Revolution of Love

Revolution of Love

Do small things with great love.

How Mr. Knightly Helped Me Find Mr. Right

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Like many women, my love of Jane Austen began in my teen years but it wasn’t until my 20’s that the lessons of her heroines and their leading men started to affect the way I viewed dating in my own life.

A Little Backstory

Back in the 90’s when I was in college and began to date more seriously, I had fallen away from my faith and dated guys without much thought to the type of men they were. If I were to relate to any of Jane Austen’s characters, I would definitely have been Marianne Dashwood dating a string of wrong-for-me Willoughbys. I had a knack for falling in love with man-boys who were poetically trying to “find themselves” and didn’t have any direction in their lives.

In my early twenties, I came back to the faith in a strong way and narrowed the dating pool to Christian men. However, when it came down to getting more serious, our differing faiths always stopped us from continuing the relationships.

During this time, God was also working on my heart at a deeper level. Specifically, I was wondering if I had a religious vocation. Frankly, the thought seemed absurd at first. I was Marianne Dashwood destined for romance and love!

However, after two years of turning my life upside down and seriously discerning, I reached a point of total surrender to God and accepted a call to a religious vocation. It was a time of deep spiritual growth and God wanted my unreserved “Yes.” Ironically, once I reached that point God made it known to me (and my spiritual director) that I was called to the married life.

This put me back into the dating scene, which scared me a little since I hadn’t had the best of luck. I remember my mom making an observation that I always picked guys who needed to be “fixed” and never a guy who motivated me to better myself. She said I needed to find qualities in a man that lifted me up and challenged me to be the best version of myself – a man who was seeking the Kingdom of God and who would work alongside me on our journey of faith. This was exactly what God had been putting on my heart and hearing my mom say the words out loud confirmed it.

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In Steps Mr. Knightly

During this time in the mid to late 90’s, there was a slew of Jane Austen movie adaptations – Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson and Kate Winslette, Persuasion with Ciaron Hinds and Amanda Root, and Emma with Kate Beckinsale and Mark Strong, to name a few. I loved those movies but the 1995 Emma really took hold of my heart.

A part of me didn’t like Mr. Knightly at first because he was so serious and judgmental of Emma. But another part of me admired him because he loved Emma enough to speak freely to her and to call her out when she was behaving badly. He loved her, faults and all, but challenged her to be a better version of herself. I watched the movie and read the book more than once and each time Mr. Knightly’s qualities shone brighter. There was a kindness and compassion in the way he cared for his tenants and rescued Jane Fairfax from her humiliation. He displayed quiet generosity in the way he did little things for his neighbors without fanfare. Plus, his maturity and wisdom allowed him to see beyond the obvious in situations, such as his suspicions of Jane and Frank.

I thought of all these things as I stared at the TV screen and thought – I need to find a Mr. Knightly!

It may sound like a joke, but the thought would not leave me. I was determined to break the cycle of dating the wrong kind of man. I knew I had a weakness for “needing” to be in a relationship even if it was a bad one. I knew I had to start dating with God and my faith in mind. I needed to understand that it was okay to be one my own and wait for the right kind of guy.

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So I sat down at my desk and made a list of all the qualities I should be looking for in a man I dated. I crossed out all the superficial things I loved (like he wore Doc Martens or Converse and listened to alternative music) and instead thought of Godly things that mattered.

All these years later, I still have that list. It reads:

  1. God is #1 in his life.
  2. He is Catholic.
  3. He actually lives his faith and is seeing holiness.
  4. He has a job capable of supporting a family.
  5. He loves his family and respects his parents.
  6. He loves my family and mom likes him.
  7. He loves children and is open to life.
  8. He has a beautiful smile and a sense of humor.
  9. We have things in common to talk about and discuss.
  10. He has traits of Mr. Knightly that will inspire and encourage me to seek greater holiness.

I copied the list onto a piece of paper that I would use as a book marker in my planner. I added a photo of Mr. Knightly from the movie as a reminder to stand firm and not give into the next cute agnostic poet who was out of a job and living in his parent’s basement. I knew I may not find someone with ALL these qualities but I needed to at least start working towards that goal.

How Does the Story End?

