You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
I absolutely love this book. As Katherine goes through life with all her ups and downs, I find myself over and over in her shoes. This book was especially special to me the first time i read it because I was the same sixteen year-old hot-tempered, rebellious daughter and unkind sister. I love how realistic this is and how I can relate! (including the good changes that she experiences in her life! ;))
Really liked this the first time I read it but would like to go back and re-read.
Thanks to my friend for getting this book for my birthday! Because of that I really really wanted to love this book, but I unfortunately did not as much as I'd hoped.
2.5 stars
To preface some of the things that I did not like about Prentiss's novel, I have to say that I think this book teaches things about living a spiritual life that are so important, and I am glad to have read a wonderful example of someone living a Christ-like life through spiritually mature ways. I can see how this book could change lives, especially to people who would be in the era and time period as Katherine. I felt that I was slightly less able to connect with this book, as most of my life experiences thus far are so unlike those of Katherine's.
Here is a list of the problems that I had with this book:
1. I really hated the sexism, even though it was barely there. That is an automatic big fat NO in books for me. At first I was like, okay. This book was probably written around the time it takes place (1850s), but I was still really struggling to deal well with "all women need to be stay at home mothers with 5 children." Also, our protagonist seemed very eager, longing even, to be oh-so subordinate to her husband. This revealed to me a pretty toxic marriage relationship, regardless of how often Katherine claimed it to be undying and true love.
2. I read reviews for this book of people writing things like: "I was disappointed when I found out afterwards, that it wasn't someone's actual journal." Honestly though. This book was written so unrealistically like a journal, so I don't know how people were even convinced of that. I get the basic concept that months and years passed where she didn't write in it, and other times it would be a day-to-day record. That is a clear characteristic of writing a journal. But there is no possible way any writer would be able to recall entire, word-for-word conversations of his or her life after weeks of it happening. The writing style was just so unbelievable and unengaging.
3. There was no conflict in this book other than a friend or family member getting sick and maybe dying of sickness. I got really tired of this recurring plot point after the second or third time it happened. The character dealt with each passing the same exact way (which I'll touch on with #4), and I wanted some other event to happen that caused the protagonist to think or discover something new about herself.
4. I had to skip a lot of the pages when Katherine was grieving for her losses. It was absolutely unbearable. I blame this author so much for this. I don't want to read that Katherine is so sad, and spends all her time thinking about the frailty of life in her solitude. I want to know how. This is a BASIC SKILL OF WRITING. Show not tell. Show not tell. PLEASE show don't tell. I want to know how Katherine copes with her grief, because no one, not even our perfect little Christian Katherine, is sad for a day then accepts that God has taken her child and that is His will, and is then happy. I wanted growth. I read none.
5. I hate that the marketing is only towards women. I think that it is an unfair assumption that this book will only reach the hearts of women, just because it if narrated by a woman. I think that anyone could connect with this novel, man or woman. Just not me.
I don't want to say that I hated this book, because I really don't think I did. I just had so many problems with it, that they overshadowed everything good about this novel.
Please. If you are planning to write a book in a journal-style, do it right.
Have a wonderful afternoon
2.5 stars
To preface some of the things that I did not like about Prentiss's novel, I have to say that I think this book teaches things about living a spiritual life that are so important, and I am glad to have read a wonderful example of someone living a Christ-like life through spiritually mature ways. I can see how this book could change lives, especially to people who would be in the era and time period as Katherine. I felt that I was slightly less able to connect with this book, as most of my life experiences thus far are so unlike those of Katherine's.
Here is a list of the problems that I had with this book:
1. I really hated the sexism, even though it was barely there. That is an automatic big fat NO in books for me. At first I was like, okay. This book was probably written around the time it takes place (1850s), but I was still really struggling to deal well with "all women need to be stay at home mothers with 5 children." Also, our protagonist seemed very eager, longing even, to be oh-so subordinate to her husband. This revealed to me a pretty toxic marriage relationship, regardless of how often Katherine claimed it to be undying and true love.
