Little House On The Prairie

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Every time I read this book I am amazed at the instructional content. I have recommended reading the whole series to my parents, my husband and my kids because of the wealth of information to be gleaned within the simple story setting.
My family loves to camp and learn everything we can about survival. I drop my husband and sons off in the hills to have adventures building campfires, lean to's, and making spruce tea. Little House on the Prairie teaches survivalism for a family in a very real way. They actually lived that life, and barring being able to go out and shoot all of the game you want for the winter everything in this book is so well described that some semblance of surviving could be had by just referring to the descriptions.
I love the story line and the viewpoint of a small child in those days. I am awed by the courage, sacrifice and ability that the people then had. I want that for my family too - not necessarily the hard times but the stamina and guts to do what is needed in any circumstance.
My 14 year old son just got through reading this book too. We are going to be discussing it soon but already he told me he enjoyed the book. I can tell it is not one of his top favorites because he is more into the sci-fi scene but he read it and has brought up great points he learned in the reading of it.
I will be reading the rest of this series to my other kids and I know we will enjoy every last chapter:)



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Christlike Parenting book review

Christlike Parenting: Taking the Pain Out of Parenting by Glenn I. Latham

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


While reading this book I was faced with a couple of situations with my 15 year old that were greatly improved by application of the things I was learning. I have taken notes and highlighted many of the passages in this book to remember later. I will continue to use the things I learned because they resonated with me and after using the techniques and having a positive experience with my son the things I read have even more value. While using many experiences from the authors religious point of view the book can be read by any Christian person. The techniques used are very Christlike and draw you and the children closer to Him, which I love.



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Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Jonathan is continually learning and seeking to be better than he is. I identified with that and can see how it will take me not being afraid of what the rest of the world will think of me as I follow the path that I think is right. The flying lessons could equate to the lessons I am learning about how to best raise children, write music, and improve my love and patience for others. It could also be more literal. It could mean physical things I am learning like strategies in planting a garden or what abuse my body is really up to taking from exercise and physical training. Whatever I decide to spend my time and energies on, I should give it all of my attention, do my best, and see how far I can improve.

The part of the book that influenced my decision on making this a 3 star read is the reference to figuring things out over many lives. If the author is talking about reincarnation then I heavily disagree. We are here on the earth with one shot. I believe in the plan of salvation and that our loving Heavenly Father knows us for who we are. He will give us all equal opportunity to learn about his gospel whether it be in this life or the afterlife to come, but that is it. It would give too much leeway for me to think, "Well, I'm not doing so good in this life, I might as well just give up and try harder next go round." No. That is not what I believe and know. Who I am becoming is for the here and now, not to be spread out over many lives. I do believe however that we will continue to progress after we die in the spiritual realm. What we learn here on earth is the only thing we will take with us. I think it is probable that we could choose to be the seagulls who do nothing with their lives and it could take much longer to progress, or perhaps we won't be given the chance to progress in the next life if we don't do anything with what we have been given now. That reminds me of the parable of the talents. We can choose to bury our talents or to use them and multiply them.

This was a book worth reading, but I have read better.



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Beloved Enos

Beloved Enos by Denver C. Snuffer Jr.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




I absorbed this book rather than just reading it. It gave me new insights I hadn't considered before, opening my mind to new possibilities. Since reading it I have pondered how I can become more meek. I do have more questions now that I will have to research and pray about considering second anointings, but I love having a direction to put my studies rather than just going with the flow.



I already liked reading Enos' account in the Book of Mormon before reading Beloved Enos, which is why I was excited to read it in the first place. Now I am even more awed by his meekness and love for his people and his enemies. His example is even more precious to me now. Reading about such a great man humbles me but I am glad for that because I think it is a step closer to being the meek and humble person I want to be. I have a ways to go I know. It makes me even more grateful for the Savior's atonement which gives me room to improve. My wrongs are erased through His loving sacrifice and I want to be better because I love Him.



Beloved Enos is probably a book to be read by someone who is already on the path to wanting to follow the Saviors footsteps and who already has a burning testimony of the restored gospel. Without a testimony of a church set up exactly like the church Jesus set up in His day, and that has been followed through the Old Testament with Prophets, Apostles, Pastors, Teachers, and the Priesthood, this book would not be the uplifting experience that I experienced. Beloved Enos is for those who already know and believe the simple truths of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and want to know more.



I am anxious to read Denver Snuffer's other books because I like the way he thinks.