I wish I could say that after this revelation I found Mr. Right immediately but I did not. However, every day when I saw my little Mr. Knightly list, I prayed for my future husband. I asked that God strengthen him in his faith and prepare both our hearts for our future marriage. It was difficult, sometimes really difficult, to be patient and to trust in God when I saw no answer in sight, but I persevered.

What I didn’t know at the time was that my future husband (Brian) was in the seminary and he was going through his own vocational discernment. He was praying to God for guidance. He eventually discerned that he was called to marriage and left the seminary to return home. He prayed a nine-day novena to Our Lord asking God to help him in finding his future wife. On the ninth and last day of his novena we happened to “meet” online. (Talk about answered prayer!)

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There began a friendship that was to blossom into love. I had found a man who was unlike any other guy I had ever dated. (My mom still marvels over that!) No man is perfect, but Brian was a perfect match for me – he had the qualities I was looking for and challenged me and inspired me to be a better person. He gave me roots to tame my flightiness. In turn, I challenged him to love and laugh more and to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. We complimented one another. I had found my version of Mr. Knightly and I’m happy to say that 18 years later he still makes my heart skip a beat.

A Note to My Single Friends

If you find yourself dating the wrong kind of men, maybe it’s time to quiet yourself before God and ask him why. Is there a deeper reason you keep choosing the wrong kind of guys? Do you feel like you don’t deserve anyone better? Do you have the need to be a guy’s savior? Do you need healing from past hurts or bad habits? I’d recommend finding someone to discuss these concerns with you – a priest, a spiritual director, or a friend who is knowledgeable and strong in the faith.

Maybe there is no deeper reason and you just need to be a little more discretionary in who you date. If it will help, make a list! Ask God what qualities you should be looking for in a man – not superficial things like blonde hair and blue eyes or tall, dark and handsome – but the things that matter. Is he a Godly man? Does he take his faith seriously? Is he honest? Does he have integrity or are there red flags? Do you have things in common? Does he inspire you to love God more? These are the kind of qualities that will make a strong foundation for a relationship and eventually a marriage. No man is perfect (and you and I certainly aren’t) but you want someone willing to work towards holiness with you.

Or perhaps, you aren’t dating Mr. Wrong and you know what you are looking for in a man but you still haven’t found Mr. Right. When I was single, I hated when people told me to be patient and wait for God’s timing. It’s easy to say but sometimes it sucks to live it out. I knew I had to trust and be patient but it wasn’t always easy.

However, I found that the waiting was less difficult when I, first, keep myself close to God and worked on my relationship with Christ. Second, when I kept myself busy with life and doing God’s will for me at that moment. Lastly, when I prayed for my future husband. When the heart ache came to me I offered it up to God for my future husband and whatever struggles he was going through at that moment. This helped keep hope in my heart, knowing that my prayers could help him even though we were separated at this time.

As someone who felt like the least likely to find true love, I say wholeheartedly, don’t lose hope. God is capable of doing amazing things when you follow His path and trust his timing.

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, 😉

PPS – Disclaimer: “Revolution of Love.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.”

In other words, if you click on my affiliated links and make a purchase, I get a small compensation that goes towards keeping the blog online. Big hugs to those who click and help support the blog! xoxo 🙂

 

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Book Reviews and the 2017 Reading Challenge

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This post has been sitting in my draft folder for over a month and since it is the last day of January, I feel like it was finally time to sit down and get it done! 😉

I never posted the books I read the last couple months of 2016, so I’ll do that here. Then I’ll share about my reading goals for 2017.

