Welcome to day 2 of Five Fall Favorites! Today I’ll be showcasing two of my favorite genres … romance and historical fiction! 😀
Just a quick reminder … this is what’s at stake:
If I were you, I’d definitely go to Rebekah’s blog and enter now! Hurry up … the prizes are awesome, and you only have until Friday to enter!
Before we start …
I don’t understand how anyone could make fun of your acting either, Lizzie. They’re idiots, all of them. And you can’t convert a book directly into a movie. You have to make a few changes. I respect that and all my daughters will be named Keira. So there.
Yeah … I’ve been watching that GIF for almost an hour now … 😉 Just kidding … sorta.
Anyway, I just want to link to this post now. Because it’s an amazing summary of the everything I’ve been trying to express as ‘true’ Austen fans hate on the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice. Trust me, guys … I’m a true fan. 😛
Romance
(These aren’t all my favorite romances … they’re just the ones I wasn’t able to sneak into other genres. Some of my favorite romances will appear in genres such as classic, etc.! And … I did cheat a little on the last one … but I don’t have enough room to include them all otherwise!)
Emily of Deep Valley by Maud Hart Lovelace
This is quite possibly the best romance out there. It’s also set in my favorite era, which is a plus. Maud Hart Lovelace is an absolute master (or … mistress?) at writing an innocent, adorable romance that doesn’t actually seem like a romance because there’s so much more there than two people ‘falling on love.’ It’s also sorta a stand-alone, while at the same time it gives us a peak into Betsy-between-books. Which is awesome.
Betsy and Joe by Maud Hart Lovelace
My favorite of the Betsy-Tacy series, and the only book that can successfully pull of a ‘love triangle’ (well, maybe not the only one …).
Of course, there never was a competition … we all knew Betsy and Joe were like salt and pepper since Heaven to Betsy, but … I still love Tony. And for some reason, I’m not disappointed about her choice despite Tony’s awesomeness, or how she made so many mistakes.
Yes, Betsy is a complete idiot at certain points in this book. She’s a complete idiot at certain points in all of the books … but you know what? That doesn’t matter. Because we’re all idiots at heart. Seriously, though, you have to read the book to understand exactly what I mean, but Betsy never seems anything but loveable. She makes mistakes, but she’s always, always growing, and she so rarely makes the exact same mistake twice!
I’d better stop before I start ranting (as if I wasn’t already), but if you haven’t read this book … seriously. Go pick up a copy. If you’re a writer, you need to read this just to try to grasp how Lovelace does it (I suppose because it’s semi-autobiographical?), and if you’re a reader, it’s too much fun to miss out on!
A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter
This is my favorite book. Seriously. I have a favorite book! I’m so awesome … But I’m not kidding. This is it … this is, in my opinion, the best book ever written … except the Bible, I guess. *guilty feelings for not mentioning that earlier*
This book is just epic. It’s beautiful and gorgeous and amazing and I can’t live without it and we can’t be friends anymore unless you read it. I’m sorry. We just can’t. I have my standards. 😛
I’m gonna write a quick summary for you because none I found was awesome enough. I will tell you that eventually I started giving away spoilers (though not on certain things), but I never gave away the end of the book (or even the last couple plot twists at about 75%), so …
In the first half of the book, Elnora Comstock, an intelligent, eager-to-learn farm girl, longs to go to high school and get a better education, though her neglectful mother disapproves and refuses to support her, causing Elnora to be shunned for her unfashionable clothes, country-girl-bumpkin-ness, etc. But Elnora perseveres, and we all love her for her amazingness (and yet her humanness) and how she stands up for herself (rare for a old-fashioned book, indeed, right?) while still being a nice person who everyone ends up liking in spite of themselves, but she’s never a good-two-shoes, so don’t worry. 😛
In the second half (or second section, anyway) of the book (after high school is over), Elnora is working hard to catch moths to finish a collection. She meet Philip Ammon who is adorably cute and amazing and rich a guy from the city of Chicago who’s regaining his health after a bout of typhoid fever. He helps her collect moths.
