Ten Circles Upon the Pond: Reflections of a Prodigal Mother

Rating:
Summary: Sincerely and masterfully written
Review: A masterful telling of the joy and trials of family life and child rearing while touching upon some of the deepest questions we have all asked of ourselves. Extremely well crafted language and intelligent insights make this book and intriguing journey through the lives of this large family. Tranel uniquely weaves multiple facets into the telling of each child's life-generational, historical, sociological, birth order, location and happenstance. The connection between each child's early disposition and interests to their adult life is an interesting and intriguing study, causing the reader to examine their own history.

Another enjoyable part of the book is the beautiful word portraits of life in the high country of Montana and Wyoming, along with side journeys to Iowa, New York, Alaska, Europe and many points in between. In reading this book, I became genuinely excited about some of the insights I gained into the rearing of my own children and my own up-brininging. More importantly, Tranel keeps hitting on how she rationalized, justified or just accepted through faith her position in life and the lives of her husband and children.

The importance of all the little events that compose our lives becomes more evident-from family dinners and holiday traditions right down to a certain piece of clothing or seemingly small event in one's childhood. Riding alongside these events is always the question of faith and life's lingering questions (What if? What could I have become?)-the understanding of which helped keep Virginia Tranel focused on a rich and satisfying career, that of raising ten children. This is a beautifully written book with rich detail allowing the reader to side with each child as they grow and to experience and even envy the Walton-like life of toboggan rides, seventeen foot snowmen, raising horses and cows, fresh baked bread, chaotic vacations and all the nooks and crannies of each family home. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Rating:
Summary: Deep insights into the human psyche
Review: A masterful telling of the joy and trials of family life and child rearing while touching upon some of the deepest questions we have all asked of ourselves. Extremely well crafted language and intelligent insights make this book and intriguing journey through the lives of this large family. Tranel uniquely weaves multiple facets into the telling of each child's life-generational, historical, sociological, birth order, location and happenstance. The connection between each child's early disposition and interests to their adult life is an interesting and intriguing study, causing the reader to examine their own history.

Another enjoyable part of the book is the beautiful word portraits of life in the high country of Montana and Wyoming, along with side journeys to Iowa, New York, Alaska, Europe and many points in between. In reading this book, I became genuinely excited about some of the insights I gained into the rearing of my own children and my own up-brininging. More importantly, Tranel keeps hitting on how she rationalized, justified or just accepted through faith her position in life and the lives of her husband and children.

The importance of all the little events that compose our lives becomes more evident-from family dinners and holiday traditions right down to a certain piece of clothing or seemingly small event in one's childhood. Riding alongside these events is always the question of faith and life's lingering questions (What if? What could I have become?)-the understanding of which helped keep Virginia Tranel focused on a rich and satisfying career, that of raising ten children. This is a beautifully written book with rich detail allowing the reader to side with each child as they grow and to experience and even envy the Walton-like life of toboggan rides, seventeen foot snowmen, raising horses and cows, fresh baked bread, chaotic vacations and all the nooks and crannies of each family home. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Rating:
Summary: Sincerely and masterfully written
Review: I began to read Virginia Tranel's book because of my college friendship with one of her sons. I simply thought it would be interesting to read about his mother's view of him and his childhood. But after reading his chapter, I was immediately hooked and quickly read through the rest of the book. Her command of the English language and seamless use of literary and historical references is magnificent. In one way, this book is a simple story of the life of a large family. And yet, it is a touching and sincerely personal memoir, which speaks to all mothers, daughters, father, sons and siblings. I couldn't read the book without thinking of it's relation to my life. And I was enchanted by the way Tranel weaves the tapestry of her tale with thought-provoking philosophical arguments and rich statements about the nature of human relationships. It reads as both a fascinating narrative and as a dense exploration of humanity, faith and struggle.

Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable and nostalgic memoir!
Review: I just finished reading Ten Circles Upon the Pond, and found it to be most excellent. Being familiar with all the places that Virginia Tranel described in the book made it a fun read for me. I know Dubuque, Billings, and Miles City all very well. It was well written. Rather nostalgic but not maudlin. Sentimental, but not mired, and most enjoyable. Virginia Tranel pulled it off very well. I sort of feel that most memoirs are either self deprecating or self-aggrandizing, so it was very refreshing to see a self-criticism that was fair and yet fun to read. All her characters (kids) came alive as I read the book, and I felt as if I actually knew the whole family. I really would love to drive over and spend an afternoon with Virginia, as I feel we have a lot in common, even though I am more the age of her oldest kids. The book was not perfect, however, I felt that Ned was sort of underplayed, and some of the drama of raising kids was downplayed, but that may not be so bad if she decides to ever write a sequel. I guess I give it about a 96%, which is good, as I have only ever given one book I read a 100%. This was the 59th book I have read this year so far and the second best.... not bad for a first book by an author.

Rating:
Summary: Best book about families/mothering!
Review: One would not expect a book about a family to be so gripping, but Tranel does such a great job of weaving her own story with what is happening in the culture that it becomes more than just a memoir. It is a story of me as well; the eras in which I lived and my challenges as a mother. A great Mother's Day gift that will make you weep for joy and longing--longing for the comfort and support that only a family can provide.