 

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What Alice Forgot

  • Author: Liane Moriarty
  • Length: 488 pages
  • Publisher: Berkley Books; Reprint edition (April 24, 2012)

Amazon Summary:

Alice Love is twenty-nine, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child. So imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym (a gym! She HATES the gym) and is whisked off to the hospital where she discovers the honeymoon is truly over—she’s getting divorced, she has three kids, and she’s actually 39 years old. Alice must reconstruct the events of a lost decade, and find out whether it’s possible to reconstruct her life at the same time. She has to figure out why her sister hardly talks to her, and how is it that she’s become one of those super skinny moms with really expensive clothes. Ultimately, Alice must discover whether forgetting is a blessing or a curse, and whether it’s possible to start over…

My Thoughts:

I first heard of Liane Moriarty when I read her book Big, Little Lies. I was so completely engrossed with it that I picked up What Alice Forgot for a plane ride. While I did not love it as much as the first book I read, Moriarty still managed to keep me guessing and wondering and not wanting to put the book down until I figured out what would happen next. It was intriguing to see how a couple could go from being madly in love to being so different and hating each other in a mere decade. I was wary of how the book would end but I was pleased by the way the story was wrapped up. I rated it 3.5 stars out of 5. (Parental warning: The book is definitely written within a secular worldview. There is language and adult subject matter but nothing explicit.)

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Stick in the Mud Meets Spontaneity

 

  • Author: Rachel Anderson
  • Length: 240 pages
  • Publisher: HEA Publishing (June 12, 2015)

Amazon Summary:

Home for the summer, Samantha Kinsey is ready to step into her role as pseudo-nanny for her two favorite charges. But when she realizes she’ll be playing chauffeur more than playmate, her summer outlook quickly turns from fun to bleak. That is, until she meets Colton McCoy–a genuine, hard-working cowboy, who’s as set in his ways as he is handsome. Although he claims he doesn’t need any spontaneity in his life, Sam’s determined to help him find it. But she’ll soon discover that cowboys are about as easy to change as wild mustangs. 

Stick in the Mud Meets Spontaneity is about an adaptable girl and a not so adaptable guy. It’s about learning to accept people for who they are and realizing that sometimes who they are is exactly who they should be.

My Thoughts:

This is the third installment of Anderson’s Meet Your Match series. I enjoyed books one and two more but this was still a fun and quick read. Like a Hallmark movie, this is something you would read when you want a sweet romance without too much drama or questionable material. It is perfect when you need a nice distraction to warm the heart. I give it 3 stars out of 5.

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A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

  • Author: Betty Smith
  • Length: 528 pages
  • Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics (May 30, 2006); Original book published in 1943.

Amazon Summary:

The beloved American classic about a young girl’s coming-of-age at the turn of the century, Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a poignant and moving tale filled with compassion and cruelty, laughter and heartache, crowded with life and people and incident. The story of young, sensitive, and idealistic Francie Nolan and her bittersweet formative years in the slums of Williamsburg has enchanted and inspired millions of readers for more than sixty years. By turns overwhelming, sublime, heartbreaking, and uplifting, the daily experiences of the unforgettable Nolans are raw with honesty and tenderly threaded with family connectedness — in a work of literary art that brilliantly captures a unique time and place as well as incredibly rich moments of universal experience.

My Thoughts:

I’ve watch the movie version of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn a number of times and often wanted to pick up the book and read it. I’m glad I finally did because it has definitely made my top ten favorite books list. While there is sadness to the story and within the trials the characters have to endure, it is treated with such honest emotion, you can’t help but be touched by its simple beauty. The characters are never portrayed as back and white but, like people we know in real life, they have good qualities and weaknesses. Smith masterfully explores universal emotions that touch the human heart. It is no wonder that this book has stood the test of time and still remains a favorite to so many readers today. I rate this 5 out of 5 stars. (Parental note: There is some adult subject matter.)

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The Christmas Shoes

  • Author: Donna VanLiere
  • Length: 144 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin’s Press; Reissue edition (November 9, 2001)

Amazon Summary:

Sometimes, the things that can change your life will cross your path in one instant-and then, in a fleeting moment, they’re gone. But if you open your eyes, and watch carefully, you will believe….

Robert is a successful attorney who has everything in life-and nothing at all. Focused on professional achievement and material rewards, Robert is on the brink of losing his marriage. He has lost sight of his wife, Kate, their two daughters, and ultimately himself. Eight year old Nathan has a beloved mother, Maggie, whom he is losing to cancer. But Nathan and his family are building a simple yet full life, and struggling to hold onto every moment they have together. A chance meeting on Christmas Even brings Robert and Nathan together-he is shopping for a family he hardly knows and Nathan is shopping for a mother he is soon to lose. In this one encounter, their lives are forever altered as Robert learns an important lesson: sometimes the smallest things can make all the difference. The Christmas Shoes is a universal story of the deeper meaning of serendipity, a tale of our shared humanity, and of how a power greater than ourselves can shape, and even save, our lives.