Elnora falls in love with Philip Ammon. I betcha didn’t see that one coming … in a book I classified as a romance … Anyway, Philip also loves Elnora, and they’re both super matched to each other and get along great and want the exact same things in life and there’s absolutely no reason why they can’t just get hitched because his family is sure to love her, and boy, does Mrs. Comstock approve, and …
Philip is engaged to marry the beautiful, snobby, annoying Edith Carr. Edith has broken his engagement a couple times to tease him (yep … she’s that bad), but Philip knows she was teasing him, and he goes back to her even though they’ll probably be miserable together just because it’s honorable. I KNOW!!! THIS GUY IS SO DANG GOOD!!! He just walks back to this witch (well, she’s not a nice person, anyway), even though he and Elnora are crazy about each other! … Or at least that’s my take … Porter is pretty subtle and she doesn’t talk about feelings a ton of anything. BUT THEY’RE CRAZY ABOUT EACH OTHER ANYWAY!!! IT WAS MEANT TO BEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!
AND SHE WON’T EVEN KISS HIM GOOD-BYE WHEN HE ASKS IN THIS ADORABLE ALMOST BROTHERLY WAY! *sobs* I know it would have been wrong (he was engaged after all), but I was like, “JUST KISS HIM ELNORA, LIKE ON THE CHEEK OR SOMETHING NOBODY’S GONNA KNOW!!! THE POOR GUY IS GOING BACK TO A LIFE OF MISERY (dramatization) AND YOU CAN’T JUST SEND HIM OFF LIKE THAT AND JUST SHAKE HANDS!!!” And then Elnora was like, “I’d strike you sooner,” and then she was like, “Edith Carr would not want you lips tomorrow if they had touched mine today,” and I was like, “That’s right, she’s a jealous witch!”
So Philip goes back to the city, and … I’d better not go on because I’ll only give away more spoilers. Let’s go on to another book. 🙂
Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, and Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Because I love them all too much to choose just one … Yes, I did cheat a little, but how else was they’re all equally tied for this spot! 😀
A few things you ought to know about me as a Jane Austen Lover:
- I think every Jane Austen book is just as good as the other Austen books. That’s right. There is no ‘best of Austen.’ Austen is the best.
- That includes Northanger Abbey. How could you hate this amazing book, how could you think it’s inferior just because it’s shorter and a bit sillier? It’s clever and sweet! I adore it. I won’t hear otherwise.
- I like Knightley best. *clears throat awkwardly* I know y’all are attached to Darcy, Wentworth, Bertram, and the rest, and I have yet to see a well-played Knightley is a movie, so that may prejudice (*chuckles*) you a little. But … Knightley is honestly the best-behaved Austen hero. He’s true from start to finish, and he has no faults (at least not any that aren’t adorable and caring … though I suppose you could say that about any Austen hero if you wanted).
Of course, I’d probably be better-suited to a guy like Darcy … so there’s that … - I literally can’t choose a favorite heroine. I like Elizabeth a lot, I admit, and would very much like to be her with all her spunk (especially if she looks and acts like this girl … or (yeah, I don’t get him either, Lizzie …) ), but Fanny is sweet, Anne is true, Catherine is adorable, Emma is … Emma, Elinor is wise, and Marianne … um, isn’t my favorite, but I still like her. As a friend, but not as myself … (she kinda-sorta reminds me of a friend of mine …
and I just did that to see if she’d comment and disclaim the harsh truth …). - THE KEIRA KNIGHTLEY VERSION FOREVER!!! Yeah, I think we already talked about this … that post inspired me to rant. 😉
- I’m currently reading Mansfield Park, actually! For the second time … XD It’s so good, though! Despite the fact that I’m disgusted with Edmund … HOW COULD HE?!?!?! “She’s the only woman I could ever consider as a wife,” my foot! Ha!
