Cather 🥰 Jamie's physical/spiritual journey is what I love about Keeper of the Bees. I'm not a fan of most of Stratton-Porter's love story plots. But, as long as there isn't a love interest, I enjoy her character arcs and plots. Final Empire was such a fun reread.
Surprised by Oxford sounds interesting (and I love the Lewis reference in the title). I haven't read Mistborn, but I think I've heard Sanderson say that the publisher was afraid people would think The Final Empire was the last book because of the final in the title, and that's why they've rebranded.
Yes, there are plenty of Lewis references sprinkled throughout too! It was such a wonderful literary journey to faith. That’s interesting about Mistborn! I guess that makes sense.
Glad you loved My Antonia! I loved it but haven't revisited it in 20 years. Her imagery is amazing. I read Keeper of the Bees a while ago and I guess I blocked out the romance part 😂 but when you mentioned it I started to remember. That's the only GSP I've read but I'd like to check out her other work. I do remember feeling Keeper of the Bees was a little long for what it was, but the parts with the kid were cute.
I've only read two Gene Stratton-Porter books (this one and The Girl of the Limberlost) and adored the nature writing and overall story of both, but I think romance is her weak point, because I hated the element in that one too 😂 It didn't seem as egregious as The Keeper of the Bees though!
I don’t own The Harvester, so I have no clue when I’ll get to it. I’m glad you loved Keeper of the Bees! I’m kinda picky about romance in books. I probably would’ve loved it if it didn’t have that in it.
I think the only book besides The Final Empire that I read from your wrap up was the beekeeper one. I hated it with a passion 😂😂. I probably read it 12 years ago so I'm sure my critique would be a bit more moderate now, but at the time it was one of my most hated books of my life 😂
I can see why you hated Keeper of the Bees! I landed on a middling rating, because there were elements of nature writing and healing that I really loved, but the romance was SO BAD! One of the worst I’ve ever read 🤦🏻♀️
I definitely liked most of My Antonia but agree... now that I've read 2 of her books, I do really enjoy her writing. My fav for May was Jim the Boy I think. I liked that and My Antonia and Silas Marner equally but yet different parts of all stood out for me.
I'm so curious about Sanderson but don't know where to begin. Which stand alone of his would you most recommend? I think my favorite read in May that wasn't a read aloud with my kids was The Age of Innocence.
Tress of the Emerald Sea is where a lot of people have started recently. Most of his standalones (including Tress) have tie ins to his other works. My recommendation for where to start is actually the first Mistborn series. I know you asked for a stand-alone, but I personally think his standalones aren’t the best starting point 😊 I read The Age of Innocence last May! Funny that we did that a year apart haha
Cather 🥰
Jamie's physical/spiritual journey is what I love about Keeper of the Bees. I'm not a fan of most of Stratton-Porter's love story plots. But, as long as there isn't a love interest, I enjoy her character arcs and plots.
Final Empire was such a fun reread.
I wish Gene Stratton-Porter had just written books without romance. Those are the weakest elements of her books.
Surprised by Oxford sounds interesting (and I love the Lewis reference in the title).
I haven't read Mistborn, but I think I've heard Sanderson say that the publisher was afraid people would think The Final Empire was the last book because of the final in the title, and that's why they've rebranded.
Yes, there are plenty of Lewis references sprinkled throughout too! It was such a wonderful literary journey to faith.
That’s interesting about Mistborn! I guess that makes sense.
Slumps are the worst😢
My, Antonia sounds lovely❤I hope to read it this year😊
This has been the longest reading slump I’ve had in a while! But I’m glad I had some books that broke me out of it. I hope you enjoy My Antonia!
Glad you loved My Antonia! I loved it but haven't revisited it in 20 years. Her imagery is amazing.
I read Keeper of the Bees a while ago and I guess I blocked out the romance part 😂 but when you mentioned it I started to remember. That's the only GSP I've read but I'd like to check out her other work. I do remember feeling Keeper of the Bees was a little long for what it was, but the parts with the kid were cute.
I've only read two Gene Stratton-Porter books (this one and The Girl of the Limberlost) and adored the nature writing and overall story of both, but I think romance is her weak point, because I hated the element in that one too 😂 It didn't seem as egregious as The Keeper of the Bees though!
Favorite reread was Dandelion Wine.
Favorite new read was Contact by Sagan or The Home has a Heart by TF Bjorn.
(I had 5 rereads in May)
Dandelion Wine was your favorite reread? I am SHOCKED 😂 chatting with you about it was even more enjoyable than the book (and I loved the book!).
@@beautifulminutiae 🤭🥰🤗
I want to read Surprised by Oxford!!
I think you’d probably really like it!
Oblomov sounds interesting!
The premise is really interesting, but it really dragged quite a bit for me. Hopefully your experience is better than mine!
Video just started but I have to say, you look gorgeous!
Aw, thank you so much!
Can't wait to hear your thoughts on The Harvester by Gene Stratton Porter....
And I love Keeper of the Bees.....................
I don’t own The Harvester, so I have no clue when I’ll get to it. I’m glad you loved Keeper of the Bees! I’m kinda picky about romance in books. I probably would’ve loved it if it didn’t have that in it.
@@beautifulminutiae I get it. I do.
I think the only book besides The Final Empire that I read from your wrap up was the beekeeper one. I hated it with a passion 😂😂. I probably read it 12 years ago so I'm sure my critique would be a bit more moderate now, but at the time it was one of my most hated books of my life 😂
I can see why you hated Keeper of the Bees! I landed on a middling rating, because there were elements of nature writing and healing that I really loved, but the romance was SO BAD! One of the worst I’ve ever read 🤦🏻♀️
@@beautifulminutiae YES 😂
I definitely liked most of My Antonia but agree... now that I've read 2 of her books, I do really enjoy her writing.
My fav for May was Jim the Boy I think. I liked that and My Antonia and Silas Marner equally but yet different parts of all stood out for me.
I really want to look up Jim the Boy! You made it sound so good!
I'm so curious about Sanderson but don't know where to begin. Which stand alone of his would you most recommend?
I think my favorite read in May that wasn't a read aloud with my kids was The Age of Innocence.
My recommendation is Tress of the Emerald Sea!
Tress of the Emerald Sea is where a lot of people have started recently. Most of his standalones (including Tress) have tie ins to his other works. My recommendation for where to start is actually the first Mistborn series. I know you asked for a stand-alone, but I personally think his standalones aren’t the best starting point 😊
I read The Age of Innocence last May! Funny that we did that a year apart haha
@@beautifulminutiae thank you! Added Tress to my tbr!