My Thoughts:

To complete the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge  I needed a book I owned but hadn’t read yet so I looked through my book shelves and found this book I bought at a garage sale. I thought it would be the perfect short read during the Christmas holidays. I was vaguely familiar with the plot but forgot that a main character was sick in the book. So while I was supposed to be wrapping Christmas presents, I instead was crying my eyes out over a mom fighting cancer. (Cancer is one of my tear triggers.) However, there was still a lesson to be learned and a happier ending to one of the storylines so I was pleased that I read it. I rate this 3.5 out of 5 stars.

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Completing the 2016 Reading Challenge

One of my goals for 2016 was to watch less TV and read more. I pledged on Goodreads to read 12 books in 2016 and I smashed that number by reading 30 books. Yay!

I also completed the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge. Here are the books I read for each category.

Starting the 2016 Reading Challenge

I am doing the 2017  Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge this year and I pledged on Goodreads to read 24 books in 2017.

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There are two challenge categories to choose from and I will be doing the “Just for Fun” one.

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If I finish that and am feeling ambitious, I may tackle some of the “Reading for Growth” categories as well.

Now I just need to make a list of the books I want to read this year. I have a few in mind but I’d love your suggestions as well! 🙂

What you you be reading this year? Or what do you recommend?

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PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, 😉

PPS – Disclaimer: “Revolution of Love.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.”

In other words, if you click on my affiliated links and make a purchase, I get a small compensation that goes towards keeping the blog online. Big hugs to those who click and help support the blog! xoxo 🙂

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Book Reviews for 2016 – Part 3: July, Aug & Sept

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It’s Day 10 of the #write31days challenge. My topic is 31 Days of Gratitude. You can see my previous Gratitude posts here.

Want to join the writing challenge but are unable to write everyday? Join me for the Weekly Writing Challenge in October instead.

For today’s post I am grateful for the moments when I have some quiet time to read. I am grateful for the authors that share their talent by writing absorbing novels. I am grateful for the invention of audio books that allows me to listen while I work. Lastly, I am grateful for reaching a personal goal.

One of my goals for 2016 was to watch less TV and read more. I pledged on Goodreads to read 12 books in 2016 but my reading has been going so well I hoped to double that number by the end of summer. I’m happy to say that I did it! I have read 27 books so far.

Next, I need to work on finishing the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge. I still have these four categories left to fill by the end of the year:

  • A book you can finish in one day. (No idea??)
  • A book you should have read in school. (I’m thinking Cannery Row? Maybe Of Mice and Men?)
  • A book published before you were born. (I’m thinking A Tree Grows in Brooklyn or I could chose something I’ve read many times like Pride and Prejudice.) 😉
  • A book you own but have never read. (Hmm… I’ll have to look over my bookshelf. There are a number that could fit this category.)

If you have any recommendations, let me know. In the meantime, I posted mini-reviews for my June reading here.

These are the books I read over July, August and September.

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East of Eden

  • Author: John Steinbeck
  • Length: 640 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Classics; Reissue edition (October 1, 1992); Original Publication (1952)

Amazon Summary:

In his journal, Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck called East of Eden “the first book,” and indeed it has the primordial power and simplicity of myth. Set in the rich farmland of California’s Salinas Valley, this sprawling and often brutal novel follows the intertwined destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—whose generations helplessly reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel.

The masterpiece of Steinbeck’s later years, East of Eden is a work in which Steinbeck created his most mesmerizing characters and explored his most enduring themes: the mystery of identity, the inexplicability of love, and the murderous consequences of love’s absence. Adapted for the 1955 film directed by Elia Kazan introducing James Dean and read by thousands as the book that brought Oprah’s Book Club back, East of Eden has remained vitally present in American culture for over half a century.

My Thoughts:

I have seen movies of John Steinbeck’s works but I have never actually read one of his books. The fact that I live on the Central Coast of CA, where his stories take place, makes it is even more fitting that I correct this error. So for the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge, I chose this for the “a book that was banned at some point” category.

