DisneyNature's "Earth"

The herd is suddenly fleeing. Bucks, does and calves all match the thumping of their neighbor's hooves in the desperation to escape. A white wolf of the tundra is in hot pursuit. Suddenly, a little calf finds herself alone. Her mother has been consumed into the frantic speeding press. Another step is heard galloping behind her--it is not familiar. Another moment tells her that it is the wolf, no longer following the herd in general, but targeting her. Now her only thought is to escape the dreaded feel of the wolf's jaws closing on her. Running at a speed she has never attained, the calf forsakes all hope of going to the herd. If only she can escape. Running in circles, she flies over the ground. She can escape if only she doesn't lose her footing. That would be fatal. Just one slip and--

Two shapes are barely discernible through the thick white dust. The muffled plodding of the feet of a mother elephant and a baby elephant can just be heard. They are all alone. Separated from the herd--exhausted, thirsty and blinded by dust, a mile away from security--what will they do? Will they be able to rejoin the herd or simply lay down to die?

These are only two of the many thrilling, amusing and heart-wrenching instances that you can view in stunning display during the new movie Earth. It chronicles the high points of the lives of animals from the Arctic to the rainforest to the Sahara desert. While it falls within the same genre as March of the Penguins and Arctic Tale, it follows a wider range of species, in more climates. It is definitely worth seeing; it offers a front row seat for the first-hand experience of the amazing and often harsh circle of life that God created. As with all movies about nature that have emerged in the past few years, there is attention called to "global warming," but regardless of your viewpoint on this matter, this movie really is a fantastic window to watch the way God has orchestrated the natural world.

Watership Down

By Richard Adams
Age:13-14

I was supposed to read this book over the course of 36 weeks. It was so good that I couldn't put it down.

Set in the quaint countryside of England, Fiver has shown a surprising ability to know if something was safe or not, if something was going to end in disaster or be a blessing in disguise. One night he gets a feeling--a "mist" hanging over the entire warren (did I mention that they're rabbits?). He tells his brother, Hazel, convincing him that some unknown tragedy was going to overtake their home. Hazel pulls a small band of bucks together to make an emigration from the supposedly doomed warren to a place far away in the downs. The journey is harrowing and exciting, the fictitious culture and language of the rabbits fascinating, and the wit amusing.

There are mild expletives used in this book.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

By Charles Dickens CONCLUDED BY Leon Garfield
Rating: 10+
Recommended Reading Age: 15

This was the last book that Charles Dickens wrote, and he had only reached the twenty-second chapter when he died in 1870, leaving this book far from finished.

After Edwin Drood disappears, suspicion of murder is harbored toward two men: John Jasper, Edwin's uncle, and Neville Landless, a mysterious young man who has recently settled in the the town with his twin sister, Helena. For the next 11 months, dread and conjecture circulate in this book. Did someone kill Edwin Drood? If so, who and why? Or did he leave of his own accord?

As I neared the the twenty-second chapter of this book, I got the feeling that I get when something that I really love is about to be gone. As that chapter was the termination of Dicken's writing, I felt as if no great expectations could be held for the writing skill of this person Leon Garfield. However, I feel that he did an excellent job of simulating the signature style and wit of Dickens in his writing. At times I could not tell if it was the added author, or Dickens himself. Also, Mr. Garfield did an exceptionally imaginative job of resolving the mystery. I couldn't have done it myself.

Please note that there are other conclusions to this mystery, done by other authors, and I only review the one done by Leon Garfield.

Little Women

by Louisa May Alcott
Rating: 10
Recommended reading age: 10

This is a book that a book review blog really can't be without. I first read it at about the age of nine or ten. Though this is not one of my very favorite books--it's not a terribly challenging read for me at my age--but it still has a certain
amount of whimsy that is very refreshing. I could have some reserve because the author was a Unitarian, but most of the hints that are spiritual don't really lean that way, as far as I can tell. Even so, I would be on my guard when reading this book for false doctrine.

Many of the lessons in this book are useful, but more true-to- life than many a book written in that era. There are some hilarious parts, such as the one in "Amy's Will" where an impertinent parrot squawks out some very well-timed insults to various persons concerned. I found that very funny.

For those of you who have not read this book, and don't know the general story plot, here it is:

Taking place during the civil war, the book opens to the four March sisters complaining and being generally discontented about a meager Christmas. The rest of the book outlines various instances, trial and experiences that the March family goes through-- particularly the girls-- to come out as lovely "little women." This is, I think, a worthwhile read, if only for the interest of watching a semi-fictitious family go through their semi-fictitious life together. Of course, don't get stuck on this reading level or genre for ever, as other posts on this blog suggest. All the same, don't forget to read this one if you haven't.

Julius Caesar

by William Shakespeare
Rating: 10+++
Reading age: 14

Now, I haven't read any of Shakespeare's plays apart from this one: I just don't need to know all the sordid details...*ahem*. However, this one is completely void of that, because it is about politics in ancient Rome. (There is one inappropriate mention in the beginning from the notes of "the Annotated Shakespeare" copy, but it may or may not be translated from old English correctly).

