When Novels Make An Impact

 

Fictional stories hold such a big place in my heart. They capture my interest and pique my imagination. They make me reach beyond myself, my world, to something new and different and beautiful. They touch me and grip me and make me laugh. I've cried over the death of characters and laughed when one of them cracks a joke. I've had the privilege to 'step' inside their shoes and explore their lives for the short journey of three hundred or so pages. 

I hold an intense love for fictional stories with memorable characters. And nothing is ever going to change that.

(I'll give you a briefing of my readerly-beginning...)

I've always been read to. When I was a kid, my mom would read to my brother and I before we went to sleep. We have many, many children's books - Bernestain Bears, Franklin the turtle, Princesses Are Not Quitters, it's sequel, and Barbie books among that lot (Yep! A few...). In my first year of school or so, I was read the Little House on the Prairie series. I began writing (and sometimes copying!) short stories on the computer when I was maybe seven or eight years old. I'm guessing eight is more likely. I would print them out and hand them to my friends at church. (Whether they all read them or not... I actually really don't know, now that I'm thinking about it.)

I've been writing for years. I mean, I went through phases of 'I want to be a singer' (which is still a dream of mine) or 'I want to be an astronaut' (this was really big in my eyes after I had watched, for the first time, Space Camp. The other day my younger brother said, on this subject, "Because you thought it was so cool to be almost dead." Haha! Seriously!? But, honestly, if you've seen the movie, you know what he means. He also mentioned never wanting to be an astronaut! I was a loner in the respect. ;) I guess the adventure and excitement inspired and intrigued me.). I've wanted to be a fashion designer, too. And an actress (still want to).

But the phases have done just what phases do. They've...faded. I was born with the desire to write ingrained into me. I may not have seen it for a while, but it was there all along.

When I was ten years old, I went into a Borders bookstore with my mom, my sister, and my younger brother. We shopped in there for quite while, and I ended up finding three novels that I wanted to get. Mom bought them for me. And I devoured them. (I think. I mean, I was ten, so devoured might not be the right term. I don't remember how fast I read them.)
 

Ever since then, I've been reading. And I love it. A series that had a big impact on my reader-ship was the A Life of Faith series, originally written by Martha Finley, and updated or rewritten or based on her original works. I adored that series. It's what I owe my love of the Victorian era to. It was my introduction to the time of tea and horse-drawn carriages and hoop-skirts. Over the course of a few years I greedily read many of the books. Beginning (I love how this happened...) with two books from the Violet series, Violet's Bold Mission and Violet's Perplexing Puzzles. I picked them up at a second-hand bookstore that we were donating a bucket-full of books to. I spied those two hardbacks sitting on the shelf in the small kids' section that the store boasted. And that's when it started. I now own all twenty-four A Life of Faith novels and adore the Millie Keith books the most of the lot. I really do still love many of the Millie books, and many of the characters. So very much.

Over the years since then, I've broadened my scope and read fantasy, classical works, contemporary, a western, a thriller (ONE, people. Blink of an Eye by Ted Dekker. And, true to its genre, it was thrilling. ;)), biographies, more historical fiction of different sorts, and even a few sci-fi novels. The conclusion to this rambling? I love fiction. I love stories. I love reading. 

 
And, one of the best things about story-worlds? The message you can portray through the characters and their individual journeys. Sometimes, life is too messy to clearly see things. But when we read a book about a character who's going through something very similar in structure as we are, we pick up on things and see different outcomes and we're encouraged. The way God's grace can shine through made-up people is really incredible! Books can change you. They make you laugh, they bring you to tears, and they wrap you up in a world so unlike your own that you can't help but be fascinated. You get to see things from someone's point of view who may be completely opposite you in personality. It's an amazing experience, and I'm never giving it up! Reading takes you on a journey. It's an adventure. And don't we all long for adventure, in some way or another? 

Books make an impact. I've been touched by books, and I want to touch others with my own someday. I do wholeheartedly believe God can use novels to touch us and reach us and help us along. Give us a glimpse of something utterly beautiful and make us wonder. 

And besides... Reading is just fun. Seriously! For some reason it has become one of my favorite things to do. I even dedicated a Pinterest board to the hobby.

And I am so glad!

What book has impacted you in some way? What were your 'readerly-beginnings'? I'd definitely like to know! 

My Top Ten Books of 2015

Christmas is right around the corner. So is New Years. Because of that, I thought maybe I should drop by and give you the best books I read in the year of 2015...

10. Where Courage Calls by Janette Oke

One of the best I've read from Mrs. Oke. This book had little pieces of wisdom I enjoyed stumbling upon. And that Christmas scene with Edward and the scarf? Yeah, that was fun.



9. Secret of the Lost Settlement by John J. Horn

I reread this in August, I think. I was again brought to tears and impressed by the amazing message. It was gritty, adventurous, heart-pounding, and even humorous in rare moments.