The length of East of Eden seemed really daunting at first and there were a few chapters that I thought could have been edited down a bit, but I have to admit the story pulled me in and I couldn’t put it down. I found myself re-readng lines and thinking, “Wow, he really has an insight into human emotion,” or “I love the way Steinbeck painted a picture in my head with his words.”

With that said, the topic material of East of Eden is not easy. It can actually be depressing to witness such sadistic behavior in characters like Kathy. In the end, though I was happy I read it and rate it 4 out of 5 stars. (I didn’t give five stars simply for the chapters that really dragged.) I would love to read another Steinbeck novel and am thinking Cannery Row or Of Mice and Men. Any preference or suggestions?

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The Summer Before the War

  • Author: Helen Simonson
  • Length: 496 pages
  • Publisher: Random House (March 22, 2016)

Amazon Summary:

East Sussex, 1914. It is the end of England’s brief Edwardian summer, and everyone agrees that the weather has never been so beautiful. Hugh Grange, down from his medical studies, is visiting his Aunt Agatha, who lives with her husband in the small, idyllic coastal town of Rye. Agatha’s husband works in the Foreign Office, and she is certain he will ensure that the recent saber rattling over the Balkans won’t come to anything. And Agatha has more immediate concerns; she has just risked her carefully built reputation by pushing for the appointment of a woman to replace the Latin master.

When Beatrice Nash arrives with one trunk and several large crates of books, it is clear she is significantly more freethinking—and attractive—than anyone believes a Latin teacher should be. For her part, mourning the death of her beloved father, who has left her penniless, Beatrice simply wants to be left alone to pursue her teaching and writing.

But just as Beatrice comes alive to the beauty of the Sussex landscape and the colorful characters who populate Rye, the perfect summer is about to end. For despite Agatha’s reassurances, the unimaginable is coming. Soon the limits of progress, and the old ways, will be tested as this small Sussex town and its inhabitants go to war.

My Thoughts:

I already had two war time books on my summer list and was reluctant to add a third but then I found out that Tiffany and Cristina were hosting the Late Summer Book Club and this was the book that was voted as the fave and it was said to have a Downton Abbey feel. Well, I had to be a part of that so it was happily added. Plus, I also wanted to count it towards the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge. I chose this for the “a book published this year” category.

As I was reading the book, some of the others in the reading club said that the story was too slow and a little boring. I honestly did not feel bored. It definitely was not a “grab you by the throat” book. It was more like a stroll in the park book – easy going and relaxing. I enjoyed the pace and if you keep going, by the third part of the book the action picks up and your emotions are on a roller coaster. By the end of the story, I was crying, both sad and happy tears. I was pleased that I added the book to my list. I give it 3.5 stars out of 5.

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Persuasion by Jane Austen

  • Author: Jane Austen
  • Length: 150 pages
  • Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Amazon Summary:

First published in 1818, Persuasion was Jane Austen’s last work. Its mellow character and autumnal tone have long made it a favorite with Austen readers. Set in Somersetshire and Bath, the novel revolves around the lives and love affair of Sir Walter Elliot, his daughters Elizabeth, Anne, and Mary, and various in-laws, friends, suitors, and other characters, In Anne Elliot, the author created perhaps her sweetest, most appealing heroine.

At the center of the novel is Anne’s thwarted romance with Captain Frederick Wentworth, a navy man Anne met and fell in love with when she was 19. At the time, Wentworth was deemed an unsuitable match and Anne was forced to break off the relationship. Eight years later, however, they meet again. By this time Captain Wentworth has made his fortune in the navy and is an attractive “catch.” However, Anne is now uncertain about his feelings for her. But after various twists and turns of fortune, the novel ends on a happy note.

In Persuasion, as in such novels as Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Emma, Austen limned the plight of young women who could escape the constraints of family life only by marrying, and suggest the foolishness of women who believed they were free and not dependent on the financial and social resources of men. At the same time, Persuasion offers an ironic and subtle paean to the true love that enables one woman to rise above straitened economic circumstances and the stifling social conventions that restricted women to narrowly circumscribed lives in the common sitting room.
Sure to appeal to admirers of Jane Austen, Persuasion will delight any reader with its finely drawn characters, gentle satire, and charming re-creation of the genteel world of the 19th-century English countryside.