Historical Fiction
(So many options! Well, I tried to narrow it down … it’s up for you to say whether I succeeded or not. I think I kinda did …)
The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen
ARG OH MY GOSH!!! The mystery, the romance, the adventure! Find my review here.
A Worthy Heart by Susan Anne Mason
I didn’t want to read this book because the first novel in the series was not very good … but this one was really good. Find my review here.
A Refuge at Highland Hall by Carrie Turanksy
Wow. I loved this book so incredibly much! It was perfect in every way. The other three books were amazing – five star books, all of them, really … but this was the best! Find my review here.
To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander
But … you rated this book ‘3 stars,’ you say.
I did. The plot failed on several points, and I was a little harsher back then than I am now. But it was still a fantastic novel, so I mentally give it 5 stars … I may update my ratings and review at some point because I really love it. Maybe I’ll re-read it. Find my review here.
The Centurion’s Wife by Janette Oak and Davis Bunn
I … don’t even have words. I haven’t reviewed it yet … so I’ll just have to tell you here to get a copy and read it. Now. Please, you’ll thank me forever and ever. Also, it isn’t really a romance … it’s more Christian Historical Fiction set in Biblical times … it’s amazing. We never meet Jesus, but it makes Him seem so real! It’s very impressive.
The Other Blog Party Participants are …
That’s right … some pretty awesome people! Be sure to visit all their blogs and comment, like, subscribe, share, etc.
Now, it’s time to announce what room I am today! After all those books, I hate to bring up another, but ……….
That’s right! Today I’m the book room! Comment below for a chance to win today’s door prize. I literally can’t remember whether I said I was gonna give away a free ebook copy of The Lady of the Vineyard or of The Dressmaker’s Secret … but it was one or the other. 😛 Maybe I just said I’d let the winner choose … I don’t know.
And if you’ve read both … who are you? I LOVE YOU!!! *huggles* (not really … though I admit it’s a little less creepy over the internet … or a little more creepy … whichever you prefer …)
Seriously, though, I guess you’ll just have to be awesome. And not get a prize. Or else, you’ll have to wait until Ivy Introspective (which I’m considering renaming by the way … the title once-again no longer matches the actual story! 😛 ) comes out. 🙂
~Kellyn Roth
p.s. Probably gonna be two posts today, guys … sorry. I got into the final round of the Blogger Elections, and I have to post ASAP about it so I can get you to vote for me one last time. May the best girl win. *throws confetti* 🙂
62 Responses
Lovely post :)! I haven’t read Jane Austen yet, but I might in the future 🙂
Coralie
You should! Though you have to be patient if you’re not used to classics … 😀
So many books…! I haven’t read any of the books you mentioned, but maybe when I find time (where does it all go…?), I’ll be able to read them.
Yeah … I read way more than is probably healthy!
I feel like I am missing out . . . I haven’t read any Jane Austen novels . . . 😉
You should definitely read them! They’ve amazing! If I were you, I’d start with Emma. 🙂
I am finding so many new books on here! And I have The Centurion’s Wife! I haven’t read it yet, though. *pulls out Kindle and begins reading* Wait, I haven’t finished school for the day, yet. Oh, bummer. 🙂 Thanks for the recommendations! These look really good! Question: Will you be picking the winner at random?
Yes, I’ll be writing the names on slips of papers and drawing one out of a hat or something. 😀
Man, I began reading your description for A Girl of the Limberlost, and I decided I’d like to read it. And then, I kept reading your description, and reading it, and reading it…. and then I just had to STOP because you were revealing WAY too many spoilers. 😛 I believe I’ll put that on my goodreads want-to-read list. I love clueless guys in romance books. Like, they’re always my favorite characters. I LOVE CLUELESS GUYS!! Sorry… 😛
CutePolarBear
Yeah … I got carried away. 🙂 You should read it … IT’S THE BEST BOOK EVER!!! (yeah … I love clueless guys, too …)
Wow, Kellyn! You were able to fit in a lot of books. 😉 I enjoyed “The Girl of the Limberlost” too! *sighs with relief* We can be friends. 🙂
Oh, and you had said the winner gets to choose which book they wanted. 🙂
Oh, okay! I don’t always remember everything I say … it’s unfortunate! 😀
Great post! So many great book suggestions that I want to check out!
