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A review by skyecharmel
Fields of Bounty by Lauraine Snelling
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I had a moment as I was reading and enjoying this book where I asked myself, "Why do I like this series so much?" It's Christian fiction, and I am NOT the demographic this book is going for. But after taking some time to think about it, what I love about this series is that it feels comforting. Something about the rhythms of homesteading just sets me at ease, even though I'm not sure I'd ever pursue that in my real life.
Fields of Bounty is the third book in the Leah's Garden series, which follows the Nielsen sisters, who move to Nebraska after troubles in their hometown leave them no other choice. This time, the story follows the youngest, Lilac Nielsen, as she begins publishing her drawings on the Oregon Trail for a New York newspaper. Her other plot is her courtship with Reverend Pritchard, the town's pastor and her longtime crush since they moved to Salton.
The rest of this review is spoiler-heavy, so review at your own risk. Just know that if you're thinking about reading this book, be sure to read the other two first before you pick this one up. If it isn't obvious by the stars, it's good enough that I would recommend it to a reader who wants something a little more clean and cozy in his/her fiction.
This is by far my favorite book of the series, and it has everything to do with the rise and fall of Lilac and Reverend Pritchard's courtship. In stories like this, it's very rare to start a relationship and not bring it to its natural conclusion aka marriage and happy ever after. The fact that this book did something risky and broke this couple apart is commendable. But perhaps more than that, it shows you why Lilac and Reverend Pritchard don't work. Reverend Pritchard wants someone who will be with him in every step of his pastoral care and life. Lilac wants the ability to have independence and her own dreams, which becomes impossible when Pritchard calls on her again and again to do things despite the fact she has things to do on the farm, or drawings to create, or any other priority besides Reverend Pritchard's ministry. It was even more obvious they weren't right for each other with Reverend Pritchard's reaction to Lilac breaking up with him. I love that this was a central part of the novel, and I'm glad a plotline like this exists in Christian fiction.
That being said, this book does come with its flaws. When Pritchard gets accused of sexual misconduct by a clearly vindictive mother of a near-spinster daughter, it felt like this plot point was created to pad out the story. While it is true that false accusations happen, we cannot ignore the history of sexual misconduct within churches by people in power, because not all are as virtuous as Pritchard is shown to be in the story. I just worry that this will make people believe the lie that when women come forward, it's for nefarious intent.
Fields of Bounty, while flawed in certain key ways, is my favorite in the series because it pursues questions I don't see enough in fiction with romantic plot themes. Considering how bad some Christian novels can be, it's always nice to read one that makes you think, which is one of many things you can hope for in a genuinely good book.
Fields of Bounty is the third book in the Leah's Garden series, which follows the Nielsen sisters, who move to Nebraska after troubles in their hometown leave them no other choice. This time, the story follows the youngest, Lilac Nielsen, as she begins publishing her drawings on the Oregon Trail for a New York newspaper. Her other plot is her courtship with Reverend Pritchard, the town's pastor and her longtime crush since they moved to Salton.
The rest of this review is spoiler-heavy, so review at your own risk. Just know that if you're thinking about reading this book, be sure to read the other two first before you pick this one up. If it isn't obvious by the stars, it's good enough that I would recommend it to a reader who wants something a little more clean and cozy in his/her fiction.
Fields of Bounty, while flawed in certain key ways, is my favorite in the series because it pursues questions I don't see enough in fiction with romantic plot themes. Considering how bad some Christian novels can be, it's always nice to read one that makes you think, which is one of many things you can hope for in a genuinely good book.