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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
I love these books! As a Christian, I long for fictional books that push love, forgiveness, joy, and Christian service. In a day and age when Christianity means different things to different people, it is wonderful to see traditional, spiritually correct views on relationships, church policies, and morals. At the end of this book, there is a conversation between a pastor and a church member about church discipline. The characters prayed together and talked extensively about how God would have them deal with a situation. It was beautiful and God was glorified in the resolution of the problem. THESE are the kind of books I love!
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Strike 2 for this author. If the sixth book is as bland and preachy as this, I won't be able to finish the series, which is such a shame because her Canadian West series is fantastic. I'm so disappointed that this series isn't matching that, especially since this one had so much potential!
There are two main plots in this book. The first is the rest of the family now needs to adjust to Clark's injury. The second is Marty is pregnant again, but she's having doubts. First with Clark: I ranted in my review of the fourth book that Clark never doubted his faith in frustration. He just accepted his new life. This made the story boring and, frankly, uninspirational. When their adopted daughter starts doubting her faith, she becomes angry and reserved. I would think "conflict! yes!" However, I was disappointed because her doubt was mentioned a couple of times in the beginning of the book and then not at all until one chapter near the end. She basically disappeared from the story, so the struggle didn't build. It was resolved in a very bland way.
Second, Marty's pregnancy. Marty doesn't want this child because she's older than when she gave birth to her other children, and she's concerned about her health. This is a fair concern. She lives in a rural area during a time when medicine was still very primitive. There was no prenatal care of any kind back then. Marty worries for a couple of chapters, thinking about how she doesn't want the baby, worrying about how others will perceive her, worrying about appearance when she gives birth at the same time as her daughter-in-law. Again, these are all fair concerns, and I was invested in Marty's journey to love and accept her new child. Similar to the adopted daughter's subplot, this also had a quick resolution. The first time she felt the baby kick, she fell in love with the child. That was it. To be fair, I've never been pregnant. I don't know what it would be like to carry a child. Still, I expected more inner wrestling with Marty. Perhaps she accepted the child at that moment, but then she still has reservations once the thrill goes away. Nope. She is thoroughly thrilled to have that baby and has no more qualms about it.
This book was more episodic than narrative, and that's probably why I struggled with it. I prefer to read about someone struggling to overcome some odd or achieve some goal. I want to read about characters developing, growing, overcoming obstacles. To me, watching a flawed character evolve through hardship is more inspirational than a happy-go-lucky family planting in their field and celebrating Christmas. Even when hardship does hit, it's overcome by the next chapter. This doesn't engage me. However, if you don't like grit, and this is your castle in the sky, go for it.
There are two main plots in this book. The first is the rest of the family now needs to adjust to Clark's injury. The second is Marty is pregnant again, but she's having doubts. First with Clark: I ranted in my review of the fourth book that Clark never doubted his faith in frustration. He just accepted his new life. This made the story boring and, frankly, uninspirational. When their adopted daughter starts doubting her faith, she becomes angry and reserved. I would think "conflict! yes!" However, I was disappointed because her doubt was mentioned a couple of times in the beginning of the book and then not at all until one chapter near the end. She basically disappeared from the story, so the struggle didn't build. It was resolved in a very bland way.
Second, Marty's pregnancy. Marty doesn't want this child because she's older than when she gave birth to her other children, and she's concerned about her health. This is a fair concern. She lives in a rural area during a time when medicine was still very primitive. There was no prenatal care of any kind back then. Marty worries for a couple of chapters, thinking about how she doesn't want the baby, worrying about how others will perceive her, worrying about appearance when she gives birth at the same time as her daughter-in-law. Again, these are all fair concerns, and I was invested in Marty's journey to love and accept her new child. Similar to the adopted daughter's subplot, this also had a quick resolution. The first time she felt the baby kick, she fell in love with the child. That was it. To be fair, I've never been pregnant. I don't know what it would be like to carry a child. Still, I expected more inner wrestling with Marty. Perhaps she accepted the child at that moment, but then she still has reservations once the thrill goes away. Nope. She is thoroughly thrilled to have that baby and has no more qualms about it.
This book was more episodic than narrative, and that's probably why I struggled with it. I prefer to read about someone struggling to overcome some odd or achieve some goal. I want to read about characters developing, growing, overcoming obstacles. To me, watching a flawed character evolve through hardship is more inspirational than a happy-go-lucky family planting in their field and celebrating Christmas. Even when hardship does hit, it's overcome by the next chapter. This doesn't engage me. However, if you don't like grit, and this is your castle in the sky, go for it.