Jane Eyre
Isn’t it great how the characters in books become friends? Friends who never grow old and die, but are there: ever true, always energetic . . . for the next generation to meet and love, too. Friends can have such a powerful influence! I have often paused to reflect on what Little Britches or Jane Eyre or Little Dorrit or Atticus would do if they had been in my situation, when I have a tough decision to make. Even though they are literary characters, the virtue of Christ shines through in their choices, and it is very inspiring to know them! I would like to share with you some of my favorite friends.
Some of My Favorite Friends:
Little Britches (Ralph Moody)
Man of the Family (Ralph Moody)
Laddie: A True Blue Story (Gene Stratton Porter)
To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Harriet Beecher Stowe)
The Scarlet Pimpernel (Baroness Emmuska Orczy)
Anne of Green Gables (Lucy Maud Montgomery)
Amos Fortune: Free Man (Elizabeth Yates)
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch (Jean Lee Latham)
A Lantern in Her Hand (Bess Streeter Aldrich)
God’s Smuggler (Brother Andrew)
Little Women (Louisa Mae Alcott)
Summer of the Monkeys (Wilson Rawls)
Tom Sawyer (Mark Twain)
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Mark Twain)
Pinocchio (Carlo Collodi)
Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen)
Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
Robinson Crusoe (Daniel Defoe)
A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens)
The Hiding Place (Corrie Ten Boom)
What a collection of excellent people! People who—even though fictional—inspire me to live better! And they are there, waiting, to visit again, whenever you need a boost. They are human. They have their flaws. But consistently they choose the high road; the hard decision to do the right thing. We are helped by their example and it strengthens our own resolve to be a good person.
And they are there in movies too. Have you watched Larkrise to Candleford? It is hard not to love Miss Lane, with all her compassionate understanding of people. . . .or Luke Skywalker’s control of his anger for the cause of good and his faith in the last spark of goodness in a father who had so badly betrayed him . . . or Sense and Sensibility‘s Eleanor, with all her forbearance, patience and self-control. These wonderful people—I am happy to know them!
You might enjoy:
 Laddie |
 God’s Smuggler |
 Little Britches |
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I'd sure love to hear your comment!
I love Larkrise! And most of the books, you mentioned. I just haven't read (heard of) them all. I compiled a list once, that I don't know if it would be helpful for your readers: http://susandayley.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/childrens-classics-book-list/ (These are books published up to 1960. I have a list of Middle Classics for 1960-2000, but it doesn't weigh as strongly with me.)
My Classic list may not have "Laddie, a True Blue Story," (I'd not heard of this one) but it does include "Freckles" and "Girl of the Limberlost" that I read to my children (and they loved). It also breaks the books down by "up to 6th grade," "7 & 8th grade," and "9-12." But ofcourse these are only guidlines. We know, mothers know their children best and what to challenge them with.
I wonder, is it violating copyright to put things on YouTube? How does the author/movie maker get revenue if people watch it on YouTube? Anyone know the laws? Or principles behind this? I feel committed to buying "good stuff" because I want the producer to make more good stuff. Same with books, music, movies, etc. I just wonder if they get any kick-back it we watch on YouTube. And it is considered "pirated"? Hmmm. Anyone know?
I know of a few sites and books which recommend good reading choices for children, but is it possible to have a section or a post here about children's books. I have a few readers in my home who just can't get enough books and tracking down appropriate material can be difficult.
Personally, I enjoyed some of the Bodie and Brock Thoene books. They write historical fiction.
What a great list! Thank you!
To Inspiration Station, you can watch all the episodes on YouTube! I had a friend mention it, but it wasn't on TV where we are, so I looked it up. I watched all the episodes online.
This is the YouTube user that I liked the most:
http://www.youtube.com/user/xlarkrisecandlefordx
I had never heard of A Lantern in Her Hand until you recommended it (maybe a year ago or so.) I found a copy and read it every spare minute I had. I loved it and learned so much! Thank you for sharing! Maybe I'll pick another unfamiliar book off your list to read next!
Where can you watch larkrise to candleford? I'm very interested in checking that out Diane. Thanks! Mindy
Seven Cousins by louisa May Alcott.
The story of the Treasure Seekers by E. Nesbit my daughter laughed so much reading this series.
Five Peppers series by Margaret Sidney
Watership Down by Richard Adams. Just started reading this book and we are enjoying it so much.
Pollyanna and Pollyanna returns cant rember the author right off hand
loved the movie but the books are nothing like the movie at all and I love the books
My mind is so blank right now and I know I have such a huge list of our favorite books that we have read over the years. I need to make one and then it will be handy.
My son really enjoyed Nick of Time.
Your family is a inspriation to our family. We have a farm and big garden that we pick and can from except the last two years has been drought and in the hundreds so we only got green beans canned. Thank you for sharing.
I can't wait to! Thanks for the recommendation!
; 0 ) Diane
Have you read all the books in the "Little Britches" series? They are all wonderful. Ralph Moody is just a fantastic man and such a brilliant storyteller. We like "Mary Emma and Company" and "Horse of a Different Color".