 




















8. The Island Queen by R.M. Ballantyne

When three ship-wrecked siblings end up on an island that's deserted, more castaways show up, and a 'government' forms, you're in for a fun ride! I liked this book a lot - it's one of the best of Ballantyne's! It was very humorous and lots of fun! I smiled through almost a whole chapter. Yup. That happened. ;)



7. Becoming Nikki by Ashley Elliot

This book was really cool! The main characters were, interestingly enough, brother and sister. They're broken relationship needs mending - little do they think that a horrible accident will become the starting point. I really enjoyed the story and some of the characters. It was funny, touching, and sweet.



6. The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

Man, this book. I cried multiple times. I saw World War II in a whole new light - it changed my perspective on the time. The Hiding Place was highly interesting, engaging, touching, and had such a great message.



5. The Heart of Arcrea by Nicole Sager

Surprisingly, this one made it on the list. I say surprisingly because as I read each book in the Arcrean Conquest series, the one I had just finished became my favorite Arcrean book. However, after months of not really thinking about the books, I thought about them again and ended up realizing that the first novel in the series, The Heart of Arcrea, was, honestly, the best. We're introduced to fun characters and taken along a sometimes agonizing but interesting and life-changing journey. I loved the way that Druet, the hero of the tale, followed God's leading. Not many books have that in it, and I thought it was really cool. Plus, it's fantasy - a really fun, non-magical fantasy in a land that is seriously unique. You won't forget it.



4. Fighting the Flames: A Tale of the London Fire Brigade by R.M. Ballantyne

A book about the London Fire Brigade in the mid-1800s? How cool is that!? I really enjoyed reading this. I loved the story and Willie Willders, one of the main characters. It was interesting and fun and one of the best by Ballantyne I've read.

 


 
















3. Millie's Steadfast Love by Martha Finley

Granted, I did re-read this one, (okay, okay! And the one below...), but I loved it all over again. The characters and the story are so fun. I adore this book. The Millie Keith series holds a special place on my ever burgeoning bookshelves.



2. Brothers at Arms: Treasure and Treachery in the Amazon by John J. Horn

This book has been one of my favorite novels for a few years now. It still holds a very special place in my heart and is one of the best books I have read to date. Fun, heart-pounding adventure, charming characters, exotic locations... It's incredibly fun, and I'm so looking forward to rereading it AGAIN with my younger brother.



















1. To Get to You by Joanne Bischoff

This book is all about redemption, grace, and second chances. Though the message isn't forced, it seeps into the crevasses of the story (and your heart). I enjoyed it a lot! The characters were fun, and the whole road-trip/broken-son-and-father-relationship story was fantastic and really well done. Intertwined was an adorable romance between the unlikely hero and the homeschooled heroine. (Yes, she's homeschooled.) Super cute.



And theeeeeeeere you have it! The top ten books that I read this year. Totally check 'em all out, and totally let me know if you do. (Or if you've already read any of the above books, and if you liked them as much as I did!) ;)

They all come recommended (and I've reviewed most of them too. Either here, on my blog, or on Goodreads.)

That's all for now, but be on the lookout for another 'Top Ten' post!

Merry Christmas!

~Micaiah K.~

Quote of the Week

"But God does use the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. It doesn't matter who we are really, just who He is." - Martha Finley, Millie's Faithful Heart (A Life of Faith: Millie Keith #4)

Quote of the Week

"God calls us to a wild adventure, not a tea party, my dear. I don't follow Jesus because He can give me a life without pain. I follow Him because He is good. Someday I will follow him right through death, and into our Heavenly Father's house." - Martha Finley, Millie's Unsettled Season (A Life of Faith: Millie Keith #1)

A Life of Fatih: Millie Keith (Millie's Courageous Days, Book Review #2)

Millie's Courageous Days
(A Life of Faith: Millie Keith, Book Two)
Rating: 5 stars
Ages: 11 and up (for a somewhat intense scene where someone was badly injured, etc.)

'"If God is in control, why did He make Fan fall?" Millie asked desperately. "I thought I was doing so well with the promise God gave me when we left Lansdale. And now it's all come to pieces! If He lets terrible things like this happen, how can anyone trust Him?"
         "Oh, Millie," said Aunt Wealthy. "God didn't make Fan fall, although He did allow it. But we must trust Him," she said passionately. "We cannot give up hope - no matter what the doctor says."' (Excerpt from Chapter Two)

Millie Keith put her faith in the promises of God when her parents moved the entire family out to the wild frontier, where life is full of surprises, adventure, and danger. But now Millie, just turned thirteen, finds her faith tested again when tragedy strikes her family, when she loses her best friend because of her faith, and when deadly fevers stalk the town. Can she trust God with life...and death?
         Millie's Courageous Days, the second book in the A Life of Faith: Millie Keith series, continues the captivating story of Millie Keith. Although she is best known as cousin to the famous fictional heroine Elsie Dinsmore, in this faith-filled, modern-language adaption of the 19th century work by Martha Finley, Millie stands as a strong heroine herself - and one to which 21st century girls can easily relate. 