My Thoughts:

Although I didn’t quite finish all the books on my Summer Reading List, I decided to end the summer with an old favorite, Persuasion. I also wanted to count it towards the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge. I chose this for the “a book you’ve already read at least once” category.

I don’t think I really need to review it since I’m assuming most readers of my blog are already fans of Jane Austen. I will admit that Persuasion is my favorite of Austen’s stories and the letter reading scene still makes me swoon. I’m curious, what is your favorite Jane Austen novel?

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The Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman

  • Author: ML Stedman
  • Length: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Scribner; Media Tie-In edition (August 23, 2016)

Amazon Summary:

After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.

Tom, who keeps meticulous records and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel insists the baby is a “gift from God,” and against Tom’s judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them.

My Thoughts:

When I saw the trailer for this movie, I moved the last 3 books on my Summer Reading List to my Fall Reading List. I really wanted to read the book before I watched the movie since a movie can only fit so much into two hours. There are are always nuances and story lines that cannot be delved into the same way words on a page can. Like Summer Before the War, this book started with a slow burn. Since I knew the story line and the arch problem of the story already, I was constantly waiting for it to happen. When it did, it was heartbreaking.

My heart ached for Isabel and the pain she was feeling with the loss of her three babies. The arrival of little Lucy in the boat with her dead father, did seem like a miracle from God. However, as much I wanted her to keep the baby I knew it was not as simple as a child’s game of Finder’s Keepers. I was truly torn between how I wanted the story to end and how it “should” end. I must say that it was tragic to the last. I had a glimmer of hope for one of the characters but even that was taken away but I don’t regret reading it at all. Emotional drama in a book is always somehow cathartic. However, if you are expecting a Hallmark ending, look elsewhere. I rate this 4 out of 5 stars.

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Big, Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

  • Author: Liane Moriarty
  • Length: 512 pages
  • Publisher: Berkley; Reprint edition (August 11, 2015)

Amazon Summary:

Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?).

Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay.

New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.

Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.

My Thoughts:

I first heard about this book from an article in our local paper. HBO is doing a series based on the book and part of the show was filmed here on the Monterey Peninsula. I read the free sample on Amazon and was intrigued. Being my first Liane Moriarty book, I was not familiar with the author but now I know why she is a favorite. The story completely sucked me in and I was trying to read a page at every free moment. I eventually got the audio version on Audible so I could keep listening as I was driving around town running errands.

Based on three main characters, the story follows their lives after we learn that someone died at a school event with all the parents present. Facts are revealed, story lines intertwine and secrets are slowly revealed. The writing was excellent and it had me completely absorbed and wanting to know how the story would end. At the key point of the story, I was making dinner with my headphones on as the kids were playing outside. Brian came into the kitchen as I audibly gasped. He just smiled and teased me about how into a book I get. 😉

The story is definitely written from a modern worldview and there are adult situations and some language but nothing too graphic. I really enjoyed the book and picked up another Moriarty book (What Alice Forgot) to read in Fall. I rate the book 5 out of 5.

What was your favorite book over the summer?

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PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, 😉

PPS – Disclaimer: “Revolution of Love.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.”

In other words, if you click on my affiliated links and make a purchase, I get a small compensation that goes towards keeping the blog online. Big hugs to those who click and help support the blog! xoxo 🙂

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Making A Reading Bullet Journal (& A Chance to Win A MMD Journal)

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This week I have been celebrating the love of summer reading!

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On Wednesday, I posted my Summer Reading List. On Thursday, I posted reviews of the books I read in June.

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On Friday, I joined Cristina and Tiffany over at Planned Not Scripted for the Late Summer Reading Club where we are reading The Summer Before the War.

Today I am sharing with you by new reading journal!

Anyone who reads my blog knows that I am in love with my bullet journal. I like having all my To Do’s and various lists all in one place. However, Anne at Modern Mrs. Darcy (who recently started using a bullet journal) talked about having a journal just for reading. In previous years, that would have been off my radar since I wasn’t reading much. However, this year one of my goals was to read more. As a result, my love of reading has been reignited and I am reading whenever I get the chance. Sooo, a book journal is making a lot more sense to me now.