UPDATE 5/3/12
   I do not suggest that anyone read Denver Snuffer's books. I have done some soul searching about the feelings I have had when reading his books, and I feel confident in saying that I do not believe that they are 100% correct. There are things in his books that cause stumblings, and have caused them in people dear to me. Thank goodness some of those people have seen it for what it is and have gone back to their scriptures for truth rather than man's interpretation of truth. I am always led back to the scriptures. I believe that all truth can be taught to us through them. It doesn't take studying imperfect humans to understand the scriptures.
Respectfully, Elisa



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Ownership Spirit Review

Ownership Spirit by Dennis R. Deaton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I practiced my speed reading skills on this book not because I wanted to be through with it, but because I forgot to read it until the day before the discussion with my book club. Even with the speed reading I got a ton out of this book. Almost every page has yellow highlighter on it, marking things I definitely want to remember. Here is an example of something that stuck me as something that should be ingrained in my soul. "Pessimistic people do worse than optimistic people in three ways. First, they get depressed much more often. Second, they achieve less on the job, at school, and on the playing field - much less than their talents would suggest. Third, their physical health is worse than that of optimists. So holding a pessimistic theory of the world may be a mark of sophistication, but it is a costly one."

Ownership Spirit reaffirmed what I have been studying in the 7 Habits books. I am in charge of how things affect me. Even the worst things that can happen to me, I can decide if I am going to be changed for the worse or the better and the more often that I choose either one, the more often that particular path will naturally be chosen.



"Things are never as bad as they seem to be." That is another quote that I liked out of the book. I am going to apply these things along with the Stephen Covey books, and see how my view points change. Ownership Spirit told me that if I do this, the changes in my life will be remarkable. I could handle that.



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65 Signs of the Times by Ridges

65 Signs Of The Times Leading Up To The Second Coming by David J. Ridges

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I liked the readability of this book. It helped me to erase the fuzzy line of what signs have happened and what things are still going to happen before the Second Coming of the Savior. It also took away the fear that I have had because of my lack of knowledge of what is going to happen. This book is one that I will be reading again every so often.



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Misunderstanding about my faith

I am reading a fiction book about the 1949 rush to the gold fields. I have been a little disappointed with the lack of morals as I have read and had decided it would not be a book I would want my children to read. It is a Pulitzer Prize winner but I have learned that that accomplishment doesn't have to mean anything to me.

I have found it to be quite accurate on what the people went through to get to California like hunger, indians, thirst, mechanical problems, and so forth, but I have not found it to be accurate as far as the dealings with 'the Mormons'. I was very disturbed by the views that the author had on the LDS religion. It opened my eyes to some of the untruths some people might have because of the misinformation that they might gather from uneducated individuals. You have to get it "from the horse's mouth" so to speak to gather any truth.

This past week I heard of some misunderstandings that my sister in law has about my beliefs. It is hard for me to not go and tell her what I believe. From what I have found so far, whenever I say anything about religion they clam up and don't listen with their spirits - they just get defensive. The only thing I can do is to pray for them and I know that is also the most powerful thing I can do. Praying along with shouting my testimony with the way I live and choose to conduct myself are my plans of action. That can be a daunting task to constantly be aware of how I am presenting myself. I know that people watch people of other faiths to see how their religion really affects them. I know I have been guilty of judging others because I see them professing their faith with their words but not by their actions. It would be easy for me to be judged likewise for I am not perfect, very far from it actually but striving to improve daily. I love my Savior, for he truly is just that, the one who has saved me because I could not do so on my own. I want to have a relationship with him and I know to do that I should do as he has asked me to in the scriptures. Anyway, it is hard sometimes to have a burning knowledge of something and not be able to share because of prejudices that have been formed out of naivete or lack of understanding.

Back to the book. I am almost finished with it and really should have stopped but I am not of the personality to leave something undone like that. Some things take me longer to get to but I do eventually get to them - laundry is one of them.;) I am glad I read it first before turning it over to my son. I will take this experience and learn from it and move on.

Perhaps I have rambled but it sure felt good to get that off my chest!
-Elisa

P.S. I did not put the title of the book because I don't want anyone to waste their time with it.