Millie's Courageous Days is one of the best books of the whole Millie Keith series! It was captivating, intriguing, and adventurous. Full of touching, heart-felt moments and gripping, page-turning chapters, this book is on my favorites shelf.

It was incredibly exciting. It was definitely more intense than the first book - there are a few major injuries and an epidemic, which are some of the main points of the story - but I loved it all the same.

The characters from Millie's Unsettled Season - both new and old - are back, and are loads of fun. Honestly, a lot of my favorite characters would be from the A Life of Faith series, if I named them! I love Cyril, Gordon Lightcap, Millie, and Aunt Wealthy, just to name a few.

Millie's faith is definitely tested, numerous times, throughout this novel. But it is called the 'A Life of Faith series,' right? ;) I would highly recommend Millie's Courageous Days! An awesome addition to the series. Be sure to pick this one up! I absolutely loved it!

A Life of Faith: Millie Keith (Millie's Unsettled Season, Book Review #1)

You can read my introduction to the series here!

 

The A Life of Faith: Millie Keith series is wonderful. I have only read the adapted versions of the Millie novels, not the originals, but I have to say that I love the updated versions. They are humorous, well-written, full of fun, adventurous, dramatic, and Godly. I would recommend the whole series to Christian girls looking for a good, clean read. The Millie Keith books are filled to the brim with hilarious, amazing characters that you won't soon forget. I can't even begin to explain my love for these books.

 

In all seriousness, I owe my love of the Victorian era and my love of historical fiction to the A Life of Faith series (not just Millie Keith, but also the Violet Travilla and Elsie Dinsmore series).

 

*Note: The Millie series ranges from 1833-1844, starting just a few years before the Victorian era. The Elsie series starts in the early 1840s and ends in 1874. The Violet books start just three years after the Elsie series - 1877. The last tale of the whole A Life of Faith series - Violet's Foreign Intrigue - is set in 1886.*

 

I would have to say, though, that out of all of the A Life of Faith book series, Millie's tales would be my favorite. Why? Well, Millie and I are more alike than any of the other heroines, and her story is adventurous, funny, and so enjoyable. Don't get me wrong, both the Violet and Elsie series are great too, and all of them hold a special place in my heart (and always will!), but the Millie Keith novels hold a very special place in my heart.

Here is a review of the first book (be looking out for reviews on all seven other books in the series as well!):
 

Millie's Unsettled Season
(A Life of Faith: Millie Keith, Book One)
By: Martha Finley
Rating: 5 stars
Ages: 10-14

'"Oh, Aunt Wealthy," Millie cried, as Wealthy's boot touched solid ground. "It's decided!"
    "My child, what is it?" asked the older lady, dropping the letter to take the girl's hand and draw her to the sofa. "What is decided?"
         Millie spoke with a determined effort to be calm. "This morning at breakfast, Pappa told us - us children, I mean - he and Mamma had talked it over last night, and you know they have been praying about it, and..."

        "And?" Wealthy clasped Millie's hand to her heart.

        "We're moving...to...to...Pleasant Plains, Indiana."

        "The frontier!" Wealthy gasped, sinking back on the couch.' (excerpt from Chapter One)

 

Meet Millie Keith, a bright and energetic twelve-year-old living in the charming town of  Lansdale, Ohio, in 1833. Her world is about to be turned upside down when her Pappa announces that he is moving the family west to an undeveloped town on the frontier. The eldest daughter of eight lively children, Millie must shoulder responsibility for her mischievous brothers and sisters on the perilous journey and learn to trust God for her uncertain future. Will her Christian faith sustain her as she leaves behind friendships and everything she has ever known?

 

Millie's Unsettled Season is the opening chapter, the first glimpse of Millie's world that we get. Millie's father and mother, Stuart and Marcia, decide to move their family from charming Lansdale, Ohio to Indiana (it's for the best, really). ;) Devastated, Millie is forced to leave behind her beloved house and neighborhood, her friends, and a life of ease and comfort to take the long, grueling trip to an undeveloped town on the frontier - Pleasant Plains.

 

I loved the story of their journey, and I love the way her family interacts, especially the twins, Cyril and Don. They are so mischievous and funny! Honestly, all the times they made me smile or laugh... Cyril is actually one of my favorite characters of the whole series! If you read the books, you'd know why! His story was so awesome and fun! I could almost tear up just thinking about it... ;)

 

It was fun being introduced to a new town right along side Millie. She bravely faced the hardships of finding new friends, meeting and helping Indians, and just adapting to living life in a harsh, unforgiving environment - an environment where there are epidemics about every year, and life can get hard and frustrating. As always, though, there are the charms that make Pleasant Plains a wonderful place to live - such as the wonderful, absolutely superb cast mem-, er...townspeople who also call Pleasant Plains their home, and the vast, beautiful landscape!  

 

The whole story was an interesting and good opening. It was a fantastic novel! It was a delightful, informative look into the strength it took to endure life on the frontier. You really learn a lot about the Victorian era and the Western frontier without even realizing it! Wonderful. Highly recommended!