I also want to invite you to my blog party this Saturday. https://scaleitsimple.com/2016/09/23/invite-fall-feeling-blog-party/
hope you can pop by 🙂
Nice post! So many new books to check out. 🙂
KNIGHTLEY! 😉 I’ve barely read or watched any Jane Austen, but I loved that character. 😉 Ah, yes, and Maud Hart Lovelace books are sooo good too. I need to read the Emily ones soon.
I think there’s only one about Emily … which is so disappointing, because she’s pretty awesome! 🙂
I want to read all of these books now that you talk about them! *hyperventilates* Especially the one by Jane Austen.
Oh i love the betsy books toooo and jane austen rocks and i read that post about pride and prejiduce and people hating it like whaaaaatt??? How could u be a jane austen fan and not like that version!?!?! The 1995 version is reeeeeeeeally good but i dont really like the guy who plays darcy…hes just to stiff and proud…i know darcys proud but in the book its more of a shy pride ya know,, the keira knightly version is so magical i love it!!! And i agree with u that all jane austen bokks are eqealy awesomesauce!!!! But u already know that;)
Kelly u wouldnt possibly mean me when you said a freind reminds you of marriana???? I have a feeling u do and your never getting a another birthday present/christmas gift EVER again!!!! Lol but srsly no!! Im not like her at all shes so selfish and she thinks her feelings are the only ones that matter and i actually took a test and i came out as her….*hangs head in emmbaressment*
But that was a stupid test and im not like marriana AT ALL!!
Ok so juat to prove u wrong…i took like a bunch of jane asten quizzes and i got lizzie all of em exept for like once where i got marriana and then i took a which jane austen hero is your soulmate quiz and i got darcy and colonel brandon and whenworth…which book is whwntworth from i dont think ice read that one…?? I would rather have gotten tilney or mr knightly(hes my fave toooo!!!)
Wentworth is from Persuasion.
YES!!! KNIGHTLEY ALL THE WAY!!! Tinley is awesome, too … at least, what I can remember of him is. I haven’t read that book in forever … I really should read it again!
*goes to find Jane Austen quizzes to take*
All right …… apparently I’m Emma Woodhouse. That probably had something to do with me saying the first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is call for my breakfast … 😉
Ugh, mmkay, I’m not marrying Bertram … he’s sweet, but eh … Mary Crawford … I could never get over it …
Okay, fine … you’re not Marianne … kinda … 😉 Seriously, though, you’re sometimes just a wee bit like her … but not much. And you’re not selfish or poetry-ish. Yeah … I can’t see you reading much poetry unless it’s funny or just sounds good for some reason … but I could be wrong. *doesn’t know everything about you*
I KNOW!!! It’s good, but Darcy deserves to NOT be stiff. *nods*
Plus darcy from 1995 version is ugly. Real ugly. Yep. But i love the actress who plays lydia from that version lol shes so funny!
Ok i can be like marriana a lil bit…i mean i AM feeling, But it ends there.(i hope)
Yeah your right about me and poetry!;)
Hmmmm…emma?? I think elazabeth bennet would be more accurate….or maybe a mix of emma and lizzie??? Its kinda hard to tell….the quizzes can be so not right…im pretty sure im catherine morland/lydia bennet mix. Ahem. I think u could be a lil like elanor dashwood too tho…and your dramatic side would be like mariana*wicked grin* You wouldnt be catherine morland…and i havnt read persuasion or mansfield park so i dunno what heroines youd be like there…
I’d be like Mary Crawford. *cracks up* But neither of us have much respect for … anything. XD
When I think about it, I’m actually a lot like Emma …
Wow, sounds like a bunch of great books! 😀
I’ve read one of the Jane Austen books it was good I will have to read the rest.