Man of the Family by Ralph Moody

I have been reading Little Britches with the kids so I was drawn to read this next book in the series. I had read them a couple of years ago and have been enjoying them just as much the second time around so they are truly a classic in my family. I love the real life principles that Ralph teaches through remembering his childhood. He had to grow up fast in the early 1900's when his father died. He was only 11, but was able to keep his family together and thriving by devising odd jobs and working hard. My boys have felt a kinship to Little Britches because he does things that they have been known to do. At one point my 9 year old son Cody said,"I know what he's going to do next, Mom. He always says that right before he does the wrong thing." It has had my boys thinking about character, and honor. My husband has recently read these books also, and he said that they confirmed a life lesson that he had been learning in his Louis L'Amour books, that there are only two kinds of men; honest ones, and dishonest ones. We have the next two books in the series and I am excited to read them. So far they have been full of decisions based on right and wrong. Their family makes life altering changes because they would not do something that would hurt someone else. I want my family to have those values.
Ralph's mother in the book is a good example to mothers. She perseveres through tough times without complaining or making it hard on others. She does her best and more. Her kids admire her, and want to do all they can to help her and to honor her. She does not lose her temper even in times that I am sure I would not be able to stay calm. I have wondered as I have read these books, how she kept such peace in her home. I think that she let the little things go and focused on the big things though not with so much focus that she lost sight of the bigger picture. What an admirable woman. Yesterday I saw my son run outside with his socks on. He knows that is wrong but was not thinking of that at the time. It made me wonder how Ralph's mother would have handled it. It seems that Ralph did everything he could to make his mother happy and proud. Would he have worn his socks outside on the dirt for his mother to wash? Would his mother just have let it go, and focused on the larger picture? I don't know. I let it go, and thought about how soon my boys will be gone and their dirty socks with them. That will be a sad day and I will be glad that I did not scold my son more often than was truly necessary.
Ralph did become the man of the family at a young age. His mother grateful and did all she could do also. I am thankful for the prosperity that my family has compared to what they had, but I am envious of the complete unity that they shared. Maybe if I read this book aloud to my family enough some of it will rub off!

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

You are a woman who is admired by all of England for your wit, beauty, and fashion sense. Everywhere you go you are followed by throngs of people admiring you and wanting to talk to you. The things you wear are noted by your fans and copied near and far.
You marry a man also admired and followed. He dresses in styles that become the latest fashion. You married him because he loved you far more than anyone has before except for your brother who raised you as much as you raised him. You do eventually fall in love with him, but it is too late because you have broken his heart by not trusting him with information about your past and he is now very distant with you, attentive to your needs, but emotionally distant.
The French Revolution is in full swing, and you are caught in its folds of treachery and deceit. To save one man is to kill several others. The hero of the English and French, the Scarlett Pimpernel , is daring, brave, and courageous. He saves countless French aristocracy from the horror of the guillotine. His disguise is such that apart from his small league of trusted help, his identity is known to no one. You hold his fate in your hands and that of your brother and your best friends father. The plot thickens from there and you are forced to decide. What will you do?

Stormbreakers by Anthony Horowitz

I stayed up late last night to read this book that my 9 year old boy is interested in. We got it from the library for him a couple of weeks ago and we are taking turns reading it and discussing it. This is a great adventure book that included many spy gadgets, and page turning intrigue. This is not a book that teaches any life lessons, at least not to me. Perhaps my son is finding things that will help him in his life's mission and will need to read it over and over. It was more of a one time read for me. It was good enough that I could not put it down though, so it has value in that sense. My boy has enjoyed it a lot and is finding every minute he can to hide somewhere from his brothers that want him to play, so he can keep reading.

Behind Reble Lines

Behind Rebel Lines by Seymour Reit
I ordered and read this book because my son wants to be a spy, and because I am trying to read things that I can talk about with him. The first page of the book told me that I would enjoy this true story.
The book is about a woman named Emma who feels called to help in the civil war. She realizes that she could help in the way the other women are like sewing sew bandages, and writing letters for those who are too sick, but she wants to do more. She calls the voice inside of her that keeps telling her to do dangerous things her "imp" voice. It had been with her all of her life, sometimes daring her to climb tall trees, or ride the fastest horses, and now the "imp" voice is telling her to join the war on the Union side. She was a believer in what the Union side stood for and wanted to help but the only way she could join would be to dress as a man because women were not allowed to be soldiers at this time. Emma dresses as a man, becomes enlisted, and does amazing things for the Union. She goes on spy missions dressed as a black person named Cuff, as a washerwoman, a black woman slave, and a handsome man-about-town. She does well on all of these, and does much to help the Union cause. She was a very brave, smart, and daring woman.
I was surprised at how much information I gleaned from this book. The way that I was schooled inadvertantly taught me how to 'cram' information for tests and then promptly forget everything. The information in Behind Rebel Lines stuck out to me. I recognized names like "Stonewall" Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Ulysses Grant. I had not realized that these names were at the same time period as Abraham Lincoln, or that they were even "real" people. I am anxious to learn more history through classics because the people come alive and make a difference in my education.-Elisa