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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
One of my all time favorite books. My first chapter book. A lot of memories involved. A beautiful and short book.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Greetings, Internet Readers!
So 2021 is apparently the year of going down a rabbit hole of nostalgia for me and my reading because the fourth book I opted to read this year was "Sarah, Plain and Tall" by Patricia MacLachlan which I have not read since Elementary School! But you know what? It holds up...sort of.
I'll preface this by saying that the "Sarah, Plain and Tall" film series with Glenn Close and Christopher Walken is one of my favorites and I've rewatched the films countless times over the years. I truly, madly, DEEPLY love the movies. But I only read the book series once and at the time the last two installments of said book series had not even been published yet. So when I stumbled across the complete set at the local SPCA Thrift Store I took it as a sign that I had to pick them up and read the series from start to finish.
I ended up giving "Sarah, Plain and Tall" a 4/5 and shelving it as an "Amazing Read" because, be it nostalgia goggles or not, I thoroughly felt it was. Why, however, does it lose a single point for me if I loved it so much? Well, simply because it's really bare bones and really short. The story is concise and sweet enough, but it does very much show the fact it's written for a younger demographic in the depth it misses; depth the film version of the story added. Whereas the film had conflict and added elements of a "will they, won't they" thing between the characters of Sarah and Jacob, the book very much is a smooth sail into what could be happily-ever-after. The fact that it's told from a young Anna's perspective also deprives us of the inner workings of what's up between Sarah and Jacob. And aside from the fact we know Anna and Caleb's mother passed in childbirth with Caleb, the story is not one that is very heavy in plot. But it's still very charming nonetheless and utterly feel good! It could just be, as I've said, my nostalgia goggles dictating this verdict from me...But it's definitely a must read from me if you just want something light and uplifting.
So 2021 is apparently the year of going down a rabbit hole of nostalgia for me and my reading because the fourth book I opted to read this year was "Sarah, Plain and Tall" by Patricia MacLachlan which I have not read since Elementary School! But you know what? It holds up...sort of.
I'll preface this by saying that the "Sarah, Plain and Tall" film series with Glenn Close and Christopher Walken is one of my favorites and I've rewatched the films countless times over the years. I truly, madly, DEEPLY love the movies. But I only read the book series once and at the time the last two installments of said book series had not even been published yet. So when I stumbled across the complete set at the local SPCA Thrift Store I took it as a sign that I had to pick them up and read the series from start to finish.
I ended up giving "Sarah, Plain and Tall" a 4/5 and shelving it as an "Amazing Read" because, be it nostalgia goggles or not, I thoroughly felt it was. Why, however, does it lose a single point for me if I loved it so much? Well, simply because it's really bare bones and really short. The story is concise and sweet enough, but it does very much show the fact it's written for a younger demographic in the depth it misses; depth the film version of the story added. Whereas the film had conflict and added elements of a "will they, won't they" thing between the characters of Sarah and Jacob, the book very much is a smooth sail into what could be happily-ever-after. The fact that it's told from a young Anna's perspective also deprives us of the inner workings of what's up between Sarah and Jacob. And aside from the fact we know Anna and Caleb's mother passed in childbirth with Caleb, the story is not one that is very heavy in plot. But it's still very charming nonetheless and utterly feel good! It could just be, as I've said, my nostalgia goggles dictating this verdict from me...But it's definitely a must read from me if you just want something light and uplifting.
Great book filled with wisdom. The story of a young family on the prairie as it tries to begin anew ....
This story will always remind me of the women in my family and my Grandmother's farm.
This is a good children's book about pioneer life. I had no idea it was a series and I've never read any of the other books. I might pick them up in the future.
This was rather a quiet and thoughtful book, and surprisingly evocative, for children's literature. I like that it gives you space to think about the characters and put yourself in their shoes to flesh out their experience, rather than to tell you exactly how they are feeling at every moment.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No