Anyway, I devoured this play in about two days--it was that interesting. It is, as the title says, about Julius Caesar, but instead of stopping with the assassination, it goes on through the decisive battle of Philippi (Brutus and Cassius vs. Octavian and Antony). It is very interesting to read of such well-known events as the Triumvirate and the soothsayer who is said to foretell the happenings of the Ides of March as written by somebody who lived 400 years ago.

All in all, this book was a satisfactory read: well written (of course, it is Shakespeare) and void of the inappropriate intrigue and debauchery.

The Bronze Bow

The Bronze Bow: by Elizabeth George Speare
Rating: 10
Recommended Reading Age: 12

Though not terribly challenging to read, this book is an excellent story about the time of Jesus. The story is about a young man who is part of a guerrilla rebel band. They are bitter about the Roman conquest of Israel and are waiting for the Messiah to come, who they envision as a great military leader coming to beat back the Romans.

The main character, Daniel, is one of the most bitter because of the cruelty inflicted on his family by the Romans. Through a complex series of events he is forced to leave the rebel band. He lives in the village, caring for his mentally troubled sister. He eventually meets Jesus and subsequently has to let go of his preconceived notion of a vengeance-wreaking Messiah. The climax is very touching (I don't usually cry with books, but I think that I cried at the end of this one). I really love this book, it has a wonderful plot as well as some good points to help understand this period of Ancient and Jewish history.

The Scarlet Pimpernel

By Baroness Emma Orczy
Rating: 10++
Age: 13


I suppose that before I read this book, I had preconceived notions about its storyline, partly from a Looney Tunes that is called The Scarlet Pumpernickel and from an old movie with Hermione-something-or-other. Neither of these even bordered on the suspense-full storyline of this book. Especially not the Looney Tune.

The story is about a mysterious English man who seems to spirit condemned aristocrats right from the guillotine during the French Revolution. The rebel "French government" has worked itself into a tizzy over the fact that even their wittiest spies are unable to apprehend the elusive character. This is why they send over Chauvelin, a spy disguised as a diplomat, to try to find out who the man is. Through a series of events, Chauvelin uses threats about Marguerite Blakeney's brother to force her to help spy out the Scarlet Pimpernel. Marguerite is the wife of Lord Percy Blakeney, an intimate friend of the Prince of Wales and therefore the center of London society, making Marguerite a likely person to be of help spying. This task sends Marguerite into a whirlwind of agony over whether to betray the national hero, or save her brother from death. I could go on and on, but I don't want to ruin the story!

This was such a wonderful book that I could not bear to put it down. Even at 1:30. AM. I had had some Mountain Dew the evening before, thinking it an innocent equivalent of Sprite in regard to caffeine (lol. ahem). So I was up all night. What a perfect time it was to finish the novel!

The Shining Company

The Shining Company by Rosemary Sutcliff
Rating: 8
Recommended Reading Age: 13

When I first started this book, I thought "oh, this one isn't half as good as The Three Legions." So I put it down. Later, when I was really bored, I picked it back up and read it. I am so glad that I did!

The book is about when a king of the British called for extra warriors to beat back the Saxons. The main character is Prosper, who is chosen as a prince's shield bearer. He follows his lord into the ensuing conflict, where both his fellow shield bearer and master are killed. He then rescues another man after he was wounded the rest is very exciting.

There were quite a few *ahem* disgusting moments, where some deaths were described enough so that I could get the idea about just how awful they were.

All in all, however, I really enjoyed this book.

The Lantern Bearers

The Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff
Recommended Reading Age: 13
Rating: 10

This is the third and last book in the "trilogy*" that consists of The Eagle of the Ninth, The Silver Branch and this book, The Lantern Bearers. I thought that this book was very bitter-sweet.

It starts on a rather happy note: the main character is Aquila, a Roman soldier on leave at the family farm. About a chapter into this book, however, things begin to change, when Aquila is called back to the fort. After a disastrous episode, he is taken captive by a band of raiding Saxons. The rest of the book is all about his escape and subsequent joining of a British war band.

I really enjoyed how this book showed him as he really grew up, from being a bitter and angry young man to being a more mature person in his mid-thirties. There are many parts that really touched my heart.

*This, along with the three books being a chronological series, has been published as one volume called The Three Legions.

The Silver Branch

The Silver Branch by Rosemary Sutcliff
Rating 10 +
Recommended Reading Age: 12

This book (like The Eagle of the Ninth) was a very good story about Britain close to the end of Rome's rule over her.

When the main characters warn the emperor of an internal plot, he acts angrily and sends them away. Later, at the exiled characters new post, they hear that the usurper, Allectus, has succeeded in murdering the emperor and acceding the throne. For the rest of this story, they work to bring together a band to fight Allectus, seek revenge for the old emperor's life and save the future of Britain.

I would recommend reading this after reading The Eagle of the Ninth, because there are points in this book that, for people who have read the before mentioned, will bring many "Oh, wow, I remember that" moments.