I’ll admit that I’m a fangirl of MMD and when she came out with her own lined reading journal I picked one up. It is lovely! (Although, I have to be honest and say that it did have a chemical smell when it came out of the package. I aired it out before using it.) Here is how I set it up.

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My opening page.

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I numbered the pages and made an index of the content. I left space for future lists.

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Next I added my challenges such as my Goodreads Reading Challenge and Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Reading Challenge.

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Next I have my book log where I keep track of the books I read. Here is January to March.

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April to June.

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I left a few pages for the upcoming months and then started a Lists section. I lined the edges with washi tape for easier reference. I left ample room for various lists – books I want to read. Authors I want to check out. Books friends recommended to me, etc.

On page 31, I started a Quotes and Notes section, which are pretty self-explanatory.

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A sample page of books to read.

Having all this in one place makes it easier when I am at the library or browsing the Overdrive app or looking for something on Amazon. There are plenty of ideas in one place. Because I had so much fun setting this up and using it, I want to share the fun with you. I bought an extra copy of the MMD journal and would love to give it to one of my online friends. 🙂

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To enter the contest, just use the rafflecopter below. Have fun and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

UPDATE: Congrats to the winner of the contest – Mary Ann of NY. 🙂

Oh, and I always get emails asking where I bought my supplies, so here is the info in advance.

Staedtler Color Pen Set, Set of 36 Assorted Colors

Pilot FriXion Pencil, 0.7mm Ballpoint Pen, 12 Colors Set (Erasable)

Weapons of Mass Creation Pouch

Luke’s Diner Mug

Have a great weekend!

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, 😉

PPS – Disclaimer: “Revolution of Love.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.”

In other words, if you click on my affiliated links and make a purchase, I get a small compensation that goes towards keeping the blog online. Big hugs to those who click and help support the blog! xoxo 🙂

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Book Reviews for 2016 – Part 3: June

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I shared with you my Summer Reading List and now that June is almost over, here are reviews of the four books I read this month.

 

When Breath Becomes Air

  • Author: Paul Kalanithi
  • Length: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Random House; 1 edition (January 12, 2016)

For the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge, I chose this for the “book that intimidates you” category. My husband has already battled cancer and I just found out my mom was diagnosed with cancer. I wasn’t sure if I was emotionally strong enough to read a book about a man that dies of cancer but I added it to the list despite my reservations.

The intro on Amazon said, “At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade’s worth of training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. One day he was a doctor treating the dying, and the next he was a patient struggling to live.” I remembered Paul’s story in the news last year and it hit close to home. I wanted to hear what Paul had to say about his journey.

Reading Paul’s words helped me to understand about him as a man and doctor. He was more than a man of science but had a heart for literature and writing. He thought it was important to to develop “human relationality” with his patients, to see them as a whole person and not just their medical ailments.

In the middle of the book Paul shared a lot about his medical practice and the patients he treated and it helped to give insight to his mind and work ethic. It was heartbreaking to “watch” as the cancer spread and his life plans were drastically altered, particularly when his daughter was born as he approached his last year of life. Yet, Paul was able to find a balance in his attitude, never being overly optimistic nor morosely depressed about about his imminent death. Instead, there was a quiet strength that drove him to face his death and live his days as best as he could.  He said,

“I began to realize that coming in such close contact with my own morality had changed both nothing and everything. Before my cancer was diagnosed, I knew that someday I would die, but I didn’t know when. After the diagnosis, I knew that someday I would die but I didn’t know when. But now I knew it acutely. The problem wasn’t really a scientific one. The fact of death is unsettling. Yet there is no other way to live.”

The novel was moving and had me shedding a few tears but by the last chapter, which was written by his wife, I was full on sobbing. Knowing that Paul could no longer write and hearing about his last days on earth were both heart rending and uplifting. Here was a man that did not try to escape his death. He did not see the need to hasten it nor prolong it. He faced the natural end of his life with dignity and courage. In doing so he dispelled a small bit of fear we all have at the prospect of our own death.

