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Friday, June 29, 2012

A Girl of the Limberlost :: Reading to Know Book Club

Stephanie from Simple Things is hosting the discussion for this month's book club. She chose A Girl of the Limberlost, by Gene Stratton-Porter. If you participated in this month's book club read and wrote up a post sharing your thoughts of this work, please leave a comment in the comment section below. Please including the direct link to your blog post. (If you don't have a blog but read along, please feel free to discuss the book with us in the comment section.)


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Reading to Know - Book Club


I’m curious to know who made it to the end of A Girl of the Limberlost? Did you enjoy it? I’ll be honest – it wasn’t what I expected, but I did enjoy it and was glad I saw it through the end.

The book begins with us learning about the plight of Elinora Comstock, a young girl, seemingly unloved by her mother, who against all odds, is trying to gain an education and provide for herself and her future. In this respect, the book reminded me of many of L.M. Montgomery’s short story heroines who struggled to make their way in spite of insurmountable odds. A favorite quote about this in book was:

What you are lies with you. If you are lazy, and accept your lot, you may live in it. If you are willing to work, you can write your name anywhere you choose, among the only ones who live past the grave in this world – the people who write books that help, make exquisite music, carve statues, paint pictures, and work for others.


However, that isn’t what I took away from the book. I enjoyed it for the author’s outlook on nature and how it was so much a part of Elinora’s life. She marveled in the hand of the Creator, studying the flora, fauna, and wildlife around her with a great appreciation for the variety and intricacies she found. Because of her study of nature, she was able to use that as a way to earn money to provide for herself and continue her education, and eventually share that love of nature with others. This is the kind of lifestyle of learning I want to pass on to my children! Exploring the world around us and seeing how God has so orchestrated the details of every living thing. That thread, woven throughout the book, was inspiring to me.

Ain’t it queer that she’d take to stones, bugs, and butterflies, and save them. Now they are going to bring her the very thing she wants the worst. Lord, but this is a funny world when you get to studying! Looks like things didn’t all come by accident. Looks as if there was a plan back of it, and somebody driving that knows the road, and how to handle the lines.


I am looking forward to hearing what others thought of this book (and whether you made it through it!) Thank you, Carrie, for allowing me the privilege of hosting a month of your book club and prompting me to check this one off my to-be-read list

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(I have to throw the thanks back at you, Stephanie! You got me to - finally - read it which allowed me to cross it off my list as well. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!)

July's book club selection:

The title of your choosing from The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. Next month's book club will be held in conjunction with the Chronicles of Narnia Reading Challenge. Further up and further in!

Chronicles of Narnia Reading Challenge

10 comments:

Amy @ Hope Is the Word said...

I read A Girl of the Limberlost several years ago and loved it:
http://www.hopeisthewordblog.com/?s=%22girl+of+the+Limberlost%22&submit=Search

This challenge prompted me to read Freckles:
http://www.hopeisthewordblog.com/2012/06/11/freckles-by-gene-stratton-porter/

Thanks for the challenge, Carrie and Stephanie! I had wanted to read Freckles for a long time!

Amy @ Hope Is the Word said...

Oops--I don't think that link up there is the right one for Girl of the Limberlost. Here it is:
http://www.hopeisthewordblog.com/2009/10/13/a-girl-of-the-limberlost-by-gene-stratton-porter/

Diary of an Autodidact said...

My link: http://fiddlrts.blogspot.com/2012/06/girl-of-limberlost-by-gene-stratton.html

Barbara H. said...

Thanks for that last quote -- I had forgotten that one. Thanks for the opportunity to revisit a book from my childhood! My post is here:
http://barbarah.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/book-review-a-girl-of-the-limberlost/

Bluerose said...

I haven't finished the whole book, but I posted some thoughts anyway.

I enjoyed the nature aspect, too, but I couldn't get over moths being worth so much!

Thank you, Stephanie, for encouraging me to give Gene Stratton Porter a chance. :)

http://bluerosesheart.blogspot.com/2012/06/girl-of-limberlost-june-bookclub.html

Beth said...

I really enjoyed reading this. You can read my thoughts here:
http://starrweavings.blogspot.com/2012/06/book-review-girl-of-limberlost-by-gene.html

Shonya said...

http://learninghowmuchidontknow.blogspot.com/2012/06/girl-of-limberlost.html

I finally got my review written! I started out with mixed feelings, but the more I reflected on the book, the more I enjoyed it! :)

As a homeschooling mom who has more than a hint of Charlotte Mason flavor to my philosophy, I also very much appreciated the focus on both nature and self-directed learning. I thought there were lots of themes that would be interesting to explore with a friend.

Annette Whipple said...

http://www.thissimplehome.com/2012/06/girl-of-limberlost-by-gene-stratton.html

I was glad to read this one, though I did forget to mention how Freckles confused me at first...

Lots of good stuff in there. Thanks for recommending it for book club!

BerlinerinPoet said...

*ahem* I'm late, but I still did it!

http://donotletthisuniverseforgetyou.blogspot.com/2012/07/girl-of-limberlost-by-gene-stratton.html

I may have been underwhelmed, but I DID love her cabin you talked about. :-)
Can't wait for Narnia!

Stephanie said...

Playing catch-up here and looking forward to reading everyone's posts over time. : )

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