I thought it would be fun to share my answers on my blog this year!


1) A Great Adventure: Morganne and Brennan and I all got to be involved in last year's Shakespeare class's production of "Twelfth Night." Brennan had the lead role of Sebastian, Morganne was Olivia's maid, and I was in charge of the costumes. (My sainted mother-- a wise, experienced, professional costume designer-- came and helped me out a ton. THANKS MOM!!!) We each learned a lot, and had a blast!

Morganne with Lady Olivia


Brennan giving his soliloquy


My mom and Lliam modeling some of the fruits of our labors


The Cast of "Twelfth Night"

2) A Happy Event: Well, I can't just pick one! In 2008, (March) Gavin got baptized,



... (August) Lliam received the Aaronic Priesthood and was ordained a deacon,


...and our Miss Avalon finally arrived, amidst much joy and rejoicing! (December)



3) A Sad Event: We had to sell our much-loved home in Mesa, because we could no longer afford it, and moved into a rental. We do like our new home, but we really miss the yard and trees!

"Nestlewood Cottage"

4) Looking Forward to: Getting out of debt, directing "A Midsummer Night's Dream," finishing my four books. (!!!)

5) Something for the books: In June, I went to San Diego without hubby or kids for Shakespeare training and had a blast! It was my first time in California, and I fell in love with it.

The beach at Encinitas

My Fellow Shakespeare Trainees, Megan (l), and Reya (r)

6) Don't Remind Me!: I ended up firing my midwife, whom I LOVE. (See my post in November for more details.) I felt terrible...

7) New Interest or Hobby: I have had a wonderful time teaching Shakespeare to homeschooled teens. Morganne, Brennan, and Lliam are really loving the class, and my other 26 students seem to like it, too.

Everyone loves a coronation!

8) Car Story: Hmmm... we really don't have one this year. Our BIG van (Ruby-Mae) and Russell's Caddie are still getting us where we need to go.

9) Kid Story: Well, it's rather late in the year, but I guess our MacKenna wanted one last "hurrah." On December 30th, she decided to sit in the bathroom sink upstairs while she let the water overflow-- TWICE in that one day!!! (Russell has since turned the water off under the sink.) The carpet in her room is still damp, and we're hoping there's no lasting damage to the house. (groan!) She seems to be having a rough time being three... *sigh*


10) Miracle: In spite of the odds, our house in Mesa sold!!! (We won't talk about how much less it sold for than we paid for it.) We know that God was mindful of us, and we are sooo grateful!

All in all, I think 2008 was a great year for us, and I am confident that 2009 will be even better.

(Thanks, Mom, for providing the questions!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Facing the Difficult

Sometimes, God inspires us to do things that are hard-- things that intimidate us. Does that mean we don't do them? Or that we should put them off indefinitely?

Hmmm. No.

SO, I am now starting a project that both scares and excites me at the same time. I'm beginning the process of writing some curricula God inspired me to create a year or so ago. I've procrastinated long enough, and now I'm ready to face them head-on! I thought this blog would be a good place to keep a journal of sorts for recording my progress.

The first involves putting together a treasury of classic poems and stories. The other two are lessons that mothers can do at home with their daughters and sons. They're in rough-draft form, and need a lot of tweaking, but I feel really good about tackling them. If this is what the Lord wants me to do, He'll help me, right?

:-D

Wish me luck...