His courage in death inspired me to be a little more brave in life. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. (Parental note: The book contains brief language and the topic of cancer and death.)

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The Nightingale

  • Author: Kristin Hannah
  • Length: 440 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin’s Press; 1st edition (February 3, 2015)

I read a number of great reviews about this book and decided to give it a try. I am so glad I did! The book was amazing and so far it is my favorite book that I’ve read this year.

The story takes place in France, 1939 and revolves around the lives of two estranged sisters. The sensible Vianne was married with a young daughter. The younger Isabelle was spirited and sometimes reckless. The story goes back and forth between both their point of views as they dealt with the outbreak of the war. Vianne’s husband went off to war and in his place A Nazi soldier was billeted in her home. Isabelle could not remain idle and joined the Resistance in hopes to make a difference in the war.

The historical aspect of the story was fascinating, particularly from a woman’s point of view, but just as strong was the complicated emotional relationship between the sisters as they dealt with childhood tragedies as well as the growing tragedies of the war. I thoroughly enjoyed this page-turner and by the last chapters I was sitting up into the wee hours of the night to finish the book. I rate it a hearty 5 out of 5 stars. (Parental note: The book contains adult situations, themes of war and some language.)

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The One-in-a-Million Boy

  • Author: Monica Wood
  • Length: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 1 edition (April 5, 2016)

This book definitely didn’t seem like a book I would be interested in but Modern Mrs. Darcy chose it as one of her 5 books in her Summer Reading Club and recommend it in her 2016 Reading Guide under the “Engrossing Books” category so I thought I’d give it a try and I am glad I did.

The story revolved around a young (and I suspect autistic) boy who was obsessed with the Guinness Book of World Records. The boy was charged with helping a 104-year old woman named Ona on Saturdays. Together they developed a special relationship. However, when the boy unexpectedly dies (early in the story) his estranged father fills in for him and helps out Ona. Although the boy was gone, his life continued to touch the lives of those around him and they came to peace with their own demons and hurts of the past.

The story was interesting and unlike any other book I’ve read. It lagged a little in the middle but picked up again and by the last chapter I was captivated to find out how it would end. I was listening to the book on Audible on our drive up to Lake Tahoe and Brian looked over to me and asked, “Are you crying??” I dabbed my eyes and confessed that I was because the ending was so beautiful. (Why does this surprise him? I tear up at Hallmark commercials.) 😉 It was an enjoyable read and I rate it 4 out of 5 stars. (Parental note: Some language.)

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Rough Around the Edges Meets Refined

 

  • Author: Rachel Anderson
  • Length: 244 pages
  • Publisher: HEA Publishing (December 15, 2014)

After these heavier books, I needed something lighthearted to breeze through and have fun. Since Rachel Anderson is one of my favorite (clean) romance authors, I wanted to read one of her books. I had already read When Prejudice Meets Pride, which I enjoyed, so I decided to read the second in the series –  Rough Around the Edges Meets Refined.

The main characters are Noah, a handsome widower with two daughters and Cassie, a young widower. Cassie’s deceased husband was abusive and she slowly lost her true self as she lived her life to please her demanding husband. Now that he was gone, the last thing she wanted to do was get involved with another man. She had finally tasted freedom to be her own person. Noah, thought Cassie was attractive but a little stuck up and our of his league. However, a mutual friend believed they would be good for each other and able to help each other grow and heal so she does all she can to bring them together. When they do, they learn about themselves as well as each other.

This was a pleasing book. If you enjoy Hallmark love stories (which I do) then you’d probably enjoy this. The content is clean and sweet. If I were to rate this book comparing it to all the books I’ve read, it would be a 3 out of 4 stars but comparing it to the romance books I’ve read, it would be 4 out of 5 stars. 🙂

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That’s it for now. What have you been reading?

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, 😉

PPS – Disclaimer: “Revolution of Love.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.”

In other words, if you click on my affiliated links and make a purchase, I get a small compensation that goes towards keeping the blog online. Big hugs to those who click and help support the blog! xoxo 🙂

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NOTE: The cute clip art came from GraphicDesignByMia over at etsy.