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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
Stepping Heavenward is a sweet story about a young girl's spiritual journey as she grows in her Christian faith. The story is told through protagonist Kathrine's diary entries, which provide the reader with an overview of Kathrine's life. The story has sweet, clean romance and real characters that have a decent mix of flaws and virtues. The book also delves into theology as Kathrine uses her diary as a place to record spiritual insights she gleans from the people around her. At first, Kathrine's character irritated me with her selfish pettiness, her stubbornness, and her immaturity. The more I read, however, the more Kathrine matured and developed until she became a much more likable person, so, if you're struggling with the beginning of the story, my advice is to keep reading. Another important thing to remember when reading Stepping Heavenward is that the book is not a daily diary, but a sporadic diary. Kathrine has a tendency to write on days that have been extraordinarily difficult for her, so the diary paints Kathrine in a worse light than a daily account would have.
slow-paced
Such a moving book about the realistic struggle we tend to have as we swing from selfish wallowing to self-righteousness and back and again. Definitely one to read more than once. The only thing I take issue with is the glorification of poverty and suffering. Those who struggle with financial and health issues in the book are the better, kinder, more godly people. And the rich are almost without exception painted as selfish, shallow bores. It seems like if we are to be truly godly, we're going to be ill and poor and die young - but hopefully learn to be cheerful about it.
I'm undecided as to whether I should give this book 3 or 4 stars.
This is definitely one of those books that makes you think. Everytime I sat down to read it, I was thinking about my own life and comparing it to the life in the book. This is one girl's journal chronicling her sanctification. Many quit reading the book before the half-way point but that is before she really starts her upward journey so I would encourage you to persevere to the end.
Reading Stepping Heavenward definitely encouraged me in my own Christian walk. I want to conquer my anger as she does. I want to be able to say "Not my will! Not my will! But Thine!"
Her learned patience with having extended family living in her home is such a good picture of "bearing one another's burden's."I think that's the reason so many like this book, they see themselves in it and are encouraged by a real raw example of the Christian life.
My favorite part of the book is probably the many conversations she has with her father-in-law, showing him the freedom we can have in Christ. We do not have to stand guilty before God, we can turn to Christ who has paid the penalty for our sins.
Reasons I didn't like it: Especially in the beginning there was some questionable theology.
It was a bit dry at points.
This is definitely one of those books that makes you think. Everytime I sat down to read it, I was thinking about my own life and comparing it to the life in the book. This is one girl's journal chronicling her sanctification. Many quit reading the book before the half-way point but that is before she really starts her upward journey so I would encourage you to persevere to the end.
Reading Stepping Heavenward definitely encouraged me in my own Christian walk. I want to conquer my anger as she does. I want to be able to say "Not my will! Not my will! But Thine!"
Her learned patience with having extended family living in her home is such a good picture of "bearing one another's burden's."I think that's the reason so many like this book, they see themselves in it and are encouraged by a real raw example of the Christian life.
My favorite part of the book is probably the many conversations she has with her father-in-law, showing him the freedom we can have in Christ. We do not have to stand guilty before God, we can turn to Christ who has paid the penalty for our sins.
Reasons I didn't like it: Especially in the beginning there was some questionable theology.
It was a bit dry at points.
Jane Austen meets Christian inspirational :) I liked this book. Despite the fact that I only gave it a three, I would recommend it to others. It was nice, encouraging and had lots of great thoughts and encouragement on the Christian life. Plus it is always fun to read about life in the 1800s.
I've read a lot of good, even beautiful, books in my life, but this one is something extra special. I'm probably not capable of doing it justice in a simple book review, as it's one of those stories that touches each reader differently. In fact, I bet that the next time I read this through, it will affect me differently... and the time after that, as well.
Stepping Heavenward was published in 1869 by Mrs. Elizabeth Prentiss, daughter of the Rev. Edward Payson, D.D. and wife of Presbyterian pastor George Prentiss. She was a loving mother and homemaker and desired to bring to her readers, "patience, fidelity, hope, and all goodness by showing how trust in God and loving obedience to His blessed will brighten the darkest paths and make a heaven upon earth."
The story follows the journey of Katherine as she steps into young womanhood on her sixteenth birthday to her later grown up years in her late 30s. She learns that true satisfaction is found in serving others and allowing herself to be used by God as a wife, mother, and homemaker---and helper in her community as God leads her.
After finishing this book, I craved more spiritually-minded reading. It was so encouraging---the author exposed the heart of a young woman to perfection. We think of Victorians as so pious but people in her day were dealing with the same heart issues and questions about God that we do today.
I actually picked up several book suggestions from reading, Stepping Heavenward, including Thomas a Kempis', The Imitation of Christ. I was blessed to find an antique copy of it at our library book sale just a day or two after putting it on my wish list.
Stepping Heavenward is a book I'll come back to again and again. I can't wait to share it with my daughters, when the time is right, and I'm so encouraged by the examples of Godly women, both in Mrs. Prentiss and in the characters she's created.
Stepping Heavenward was published in 1869 by Mrs. Elizabeth Prentiss, daughter of the Rev. Edward Payson, D.D. and wife of Presbyterian pastor George Prentiss. She was a loving mother and homemaker and desired to bring to her readers, "patience, fidelity, hope, and all goodness by showing how trust in God and loving obedience to His blessed will brighten the darkest paths and make a heaven upon earth."
The story follows the journey of Katherine as she steps into young womanhood on her sixteenth birthday to her later grown up years in her late 30s. She learns that true satisfaction is found in serving others and allowing herself to be used by God as a wife, mother, and homemaker---and helper in her community as God leads her.
After finishing this book, I craved more spiritually-minded reading. It was so encouraging---the author exposed the heart of a young woman to perfection. We think of Victorians as so pious but people in her day were dealing with the same heart issues and questions about God that we do today.
I actually picked up several book suggestions from reading, Stepping Heavenward, including Thomas a Kempis', The Imitation of Christ. I was blessed to find an antique copy of it at our library book sale just a day or two after putting it on my wish list.
Stepping Heavenward is a book I'll come back to again and again. I can't wait to share it with my daughters, when the time is right, and I'm so encouraged by the examples of Godly women, both in Mrs. Prentiss and in the characters she's created.
How sweet, how comforting, how compelling to read the intimate thoughts and musings of a woman, who though fictional, feels so real that I spent my entire time reading thinking that she was real.
I fell in love with this journal/book so quickly it's crazy! I have never related more to a character and this came at such a timely moment for me.
Katherine's faith and failings are inspiring as we get to see her look to Christ and strive for holiness. There are so many beautiful lessons about the Christian life in regards to family, relationships, the church, personal growth! I found it neat to begin at a younger stage in life, when she has not fully placed herself in the love of Christ, and to continue until her children are growing older. I think every Christian woman (and girls too!) should give this one a read.
For a full review, check out my blog: www.megsbookquery.com
Katherine's faith and failings are inspiring as we get to see her look to Christ and strive for holiness. There are so many beautiful lessons about the Christian life in regards to family, relationships, the church, personal growth! I found it neat to begin at a younger stage in life, when she has not fully placed herself in the love of Christ, and to continue until her children are growing older. I think every Christian woman (and girls too!) should give this one a read.
For a full review, check out my blog: www.megsbookquery.com