2. I read reviews for this book of people writing things like: "I was disappointed when I found out afterwards, that it wasn't someone's actual journal." Honestly though. This book was written so unrealistically like a journal, so I don't know how people were even convinced of that. I get the basic concept that months and years passed where she didn't write in it, and other times it would be a day-to-day record. That is a clear characteristic of writing a journal. But there is no possible way any writer would be able to recall entire, word-for-word conversations of his or her life after weeks of it happening. The writing style was just so unbelievable and unengaging.
3. There was no conflict in this book other than a friend or family member getting sick and maybe dying of sickness. I got really tired of this recurring plot point after the second or third time it happened. The character dealt with each passing the same exact way (which I'll touch on with #4), and I wanted some other event to happen that caused the protagonist to think or discover something new about herself.
4. I had to skip a lot of the pages when Katherine was grieving for her losses. It was absolutely unbearable. I blame this author so much for this. I don't want to read that Katherine is so sad, and spends all her time thinking about the frailty of life in her solitude. I want to know how. This is a BASIC SKILL OF WRITING. Show not tell. Show not tell. PLEASE show don't tell. I want to know how Katherine copes with her grief, because no one, not even our perfect little Christian Katherine, is sad for a day then accepts that God has taken her child and that is His will, and is then happy. I wanted growth. I read none.
5. I hate that the marketing is only towards women. I think that it is an unfair assumption that this book will only reach the hearts of women, just because it if narrated by a woman. I think that anyone could connect with this novel, man or woman. Just not me.
I don't want to say that I hated this book, because I really don't think I did. I just had so many problems with it, that they overshadowed everything good about this novel.
Please. If you are planning to write a book in a journal-style, do it right.
Have a wonderful afternoon
(3.5) I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The writing style was very easy to follow. Katy experienced real and relatable temptations and trials. It was refreshing to read a story with such a relatable main character. I don't normally read stories like this but I'm really glad my grandma recommended it to me.
One of the most encouraging books about Christian life that I've ever read. This novel is written to be the journal of a 16 year old girl, but follows her life into her 40s. Her honest struggles about what it means to be a Christian, to give of ourselves and live for Christ, to be faithful in prayer when it is hard, and to continually be drawing closer to God were endearing and so encouraging. This would be a helpful Christian living book for women and men alike, and especially for younger women I believe.
If you enjoy Louisa May Alcott, I think you'll enjoy this book. I really liked it and I REALLY related to Katy.
I'm pretty sure my edition of the book was missing some important formatting stuff and possibly some pages, so I can't write an in depth review, but I loved this fictional journal and need to get me a decent copy to love and snuggle forever.
I'm pretty sure my edition of the book was missing some important formatting stuff and possibly some pages, so I can't write an in depth review, but I loved this fictional journal and need to get me a decent copy to love and snuggle forever.
Stepping Heavenward is the kind of book that makes you want to brew a cup of tea and curl up to read by lamp light. Katy Mortimer is one that so many of us can relate to. She desperately wants to be good, to please her mother, and to do the right thing. Yet, she constantly battles against her temper and her selfishness. She knows what is right, but she struggles to accomplish it. As she grows older, her faith grows stronger and her reliance on her Savior for virtue and character becomes more and more solid. Katy will make you laugh and cry and nod in agreement as she experiences life and strives for a stronger relationship with the Lord.
seasonsinclair.blogspot.com
seasonsinclair.blogspot.com
My mom recommended me and my sister read this book, but being the procrastinator that I am I let it sit on the shelf for a long time. BIG mistake this book was excellent! I recommend it for everyone!
slow-paced
We’re all friends here, right? Right? This book has been recommended to me many times. I finally read it for a book club. Really, super not my thing. Let’s just not tell the people who recommended it to me
A sweet friend gave me this as a college graduation gift.