‘The result of my own visit to Greece and the impact of that wonderful country on a mind steeped in the classics. ‘My Brother Michael’ was my love affair with Greece.’ - Mary Stewart Camilla Haven had broken with Philip her fiancée of six years, and now at twenty-five years of age, she had come … Continue reading My Brother Michael by Mary Stewart (1959)
Book Reviews
Wildfire at Midnight by Mary Stewart (1956)
Gianetta, named after her disreputable great-grandmother, Gianetta Fox who was once the rage of London, had just finished school and completed a course for mannequins. At a showing where she modelled an historical dress, she met Nicholas Drury, a successful author with a caustic tongue, who at 29 years of age was ten years her … Continue reading Wildfire at Midnight by Mary Stewart (1956)
For the Family’s Sake: Ch 8
The Infrastructure of Routine The main thrust of this chapter is that the home life of anyone, whether they have children or not, needs a regular pattern of life. I read the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder aloud to my children when they were little and remember that Ma did specific things on … Continue reading For the Family’s Sake: Ch 8
Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature by Linda Lear
This biography of Beatrix Potter by Linda Lear was published in 2007. It is a very comprehensive 584-page account of an extraordinary woman. Although Beatrix Potter is mostly known for her iconic Peter Rabbit and friends children’s books, these books only represent one aspect of her life over a ten-year period. Besides being a gifted … Continue reading Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature by Linda Lear
Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart (1965)
Vanessa March and her husband, Lewis, were about to go on a European holiday together. They had been married two years and Lewis’ work abroad had taken up so much of that time that he'd planned to transfer to another branch, but before he could do that he was asked to go to Sweden for … Continue reading Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart (1965)
The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang
Between December 1937 and January 1938, the Japanese Imperial Army seized the Chinese city of Nanking (now Nanjing) and in a period of only six weeks carried out one of the most brutal massacres in the history of war. It is estimated that the number of Chinese killed in this massacre could have been more … Continue reading The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang
For the Family’s Sake: Ch 7
‘The Glory of the Usual or Jack of All Trades’ We’re at the half-way mark of our read along of this book and I hope you have enjoyed what you’ve read so far.For many of us, becoming a mother and making the decision to be at home while our children are young, has meant putting … Continue reading For the Family’s Sake: Ch 7
For the Family’s Sake: Ch 6
‘Taking Time and Care to Create the Home’s Atmosphere.’ This chapter starts off with the wisdom of the biblical directive found in the Old Testament which says that a young husband could not be drafted into the army in the first year of his marriage. The establishment of the home and the newlyweds relationship with … Continue reading For the Family’s Sake: Ch 6
Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart (1958)
Linda Martin was back in Paris after an absence of nine years. With an English father and a French mother, she had grown up in France during the Second World War. When she was fourteen both of her parents were killed in a plane crash and she was sent to an orphanage in England where … Continue reading Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart (1958)
For the Family’s Sake: Chapter 5, The Home’s Weight-Bearing Beams
When I was reading this chapter I thought about some issues we’ve had in the building industry here in recent years. The availability of housing hadn’t kept pace with the growth of the population and this led to an upsurge in the building of residential high rise apartments. Unfortunately, many of these new apartments have … Continue reading For the Family’s Sake: Chapter 5, The Home’s Weight-Bearing Beams
journey & destination 