Marissa Archibald
Ahh…I haven’t read a single one of these books, except for Emily of Deep Valley. But I really really really want to read Betsy and Joe. I’m a HUGE fan of Betsy-Tacy and I always wanted to finish the series. But the library doesn’t have them 🙁 Wait….there’s a love triangle?! Who’s Tony? Well, ok, maybe don’t tell me. I’ll have to wait until i get my hands on a copy 😉
Great book list, Kellyn!
EEEEEKKKKKKSSSSSS…..your post reminded me that I hadn’t checked our online library for Betsy and Joe….and THEY HAVE IT!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REMINDER!!!!! 😀
That’s awesome! 😀
It isn’t exactly a love triangle … but there’s kind of this other guy who Betsy used to like, and … I’ll stop right now! I’m sorry; I’m bad at giving away spoilers today!
All these books look just lovely! I’m not much for romance, but I do adore historical fiction!
OOOH! Finals!!!!! RUBY FOR PRESIDENT!!! (Hmmm…Plot bunny!!!!!)
I’ve read Sense and Sensibility, but it was older than my reading was then so I thought it was really boring. And I’ve read A Girl of the Limberlost, because you reccomended it so highly, and….You don’t need to know what books I’ve read! ;D
Are you going to debate the other bloggers on national news?
Unfortunately, no. 🙁 😉
Darn!
I didn’t really like Sense and Sensibility as much as I liked the other ones … but then, it was in such tiny print and it was a while ago! 😀
Nice favorites! I haven’t read Jane Austen books. 😀😉
Oh, I LOVE “Northanger Abbey”! It’s actually the first Austin book I read, and it’s still my favorite! 😉 And I have to say I agree with you. I like the 2005 Pride and Prejudice much better than the 1995. though the 1995 is still really good! But the 2005 is just . . . so much better. 😉
It’s more realistic, too … and the Elizabeth is better!
Loved this: “all my daughters will be named Keira. So there.” Made me laugh. XD That version of P&P is the favourite in my house. ^.^
I’ve read “The Refuge at Highland Hall” and can say I enjoyed it too!
I do want to name one of my girl Keira, though … 😀
It’s definitely a pretty name! ^.^
Wow, sooo many books!!! 😉
The more the merrier! 😀
Gack! This hasn’t been letting me comment. Okay, different computer … work …
(In case you couldn’t tell this is basically just me testing … nothing important here …)
Whoooo!!!! Yay!!! That was weird. I tried commenting with like three different users and two different computers. Oh well.
Oh yeah! So what I was actually going to say is that I feel so terrible because the only Austen I’ve read is Pride and Prejudice. I need more time!!! I have WAAYY too many books to read!!!
READ THEM!!! (but read TDS first … and the Betsy-Tacy book I gave you … 😀 )
NOW IT’S COMMENTING!!! 😀
You and I agree completely on the Historical Fiction. I absolutely love Christian Historical Fiction. I force myself to read contemporary fiction occasionally, just so I don’t use such historical language. (I recently told my pastor that I have “a delicate constitution”, for example).
I know what you mean … I tend to talk rather old-fashionedly, too. My brothers are constantly having to ask me, “Why I’m talking like that?” 😀
Oh, I really like the title of The Centurions Wife! Sounds like the story would be from an interesting view! Thanks for sharing!
It’s a wonderful story … very clean, too, which is always an up!
I’m definitely planning on reading The Centurion’s Wife! I saw your rating on Goodreads, read the summary, and decided I would read it! So I’ll get around to it eventually. And I should probably read A Girl of the Limberlost…
you know, so we can still be friends. 😛Yeah … that’d be a good idea. After all, I do want to remain friends with you … XD lol!
Hahaha. Are you sure we’ll stop being friends if I don’t read it?
Well … okay, maybe not. XD
I knew it! 😀 I’m still going to try to read it at some point, though, so there’s that.
Hooray!!!! Another Jane Austin fan!!! ;D
I agree, all her books are as good, it’s impossible to choose the best one!! ;-D
Definitely! 😀